[Overview]
Heatran's typing coupled with Flash Fire grants it important immunities and numerous key resistances. This allows it to come in on a plethora of bulky Pokemon such as Eternatus, Ho-Oh lacking Earthquake and Xerneas and wear down opposing teams with its strong movepool. Its signature move, Magma Storm, allows Heatran to trap and KO many of the tier's special walls such as Eternatus, Ho-Oh, and Blissey in combination with Taunt. Utility moves like Stealth Rock, Roar, and Toxic can help further break down bulkier teams and allow teammates like Groudon to forgo support moves in favor of more offensive sets. Unfortunately, Heatran's lack of reliable recovery limits the number of teams it can work on and forces it to rely on Leftovers, which makes it extremely vulnerable to the common Knock Off and entry hazards. Its typing also comes with various weaknesses to common attacking types, which requires extensive team support. Finally, Magma Storm's accuracy and low PP make Heatran somewhat unreliable at what niche it does have.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive Trapper
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Toxic / Roar / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 240 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This specially defensive spread provides Heatran much-needed bulk against common special threats like Eternatus and Xerneas; Special Attack investment is not needed, since Heatran mostly relies on passive damage from Magma Storm, Toxic, and Stealth Rock to defeat foes. 244 HP EVs allow Heatran to take an extra round of Leech Seed or entry hazard damage, and 20 Speed EVs let it outspeed uninvested Necrozma-DM and Buzzwole, as well as certain Groudon variants. The combination of Magma Storm, Taunt, and Earth Power is needed to trap Eternatus, one of Heatran's most important targets. Toxic and Stealth Rock are both good options for additional passive damage, while Roar allows Heatran to phaze Meteor Beam Eternatus and Geomancy Xerneas.
Lunala, Giratina-O, and defensive Zygarde-C are capable of dealing with common Ground-types in Groudon, Zygarde-C, and Excadrill, which is vital when using Heatran. Another great defensive partner is Blissey, which acts as a secondary special wall for offensive Eternatus and Xerneas and answers Kyogre, allowing Heatran to forgo Roar. Eternatus has good defensive synergy with Heatran due to resisting both Water and Fighting. Offensive Pokemon like Kyogre and Xerneas appreciate Heatran's ability to pressure and remove common special walls like Blissey, Eternatus, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh. Groudon provides sun support and benefits greatly from Heatran carrying Stealth Rock. When lacking Roar, Heatran becomes a liability versus hyper offense, since it is heavily pressured by common Pokemon such as Groudon, Marshadow and Calyrex-S; as such, anti-offense Pokemon like Choice Scarf Calyrex-S, Marshadow, and Heavy-Duty-Boots Eternatus make good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Protect allows Heatran to accrue residual damage with Magma Storm and gain extra Leftovers recovery, but it makes Heatran significantly less useful against Pokemon like Zygarde-C and bulky Kyogre, which can switch into Magma Storm. Heatran can run a more supportive set with Magma Storm or Lava Plume, Toxic, Protect, and Stealth Rock, but it is unable to trap and remove special walls without Taunt and Earth Power.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Heatran's 4x weakness to Ground allows Excadrill, Groudon, and Zygarde-C to easily force it out. While Groudon and Excadrill have a hard time switching into Magma Storm, defensive Rest Zygarde-C deserves special mention as a reliable switch-in to Heatran.
**Ground-type Coverage**: Although rare, Earthquake from Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM can immediately KO Heatran.
**Water-types**: Kyogre, Palkia, and Dracovish can tank hits from Heatran and threaten it back with powerful attacks.
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Marshadow, Pheromosa and Urshifu-S can threaten to KO Heatran, but they are unable to switch into Magma Storm. Xerneas can run Focus Blast, so having Heatran as its only check is unreliable.
**Passive Damage and Knock Off**: Heatran lacks reliable recovery and is forced to rely on Leftovers, which can be nullified by entry hazards and Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[plat27, 473603]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Fc, 511624]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866], [DC, 449990]]
Heatran's typing coupled with Flash Fire grants it important immunities and numerous key resistances. This allows it to come in on a plethora of bulky Pokemon such as Eternatus, Ho-Oh lacking Earthquake and Xerneas and wear down opposing teams with its strong movepool. Its signature move, Magma Storm, allows Heatran to trap and KO many of the tier's special walls such as Eternatus, Ho-Oh, and Blissey in combination with Taunt. Utility moves like Stealth Rock, Roar, and Toxic can help further break down bulkier teams and allow teammates like Groudon to forgo support moves in favor of more offensive sets. Unfortunately, Heatran's lack of reliable recovery limits the number of teams it can work on and forces it to rely on Leftovers, which makes it extremely vulnerable to the common Knock Off and entry hazards. Its typing also comes with various weaknesses to common attacking types, which requires extensive team support. Finally, Magma Storm's accuracy and low PP make Heatran somewhat unreliable at what niche it does have.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive Trapper
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Taunt
move 4: Toxic / Roar / Stealth Rock
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
evs: 244 HP / 240 SpD / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
This specially defensive spread provides Heatran much-needed bulk against common special threats like Eternatus and Xerneas; Special Attack investment is not needed, since Heatran mostly relies on passive damage from Magma Storm, Toxic, and Stealth Rock to defeat foes. 244 HP EVs allow Heatran to take an extra round of Leech Seed or entry hazard damage, and 20 Speed EVs let it outspeed uninvested Necrozma-DM and Buzzwole, as well as certain Groudon variants. The combination of Magma Storm, Taunt, and Earth Power is needed to trap Eternatus, one of Heatran's most important targets. Toxic and Stealth Rock are both good options for additional passive damage, while Roar allows Heatran to phaze Meteor Beam Eternatus and Geomancy Xerneas.
Lunala, Giratina-O, and defensive Zygarde-C are capable of dealing with common Ground-types in Groudon, Zygarde-C, and Excadrill, which is vital when using Heatran. Another great defensive partner is Blissey, which acts as a secondary special wall for offensive Eternatus and Xerneas and answers Kyogre, allowing Heatran to forgo Roar. Eternatus has good defensive synergy with Heatran due to resisting both Water and Fighting. Offensive Pokemon like Kyogre and Xerneas appreciate Heatran's ability to pressure and remove common special walls like Blissey, Eternatus, Ferrothorn, and Ho-Oh. Groudon provides sun support and benefits greatly from Heatran carrying Stealth Rock. When lacking Roar, Heatran becomes a liability versus hyper offense, since it is heavily pressured by common Pokemon such as Groudon, Marshadow and Calyrex-S; as such, anti-offense Pokemon like Choice Scarf Calyrex-S, Marshadow, and Heavy-Duty-Boots Eternatus make good teammates.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Protect allows Heatran to accrue residual damage with Magma Storm and gain extra Leftovers recovery, but it makes Heatran significantly less useful against Pokemon like Zygarde-C and bulky Kyogre, which can switch into Magma Storm. Heatran can run a more supportive set with Magma Storm or Lava Plume, Toxic, Protect, and Stealth Rock, but it is unable to trap and remove special walls without Taunt and Earth Power.
Checks and Counters
====
**Ground-types**: Heatran's 4x weakness to Ground allows Excadrill, Groudon, and Zygarde-C to easily force it out. While Groudon and Excadrill have a hard time switching into Magma Storm, defensive Rest Zygarde-C deserves special mention as a reliable switch-in to Heatran.
**Ground-type Coverage**: Although rare, Earthquake from Ho-Oh and Necrozma-DM can immediately KO Heatran.
**Water-types**: Kyogre, Palkia, and Dracovish can tank hits from Heatran and threaten it back with powerful attacks.
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Marshadow, Pheromosa and Urshifu-S can threaten to KO Heatran, but they are unable to switch into Magma Storm. Xerneas can run Focus Blast, so having Heatran as its only check is unreliable.
**Passive Damage and Knock Off**: Heatran lacks reliable recovery and is forced to rely on Leftovers, which can be nullified by entry hazards and Knock Off.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[plat27, 473603]]
- Quality checked by: [[Manaphy, 50695], [Fc, 511624]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866], [DC, 449990]]
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