[OVERVIEW]
Heracross offers itself to teams as a strong wallbreaker that can break holes into foes. Its access to Guts allows Heracross to switch in against status attempts from foes like Vaporeon and Amoonguss while giving it an extra power boost. Heracross's above average bulk lets it handle wallbreakers such as Scrafty, Breloom, and Overqwil. Furthermore, Heracross can punish teams that rely on common defensive Pokemon like Bellibolt, Wo-Chien, and Vaporeon. However, it lacks any longevity, making repeatedly switching in difficult for Heracross due to entry hazards and burn damage. Furthermore, Heracross's mediocre Speed tier makes it easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Munkidori, Barraskewda, Flamigo, and Choice Scarf Chandelure.
[SET]
name: Guts Wallbreaker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Facade
move 4: Trailblaze / Megahorn / Swords Dance
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark / Normal
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Knock Off is good coverage against Ghost-types like Chandelure and Decidueye as well as Psychic-types like Galarian Slowbro and Uxie that also threatens Pokemon heavily reliant on their held items like Incineroar, Kilowattrel, and Porygon2. Facade synergizes well with Guts, allowing Heracross to put major damage on foes that resist its Close Combat like Toxicroak, Amoonguss, and Sylveon. Trailblaze lets it outpace foes like Kilowattrel and Infernape after one use, whereas Megahorn can hit Grass- and Psychic-types like Tsareena and Meloetta. Alternatively, Heracross can opt to run Swords Dance, which makes it a terrifying setup sweeper. Tera Dark boosts the power of Knock Off while giving Heracross a useful Psychic-type immunity against foes like Munkidori and Galarian Articuno. Tera Normal gives Facade an extra power boost, allowing it to 2HKO defensive tanks like Galarian Slowbro and Amoonguss, while giving Heracross a useful immunity to Ghost-type attacks from Chandelure and Decidueye.
Heracross partners well with Fire-resistant Pokemon like Incineroar, Vaporeon, and Basculegion-M, as they handle Fire-types such as Chandelure and Paldean Tauros-F. Pivots like Flygon, Munkidori, and Inteleon can bring in threats Heracross can easily take advantage of like Amoonguss, Copperajah, and Vaporeon while also helping Heracross activate its Flame Orb safely. Additionally, slow pivots like Swampert, Bellibolt, and Incineroar can help Heracross enter the field and activate its Flame Orb safely. Steel-types like Copperajah, Bronzong, and Duraludon are great partners, since they can handle Flying- and Psychic-types like Tornadus and Munkidori. Heracross synergizes with other wallbreakers like Flygon, Barraskewda, and Munkidori to overwhelm defensive tanks like Amoonguss, Bronzong, and Rhyperior. Entry hazard removers like Avalugg, Tsareena, and Altaria help it avoid getting pressured when switching into hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Throat Chop allows Heracross to better handle sound users like Sylveon and Toxtricity, but it prefers to run Knock Off to better handle item-reliant foes like Avalugg and Gligar. Heracross can run a Choice Scarf set with Moxie to outpace faster threats like Kilowattrel and Chandelure, but it's completely outclassed by other Choice Scarf users like Flygon, Munkidori, and Flamigo due to them having a higher Speed stat. Spikes can also be used, making Heracross a solid entry hazard setter with the ability to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from walls like Amoonguss and Avalugg. However, Spikes is very niche, and Heracross prefers to run the Guts set.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Offensive Flying-types like Flamigo, Tornadus, and Kilowattrel can destroy Heracross with their attacks, but none of them enjoy switching into its Guts-boosted Facade. Defensive Flying-types like Gligar and Altaria can tank its Close Combat; the former can freely set up entry hazards, while the latter can destroy Heracross with Brave Bird. However, neither of them enjoy switching into Knock Off and Facade.
**Fire-types**: Choice Scarf Chandelure, Infernape, and Paldean Tauros-F can outspeed Heracross and destroy it with their STAB attacks, but they have to be cautious of switching into its powerful attacks.
**Psychic-types**: Faster Psychic-types like Munkidori, Scream Tail and Meloetta can easily revenge kill Heracross, but none of them enjoy switching directly into Knock Off and Facade. Bulky walls like Galarian Slowbro and Uxie can tank its Close Combat while threatening Heracross back with their attacks or free setup.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Heracross offers itself to teams as a strong wallbreaker that can break holes into foes. Its access to Guts allows Heracross to switch in against status attempts from foes like Vaporeon and Amoonguss while giving it an extra power boost. Heracross's above average bulk lets it handle wallbreakers such as Scrafty, Breloom, and Overqwil. Furthermore, Heracross can punish teams that rely on common defensive Pokemon like Bellibolt, Wo-Chien, and Vaporeon. However, it lacks any longevity, making repeatedly switching in difficult for Heracross due to entry hazards and burn damage. Furthermore, Heracross's mediocre Speed tier makes it easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon like Munkidori, Barraskewda, Flamigo, and Choice Scarf Chandelure.
[SET]
name: Guts Wallbreaker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Facade
move 4: Trailblaze / Megahorn / Swords Dance
item: Flame Orb
ability: Guts
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
tera type: Dark / Normal
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Knock Off is good coverage against Ghost-types like Chandelure and Decidueye as well as Psychic-types like Galarian Slowbro and Uxie that also threatens Pokemon heavily reliant on their held items like Incineroar, Kilowattrel, and Porygon2. Facade synergizes well with Guts, allowing Heracross to put major damage on foes that resist its Close Combat like Toxicroak, Amoonguss, and Sylveon. Trailblaze lets it outpace foes like Kilowattrel and Infernape after one use, whereas Megahorn can hit Grass- and Psychic-types like Tsareena and Meloetta. Alternatively, Heracross can opt to run Swords Dance, which makes it a terrifying setup sweeper. Tera Dark boosts the power of Knock Off while giving Heracross a useful Psychic-type immunity against foes like Munkidori and Galarian Articuno. Tera Normal gives Facade an extra power boost, allowing it to 2HKO defensive tanks like Galarian Slowbro and Amoonguss, while giving Heracross a useful immunity to Ghost-type attacks from Chandelure and Decidueye.
Heracross partners well with Fire-resistant Pokemon like Incineroar, Vaporeon, and Basculegion-M, as they handle Fire-types such as Chandelure and Paldean Tauros-F. Pivots like Flygon, Munkidori, and Inteleon can bring in threats Heracross can easily take advantage of like Amoonguss, Copperajah, and Vaporeon while also helping Heracross activate its Flame Orb safely. Additionally, slow pivots like Swampert, Bellibolt, and Incineroar can help Heracross enter the field and activate its Flame Orb safely. Steel-types like Copperajah, Bronzong, and Duraludon are great partners, since they can handle Flying- and Psychic-types like Tornadus and Munkidori. Heracross synergizes with other wallbreakers like Flygon, Barraskewda, and Munkidori to overwhelm defensive tanks like Amoonguss, Bronzong, and Rhyperior. Entry hazard removers like Avalugg, Tsareena, and Altaria help it avoid getting pressured when switching into hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Throat Chop allows Heracross to better handle sound users like Sylveon and Toxtricity, but it prefers to run Knock Off to better handle item-reliant foes like Avalugg and Gligar. Heracross can run a Choice Scarf set with Moxie to outpace faster threats like Kilowattrel and Chandelure, but it's completely outclassed by other Choice Scarf users like Flygon, Munkidori, and Flamigo due to them having a higher Speed stat. Spikes can also be used, making Heracross a solid entry hazard setter with the ability to remove Heavy-Duty Boots from walls like Amoonguss and Avalugg. However, Spikes is very niche, and Heracross prefers to run the Guts set.
Checks and Counters
====
**Flying-types**: Offensive Flying-types like Flamigo, Tornadus, and Kilowattrel can destroy Heracross with their attacks, but none of them enjoy switching into its Guts-boosted Facade. Defensive Flying-types like Gligar and Altaria can tank its Close Combat; the former can freely set up entry hazards, while the latter can destroy Heracross with Brave Bird. However, neither of them enjoy switching into Knock Off and Facade.
**Fire-types**: Choice Scarf Chandelure, Infernape, and Paldean Tauros-F can outspeed Heracross and destroy it with their STAB attacks, but they have to be cautious of switching into its powerful attacks.
**Psychic-types**: Faster Psychic-types like Munkidori, Scream Tail and Meloetta can easily revenge kill Heracross, but none of them enjoy switching directly into Knock Off and Facade. Bulky walls like Galarian Slowbro and Uxie can tank its Close Combat while threatening Heracross back with their attacks or free setup.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/pika134.609709/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lucario.189361/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
