modularform
formerly Salamance
[OVERVIEW]
**Steel**:
Heatran is one of, if not the, best Pokemon on Steel-type teams due to its unbelievable versatility, being able to run an offensive, defensive, or trapper set well, and its ability to check Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and opposing Heatran with its Flash Fire ability while gaining a power boost off their attacks. Due to its base 130 Special Attack, Heatran can be an effective special attacker, something Steel-type teams generally lack. Its Fire / Steel typing allows it to check a plethora of foes, such as Zapdos, Skarmory, and Mew, while giving it key resistances to Flying-, Psychic-, Steel-, and Bug-type moves; it also prevents it from being crippled by burn or poison, although it can still be hit with sleep or paralysis.Heatran can also support and defend quite well with its 91 / 106 / 106 bulk, being able to set entry hazards with Stealth Rock and spread burns or poison with Lava Plume and Toxic.
Unfortunately, many of the Fire-types Heatran is supposed to check often carry coverage or even STAB moves that hit it super effectively, such as Focus Blast on Mega Charizard Y, Close Combat on Infernape, Steam Eruption on Volcanion, and Earth Power on other Heatran. Furthermore, its mediocre base Speed of 77 leaves it outsped by threats such as Mega Gallade, Mega Medicham, and Infernape. A lack of reliable recovery is another huge detriment to Heatran, since its team will want it to be around for as long as possible to absorb Fire-type moves. Heatran's typing also is a double-edged sword, coming with weaknesses to Water-, Fighting-, and Ground-types, all of which are quite common and hard for Steel-type teams to reliably check. Despite these flaws, however, Heatran remains one of the most solid picks for Steel-type teams, being able to check Fire-types, trap walls, break holes in the opponent's team with powerful special attacks, and, with its defensive set, provide fantastic utility.
[SET]
name: Offensive (Steel)
move 1: Lava Plume
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Hidden Power Ice / Taunt
item: Air Balloon / Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 24 Atk / 232 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Lava Plume is Heatran's Fire-type STAB move of choice, securing many KOs that Steel-type teams need, including OHKOs on Bisharp, Excadrill (if Heatran has an Air Balloon), and Mega Heracross after damage from Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes. It also has a useful 30% burn chance, crippling physical attackers and accumulating residual damage on bulky switch-ins such as Zapdos and Mew. Earth Power provides coverage to hit switch-ins that resist or are immune to Fire-type moves, such as opposing Heatran and Volcanion. A Rock-type coverage move in Stone Edge allows Heatran to OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, both of which are massive threats to Steel-type teams. For Heatran's last move, Hidden Power Ice hits Pokemon weak to Ice-type moves as they switch in, such as Garchomp, Landorus, and Dragonite. Alternatively, Taunt allows Heatran to prevent special walls from recovering their HP, allowing it to beat them by chipping away at their health over time; it also stops foes from boosting, setting up hazards, and paralyzing Heatran, as well as prevent threats like Zapdos from removing entry hazards with Defog. Stealth Rock is useful because the chip damage it provides punishes switches and allows Heatran and its teammates to nab crucial KOs. Furthermore, Heatran will be able to set it easily during the match, because of the switches it forces. Fire Blast could be run over Lava Plume, but to do so means losing out on a high burn chance, and Lava Plume already gets many important KOs. However, Fire Blast can 2HKO specially defensive Zapdos after Stealth Rock, which helps keep hazards up if Heatran is not running Taunt.
Set Details
========
232 Special Attack EVs allow Heatran to hit as hard as possible, dealing massive amounts of damage to threats like opposing Heatran, Victini, Dragonite, and Garchomp with the appropriate moves, although Heatran cannot switch into many of these and is outsped by most of them. Maximum Speed investment boosted by a Timid nature gives Heatran a Speed stat of 278, which outpaces Adamant Excadrill, positive -natured base 70 Pokemon, and those Speed creeping that Speed tier, including Mew and Zapdos. 24 Attack EVs are used to guarantee an OHKO on Mega Charizard Y with Stone Edge. Flash Fire allows Heatran to fill its niche on Steel-type teams ,absorbing Fire-type moves that KO all the other members of the team. It also boosts Heatran's own Fire-type moves, allowing it to hit much harder with Lava Plume. Air Balloon and Leftovers are the two best choices for an item. Air Balloon neutralizes Heatran's quadruple weakness to Ground-type moves but is unreliable and easily popped by any direct damage. Leftovers, on the other hand, can provide Heatran with residual recovery, which it otherwise lacks. 60 Special Defense EVs could be deducted from Special Attack to always survive Mega Charizard Y's Focus Blast. The reduction in damage output is slight, and Heatran can still OHKO Bisharp, Excadrill (if Heatran has an Air Balloon), and Mega Heracross after Stealth Rock and one layer of Spikes.
Usage Tips
========
Heatran should be used as an offensive pivot: switch it into a threat it walls, and then attack the predicted switch-in with the move that hits it the hardest or set Stealth Rock. Heatran will have many opportunities to switch in due to its fantastic defensive typing; for example, it can switch in with impunity against Latios, Mega Scizor, Togekiss, and Mew. An Air Balloon allows Heatran to check major Ground-type threats like Landorus, Garchomp, and Excadrill; however, it must be played conservatively, since the Air Balloon is popped easily. The best play against such attackers is usually to come in after a sack and force them to pop Heatran's Air Balloon with a resisted attack while Heatran strikes back with a super effective attack. Preserving the Air Balloon is crucial against certain matchups, most notably against Ground-type teams, as Heatran has to attack one of the opposing threats to even stand a chance. A Fire-type STAB move should be used in most cases, unless the foe resists it or is hit harder by another move. Lava Plume is easily spammed, especially against physical attackers, since the potential burn will cripple them for the rest of the match. However, if the foe resists Fire-type moves, use the appropriate coverage move to heavily damage or even KO it. Stone Edge is on the set solely to OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, which none of Heatran's teammates can switch into. If Heatran elects to run Taunt, use it against bulky switch-ins such as Zapdos and Chansey; it cripples them by preventing recovery and also prevents the former from Defogging and the latter from setting Stealth Rock or paralyzing Heatran. Taunt also generates setup opportunities on Pokemon like Sableye and Will-O-Wisp Mew that rely on status moves to deter setup. Steel-type teams can capitalize on the free turn generated by the bulky threat's switch by setting Stealth Rock, nailing the predicted switch-in with the right move, safely pivoting to a teammate, or applying offensive pressure with a setup Pokemon. Keep entry hazards off the field for Heatran because it will be switching around often as an offensive pivot. Avoid paralysis, since it will make Heatran even more easily outsped and KOed.
Team Options
========
Heatran partners well with Pokemon weak to Fire-type moves such as Mega Scizor, Skarmory, Doublade, and Ferrothorn; these Pokemon usually resist or are immune to Heatran's weaknesses of Ground, Fighting, and Water. Mega Scizor can also check some Pokemon that are threats to Heatran; examples include Terrakion and Breloom, the first of which it can 2HKO with an unboosted Bullet Punch and the latter of which it can set up on with Swords Dance, assuming one has already sacked something to Spore. Skarmory, on the other hand, provides hazard control in addition to being immune to Ground-type moves. It can set both Stealth Rock and Spikes, which discourage switches and allow Heatran to get important KOs, such as a near-certain 2HKO on Zapdos with Fire Blast, an OHKO almost all of the time on Torkoal with Earth Power, and a guaranteed OHKO on Mega Heracross after Stealth Rock and Spikes. On more balanced builds, Skarmory can also Defog away opposing entry hazards, which prevents Heatran from being worn down by repeated switches, a huge problem due to Heatran's lack of recovery. While Skarmory is immune to Ground-type moves, Doublade is immune to Fighting-type moves. It also checks Pokemon that are massive threats to Heatran, including Mega Medicham and Terrakion. Ferrothorn and Empoleon resist Water-type moves, giving them a fantastic synergy with it. The former provides residual damage in Leech Seed and Iron Barbs, entry hazards in Stealth Rock and Spikes, and speed control in Thunder Wave, while the latter can set Stealth Rock for Heatran and remove entry hazards with Defog, if needed. Jirachi is a great partner to Heatran, since it can provide Heatran recovery with Wish or Healing Wish, check Water-types with an Assault Vest set, and revenge kill Fighting-types with a Choice Scarf set. Additionally, Excadrill synergizes well with Heatran, since it can outspeed and eliminate threats to Heatran, including Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, Heracross, and Choice Scarf Rotom-W. Magnezone is another effective partner being able to KO Water-types that give Heatran trouble with Thunderbolt. It can always OHKO Keldeo and Azumarill after Stealth Rock, always 2HKO Mega Gyarados while OHKOing its base forme, and almost always OHKO Slowbro after Stealth Rock. Additionally, Magnezone can absorb paralysis thanks to its Electric typing and can gain momentum for Heatran's team with Volt Switch.
[SET]
name: Defensive (Steel)
move 1: Lava Plume
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 208 SpD / 48 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Lava Plume possesses a nasty burn chance, which is the main reason Heatran uses it, and it also does slight damage to the foe while preventing Heatran from being Taunt bait. Earth Power provides coverage with Lava Plume and allows even defensive Heatran to do damage to specific foes, such as other Heatran. Toxic is extremely helpful, putting walls and setup sweepers such as Chansey, Mew, and Volcarona on a timer, forcing them to switch out. Stealth Rock is used because the chip damage it provides punishes switches and allows Heatran and its teammates to get crucial KOs. However, if Heatran's team already has Stealth Rock support, Stone Edge should be used in the last slot, since specially defensive Heatran can take any attack from Mega Charizard Y or Volcarona once, even Focus Blast or Hidden Power Ground and then OHKO both of them with Stone Edge, which is very useful for Heatran's team.
Set Details
========
The EVs and nature maximize Heatran's special bulk, allowing it to survive many powerful special hits to inflict the foe with status or set entry hazards. Notable special attacks it survives once are Mega Charizard Y's Focus Blast, Thundurus's Focus Blast, any attack from Hoopa-U, and Choice Specs Keldeo's Scald. The Speed EVs allow Heatran to outspeed 20 Speed Mega Venusaur, a common benchmark on that threat, in addition to outpacing all uninvested base 80s. Leftovers is crucial to Heatran's longevity, since it does not have reliable recovery. If Stone Edge is used, take 24 EVs from Special Defense and put them in Attack in order to OHKO Mega Charizard Y all of the time.
Usage Tips
========
Because of its fantastic special bulk, switch Heatran into special attackers such as Latios, Mega Pidgeot, and Yanmega and then set entry hazards, Toxic the foe, or deal damage and spread burns with Lava Plume. Also, switch Heatran into predicted Fire-type moves so that it will get a free switch in and a Flash Fire boost. Once Heatran has been switched in, set Stealth Rock immediately if it has not been set already, since it punishes switches and allows one to get key KOs. Heatran's next move depends on what the predicted switch-in will be. If the switch-in is weak to Fire- or Ground-type attacks, use the respective move, damaging it. Toxic should be used against bulky switch-ins like Zapdos and Porygon2, since it will cripple them. If one thinks a physical attacker will be switched in, however, it is best to use Lava Plume, possibly burning and crippling it or at least damaging it. Avoid Knock Off from Pokemon such as Tornadus-T and Bisharp, since Heatran absolutely needs the passive recovery from Leftovers. Assuming Stone Edge was chosen, if the opponent has a Mega Charizard Y or Volcarona switched in against Heatran, OHKO them with Stone Edge no matter what. Do not hard switch Heatran in, though, since it needs to be at full health to check them. Due to a lack of investment in Special Attack, Heatran will not be doing a lot of damage with Earth Power, but it can still deal significant damage to predicted switch-ins with a Ground-type weakness, such as opposing Heatran and Victini. Preserve Heatran's health for as long as possible so that it can continue to switch into special attacks and absorb Fire-type moves for its team. Although it does not mind paralysis as much as offensive Heatran sets do, defensive Heatran still dislikes being outsped by basically everything.
