Heracross is a strong Choice Band user with the ability to OHKO Latias and Tyranitar as well as threaten big damage on Snorlax. Its reliance on Choice Band can leave it locked into inopportune moves, and its weakness to Psychic is a big target on its back in a tier with Latias on nearly every team. Its awkward Speed tier and reliance on Hidden Power Ghost to threaten the omnipresent Gengar are also notable drawbacks.

Megahorn OHKOes Latias and Tyranitar, and with a Swarm or Guts boost, it can OHKO Metagross and Suicune. Brick Break also OHKOes Tyranitar without risking a miss and 2HKOes Snorlax.

Earthquake is a strong spread move that allows Heracross to deal massive damage to both opponents in one attack. It OHKOes Raikou and 2HKOes Tyranitar, Metagross, and Steelix. Hidden Power Ghost OHKOes Gengar, which walls Heracross otherwise.

Swarm is easy to activate on Heracross, since it just narrowly survives Psychic from Latias and Starmie. Guts forces opponents to think twice about using Thunder Wave and Will-O-Wisp on Heracross, as a Guts-boosted Heracross can OHKO even maximum Defense Snorlax with Brick Break.

The EV Spread allows Heracross to survive a Psychic from Latias and outspeed Jolly Metagross.

Snorlax makes a great partner for Heracross due to its positive matchups against Latias, Starmie, and Zapdos. In return, Heracross can Brick Break Normal-resistant foes like Tyranitar and Steelix, removing potential Self-Destruct resistances or allowing Snorlax to freely spam Return. Raikou also boasts a positive matchup against the aforementioned threats and appreciates Heracross's ability to pressure Tyranitar and Snorlax. Latias and Starmie can OHKO Gengar without forcing Heracross to have to lock itself into Hidden Power Ghost. Thunder Wave support is appreciated to give Heracross the ability to outspeed faster threats like Latias and Raikou.

Heracross can make use of Salac Berry and Endure to get a Speed boost and make use of Swarm, though it's worth noting that Tyranitar's Sand Stream can be used to effortlessly KO Heracross after surviving a turn with Endure.