[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock / Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Earth Power / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Explosion
item: Leftovers / Shuca Berry / Passho Berry / Focus Sash / Chople Berry
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Modest / Hasty
evs: 252 HP / 96 SpA / 160 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Heatran is an excellent user of Stealth Rock, as it can use its offensive pressure and bulk to set the entry hazard up. Heatran also offensively pressures spinners such as Forretress. However, with another Stealth Rock user, Heatran can run Will-O-Wisp to spread burns on Tyranitar, Swampert, Machamp, and Gyarados. Will-O-Wisp mitigates Heatran's weaknesses, as it can often survive physical super effective coverage moves from burned Pokemon. Taunt is another choice it can use, especially with a faster EV spread; Heatran is naturally close to 2HKOing Clefable with Fire Blast, and preventing it from healing opens up other special attackers. While risky, Taunt also prevents foes such as Dragon Dance Gyarados and Dragon Dance Tyranitar from setting up on Heatran, and it can prevent Stealth Rock from Pokemon such as Swampert and Hippowdon, which often try to set it up as they predict Heatran will switch out.
Heatran can run many different Fire-type attacks. Fire Blast is the most common, as it muscles through neutral targets such as Rotom-A, Zapdos, and Clefable while OHKOing Gengar after Stealth Rock. Flamethrower is the more reliable choice, as Heatran needn't worry about accuracy and PP against threats it OHKOes such as Breloom, Scizor, uninvested Jirachi, and physically defensive Skarmory. Heatran can also use Lava Plume, Magma Storm, or Overheat. Lava Plume combines Flamethrower's reliability and Will-O-Wisp's burns, but Heatran often wants more power than it gives. Magma Storm is best on sets with more coverage. Overheat provides a strong initial hit, but Heatran does not enjoy being forced out, and it cannot pressure Clefable.
Heatran's coverage move often depends on its item and the role it wants to play. The most common choice is Earth Power, which gives excellent coverage with two moves and covers other Heatran, Tyranitar, Infernape, and Water-types such as Swampert, Starmie, and Milotic. Earth Power is especially great with Shuca Berry, as it lets Heatran more comfortably beat opposing Heatran trying to absorb its Fire-type attack. Hidden Power Grass allows Heatran to OHKO uninvested Swampert and notably keep Stealth Rock up against Starmie. Hidden Power Grass easily 2HKOes Starmie, while Starmie needs a boosting item to OHKO Heatran after using Rapid Spin. When holding a Passho Berry, Heatran can even avoid a 2HKO from defensive Starmie's Surf. Another option is Dragon Pulse, as it notably 2HKOes Latias and Kingdra without defensive EVs, as well as possibly OHKOing Dragonite and Flygon after Stealth Rock. Heatran can even drop the coverage option to run two of its utility moves, such as Stealth Rock and Will-O-Wisp.
Explosion is Heatran's best way to KO special walls and setup sweepers like Gyarados alike. Even Clefable, Blissey, and Latias can be taken out by a surprise Explosion, opening the door for other special attackers. Heatran is uniquely good at using Explosion, as it has a good Attack stat, its special offensive presence deters physical walls, Steel- and Ghost-types can't take its Fire-type attacks, and Heatran can take on the most common Rock-type, Tyranitar, with Earth Power and Will-O-Wisp.
Set Details
========
Heatran has myriad viable EV spreads; the listed spread gives Heatran maximum HP and outspeeds up to Adamant 252 Speed EV Scizor, with the specific Special Attack EVs slightly optimizing the stat. Explosion still hits hard even with a hindering nature. Utility Heatran often focuses EVs in either HP or Speed; if maximizing HP, other options include 128 Speed EVs to outspeed all neutral-nature Swampert, Tyranitar, and Empoleon or 216 Speed EVs to outspeed Tyranitar, Magnezone, and neutral-nature Metagross. If Heatran wants to focus on Speed, some possibilities include 200 Speed EVs with a boosting nature, which outspeed Breloom, neutral-nature Dragonite, and neutral-nature Gyarados, and maximum Speed to outspeed Kingdra and slower defensive Latias. For these options, Heatran uses 252 Special Attack EVs with either a Timid or a Hasty nature. Heatran should generally avoid using a Naive nature, as this stops it from surviving Hydro Pump from Suicune and Starmie after Stealth Rock. However, not lowering Attack can let Explosion KO foes such as Clefable, offensive Gyarados after Stealth Rock, and Blissey after Stealth Rock and sand damage. While utility Heatran can use less Speed investment than listed, it generally is not recommended to run fewer than 128 EVs due to how many foes can then offensively pressure it. Heatran has incredible customization: for example, 16 HP / 52 Atk / 208 SpA / 236 Spe with a Mild nature can outspeed Agility Metagross and Dragon Dance Tyranitar, OHKO offensive Suicune, and potentially OHKO defensive Latias with Explosion after Stealth Rock.
Utility Heatran often runs Leftovers to heal and best answer defensive Jirachi. With Leftovers, Heatran heals more than Jirachi's Iron Head deals, meaning it can't flinch Heatran down. It also can't wear down Heatran throughout a game to eventually break through it. Another great choice is Shuca Berry, which notably lets Heatran survive many ways to remove it, such as opposing Heatran's Earth Power and Earthquake from Tyranitar, mixed Flygon, and Metagross. It survives all of these without any HP EVs, meaning faster Heatran can use Shuca Berry to bypass the need for bulk for its most common weakness. Passho Berry lets Heatran more comfortably survive hits from many Water-types such as Starmie, Suicune, and Empoleon. Heatran can then use the appropriate coverage move or Explosion as they attack.
Heatran has numerous other items it can use. The most prominent is Focus Sash, especially if it leads. Heatran can very aggressively use Taunt on opposing leads to prevent setup, attack, or just use Explosion to take out the foe. While it can use bulk EVs with a Focus Sash, dropping them for maximum Speed is often the best choice. Another great option is Lum Berry to neutralize status moves such as Clefable's Thunder Wave and Breloom's Spore, possibly switching into Spore and forcing Breloom out. Chople Berry helps Heatran survive strong Fighting-type attacks, such as Gengar's Focus Blast, Machamp's Dynamic Punch, Infernape's Close Combat, and Lucario's Close Combat. Heatran can also use Custap Berry to give it one last attack before fainting, especially since it often survives strong attacks with not a lot of HP remaining. Heatran can even use Endure to put itself in Custap Berry range.
Usage Tips
========
Heatran should come into the game fairly early or even lead to set up Stealth Rock as soon as possible, threaten possible switches, or weaken checks. Heatran’s versatility makes it hard for opponents to figure out the set early-game; for example, opponents might believe Heatran is Choice Specs in the lead position and switch to a special wall in response. Leverage this to wear down switch-ins and get opportunities to use its utility moves. Against more offensive teams and when holding a resistance Berry, Heatran is a fantastic Pokemon can beat foes one-on-one, as it often can switch in on a Steel-type like Jirachi, threaten whatever switches in with the appropriate coverage move, and then use Explosion. Against more defensive teams, Heatran can often get worn down quickly, especially if it lacks Leftovers. However, Heatran is a great way to prevent entry hazards, because none of Roserade, Skarmory, or Forretress can set up as long as it’s active. Being aggressive with Explosion can often net KOs on Clefable and Latias. However, Heatran is one of the best checks against physically defensive Jirachi, and the rest of the team can suffer if it sacrifices itself too early.
Team Options
========
Heatran is one of the best offensive Stealth Rock users in the tier and fits with many teammates. Breloom is a fantastic teammate, as Heatran can switch into offensive Latias's Draco Meteor and either heavily weaken it or KO it with Explosion. Breloom in turn can switch into special walls such as Clefable and Blissey, as well as Water-types such as defensive Starmie and Suicune, which wall Heatran or force it to use Explosion. Breloom and Heatran can also perform well in a Fire-Water-Grass core with Water-types such as Swampert, offensive Calm Mind Suicune, and Dragon Dance Gyarados. These Pokemon also appreciate Heatran weakening Latias, Zapdos, and Rotom-A, and some can take on opposing Water-types so Heatran doesn't have to use a Passho Berry or Explosion against them. Other less common Grass-types such as Roserade, Celebi, and Shaymin are also good choices in the core, being good switch-ins to Heatran's type weaknesses.
Heatran also threatens Skarmory and Forretress and prevents them from setting entry hazards, especially Spikes, ensuring they don't limit grounded attackers such as Breloom, Suicune, and itself. Threatening Skarmory and other special walls, while providing Stealth Rock and early-game pressure no less, is also very valuable to sweepers such as Dragon Dance Dragonite, Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Swords Dance Scizor, Agility Metagross, and offensive Jirachi. These sweepers benefit in different ways: offensive Calm Mind Jirachi appreciates Latias and other special walls being weakened or KOed; Tyranitar, Metagross, physical Jirachi, Scizor, and Dragonite enjoy Heatran forcing out Skarmory after it phazes them, thus stopping it from healing, or baiting in Water-types and using Explosion on them; and Scizor and Dragonite appreciate Heatran switching into and forcing out their counters, like Jirachi and Skarmory. Further, Tyranitar and Scizor can freely switch into most Latias sets and heavily threaten it alongside Heatran. Offensive Latias can synergistically weaken Tyranitar and other special walls that absorb Heatran's attacks. Heatran can even use Will-O-Wisp and prevent Tyranitar from using Pursuit on Latias effectively. Starmie works like Latias but can also use Rapid Spin, keeping Heatran from being worn down.
Heatran appreciates backup against physical sweepers with Earthquake, as it can often only prevent setup by sacrificing itself via Taunt or Explosion. Choice Scarf Rotom-A, Latias, and Flygon all can switch into some of these sweepers and revenge kill them if they set up. Another choice is Skarmory, which can handle many of the boosted physical sweepers that Heatran struggles to deal with. Heatran also enjoys Spikes and especially Toxic Spikes; Heatran forces many switches to rack up damage and threatens Pokemon trying to break through Spikes Skarmory, such as Substitute Jirachi and Breloom. Roserade, Nidoqueen, and Tentacruel are good choices to set up Toxic Spikes. On more offensive Spikes teams, Gengar and mixed Flygon are excellent teammates. Gengar can come in on Fighting- and Ground-type moves aimed at Heatran and start attacking, spread status, or set up Substitute, while Flygon appreciates Heatran dealing with faster Latias sets and potentially KOing Clefable with Explosion.
name: Utility
move 1: Stealth Rock / Will-O-Wisp
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Earth Power / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Explosion
item: Leftovers / Shuca Berry / Passho Berry / Focus Sash / Chople Berry
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Modest / Hasty
evs: 252 HP / 96 SpA / 160 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Heatran is an excellent user of Stealth Rock, as it can use its offensive pressure and bulk to set the entry hazard up. Heatran also offensively pressures spinners such as Forretress. However, with another Stealth Rock user, Heatran can run Will-O-Wisp to spread burns on Tyranitar, Swampert, Machamp, and Gyarados. Will-O-Wisp mitigates Heatran's weaknesses, as it can often survive physical super effective coverage moves from burned Pokemon. Taunt is another choice it can use, especially with a faster EV spread; Heatran is naturally close to 2HKOing Clefable with Fire Blast, and preventing it from healing opens up other special attackers. While risky, Taunt also prevents foes such as Dragon Dance Gyarados and Dragon Dance Tyranitar from setting up on Heatran, and it can prevent Stealth Rock from Pokemon such as Swampert and Hippowdon, which often try to set it up as they predict Heatran will switch out.
Heatran can run many different Fire-type attacks. Fire Blast is the most common, as it muscles through neutral targets such as Rotom-A, Zapdos, and Clefable while OHKOing Gengar after Stealth Rock. Flamethrower is the more reliable choice, as Heatran needn't worry about accuracy and PP against threats it OHKOes such as Breloom, Scizor, uninvested Jirachi, and physically defensive Skarmory. Heatran can also use Lava Plume, Magma Storm, or Overheat. Lava Plume combines Flamethrower's reliability and Will-O-Wisp's burns, but Heatran often wants more power than it gives. Magma Storm is best on sets with more coverage. Overheat provides a strong initial hit, but Heatran does not enjoy being forced out, and it cannot pressure Clefable.
Heatran's coverage move often depends on its item and the role it wants to play. The most common choice is Earth Power, which gives excellent coverage with two moves and covers other Heatran, Tyranitar, Infernape, and Water-types such as Swampert, Starmie, and Milotic. Earth Power is especially great with Shuca Berry, as it lets Heatran more comfortably beat opposing Heatran trying to absorb its Fire-type attack. Hidden Power Grass allows Heatran to OHKO uninvested Swampert and notably keep Stealth Rock up against Starmie. Hidden Power Grass easily 2HKOes Starmie, while Starmie needs a boosting item to OHKO Heatran after using Rapid Spin. When holding a Passho Berry, Heatran can even avoid a 2HKO from defensive Starmie's Surf. Another option is Dragon Pulse, as it notably 2HKOes Latias and Kingdra without defensive EVs, as well as possibly OHKOing Dragonite and Flygon after Stealth Rock. Heatran can even drop the coverage option to run two of its utility moves, such as Stealth Rock and Will-O-Wisp.
Explosion is Heatran's best way to KO special walls and setup sweepers like Gyarados alike. Even Clefable, Blissey, and Latias can be taken out by a surprise Explosion, opening the door for other special attackers. Heatran is uniquely good at using Explosion, as it has a good Attack stat, its special offensive presence deters physical walls, Steel- and Ghost-types can't take its Fire-type attacks, and Heatran can take on the most common Rock-type, Tyranitar, with Earth Power and Will-O-Wisp.
Set Details
========
Heatran has myriad viable EV spreads; the listed spread gives Heatran maximum HP and outspeeds up to Adamant 252 Speed EV Scizor, with the specific Special Attack EVs slightly optimizing the stat. Explosion still hits hard even with a hindering nature. Utility Heatran often focuses EVs in either HP or Speed; if maximizing HP, other options include 128 Speed EVs to outspeed all neutral-nature Swampert, Tyranitar, and Empoleon or 216 Speed EVs to outspeed Tyranitar, Magnezone, and neutral-nature Metagross. If Heatran wants to focus on Speed, some possibilities include 200 Speed EVs with a boosting nature, which outspeed Breloom, neutral-nature Dragonite, and neutral-nature Gyarados, and maximum Speed to outspeed Kingdra and slower defensive Latias. For these options, Heatran uses 252 Special Attack EVs with either a Timid or a Hasty nature. Heatran should generally avoid using a Naive nature, as this stops it from surviving Hydro Pump from Suicune and Starmie after Stealth Rock. However, not lowering Attack can let Explosion KO foes such as Clefable, offensive Gyarados after Stealth Rock, and Blissey after Stealth Rock and sand damage. While utility Heatran can use less Speed investment than listed, it generally is not recommended to run fewer than 128 EVs due to how many foes can then offensively pressure it. Heatran has incredible customization: for example, 16 HP / 52 Atk / 208 SpA / 236 Spe with a Mild nature can outspeed Agility Metagross and Dragon Dance Tyranitar, OHKO offensive Suicune, and potentially OHKO defensive Latias with Explosion after Stealth Rock.
Utility Heatran often runs Leftovers to heal and best answer defensive Jirachi. With Leftovers, Heatran heals more than Jirachi's Iron Head deals, meaning it can't flinch Heatran down. It also can't wear down Heatran throughout a game to eventually break through it. Another great choice is Shuca Berry, which notably lets Heatran survive many ways to remove it, such as opposing Heatran's Earth Power and Earthquake from Tyranitar, mixed Flygon, and Metagross. It survives all of these without any HP EVs, meaning faster Heatran can use Shuca Berry to bypass the need for bulk for its most common weakness. Passho Berry lets Heatran more comfortably survive hits from many Water-types such as Starmie, Suicune, and Empoleon. Heatran can then use the appropriate coverage move or Explosion as they attack.
Heatran has numerous other items it can use. The most prominent is Focus Sash, especially if it leads. Heatran can very aggressively use Taunt on opposing leads to prevent setup, attack, or just use Explosion to take out the foe. While it can use bulk EVs with a Focus Sash, dropping them for maximum Speed is often the best choice. Another great option is Lum Berry to neutralize status moves such as Clefable's Thunder Wave and Breloom's Spore, possibly switching into Spore and forcing Breloom out. Chople Berry helps Heatran survive strong Fighting-type attacks, such as Gengar's Focus Blast, Machamp's Dynamic Punch, Infernape's Close Combat, and Lucario's Close Combat. Heatran can also use Custap Berry to give it one last attack before fainting, especially since it often survives strong attacks with not a lot of HP remaining. Heatran can even use Endure to put itself in Custap Berry range.
Usage Tips
========
Heatran should come into the game fairly early or even lead to set up Stealth Rock as soon as possible, threaten possible switches, or weaken checks. Heatran’s versatility makes it hard for opponents to figure out the set early-game; for example, opponents might believe Heatran is Choice Specs in the lead position and switch to a special wall in response. Leverage this to wear down switch-ins and get opportunities to use its utility moves. Against more offensive teams and when holding a resistance Berry, Heatran is a fantastic Pokemon can beat foes one-on-one, as it often can switch in on a Steel-type like Jirachi, threaten whatever switches in with the appropriate coverage move, and then use Explosion. Against more defensive teams, Heatran can often get worn down quickly, especially if it lacks Leftovers. However, Heatran is a great way to prevent entry hazards, because none of Roserade, Skarmory, or Forretress can set up as long as it’s active. Being aggressive with Explosion can often net KOs on Clefable and Latias. However, Heatran is one of the best checks against physically defensive Jirachi, and the rest of the team can suffer if it sacrifices itself too early.
Team Options
========
Heatran is one of the best offensive Stealth Rock users in the tier and fits with many teammates. Breloom is a fantastic teammate, as Heatran can switch into offensive Latias's Draco Meteor and either heavily weaken it or KO it with Explosion. Breloom in turn can switch into special walls such as Clefable and Blissey, as well as Water-types such as defensive Starmie and Suicune, which wall Heatran or force it to use Explosion. Breloom and Heatran can also perform well in a Fire-Water-Grass core with Water-types such as Swampert, offensive Calm Mind Suicune, and Dragon Dance Gyarados. These Pokemon also appreciate Heatran weakening Latias, Zapdos, and Rotom-A, and some can take on opposing Water-types so Heatran doesn't have to use a Passho Berry or Explosion against them. Other less common Grass-types such as Roserade, Celebi, and Shaymin are also good choices in the core, being good switch-ins to Heatran's type weaknesses.
Heatran also threatens Skarmory and Forretress and prevents them from setting entry hazards, especially Spikes, ensuring they don't limit grounded attackers such as Breloom, Suicune, and itself. Threatening Skarmory and other special walls, while providing Stealth Rock and early-game pressure no less, is also very valuable to sweepers such as Dragon Dance Dragonite, Dragon Dance Tyranitar, Swords Dance Scizor, Agility Metagross, and offensive Jirachi. These sweepers benefit in different ways: offensive Calm Mind Jirachi appreciates Latias and other special walls being weakened or KOed; Tyranitar, Metagross, physical Jirachi, Scizor, and Dragonite enjoy Heatran forcing out Skarmory after it phazes them, thus stopping it from healing, or baiting in Water-types and using Explosion on them; and Scizor and Dragonite appreciate Heatran switching into and forcing out their counters, like Jirachi and Skarmory. Further, Tyranitar and Scizor can freely switch into most Latias sets and heavily threaten it alongside Heatran. Offensive Latias can synergistically weaken Tyranitar and other special walls that absorb Heatran's attacks. Heatran can even use Will-O-Wisp and prevent Tyranitar from using Pursuit on Latias effectively. Starmie works like Latias but can also use Rapid Spin, keeping Heatran from being worn down.
Heatran appreciates backup against physical sweepers with Earthquake, as it can often only prevent setup by sacrificing itself via Taunt or Explosion. Choice Scarf Rotom-A, Latias, and Flygon all can switch into some of these sweepers and revenge kill them if they set up. Another choice is Skarmory, which can handle many of the boosted physical sweepers that Heatran struggles to deal with. Heatran also enjoys Spikes and especially Toxic Spikes; Heatran forces many switches to rack up damage and threatens Pokemon trying to break through Spikes Skarmory, such as Substitute Jirachi and Breloom. Roserade, Nidoqueen, and Tentacruel are good choices to set up Toxic Spikes. On more offensive Spikes teams, Gengar and mixed Flygon are excellent teammates. Gengar can come in on Fighting- and Ground-type moves aimed at Heatran and start attacking, spread status, or set up Substitute, while Flygon appreciates Heatran dealing with faster Latias sets and potentially KOing Clefable with Explosion.
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