QC: scpinion / Lax / all falls down
GP: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
**Fighting:**
With its high base Attack and unique access to Bug-type STAB moves, Heracross is a key member of Fighting teams that is capable of combating threatening Psychic teams. Heracross is also one of the only viable users of Knock Off, giving it great utility for the team. To further this, Heracross is a great offensive Guts user, having the ability to freely switch into status moves such as Will-O-Wisp for the team while becoming more powerful. Heracross also can use its other ability, Moxie, to potentially sweep late-game after its checks are dealt with. While its Speed is middling and nothing impressive, it becomes a strong revenge killer with a Choice Scarf. It does have competition from the likes of Choice Scarf Terrakion, which is both faster and more powerful, but Heracross's resistances to Ground- and Grass-type moves, which few other Fighting Pokemon have, alongside its offensive presence help it fit on almost any Fighting team.
Mega Heracross takes Heracross's already great power and bumps it up a notch, gaining one of the highest base Attack stats in the tier and a potent offensive ability in Skill Link, making almost no Psychic-type capable of switching into its attacks. It also gains impressive bulk, which helps it find opportunities to set up Swords Dance or Substitutes. However, the Fighting Mega slot is usually filled with the more powerful Mega Medicham or the faster Mega Gallade, and non-Mega Heracross can just as easily handle Psychic-type defensive Pokemon. Nevertheless, while it needs additional team support, Mega Heracross can break through unprepared teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Fighting)
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Guts
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Megahorn is the main reason to use Heracross, as its 120 Base Power and STAB boost let it hit Psychic-types super effectively for tremendous damage. Close Combat is its other most powerful STAB attack, having good coverage with Megahorn to hit most types at least neutrally. Knock Off is used to hit Ghost-type Pokemon, which resist its STAB moves, while also removing items such as Eviolite or Leftovers from its foes. Stone Edge allows Heracross to deal meaningful damage to Flying- and Bug-type Pokemon, which also resist its STAB moves, and also hits Fire-type Pokemon that seek to threaten Heracross.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed EV investment alongside a Jolly nature and a Choice Scarf lets Heracross outspeed +1 Jolly Gyarados, Choice Scarf-using base 80s such as Hoopa-U, Togekiss, and Gardevoir, and all unboosted Pokemon except for Deoxys-S. 252 Attack EVs make Heracross as powerful as possible, which is important for helping it revenge kill foes and clean late-game. Guts is the preferred ability for allowing Heracross to soak up status, most notably switching into burns that cripple its teammates. Guts is also required for allowing Heracross to check Mega Sableye and 2HKO Mandibuzz. Moxie is an alternative option only if other Mega Sableye checks are on the team, such as Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo, as it gives Heracross the additional power to set up a sweep late-game. Moxie Choice Scarf Heracross is especially devastating to Psychic teams after Victini is taken care of.
Usage Tips
========
Heracross should mainly be used to revenge kill slower threats, such as Latios, Mega Pidgeot, and Choice Scarf Hoopa-U. Knock Off should be used liberally early-game to remove key items from threats, such as Eviolite from Doublade, Leftovers from Skarmory, and Choice Scarf from Togekiss. Heracross should be switched into status moves such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp and weak Scalds to activate Guts as soon as possible. With the Guts boost, Heracross becomes a formidable wallbreaker, capable of 2HKOing Mega Sableye and Gastrodon and OHKOing Slowbro and Mew. Since its defenses are unimpressive, Heracross should avoid switching into unresisted attacks to keep itself healthy for cleaning late-game. Moxie Heracross should be especially careful, as chip damage adds up and makes its late-game sweep much harder to set up.
Team Options
========
Heracross fits on almost any Fighting team, thanks to its ability to take on Psychic teams. It does greatly appreciate Stealth Rock support, though, as it commonly just barely lacks the power to KO certain threats, making Infernape and Cobalion great teammates for that purpose. Cobalion can additionally help handle the Fairy-types that outright wall Heracross and can act as a good defensive pivot. Infernape on the other hand is a more offensive Stealth Rock user and beats the certain Steel-types that wall Heracross such as Doublade, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor. Wallbreakers in general are appreciated for their ability to open up holes for Heracross to clean late-game. Mega Medicham and Choice Specs Keldeo are the best for this role, as they can both 2HKO Skarmory and Hippowdon while appreciating Heracross's ability to threaten Mew and Slowbro. Choice Scarf Terrakion is a possible teammate, as Heracross finds itself outsped by faster Choice Scarf users such as Kyurem-B and Victini. Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is almost a necessary teammate for Moxie Heracross, as it is the most reliable check to Mega Sableye.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker (Fighting)
move 1: Pin Missile
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Bullet Seed / Substitute / Swords Dance
item: Heracronite
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pin Missile is a fantastic multi-hit attack that takes advantage of Skill Link and provides a Bug-type STAB move, the main use of Mega Heracross. Close Combat is the most powerful and reliable Fighting-type STAB move Mega Heracross can use and hits almost all Steel-types that resist Pin Missile for incredible damage. Rock Blast is a great coverage move that also uses Skill Link, able to 2HKO almost every Flying-type Pokemon outside of Skarmory, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Bullet Seed is the recommended last choice, as it gives Mega Heracross a way to OHKO Azumarill safely while also handling other bulky Water-type Pokemon easily. Substitute helps ease prediction and handle defensive Pokemon that try to check Mega Heracross with status moves, such as Rotom-W and Mega Sableye. Swords Dance is another option that helps Mega Heracross break through even the toughest walls that it normally can't, such as Gliscor, and gives it enough power to OHKO Sap Sipper Azumarill and Mega Sableye. Earthquake can be used if hitting Doublade is more important for the team than having extra utility on Mega Heracross, netting a solid 2HKO.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature and 252 Attack EVs give Mega Heracross the best chance to 2HKO Skarmory, and it will always do so after Stealth Rock damage. The Adamant nature also helps give Mega Heracross a small chance at beating Mega Sableye. 232 Speed EVs allow an Adamant Mega Heracross to outspeed Adamant Bisharp while also outspeeding Jolly Breloom and Cloyster the turn it Mega Evolves. A Jolly nature can be used to have Heracross outspeed Gyarados and neutral-natured Kyurem-B before it Mega Evolves and Jolly Breloom and Cloyster after, but the loss in power is very noticeable. The remaining EVs are put into HP to minutely supplement Mega Heracross's bulk. If desired, EVs can be moved out of Speed and into bulk. Moxie is the preferred ability on this set, as if Heracross can net a KO and a boost, few walls can hope to stop it after its Mega Evolution.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Heracross should be pivoted in and out early-game as often as possible to punch holes into the opposing team that its teammates can exploit. While the Moxie boost can be helpful and tempting, it isn't worth going out of your way to get it, as Heracross should be Mega Evolved as soon as possible to gain extra power and increased defensive stats for future switches in. Thanks to its natural bulk, Mega Heracross can find opportunities to switch in even on attackers such as Landorus lacking Psychic and Garchomp to get another chance to fire off a powerful attack. It also can tank resisted hits from Pokemon locked into attacks by their Choice items, such as Landorus-T and Terrakion. Even Pokemon that resist Mega Heracross's STAB attacks, such as Zapdos and Thundurus, take a significant amount, so if using coverage is risky, for example against Brave Bird Skarmory, just spamming STAB moves is relatively safe. Substitute and Swords Dance are primarily used against more passive Pokemon that do not threaten Mega Heracross. Mega Heracross generally hates status, as paralysis makes it slower than the walls it seeks to KO, such as Skarmory; burns halve its damage, making it almost useless and letting Mega Sableye wall it; and poison from the likes of Mega Venusaur, which Mega Heracross otherwise counters, can quickly wear it down due to its lack of recovery.
Team Options
========
Mega Heracross is commonly used for its wallbreaking power along with its ability to take on specific walls such as Slowbro and Mew, so its team should be well equipped to take advantage of this. A late-game sweeper such as Lucario or Hawlucha is a great teammate, and Lucario specifically can beat the Fairy-types that frustrate Mega Heracross. Fast revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Terrakion are almost necessary for checking the fast threats that try to stop Mega Heracross. Stealth Rock support is crucial, as it importantly allows Mega Heracross to always 2HKO Skarmory, so Infernape and Cobalion should be paired with it. Cobalion can set up Stealth Rock and provide great support in the form of Thunder Wave and Volt Switch while also serving as a check to Mega Pinsir and Fairy-types. Infernape can also handle Doublade, which walls Mega Heracross that lack Earthquake. Other wallbreakers can help put substantial pressure on the opposing team. Choice Specs Keldeo in particular can KO Doublade and Mega Scizor easily, both of which can potentially set up against Mega Heracross. Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is a fantastic teammate, as it counters Mega Sableye, which Mega Heracross cannot reliably check. Mega Heracross that run Earthquake over Bullet Seed should be paired with Breloom, which can beat Azumarill and Alomomola for it. In return, Mega Heracross can use Earthquake to 2HKO Doublade, which would otherwise wall Breloom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Fighting:**
Choice Scarf Heracross can opt to use Earthquake over Stone Edge, but it will end up being completely walled by Flying-types if it does. It can also use Pursuit over Knock Off to specifically hit Victini that try to switch out, but this comes at the cost of barely even scratching Doublade, making it a difficult trade to make. Choice Band has a niche for Heracross, giving it many 2HKOs, such as against Doublade, Jellicent, and Skarmory, but Choice Band Heracross is generally outclassed by other wallbreakers and will sorely miss the Speed offered by Choice Scarf.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting:**
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Sylveon and Azumarill, can switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and proceed to KO it with their STAB moves. Although they cannot switch into Mega Heracross, which can 2HKO most of them with its neutral coverage, they can still take advantage of a free switch in.
**Clefable**: Clefable is especially notable for switching into even Mega Evolved or Guts-activated Heracross and using the free turns to either spread paralysis, set up Stealth Rock, or set up Calm Mind boosts, although Swords Dance Mega Heracross can still beat Magic Guard variants.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types, such as Landorus-T and Togekiss, can typically switch into any of Heracross's STAB attacks, although they need to avoid Rock-type coverage.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types that resist Heracross's STAB types, such as Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, can take on Heracross, although they don't like to switch into its attacks and must be particularly wary of Rock-type coverage.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Pokemon that outspeed Heracross such as Latios and Choice Scarf Victini can easily revenge kill it.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Walls such as Gastrodon and Skarmory have little to fear from Choice Scarf Heracross, which cannot hope to break them, although Mega Heracross can easily do so.
GP: P Squared / The Dutch Plumberjack
[OVERVIEW]
**Fighting:**
With its high base Attack and unique access to Bug-type STAB moves, Heracross is a key member of Fighting teams that is capable of combating threatening Psychic teams. Heracross is also one of the only viable users of Knock Off, giving it great utility for the team. To further this, Heracross is a great offensive Guts user, having the ability to freely switch into status moves such as Will-O-Wisp for the team while becoming more powerful. Heracross also can use its other ability, Moxie, to potentially sweep late-game after its checks are dealt with. While its Speed is middling and nothing impressive, it becomes a strong revenge killer with a Choice Scarf. It does have competition from the likes of Choice Scarf Terrakion, which is both faster and more powerful, but Heracross's resistances to Ground- and Grass-type moves, which few other Fighting Pokemon have, alongside its offensive presence help it fit on almost any Fighting team.
Mega Heracross takes Heracross's already great power and bumps it up a notch, gaining one of the highest base Attack stats in the tier and a potent offensive ability in Skill Link, making almost no Psychic-type capable of switching into its attacks. It also gains impressive bulk, which helps it find opportunities to set up Swords Dance or Substitutes. However, the Fighting Mega slot is usually filled with the more powerful Mega Medicham or the faster Mega Gallade, and non-Mega Heracross can just as easily handle Psychic-type defensive Pokemon. Nevertheless, while it needs additional team support, Mega Heracross can break through unprepared teams.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf (Fighting)
move 1: Megahorn
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Guts
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Megahorn is the main reason to use Heracross, as its 120 Base Power and STAB boost let it hit Psychic-types super effectively for tremendous damage. Close Combat is its other most powerful STAB attack, having good coverage with Megahorn to hit most types at least neutrally. Knock Off is used to hit Ghost-type Pokemon, which resist its STAB moves, while also removing items such as Eviolite or Leftovers from its foes. Stone Edge allows Heracross to deal meaningful damage to Flying- and Bug-type Pokemon, which also resist its STAB moves, and also hits Fire-type Pokemon that seek to threaten Heracross.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed EV investment alongside a Jolly nature and a Choice Scarf lets Heracross outspeed +1 Jolly Gyarados, Choice Scarf-using base 80s such as Hoopa-U, Togekiss, and Gardevoir, and all unboosted Pokemon except for Deoxys-S. 252 Attack EVs make Heracross as powerful as possible, which is important for helping it revenge kill foes and clean late-game. Guts is the preferred ability for allowing Heracross to soak up status, most notably switching into burns that cripple its teammates. Guts is also required for allowing Heracross to check Mega Sableye and 2HKO Mandibuzz. Moxie is an alternative option only if other Mega Sableye checks are on the team, such as Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo, as it gives Heracross the additional power to set up a sweep late-game. Moxie Choice Scarf Heracross is especially devastating to Psychic teams after Victini is taken care of.
Usage Tips
========
Heracross should mainly be used to revenge kill slower threats, such as Latios, Mega Pidgeot, and Choice Scarf Hoopa-U. Knock Off should be used liberally early-game to remove key items from threats, such as Eviolite from Doublade, Leftovers from Skarmory, and Choice Scarf from Togekiss. Heracross should be switched into status moves such as Toxic and Will-O-Wisp and weak Scalds to activate Guts as soon as possible. With the Guts boost, Heracross becomes a formidable wallbreaker, capable of 2HKOing Mega Sableye and Gastrodon and OHKOing Slowbro and Mew. Since its defenses are unimpressive, Heracross should avoid switching into unresisted attacks to keep itself healthy for cleaning late-game. Moxie Heracross should be especially careful, as chip damage adds up and makes its late-game sweep much harder to set up.
Team Options
========
Heracross fits on almost any Fighting team, thanks to its ability to take on Psychic teams. It does greatly appreciate Stealth Rock support, though, as it commonly just barely lacks the power to KO certain threats, making Infernape and Cobalion great teammates for that purpose. Cobalion can additionally help handle the Fairy-types that outright wall Heracross and can act as a good defensive pivot. Infernape on the other hand is a more offensive Stealth Rock user and beats the certain Steel-types that wall Heracross such as Doublade, Skarmory, and Mega Scizor. Wallbreakers in general are appreciated for their ability to open up holes for Heracross to clean late-game. Mega Medicham and Choice Specs Keldeo are the best for this role, as they can both 2HKO Skarmory and Hippowdon while appreciating Heracross's ability to threaten Mew and Slowbro. Choice Scarf Terrakion is a possible teammate, as Heracross finds itself outsped by faster Choice Scarf users such as Kyurem-B and Victini. Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is almost a necessary teammate for Moxie Heracross, as it is the most reliable check to Mega Sableye.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker (Fighting)
move 1: Pin Missile
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Rock Blast
move 4: Bullet Seed / Substitute / Swords Dance
item: Heracronite
ability: Moxie
nature: Adamant
evs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Pin Missile is a fantastic multi-hit attack that takes advantage of Skill Link and provides a Bug-type STAB move, the main use of Mega Heracross. Close Combat is the most powerful and reliable Fighting-type STAB move Mega Heracross can use and hits almost all Steel-types that resist Pin Missile for incredible damage. Rock Blast is a great coverage move that also uses Skill Link, able to 2HKO almost every Flying-type Pokemon outside of Skarmory, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Bullet Seed is the recommended last choice, as it gives Mega Heracross a way to OHKO Azumarill safely while also handling other bulky Water-type Pokemon easily. Substitute helps ease prediction and handle defensive Pokemon that try to check Mega Heracross with status moves, such as Rotom-W and Mega Sableye. Swords Dance is another option that helps Mega Heracross break through even the toughest walls that it normally can't, such as Gliscor, and gives it enough power to OHKO Sap Sipper Azumarill and Mega Sableye. Earthquake can be used if hitting Doublade is more important for the team than having extra utility on Mega Heracross, netting a solid 2HKO.
Set Details
========
An Adamant nature and 252 Attack EVs give Mega Heracross the best chance to 2HKO Skarmory, and it will always do so after Stealth Rock damage. The Adamant nature also helps give Mega Heracross a small chance at beating Mega Sableye. 232 Speed EVs allow an Adamant Mega Heracross to outspeed Adamant Bisharp while also outspeeding Jolly Breloom and Cloyster the turn it Mega Evolves. A Jolly nature can be used to have Heracross outspeed Gyarados and neutral-natured Kyurem-B before it Mega Evolves and Jolly Breloom and Cloyster after, but the loss in power is very noticeable. The remaining EVs are put into HP to minutely supplement Mega Heracross's bulk. If desired, EVs can be moved out of Speed and into bulk. Moxie is the preferred ability on this set, as if Heracross can net a KO and a boost, few walls can hope to stop it after its Mega Evolution.
Usage Tips
========
Mega Heracross should be pivoted in and out early-game as often as possible to punch holes into the opposing team that its teammates can exploit. While the Moxie boost can be helpful and tempting, it isn't worth going out of your way to get it, as Heracross should be Mega Evolved as soon as possible to gain extra power and increased defensive stats for future switches in. Thanks to its natural bulk, Mega Heracross can find opportunities to switch in even on attackers such as Landorus lacking Psychic and Garchomp to get another chance to fire off a powerful attack. It also can tank resisted hits from Pokemon locked into attacks by their Choice items, such as Landorus-T and Terrakion. Even Pokemon that resist Mega Heracross's STAB attacks, such as Zapdos and Thundurus, take a significant amount, so if using coverage is risky, for example against Brave Bird Skarmory, just spamming STAB moves is relatively safe. Substitute and Swords Dance are primarily used against more passive Pokemon that do not threaten Mega Heracross. Mega Heracross generally hates status, as paralysis makes it slower than the walls it seeks to KO, such as Skarmory; burns halve its damage, making it almost useless and letting Mega Sableye wall it; and poison from the likes of Mega Venusaur, which Mega Heracross otherwise counters, can quickly wear it down due to its lack of recovery.
Team Options
========
Mega Heracross is commonly used for its wallbreaking power along with its ability to take on specific walls such as Slowbro and Mew, so its team should be well equipped to take advantage of this. A late-game sweeper such as Lucario or Hawlucha is a great teammate, and Lucario specifically can beat the Fairy-types that frustrate Mega Heracross. Fast revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Terrakion are almost necessary for checking the fast threats that try to stop Mega Heracross. Stealth Rock support is crucial, as it importantly allows Mega Heracross to always 2HKO Skarmory, so Infernape and Cobalion should be paired with it. Cobalion can set up Stealth Rock and provide great support in the form of Thunder Wave and Volt Switch while also serving as a check to Mega Pinsir and Fairy-types. Infernape can also handle Doublade, which walls Mega Heracross that lack Earthquake. Other wallbreakers can help put substantial pressure on the opposing team. Choice Specs Keldeo in particular can KO Doublade and Mega Scizor easily, both of which can potentially set up against Mega Heracross. Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo is a fantastic teammate, as it counters Mega Sableye, which Mega Heracross cannot reliably check. Mega Heracross that run Earthquake over Bullet Seed should be paired with Breloom, which can beat Azumarill and Alomomola for it. In return, Mega Heracross can use Earthquake to 2HKO Doublade, which would otherwise wall Breloom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
**Fighting:**
Choice Scarf Heracross can opt to use Earthquake over Stone Edge, but it will end up being completely walled by Flying-types if it does. It can also use Pursuit over Knock Off to specifically hit Victini that try to switch out, but this comes at the cost of barely even scratching Doublade, making it a difficult trade to make. Choice Band has a niche for Heracross, giving it many 2HKOs, such as against Doublade, Jellicent, and Skarmory, but Choice Band Heracross is generally outclassed by other wallbreakers and will sorely miss the Speed offered by Choice Scarf.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting:**
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types, such as Sylveon and Azumarill, can switch into Choice Scarf Heracross and proceed to KO it with their STAB moves. Although they cannot switch into Mega Heracross, which can 2HKO most of them with its neutral coverage, they can still take advantage of a free switch in.
**Clefable**: Clefable is especially notable for switching into even Mega Evolved or Guts-activated Heracross and using the free turns to either spread paralysis, set up Stealth Rock, or set up Calm Mind boosts, although Swords Dance Mega Heracross can still beat Magic Guard variants.
**Flying-types**: Flying-types, such as Landorus-T and Togekiss, can typically switch into any of Heracross's STAB attacks, although they need to avoid Rock-type coverage.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types that resist Heracross's STAB types, such as Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona, can take on Heracross, although they don't like to switch into its attacks and must be particularly wary of Rock-type coverage.
**Faster Revenge Killers**: Pokemon that outspeed Heracross such as Latios and Choice Scarf Victini can easily revenge kill it.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Walls such as Gastrodon and Skarmory have little to fear from Choice Scarf Heracross, which cannot hope to break them, although Mega Heracross can easily do so.
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