The Best Bug type Pokémon – Ranked from Best to Worst!

Genesect

Introduced in Generation 5’s Pokémon Black and White, Genesect is the only Bug type Mythical Pokémon, and has a powerful base stat total of 600. With Attack and Special Attack stats of 120, Genesect packs a real punch. 

Genesect is a robotic bug Pokémon with the dual-typing of Bug/Steel.

Genesect is the only Pokémon capable of learning and using the move Techno Blast. This Normal type move has a power of 120 and an accuracy of 100%. This powerful attack changes type depending on which of four ‘Drive’ items Genesect is holding, into Fire, Ice, Water, or Electric types.

In universe, Genesect is said to have been revived from an ancient Pokémon fossil and altered with various technological enhancements by villainous Team Plasma.

Its rarity, its futuristic design, and its sheer strength combine to make Genesect worthy of the top spot in this listing. As the strongest Bug type Pokémon, Genesect deserves the top spot.

Volcarona

Volcarona is Bug/Fire dual-type Pokémon introduced with Generation 5’s Pokémon Black and White. Larvesta evolves into Volcarona at the very high level of 59. 

As it was received as an egg in its debut game, this means many players may never have bothered to level it high enough to see Volcarona, but it’s certainly worth doing.

This is because Volcarona has a base stat total of 550, with a whopping 135 in its Special Attack stat – along with 100 Speed and 105 Special Defense. 

Volcarona’s fantastic stats, excellent design, and great movepool mean that it’s earned its high place on this listing of the best Bug type Pokémon.

Slither Wing

Paradox Pokémon Slither Wing is Larvesta’s prehistoric counterpart and is a Bug/Fighting dual-type Pokémon with a base stat total of 570. With 135 in its Attack stat, Slither Wing is a powerful physical attacker – a great thing for a Fighting type Pokémon!

Its Attack stat can be boosted with the Protosynthesis Ability, and as it can use moves like Earthquake and Leech Life, this is great news. In competitive play Slither Wing has a good niche as a defensive choice which can check some of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s popular Pokémon.

For all these reasons this prehistoric monster has earned itself a top three spot on this list.

Golisopod

Golisopod was introduced with Generation 7’s Pokémon Sun and Moon and is a dual-type Bug/Water Pokémon. Evolving from Wimpod, Golisopd has a respectable base stat total of 530 including a stellar Defense stat of 140, and great Attack at 125.

Armed with an Ability, Emergency Exit, which switches it out after taking severe damage, and a signature move, First Impression, which rewards attacking first, Golisopod makes a great defensive opener.

Golisopod’s high stats and unique Ability has propelled it to success competitively, and it’s been featured in the Pokémon games and anime as a key Pokémon of antagonist, Guzma of Team Skull. Golisopod has certainly earned its spot on our list of the best Bug type Pokémon. 

Water type fans should check out this list of the best Water type Pokémon!

Scizor

Scizor, a Bug/Steel dual-type, came with Generation 2’s Pokémon Gold and Silver as a trade evolution for fan-favourite, Scyther.

A quirk of this evolutionary family is that the base stat total doesn’t change on evolution. Instead, the base stat distribution changes.

This means that Scizor, which swaps its Flying type for the Steel type upon evolution, is a much more defensive choice than speedy Scyther. The one major advantage Scizor has over its brothers is that it has access to a Mega Evolution in the form of Mega Scizor, and that does increase its overall base stat total – to a fantastic 600!

Scizor has seen success in competitive play. This and its iconic design earn it a spot on this list.

Scyther

No listing of the best Bug type Pokémon is complete without Scyther. Scyther, a Bug/Flying dual-type Pokémon was introduced in Generation 1’s debut games, Pokémon Red and Blue. This Pokémon has a seriously sharp design, featuring giant blades for hands.

Scyther and its two evolutions aren’t the most conventional of evolutionary families. Each member of this evolutionary family has a base stat total of 500, which means Scyther doesn’t get any stronger upon evolution.

Scyther, as an unevolved Pokémon, can use power-boosting item Eviolite during battle, which can sometimes give it an edge and boosts its stats for competitive play.

Not happy with just being useful in battle, Scyther has appeared in the Pokémon anime. This popular Pokémon is beloved by fans and absolutely deserves a spot on this listing of the best Bug type Pokémon.

While Scyther didn't quite make this list of the best Flying Pokémon, take a look at who did!

Orbeetle

Orbeetle was introduced in Generation 8’s Pokémon Sword and Shield. Orbeetle is a Bug/Psychic dual-type Pokémon. This bug takes its design cues from UFO phenomena. Psychic Pokémon lovers should check out this list of the best Psychic type Pokémon!

With a base stat total of 505, Orbeetle is nothing to sniff at. Its base stat distribution cements it as a more defensive option, with high Defense and Special Defense stats – 110 and 120 respectively – but its Special Attack stat of 80 means it doesn’t hit like a wet noodle either.

Orbeetle with the Gigantamax Factor can Gigantamax in battle to unlock a fresh new design that takes its UFO theming to new heights. 

Gigantamax Orbeetle is the only Pokémon capable of using unique move, G-Max Gravitas.

Orbeetle is a solid choice of Bug type, with an interesting design, a great type combination, and the stats to make it a great partner in casual play or in some competitive formats. It’s definitely earned its spot in this list!

Pinsir

Introduced in Generation 1 alongside Scyther, Pinsir is a pure Bug type Pokémon. With a base stat total of 500, Pinsir is a strong Pokémon with a great Attack stat.

This Pokémon has an iconic design and with access to some powerful moves is a great choice in battle. Pinsir was even given a powerful new Mega Evolution, Mega Pinsir, which sees it gain the Flying type and a ferocious new look.

Not just a powerful Pokémon, Pinsir has also appeared many times in the Pokémon anime and other media in both its regular and Mega forms, proving that Pinsir has a wide appeal.

Ninjask

Ninjask is a Bug/Flying dual-type Pokémon with a seriously high Speed – 160. Its overall base stats are low, and are the second-lowest in this listing at 456. But Ninjask’s insane Speed, coupled with its ability to learn stat-boosting moves such as Swords Dance and Double Team, mean that Ninjask is much more useful than its stats alone suggest.

Ninjask is one of two Pokémon which evolves from the Bug/Ground dual-type Pokémon Nincada.

Ninjask has seen great success in competitive play, whether in singles or doubles, especially because it learns Baton Pass. Baton Pass lets Ninjask switch out to another Pokémon while trading all its stat increases to that Pokémon.

So Ninjask’s movepool and its high Speed mean it can make great use of its advantages, while minimizing its weaknesses.

Shedinja

Shedinja was introduced in Generation 3’s Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. Shedinja is created if Nincada evolves and the player has a spot free in their team (and an extra Poké Ball in their bag!).

With a base stat total of only 236, Shedinja has the lowest stats of any fully evolved Pokémon on our listing. It gets even worse, as its highest stat is an Attack stat of 90. Its lowest is its HP, at a measly 1.

But don’t write Shedinja off just yet, as its special Ability, Wonder Guard, makes it immune to thirteen of Pokémon’s 18 types. Because of this Shedinja has seen some limited success but is seen mainly as a gimmick Pokémon. But that was enough to earn it a spot on this list!

For more interesting Abilities check out this list of the best Pokémon abilities!