Attack leads and Sp. Atk gets almost nothing. That's Heracross's stat line in a nutshell. 4 stats sit in respectable range, but the spread is brutal. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs.
It loves sweet nectar. To keep all the nectar to itself, it hurls rivals away with its prized horn.
With its herculean powers, it can easily throw around an object that is 100 times its own weight.
Type-wise, Heracross takes extra damage from Flying, Fire, Psychic, and Fairy. Watch out for Flying attacks, those deal 4x damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Flying |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Psychic, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark |
Tyranitar can KO Heracross with Stone Edge (116-137%). Swampert's Flip Turn hits Heracross for 41-48%.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off38-45% Stone Edge116-137%KO Pursuit23-28% Earthquake39-46% | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Swampert builds →Earthquake34-40% Flip Turn41-48% Knock Off15-17% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySheerforce ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Copperajah builds →Knock Off12-15% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scrafty builds →Knock Off19-23% Close Combat35-42% Drain Punch22-26% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
What you see is what you get. Heracross sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and plenty of partners from one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Heracross easily with 91 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
The moveset leans on Grass and Normal coverage to catch would-be counters. Flame Orb means self-burn for Guts activation for Heracross, and max Attack and Speed EVs make sure nothing walls it cleanly. Guts fills in the gaps.
Best Build
Heracross best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Trailblaze
- Knock Off
- Facade
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Trailblaze
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Protect
- Megahorn
- Facade
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Trailblaze
- Knock Off
- Facade
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Trailblaze
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Protect
- Megahorn
- Facade
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
Recommended Teammates
Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Reversal
- Endure
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Megahorn
- Brick Break
Recommended Teammates
Moves
TMs carry this one. Heracross learns Focus Punch and Megahorn naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Flying and beyond give it real matchup play.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
TMs carry this one. Heracross learns Megahorn and Close Combat naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Flying and beyond give it real matchup play.
A solid spread overall. Heracross gets Close Combat and Megahorn for same-type damage alongside Normal and Flying coverage and more. It won't blow anyone away, but it doesn't leave you stuck either.
Breeding's the move. Double-Edge and Feint give Heracross options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Megahorn. The egg moves push it further.
Heracross sits at low spawn rates across 6 spots in late-game routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Scarlet & Violet
6 walking encounters at Lv. 45-65 for Heracross across Scarlet and Violet. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
Heracross doesn't appear in Legends: Z-A. Transfer it from Gold, Crystal, or Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
decent spawn rates for Heracross across 3 locations in late-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Legends: Arceus
3 walking and special spots from Lv. 40+ for Heracross. Sorted by game progression with rates on each row, so you can compare without scrolling through everything.
We rate Heracross B-Tier: a solid choice for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Base 125 Attack stands out.
Heracross can Mega Evolve into Mega Heracross. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
Swarm is the go-to ability for Heracross. It strengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. Its hidden ability Moxie can work in specific setups. Guts is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.
Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Heracross is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Heracross has appeared in 19 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves