XY OU An In-Depth Guide to Building a Mega Heracross Team

[blinkie]

Introduction​

Mega Heracross is a very underrated threat. It boasts a very scary base 185 attack and okay defenses and speed. In this RMT, I will show you the basic formula's for building a Mega Heracross team. This RMT is based off of Force of Nature: An In-depth guide to Zard-Y.

Team Building with Mega Heracross​

Slot 1: Mega Heracross

Mega Heracross is obviously needed for a Mega Heracross team. It has good coverage and can sweep through unprepared or defensive teams with some boosts to his insane 185 base attack. .

Slot 2: Check/Counter to Talonflame

Heatran is a counter to Talonflame. It can switch in easily on any of it's moves, unless it carries Natural Gift Salac Berry set. It can toxic it, and maybe roar it out. It also can have SR, which can aid Mega Heracross in sweeps. Finally, its very nice synergy with Heracross makes him one of the first choices that comes to mind.

Tyranitar is also a counter to Talonflame. It resists it's STABs and can OHKO with Stone Edge. Ttar can also learn SR, which for the same reason as Heatran, can be very nice. However, he is also weak to Fairies, which makes him IMO an inferior partner.

If you want to be unorthodox, try Rotom-W. Most people don't stray far from Heatran or Ttar, but if you want, you can. Rotom-W can hit hard with Hydro Pump and Volt Switch, it can also cripple strong physical attackers with WoW.

Slot 3: A way to stop birdspam

Birdspam is one of Heracross's greatest enemies, especially when you consider the priority that Talonflame and Pinsir have. When you think of a way to stop birdspam, Thundurus is what comes to mind. It stops flying types in their tracks with it's strong STAB, and HP Ice. It also shuts down Chansey with Taunt, and can also help Mega Heracross sweep by spreading paralysis. HP Ice breaks through Gliscor and Landorus-T, who are very annoying.

Slot 4: Baton Passer

Gorebyss is a nice baton passer, it can easily switch in on many more defensive Pokes, set up a sub, Shell Smash and Baton Pass to Mega Heracross. Huntail is basically the same thing. Heracross appreciates the extra attack, allowing it to OHKO Skarmory after SR, while also boosting its middling speed.

Scolipede has a nice ability which is Speed Boost, and it was chosen over Ninjask because Ninjask is so frail. It can't smash pass, but it can set up swords dance and other boosts to pass to Mega Heracross. However the shared Flying weakness makes removal of Talonflame and Pinsir a must.

Slot 5: Defogger and Cleric

Latias is a good defogger and gets access to Healing Wish so it could be counted as a cleric. If the baton passer cannot pass to Mega Heracross, it can sometimes pass to Latias because it gets strong STAB with Draco Meteor and can get pass Chansey with Psyshock. It can even choose to run Dual Screens to boost the defenses of Heracross. Latios can also be used in this slot as he has more offensive presence.

Chansey can't defog but it has access to Heal Bell if Heracross somehow gets statused. It can either choose to help with speed control with Thunder Wave, or run Toxic. Finally, it passes massive Wishes, making it one of the best clerics.

Scizor can't act as a cleric, but it deserves a mention here because it easily destroys fairies, who resist the STABs of Heracross. It can also choose to run Defog, or bring Heracross in with a slow U-turn, which gives it a nice VoltTurn core with Thundurus.

Zapdos is a nice defogger but it can't pass wishes. It can however offer very nice synergy with mega Heracross, while also having access to Volt Switch and Thunder wave.
Slot 6: Other

The last slot is where you can put any pokemon, but these pokemon are generally preferred. Talonflame is a good choice, because it helps Thundurus deal with birdspam, specifically Mega Pinsir, and if lucky could also pull off a sweep. It can also shut down physical attackers with WoW.

Mamoswine with Focus Sash is almost a guaranteed SR setter. It deals with Landorus with it's STAB priority Ice Shard, and aids Mega Heracross in his sweep. He can also beat Aegislash if you happen to pick Bullet Seed over Earthquake.

Aegislash can take out fairies for Heracross, while also being in general a good Pokemon to put on your team. While not as good as Scizor, he is still not a bad choice.

Keldeo shares some weaknesses with Heracross, but his STABs hit many Pokemon that Heracross does not want to face, one example of this being Gliscor. If you happen to run Bullet Seed in the last slot for Heracross, Keldeo will appreciate the removal of Azumarill.

Sample Team​

Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
- Will-O-Wisp

Talonflame gets strong STAB with Flare Blitz and Brave Bird. Roost is helpful when removing Flying type is needed, but requires good prediction. The EV spread maximizes speed and attack, and the Adamant nature gives Talonflame the ability to hit pretty hard. WoW is for shutting down physical attackers.

Heracross @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast
- Pin Missile
- Earthquake

This is just the typical Mega Heracross set. It has strong coverage, and it's ability Skill Link allows it to smash through subs. Close Combat deals with Ferrothorn, earthquake deals with Aegislash, Pin Missile and Rock Blast are coverage moves. The EVs maximize his already sky-high attack, and give him enough speed to outspeed certain threats. Guts was chosen as the ability before mega evolving to allow him to benefit from status. Bullet Seed can be used in the last slot to hit Azumarill and Quagsire.

Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Another pretty normal set, Prankster T-wave and Taunt are really annoying, Taunt completely shuts down Chansey, T-wave helps Mega Heracross sweep because all threats are slowed down, Thunderbolt hits hard on Flying types, HP Ice for Landorus. Maxed Speed and Special Attack.

Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Roar
- Lava Plume

Heatran is my counter to Talonflame, and he can also set up rocks, spread Toxic, Roar out people that try to set up on him, and just be plain annoying. Lava Plume makes him not complete taunt bait and I chose it over Flamethrower for dat 30% burn chance. The EV spread is specially defensive, and makes him pretty bulky.

Gorebyss @ White Herb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Surf
- Substitute

Gorebyss is my baton passer, it can pass subs, smash pass, and it often finds chances against Chansey/Blissey to set up, which leads to an easy sweep for Mega Heracross. Surf is so that he's not complete taunt bait, and so it can actually sometimes KO people. The EV spread gives it maximum speed so that it can Baton pass without dying to faster threats.

Latias (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Defog
- Draco Meteor
- Healing Wish
- Psyshock

Latias is my defogger, and can Healing Wish to Gorebyss so it can find a chance to smash pass again. Psyshock let's it get past Chansey, and Draco is so that it can nuke everything that doesn't resist it. The EVs are pretty normal for an LO Latias, with max special attack and speed so it can sometimes sweep past unprepared teams.

Shout-outs​

Pikachu42 (Xerneas79 on PS!) helped me with the sets and gave me the idea for Healing Wish Latias. He also helped me play test a bit, and gave me some useful feedback.
The In-Depth layout was influenced by Valentine.

Importable​

Talonflame @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
- Will-O-Wisp

Heracross @ Heracronite
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast
- Pin Missile
- Earthquake

Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
- Roar
- Lava Plume

Gorebyss @ White Herb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Shell Smash
- Baton Pass
- Surf
- Substitute

Latias (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Defog
- Draco Meteor
- Healing Wish
- Psyshock

​

 

[Kazuma Yato]

Uh, this is great and all but there's some thing I don't agree with,
Thundurus is an extremely shaky birdspam check being that you'll have to sack something to bring it in because if it's sent in it is 2HKOd by brave bird and most talonflame run enough speed to outrun Thundurus' T-wave.
I think Rotom-Wash is more suited to the category but it's just my opinion,
Good Job.

 

[Pikachu42]

The problem with Rotom-W is that Chansey is more annoying, because you don't have taunt to shut it down anymore.

 

[Kazuma Yato]

The problem with Rotom-W is that Chansey is more annoying, because you don't have taunt to shut it down anymore.

That's true but rotom-wash performs much better in general.

 

[Ruffles]

You don't NEED a passer. I'd much rather use both Chansey and Latias or both Talonflame and Mamoswine instead of a passer.

 

[Pikachu42]

You generally want a passer, because Mega Heracross is too slow to sweep. Smash passing is preferred because it boosts both attack and speed, which can help alot.

 

[BAKAResh]

There is almost no need for a passer for MHera and that passing is generally more of a preference. Pokes that can more effectively utilize that teamslot should be something that can all-roundedly support the team. Instead of supporting yourself once. (Baton Pass mons can be easily outplayed due to lack of Ingrain and Soundproof mons) I would suggest that instead of supporting yourself by boosting yourself, you can try to pressure your opponent by reducing THEIR speed stat. Yes. Run Sticky Web :D

Also, if MHera is the star of your team. I'd say that Swords Dance is a better move to use over Close Combat because EQ is necessary for Aegi and Skill Link Rock Blast/Pin Missile does well against stall. With Sticky Web active, you can force a lot more switches much more easily and be able to set up +2.

IMO, you need a spinner moreso than a defogger. Why? Because you need rocks up on his side to be able to more easily pressure the opponent and to ensure that Talonflame doesn't come in and out as and when he wishes too.

Oh, your overall structure of your RMT needs a lot of refining but it's always great to see someone trying out this format of RMT.

Here are some sets for the Sticky Web user and synergetic Rapid Spinner.


Smeargle @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Dark Void
- Stealth Rock
- Sticky Web
- Taunt


Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide

Just my two cents :D