
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 12 HP / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon / Earth Power
- Taunt / Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
- Stealth Rock
Role: Offensive Hazard Setter
What It Does: It sets hazards offensively. This set makes the most of Heatran's offensive and supportive potential and very effectively exploits his ability to beat most common Defoggers such as Lati@s, Zapdos, Mandibuzz and such. The EV spread could be run max SpA / max Spe if desired to outspeed opposing Heatran but additional bulk from remaining unnecessary EVs never hurt; 244 in speed allows it to outspeed Jolly Mega Heracross, Jolly Bisharp and Adamant Excadrill. The beauty of this set is how well it can set up hazards and take on anything that wants to clear them. Fire Blast is the most powerful STAB that allows it to take on Defoggers and make the most of Heatran's offensive prowess. Flash Cannon or Earth Power let it either take on Fairies as well as provide secondary STAB, or hit opposing Heatran and other Fire types hard. Any of the following supportive move is greatly beneficial to Heatran, in fact two supportive moves in place of a secondary attack is also a possible option; Taunt allows him to break stall and prevent Defogs, Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers and helps wear opposing Pokemon down, and Toxic helps to break through more defensive walls or Defoggers like Mandibuzz. Lastly, Stealth Rocks are Stealth Rocks, they need no explaining, every team needs them and Heatran provides them well.
Good Teammates: As an offensive Rock-setter, this Heatran is more at home on offensively oriented teams and as such pairs better with partners that have commendable offensive potential. While this Heatran set does posses temporary immunity to Ground, Fighting types such and Terrakion, Keldeo, Mega Lopunny, and such do still greatly threaten Heatran, Latios is a good answer to these threats as well as a potent threat against many fat Waters that cause Heatran some grief such as Rotom-W, Slowbro and such. Raikou can also help with the afore mentioned fat Waters, as well as Fighting threats if running Extrasensory. Venusaur is also a renown partner with Heatran with its great ability to handle most Water type threats that hurt Heatran.
What Counters It: Offensive Waters such as Assault Vest Azumarill, Keldeo, and Gyarados are great counters to Heatran, taking little damage from Heatran's offensive moves and having a very good chance to OHKO or get a solid 2HKO in return as well as not having to waste a turn to pop the Air Balloon to deal hard super effective damage, they are very good answers to the molten crawler. A special wall like Chansey can also threaten Heatran, dealing more damage with Seismic Toss than Heatran deals with Fire Blast as well as access to reliable recovery, albeit hinderable with Taunt. Fat Waters such as Quagsire, Slowbro and specially defensive Rotom-W are also great options due to the incredibly minimal damage they take from any offensive move this Heatran runs and being able to retaliate considerably hard in return. Assault Vest Conkeldurr is a great threat to Heatran taking little over 40% maximum damage from Fire Blast as well as having reliable recovery in Drain Punch to massively damage Heatran and Mach Punch to pick it off; Guts also pressures Heatran from spamming Will-O-Wisp or Toxic at risk of giving the opponent much greater offensive capabilities. Lastly, opposing Air Balloon can also counter eachother well, being immune to two possible attacks while the Air Balloon is in tact, and Flash Cannon being an agonising 9HKO; the downside to this counter is also how ineffectively you yourself can threaten an opposing Heatran with your own, however breaking the Balloon with Flash Cannon allowing it to be KOed by an Earthquake user on your team later is beneficial.
Any Additional Info: Ketchup.