Heat Rotom - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This is a strategy guide for using Heat Rotom in competitive play. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV builds, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Heat Rotom, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Rotom - Related Articles
Evolution and Moveset	Build for Ranked Battle (Wash Rotom)	Build for Ranked Battle (Heat Rotom)

Basic Information for Heat Rotom

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Heat Rotom
Abilities
Levitate	Gives immunity to Ground type moves.

Base Stats

Best Nature for Heat Rotom

What are Natures?

Strategies for Heat Rotom

Physical Defender Build

This is a build which takes advantage of Rotom's high Base HP and Defense to make it a potent physical defender. This allows it to switch in on physical heavy hitters like Mimikyu, and then if things turn bad, it can switch out with Volt Switch to further improve the team's position.

Taking threats such as Mimikyu and Galarian Darmanitan into account, this build runs Bold Nature, with EVs in HP and Defense, but it's also possible to go for a Calm Nature with EVs in HP and Special Defense if you're worried about Special attackers more than Physical attackers.

Other Viable Moves

Choice Specs Build

With Heat Rotom's high Base Special Attack, it's also possible to arm it with Choice Specs and turn it into a mean Special attacker. Along with the ability to get STAB on Fire and Electric-type Moves, it also has sufficient defensive capability to handle attacks with neutral damage, making it a capable counter to everpresent foes like Mimikyu, Ferrothorn and Aegislash.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Heat Rotom Effectively

A potent attacker and defender

Heat Rotom runs the board on high Special Attack, Defense, and Special Defense, allowing it to play the field as either an attacker or defender depending on its EVs and held item. This makes it difficult for opponents to know how to handle it, and as it learns Volt Switch as well, it's a good candidate for first Pokemon.

An effective lead with Volt Switch

By leading and using Volt Switch, Heat Rotom can simultaneously deal damage to the opponent while switching out. If the opponent switches out their Pokemon as well, Volt Switch will allow you to see the opponent's switched-in Pokemon before choosing which Pokemon you will switch in. And even if your opponent doesn't switch out, you will still be in a position to choose an effective Pokemon to switch in, making Heat Rotom with Volt Switch a powerful choice for lead.

However, Volt Switch's high power and mainstay status also make its use predictable, and you may have to deal with Ground-type leads and Pokemon slower than Rotom who will try to Volt Switch themselves after seeing the next Pokemon you send out.

Counters for Heat Rotom

Use Mold Breaker to land Ground-type attacks

Heat Rotom would have a 4x weakness to Ground-type attacks, but its ability Levitate is able to instead render it completely immune to them. However, Pokemon with the ability Mold Breaker are able to ignore the effects of Levitate to get an easy knock out on Heat Rotom with 4x super effective damage.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Excadrill	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can get a 1HKO with STAB Earthquake ・Can carry Choice Scarf to outspeed Heat Rotom for a no-damage knock out
Haxorus	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Can outspeed Rotom to aim for a 1HKO with Earthquake ・Take reduced damage from Fire and Electric, so can switch in on Heat Rotom without fear

Use a resistant type

As Heat Rotom can no longer learn Toxic this generation, whether it's using a defensive or an offensive build, it's forced to rely on Fire and Electric attacks either way. Utilizing Pokemon who can defend against Fire and Electric-type moves, such as Dragon types and Water/Ground dual-types, will neutralize its threat.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Hydreigon	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists both Fire and Electric, so Heat Rotom can rarely do neutral damage to it ・Can deal consistent high damage with Dark Pulse
Lanturn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists both Fire and Electric, so Heat Rotom can rarely do neutral damage to it
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・It takes neutral damage from Electric attacks, but it can pull off a 1HKO with Stone Edge

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Strategies for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Strategies for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	-	-