Pokemon of the Week DP: Heracross
Sets
Choice Bander
- Item Held
- Choice Band
- Ability
- Guts
- Nature
- Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 152 Speed - 106 HP
Some simple calculations can show how extremely powerful Heracross can be. We've got two attacks with a base power of 120 which becomes 180 by STAB, fired from an Attack stat of 383, which becomes 574 due to the Choice Band, with a possibility of it rising to 861 if you switch in on a Will-o-Wisp. Obviously, those two STABed moves will be included in the moveset, as will Stone Edge which is useful for knocking out those Flying-type Pokémon like Salamence that come in to counter you. About the last moveslot, Pursuit hits slower Psychic-type Pokémon that flee, afraid of Megahorn. Night Slash is an alternative for hitting them if they predict Pursuit and stay in. But Pursuit is the superior choice most of the time. Let's see now how those Physical Walls like Skarmory (which is easily 2HKOed by Close Combat) are turned into wannabes by the power of this bug!
The Effort Points listed, assuming Heracross has a Speed IV of 31, give 244 Speed, enough to outrun Jolly Tyranitar. However, feel free to add as much as you like, depending on what other Pokémon you want to outrun. Jolly nature is also an option is you want to outrun some more Pokémon like Adamant Electivire but after all they won't be switching in on any of Heracross' moves.
Choice Scarfer
- Item Held
- Choice Scarf
- Ability
- Guts
- Nature
- Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 252 Speed - 6 HP
Without the boost from Choice Band, Heracross is still proud of his pretty high Attack stat. With a Speed of 404 and a possible Attack of 574 due to Guts, this bug seems unstoppable. The moves suggested are the same ones as above with Pursuit being an even better choice than it was before as a Choice Scarf Heracross threatens even fast Psychic-types like Azelf and Alakazam.
Swords Dancer V1.0
- Item Held
- Salac Berry
- Ability
- Swarm
- Nature
- Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 252 Speed - 6 Defense
First of all, this Heracross needs an HP stat divisible by 4. An IV of 30 in HP will do. If that's not the case, just take the EPs you need from Defense and Attack. This is because Salac Berry must activate after 3 uses of Substitute, leaving Heracross with 25% of its HP instead of 4 which would leave Heracross with 1% of its HP.
Now, the whole idea of the set is quite simple. Hide behind your Substitute, getting to Swords Dance as many times as you can, until that Salac Berry is activated. Then sweep using your Megahorn which gets boosted by STAB, Swords Dance and Swarm, delivering ridiculously high amounts of damage to your opponent. Close Combat is an option for another STABed move but Stone Edge stops those Flying-type Pokémon that try to ruin your fun.
Swords Dancer V2.0
- Item Held
- Flame Orb
- Ability
- Guts
- Nature
- Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 252 Speed - 6 HP
Switch in on something that will flee and Swords Dance as they switch out. After just one Swords Dance, no Pokémon can come in safely. The sheer power of Heracross' Close Combat and Facade are enough to OHKO most of its counters, like Skarmory and Gliscor to name but two, after a Swords Dance. Beware of revenge killers though, as Dugtrio can easily catch you off guard after a KO and OHKO Heracross with its Aerial Ace.
Rest-Talker
- Item Held
- Life Orb
- Ability
- Guts
- Nature
- Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 204 HP - 153 Attack - 153 Speed
A bulkier Heracross set, which was pretty common in Advance, is now back in D/P. Heracross is one of the best Rest-Talkers in the game as Rest activates Guts, letting it sweep with a free boost while healing itself. Life Orb is a good item choice since you'll be etting the HP back with Rest.
Endure + Reversal
- Item Held
- Salac Berry
- Ability
- Swarm
- Nature
- Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack)
- Effort Points
- 252 Attack - 252 Speed - 6 HP
The basic Reversal set here. Swords Dance as they switch, Endure their hit, which will also activate the Salac Berry and then sweep with a full power, Swords Dance boosted, STABed Reversal. However, with Tyranitar's and Hippowdon's Sandstorm being everywhere in OU, Heracross will have trouble pulling this set off effectively, unless you have a Sunny Day/Rain Dance user in your team.
Other Possible Options
With six sets listed above, Heracross doesn't even need any other options. And that's good, as it doesn't have any other noteable moves. Rock Slide and Brick Break get a mention in case you don't like the low accuracy of Stone Edge or the side effect of Close Combat. Earthquake, Aerial Ace and Shadow Claw can be found in Heracross' movepool but the bug has little to no use for them. Bulk Up could be used, replacing Swords Dance in a set but, generally, Swords Dance is the best choice.
Counters
Countering Heracross will not be easy as you can't be sure what it's going to throw at you. Gliscor is definitely the number one Heracross counter though as it resists Heracross' both STAB moves and knocks it out with Aerial Ace. Dusknoir and Weezing function similarly as they can both get some hits and KO with Fire Punch/Fire Blast. Of course, if you do the mistake to burn Heracross, things will get difficult.
Jirachi and Choice Scarf Metagross can get a hit an take Heracross down with their Zen Headbutt. Skarmory can also survive a hit and KO with its Flying-type move. Beware though as a Choice Band boosted Close Combat will 2HKO the steel bird.
Finally, Gyarados and Salamence with their Intimidate threaten Heracross but if it predicts them switching, it can OHKO them with Stone Edge.
Opinion & Notes
Whatever one says about Heracross, it is not enough. Its immense power and two STABed, 120 base power attacks, it can bring down whole teams as those Physical Walls cannot easily stop it. Of course, it can't only have advantages. Its 4x weakness to Flying and mediocre Defense mean that any Aerial Ace user will force a switch, causing it to lose all of its Swords Dance boosts. However, once again Heracross finds a way to counter that, and that way is called Stone Edge. All in all, if you don't take Heracross seriously, it can easily beat you.
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Ninjomewtwo @ 07/07/2008 at 04:19:53 pm
Unfortunately no. However, there's a Substitute TM in Diamond/Pearl. But not in R/S/FR/LG/E.
high @ 07/07/2008 at 11:55:20 pm
firstly i like to say thanks for the update, heracross is one of the coolest poke ever, however, as a choice bander it lacks raw speed, base 85 is not good enough to be the first option. focus punch, substitute,megahorn, and sowrd dance is also a good option, something that many people wouldn't thinks about. Secondly can you guys have new pokemons for the POTW, pokemons not used by other websites, such as: drifblim, honchkrow, leafeon, glaceon, probopass, slowking and such thanks for the great job.
dialkia @ 25/07/2008 at 08:19:25 pm
heracross is cool but in the anime he has a stupid voice
ExplorerAce @ 07/08/2008 at 07:27:34 pm
Because NM2 said there would proboly not be a POTW update in August, I will post a few in his and Blue's absence.
Starmie
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Surf
- Ice Beam / Grass Knot / Thunderbolt / Psychic
Trait: Natural Cure
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP / 56 SAtk / 200 SDef
Item: Leftovers /
This is a basic set for Starmie, with Surf for a STAB, Recover as, well, a recovery move, Rapid Spin to rid of Stealth Rock, Toxic Spikes, or Spikes. The last move is a necessity, but pick your poison. Ice Beam hits Dragons and Grass types who resist Its STABed Surf. Grass Knot hits most OU Pokemon hard. Thunderbolt can be used if you used your Grass Knot TM. Psychic gets an additional STAB.
Other Moves: Hidden Power [Ground], Hidden Power [Dark], Hidden Power [Fighting], Cosmic Power
Other Items: Wise Glasses, Choice Specs
Other Strategies: Special Sweeping, Tanking
Counters: An Calm Mind Espeon can Survive several hits and 2KO it with Grass Knot. The Critical Hit set for Drapion will OHKO Starmie, even without a critical hit. It fears the rare Hidden Power [Ground]. Bulky waters with a Good Special Defense stat, such as Milotic and other Starmie, can take hits but they do not have much to threaten Starmie with. They also need to watch out for a Thunderbolt or Grass Knot. A Choice Band Tyranitar can survive a Surf and OHKO it with Crunch and Stone Edge! Weavile can switch in and hit it with a Pursuit as it switches out or a Night Slash if Starmie stays. But Weavile and T-tar need to be sure the Hidden Power is not the Fighting type.
Starmie is a fantastic Pokemon with decent defensive stats, fantastic speed, and above average Special Attack. Its major letdown is HP, which prevents it from completely stopping everything in its way. It’s basically a faster Slowbro or Slowking, at the cost of HP. However, it has Rapid Spin, which is essential for the OU environment these days. Starmie is a versatile Pokemon and all its options should be explored.
ExplorerAce @ 16/08/2008 at 02:44:07 pm
Picking up where I left off last week:
Floatzel
________________
Bulk Up Sweeper
- Bulk Up
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Crunch / Brick Break
Item: Life Orb / Muscle Band
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
You might ask, “Why Bulk up?” Well, Floatzel’s attack is above average, but not stellar, and its defenses are poor, and it will not necessarily need the Speed Boost from Agility, so Bulk Up works fine. With its Defense Stat getting higher, it can take a hit or two.
Now about its moves, Waterfall is there for the obvious STAB, Ice Fang covers those pesky Dragons and Grass Types, both of who resist Floatzel’s Waterfall. The last move is a filler. Crunch can hit Gengar, which Floatzel can outrun, and Brick Break can hit Weavile and some Water-Ice Types.
I would recommend the Muscle Band for this set. Even though the boost is not that much, it does not give recoil. You can use the Life Orb, it’s up to you and if you think your Floatzel can take a hit.
Other Moves: Baton Pass, Rain Dance, Pursuit, Aqua Jet, Agility
Other Items: Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Wet Rock
Other Strategies: Special Sweepeing, Rain Dance Sweeping, Baton Passing
Counters: Magnezone can take a hit and OHKO with Thunderbolt, but it fears Brick Break. Raikou can set off several Calm Minds and start sweeping. A Starmie can come in and use Thunderbolt, So can Azelf. But they both fear Crunch and Pursuit. A Jolly Choice Band Sceptile can switch in, outrun Floatzel, and could OHKO with Leaf Blade. Sceptile can also use a Choice Specs Set against him. He is probably the best option for counter to Floatzel. Basically, any Pokemon that can take more than 2 hits from Floatzel, or knows Thunderbolt with a Special attack higher 275 will counter Floatzel effectively.
I try not to have a bias, but I love Floatzel. It’s attack is good, it’s speed is excellent and its HP is above average. However, a Shallow movepool and below average defenses have put him down. Even so, is a Strong Sweeper and, if used right, will leave a dent in your opponents team.
Luxray @ 07/07/2008 at 12:08:44 pm
Your guide about herecross is super.
My heracross knows: megahorn, return, rest and substitute in Pokemon Ruby version.
I know she's not very good because i have not EV trained her. But now, since i know how to EV train, I want to make a new heracross who can know substitute. How can I have one without using one tutor attack from fire red?? is that possible(with breeding)??