[OVERVIEW]
Heracross stands out as one of the strongest dedicated breakers in the tier thanks to its powerful STAB options supported by its high attack stat and solid Speed tier. It's great abilities in both Guts and Moxie allow for it to lean even harder into its power, abusing prominent defensive Dark and Steel-types such as Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel. Heracross is also capable of bolstering its sweeping capabilities with a Choice Scarf set and Moxie, making it a threatening cleaner. However Heracross has nearly no defensive utility and lacks any longevity so it sometimes struggles to come in safely and make use of it's strength. It's not without switch-ins of course, as Pokemon such as Crobat, Talonflame, and Mimkyu are capable of switching in on a resisted attack and staving it off, while remaining fairly easy to revenge kill with common Pokemon.
name: Flame Orb
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Facade
move 4: Knock Off
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Heracross is fantastic at nuking bulky Dark and Steel-types such as the aforementioned Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel aswell as Normal-types like Snorlax and Porygon2 with Close Combat. Megahorn lets Heracross cleave through Grass and Psychic-types such as Vileplume, Necrozma, and Reuniclus, who can normally take on most other Fighting-types. Facade is a great tool at thrashing the Flying-types of the tier in Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern on the switch, while being a safe button if you don't wish to suffer the drawbacks of Close Combat or missing Megahorn. Knock off hits the Ghost-types in Chandelure, Golurk, and Mimkyu while also being great at removing the items of Pokemon such as Togekiss, Crobat, and Galarian Weezing. Stone edge is an alternative option over Facade if you wish for a hard OHKO on the Flying-types, however Facade does enough to where this generally isn't necessary.
Heracross favors being on more offensively oriented teams which grant it more opportunities of breaking through the opposition. Heracross pairs very well with Volt Switch users such as Raikou and Xurkitree who invite in the Grass-types that Heracross preys on, while covering the Flying-type weakness Heracross has. Similarly, Crobat allows Heracross entry on the Steel-types that switch into it safely with U-turn. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic who can respond to Fire-types such as Darmanitan and Entei which threaten out Heracross, while providing entry points for Heracross thanks to Flip Turn are good options. Pokemon that can clear hazards for Heracross to stick around for longer such as Crobat, Flygon, and Starmie whom also all provide the momentum Heracross adores. Starmie in particular is a great partner thanks to being able to keep your hazards up with Rapid Spin which helps Heracross grab more KOs throughout the game, which Dhelmise can also provide. Hazard setters such as Stakataka and Diancie are able to set the hazards Heracross loves while checking Pokemon that give it trouble such as Togekiss and Crobat. Grass-types which can cripple the Flying-types such as Stun Spore Roserade and Thunder wave Celebi are also good partners.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Stone Edge / Knock Off
move 4: Spikes / Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Heracross's solid Speed and good power paired with Moxie lends itself to being great at revenge killing with Choice Scarf. Close Combat is now capable of revenge killing Pokemon such as Cobalion, Durant, and Raikou. Megahorn rams through Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Roserade, and Celebi. Knock Off provides a response to Ghost-types such as Choice Scarf Chandelure, and knocks the Heavy-Duty Boots off the aforementioned Flying-types in Togekiss and Crobat, which can be capitalized on by its partners. Stone Edge can be used to more reliably KO the Flying-types, while still hitting most relevant Ghost-types in the tier. Spikes can be used on forced switches against Pokemon it can't immidiately threaten over either coverage move to provide additional utility and apply more pressure on switches, helping Heracross or a teammate sweep later in the game. Knock off is generally prefered on more Bulky offensive teams that appreciate the long term benefits of removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the Flying-types, while offense appreciates the immediate smack on the Flying-types. Spikes is a great alternative on both styles of teams that don't require having both Stone edge and Knock off on the same set.
Pokemon that benefit from crippling the Flying-types with Knock off such as Celebi and Roserade are great partners as they help apply greater pressure to them. Roserade may also take the spikes mantle from Heracross or vice versa depending on team preference. Pokemon that can bring Heracross in safely on Grass-type Pokemon such as Raikou and Xurkitree are great partners, while additionally handling the Flying-types that give Heracross trouble. Rapid spinners that can prevent hazards on your side while keeping yours such as Starmie and Dhelmise work well. Pokemon that can switch into faster Choice Scarfers like Darmanitan and Flygon such as Milotic and Gastrodon are good partners. Finally, hazard setters that can keep hazards up against the Flying-types such as Diancie, Stakataka and Metagross support it well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heracross can also make use of a Focus Sash on specific hyper offense teams looking to utilize it's Spikes setting capabilities. Heracross can make use of Choice Band using the same set as the Choice Scarf set, and play like the Guts set with greater longevity while potentially getting an extra 1.5x boost from switching into a stray Toxic. Guts can also be run on the Choice Scarf set to soak status such as Gastrodon Scald burn or Umbreon Toxic and abuse it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types** Flying-type Pokemon such as Togekiss, Noivern, Talonflame, and Crobat are capable of switching into it's STABs and forcing it out, while most have the bulk to survive 1 Stone edge, allowing them to serve as solid checks to Scarf Heracross aswell.
**Faster revenge killers** Faster Pokemon such as Noivern, Crobat, Talonflame, and Darmanitan are capable of threatening Heracross out of fear of a KO by their STABs. Flame Orb Heracross is routinely pressured by multiple unboosted Pokemon on opposing offensive teams, since Heracross is not particularly fast without a Choice Scarf.
**Residual Damage** Wearing Flame Orb Heracross down via hazards, burn damage and pivoting around it with Pokemon like Cobalion, Crobat, and Vileplume can stave Heracross off
**Galarian Weezing** Galarian Weezing is capable of switching into all Heracross variants throughout a game and forcing it out, and can Defog the Spikes Heracross set up. Neutralizing Gas even prevents Flame Orb Heracross from receiving its Guts boost. It is the single best counter to it in the tier, though it is not a very prominent Pokemon overall.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Luna's Banned Now,.328705]]
- Quality checked by: [[Zizalith,410251]] [[Expulso,202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]] , [[username1, userid1]],
Heracross stands out as one of the strongest dedicated breakers in the tier thanks to its powerful STAB options supported by its high attack stat and solid Speed tier. It's great abilities in both Guts and Moxie allow for it to lean even harder into its power, abusing prominent defensive Dark and Steel-types such as Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel. Heracross is also capable of bolstering its sweeping capabilities with a Choice Scarf set and Moxie, making it a threatening cleaner. However Heracross has nearly no defensive utility and lacks any longevity so it sometimes struggles to come in safely and make use of it's strength. It's not without switch-ins of course, as Pokemon such as Crobat, Talonflame, and Mimkyu are capable of switching in on a resisted attack and staving it off, while remaining fairly easy to revenge kill with common Pokemon.
name: Flame Orb
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Facade
move 4: Knock Off
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Heracross is fantastic at nuking bulky Dark and Steel-types such as the aforementioned Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel aswell as Normal-types like Snorlax and Porygon2 with Close Combat. Megahorn lets Heracross cleave through Grass and Psychic-types such as Vileplume, Necrozma, and Reuniclus, who can normally take on most other Fighting-types. Facade is a great tool at thrashing the Flying-types of the tier in Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern on the switch, while being a safe button if you don't wish to suffer the drawbacks of Close Combat or missing Megahorn. Knock off hits the Ghost-types in Chandelure, Golurk, and Mimkyu while also being great at removing the items of Pokemon such as Togekiss, Crobat, and Galarian Weezing. Stone edge is an alternative option over Facade if you wish for a hard OHKO on the Flying-types, however Facade does enough to where this generally isn't necessary.
Heracross favors being on more offensively oriented teams which grant it more opportunities of breaking through the opposition. Heracross pairs very well with Volt Switch users such as Raikou and Xurkitree who invite in the Grass-types that Heracross preys on, while covering the Flying-type weakness Heracross has. Similarly, Crobat allows Heracross entry on the Steel-types that switch into it safely with U-turn. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic who can respond to Fire-types such as Darmanitan and Entei which threaten out Heracross, while providing entry points for Heracross thanks to Flip Turn are good options. Pokemon that can clear hazards for Heracross to stick around for longer such as Crobat, Flygon, and Starmie whom also all provide the momentum Heracross adores. Starmie in particular is a great partner thanks to being able to keep your hazards up with Rapid Spin which helps Heracross grab more KOs throughout the game, which Dhelmise can also provide. Hazard setters such as Stakataka and Diancie are able to set the hazards Heracross loves while checking Pokemon that give it trouble such as Togekiss and Crobat. Grass-types which can cripple the Flying-types such as Stun Spore Roserade and Thunder wave Celebi are also good partners.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Stone Edge / Knock Off
move 4: Spikes / Knock Off
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Moxie
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Heracross's solid Speed and good power paired with Moxie lends itself to being great at revenge killing with Choice Scarf. Close Combat is now capable of revenge killing Pokemon such as Cobalion, Durant, and Raikou. Megahorn rams through Pokemon such as Gardevoir, Roserade, and Celebi. Knock Off provides a response to Ghost-types such as Choice Scarf Chandelure, and knocks the Heavy-Duty Boots off the aforementioned Flying-types in Togekiss and Crobat, which can be capitalized on by its partners. Stone Edge can be used to more reliably KO the Flying-types, while still hitting most relevant Ghost-types in the tier. Spikes can be used on forced switches against Pokemon it can't immidiately threaten over either coverage move to provide additional utility and apply more pressure on switches, helping Heracross or a teammate sweep later in the game. Knock off is generally prefered on more Bulky offensive teams that appreciate the long term benefits of removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the Flying-types, while offense appreciates the immediate smack on the Flying-types. Spikes is a great alternative on both styles of teams that don't require having both Stone edge and Knock off on the same set.
Pokemon that benefit from crippling the Flying-types with Knock off such as Celebi and Roserade are great partners as they help apply greater pressure to them. Roserade may also take the spikes mantle from Heracross or vice versa depending on team preference. Pokemon that can bring Heracross in safely on Grass-type Pokemon such as Raikou and Xurkitree are great partners, while additionally handling the Flying-types that give Heracross trouble. Rapid spinners that can prevent hazards on your side while keeping yours such as Starmie and Dhelmise work well. Pokemon that can switch into faster Choice Scarfers like Darmanitan and Flygon such as Milotic and Gastrodon are good partners. Finally, hazard setters that can keep hazards up against the Flying-types such as Diancie, Stakataka and Metagross support it well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heracross can also make use of a Focus Sash on specific hyper offense teams looking to utilize it's Spikes setting capabilities. Heracross can make use of Choice Band using the same set as the Choice Scarf set, and play like the Guts set with greater longevity while potentially getting an extra 1.5x boost from switching into a stray Toxic. Guts can also be run on the Choice Scarf set to soak status such as Gastrodon Scald burn or Umbreon Toxic and abuse it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types** Flying-type Pokemon such as Togekiss, Noivern, Talonflame, and Crobat are capable of switching into it's STABs and forcing it out, while most have the bulk to survive 1 Stone edge, allowing them to serve as solid checks to Scarf Heracross aswell.
**Faster revenge killers** Faster Pokemon such as Noivern, Crobat, Talonflame, and Darmanitan are capable of threatening Heracross out of fear of a KO by their STABs. Flame Orb Heracross is routinely pressured by multiple unboosted Pokemon on opposing offensive teams, since Heracross is not particularly fast without a Choice Scarf.
**Residual Damage** Wearing Flame Orb Heracross down via hazards, burn damage and pivoting around it with Pokemon like Cobalion, Crobat, and Vileplume can stave Heracross off
**Galarian Weezing** Galarian Weezing is capable of switching into all Heracross variants throughout a game and forcing it out, and can Defog the Spikes Heracross set up. Neutralizing Gas even prevents Flame Orb Heracross from receiving its Guts boost. It is the single best counter to it in the tier, though it is not a very prominent Pokemon overall.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Luna's Banned Now,.328705]]
- Quality checked by: [[Zizalith,410251]] [[Expulso,202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]] , [[username1, userid1]],
Last edited:
