[SET]
name: Magma Storm
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Taunt / Substitute
move 3: Earth Power
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Toxic / Hidden Power Ice
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While Heatran is usually seen either flaunting its offensive  capabilities to punch holes or using its defensive prowess to help lay  hazards and wall Dragons, it can also function effectively as a trapper.  Drought (Sun) teams by nature are weak to sand and rain <sun/rain/sand = clarity> because both  Tyranitar and Politoed have an edge over Ninetales. However, Heatran  works very well in trapping and crippling those two due to its signature  move, Magma Storm. While this might require some explanation due to the  type advantage that both Tyranitar and Politoed have over Heatran, it  is actually quite simple. Heatran works well in luring (as an efficient lure for) the two out due  to their typing advantages, and can hit them on the switch-in with  either Will-O-Wisp or Toxic. Either of these debilitating status  conditions will cripple any opposing weather starter for the entire  match, making it easier for Ninetales to win the weather war.</p>
 
<p>While Heatran cannot effectively beat down opposing weather  starters in just one sitting, it will almost certainly do it in two.  Magma Storm lets Heatran effectively trap the opposing Pokemon for four  to five turns, as opposed to a minimum of two in DPP, giving it several  turns with which to simply do damage with Earth Power while the opponent  cannot switch out. After the opponent faints, <jw, doesn't this also work if Heatran faints?> Ninetales can come in and  set up Drought unscathed. Taunt works very well because opponents such  as Tyranitar will often try to set up Stealth Rock against Heatran, only  to be thwarted by Heatran's superior Speed. However, Substitute is also  a viable option to shield Heatran from Thunder Wave and revenge killing  attempts that might follow.</p>
 
<p>The choice between Will-O-Wisp and Toxic depends on the team's  capability to keep physical behemoths in check. If a team is weak to  Terrakion, Landorus, or Gyarados, who are all common switch-ins to  Heatran, Will-O-Wisp is the recommended move, as it enables Heatran to  handle these threats with more ease. However, Toxic is more damaging to (effective against)  Blissey and Chansey, who pack massive Special Defense stats to counter  Heatran. While it cannot cripple weather starters, Hidden Power Ice  deals out massive damage to Dragon-types such as Dragonite, Salamence,  and Haxorus.</p>
 
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Heatran's offensive EV spread is best suited for its trapping  purpose, as it allows Heatran to deal maximum damage and outspeed  neutral natured Dragonite, Gyarados, and Breloom. Additionally, it  allows Heatran to fire off fast Taunts as opposed to slow ones so (that) it  does not become setup fodder. However, an alternate EV spread of 252 HP /  120 Def / 136 SpA works well for taking physical hits like (such as) Tyranitar's  Superpower. Since Heatran is naturally faster than Politoed and  Tyranitar, two of Magma Storm Heatran's main targets, Speed investment  for the sole purpose of trapping is not always necessary. However,  Heatran will be slower than Choice Specs Politoed and some variants of  Tyranitar that runs Speed EVs, so one should always play with  caution.</p>
 
<p>The choice of item again depends on the type of team one is  using Heatran on. Leftovers preserves Heatran's bulk and is a superior  option for teams that depend heavily on sun for support, such as those  with several Chlorophyll users, as they will not want to lose Heatran  too early in a match. However, Life Orb grants Heatran many handy KOs,  such as the OHKO on Haxorus with Hidden Power Ice after Stealth Rock  damage. In addition, Life Orb Heatran has a chance of 2HKOing Blissey  after Stealth Rock damage with Magma Storm in the sun, and specially  based Chlorophyll sweepers, such as Venusaur and Victreebel, will always  appreciate the removal of specially based walls. Air Balloon is another  great item because it gives Heatran a momentary answer to Landorus, one  of the biggest nightmares (threats) to Drought teams. However, it is only a  temporary solution, and becomes useless when broken. Wide Lens is  another option as Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, and Magma Storm could all do with  an accuracy boost, but it neither adds power to Heatran's moves nor  increases its survivability, so it should only be used on teams that  cannot afford to lose a battle because of a miss.</p>
 
<p>Ninetales is the best partner to this set, as it appreciates  Heatran's trapping skills and access to Taunt. Taunt stops opponents  from laying Stealth Rock (comma) which would otherwise limit Ninetales's  switch-in opportunities. Ninetales also provides Drought support to  boost Heatran's Fire STAB moves, so the relationship is mutually  favorable. Additionally, Chlorophyll sweepers appreciate Heatran's  ability to remove opposing weather inducers, so packing Venusaur or  Victreebel is never a bad idea. Grass-type Chlorophyll sweepers also  tank Politoed's Water STAB attacks well and cover the Water weakness  Ninetales and Heatran share. While it might seem redundant, Dugtrio can  also work very well as a partner because Heatran can cripple the  opponent and Dugtrio can finish the job. While Magma Storm Heatran does  not have to be played on a Drought team, it is best used to help Drought  teams win weather wars. Nonetheless, it can be used on any team that  needs a good check to all forms of weather, sun included.</p>
 
<p>While Heatran can take down Blissey, the same does not always  apply to Chansey. If Heatran lacks Taunt, Chansey will be able to stall  out Heatran (out) with either Softboiled or Wish. Thus, a strong Fighting-type  Pokemon, such as Terrakion or Conkeldurr, is recommended as its (their) massive  Attack stat(s) complements Heatran's high Special Attack. Additionally,  both of these Fighting-types fare well against Tyranitar in case Heatran  is not able to get the job done. Infernape is a great partner because  it not only beats the aforementioned threats, but also gets its Fire  STAB boosted by Drought. If Heatran lacks Hidden Power Ice, it will be  setup fodder to Lum Berry Dragonite and Haxorus, so they must be played  against cautiously.</p>