[OVERVIEW]
Steel
========
Heatran is a key Pokemon for Steel teams thanks to Flash Fire's ability to absorb Fire-type attacks such as V-create from Victini. Heatran has excellent typing with decent defensive stats, which contributes to its good special bulk. Heatran also has access to a variety of utility options; Toxic and Lava Plume allow it to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Mantine, Galarian Corsola, and Rotom-W, Taunt allows it to block utility moves like Leech Seed, Stealth Rock, and Recover from slower Pokemon such as Celesteela, Galarian Corsola, and Toxapex, and Stealth Rock lets Ferrothorn dedicate its slot to Spikes. However, Heatran's Fire typing compounds Steel teams' natural weaknesses; it stacks the Ground-type weakness for its team against foes like Garchomp and creates a weakness against Water-types such as Barraskewda. Heatran also has mediocre Speed and is forced to switch out against fast physical threats such as Urshifu-R, Barraskewda, Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Garchomp. Heatran lacks proper recovery and is reliant on Leftovers, which directly affects its longevity during the battle as it doesn't like taking hits from other Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Steel)
move 1: Lava Plume
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Lava Plume is Heatran's most spammable STAB attack that comes with a 30% chance to burn the foe, which can be used to cripple Toxapex. Earth Power is used mainly for opposing Heatran and hits Toxapex as well as Electric-types such as Alolan Raichu and Tapu Koko. Toxic cripples foes that Heatran cannot reliably beat, like Mantine, Slowbro, and Porygon2. Heatran's excellent typing and natural bulk make it one of the best Stealth Rock setters, as it forces a lot of switches. However, Taunt allows it to be an effective stallbreaker if another teammate is carrying Stealth Rock. A specially defensive spread with a Calm nature gives Heatran a better matchup against foes such as Tornadus-T and Latios. Leftovers mitigates Heatran's lack of natural recovery. Flash Fire is the preferred ability, as it allows Heatran to absorb Fire-type attacks.
Heatran's presence is appreciated by every Steel-type, as it is the only reliable answer to Fire-types such as Victini. Ferrothorn is one of Heatran's best teammates; Heatran can take Fire-type attacks for Ferrothorn, while Ferrothorn can take Water-type attacks for it and threaten Water-types with Power Whip. In addition, Ferrothorn's Spikes synergizes with Lava Plume and Toxic to accrue chip damage on foes, while Taunt from Heatran prevents Defog from foes like Mantine and maintains Spikes. Celesteela, Skarmory, and Corviknight all make good partners for Heatran, as their typing allows them to switch into Ground-type coverage directed at Heatran. Moreover, Celesteela heals Heatran with Leech Seed and helps against checks such as Swampert, Skarmory provides Spikes and Whirlwind for passive damage while Heatran deters Defog with Taunt, and Corviknight's Pressure allows the duo to make better progress against bulky teams. Excadrill removes entry hazards that harm Heatran, as it already has limited recovery. Moreover, Excadrill can absorb Electric-type attacks for Heatran from foes like Choice Specs Tapu Koko, check opposing Heatran, and, with a Choice Scarf set, clean weakened teams. Aegislash takes care of Fighting-type coverage such as Focus Blast from Tapu Lele and Alakazam. Moreover, Toxic + Substitute Aegislash contributes to Heatran's stallbreaking. Bisharp helps Heatran stallbreak with Knock Off, removing crucial items such as Heavy-Duty Boots from Mantine and Pelipper and Eviolite from Porygon2 and Galarian Corsola. Bisharp also contributes to Psychic- and Ghost-type matchups effectively by threatening faster Pokemon such as Victini, Latios, Gengar, and Dragapult with Sucker Punch and getting free Knock Offs against slower Pokemon such as Slowbro, Galarian Slowking, and Galarian Corsola. Assault Vest Melmetal can take a few hits from specially offensive Pokemon that threaten Heatran, such as Tapu Lele. Calm Mind Jirachi can take advantage of Pokemon that Heatran cannot reliably beat, such as Toxapex and Mantine, while also taking on Dragon-types like Kyurem and Hydreigon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heatran may opt for a trapper set by using Magma Storm over Lava Plume, allowing it to beat some of its checks such as Toxapex and Galarian Slowking with the help of Taunt.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types are generally bulky enough to take one or two hits from Heatran and OHKO it in return. Garchomp and Gastrodon especially resist Lava Plume and easily force out Heatran, but Ground-types need to be careful of status from Lava Plume and Toxic.
**Water-types**: Heatran's Water-type weakness is easily exploited by Water-types, as faster threats force it out, and Heatran cannot reliably break through bulkier Water-types. However, Toxapex is threatened by Earth Power, while Mantine and Swampert must watch out for Toxic.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion threaten to KO Heatran with their STAB moves. However, Terrakion needs to be wary of a burn from Lava Plume.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon such as Garchomp, Barraskewda, and Excadrill easily revenge kill Heatran with their coverage or STAB moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Perish Song, 419696]]
- Steel analysis by: [[Perish Song, 419696]]
- Quality checked by: [[Maple, 473171], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Estronic, 240732]]
Steel
========
Heatran is a key Pokemon for Steel teams thanks to Flash Fire's ability to absorb Fire-type attacks such as V-create from Victini. Heatran has excellent typing with decent defensive stats, which contributes to its good special bulk. Heatran also has access to a variety of utility options; Toxic and Lava Plume allow it to cripple bulky Pokemon such as Mantine, Galarian Corsola, and Rotom-W, Taunt allows it to block utility moves like Leech Seed, Stealth Rock, and Recover from slower Pokemon such as Celesteela, Galarian Corsola, and Toxapex, and Stealth Rock lets Ferrothorn dedicate its slot to Spikes. However, Heatran's Fire typing compounds Steel teams' natural weaknesses; it stacks the Ground-type weakness for its team against foes like Garchomp and creates a weakness against Water-types such as Barraskewda. Heatran also has mediocre Speed and is forced to switch out against fast physical threats such as Urshifu-R, Barraskewda, Excadrill, Landorus-T, and Garchomp. Heatran lacks proper recovery and is reliant on Leftovers, which directly affects its longevity during the battle as it doesn't like taking hits from other Pokemon.
[SET]
name: Specially Defensive (Steel)
move 1: Lava Plume
move 2: Earth Power
move 3: Toxic
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Lava Plume is Heatran's most spammable STAB attack that comes with a 30% chance to burn the foe, which can be used to cripple Toxapex. Earth Power is used mainly for opposing Heatran and hits Toxapex as well as Electric-types such as Alolan Raichu and Tapu Koko. Toxic cripples foes that Heatran cannot reliably beat, like Mantine, Slowbro, and Porygon2. Heatran's excellent typing and natural bulk make it one of the best Stealth Rock setters, as it forces a lot of switches. However, Taunt allows it to be an effective stallbreaker if another teammate is carrying Stealth Rock. A specially defensive spread with a Calm nature gives Heatran a better matchup against foes such as Tornadus-T and Latios. Leftovers mitigates Heatran's lack of natural recovery. Flash Fire is the preferred ability, as it allows Heatran to absorb Fire-type attacks.
Heatran's presence is appreciated by every Steel-type, as it is the only reliable answer to Fire-types such as Victini. Ferrothorn is one of Heatran's best teammates; Heatran can take Fire-type attacks for Ferrothorn, while Ferrothorn can take Water-type attacks for it and threaten Water-types with Power Whip. In addition, Ferrothorn's Spikes synergizes with Lava Plume and Toxic to accrue chip damage on foes, while Taunt from Heatran prevents Defog from foes like Mantine and maintains Spikes. Celesteela, Skarmory, and Corviknight all make good partners for Heatran, as their typing allows them to switch into Ground-type coverage directed at Heatran. Moreover, Celesteela heals Heatran with Leech Seed and helps against checks such as Swampert, Skarmory provides Spikes and Whirlwind for passive damage while Heatran deters Defog with Taunt, and Corviknight's Pressure allows the duo to make better progress against bulky teams. Excadrill removes entry hazards that harm Heatran, as it already has limited recovery. Moreover, Excadrill can absorb Electric-type attacks for Heatran from foes like Choice Specs Tapu Koko, check opposing Heatran, and, with a Choice Scarf set, clean weakened teams. Aegislash takes care of Fighting-type coverage such as Focus Blast from Tapu Lele and Alakazam. Moreover, Toxic + Substitute Aegislash contributes to Heatran's stallbreaking. Bisharp helps Heatran stallbreak with Knock Off, removing crucial items such as Heavy-Duty Boots from Mantine and Pelipper and Eviolite from Porygon2 and Galarian Corsola. Bisharp also contributes to Psychic- and Ghost-type matchups effectively by threatening faster Pokemon such as Victini, Latios, Gengar, and Dragapult with Sucker Punch and getting free Knock Offs against slower Pokemon such as Slowbro, Galarian Slowking, and Galarian Corsola. Assault Vest Melmetal can take a few hits from specially offensive Pokemon that threaten Heatran, such as Tapu Lele. Calm Mind Jirachi can take advantage of Pokemon that Heatran cannot reliably beat, such as Toxapex and Mantine, while also taking on Dragon-types like Kyurem and Hydreigon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heatran may opt for a trapper set by using Magma Storm over Lava Plume, allowing it to beat some of its checks such as Toxapex and Galarian Slowking with the help of Taunt.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Ground-types are generally bulky enough to take one or two hits from Heatran and OHKO it in return. Garchomp and Gastrodon especially resist Lava Plume and easily force out Heatran, but Ground-types need to be careful of status from Lava Plume and Toxic.
**Water-types**: Heatran's Water-type weakness is easily exploited by Water-types, as faster threats force it out, and Heatran cannot reliably break through bulkier Water-types. However, Toxapex is threatened by Earth Power, while Mantine and Swampert must watch out for Toxic.
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion threaten to KO Heatran with their STAB moves. However, Terrakion needs to be wary of a burn from Lava Plume.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon such as Garchomp, Barraskewda, and Excadrill easily revenge kill Heatran with their coverage or STAB moves.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Perish Song, 419696]]
- Steel analysis by: [[Perish Song, 419696]]
- Quality checked by: [[Maple, 473171], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Estronic, 240732]]
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