Team Options
========
Skarmory is one of the best partners to Heatran, as the two synergize well defensively. Skarmorycan easily switch into Ground-type moves used against Heatran, while Heatran can switch in on Fire-type moves that target Skarmory. They also wall each other's checks, with Skarmory tanking physical attacks and Heatran tanking special ones. Furthermore, since both have access to phasing moves and entry hazards, they can free up moveslots for each other, allowing Skarmory to use Spikes or Heatran to use Stone Edge. Excadrill or Ferrothorn works well with this partnership, since they can switch into Electric-type moves Skarmory is weak to, preventing Heatran from taking unnecessary hits. Excadrill also provides entry hazard removal that does not remove Heatran's hazards, which is beneficial to Heatran, and it can check some threats to Heatran, such as Rotom-W and Mega Charizard Y. On the other hand, Ferrothorn makes for a good partner for with Heatran, having great defensive synergy with it. , being able to switch into switch into many Water-type moves, provide speed control with Thunder Wave, and spread residual damage with Iron Barbs + Leech Seed, which work well with Heatran spreading status to wear down foes. Additionally, Jirachi is a fantastic partner for defensive Heatran. Its Choice Scarf set can take on Fighting-types with STAB Heart Stamp or Zen Headbutt; it can heal Heatran with Healing Wish or Wish; and its Assault Vest set can tank Water-type attacks aimed at Heatran while checking their users. Offensive Pokemon that appreciate what Heatran does partner well with it. For example, Mega Scizor can more easily tank physical hits due to Heatran speading burns and nab important KOs because of the chip damage from burn, Toxic, or Stealth Rock.; Mega Scizor's excellent defenses make it a great teammate for Heatran in general. Doublade also partners very well with Heatran, since it can spinblock and is immune to Fighting-type moves from Mega Medicham, Mega Heracross, and Terrakion. However, they both share a Ground-type weakness. Magnezone is a great Heatran teammate, since it can check Water-types with Thunderbolt, absorb paralysis for Heatran, and bring Heatran in safely with Volt Switch. Empoleon works very well with defensive Heatran, since it resists the Water-type attacks Heatran fears. It can also learn many utility moves that Heatran enjoys, such as Defog, Roar, and Stealth Rock.
[SET]
name: Offensive Trapper (Steel)
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Taunt
item: Air Balloon / Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Magma Storm allows Heatran to trap passive threats such as Chansey, Porygon2, Zapdos, and Mew and remove them from the game, enabling a sweeper such as Doublade or Mega Scizor to demolish the opponent's remaining team. Earth Power provides coverage to hit threats Magma Storm cannot, such as other Heatran and Victini. Toxic combines with Magma Storm quite well, with Magma Storm preventing threats from switching while Toxic's damage increases and its residual damage adding to Toxic's. Taunt allows Heatran to prevent the threats it traps from recovering their health, while also shutting down setup sweepers and entry hazard setters.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Heatran to be as offensively potent as possible, heavily damaging or outright KOing threats such as Skarmory and Magnezone with the appropriate moves and outspeeding standard Mew and Zapdos. Heatran's Air Balloon gives it a temporary immunity to Ground-type moves, allowing it to check Ground-types such as Excadrill and Mamoswine that it can KO and other Pokemon with Ground-type coverage moves, such as other Heatran and Volcarona. On the other hand, Leftovers's residual recovery is very helpful against the bulky threats Heatran traps, allowing it to recover off the damage from their weak attacks.
Usage Tips
========
Because of its immunity to Fire, Heatran should be switched into predicted Fire-type moves. It can then receive a boost and hit the opponent with a Flash Fire-boosted Magma Storm. Switch Heatran into Choice-locked Pokemon whose moves it resists or is immune to. Prime examples include Choice Scarf Latios locked into Draco Meteor and Choice Scarf Victini locked into V-create or Blue Flare. Heatran can then damage, trap, Toxic, or Taunt the switch-in. Heatran should also be switched into bulky threats that use Will-O-Wisp such as Mew, as it is immune to these moves, and it can then trap them with Magma Storm. Use Taunt with Magma Storm to prevent foes from using recovery moves, Chansey from paralyzing Heatran, and Clefable from setting up Calm Minds. Once Heatran is in, immediately trap the threat with Magma Storm, and then Taunt it to prevent recovery. After this, Toxic the foe and spam Magma Storm or Earth Power until the threat is KOed, being sure to keep it Taunted. Against Fire-type teams, Heatran must be played very conservatively, as one misprediction means Heatran's team will be swept by the opponent's Fire-types, since there will be no switch-in to it. Against mixed attackers that can break Skarmory, such as Mega Garchomp, keep Heatran's Air Balloon intact so that it can switch into Ground-type attacks in order to attack the threat. Heatran also dislikes paralysis, since it completely ruins Heatran's already mediocre Speed tier, and the opponent can use the free turn generated by a full paralysis to do as they wish.
Team Options
========
Mega Scizor is a fantastic partner to Heatran, as Heatran benefits from its devastating weakness to Fire-type attacks and can switch in against them for free. Additionally, Mega Scizor is hit neutrally by Fighting- and Ground-type moves, to which Heatran is weak. Furthermore, Heatran can trap many Pokemon that are setup bait for Mega Scizor, such as Chansey without Thunder Wave and Gliscor. Because Heatran can trap physical walls with Magma Storm, it pairs well with physical attackers that appreciate this, such as Bisharp, Doublade, and Mega Scizor. The previously mentioned physical attackers can heavily dent special walls such as Chansey, allowing Heatran to trap and KO them more easily. Skarmory also provides Stealth Rock and Spikes support, which punishes switches and allows Heatran to KO its foes more easily. In addition, it is neutral to Fighting-type moves and immune to Ground-type moves. Finally, suicide lead Skarmory can set up hazards quickly, which Heatran appreciates. On the other hand, Ferrothorn can tank Water-type moves aimed at Heatran while setting Stealth Rock or Spikes and dealing residual damage with Leech Seed and Iron Barbs. It can also mitigate Heatran's subpar Speed with Thunder Wave. However, both Ferrothorn and Heatran are weak to Fighting-type moves. Jirachi also partners extremely well with Heatran, being able to run several sets that benefit it. A Choice Scarf allows it to revenge kill Fighting-types with Zen Headbutt or Heart Stamp, while an Assault Vest allows it to check Water-types like Keldeo and Rotom-W. Jirachi can also make up for Heatran's lack of recovery, being able to heal it with Wish or sacrifice itself to do so with Healing Wish. Doublade synergizes well with Heatran, since Heatran benefits from its Fire-type weakness and Doublade is immune to Fighting-type moves. Magnezone also pairs well with Heatran, since it can KO opposing Water-types with Thunderbolt, absorb paralysis, and gain momentum with Volt Switch. Excadrill pairs well with Heatran, as its Choice Scarf set can eliminate faster threats that can KO Heatran before it acts, such as Rotom-W and Mega Charizard Y.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Steel**:
Defensive Heatran can utilize Protect to stall for Leftovers recovery or Roar to rack up entry hazard damage, but Earth Power is necessary so that Heatran can super effectively damage Fire-types it is supposed to check, and Stone Edge is need for Heatran to be able to KO Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona. Heatran could run a Choice Scarf set to outspeed Mega Charizard Y or a Choice Specs set to serve as a wallbreaker, but this prevents it from fulfilling its role of trapper or pivot, so it is usually subpar. Heatran could use Flash Cannon on the offensive set in the fourth slot, but its coverage is redundant with Heatran's other moves, with the only additional threats it hits being Fairy-types like Clefable and Mega Gardevoir.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel**:
**Ground-types**: Any Ground-type can easily KO Heatran with a STAB move after its Air Balloon has been popped. However, those with low Special Defense, such as Landorus, can be significantly damaged by Heatran's attacks as they switch in. Furthermore, physical Ground-types are crippled by Lava Plume's burn, and most Ground-types dislike Toxic, except for Gliscor, Excadrill, and Mega Steelix, although these cannot switch into Heatran's other moves.
**Fighting-types**: Many Fighting-types, notably Keldeo, Heracross, and Terrakion, can easily KO Heatran with their STAB moves that hit on Heatran's weaker Defense stat while also outspeeding it. Furthermore, most Fighting-types can switch into Heatran easily, since they are not significantly damaged by Heatran's moves.
**Paralysis**: Although it is immune to poison and burns by virtue of its typing, paralysis cripples Heatran, making offensive Heatran and the dedicated trapper set useless and easily outsped and KOed. However, defensive Heatran does not mind paralysis as much, as it is not meant to outspeed opposing Pokemon; however, it still despises the occasional full paralysis.
**Special Walls**: Many special walls such as Mew, Zapdos, and Clefable do not care about Heatran's moves, recovering any negligible damage dealt, and can do whatever they want in return. However, Heatran beats most of these with Magma Storm + Taunt + Toxic. Furthermore, even if it is not running the dedicated trapper set, Heatran can cripple them with Taunt. Since Heatran's disposal of them can take several turns, though, special walls can damage it in the meantime with attacks like Seismic Toss from Chansey and Discharge from Zapdos.
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