Taken from Memoric
Current Update:
Put in Lolk's stuff, should be QC ready
QC: [1/3][Lolk,---, ---]
GP: [0/2]
Overview
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Physical Attacker
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name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Pin Missile
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Protect
ability: Moxie
item: Heracronite
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant
Moves
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Set Details
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Usage Tips
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Team Options
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Other Options
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Checks & Counters
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**Offensive Typing Advantage**:
Current Update:
Put in Lolk's stuff, should be QC ready
QC: [1/3][Lolk,---, ---]
GP: [0/2]
Overview
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- Heracross' new Mega Evolution gave it an astronomical base 185 Attack and Skill Link which turns its multi-hit moves such as Pin Missile and Rock Blast into reliable, high Base Powered attacking options.
- Its high Attack stat can easily put a dent on anything it hits, and most Pokemon require at least some amount of defensive investment to avoid being 2 or OHKOed.
- It has a decent natural bulk of 80 / 115 / 105 which can let it shrug off a hit or two, and cool resistances to Ground, Grass, Dark, Fighting, and Bug.
- Interesting pre-evolution ability in Moxie
- Outside of its Mega Evolution, Heracross is outclassed by faster Fighting-types such as Terrakion and Keldeo.
- As an attacker, its Speed is only average, and it lacks priority, so it requires much Speed control support.
- The popularity of Intimidate hinders it, especially in the form of Landorus-T, who can brush off Heracross's STAB attacks (but only after repeatedly switching in, as -1 Mega Heracross can still 2HKO a majority of relevant Intimidate Pokemon)
- It has weaknesses to common attacking types such as Fire, Fairy, and Flying, the latter of which it fears the most as it hits 4x as effectively.
Physical Attacker
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name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Pin Missile
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Protect
ability: Moxie
item: Heracronite
evs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant
Moves
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- Pin Missile is Mega Heracross's most powerful attacking, hitting at an effect 125 Base Power thanks to Skill Link. On top of that, it hits through Substitute and Focus Sash. Its accuracy is almost perfect, but must be made aware of.
- Close Combat hits with STAB and is almost as powerful as Pin Missile. It has perfect accuracy and great coverage with Pin Missile.
- Rock Blast lets it hit Flying-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Landorus-T that resist both of its STAB moves for good damage. Its accuracy can also be annoying at times but it is generally reliable, and patches up Mega Heracross's coverage well.
- Protect lets it protect itself, stall out field conditions such as weather or Trick Room, and give its partner an opening to work.
- Earthquake is useful if ever hitting Aegislash is a concern, and can be used over Protect, but only if absolutely necessary.
Set Details
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- The EVs are designed to beat both Jolly Bisharp and Breloom with a Jolly nature while having useful bulk and power.
- If outspeeding them isn't a concern, it can use an Adamant nature for maximum damage output. The power boost is notable, especially for a Pokemon with an Attack stat as high as Mega Heracross, and will often allow it to achieve some important OHKOs, such as against Cresselia.
- Heracronite is obvious for letting it transform into its Mega Evolution, which grants it notable power and bulk.
- Mega Heracross can be used in Trick Room to decent effect with minimized Speed IVs and EVs, pouring all EVs into Attack and HP.
Usage Tips
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- Mega Heracross depends on team support, and often struggles to make a mark in suboptimal conditions. It can be used throughout the match, in the beginning to punch holes and wallbreak or in late game to clean up.
- Mega Heracross can function decently well on its own, but truly shines when supported by things such as Tailwind, Trick Room, or paralysis, which make up for its lower Speed stat. Under these conditions, it becomes a much more powerful sweeper.
- Try to refrain from switching it in to too many attacks before mega evolution; regular Heracross is not nearly as bulky as Mega Heracross
- Once in safely, playing with Mega Heracross is quite easy. Simply select the right move and aim at the right target in order to deal as much damage as possible.
- Use Pin Missile and Close Combat wisely. If both make the KO, use Pin Missile if you want to avoid the stat drops and use Close Combat if you absolutely must make the hit connect.
- Moxie can be taken advantage of. In order to do this, simply switch Heracross in after a partner faints against a Pokemon that it can easily revenge kill and use it to finish off the opponent. This allows it to grab an attack boost and also maintain regular Heracross's higher Speed for one more turn to face the next in coming threat. However, be mindful of the fact that regular Heracross is much weaker, and can really only rely on Close Combat for damage, so make sure you can make the kill. It is also not very fast, even before Mega Evolution, so the list of Pokemon it can reliably revenge kill outside of Speed control support is quite short.
- Use Protect to scout for dangerous attacks. However, be wary that Protect will stall your field effects (TR or Tailwind) so don't overuse it. MHera can sponge most non super effective hits anyway.
- If optimal conditions are not up, try to aim Mega Heracross at slower opponents that it can take down. It is an effective wallbreaker and can deal heavy amounts of damage to most common defensive Pokemon in Doubles, including Amoonguss, Cresselia, and Togekiss.
- Be wary that Mega Heracross's multi hit moves will often activate opposing berry consumption! It may seem like it can OHKO Cresselia, but in reality, many Cresselia carry a Sitrus Berry, which will be activated as its HP goes down, allowing it to survive all 5 hits. This has to be taken into account in damage calculations.
Team Options
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- Mega Heracross is a powerful standalone sweeper, but it is somewhat limited by its lack of Speed. Thus, its best partners are those that can either boost its Speed or slow down the opponents.
- Tailwind is the most popular way to support Mega Heracross. Under it, Mega Heracross can outspeed everything notable in the metagame, and immediately becomes a huge threat.
- Suicune is a great Tailwind supporter, as is Shaymin-S and Togekiss. Suicune beats Fire, Shaymin provides powerful type coverage, and Togekiss has Follow Me.
- Trick Room is also an option with min speed Mega Heracross. Cresselia and Aromatisse can both set it up for Heracross.
- Icy Wind / Electroweb - Keldeo, Jirachi, Rotom-W. Keldeo has Quick Guard, Jirachi has Follow Me, and Rotom-W can hit Flying-types and has Thunder Wave
- Thunder Wave - Thundurus is a great partner, helping to get rid of Flying-types as well
- Anti-Intimidate helps a lot too. Bisharp is a great partner, as it can get rid of Fairy-, Ghost-, and Psychic-types and keep Intimidate users out.
- Sideline offense is really great as well, allowing for quick sweeps. Deoxys-A is a great partner, as it can tackle most threats easily with its powerful and fast attacks. Kyurem-B nails Flying-types while MHera keeps Rock-types out. Other powerful, fast sweepers like the Musketeers or Latios can help remove faster opponents for Mega Heracross.
- Wide Guard can block Heat Wave and Pixilate Hyper Voice
- Rock- / Electric- / Ice-types to counter Flying-types
- Stealth Rock - puts a lot of things into KO range and limits Flying / Fire-type switchins
Other Options
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- Swords Dance can be used if any of the coverage is unneeded to boost its power even further. However, the general pace of the metagame as well as the difficulty of finding an opportunity to use it makes it inferior compared to the recommended moves, and Mega Heracross really relies on its coverage. Keep in mind that regular Heracross's ability, Moxie, gives it the opportunity to grab a pre-emptive attack boost when the conditions are right, and is generally a more accessible way to boost.
- Earthquake
- Bullet Seed hits Jellicent, Rotom-W, and other bulky Water-types much harder than all of Mega Heracross's other attacks, and OHKOs Rotom-W through Sitrus, something Pin Missile cannot do.
- Bulk Up I guess
- Guts as first ability- gives regular form a backup in case it gets statused before it can Mega Evolve.
- Feint
- Not really much else; the given set already gives Mega Hera everything it needs
Checks & Counters
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**Offensive Typing Advantage**:
- P much any Flying-type with Flying-type STAB attack (Talonflame is the main one, Togekiss, Skymin. Most other Flying-types don't run Flying-type STAB tho. Just don't switch in on Rock Blast)
- Fairy-types (Sylveon shrugs off Rock Blast for the OHKO, MGarde too, but has to watch out for Pin Missile)
- Ghost-types (Mega Gengar can trap it and burn it or kill it, Aegislash resists all of its attacks and can 2HKO with Shadow Ball)
- Fire-types (MZard easy OHKO, watch out for Rock Blast though)
- Landorus-T. Be careful though, -1 MHera is still pretty powerful, and can 2HKO. Also, landorus-t can't do anything to Heracross by itself; it needs a partner to actually take it down. Same with Hitmontop.
- Salamence. Doesn't like Rock Blast but can OHKO with Fire Blast, though the chance is small
- Be sure to pivot in and out of neutral hits to continuously lower Mega Heracross's power if you cannot immediately take it down as it is still quite powerful, even at -1.
- Burns hurt. Jellicent easily shrugs off attacks, while Sableye has priority. Most WOW users are slower though so be careful as you might have to take a hit first.
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