Heracross, The Singlehorn Pokémon. Heracross loves sweet sap and will go looking through forests for it. The Pokémon uses its two antennae to pick up scents as it searches. This Pokémon takes pride in its strength, which allows it to lift things 100 times heavier than itself with no trouble at all.
Overview
Heracross has been a well known Pokemon since its appearance in the anime and subsequent battles on Ash's team. Heracross has left a mark on the competitive scene since its release in GSC where it was the only Pokemon to have access to Megahorn. In ADV Heracross was rare but one of the most feared physical wallbreakers with STAB on its Focus Punches allowing it to cleanly 2HKO Skarmory, or OHKO with a Choice Band, making it difficult to handle. However, with the release of other better Fighting types such as Terrakion and Keldeo as well as new walls such as Toxapex, and the overall speed and power increases, the game has made it hard for Heracross to make a mark in a match.
Positives
Heracross has solid neutral coverage with its Fighting STAB and Stone Edge, complemented further with Megahorn.
Good abilities makes Heracross flexible in terms of sets, allowing for it to take a wallbreaking route against bulkier teams or a revenge killer with a Choice Scarf.
With access to Spikes now, Heracross can play the role of offensive Spikes user which adds another layer to its versatility.
Negatives
Heracross has fairly average base Speed at 85, which is just short of the common base 90-100 range. This makes it annoying for Heracross to keep up against more offensive teams especially with its numerous annoying weaknesses.
80/75/95 isn't as good of defensive stats as they used to be, making it difficult for Heracross t
Abilities
Swarm - Raises the power of Bug moves by 50% when below 33% health - This is an alright ability, but inferior to both of its other abilities due to its lack of consistency.
Moxie - Raises Attack by 1 stage after KOing a Pokemon - Solid ability as it makes Heracross a fearsome revenge killer, giving it snowballing potential to sweep late-game as well.
Guts - Raises Attack when afflicted by a status condition - Another great ability that got even better with burn damage being nerfed, and this can otherwise be used to abuse more stall based teams as a way to absorb Toxic.
Movesets
Guts Wallbreaker
-Swords Dance / Spikes
-Close Combat
-Facade
-Knock Off
Item Attached: Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SpDef /252 Speed
Jolly Nature
With Swords Dance and Guts, Heracross can become a powerful wallbreaker with little effort. Close Combat is the primary move of the set being 120 base power STAB, making it an incredible wallbreaking tool. Knock Off is a nice coverage option for Psychic and Ghost switch-ins that would resist Close Combat, and it has the utility of crippling walls by removing their Leftovers or Heavy-Duty Boots. Facade rounds out the set as a 140 base power move with Guts active that can be spammed quite easily due to its high power and solid neutral coverage. Spikes is another option over Swords Dance as with the boost to Guts, Heracross is very strong as is, and the Spikes can potentially help wear down a team long-term more than Swords Dance could.
As a wallbreaker, Heracross wants as much power and Speed as possible. Guts boosts will give Heracross plenty of power as is, so Jolly nature is slightly preferable to give Heracross a bit more Speed. Flame Orb is the ideal item here so that Heracross can activate Guts by itself, as long as the foe doesn't hit Heracross with a different status like sleep on the first turn. Flame Body is a better choice than Toxic Orb here since the burn damage nerf makes the damage very minor compared to the Toxic damage that would stack up very quickly.
Choice Scarf
-Megahorn
-Close Combat
-Knock Off
-Spikes / Stone Edge / Earthquake
Item Attached: Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SpDef /252 Speed
Jolly Nature
With a Choice Scarf, Heracross is an excellent option as a revenge killer or late game cleaner with Moxie to raise its offenses with each KO. Megahorn and Close Combat are excellent STAB options, both having 120 base power with Megahorn not having a drawback like Close Combat's defensive drops, at the cost of lower accuracy and being resisted by more types. Knock Off returns for all the same reasons as the Guts set, as well as just being one of the better moves in the games. However, Knock Off is not legal for Heracross in Battle Stadium so you would need to substitute it with a different coverage move if using Heracross there. The last slot is open for Stone Edge or Earthquake offensively which gives Heracross neutral coverage, but Spikes is another great option for mid game where Heracross is used to force switches. Note that Spikes is a very awkward move to lock into though, so be mindful that Heracross will often be forced out afterwards.
Maximum offensive investment gives Heracross as much offensive presence as possible, which is vital for a Choice Scarf set. Jolly nature takes advantage of this Speed further, though an Adamant nature could be considered if you wanted extra power. That said, Moxie's Attack boosts are generally enough for Heracross to sweep when it needs to do so.
Partners
Terrakion can pivot into threats that come into Heracross, and can threaten them out with its powerful Rock-type STABs
Cobalion is in a similar boat to Terrakion, but is more of a pivot with Volt Switch and can otherwise help get Heracross in on threats such as Krookodile.
Incineroar can check threats such as Doublade, and pivot out with Parting Shot to get Heracross in with ease.
Flygon can help break walls with its mixed attacker set, or clean up late game with Dragon Dance.
Bisharp can help maintain pressure with Defiant in combination with Heracross's ability to lay Spikes in order to potentially deter Defog usage.
Countering Heracross
Doublade is a nice option with its high defensive stats and resistance/immunity to Megahorn and Close Combat respectively. Doublade pretty much only has to fear Knock Off, but even Knock Off isn't going to help Heracross actually take down Doublade due to its insanely high defense.
Noivern is a nice aggressive option as it resists both of Heracross's STABs and threatens with Hurricane or Fire Blast. Just be careful switching into Guts-boosted Facade or Stone Edge, as Noivern isn't the most durable Pokemon around.
Scyther is quad resistant to Close Combat and resists, Megahorn while threatening a OHKO in return. Definitely needs to watch out for Stone Edge, though it's a very safe answer otherwise.
Talonflame has gained ground again with the release of Heavy-Duty Boots preserving health for Gale Wings and threatening an OHKO with Brave Bird.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Safari Zone
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Pattern Bush
Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Cipher Peon Dioge in Realgam Tower's Dome (Colosseum)
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Honey Trees
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Routes 7, 11, 16, 28, 33, 42, 44, 45, 46 & 47, Azalea Town Vermillion City, Celadon City, Mt. Silver
Black/White:
Route 12
Black 2/White 2:
Route 12, Lostlorn Forest (Black 2)
Hidden Grotto - Lostlorn Forest (White 2)
X/Y:
Route 12 (Y)
Friend Safari (X/Y)
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Safari Zone
Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Poni Grove
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Forest of Focus, Challenge Road, Training Lowlands (Shield)
Max Raid Battles: Fields of Honor, Forest of Focus, Training Lowlands, Workout Sea (Shield)
Trade from Shield (Sword)
Anime Appearences
