[OVERVIEW]
Heracross stands out as one of the strongest dedicated wallbreakers in the tier thanks to its powerful STAB options supported by its high Attack and solid Speed tier. Its great abilities in Guts and Moxie can further crank up its power, and it takes advantage of prominent defensive Dark- and Steel-types such as Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel. Heracross is also capable of sweeping and cleaning with a Choice Scarf set and Moxie. However, Heracross has nearly no defensive utility and lacks any longevity, so it sometimes struggles to come in safely and make use of its strength. Pokemon such as Crobat, Talonflame, and Mimikyu can switch in on a resisted attack and stave it off, and it's fairly easy to revenge kill with common Pokemon.
[SET]
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 Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel, as well 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, which can normally take on most other Fighting-types. Facade is great at thrashing the Flying-types of the tier in Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern on the switch, as well as being a safe option if you don't want to deal with Close Combat dropping defenses or Megahorn's accuracy. Knock Off hits Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Golurk, and Mimikyu while being great at crippling 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 aforementioned Flying-types; however, Facade does enough to where this generally isn't necessary.
Heracross favors being on more offensive teams, which grant it more opportunities to break through the opposition. Heracross pairs very well with Volt Switch users such as Raikou and Xurkitree, which invite in the Grass-types that it preys on while covering its Flying weakness. Similarly, Crobat allows Heracross entry on the Steel-types that switch into it safely with U-turn. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic can respond to Fire-types such as Darmanitan and Entei, which force out Heracross, while providing entry points for it thanks to Flip Turn. Pokemon such as Starmie, Flygon, and the aforementioned Crobat help Heracross stick around by clearing entry hazards and provide the momentum it adores. Starmie in particular is a great partner thanks to Rapid Spin keeping your hazards up, helping Heracross grab more KOs throughout the game, which Dhelmise can also provide. Setters such as Stakataka and Diancie can provide these hazards Heracross loves while checking Pokemon that give it trouble such as Togekiss and Crobat. Grass-types that can cripple 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, good power, Moxie, and Choice Scarf lend themselves to great revenge killing. Close Combat can now pick off faster 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 it removes the Heavy-Duty Boots of the aforementioned Flying-types in Togekiss and Crobat, which Heracross's teammates can capitalize on. Stone Edge can be used to more reliably KO the Flying-types while still hitting the most relevant Ghost-types in the tier. Spikes can be used over either coverage move, providing additional utility and pressure on forced switches against Pokemon Heracross can't immediately threaten. Knock Off is generally preferred on bulky offense teams that appreciate the long-term benefits of removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the Flying-types, while offense appreciates the immediate smack of Stone Edge. Spikes is a great alternative on both styles of teams if both coverage moves aren't required, providing opportunities for Heracross to clean late-game with Moxie boosts.
Pokemon that benefit from Knock Off crippling Flying-types such as Celebi and Roserade are great partners. Roserade may also handle setting Spikes for Heracross or vice versa, depending on team preference. Pokemon that can bring Heracross in safely on Grass-types such as Raikou and Xurkitree are great partners, and they additionally handle the Flying-types that give Heracross trouble. Spinners such as Starmie and Dhelmise work well for entry hazard removal, since Heracross greatly appreciates its own team's entry hazards staying up. Pokemon that can switch into faster Choice Scarf users like Darmanitan and Flygon, such as Milotic and Gastrodon, are good partners. Finally, hazard setters that can keep hazards up against Flying-types such as Diancie, Stakataka, and Metagross support it well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heracross can make use of Focus Sash as a Spikes setter on specific hyper offense teams. Heracross can also make use of Choice Band, using the same set as the Choice Scarf set but replacing Moxie with Guts, and play like the Guts set with greater longevity while potentially getting an extra Attack boost from switching into a stray Toxic. Guts can also be run on the Choice Scarf set to soak status such as a Scald burn from Gastrodon or a Toxic from Umbreon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types** Flying-types such as Togekiss, Noivern, Talonflame, and Crobat can switch into Heracross's STAB moves and force it out, and most have the bulk to survive one Stone Edge from the Choice Scarf set, allowing them to serve as solid checks to it.
**Faster Revenge Killers** Faster Pokemon such as Noivern, Crobat, Talonflame, and Darmanitan can force Heracross out and KO it with their STAB moves. Multiple unboosted Pokemon on offense teams routinely pressure Flame Orb Heracross, since Heracross is not particularly fast without Choice Scarf.
**Residual Damage** Wearing Flame Orb Heracross down via entry hazards, burn damage, and pivoting around it with Pokemon like Cobalion, Crobat, and Vileplume can stave it off.
**Galarian Weezing** Galarian Weezing is capable of switching into all Heracross variants throughout a game and forcing it out, and it can remove Heracross's Spikes with Defog. Neutralizing Gas even makes Flame Orb decrease Heracross's Attack instead of raising it with Guts. It is the single best counter to Heracross in the tier, though it is not a very prominent Pokemon overall.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Luna's Banned Now, 328705], [gorex, 244449]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [Expulso, 202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Astra, 240732]]
Heracross stands out as one of the strongest dedicated wallbreakers in the tier thanks to its powerful STAB options supported by its high Attack and solid Speed tier. Its great abilities in Guts and Moxie can further crank up its power, and it takes advantage of prominent defensive Dark- and Steel-types such as Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel. Heracross is also capable of sweeping and cleaning with a Choice Scarf set and Moxie. However, Heracross has nearly no defensive utility and lacks any longevity, so it sometimes struggles to come in safely and make use of its strength. Pokemon such as Crobat, Talonflame, and Mimikyu can switch in on a resisted attack and stave it off, and it's fairly easy to revenge kill with common Pokemon.
[SET]
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 Incineroar, Umbreon, and Registeel, as well 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, which can normally take on most other Fighting-types. Facade is great at thrashing the Flying-types of the tier in Togekiss, Crobat, and Noivern on the switch, as well as being a safe option if you don't want to deal with Close Combat dropping defenses or Megahorn's accuracy. Knock Off hits Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Golurk, and Mimikyu while being great at crippling 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 aforementioned Flying-types; however, Facade does enough to where this generally isn't necessary.
Heracross favors being on more offensive teams, which grant it more opportunities to break through the opposition. Heracross pairs very well with Volt Switch users such as Raikou and Xurkitree, which invite in the Grass-types that it preys on while covering its Flying weakness. Similarly, Crobat allows Heracross entry on the Steel-types that switch into it safely with U-turn. Bulky Water-types such as Milotic can respond to Fire-types such as Darmanitan and Entei, which force out Heracross, while providing entry points for it thanks to Flip Turn. Pokemon such as Starmie, Flygon, and the aforementioned Crobat help Heracross stick around by clearing entry hazards and provide the momentum it adores. Starmie in particular is a great partner thanks to Rapid Spin keeping your hazards up, helping Heracross grab more KOs throughout the game, which Dhelmise can also provide. Setters such as Stakataka and Diancie can provide these hazards Heracross loves while checking Pokemon that give it trouble such as Togekiss and Crobat. Grass-types that can cripple 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, good power, Moxie, and Choice Scarf lend themselves to great revenge killing. Close Combat can now pick off faster 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 it removes the Heavy-Duty Boots of the aforementioned Flying-types in Togekiss and Crobat, which Heracross's teammates can capitalize on. Stone Edge can be used to more reliably KO the Flying-types while still hitting the most relevant Ghost-types in the tier. Spikes can be used over either coverage move, providing additional utility and pressure on forced switches against Pokemon Heracross can't immediately threaten. Knock Off is generally preferred on bulky offense teams that appreciate the long-term benefits of removing Heavy-Duty Boots from the Flying-types, while offense appreciates the immediate smack of Stone Edge. Spikes is a great alternative on both styles of teams if both coverage moves aren't required, providing opportunities for Heracross to clean late-game with Moxie boosts.
Pokemon that benefit from Knock Off crippling Flying-types such as Celebi and Roserade are great partners. Roserade may also handle setting Spikes for Heracross or vice versa, depending on team preference. Pokemon that can bring Heracross in safely on Grass-types such as Raikou and Xurkitree are great partners, and they additionally handle the Flying-types that give Heracross trouble. Spinners such as Starmie and Dhelmise work well for entry hazard removal, since Heracross greatly appreciates its own team's entry hazards staying up. Pokemon that can switch into faster Choice Scarf users like Darmanitan and Flygon, such as Milotic and Gastrodon, are good partners. Finally, hazard setters that can keep hazards up against Flying-types such as Diancie, Stakataka, and Metagross support it well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heracross can make use of Focus Sash as a Spikes setter on specific hyper offense teams. Heracross can also make use of Choice Band, using the same set as the Choice Scarf set but replacing Moxie with Guts, and play like the Guts set with greater longevity while potentially getting an extra Attack boost from switching into a stray Toxic. Guts can also be run on the Choice Scarf set to soak status such as a Scald burn from Gastrodon or a Toxic from Umbreon.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types** Flying-types such as Togekiss, Noivern, Talonflame, and Crobat can switch into Heracross's STAB moves and force it out, and most have the bulk to survive one Stone Edge from the Choice Scarf set, allowing them to serve as solid checks to it.
**Faster Revenge Killers** Faster Pokemon such as Noivern, Crobat, Talonflame, and Darmanitan can force Heracross out and KO it with their STAB moves. Multiple unboosted Pokemon on offense teams routinely pressure Flame Orb Heracross, since Heracross is not particularly fast without Choice Scarf.
**Residual Damage** Wearing Flame Orb Heracross down via entry hazards, burn damage, and pivoting around it with Pokemon like Cobalion, Crobat, and Vileplume can stave it off.
**Galarian Weezing** Galarian Weezing is capable of switching into all Heracross variants throughout a game and forcing it out, and it can remove Heracross's Spikes with Defog. Neutralizing Gas even makes Flame Orb decrease Heracross's Attack instead of raising it with Guts. It is the single best counter to Heracross in the tier, though it is not a very prominent Pokemon overall.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Luna's Banned Now, 328705], [gorex, 244449]]
- Quality checked by: [[zizalith, 410251], [Expulso, 202058]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Astra, 240732]]
Last edited:
