Specially Defensive
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 192 SpD / 68 Spe
Calm Nature
- Taunt / Protect / Roar
- Toxic
- Lava Plume
- Stealth Rock
Role: Special Wall, Hazard User
What It Does: Specially Defensive Heatran's main role is to set up rocks and wither the opponent's Pokemon through Toxic, Taunt, Stealth Rock, and possible Lava Plume burn, while also being able to check a huge portion of the metagame thanks to its enormous special bulk and spectacular ability and typing combo. Heatran provides a very good check to all non-EQ Lati@s, Clefable, Mega Venusaur, Skarmory, Talonflame, Scizor, etc.. It can take on a lot of specially oriented Pokemon, such as Raikou, Mega Manectric, and Magnezone. It also shakely checks powerful special attacking Pokemon such as Mega Gardevoir, Tornadus-T, and Mega Alakazam, all which carry Focus Blast partly because of Heatran.
Good Teammates: Teammates that can cover Heatran's weaknesses, Ground, Water, and Fighting, are all very appreciated. For example, Rotom-W is a nice teammates since it is immune to ground and resists Water, while Latias resists both Fighting and Water, and is immune to ground.
What Counters It: Bulky Starmie is probably the biggest one, as it spins hazards away, cures itself from Toxic by switching out, does a solid amount with Scald, and can use Recover to keep longevity while resisting Lava Plume. Other than that, bulky Water types, such as Keldeo, Manaphy, Azumarill, and Slowbro, and bulky Ground types, such as Garchomp and Hippowdon, all threaten to 2HKO or even OHKO, but in the cost of a possible burn or toxic.
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Stallbreaker
Heatran @ Leftovers / Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Toxic / Flash Cannon
- Earth Power
- Magma Storm
Role: Wallbreaker, Stallbreaker, Bulky Attacker
What It Does: This Heatran set is particularly used for breaking walls, particularly stall. Not only does Magma Storm has a 100 BP, although 75% accuracy, but it also traps the opponent for 4-5 turns. Above all of that, the opponent is taking ~12.5% each turn just from residual. With the opposing Pokemon trapped, Heatran can manipulate the situation to eliminate that Pokemon. Through Taunt and usually Toxic, it can wither down the most of annoying of walls. For example, if Chansey is trapped, a simple taunt would shut it down. And with Magma Storm doing 12.5% at the end of each turn, along with Toxic or just Flash Cannon damage, soon Chansey will go down before it can knock you out with S-Toss (Especially if you have Leftovers). The same goes for a lot of other Pokemon, such as Clefable, Mega Venusaur, non-EQ Lati@s, Amoonguss, Skarmory, Mew, Sylveon, and Talonflame, all which are found on really bulky builds. Solar Beam can be used over Toxic/Flash Cannon with a Power Herb to hit some bulky water types unexpectedly hard, usually KO-ing them after Magma Storm damage + residual, it can hit Quagisre, Slowbro, Azumarill (non-AV), and Seismitoed.
Good Teammates: Teammates that can cover Heatran's weaknesses, Ground, Water, and Fighting, are all very appreciated. For example, Rotom-W is a nice teammates since it is immune to ground and resists Water, while Latias resists both Fighting and Water, and is immune to ground.
What Counters It: Without Solar Beam, bulky waters easily check this set, especially ones with solid recovery such as Slowbro. On the other hand, anything that is not too prone to taunt and can KO or deal a significant amount of damage back is considered a solid check. For example, Hippowdon can easily switch in and switch Heatran to switch out.
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Offensive Stealth Rock
Heatran @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast / Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Flash Cannon / HP Ice / Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
Role: Hazard User, Bulky Attacker
What It Does: Offensive Heatran's role is to set up rocks, but at the same time, to hit hard. It goes with max speed and max SpA to widen the pokemon it can check, and ensure to hit hard. The reason you want Heatran to hit hard is because most Defog users in the tier, will be severely weakened and possibly eliminated if they want to defog the hazards on Heatran. Another plus is that this set outspeeds most Excas (max speed Adamant), which prevents the spin by directly KO-ing with Fire Blast. Magma Storm can be used to maximize Heatran's wallbreaking and stallbreaking ability, but is really risky due to the significant accuracy drop. Earth Power is used to hit bulky fire types, such as opposing Heatrans, and Flash Cannon is a powerful STAB that hits fairies super effectively and has a nice neutral consistent coverage. On the other hand, HP Ice can be used to hit bulky Dragons, such as Lati@s and Garchomp, while Stone Edge can be used to hit Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y.
Good Teammates: Teammates that can cover Heatran's weaknesses, Ground, Water, and Fighting, are all very appreciated. For example, Rotom-W is a nice teammates since it is immune to ground and resists Water, while Latias resists both Fighting and Water, and is immune to ground.
What Counters It: Since this set hits very hard, its harder to counter, but without Toxic or Taunt, bulky Pokemons can handle it much easier. Pokemon such as Slowbro, Hippowdon, Starmie, Manaphy, etc. all are very effective checks and sometimes even counters.
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Choice Scarf
Heatran @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Earth Power
- Flash Cannon
- Fire Blast / Overheat
- Stone Edge / Ancient Power / HP Ice
Role: Special Sweeper, Late-game Cleaner
What It Does: With Heatran's slightly below average speed, good fire power, and surprisingly decent coverage, it can effectively run a Choice Scarf to outspeed most of the unboosted meta, while still hitting very hard. Earth Power is very important to this set doesn't just get completely stopped by opposing Heatrans. Flash Cannon is a consistent powerful STAB with a full accuracy that is probably Heatran's most spammable move. As for the Fire STAB, Fire Blast can be used to deal out consistent damage, but Overheat can be used thanks to its surprise and high power, albeit inconsistent. Finally, either Stone Edge or Ancient Power can be used to hit Talonflame and Mega Charizard Y, while HP Ice can be used to hit, again, Pokemon such as Garchomp.
Good Teammates: Teammates that can cover Heatran's weaknesses, Ground, Water, and Fighting, are all very appreciated. For example, Rotom-W is a nice teammates since it is immune to ground and resists Water, while Latias resists both Fighting and Water, and is immune to ground.
What Counters It: With a Choice Scarf, a lot of the checks that depended on their speed to outspeed and KO Heatran are no longer checks, but, with the loss of choice and fire power, more walls and bulky pokemon can handle this set. For example, Slowbro can easily come in with no fear whatsoever, and recover the damage just by switching thanks to Regenerator. While Starmie is outspeed, it still avoids the 2HKO. And Manaphy can come on a predicted Flash Cannon / Fire move and even set up.