Heracross Best Moveset
AbilityGuts boosts Attack 50% when statused, and Held ItemFlame Orb activates it turn one by inflicting a burn that Guts ignores. 125 Attack becomes effectively 187 behind Bug/Fighting TermStab. NatureJolly at 85 Speed outspeeds enough of the tier. The moveset is a wallbreaker that doesn't care about status because status makes it stronger.
Bug/Fighting with 125 Attack was devastating in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Megahorn hit incredibly hard, and Reversal at low HP from Endure was a lethal finisher.
Best Moves
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Megahorn
- Curse
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Recommended Teammates
Guts boosted Attack when statused in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Getting burned made Heracross hit harder instead of weaker. Brilliant ability design.
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
Recommended Teammates
Close Combat arrived as reliable Fighting STAB in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). 125 Attack plus Guts plus Close Combat and Megahorn was an offensive nightmare to face.
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Sleep Talk
Recommended Teammates
Moxie snowballed KOs into more Attack boosts in Gen V (Black & White). Choice Scarf Heracross could sweep weakened teams once it secured one knockout.
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Mega Heracross hit 185 Attack with Skill Link in Gen VI (X & Y). Pin Missile and Rock Blast guaranteed five hits each. Base Heracross also stayed solid.
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Megahorn
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
Recommended Teammates
Dropped in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Fairy-types resisted both Bug and Fighting STAB, and Mega Heracross couldn't muscle past them like it used to.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Megahorn
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
No Mega form in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). 125 Attack with Guts or Moxie was still good but 85 Speed needed more to compete at higher levels.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Reversal
- Endure
Recommended Teammates
Fell further in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Fairy-types walled it, and faster Fighting-types with better coverage kept taking its team slot.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Knock Off
- Facade
Recommended Teammates
Heracross Weakness
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 |
What is Heracross Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Heracross
Darkrai deals 35-41% with Ice Beam.
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityVesselofruin ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Ting-Lu builds →Earthquake16-19% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityQuarkdrive ItemBooster Energy NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Iron Treads builds →Rapid Spin21-25% Earthquake21-24% Knock Off13-16% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityBaddreams ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Darkrai builds →Dark Pulse16-18% Ice Beam35-41% Sludge Bomb35-41% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Alomomola builds →Flip Turn15-17% Scald10-12% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityToxicdebris ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Glimmora builds →Power Gem30-36% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Blissey builds →
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B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off25-30% Stone Edge77-91% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Clodsire builds →Earthquake12-14% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves View Heatran builds →
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B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPurifyingsalt ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Garganacl builds →
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Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves View Rotom-Wash builds →
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Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureSassy Moves View Slowking-Galar builds →
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Recommended Build AbilitySharpness ItemAssault Vest NatureJolly Moves View Samurott-Hisui builds →
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Recommended Build AbilityMagician ItemAssault Vest NatureQuiet Moves View Hoopa-Unbound builds →
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Evolution
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 take an average time to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Heracross easily with 91 breeding partners from the Bug egg group.
Shiny Heracross
Heracross in hot pink is one of those "love it or hate it" shinies where the love side wins overwhelmingly. Magenta on a beetle with a massive horn reads as both ridiculous and cool at the same time. It's the kind of absurd color choice that loops back into being great.
Shiny Heracross Evolution
Does Not EvolveShiny Heracross Odds & Hunting Methods
19 of 19 VerifiedHow do we research these odds?
We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.
Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.
Read our full methodologyHeracross Locations
A solid number of locations for Heracross with moderate rates across early-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Scarlet & Violet
Heracross shows up in 10 walking spots from Lv. 8-65. Plenty of options, and the list is sorted so the highest-rate locations at each progression stage come first.
Heracross, the single-horned Bug and Fighting beetle, charges through several of Lumiose's Wild Zones, turning up on the overworld from level 36 as high as level 64.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Legends: Z-A
You can find Heracross through 6 walking encounters at Lv. 36-64. The list is sorted by game progression, so the earliest accessible spots show up first.
Decent spawn rates for Heracross across 4 locations in early-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
4 walking and special spots from Lv. 6-55 for Heracross. Sorted by game progression with rates on each row, so you can compare without scrolling through everything.
Heracross tops out at moderate rates across 21 locations in early-game areas. The encounters below are sorted by rate so you can see exactly what you're working with.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Catching Heracross takes patience. The 18 headbutt encounters at Lv. 5-15 all have low spawn rates, so pick one location and stay put for the best odds.
Base Stats
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.
Heracross Event Distributions
Heracross has been distributed through a modest set of Mystery Gift events.
A super-tough Heracross!Aug 2014XYOmega RubyAlpha SapphireNot shiny
WCS2014 Commemoration! Heracross Gift!Jul 2014XYOmega RubyAlpha SapphireNot shiny
Heracross Guide
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.
Heracross plays as a wallbreaker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Megahorn is the primary attack.
Heracross's hidden ability is Moxie. It raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon. Situational compared to Swarm and Guts.
Jolly is the go-to nature for Heracross. That's +Speed / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Heracross has appeared in 19 titles over 8 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Heracross.
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