This is an overview and update of Heracross, after it has gone down to the UnderUsed tier. What I've done here, is to change the overview, of how it fares in UU, as well as an update to its Choice Scarf and Swords Dance sets. This is my first try at this, so there may be some mistakes. Thank you.
Overview: Heracross is a deadly pokemon in the UU tier, being able to 1-2HKO almost every single Pokemon. It has two 120 base power STAB moves, firing off of 125 base Attack. With Guts, it can switch in to a Will-O-Wisp or Toxic and proceed to demolish many teams who are not prepared.
Megahorn and Close Combat are great coverage, only resisted by few in UU, and Heracross also gets Stone Edge and Night Slash to take out Moltres and Rotom respectively. Overall, Heracross is a offensive powerhouse in the UU tier, and should not be taken lightly at all costs.
Update:
[Set]
Name: Choice Scarf
Move 1: Close Combat
Move 2: Megahorn
Move 3: Stone Edge
Move 4: Night Slash/Sleep Talk
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
[Set Comments]
Heracross often finds itself slower than many sweepers. This problem can easily be removed by holding Choice Scarf. With Choice Scarf, Heracross can come in on many faster sweepers and revenge kill them before they can do anything. Adamant nature is the preferred nature as you are quite weak with out a Choice Band or Adamant nature.
Heracross' STAB moves hit many common walls for super effective damage, such as Chansey, Clefable, Claydol, Registeel, Slowbro, Steelix and Uxie. The third slot is for Stone Edge so it can hit Moltres and Altaria (who both resist Heracross' dual STAB moves) as well as hit Weezing harder than any of its other moves. Night Slash is the preferred move in the 4th slot, as it can deal with Rotom and Mismagius who also resist both your STAB moves. Sleep Talk can also be used if you want Heracross to act as a sleep absorber.
[Set]
Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Close Combat
Move 3: Megahorn
Move 4: Facade/Night Slash
Item: Flame Orb/Toxic Orb
Ability: Guts
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
With a Jolly nature backed by a Swords Dance, Heracross reaches a terrifying 698 Attack, and with Guts activating brings you to 1047 Attack, attacking almost everything very hard. This set focuses on its massive Attack instead of boosting its Speed, and once fast sweepers are out or paralyzed, Heracross can Swords Dance up and proceed to sweep.
Close Combat and Megahorn are the strongest moves at Heracross' disposal. Swords Dance boosts your Attack to sky high levels, and even without a Swords Dance, if Guts has activated, you still have a pretty good chance at breaking many walls. The 4th moveset is depends if you want to hit Weezing or Rotom who both don't take much from boosted Megahorn and Close Combat. Weezing is OHKOed by Facade after a Swords Dance and Guts activation, while Rotom is OHKOed by Night Slash after Flame Orb activates.
Flame Orb is the preferred option as Heracross wants to stay in as long as possible to sweep. However, if Heracross is not going to stay in for more than 3 turns, then Toxic Orb can be used to deal less damage to you overall. Flame Orb is more consistent while Toxic Orb serves as a better option for hit-and-run Heracross.
[Counters]
The most important thing of countering Heracross is to know what item and set it has. If it doesn't hold Choice Scarf, a Timid Moltres, Swellow, Scyther, and anything that outspeeds it can revenge kill it. A Choiced Heracross requires more prediction, but a Rotom or Weezing is the perfect counter. Heracross must use Stone Edge to touch Weezing. Weezing is only 5HKOed by Stone Edge, factoring in Leftovers, while Weezing can hit back with a Flamethrower for very decent damage.
[Damage Calcs]
Jolly 252 Atk Stone Edge vs Bold 252 HP/252 Def Weezing: 22.2% - 26.3%
I know its not a great update and overview, but I tried to do what I could.
Thanks for reading.
-ShinyAzelf
Overview: Heracross is a deadly pokemon in the UU tier, being able to 1-2HKO almost every single Pokemon. It has two 120 base power STAB moves, firing off of 125 base Attack. With Guts, it can switch in to a Will-O-Wisp or Toxic and proceed to demolish many teams who are not prepared.
Megahorn and Close Combat are great coverage, only resisted by few in UU, and Heracross also gets Stone Edge and Night Slash to take out Moltres and Rotom respectively. Overall, Heracross is a offensive powerhouse in the UU tier, and should not be taken lightly at all costs.
Update:
[Set]
Name: Choice Scarf
Move 1: Close Combat
Move 2: Megahorn
Move 3: Stone Edge
Move 4: Night Slash/Sleep Talk
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
[Set Comments]
Heracross often finds itself slower than many sweepers. This problem can easily be removed by holding Choice Scarf. With Choice Scarf, Heracross can come in on many faster sweepers and revenge kill them before they can do anything. Adamant nature is the preferred nature as you are quite weak with out a Choice Band or Adamant nature.
Heracross' STAB moves hit many common walls for super effective damage, such as Chansey, Clefable, Claydol, Registeel, Slowbro, Steelix and Uxie. The third slot is for Stone Edge so it can hit Moltres and Altaria (who both resist Heracross' dual STAB moves) as well as hit Weezing harder than any of its other moves. Night Slash is the preferred move in the 4th slot, as it can deal with Rotom and Mismagius who also resist both your STAB moves. Sleep Talk can also be used if you want Heracross to act as a sleep absorber.
[Set]
Name: Swords Dance
Move 1: Swords Dance
Move 2: Close Combat
Move 3: Megahorn
Move 4: Facade/Night Slash
Item: Flame Orb/Toxic Orb
Ability: Guts
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
With a Jolly nature backed by a Swords Dance, Heracross reaches a terrifying 698 Attack, and with Guts activating brings you to 1047 Attack, attacking almost everything very hard. This set focuses on its massive Attack instead of boosting its Speed, and once fast sweepers are out or paralyzed, Heracross can Swords Dance up and proceed to sweep.
Close Combat and Megahorn are the strongest moves at Heracross' disposal. Swords Dance boosts your Attack to sky high levels, and even without a Swords Dance, if Guts has activated, you still have a pretty good chance at breaking many walls. The 4th moveset is depends if you want to hit Weezing or Rotom who both don't take much from boosted Megahorn and Close Combat. Weezing is OHKOed by Facade after a Swords Dance and Guts activation, while Rotom is OHKOed by Night Slash after Flame Orb activates.
Flame Orb is the preferred option as Heracross wants to stay in as long as possible to sweep. However, if Heracross is not going to stay in for more than 3 turns, then Toxic Orb can be used to deal less damage to you overall. Flame Orb is more consistent while Toxic Orb serves as a better option for hit-and-run Heracross.
[Counters]
The most important thing of countering Heracross is to know what item and set it has. If it doesn't hold Choice Scarf, a Timid Moltres, Swellow, Scyther, and anything that outspeeds it can revenge kill it. A Choiced Heracross requires more prediction, but a Rotom or Weezing is the perfect counter. Heracross must use Stone Edge to touch Weezing. Weezing is only 5HKOed by Stone Edge, factoring in Leftovers, while Weezing can hit back with a Flamethrower for very decent damage.
[Damage Calcs]
Jolly 252 Atk Stone Edge vs Bold 252 HP/252 Def Weezing: 22.2% - 26.3%
I know its not a great update and overview, but I tried to do what I could.
Thanks for reading.
-ShinyAzelf
