Stats & Training
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.
This powerful Pokémon thrusts its prized horn under its enemies’ bellies, then lifts and throws them.
It is usually docile, but if it is disturbed while sipping honey, it chases off the intruder with its horn.
Heracross Weakness
Type-wise, Heracross takes extra damage from Flying, Fire, and Psychic. Watch out for Flying attacks, those deal 4x damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 80 HP and balanced defenses, Heracross can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Flying |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x130-154%KO | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Chatter 4x105-124%KO Peck 4x55-66% | ||
 Beautifly Bug | D | |
 Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 4x111-132%KO Air Cutter 4x68-80% Peck 4x68-80% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x122-144%KO Aerial Ace 4x122-144%KO | ||
 Yanma Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x142-168%KO Wing Attack 4x96-114%KO Air Cutter 4x71-84% Aerial Ace 4x96-114%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Fly 4x122-144%KO Chatter 4x96-114%KO Pluck 4x81-96% Aerial Ace 4x81-96% | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 4x86-102%KO Gust 4x66-78% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x123-146%KO Aerial Ace 4x123-146%KO | ||
Yanma Bug | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x147-173%KO Wing Attack 4x101-119%KO Air Cutter 4x73-86% Aerial Ace 4x101-119%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Fly 4x123-146%KO Chatter 4x101-119%KO Pluck 4x86-103%KO Aerial Ace 4x86-103%KO | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 4x92-108%KO Gust 4x68-81% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x122-144%KO Aerial Ace 4x122-144%KO | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x156-183%KO Fly 4x104-122%KO Air Slash 4x104-122%KO Aerial Ace 4x70-83% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x142-167%KO Wing Attack 4x94-111%KO Air Cutter 4x70-83% Aerial Ace 4x94-111%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Fly 4x122-144%KO Chatter 4x99-117%KO Pluck 4x84-100%KO Aerial Ace 4x84-100%KO | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Beautifly builds →Aerial Ace 4x89-106%KO Gust 4x66-78% | ||
 Skarmory Steel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Skarmory builds →Fly 4x145-171%KO Air Slash 4x64-76% Air Cutter 4x52-62% Aerial Ace 4x97-114%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x125-148%KO Aerial Ace 4x125-148%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x157-186%KO Fly 4x101-119%KO Zen Headbutt 2x31-37% Air Slash 4x105-124%KO | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x145-171%KO Wing Attack 4x97-114%KO Air Cutter 4x72-86% Aerial Ace 4x97-114%KO | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Tyranitar's Stone Edge hits Heracross for 70-83%.
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLum Berry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Tyranitar builds →Crunch28-33% Pursuit14-17% Stone Edge70-83% Earthquake23-28% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Clefable builds →Knock Off7-9% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemFocus Sash NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Empoleon builds →Ice Beam34-40% Hydro Pump61-72% Aqua Jet15-17% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt51-60% Explosion51-60% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
What you see is what you get. Heracross sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and a decent partner pool from one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Heracross easily with 48 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bide, Double-Edge, False Swipe and 4 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Heracross Best Moveset
the remaining moves gives Heracross answers even while choice-locked. Choice Scarf provides speed patching through item lock, and max Attack and Speed EVs with Guts mean every prediction that lands hits hard.
Best Build
Heracross best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Sleep Talk
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Bide and Double-Edge give Heracross options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Dark coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Close Combat. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Heracross Locations
Heracross is available from early-game areas onward at high spawn rates. 29 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Heracross's encounter pool splits between SoulSilver and HeartGold. You've got 29 headbutt spots at Lv. 2-48 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
Heracross Guide
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, we rate Heracross B-Tier: a solid option in HeartGold & SoulSilver for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Close Combat with Choice Scarf is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in HeartGold & SoulSilver, but Heracross does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Heracross hits 600 BST.
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.
Game Availability
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