[OVERVIEW]
<p>Heracross is often considered to be inferior to its metallic Bug-typed brethren, Scizor, but this assumption is not true at all. With access to STAB Megahorn and Close Combat, coupled by the fact that many Pokemon in Ubers are weak to Bug- and Fighting- type attacks, Heracross can thrive in Ubers with Choice Scarf and Choice Band sets. Heracross separates itself from other offensive Pokemon by welcoming Poison and Burn to boost its Attack stat even more. Heracross's unique resistances to Fighting- and Dark- type attacks, moderate Speed, and humongous power are its advantages over Scizor. Its traits make it an excellent candidate for any team, especially for those in need of a Darkrai counter. Although it lacks the bulk of many other Pokemon in ubers, it is sufficient enough to take at least one hit from many threats.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Sleep Talk / Night Slash / Toxic / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 56 HP / 216 Atk / 4 SpD / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With a Choice Scarf attached, Heracross reaches 396 Speed which is enough to outspeed max Speed Darkrai and Mewtwo, both of whom are OHKOed by Megahorn. This already separates Heracross from other Bug-types such as Scizor who can subsequently be Flamethrowered or Dark Voided by the faster Mewtwo and Darkrai, respectively. Heracross can also take down many of the most common Ubers with Stealth Rock and Spikes support, such as Dialga, who is guaranteed to be OHKOed by Close Combat after Stealth Rock. Choice Scarf Heracross' main selling point, however, is being able to almost perfectly counter Darkrai thanks to its resistance to Dark Pulse and Focus Blast and the ability to OHKO it at will.</p>
<p>Close Combat, Megahorn, and Stone Edge are all necessary to achieve 2HKOs on most Uber Pokemon. The last move depends solely on Heracross's needs. Sleep Talk allows Heracross to switch in on Darkrai's Dark Void, as Heracross's next attack will be boosted by Guts. However, Sleep Talk can only be used once while holding a Choice item; subsequent uses will cause the move to fail. Night Slash is Heracross' most powerful attack against Giratina-O, although it is only a 3HKO at best. Toxic is Heracross' best option against incoming Lugia and Giratina-o, and although it won't do any immediate damage, it will severely hinder both of them for the rest of the match. Finally, Pursuit can hurt Latios, Latias, and Mewtwo as they switch out, fearing Megahorn. However, being trapped into a 40 Base Power attack is less than ideal.</p>
<p>Heracross' ability, Guts, allows it to take advantage of status, most notably from Toxic Spikes, Blissey's Toxic, and Mewtwo's Will-o-Wisp. The boost from its ability allows Heracross to 2HKO or OHKO all commonly used Pokemon in Ubers except Giratina-O and Giratina. Despite this boost, however, keep in mind that the aforementioned moves and Pokemon tend to appear on stall-based teams and will very likely have either Giratina-O or Giratina as a team member.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Heracross needs proper Spikes and Stealth Rock support to be a major threat in Ubers. Deoxys leads have access to both Stealth Rock and Spikes, and can often lure in priority users who could otherwise easily revenge kill Heracross. Lugia, Ho-Oh, Giratina-O and Giratina are often major issues for Heracross. Darkrai is an excellent partner, being able to destroy Lugia, Giratina, and Giratina-O with relative ease with Dark Pulse, although it must be wary switching into the latter due to its powerful Draco Meteor. Kyogre's bulk, resistance to Fire-type attacks, and ability to Calm Mind makes it a perfect partner for Heracross, as it can eliminate Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Giratina fairly easily. Kyogre's Drizzle also weakens Fire-type attacks for Heracross, allowing it to often survive a hit from the likes of Mewtwo, Choice Scarf Palkia and Dialga and retaliate with its powerful Megahorn or Close Combat. If Heracross is locked into anything but Megahorn, Wobbuffet can annihilate it with Counter. Unfortunately, Wobbuffet can not be countered thanks to Shadow Tag. Mixed attackers such as Dialga and Palkia can often lure in Wobbuffet and destroy it with a combination of their special and physical attacks. Thanks to Dialga's convenient typing, it can counter Giratina and Giratina-O as well, while Heracross resists Dialga's weaknesses to Ground and Fighting. Palkia's quad-resistance to Fire- and Water- type moves also allow it to absorb some of the most powerful attacks aimed at Heracross. </p>
<p>Wobbuffet makes another fantastic partner to Heracross, as it can not only trap Lugia and kill it with Mirror Coat if it decides to attack, but it can also revenge kill Pokemon with Choice Scarf that can revenge kill Heracross, such as Choice Scarf Dialga or Choice Scarf Palkia. If you opt to use Wobbuffet, another sweeper such as Rayquaza will make an excellent partner to Heracross, cleaning up any Pokemon Heracross failed to finish off.</p>
<p>To outspeed Deoxys-A and Modest Choice Scarf Kyogre, a Jolly nature is necessary. However, neither are common, so the choice in losing the power for the coverage is entirely up to the user.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Sleep Talk / Pursuit / Night Slash
item: Choice Band
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 248 HP / 232 Atk / 24 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Almost identical to the Choice Scarf set, but with a key difference in power and bulk. With the HP EVs, Heracross becomes a Pokemon that can survive almost any attack and OHKO back with one of its STAB attacks. Unlike the Choice Scarf set, Guts is not a necessity to hit hard, thanks to the boost already given by Choice Band.</p>
<p>Although Guts activation isn't necessary to achieve this set's goals, the boost in power will decimate defensive teams without a proper answer to Heracross. If Guts has been activated, Heracross can 2HKO or OHKO every Pokemon commonly used in Ubers with Close Combat or Megahorn, with the exception of Ho-Oh and Giratina. Stone Edge OHKOes Ho-Oh and provides a more powerful attack against Giratina-O than Megahorn. Sleep Talk turns Heracross into an excellent check to Darkrai, resisting Dark Pulse and Focus Blast while still being able to attack if Dark Voided, OHKOing back with Heracross's powerful, Guts-boosted attacks. Once again, keep in mind that Sleep Talk will only work once as long as Heracross is holding a Choice item. Should one not wish to use Heracross as a sleep absorber, Pursuit is a fine choice. With support from Tickle Wobbuffet, Heracross can remove its greatest counter, Giratina. It takes four Tickles for Heracross to OHKO a switching Giratina with Pursuit, and two Tickles if Guts is activated. Speaking of Guts, Heracross sets itself apart from other Pursuiters such as Scizor and Tyranitar as not even Will-o-Wisp can save Giratina's life. Night Slash allows Heracross to 2HKO Giratina-O, something that it can not do with the previous set.</p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Heracross should rely on what bulk it has when employing a Choice Band set. If one uses more Speed, it should only be enough to outspeed 16 Speed Groudon and Dialga, as any more will result in likely losing the bulk that allows Heracross to take many Uber attacks.</p>
<p>Stealth Rock is needed like always, giving Heracross a better chance to kill Ho-Oh, Rayquaza, and many other Uber Pokemon. Unlike the previous set, Lugia fails to wall this set as Heracross is slower and will pierce Lugia with Megahorn as it eliminates its Flying- type via Roost. Kyogre is once again a great partner as it can kill Ho-Oh and weaken Fire-type attacks via Drizzle. With Fire-type attacks and Pokemon weakened and/or eliminated, Heracross will more likely not have to contend with one of its major weaknesses.</p>
<p>Since Choice Band Heracross lacks speed, faster powerhouses such as Choice Specs Kyogre, Latios and Life Orb Dialga can OHKO Heracross with their most powerful STAB attacks. Choice Scarf Palkia can take on Kyogre's Water Spout and Surf, and hit back hard with Thunder, Draco Meteor, or Spacial Rend. Palkia can also revenge Latios and moderately weakened Dialga.</p>
<p>Heracross should not be the center of a team when using this set. Instead, it should be used merely to help other Pokemon, such as Rayquaza and Groudon, set up instead. After drawing out and killing Lugia with Heracross, these other Pokemon can easily sweep teams with Rock Polish, Swords Dance, or Dragon Dance. Heracross's typing and bulk provide it one of the best advantages in Ubers; KOing an opponent's Pokemon and seeing what their next counter in line is.</p>
[SET]
name: SubSalac
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Swords Dance
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Megahorn
item: Salac Berry
ability: Swarm
nature: Jolly
ivs: 30 HP
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Heracross's most interesting set, and certainly viable if used correctly. The goal is to switch in on something that can't do much, such as Forretress, and Substitute. The opponent will likely bring in a much faster Pokemon to break the Substitutes, which results in Heracross constantly using Substitute until Salac Berry activates. Assuming Substitute is still intact, Heracross can then Swords Dance and attempt to sweep. Heracross subbing down to Salac Berry activation also activates the dual effect of Swarm, multiplying Megahorn's power times 1.5. Along with STAB, the power of Heracross's Megahorn reaches a power level of 270. Swords Dance then boosts this to a whopping 540!</p>
[Additional Comments]
<h3>Damage Calculations</h3>
<ul class="damage_calculation">
<li> +2 Swarm Megahorn vs 32 HP / 0 Def Rayquaza 86.91% - 102.23% <li>
<li>+2 Swarm Megahorn vs 252 HP / 32 Def Groudon 102.72% - 121.29% </li>
<li>+2 Swarm Megahorn vs 252 HP / 64 Def Lugia 104.09% - 122.60% </li>
<li>+2 Close Combat vs 224 HP / 0 Def Ho-oh 50.61% - 59.90% </li>
</ul>
<p>252 Speed allows Heracross to outspeed max Speed, Modest Choice Scarf Kyogre after a Salac Berry boost. However, there are several Pokemon capable of outspeeding Heracross after the boost, namely Choice Scarf bearing Pokemon with equal to or greater than 90 base Speed such as Palkia, Dialga, Shaymin-S, Mewtwo, Jirachi, Darkrai, and Timid Kyogre. After Substitute is broken, Heracross will likely have no way of stopping priority attacks. With the prevalence of Groudon and Kyogre in Ubers, a mixed Tyranitar is a phenomenal partner, as the weather will likely change later. Tyranitar can lure in Scizor and Fire Blast to OHKO them, as well as take down Giratina-o with Crunch or Pursuit. Rayquaza also falls victim to Ice Beam. Rayquaza, Scizor, and Giratina-o commonly use priority attacks, making Heracross's job much easier with them eliminated.</p>
<p>Wobbuffet, who always pairs well with Heracross, does phenomenally here, trapping and OHKOing most Choice Scarf Pokemon that would outspeed Heracross after a Salac Berry boost. In return, Heracross does an excellent job of taking out Wobbuffet's biggest threat, Darkrai and Taunt + Calm Mind Mewtwo.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Wobbuffet is the best Pokemon to pair up with Heracross, no matter what the set. His ability to trap and kill other Choice Scarfers, as well as trap Lugia, make Wobbuffet the premiere Pokemon to pair with Heracross. Tyranitar, oddly enough, makes an excellent partner to both Pokemon, finishing off Pokemon that Wobbuffet Tickles with Pursuit, as well as taking down Giratina and Ho-Oh, two of the biggest problems for Heracross.</p>
<p>A Choice Scarf Deoxys-s lead combines very well with Heracross, usually rendering the opponent's lead useless, and then setting up Spikes. If the Pokemon that is Tricked is Groudon, then Heracross can sweep much more easily. Bulky Pokemon such as Dialga and Groudon can accompany Deoxys-S and set up Stealth Rock. Rayquaza also makes an excellent partner, finishing off what Heracross can't with ExtremeSpeed, and can sweep much easier with Lugia and Latias gone, both of whom can be beaten or at the very least in the case of Lugia, lured out, with Heracross.</p>
<p>Forretress is another great Pokemon to use with Heracross, as it can use screens to give Heracross more bulk, as well as lure in Fire-types and use Explosion, clearing the field for Heracross later. Forretress is another Pokemon that can use Spikes, Stealth Rock, or Toxic Spikes.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Heracross can use a Rest and Sleep Talk set with Bulk Up and Megahorn, but PP can run out quickly and Megahorn will end up missing a few times. Dialga is the superior option for such a set. A Swords Dance sweeper with Close Combat, Night Slash, and Megahorn can be used, but needs Wobbuffet to set up and has no priority to finish off faster sweepers. Lucario would be a far superior option.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Giratina and Giratina-O are Heracross' greatest counters thanks to their immense bulk, immunity to Close Combat, and resistance to Megahorn, although the latter can be 2HKOed by Choice Banded Night Slash. Ho-Oh sports a quadruple resistance to Megahorn as well as a 2x resistance to Close Combat, and can easily OHKO Heracross with Brave Bird or Sacred Fire. However, Ho-Oh is OHKOed by Stone Edge and 2HKOed by Close Combat after taking Stealth Rock damage. Lugia can switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and stall it out with Reflect and Roost. Scizor can easily handle the Choice Scarf set due to its resistance to Megahorn and the ability to 2HKO Heracross with Megahorn. Furthermore, Scizor can OHKO Heracross with Choice Banded Bullet Punch after a Defense drop from Close Combat. Bullet Punch will also pick off SubSalac Heracross if the Substitute is not up. Finally, Wobbuffet can revenge any Heracross not locked into Megahorn.</p>
<p>Groudon's bulk and Fire Punch can make quick work of Heracross, usually surviving whatever Heracross throws at it. Rayquaza boasts resists to both of Heracross's main attacks, and can finish it off with a STAB Dragon-type attack or ExtremeSpeed if Heracross is SubSalac. Forretress can set up entry hazards against Choice Scarf Heracross as long as it avoids Close Combat.</p>
<p>Faster Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Dialga, Palkia, Shaymin-S, and Jirachi can often make short work of Heracross. The former two can smash it with Fire Blast (or Surf in Palkia's case, should it be raining), Shaymin-S can OHKO with Air Slash and Jirachi can flinch Heracross to death with Iron Head. However, none of these Pokemon will enjoy switching into Heracross' powerful moves and, with the exception of Shaymin-S, can lose to Choice Band Heracross one on one under certain circumstances.</p>
<p>As much as Heracross will enjoy Toxic Spikes at first, they will eventually wear down Heracross quickly, which means it is actually not a terrible idea to use against it, especially if you have a solid Heracross counter to help neutralize the boost from Guts.</p>
