Heracross Movesets and Best Builds

Heracross Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Heracross in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Heracross, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Heracross Base Stats, Type, Ability and Weakness

Paldea #262 Kitakami #49		Type
Heracross
		Abilities
		Swarm Guts Moxie (Hidden)
Weak to:	(4x)
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Heracross

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Heracross

Choice Scarf Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Atk 177 / Def 95 / Sp.Def 116 / Spe 150
Ability	Moxie
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Tera Blast ・ Close Combat ・ Megahorn ・ Stone Edge

Summary

Heracross' Moxie Ability allows it to run an effective revenge killer build with Choice Scarf since the +1 Attack it gets for knocking out a Pokemon can snowball and make it difficult to switch into once it gets enough boosts.

High Attack Stat and Fighting-type STAB Great physical movepool Moxie gives it +1 Attack when it knocks out a Pokemon

Ability and Held Item

Moxie is the best Ability for Heracross for this build, giving it a +1 Attack stat whenever it knocks out a Pokemon. This makes Heracross very difficult to switch into, especially if it gets +2 or more Attack boosts as it can easily KO or 2HKO Pokemon resistant to its moves.

Choice Scarf is the best item for this build so that Heracross can outrun faster and frailer attackers and potentially KO them to get another Moxie boost.

Moves Breakdown

Steel-type Tera Blast allows Heracross to hit Fairy-types like Flutter Mane for super effective damage with Tera Blast. Close Combat and Megahorn are its secondary STAB moves and offers great neutral coverage.

Stone Edge is its last move and allows Heracross to threaten Flying and Fire-types such as Iron Jugulis and Armarouge.

Best Tera Type

Steel is the best Tera type for this build, allowing Heracross to stay on the field against Fairy-types while also giving it a strong Steel-type coverage move in Tera Blast..

As a physical attacker, a Jolly Nature is best so that it can outspeed its usual checks and counters with Choice Scarf.

EV Spread and Nature

Full Attack and Speed EV investment is necessary so that Heracross can hit hard and can outrun slower attackers with Choice Scarf, with the remaining 4 EVs in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

A Jolly Nature ensures Heracross has an effective 150 Speed stat at Lv. 50, which increases to 225 Speed when it has Choice Scarf equipped.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Heracross' Offensive EV spread with a Jolly Nature, as well as +1 Attack from Moxie.

Damage Dealt by Heracross
130 HP｜75 Def No Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Sp.Def 4 (Timid) Item: Choice Specs	Tera Blast 320-378 (246.1 - 290.7%) Guaranteed OHKO
180 HP｜91 Def No Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Sp.Def 4 (Jolly) Item: Choice Band	Close Combat 392-464 (217.7 - 257.7%) Guaranteed OHKO
187 HP｜128 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Bold) Item: Leftovers	Megahorn 282-332 (150.8 - 177.5%) Guaranteed OHKO
169 HP｜106 Def No Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Def 0 (Timid) Item: Choice Specs	Stone Edge 190-224 (112.4 - 132.5%) Guaranteed OHKO

Guts + Swords Dance Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Atk 194 / Def 95 / Sp.Def 116 / Spe 137
Ability	Guts
Tera Type
Held Item	Flame Orb
Moveset	・ Swords Dance ・ Facade ・ Close Combat ・ Megahorn

Summary

Guts Heracross is a formidable wallbreaker that can further boost its Attack with Sword Dance. Although slower than the Moxie build, it's difficult to switch into and can easily KO most Pokemon that don't resist its STAB and coverage moves.

Guts and Swords Dance stack Tera Normal gives it STAB Facade Boasts high base power moves that can KO or 2HKO most Pokemon

Ability and Held Item

Guts is the best Ability for this Heracross build to boost its Attack by 50% when afflicted with a status condition, which this build activates by holding Flame Orb. Once Heracross has a Guts boost, it becomes very difficult to switch into even if it hasn't set up with Swords Dance yet.

Moves Breakdown

Facade becomes a base 140 power move when Heracross is afflicted by Flame Orb's burn and also gets STAB once it terastallizes into a Normal-type.

Close Combat and Megahorn are its secondary STAB moves and offers great neutral coverage, and also get a damage boost from Guts.

Best Tera Type

Normal is the preferred Tera Type for this build so that Heracross gets STAB from Facade, It also removes its weakness to Flying and Fairy-types, allowing it to stay on the field against its usual checks and counters. As a physical attacker, Adamant is the best nature so that Heracross hits as hard as possible with its boosted moves.

EV Spread and Nature

Full Attack and Speed EV investment is necessary so that Heracross can hit hard and can outrun slower attackers wit, with the remaining 4 EVs in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

An Adamant Nature ensures Heracross has an effective 190 Attack stat at Lv. 50 equipped.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Heracross' Offensive EV spread with an Adamant Nature and Guts boost, as well as the +2 Attack from Swords Dance.

Damage Dealt by Heracross
157 HP｜215 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 192 (Bold) Item: Black Sludge	Facade 142-168 (90.4 - 107%) 43.8% Chance to OHKO
207 HP｜200 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Impish) Item: Leftovers	Close Combat 392-464 (189.3 - 224.1%) Guaranteed OHKO
262 HP｜146 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 0 (Careful) Item: Leftovers	Megahorn 540-636 (206.1 - 242.7%) Guaranteed OHKO

Doubles Movesets for Heracross

Doubles Guts Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 155 / Atk 194 / Def 95 / Sp.Def 116 / Spe 137
Ability	Guts
Tera Type
Held Item	Flame Orb
Moveset	・ Swords Dance ・ Facade ・ Close Combat ・ Megahorn

Summary

Heracross has an easier time setting up in Doubles as long as it gets redirection support from its teammates. With Rage Powder support from the likes of Amoonguss and Toedscruel, it's even possible for Heracross to get two or more Swords Dance up.

Guts and Swords Dance stack Tera Normal gives it STAB Facade Can set up Swords Dance more than once with redirection support

Ability and Held Item

Guts is the best Ability for this Heracross build to boost its Attack by 50% when afflicted with a status condition, which this build activates by holding Flame Orb. Once Heracross has a Guts boost, it becomes very difficult to switch into even if it hasn't set up with Swords Dance yet.

Moves Breakdown

Facade becomes a base 140 power move when Heracross is afflicted by Flame Orb's burn and also gets STAB once it terastallizes into a Normal-type.

Close Combat and Megahorn are its secondary STAB moves and offers great neutral coverage, and also get a damage boost from Guts.

Best Tera Type

Normal is the preferred Tera Type for this build so that Heracross gets STAB from Facade, It also removes its weakness to Flying and Fairy-types, allowing it to stay on the field against its usual checks and counters. As a physical attacker, Adamant is the best nature so that Heracross hits as hard as possible with its boosted moves.

EV Spread and Nature

Full Attack and Speed EV investment is necessary so that Heracross can hit hard and can outrun slower attackers wit, with the remaining 4 EVs in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

An Adamant Nature ensures Heracross has an effective 190 Attack stat at Lv. 50 equipped.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Heracross' Offensive EV spread with an Adamant Nature and Guts boost, as well as the +2 Attack from Swords Dance.

Damage Dealt by Heracross
221 HP｜123 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 172 (Bold) Item: Black Sludge	Facade 249-293 (112.6 - 132.5%) Guaranteed OHKO
215 HP｜187 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Impish) Item: Leftovers	Close Combat 211-249 (98.1 - 115.8%) 87.5% Chance to OHKO
218 HP｜166 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Impish) Item: Booster Energy	Megahorn 948-1120 (434.8 - 513.7%) Guaranteed OHKO

How to Use Heracross Effectively

Take Advantage of Moxie

Heracross' great Attack stat and Moxie Ability make it an effective Choice Scarf user that can potentially overpower teams the more Attack boosts it gets. It's also more difficult to wall as it can simply terastallize to get a coverage move to round off its Fighting and Bug-type STAB.

Use Guts and Swords Dance

Access to both Guts and Swords Dance also allows Heracross to fill the role of main setup sweeper. It's very difficult to switch into and its dual Fighting and Bug-type STAB allows it to hit many types for super effective or neutral damage.

How to Build a Team with Heracross

Heracross thrives in hyper offensive teams in both Singles and Doubles and appreciates teammates that can cover its weaknesses and gaps in coverage.

Sample Singles Team

Offensive Lead	Special Attacker	Physical Attacker
Arcanine	Flutter Mane	Heracross

This offensive team leads with Arcanine to spread burns with Will-O-Wisp while Flutter Mane provides strong special offense with Shadow Ball and Moonblast.

Heracross' main role is to pick off weakened Pokemon to get a Moxie boost so that it can potentially overpower the remaining Pokemon with its high powered moves.

Heracross is hard checked by Ghost-types if it doesn't run Shadow Claw so make sure that Flutter Mane clears the field of Ghost-types.

Sample Doubles Team

Lead Attacker	Redirection Support
Heracross	Amoonguss
Special Attacker	Offensive Pivot
Hydreigon	Wash Rotom

Leading with Amoonguss ensures that you can use Rage Powder to redirect attacks from Heracross so that it can safely activate its Flame Orb and setup Swords Dance. Amoonguss also dissuades other setup sweepers with Clear Smog and can put defensive Pokemon to sleep with Spore.

Hydreigon serves as this team's special attacker and like Heracross, appreciates redirection support so that it can setup Nasty Plot safely. Wash Rotom fills the role of offensive pivot, switching places with Amoonguss so that it can spread burns with Will-O-Wisp.

Counters for Heracross

Take Advantage of its Low Defense

Although Heracross is a fearsome setup sweeper or revenge killer, its low Defense stat means it can't take repeated hits from powerful attackers that can shrug off its attacks.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Disguise Ability prevents it from getting knocked out. ・Immune to Close Combat and Facade, and boasts 4x resistance to Bug-type moves. ・Easily KOs Heracross Play Rough even without setting up. ▶️Mimikyu Best Movesets
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists Facade and Megahorn and takes neutral damage against Close Combat. ・Easily KOs Heracross with STAB Brave Bird even without Attack EV investment. ▶️Corviknight Best Movesets
Gholdengo	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Immune to Facade and Close Combat. and boasts 4x resistance to Bug-type moves. ・Easily KOs Heracross with STAB Make It Rain. ▶️Gholdengo Best Movesets

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