Physical
Wallbreaker
500High
85Moderate
BTier

Flying is a dangerous matchup for Heracross — quadruple damage means one hit can end things. Known as the Single Horn Pokemon. Built to hit on the physical side.

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.

Base Stats
500High
HP80
C
Attack125
A
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def95
B
Speed85
C
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Heracross yields +2 Atk
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Slow1.25M XP•1.5m / 4'11"•54kg / 119 lbs•175Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It loves sweet nectar. To keep all the nectar to itself, it hurls rivals away with its prized horn.

Scarlet

With its herculean powers, it can easily throw around an object that is 100 times its own weight.

Violet

Heracross Weakness

Vulnerable

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.

4xCriticali
Flying
2xWeaki
FirePsychicFairy
½xResisti
GrassFightingGroundBugDark
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (7)i
GrassPsychicDarkNormalIceRockSteel
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-5
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
4x Flying — Brave Bird, Hurricane, Air Slash
Abilities
SwarmStrengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
GutsIncreases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment.
MoxieHARaises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.

What you see is what you get. Heracross sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and no compatible partners from one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Heracross
#214HeracrossDoes not evolve
Breeding
Easy

Breed Heracross easily from the Bug egg group.

Egg Groups
Bug
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
25 cycles·6,425 steps
Moderate~6 min with Flame Body

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

Physical Sweeper
Ability
Guts
Item
Flame Orb
Nature
Jolly+SPE
EVs

Best Heracross Moveset

  • Close CombatSTAB
  • TrailblazeCoverage
  • Knock Off
  • FacadeCoverage

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.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
—10030Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 5
Endure+4
——10Normal
Lv 10
Pin Missile
259520Bug
Lv 13
Detect+4
——5Fighting
Lv 15
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
Lv 20
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 24
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
Lv 28
Rock Blast
259010Rock
Lv 30
Bug Buzz
9010010Bug
Lv 32
Lunge
8010015Bug
Lv 38
Swords Dance
——20Normal
Lv 45
Megahorn
1208510Bug
Lv 50
Close Combat
1201005Fighting

TM Moves

Src
TM22
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
TM33
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM10
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM11
Bulk Up
——20Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM40
Bullet Seed
2510030Grass
TM129
Circle Throw-6
609010Fighting
TM107
Close Combat
1201005Fighting
TM91
Curse
——10Ghost
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM69
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM35
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM109
Facade
7010020Normal
TM122
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM102
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM55
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM01
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM44
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM80
Iron Defense
——15Steel
TM45
Knock Off
6510020Dark
TM46
Mud Shot
559515Ground
TM34
Night Slash
7010015Dark
TM93
Outrage
12010010Dragon
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM12
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM04
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM36
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM61
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM117
Silver Wind
601005Bug
TM146
Skull Bash
13010010Normal
TM88
Spikes
——20Ground
TM65
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM85
Substitute
——10Normal
TM30
Swords Dance
——20Normal
TM115
Trailblaze
5010020Grass
TM150
Vacuum Wave+1
4010030Fighting
TM103
Work Up
——30Normal

Egg Moves

Heracross doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Heracross can't learn any Tutor moves

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.

Heracross is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

GoldCrystalRubyEmeraldFireRedDiamond

  • 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's biggest threats include Dodrio (Flying), Charizard (Fire), and Espeon (Psychic), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Dodrio is the most dangerous since Flying moves deal 4x damage. Fairy-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Heracross doesn't evolve and has no evolutionary line. It's a Bug/Fighting-type Pokemon with strong stats at 500 BST — no evolution needed.

  • 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.

  • Heracross appears in 19 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Heracross has appeared in 19 titles over 8 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.