[OVERVIEW]
* Heracross has a great Attack stat, making it one of the best physical attackers, in the metagame. With its good offensive typing, and access to two strong STABs in Close Combat and Megahorn, Swords Dance to setup and coverage moves such Knock Off and Stone Edge, Heracross is able to break through defensive cores and bulky teams and can be very difficult to switch into
* Its two abilities, Guts and Moxie, are very good for a offensive Pokemon such as Heracross, allowing it to perform in different roles and run diverse sets
* Its Bug and Fighting typing makes it able to check Ground-types such as Hippowdon and Krookodile and resists Sucker Punch, allowing it to beat Bisharp, Honchkrow, and Mega Absol
* Despite all those good qualities, Heracross has a lackluster Speed stat and no access to a strong priority to be a decent offensive Pokémon, making it easily revenge killed by a lot of faster offensive attackers
* Its both STABs are resisted by Fairy- and Flying-types such as Gliscor, Clefable and Togekiss, which are common Pokemon in the metagame, Heracross can't hit them reliably without boosts and coverage moves. It has also a hard time against Ghost- and Poison-types, and has to run either Earthquake or Knock Off to deal damage to them
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Facade
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Heracross's Attack to massive levels, further augmenting its power in conjunction with Guts to break through even the bulkiest walls
* Close Combat is Heracross's strongest STAB and hits everything that doesn't resist it hard, such as Dark- and Steel-types, and can OKHO Full HP Scizor and 2HKO Hippowdon, Swampert and most bulky Water-types with Guts' boost
* Knock Off hits Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Mew, and Doublade, crippling them by removing their item
* Facade is reliably boosted when used in conjonction with Flame Orb and Guts, and punish Fairy- and Poison-types that would switch into Heracross
* Megahorn can be used over Facade to hit Psychic-types and Amoonguss harder, but it doesn't coverage too much compared to Facade
Set Details
========
* An Adamant nature with maximum investment in Attack and Speed allows Heracross to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Bisharp, Mew and almost any defensive threat
* A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Lucario, Toxicroak and Haxorus with a neutral nature or 80s base such as Chandelure
* Guts is the preferred ability for allowing Heracross for the immediate power boost and status pseudo-immunity it gives coupled to Flame Orb
* An alternative spread of 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe can be runned, as it allows to Heracross to outspeed Mew and fully invested 60s base. The remaining EVs are put into HP to supplement Heracross's bulk
Usage Tips
========
* Heracross should be used a wallbreaker due to its insane Attack stat in conjunction with Guts
* Try to always keep entry hazards off the field, as the burn recoil already wears down Heracross relatively quickly
* Use Pivots, doubles and Volt Switch or U-turn support to bring in Heracross and activate its Flame Orb safely, don't hard switch on predicted attacks, as its average defenses will force it to take huge damage from opposing attackers
* Don't try to set a Swords Dance against offensive teams, as Heracross should simply go for attacks against, otherwise, Swords Dance should be used against more defensive teams to easily break down walls
* Click Swords Dance against Pokemon that can't do much back to Heracross, such as Blissey, Quagsire and Toxic Hippowdon, or against Pokemon that it forces out, such as Tsareena and Porygon2
* Althought its power, using Close Combat may not always be the best idea depending on the team matchup. If the opponent has an obvious switch-in, it might be wise to choose Knock Off or Facade to cripple the foe
Team Options
========
* Since Flying- and Fairy-types resists Heracross' both STABs and threaten it, Pokemon that can safely come on their STAB moves and beat them such as Mega Aerodactyl, Hippowdon and Volcanion fits well with Heracross.
* Pokemon that can deal with Poison- and Ghost-types such as Latias and Krookodile are greatly apreciated, they can beat Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Gengar, which allows Heracross to fire off attacks more freely.
* Stealth Rock support is highly recommanded, since it makes Heracross's job as a wallbreaker a bit easier, Stealth Rock setters such as Gliscor and Swampert makes great partners, as they can also check Heracross' threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Entei.
* Otherwise, entry hazard removers such as Starmie and Latias prevent Heracross from being worn down as easily.
* Heracross profits from VoltTurn users such as Raikou and Scizor, which can bring Heracross on the field for free to unleash Guts-boosted furies.
* Sweepers and cleaners such as Scizor and Zygarde-10% appreciate Heracross's ability to break down defensive cores.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Close Combat is Heracross' STAB move, which hits Steel- super effectively and
* Megahorn is Heracross' second most power STAB move, and hits Psychic-types super effectively and has a good coverage coupled to Close Combat to hit most types neutrally.
* Knock Off cripples incoming switch-ins by removing their Leftovers and Eviolite, and hits reliably Ghost-, Flying- and Poison-types that would switch on Heracross.
* Stone Edge allows Heracross to deal with Flying-types, and hit Fire-types harder than Close Combat
* Earthquake hits Poison-types that resist Heracross' both STAB moves and don't take too much from Knock Off.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed EV investment alongside a Jolly nature and a Choice Scarf lets Heracross outspeed Choice Scarf-using base 80s such as Togekiss, and Chandelure, and all unboosted Pokemon.
* Maximum investment in Attack maximize Heracross damage output.
* Moxie allows Heracross to accumulate Attack boosts after revenge kills and become an effective cleaner if the opponent's team is weakened.
* Guts can be used instead of Moxie to soak up status with Heracross, especially burn.
Usage Tips
========
* Heracross should be mainly used to revenge kill slower threats such as Latias, Mega Aerodactyl, and Cobalion, or as a late-game Cleaner against weakened teams thanks to Moxie
* Since its defenses are (unimpressive), Heracross should avoid switching into unresisted attacks to keep itself healthy for cleaning late-game
* If running Guts over Moxie, switch into Status moves such as Scald and Toxic as soon as possible to activate it. With Guts boost, Heracross is capable of OHKOing Mega Aerodactyl, Keldeo, and Raikou with Close Combat and score many 2HKOs against physical walls and Pokemon that resist it.
* Knock Off should be used early-game to remove key items from threats, such as Eviolite from Doublade and Leftovers from Swampert.
Team Options
========
* Nidoking is a perfect teammate for Choice Scarf Heracross, as it can set Stealth Rock and handle Fairy-types, Flying-types and most physical walls that can check Heracross and prevent it from cleaning.
* Klefki can set Spikes, which is useful for Heracross since it pressures switch-in such as Hippowdon and Tentacruel that consently switch into Heracross, and can also cripple faster Choice Scarf users thanks to Thunder Wave and Prankster. Whimsicott can also stop faster offensive threats with Stun Spore and pivot into Heracross with U-Turn.
* Scizor, Bisharp, and Zygarde-10% can also handle fast threats with their powerful priority moves.
* Heracross aprreciates strong Wallbreakers, since they can open up holes for Heracross to clean late-game. Choice Specs Keldeo and Gengar are perfect examples.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Choice Band with Guts could be used, but Heracross usually needs to be able to switch to a coverage move on a non-Choice Scarf set, and Guts Heracross with Flame Orb already allows it to wallbreak.
* Substitute can be used with Leftovers to ease predictions and prevent from being easily revenge killed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Clefable and Primarina can switch into everything that is not Guts-boosted Facade and easily beat Heracross with their Fairy STAB moves, thought they don't like getting their items removed by Knock Off.
**Flying-types**: Defensive Togekiss and Gliscor can switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and wall it, but they can't check Swords Dance varient. More offensive Pokemon such as Talonflame and Mega-Aerodactyl can easily revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Heracross with their Flying-type STAB moves.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Zygarde-10%, Alakazam and Entei outspeed Swords Dance Heracross and can easily beat it with their powerful attacks, while faster Choice Scarf users such as Infernape, and Latias or +1 Mega Sharpedo can revenge kill Choice Scarf Heracross without any trouble.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types that resist Heracross' STAB types, such as Nidoking and Gengar, can take on Heracross, although they must be particularly wary of Ground-type coverage and Knock Off. Defensive Nidoqueen has little to fear from Choice Scarf Heracross, which cannot hope to break it without Earthquake, although Swords Heracross can easily do so.
* Heracross has a great Attack stat, making it one of the best physical attackers, in the metagame. With its good offensive typing, and access to two strong STABs in Close Combat and Megahorn, Swords Dance to setup and coverage moves such Knock Off and Stone Edge, Heracross is able to break through defensive cores and bulky teams and can be very difficult to switch into
* Its two abilities, Guts and Moxie, are very good for a offensive Pokemon such as Heracross, allowing it to perform in different roles and run diverse sets
* Its Bug and Fighting typing makes it able to check Ground-types such as Hippowdon and Krookodile and resists Sucker Punch, allowing it to beat Bisharp, Honchkrow, and Mega Absol
* Despite all those good qualities, Heracross has a lackluster Speed stat and no access to a strong priority to be a decent offensive Pokémon, making it easily revenge killed by a lot of faster offensive attackers
* Its both STABs are resisted by Fairy- and Flying-types such as Gliscor, Clefable and Togekiss, which are common Pokemon in the metagame, Heracross can't hit them reliably without boosts and coverage moves. It has also a hard time against Ghost- and Poison-types, and has to run either Earthquake or Knock Off to deal damage to them
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Facade
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Heracross's Attack to massive levels, further augmenting its power in conjunction with Guts to break through even the bulkiest walls
* Close Combat is Heracross's strongest STAB and hits everything that doesn't resist it hard, such as Dark- and Steel-types, and can OKHO Full HP Scizor and 2HKO Hippowdon, Swampert and most bulky Water-types with Guts' boost
* Knock Off hits Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Mew, and Doublade, crippling them by removing their item
* Facade is reliably boosted when used in conjonction with Flame Orb and Guts, and punish Fairy- and Poison-types that would switch into Heracross
* Megahorn can be used over Facade to hit Psychic-types and Amoonguss harder, but it doesn't coverage too much compared to Facade
Set Details
========
* An Adamant nature with maximum investment in Attack and Speed allows Heracross to hit as hard as possible while outspeeding Bisharp, Mew and almost any defensive threat
* A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Lucario, Toxicroak and Haxorus with a neutral nature or 80s base such as Chandelure
* Guts is the preferred ability for allowing Heracross for the immediate power boost and status pseudo-immunity it gives coupled to Flame Orb
* An alternative spread of 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe can be runned, as it allows to Heracross to outspeed Mew and fully invested 60s base. The remaining EVs are put into HP to supplement Heracross's bulk
Usage Tips
========
* Heracross should be used a wallbreaker due to its insane Attack stat in conjunction with Guts
* Try to always keep entry hazards off the field, as the burn recoil already wears down Heracross relatively quickly
* Use Pivots, doubles and Volt Switch or U-turn support to bring in Heracross and activate its Flame Orb safely, don't hard switch on predicted attacks, as its average defenses will force it to take huge damage from opposing attackers
* Don't try to set a Swords Dance against offensive teams, as Heracross should simply go for attacks against, otherwise, Swords Dance should be used against more defensive teams to easily break down walls
* Click Swords Dance against Pokemon that can't do much back to Heracross, such as Blissey, Quagsire and Toxic Hippowdon, or against Pokemon that it forces out, such as Tsareena and Porygon2
* Althought its power, using Close Combat may not always be the best idea depending on the team matchup. If the opponent has an obvious switch-in, it might be wise to choose Knock Off or Facade to cripple the foe
Team Options
========
* Since Flying- and Fairy-types resists Heracross' both STABs and threaten it, Pokemon that can safely come on their STAB moves and beat them such as Mega Aerodactyl, Hippowdon and Volcanion fits well with Heracross.
* Pokemon that can deal with Poison- and Ghost-types such as Latias and Krookodile are greatly apreciated, they can beat Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Gengar, which allows Heracross to fire off attacks more freely.
* Stealth Rock support is highly recommanded, since it makes Heracross's job as a wallbreaker a bit easier, Stealth Rock setters such as Gliscor and Swampert makes great partners, as they can also check Heracross' threats such as Mega Aerodactyl and Entei.
* Otherwise, entry hazard removers such as Starmie and Latias prevent Heracross from being worn down as easily.
* Heracross profits from VoltTurn users such as Raikou and Scizor, which can bring Heracross on the field for free to unleash Guts-boosted furies.
* Sweepers and cleaners such as Scizor and Zygarde-10% appreciate Heracross's ability to break down defensive cores.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Close Combat is Heracross' STAB move, which hits Steel- super effectively and
* Megahorn is Heracross' second most power STAB move, and hits Psychic-types super effectively and has a good coverage coupled to Close Combat to hit most types neutrally.
* Knock Off cripples incoming switch-ins by removing their Leftovers and Eviolite, and hits reliably Ghost-, Flying- and Poison-types that would switch on Heracross.
* Stone Edge allows Heracross to deal with Flying-types, and hit Fire-types harder than Close Combat
* Earthquake hits Poison-types that resist Heracross' both STAB moves and don't take too much from Knock Off.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Speed EV investment alongside a Jolly nature and a Choice Scarf lets Heracross outspeed Choice Scarf-using base 80s such as Togekiss, and Chandelure, and all unboosted Pokemon.
* Maximum investment in Attack maximize Heracross damage output.
* Moxie allows Heracross to accumulate Attack boosts after revenge kills and become an effective cleaner if the opponent's team is weakened.
* Guts can be used instead of Moxie to soak up status with Heracross, especially burn.
Usage Tips
========
* Heracross should be mainly used to revenge kill slower threats such as Latias, Mega Aerodactyl, and Cobalion, or as a late-game Cleaner against weakened teams thanks to Moxie
* Since its defenses are (unimpressive), Heracross should avoid switching into unresisted attacks to keep itself healthy for cleaning late-game
* If running Guts over Moxie, switch into Status moves such as Scald and Toxic as soon as possible to activate it. With Guts boost, Heracross is capable of OHKOing Mega Aerodactyl, Keldeo, and Raikou with Close Combat and score many 2HKOs against physical walls and Pokemon that resist it.
* Knock Off should be used early-game to remove key items from threats, such as Eviolite from Doublade and Leftovers from Swampert.
Team Options
========
* Nidoking is a perfect teammate for Choice Scarf Heracross, as it can set Stealth Rock and handle Fairy-types, Flying-types and most physical walls that can check Heracross and prevent it from cleaning.
* Klefki can set Spikes, which is useful for Heracross since it pressures switch-in such as Hippowdon and Tentacruel that consently switch into Heracross, and can also cripple faster Choice Scarf users thanks to Thunder Wave and Prankster. Whimsicott can also stop faster offensive threats with Stun Spore and pivot into Heracross with U-Turn.
* Scizor, Bisharp, and Zygarde-10% can also handle fast threats with their powerful priority moves.
* Heracross aprreciates strong Wallbreakers, since they can open up holes for Heracross to clean late-game. Choice Specs Keldeo and Gengar are perfect examples.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Choice Band with Guts could be used, but Heracross usually needs to be able to switch to a coverage move on a non-Choice Scarf set, and Guts Heracross with Flame Orb already allows it to wallbreak.
* Substitute can be used with Leftovers to ease predictions and prevent from being easily revenge killed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types such as Clefable and Primarina can switch into everything that is not Guts-boosted Facade and easily beat Heracross with their Fairy STAB moves, thought they don't like getting their items removed by Knock Off.
**Flying-types**: Defensive Togekiss and Gliscor can switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and wall it, but they can't check Swords Dance varient. More offensive Pokemon such as Talonflame and Mega-Aerodactyl can easily revenge kill non-Choice Scarf Heracross with their Flying-type STAB moves.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon such as Zygarde-10%, Alakazam and Entei outspeed Swords Dance Heracross and can easily beat it with their powerful attacks, while faster Choice Scarf users such as Infernape, and Latias or +1 Mega Sharpedo can revenge kill Choice Scarf Heracross without any trouble.
**Poison-types**: Poison-types that resist Heracross' STAB types, such as Nidoking and Gengar, can take on Heracross, although they must be particularly wary of Ground-type coverage and Knock Off. Defensive Nidoqueen has little to fear from Choice Scarf Heracross, which cannot hope to break it without Earthquake, although Swords Heracross can easily do so.
Last edited: