[OVERVIEW]
Thanks to its solid bulk, excellent Special Attack stat, unique typing, and amazing signature move in Magma Storm, Heatran finds itself as one of the best Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Earth Power / Flash Cannon
move 4: Stealth Rock / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Defensive Heatran is a staple of many team's defensive cores, with it being able to fit onto bulky offense, balance, and even stall teams with ease. Fire / Steel is an excellent defensive typing that enables Heatran to answer a myriad of foes such as Scizor, Clefable, Weavile, Togekiss, and many more. It also allows Heatran to pivot in on resisted attacks such as Garchomp's Dragon-type moves, Azumarill's Play Rough, and Alakazam's Psychic, all of which are foes Heatran has otherwise poor matchups against.
The listed EV spread allows Heatran to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Weavile's Throat Chop after Stealth Rock while also outspeeding offensive Scizor, which would otherwise OHKO it with a +2 Life Orb Brick Break.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Earth Power / Flash Cannon
move 4: Stealth Rock / Flash Cannon / Overheat
item:
ability: Flame Body / Flash Fire
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Offensive Heatran utilizes its solid defensive profile to hit the field and fire off powerful attacks that can be difficult for opposing teams to withstand over the course of a game.
The given EV spread maximizes Heatran's Special Attack and Speed. A Timid nature is preferred because it lets Heatran outspeed base 70s that are using a Speed-boosting nature, namely lead Skarmory, as well as base 80 and base 85 foes that are running a Speed-neutral nature. If the extra Speed is not needed, a Modest nature can be chosen to increase Heatran's damage output.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heatran can wield a devastatingly powerful Choice Specs set, which turns it into an extremely dangerous wallbreaker that is capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing nearly the entire metagame. In a similar vein, a Choice Scarf set allows Heatran to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame; notably, this lets it get the jump on offensive checks such as Nidoking and Mamoswine, letting it OHKO them before they would be able to do the same. Choice Scarf Heatran is also an effective revenge killer against Swords Dance Lucario thanks to its Normal resistance letting it tank a boosted Extreme Speed. Heatran can choose to run a Power Herb + Solar Beam set in order to lure in and greatly threaten Water-types that would otherwise answer it with ease. However, all of these sets forego Leftovers; this not only cuts greatly into Heatran's longevity, meaning it is unable to perform its defensive duties as well as it would like, but also reveals to the opponent that Heatran is running a more aggressive set once it is shown to not receive Leftovers recovery, giving them the opportunity to play around it. A specially defensive spread that mirrors the defensive set can be run to withstand foes such as Togekiss, Latias, Starmie, and Alakazam more effectively; however, the aforementioned Pokemon are often able to greatly threaten Heatran despite the special defense investment, with only Togekiss fearing the possibility of Heatran carrying Flash Cannon to threaten it. Defensive sets have many additional moveset options to choose from that are only seen on occasion. Lava Plume gives Heatran an accurate Fire-type move with a solid chance to burn foes on the switch, but the lack of power and valuable residual damage compared to Magma Storm makes it much easier to switch into Heatran; Gliscor, most notably, is completely unafraid of Lava Plume Heatran, whereas even uninvested Magma Storm can prove troublesome for it to switch into. Roar can be used to punish switch-ins when entry hazards are set by immediately forcing them out; it can also let Heatran phaze Calm Mind users that it cannot answer such as Latias and Suicune in a pinch. Roar is extremely difficult to slot onto Heatran, however, and although the ability to phaze can be useful, it is oftentimes not needed. The aforementioned specially defensive sets can choose to run Payback in order to punish foes such as Calm Mind Latias and defensive Starmie that would otherwise try to exploit their positive matchups into Heatran. Lastly, Will-O-Wisp can be run to cripple switch-ins such as Garchomp, unpoisoned Gliscor, and Suicune with a burn that greatly limits their effectiveness in a game. Like all the other options mentioned, however, it is extremely difficult to fit onto Heatran.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: The myriad of Water-types in the tier, both bulky and offensive, give Heatran many issues, as they are often able to pivot into it freely and threaten it out. Additionally, certain foes such as Starmie and Suicune are able to nullify Magma Storm's secondary effects thanks to Rapid Spin and Substitute, respectively. All of these Pokemon must be wary of the occasional Power Herb + Solar Beam sets, however.
