Offensive Air Balloon
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name: Offensive Air Balloon
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Stone Edge / Ancient Power / Flash Cannon
ability: Flash Fire
item: Air Balloon
evs: 12 HP / 252 SpA / 244 Speed
nature: Timid / Modest
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is the entire purpose of the set. Heatran's ability to beat common Defoggers as well as force switches makes it a stellar Rock setter.
Fire Blast is the primary offensive move, given that it's Heatran most powerful drawback-free STAB-boosted move. The offensive nature of this set makes it a preferred option over Lava Plume.
Flamethrower can be used if you want more accuracy and PP but the lower power means it has a chance to miss out on the OHKO on Mega-Heracross, and does less damage overall.
Overheat is also a viable option, but can make Heatran very vulnerable to being forced out and set up on. Earth Power provides very solid coverage, hitting Pokemon such as Terrakion, Mega-Charizard-X and enables you to fully counter opposing Heatran as long as your balloon is intact.
Will-O-Wisp is a very useful tool for crippling physical attackers Heatran can't hit hard enough with its offensive moves, such as Tyranitar, Gyarados, Azumarill, as well as a few Ground types who will take a turn to break the balloon such as Garchomp and Hippowdon. It also enables it to bypass Sucker Punch users such as Bisharp, and can chip away at Pokemon that enjoy switching into it such as Keldeo, Greninja and Landorus-I.
Stone Edge can be used to deal with Volcarona and specially defensive Talonflame as well as stop Mega-Charizard-Y from switching in. It already hits these targets hard enough with an attack-reducing nature, so no need to use a Naive or Hasty nature.
Ancient Power is also a good option if you prefer the accuracy and aren't too concerned with Charizard-Y or Volcarona.
Flash Cannon is a solid option to hit Fairies in general, and also enables Heatran to not be walled by a few dragons such Latios, Latias and Kyurem-B.
Hidden Power Ice is an option to hit specially defensive Gliscor, and is also effective against faster Gliscor variants who, if you use Fire Blast, can stall you out with Substitute until you miss or run out of PP. It also hits Latis harder than Fire Blast does and deals massive damage to Garchomp, very nearly OHKOing it.
Taunt can let Heatran stop opposing Defoggers from removing Rocks or recovering as well as being a useful utility move in general, stopping slower setters like Tyranitar, Clefable, and slower Gliscor variants from laying down rocks, as well as letting teammates take advantage of specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey who tend to switch in,
Roar can be used as a phazing option but is generally inferior to Taunt.
Toxic can be used to threaten Latios and Latias further but doesn't necessarily help the offensive type of team this set fits on.
Set Details
========
244 Speed EVs with a Timid nature enables Heatran in to outspeed Adamant Excadrill and Jolly Mega-Heracross, as well outspeed standard SpD Charizard-X which therefore lets you 2HKO it with Earth Power before it manages to hit you with Earthquake assuming its balloon is still intact. The speed investment also enables you to outspeed as outspeed Mega-Tyranitar, Gyarados and non-Lum Berry Dragonite. Full SpA investment is given in order to hit as hard as possible, and the remaining EVs are put into HP. Running 212 Speed EVs is also an option if you're not worried about Excadrill or Heracross and want some extra bulk. If you prefer power over the ability to outspeed certain threats, a Modest nature can be chosen with a spread of 56 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe, This spread outspeeds Adamant Bisharp. You can also run up to 240 Speed to outspeed Adamant Mega-Heracross.
Usage Tips
========
Since Heatran is a Stealth Rock setter, it is preferred to set up rocks early game,so leading with it is a good idea. However, it is also advised to keep your Balloon intact if you spot something it could let Heatran check (such as Garchomp or Sand Rush Excadrill). Thanks to its Air Balloon, Heatran forces a lot of switches, especially against choice-locked Earthquake users : these forced switches provide great opportunities to lay down Stealth Rock. Try to send it in on predicted Fire and Ground-type moves, but don't be too reckless so as to not lose the Balloon prematurely when you would rather keep it.
Team Options
========
This set is preferably to be used on an offensive team that enjoys Heatran's defensive capabilities (the ability to deal with most Fairies, Steel-types and Grass-types) and needs a Rock setter that can beat most Defoggers, yet doesn't want something too passive so as to not kill momentum for the team and therefore will not be satisfied with more defensive Heatran set. Air Balloon gives it an extra immunity which is very useful for gaining momentum on an offensive team, and lets it temporarily check a few big threats such as Garchomp, Excadrill, and Landorus-T. Heatran is vulnerable to strong Fighting types and Water types, particularly Terrakion, Rotom-W and Keldeo, and also struggles with Landorus-I, so it's a good idea to pack answers to these. Specifically, Latios and Latias are solid partners given that they check all of these Pokemon very well, not to mention that they are usually found offensive teams where Air Balloon Heatran is supposed to be used. Venusaur is also a notoriously good partner for it, and can easily run an offensive set suited for the kind of team this particular set fits on. It also deals with Azumarill, who is a threat to Heatran (although it is crippled by Will-O-Wisp).
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name: Offensive Air Balloon
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Stone Edge / Ancient Power / Flash Cannon
ability: Flash Fire
item: Air Balloon
evs: 12 HP / 252 SpA / 244 Speed
nature: Timid / Modest
Moves
========
Stealth Rock is the entire purpose of the set. Heatran's ability to beat common Defoggers as well as force switches makes it a stellar Rock setter.
Fire Blast is the primary offensive move, given that it's Heatran most powerful drawback-free STAB-boosted move. The offensive nature of this set makes it a preferred option over Lava Plume.
Flamethrower can be used if you want more accuracy and PP but the lower power means it has a chance to miss out on the OHKO on Mega-Heracross, and does less damage overall.
Overheat is also a viable option, but can make Heatran very vulnerable to being forced out and set up on. Earth Power provides very solid coverage, hitting Pokemon such as Terrakion, Mega-Charizard-X and enables you to fully counter opposing Heatran as long as your balloon is intact.
Will-O-Wisp is a very useful tool for crippling physical attackers Heatran can't hit hard enough with its offensive moves, such as Tyranitar, Gyarados, Azumarill, as well as a few Ground types who will take a turn to break the balloon such as Garchomp and Hippowdon. It also enables it to bypass Sucker Punch users such as Bisharp, and can chip away at Pokemon that enjoy switching into it such as Keldeo, Greninja and Landorus-I.
Stone Edge can be used to deal with Volcarona and specially defensive Talonflame as well as stop Mega-Charizard-Y from switching in. It already hits these targets hard enough with an attack-reducing nature, so no need to use a Naive or Hasty nature.
Ancient Power is also a good option if you prefer the accuracy and aren't too concerned with Charizard-Y or Volcarona.
Flash Cannon is a solid option to hit Fairies in general, and also enables Heatran to not be walled by a few dragons such Latios, Latias and Kyurem-B.
Hidden Power Ice is an option to hit specially defensive Gliscor, and is also effective against faster Gliscor variants who, if you use Fire Blast, can stall you out with Substitute until you miss or run out of PP. It also hits Latis harder than Fire Blast does and deals massive damage to Garchomp, very nearly OHKOing it.
Taunt can let Heatran stop opposing Defoggers from removing Rocks or recovering as well as being a useful utility move in general, stopping slower setters like Tyranitar, Clefable, and slower Gliscor variants from laying down rocks, as well as letting teammates take advantage of specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey who tend to switch in,
Roar can be used as a phazing option but is generally inferior to Taunt.
Toxic can be used to threaten Latios and Latias further but doesn't necessarily help the offensive type of team this set fits on.
Set Details
========
244 Speed EVs with a Timid nature enables Heatran in to outspeed Adamant Excadrill and Jolly Mega-Heracross, as well outspeed standard SpD Charizard-X which therefore lets you 2HKO it with Earth Power before it manages to hit you with Earthquake assuming its balloon is still intact. The speed investment also enables you to outspeed as outspeed Mega-Tyranitar, Gyarados and non-Lum Berry Dragonite. Full SpA investment is given in order to hit as hard as possible, and the remaining EVs are put into HP. Running 212 Speed EVs is also an option if you're not worried about Excadrill or Heracross and want some extra bulk. If you prefer power over the ability to outspeed certain threats, a Modest nature can be chosen with a spread of 56 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe, This spread outspeeds Adamant Bisharp. You can also run up to 240 Speed to outspeed Adamant Mega-Heracross.
Usage Tips
========
Since Heatran is a Stealth Rock setter, it is preferred to set up rocks early game,so leading with it is a good idea. However, it is also advised to keep your Balloon intact if you spot something it could let Heatran check (such as Garchomp or Sand Rush Excadrill). Thanks to its Air Balloon, Heatran forces a lot of switches, especially against choice-locked Earthquake users : these forced switches provide great opportunities to lay down Stealth Rock. Try to send it in on predicted Fire and Ground-type moves, but don't be too reckless so as to not lose the Balloon prematurely when you would rather keep it.
Team Options
========
This set is preferably to be used on an offensive team that enjoys Heatran's defensive capabilities (the ability to deal with most Fairies, Steel-types and Grass-types) and needs a Rock setter that can beat most Defoggers, yet doesn't want something too passive so as to not kill momentum for the team and therefore will not be satisfied with more defensive Heatran set. Air Balloon gives it an extra immunity which is very useful for gaining momentum on an offensive team, and lets it temporarily check a few big threats such as Garchomp, Excadrill, and Landorus-T. Heatran is vulnerable to strong Fighting types and Water types, particularly Terrakion, Rotom-W and Keldeo, and also struggles with Landorus-I, so it's a good idea to pack answers to these. Specifically, Latios and Latias are solid partners given that they check all of these Pokemon very well, not to mention that they are usually found offensive teams where Air Balloon Heatran is supposed to be used. Venusaur is also a notoriously good partner for it, and can easily run an offensive set suited for the kind of team this particular set fits on. It also deals with Azumarill, who is a threat to Heatran (although it is crippled by Will-O-Wisp).
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