[OVERVIEW]
Mega Heracross stands out as a threatening wallbreaker thanks to one of the highest Attack stat in the tier. Its access to Swords Dance coupled with its ability Skill Link, fitting perfectly his movepool with good multi-hit attacks such as Rock Blast or Pin Missile forming a deadly offensive coverage, allows it to break common defensive core while having the advantage to break Focus Sash and Substitute. Its singular typing in Bug-Fighting alonside his usable bulk help to softcheck ground types such as Gliscor and Landorus while being a good answer to Knock-Off from the likes of choice locked Weavile or Leaf Blade from Kartana. However, Heracross is mainly held back by its speed, being slower than a huge part of the metagame while its typing leaves it vulnerable to Fairy-, Fire-, Flying- and Psychic-type attacks from faster Pokemon that are fairly common to encounter in the tier, with top threats like Mega Alakazam, Tornadus Therian, Heatran or Tapu Lele to name a few.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance Wallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Pin Missile / Substitute
item: Heracronite
ability: Moxie / Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 64 / 252 Atk / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Swords Dance is Heracross's move of choice to boost his attack by two stages, enabling to break through defensive cores. Close Combat is the prefered Fighting-type STAB move thanks to its high base power allowing Mega Heracross to heavily pressure or outright knockout key threats of tier. It secures clean knockouts on Ferrothorn, Heatran and Mega Tyranitar, while reliably 2HKOing Megearna and Celesteela, and also knocking out Skarmory after Stealth Rock chip damage in two attacks. Rock Blast pairs particularly well with Close combat by taking advantage of the ability Skill Link for a 125 base power move. It proves to be mandatory, hitting hard everything that could resist Fighting-type attacks, such as Flying types like Tornadus Therian and Zapdos, or for huge neutral damage on defensive staples like Toxapex, Clefable, Landorus Therian and Gliscor. Pin Missile is Heracross' secondary STAB move that use its ability, improving its match up into psychic type like Latias Mega and Reuniclus, which are common on bulkier teams. Substitute is also a strong alternative as a last move, exacerbating his already good matchup into defensive oriented teams by blocking status while giving it a way to punish offense at the cost of a secondary STAB attack and coverage.
Set Details
========
Given Mega Heracross already low speed tier, focusing on offense with an Adamant nature and full investment in Attack maximizes its damages on key Pokemon like Clefable and Toxapex which could otherwise wall it more easily. 192 eVs in Speed makes Heracross faster than most defensive Heatran variants while it ensures being faster than modest max speed Heatran before Mega Evolving. The rest is put in HP to improve Heracross' bulk and longevity. Moxie is the prefered pre-mega ability to get a boost if it achieves a knockout before Mega Evolving, helping to snowball the opposition. Guts is also usable, improving the matchup into bulkier teams, punishing attempts to manage Heracross with status by turning them into a boost.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Heracross thrives on passive turns against defensive Pokemon like chansey or Gliscor placing Stealth Rocks or using Defog for the later, allowing to place a Swords Dance or just land devastating attacks. Hazards are crucial when playing with Mega Heracross as multiple threats like Zapdos gets OHKO after Stealth Rocks damage by Rock Blast, or Toxapex only can get OHKO by +2 Rock Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Try to set up Mega Heracross early with hazard support, cutting short ressources for your opponent to react late game while still respecting Pokemon that could do huge damage to Mega Heracross like Mega Latias, Reuniclus or Zapdos. Heracross is also useful to switch into weak earthquake from pokemon like Gliscor and defensive Landorus Therian, or other resisted attacks like Knock Off, letting an oppening for a devastating attack in retaliation. If Substitute is used, anticipate switches into Pokemon that could resist attacks from Heracross, it helps having a good midground, allowing you to scout and punish bad positioning while removing the pressure of predicting your opponent's next move.
Team Options
========
Mega Heracross is a strong choice for bulky offense teams, serving as the primary wallbreaker and relying on teammates for support. The solid defensive core of Tapu Fini with Jirachi is often paired with Heracross. Tapu Fini helps handle Fire- and Water-type attacks, while Jirachi checks Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-type threats. Misty Terrain synergizes well with Heracross by preventing status conditions, allowing it to safely set up Swords Dance and break through opposing teams without fear of status conditions.
Wish Jirachi is an especially valuable partner, enabling Heracross to recover health and return later in the match to continue applying pressure. Heatran is another excellent teammate, covering many of the same threats while forming a dangerous stallbreaking core with Heracross.
Given Mega Heracross's low Speed tier, Pokemon that spread paralysis are extremely helpful such as Zapdos with its ability Static and Discharge, and Serperior with the powerful glare. Zapdos also shines as a reliable answer to Flying-types such as Tornadus Therian that threaten Heracross. Additionally, pivoting support from Pokémon with U-turn or Volt Switch like Rotom-Wash, Landorus-Therian, Zapdos, and Magearna help Heracross enter the field safely while also covering key threats.
Offensively, Mega Heracross pairs particularly well with Fire and Ghost-types such as Blacephalon and Alolan Marowak. These Pokemon form a powerful offensive core that pressures common defensive types like Water and Ground-types. Meanwhile, Heracross checks Dark-types by switching into Knock Off and punishing Pursuit users such as Mega Tyranitar, which might otherwise stop Blacephalon or Marowak.
Garchomp makes for a strong offensive partner with Heracross, thanks to its typing checking key threats like fire types and threating them with its extensive movepool. Garchomp’s higher Speed tier also helps round out the core by threatening faster Pokémon that Heracross can’t outspeed, mainly pokemon reaching 328 in Speed. A fast cleaner like Kartana appreciate the wallbreaking capabilities of Mega Heracross, picking up the pieces left and stacking boosts.
Finally, hazard support greatly enhances Mega Heracross’s wallbreaking potential. Since Heracross naturally forces many switches, it can rack up chip damage through entry hazards, softening opposing teams for a potential sweep. Pokemon like Greninja (both its standard and Ash form) and Ferrothorn are excellent partners in this role. They not only provide Spikes or Stealth Rock support but also serve as soft checks to several of the threats mentioned earlier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Niche attacks can be used as last move but rarely perform better than the main options. Bullet Seed is a possibility if Heracross is paired with Tapu Bulu to exploit both its ability Skill Link and the Grassy Terrain to boost its power. Its makes for a secondary pseudo STAB attack that is capable of 2HKOing unaware clefable and toxapex but forces to stack weaknesses and two very slow Pokemon together.
Earthquake is also a possibility to hurt toxapex and steel types like Magearna for super effective damage and not having to suffer the stat drops of Close Combat. But you either usually trade the wallbreaking capabilities of Heracross by letting go of Swords Dance or give up the coverage and immediate power of Pin missile.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy-types: Fairy-types pose a significant threat to Mega Heracross. Many of them are faster and can KO it with a single powerful hit like Mega Diancie, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko. Others, such as Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Magearna, can comfortably tank unboosted hits and retaliate with strong Fairy-type attacks like Moonblast or Fleur Cannon.
Clefable is especially problematic resisting both STAB moves. With Magic Guard, it avoids residual damage from entry hazards or status, staying outside of 2HKO range more easily. Meanwhile, Unaware Clefable can completely shut down Heracross's attempts to break through by ignoring its Swords Dance boosts and stalling it out.
Fire-Types: While Fire types have to be wary of Rock Blast, both Mega Charizard forms, Heatran, Victini and Volcarona can hit Heracross for super effective damage and remove it from the battle.
Psychic-types: In a similar fashion, faster Psychic type such as Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, Mega Latios and Latias can scare Heracross very easily or revenge kill it at default of being scared to switch into Stabbed Pin Missile. Slower Psychic-types like Reuniclus can also prove to be annoying since Heracross can't really enter the field comfortably or if Heracross dropped its Bug STAB attack.
Flying types:
Tornadus-Therian, Mega Pinsir, and Hawlucha are key threats to Mega Heracross. They all resist both of its STAB moves (Fighting and Bug) and can strike back with powerful Flying-type attacks that threaten to KO. That said, they still need to be cautious of Rock Blast.
Landorus-Therian is also a noteworthy softcheck. It resists Fighting and Bug attacks, takes neutral damage from Rock Blast, and can pivot in safely thanks to Intimidate to threaten it with Z-Supersonic Skystrike or pivot/status Heracross.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maktyum.541503/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Mega Heracross stands out as a threatening wallbreaker thanks to one of the highest Attack stat in the tier. Its access to Swords Dance coupled with its ability Skill Link, fitting perfectly his movepool with good multi-hit attacks such as Rock Blast or Pin Missile forming a deadly offensive coverage, allows it to break common defensive core while having the advantage to break Focus Sash and Substitute. Its singular typing in Bug-Fighting alonside his usable bulk help to softcheck ground types such as Gliscor and Landorus while being a good answer to Knock-Off from the likes of choice locked Weavile or Leaf Blade from Kartana. However, Heracross is mainly held back by its speed, being slower than a huge part of the metagame while its typing leaves it vulnerable to Fairy-, Fire-, Flying- and Psychic-type attacks from faster Pokemon that are fairly common to encounter in the tier, with top threats like Mega Alakazam, Tornadus Therian, Heatran or Tapu Lele to name a few.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance Wallbreaker
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Pin Missile / Substitute
item: Heracronite
ability: Moxie / Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 64 / 252 Atk / 192 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Swords Dance is Heracross's move of choice to boost his attack by two stages, enabling to break through defensive cores. Close Combat is the prefered Fighting-type STAB move thanks to its high base power allowing Mega Heracross to heavily pressure or outright knockout key threats of tier. It secures clean knockouts on Ferrothorn, Heatran and Mega Tyranitar, while reliably 2HKOing Megearna and Celesteela, and also knocking out Skarmory after Stealth Rock chip damage in two attacks. Rock Blast pairs particularly well with Close combat by taking advantage of the ability Skill Link for a 125 base power move. It proves to be mandatory, hitting hard everything that could resist Fighting-type attacks, such as Flying types like Tornadus Therian and Zapdos, or for huge neutral damage on defensive staples like Toxapex, Clefable, Landorus Therian and Gliscor. Pin Missile is Heracross' secondary STAB move that use its ability, improving its match up into psychic type like Latias Mega and Reuniclus, which are common on bulkier teams. Substitute is also a strong alternative as a last move, exacerbating his already good matchup into defensive oriented teams by blocking status while giving it a way to punish offense at the cost of a secondary STAB attack and coverage.
Set Details
========
Given Mega Heracross already low speed tier, focusing on offense with an Adamant nature and full investment in Attack maximizes its damages on key Pokemon like Clefable and Toxapex which could otherwise wall it more easily. 192 eVs in Speed makes Heracross faster than most defensive Heatran variants while it ensures being faster than modest max speed Heatran before Mega Evolving. The rest is put in HP to improve Heracross' bulk and longevity. Moxie is the prefered pre-mega ability to get a boost if it achieves a knockout before Mega Evolving, helping to snowball the opposition. Guts is also usable, improving the matchup into bulkier teams, punishing attempts to manage Heracross with status by turning them into a boost.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Heracross thrives on passive turns against defensive Pokemon like chansey or Gliscor placing Stealth Rocks or using Defog for the later, allowing to place a Swords Dance or just land devastating attacks. Hazards are crucial when playing with Mega Heracross as multiple threats like Zapdos gets OHKO after Stealth Rocks damage by Rock Blast, or Toxapex only can get OHKO by +2 Rock Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Try to set up Mega Heracross early with hazard support, cutting short ressources for your opponent to react late game while still respecting Pokemon that could do huge damage to Mega Heracross like Mega Latias, Reuniclus or Zapdos. Heracross is also useful to switch into weak earthquake from pokemon like Gliscor and defensive Landorus Therian, or other resisted attacks like Knock Off, letting an oppening for a devastating attack in retaliation. If Substitute is used, anticipate switches into Pokemon that could resist attacks from Heracross, it helps having a good midground, allowing you to scout and punish bad positioning while removing the pressure of predicting your opponent's next move.
Team Options
========
Mega Heracross is a strong choice for bulky offense teams, serving as the primary wallbreaker and relying on teammates for support. The solid defensive core of Tapu Fini with Jirachi is often paired with Heracross. Tapu Fini helps handle Fire- and Water-type attacks, while Jirachi checks Psychic-, Fairy-, and Flying-type threats. Misty Terrain synergizes well with Heracross by preventing status conditions, allowing it to safely set up Swords Dance and break through opposing teams without fear of status conditions.
Wish Jirachi is an especially valuable partner, enabling Heracross to recover health and return later in the match to continue applying pressure. Heatran is another excellent teammate, covering many of the same threats while forming a dangerous stallbreaking core with Heracross.
Given Mega Heracross's low Speed tier, Pokemon that spread paralysis are extremely helpful such as Zapdos with its ability Static and Discharge, and Serperior with the powerful glare. Zapdos also shines as a reliable answer to Flying-types such as Tornadus Therian that threaten Heracross. Additionally, pivoting support from Pokémon with U-turn or Volt Switch like Rotom-Wash, Landorus-Therian, Zapdos, and Magearna help Heracross enter the field safely while also covering key threats.
Offensively, Mega Heracross pairs particularly well with Fire and Ghost-types such as Blacephalon and Alolan Marowak. These Pokemon form a powerful offensive core that pressures common defensive types like Water and Ground-types. Meanwhile, Heracross checks Dark-types by switching into Knock Off and punishing Pursuit users such as Mega Tyranitar, which might otherwise stop Blacephalon or Marowak.
Garchomp makes for a strong offensive partner with Heracross, thanks to its typing checking key threats like fire types and threating them with its extensive movepool. Garchomp’s higher Speed tier also helps round out the core by threatening faster Pokémon that Heracross can’t outspeed, mainly pokemon reaching 328 in Speed. A fast cleaner like Kartana appreciate the wallbreaking capabilities of Mega Heracross, picking up the pieces left and stacking boosts.
Finally, hazard support greatly enhances Mega Heracross’s wallbreaking potential. Since Heracross naturally forces many switches, it can rack up chip damage through entry hazards, softening opposing teams for a potential sweep. Pokemon like Greninja (both its standard and Ash form) and Ferrothorn are excellent partners in this role. They not only provide Spikes or Stealth Rock support but also serve as soft checks to several of the threats mentioned earlier.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Niche attacks can be used as last move but rarely perform better than the main options. Bullet Seed is a possibility if Heracross is paired with Tapu Bulu to exploit both its ability Skill Link and the Grassy Terrain to boost its power. Its makes for a secondary pseudo STAB attack that is capable of 2HKOing unaware clefable and toxapex but forces to stack weaknesses and two very slow Pokemon together.
Earthquake is also a possibility to hurt toxapex and steel types like Magearna for super effective damage and not having to suffer the stat drops of Close Combat. But you either usually trade the wallbreaking capabilities of Heracross by letting go of Swords Dance or give up the coverage and immediate power of Pin missile.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy-types: Fairy-types pose a significant threat to Mega Heracross. Many of them are faster and can KO it with a single powerful hit like Mega Diancie, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Koko. Others, such as Tapu Fini, Clefable, and Magearna, can comfortably tank unboosted hits and retaliate with strong Fairy-type attacks like Moonblast or Fleur Cannon.
Clefable is especially problematic resisting both STAB moves. With Magic Guard, it avoids residual damage from entry hazards or status, staying outside of 2HKO range more easily. Meanwhile, Unaware Clefable can completely shut down Heracross's attempts to break through by ignoring its Swords Dance boosts and stalling it out.
Fire-Types: While Fire types have to be wary of Rock Blast, both Mega Charizard forms, Heatran, Victini and Volcarona can hit Heracross for super effective damage and remove it from the battle.
Psychic-types: In a similar fashion, faster Psychic type such as Mega Alakazam, Tapu Lele, Mega Latios and Latias can scare Heracross very easily or revenge kill it at default of being scared to switch into Stabbed Pin Missile. Slower Psychic-types like Reuniclus can also prove to be annoying since Heracross can't really enter the field comfortably or if Heracross dropped its Bug STAB attack.
Flying types:
Tornadus-Therian, Mega Pinsir, and Hawlucha are key threats to Mega Heracross. They all resist both of its STAB moves (Fighting and Bug) and can strike back with powerful Flying-type attacks that threaten to KO. That said, they still need to be cautious of Rock Blast.
Landorus-Therian is also a noteworthy softcheck. It resists Fighting and Bug attacks, takes neutral damage from Rock Blast, and can pivot in safely thanks to Intimidate to threaten it with Z-Supersonic Skystrike or pivot/status Heracross.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maktyum.541503/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