**Ground-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Common Ground-type foes such as Garchomp, Gliscor, Mamoswine, and Nidoking can threaten to outspeed and OHKO Heatran with their Ground-type STAB moves. Furthermore, the former two are able to reliably switch into most Heatran sets thanks to their Fire resistance and incredible longevity, respectively. Pokemon such as Dragonite, Tangrowth, and offensive Mew can opt to run Earthquake as a coverage option in order to greatly threaten Heatran.
**Fighting-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Infernape, Lucario, and Jolly Heracross can outspeed and OHKO Heatran with Close Combat, while Breloom can threaten slower Heatran variants with Force Palm and faster ones with Mach Punch. Togekiss can opt to run Aura Sphere on Nasty Plot sets in order to target Heatran, while Staraptor and Alakazam always carry Fighting-type coverage in Close Combat and Focus Blast, respectively.
**Dragon-types**: Garchomp, Dragonite, and Latias all resist Magma Storm and threaten Heatran out with their common move sets; Garchomp and Dragonite threaten it with Earthquake, while Latias opts for Surf instead. However, only Garchomp likes to switch into Heatran consistently, as Dragonite prefers to keep its Multiscale intact, while Latias can be denied the chance to use Recover with Taunt.
**Chip Damage**: Despite Heatran's incredible bulk and defensive profile, its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers leaves it prone to being worn down by weak attacks such as Mew's Volt Switch as well as chip damage from entry hazards.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.101/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Thanks to its solid bulk, excellent Special Attack stat, unique typing, and amazing signature move in Magma Storm, Heatran finds itself as one of the best Pokemon in the tier.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Earth Power / Flash Cannon
move 4: Stealth Rock / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 96 Def / 160 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Defensive Heatran is a staple of many team's defensive cores, with it being able to fit onto bulky offense, balance, and even stall teams with ease. Fire / Steel is an excellent defensive typing that enables Heatran to answer a myriad of foes such as Scizor, Clefable, Weavile, Togekiss, and many more. It also allows Heatran to pivot in on resisted attacks such as Garchomp's Dragon-type moves, Azumarill's Play Rough, and Alakazam's Psychic, all of which are foes Heatran has otherwise poor matchups against.
The listed EV spread allows Heatran to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Weavile's Throat Chop after Stealth Rock while also outspeeding offensive Scizor, which would otherwise OHKO it with a +2 Life Orb Brick Break.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Earth Power / Flash Cannon
move 4: Stealth Rock / Flash Cannon / Overheat
item:
ability: Flame Body / Flash Fire
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Offensive Heatran utilizes its solid defensive profile to hit the field and fire off powerful attacks that can be difficult for opposing teams to withstand over the course of a game.
The given EV spread maximizes Heatran's Special Attack and Speed. A Timid nature is preferred because it lets Heatran outspeed base 70s that are using a Speed-boosting nature, namely lead Skarmory, as well as base 80 and base 85 foes that are running a Speed-neutral nature. If the extra Speed is not needed, a Modest nature can be chosen to increase Heatran's damage output.
Team Options
========
Include potential teammates for the Pokemon, as well as descriptions and details as to why.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Heatran can wield a devastatingly powerful Choice Specs set, which turns it into an extremely dangerous wallbreaker that is capable of OHKOing or 2HKOing nearly the entire metagame. In a similar vein, a Choice Scarf set allows Heatran to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame; notably, this lets it get the jump on offensive checks such as Nidoking and Mamoswine, letting it OHKO them before they would be able to do the same. Choice Scarf Heatran is also an effective revenge killer against Swords Dance Lucario thanks to its Normal resistance letting it tank a boosted Extreme Speed. Heatran can choose to run a Power Herb + Solar Beam set in order to lure in and greatly threaten Water-types that would otherwise answer it with ease. However, all of these sets forego Leftovers; this not only cuts greatly into Heatran's longevity, meaning it is unable to perform its defensive duties as well as it would like, but also reveals to the opponent that Heatran is running a more aggressive set once it is shown to not receive Leftovers recovery, giving them the opportunity to play around it. A specially defensive spread that mirrors the defensive set can be run to withstand foes such as Togekiss, Latias, Starmie, and Alakazam more effectively; however, the aforementioned Pokemon are often able to greatly threaten Heatran despite the special defense investment, with only Togekiss fearing the possibility of Heatran carrying Flash Cannon to threaten it. Defensive sets have many additional moveset options to choose from that are only seen on occasion. Lava Plume gives Heatran an accurate Fire-type move with a solid chance to burn foes on the switch, but the lack of power and valuable residual damage compared to Magma Storm makes it much easier to switch into Heatran; Gliscor, most notably, is completely unafraid of Lava Plume Heatran, whereas even uninvested Magma Storm can prove troublesome for it to switch into. Roar can be used to punish switch-ins when entry hazards are set by immediately forcing them out; it can also let Heatran phaze Calm Mind users that it cannot answer such as Latias and Suicune in a pinch. Roar is extremely difficult to slot onto Heatran, however, and although the ability to phaze can be useful, it is oftentimes not needed. The aforementioned specially defensive sets can choose to run Payback in order to punish foes such as Calm Mind Latias and defensive Starmie that would otherwise try to exploit their positive matchups into Heatran. Lastly, Will-O-Wisp can be run to cripple switch-ins such as Garchomp, unpoisoned Gliscor, and Suicune with a burn that greatly limits their effectiveness in a game. Like all the other options mentioned, however, it is extremely difficult to fit onto Heatran.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: The myriad of Water-types in the tier, both bulky and offensive, give Heatran many issues, as they are often able to pivot into it freely and threaten it out. Additionally, certain foes such as Starmie and Suicune are able to nullify Magma Storm's secondary effects thanks to Rapid Spin and Substitute, respectively. All of these Pokemon must be wary of the occasional Power Herb + Solar Beam sets, however.
**Ground-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Common Ground-type foes such as Garchomp, Gliscor, Mamoswine, and Nidoking can threaten to outspeed and OHKO Heatran with their Ground-type STAB moves. Furthermore, the former two are able to reliably switch into most Heatran sets thanks to their Fire resistance and incredible longevity, respectively. Pokemon such as Dragonite, Tangrowth, and offensive Mew can opt to run Earthquake as a coverage option in order to greatly threaten Heatran.
**Fighting-type Pokemon and Coverage**: Infernape, Lucario, and Jolly Heracross can outspeed and OHKO Heatran with Close Combat, while Breloom can threaten slower Heatran variants with Force Palm and faster ones with Mach Punch. Togekiss can opt to run Aura Sphere on Nasty Plot sets in order to target Heatran, while Staraptor and Alakazam always carry Fighting-type coverage in Close Combat and Focus Blast, respectively.
**Dragon-types**: Garchomp, Dragonite, and Latias all resist Magma Storm and threaten Heatran out with their common move sets; Garchomp and Dragonite threaten it with Earthquake, while Latias opts for Surf instead. However, only Garchomp likes to switch into Heatran consistently, as Dragonite prefers to keep its Multiscale intact, while Latias can be denied the chance to use Recover with Taunt.
**Chip Damage**: Despite Heatran's incredible bulk and defensive profile, its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers leaves it prone to being worn down by weak attacks such as Mew's Volt Switch as well as chip damage from entry hazards.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user1.100/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user2.101/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited: