Overview
Heatran is a solid Pokémon in Mix and Mega. Its good all around base stats let it pull off a wide variety of roles, which in turn means it can be slapped onto most team archetypes and fit quite comfortably. Another niche Heatran has is that most of the mega stones it likes to use aren't in high demand elsewhere, meaning its roles don't have too much competition. Indeed, it's just about the only Pokémon that can use the Latiasite effectively. Heatran's movepool is also impressive - in addition to a strong STAB in Fire Blast, as well as nice coverage in Earth Power it also has useful utility moves in Taunt, Stealth Rock, Roar, Toxic and Will-O-Wisp. Fire/Steel typing offers a slew of resistances, and before mega evolving it has a Fire immunity as well.
Heatran does still have its faults though. Its good bulk is let down by a lack of reliable recovery, and its Speed is nothing to write home about either. And if giving Heatran a mega stone that removes its Steel typing, it will become weak to all entry hazards.
Levitran
Heatran @ Latiasite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
- Toxic
- Roar
Moves
Stealth Rock is a staple on just about any team, and is used to help Heatran's teammates get extra KOs. Lava Plume is a decently strong STAB that has a 30% chance to burn the opponent. Toxic cripples walls like Slowbronite Blissey - Heatran can spam it quite freely, as even if it gets reflected by Magic Bounce, Heatran's immune anyway. Roar prevents the opponent setting up on Heatran, and helps spread passive damage. If you have something else that can set up Stealth Rock, Protect or Earth Power could be used in that slot to stall out poison and burn damage and hit opposing Fire-types, respectively.
Set Details
The Latiasite is essential to this set's success, as it gives Heatran a good mix of power and bulk and gives the ability Levitate, thus negating its X4 weakness to Ground-type moves. The EVs maximise physical bulk, letting this set counter Altarianite Zygarde, providing Heatran's already mega evolved. A specially defensive spread is also viable, although with Absolite Manaphy on the prowl it's not as effective.
Usage Tips
Setting up Stealth Rock should be your main goal early game. Then, use Heatran to take the heat off Pokémon weak to Pixilate Extreme Speed like Kyurem and Terrakion. Throwing around Toxic is often Heatran's best bet, as thanks to its natural immunity it doesn't matter if it gets reflected back by a Magic Bounce user. Use Roar on Pokémon that try to set up on Heatran, like Slowbronite Suicune.
Team Options
Pokémon weak to Pixilate Extreme Speed like Kyurem and Terrakion like having this set around - in turn, the former can switch into the Water moves Heatran is weak to. While it will hate Toxic, Primal Groudon is a nightmare for this set if it lacks Earth Power, so checks to it are recommended. Altarianite Landorus-T can do massive damage with its STAB Earthquake, while Blue Orb Skarmory can more or less wall it indefinitely. A Primal Groudon of your own could work too, as Heatran can come in on the Ground moves it's weak to after it's mega evolved, while it can come in on the Water moves Heatran is weak to. Wish Support is highly recommended to keep Heatran healthy; Ampharosite Jirachi gets great synergy with this Heatran, as it resists Water moves while Heatran is immune to Ground ones. Jirachi can also bring Heatran in safely with a slow U-turn. Absolite Manaphy is a nightmare for this set, as it can reflect back the Stealth Rock and set up in Heatran's face with Tail Glow. Red Orb users like Primal Groudon, Victini, Raikou and Togekiss can help take it down.
Stallbreaker
Heatran @ Ampharosite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 108 HP / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
Modest Nature
- Magma Storm
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Dragon Pulse / Earth Power
Moves
Magma Storm is Heatran's strongest STAB, and also traps the opponent. Taunt prevents walls from using status moves, preventing them from recovering and spreading status. Toxic is used to cripple walls, putting them on a timer. Combined with Magma Storm, the damage can build up very quickly, especially in a metagame without Leftovers. Dragon Pulse can be used as Heatran's safe STAB once it's mega evolved, while Earth Power lets it hit opposing Fire types and 2HKO defensive Primal Groudon on the switch.
Set Details
The Ampharosite is critical to this set's success. It gives Heatran a decent boost to its defences and a huge boost to its Special Attack at the slight cost of some Speed. However, the main draw is twofold: Dragon typing, which means it can now break through bulky Water-types, and Mold Breaker, which lets it use Taunt and Toxic on Magic Bounce walls like Sablenite Blissey. The Speed EVs let Heatran outrun uninvested Suicune after the Speed drops from the Ampharosite. Special Attack is maximised to hit as hard as possible. The rest is in HP for some extra bulk. A bulkier spread of 248 HP / 112 SpA / 148 Spe can be used instead of you prefer bulk to outright power. You could also eschew bulk and simply run a spread of 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe.
Usage Tips
This Heatran's main job is breaking through defensive walls like Blissey and defensive Mew. Since Heatran often draws in special walls, starting with Magma Storm is often your best bet - it still a lot of damage to anything not resisting it thanks to Heatran's 180 base Special Attack post mega evolving. Counting Taunt and Magma Storm turns is critical for this set's success.
Team Options
Generally fast cleaners like Pinsirite Archeops and Glalite Weavile appreciate this set's ability to break through defensive Pokémon. As the Ampharosite makes Heatran weak to Stealth Rock, Rapid Spin or Defog support is mandatory, otherwise Heatran will find itself worn down quickly. Blue Orb Scizor can Defog, and bring Heatran in safely with a slow U-turn. Blue Orb Forretress can set up entry hazards, spin them away, and bring Heatran in safely with a slow Volt Switch. As this set is meant to threaten defensive Pokémon, strong priority users like Altarianite Zygarde and Entei are good teammates to check opposing offensive Pokémon.
Offensive Stealth Rock
Heatran @ Ampharosite / Cameruptite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Dragon Pulse / Flash Cannon
Moves
Stealth Rock lets Heatran and its teammates get extra KOs, and helps wear down the opposing team. Fire Blast serves as this set's main STAB, getting 2HKOes on most things that don't resist it or aren't dedicated Special walls. It also gets boosted by Sheer Force if Heatran is running the Cameruptite. Earth Power hits Rock types and opposing Fire types, and benefits from both mega stones: the Ampharosite lets it hit Levitating Pokémon, while the Cameruptite gives it a 30% power boost. The last slot is dedicated to a reliable STAB. If you're running Ampharosite, go with Dragon Pulse; if running Cameruptite, go with Flash Cannon.
Set Details
The EVs maximise Speed and Special Attack, letting Heatran hit as fast and as hard as it can. As to which mega stone, it comes down to whether you prefer being able to set up Stealth Rock against Magic Bounce users and the smaller Speed drop of the Ampharosite or the greater power and bulk of the Cameruptite. Both give Heatran a good combination of power and bulk, so really it's up to you which one you go for. The Latiasite could also be used on this set if you prefer the Ground immunity; it also doesn't reduce Heatran's Speed.
Usage Tips
This set has two main goals: to set up Stealth Rock, and to wallbreak. If you chose the Ampharosite, set up Stealth Rock as soon as possible as it means you don't have to worry about Magic Bounce. If running the Cameruptite, generally firing off powerful attacks until the moment presents itself is the best strategy. While this set isn't frail per se, it has no recovery whatsoever and no investment in bulk, so don't switch it in if possible. Bringing it in on revenge kills, or after a slow Volt Switch or U-turn is generally the best idea.
Team Options
Fast sweepers like Rock Polish Altarianite Landorus-T and Dragon Dance Altarianite Zygarde are good teammates that can clear up the remains of an opposing team once Heatran's done some damage. If running the Ampharosite, hazard removal is strongly recommended. Blue Orb Scizor and Forretress can remove entry hazards quite reliably; they can also bring Heatran in with a slow U-turn or Volt Switch, respectively. Absolite Manaphy can be very difficult for this set if running Cameruptite, as it can reflect back the Stealth Rock and set up in Heatran's face with Tail Glow. Red Orb users like Primal Groudon, Victini, Raikou and Togekiss can help take it down.
YOLO Tran
Heatran @ Diancite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast / Overheat
- Earth Power
- Flash Cannon / Hidden Power Grass
- Protect / Hidden Power Grass
Moves
Fire Blast is a strong STAB boosted attack that deals good damage to anything not resisting it. Overheat can be used instead for even more power. The stat penalties aren't the end of the world, as this Heatran rarely stays in for more than a few turns at a time. Earth Power hits Rock types and opposing Fire types; it also 2HKOes Primal Groudon on the switch. Flash Cannon is a perfectly accurate STAB that lets Heatran revenge kill Lucarionite Terrakion, while Hidden Power Grass 2HKOes Pidgeotite Starmie and Keldeo on the switch. Protect is generally the best option in the final slot, as that lets you mega evolve safely. Explosion could also be used when Heatran's done its job to bring in a teammate safely and quite literally go out with a bang. Use a Naive nature if running Explosion. Taunt can also be used to stop your opponent setting up on Heatran.
Set Details
The Diancite is used to fix Heatran's low Speed. It allows it to outrun Pidgeotite Starmie after Mega Evolving. Max Speed and Special Attack EVs are used, as with the Diancite wrecking Heatran's bulk investing there is a waste of time anyway.
Usage Tips
As the Diancite destroys Heatran's bulk, this set should generally only be used as a revenge killer and late game cleaner. As Heatran gains Magic Bounce after Mega Evolving, this set can still switch in on weak walls like Slowbronite Blissey as well as hazard stackers like Banettite Shuckle and, to a lesser extent, Blue Orb Forretress. It can also somewhat check Altarianite Entei thanks to X4 resisting Extreme Speed and OHKOing with Earth Power. Despite the huge power increase, this set still has trouble dealing with dedicated special walls it can't hit super effectively, like Slowbronite Blissey.
Team Options
Since Heatran loses most of its bulk, slow Volt Switches and U-turns from the likes of Blue Orb Forretress and Sablenite Mandibuzz are helpful. They can both also clear hazards for Heatran, and the former can set them up too. Absolite Manaphy outruns this set and can OHKO with Scald, if it's already Mega Evolved. Red Orb users like Primal Groudon, Victini, Raikou and Togekiss can help take it down. Walls like Sablenite Mew and Slowbronite Blissey can take some of the heat off Heatran.
Other Options
Will-O-Wisp can be used to guarantee a burn, as well as cripple Blue Orb Scizor who can normally check Heatran quite well. Heatran may seem like it could use the Rob Orb well, with its good bulk and high power. However, it forces it to sacrifice its Steel typing. The Charizardite Y may seem like a tempting alternative, but Heatran is usually too slow and Red Orb Victini is normally a superior choice due to its greater Speed. Heatran can use Flame Charge to boost its Speed, but it just doesn't have space for the move. The Pidgeotite lets Heatran use perfectly accurate Magma Storms, but again Victini outclasses it in that role as it has more Speed as well as STAB Inferno, Thunder and Focus Blast. Heatran is bulkier and isn't weak to Stealth Rock though. The Absolite may seem like a tempting alternative to the Diancite, but it doesn't give enough Speed to outrun Lucarionite Terrakion. Lastly, Heatran can equip the Altarianite and can use Nature Power for a Fairy type Tri Attack. However, if you want a Fire / Fairy type tank, use Red Orb Togekiss - it's faster, and more importantly has reliable recovery in Morning Sun and Heal Bell.
Checks and Counters
Primal Kyogre - While it will hate Toxic, Primal Kyogre is immune to Fire moves, resists Flash Cannon and shrugs off Dragon Pulse. It can also boost in Heatran's face with Calm Mind and smash it with Origin Pulse
Water types - Absolite Manaphy can reflect back Stealth Rock or Toxic, boost in Heatran's face with Tail Glow, and take it down with Scald. It even outruns the Diancite set. However, it is 2HKOed by Dragon Pulse and Hidden Power Grass. Pidgeotite Keldeo can smash Heatran with either of its STABs, and can use Calm Mind to beat Ampharosite sets. However, it is outrun and 2HKOed by Hidden Power Grass from the Diancite set.
Blue Orb Steel types - Blue Orb Skarmory, Scizor and Ferrothorn are immune to Fire moves, and in the former's case Earth Power. Skarmory and Ferrothorn can set up hazards on Heatran, while Scizor can hit hard with Superpower. However, the stallbreaker set can cripple them with Taunt
Special Walls - Blissey can usually handle anything Heatran has, although it loses to the Ampharosite stallbreaker set.
Revenge Killers - Faster Ground, Water and Fighting types can usually revenge kill Heatran easily enough. Landorus-T, Keldeo, Starmie and Terrakion are some of the prime examples. The latter 4 even resist Fire Blast.
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