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.
It loves sweet honey. To keep all the honey to itself, it hurls rivals away with its prized 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)
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodOreburgh City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Aerodactyl builds →Fire Blast 2x44-52% Fire Fang 2x44-52% Wing Attack 4x122-144%KO | ||
 Lunatone RockPsychic | C | |
 Doduo Normal | D | |
 Starly Normal | D | |
 Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 4x104-124%KO Pluck 4x104-124%KO | ||
 Beautifly Bug | D | |
Doduo Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Doduo builds →Pluck 4x112-132%KO Peck 4x66-79% | ||
 Hoothoot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Hoothoot builds →Pluck 4x59-71% Peck 4x37-44% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x161-191%KO Pluck 4x72-85% Confusion 2x26-31% Peck 4x47-56% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 4x95-113%KO Pluck 4x95-113%KO | ||
Beautifly Bug | D | |
 Staravia Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Staravia builds →Wing Attack 4x95-113%KO Pluck 4x95-113%KO | ||
 Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x126-148%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x163-192%KO Fly 4x105-124%KO Psychic 2x43-52% Pluck 4x73-87% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x146-173%KO Wing Attack 4x99-118%KO Air Cutter 4x73-87% Pluck 4x99-118%KO | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Obtain MethodValley Windworks Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Drifloon builds →Psychic 2x33-39% Gust 4x46-56% | ||
Staravia Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Staravia builds →Fly 4x141-167%KO Wing Attack 4x94-111%KO Aerial Ace 4x94-111%KO Pluck 4x94-111%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x126-148%KO Aerial Ace 4x126-148%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x163-192%KO Dream Eater 2x46-56% Fly 4x105-124%KO Psychic 2x43-52% | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x146-173%KO Wing Attack 4x99-118%KO Air Cutter 4x73-87% Aerial Ace 4x99-118%KO | ||
 Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Fly 4x126-148%KO Chatter 4x99-118%KO Aerial Ace 4x89-105%KO Pluck 4x89-105%KO | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x120-141%KO Aerial Ace 4x120-141%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x153-180%KO Dream Eater 2x46-54% Fly 4x99-117%KO Psychic 2x41-49% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x141-166%KO Wing Attack 4x95-112%KO Air Cutter 4x70-83% Aerial Ace 4x95-112%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Fly 4x120-141%KO Chatter 4x95-112%KO Aerial Ace 4x83-98% Pluck 4x83-98% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x120-141%KO Aerial Ace 4x120-141%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x150-177%KO Dream Eater 2x45-53% Fly 4x100-118%KO Psychic 2x41-48% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x139-164%KO Wing Attack 4x92-109%KO Air Cutter 4x69-82% Aerial Ace 4x92-109%KO | ||
Chatot Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Chatot builds →Fly 4x116-136%KO Chatter 4x92-109%KO Aerial Ace 4x81-95% Pluck 4x81-95% | ||
Scyther Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Scyther builds →Wing Attack 4x125-147%KO Aerial Ace 4x125-147%KO | ||
Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x154-182%KO Dream Eater 2x46-54% Fly 4x102-120%KO Psychic 2x41-49% | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodIron Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Pelipper builds →Fly 4x102-120%KO Wing Attack 4x69-81% Pluck 4x69-81% Aerial Ace 4x69-81% | ||
Gligar Ground | C | |
Golbat Poison | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Fly 4x141-166%KO Wing Attack 4x95-112%KO Air Cutter 4x69-81% Aerial Ace 4x95-112%KO | ||
In Platinum, 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% | ||
Platinum 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.
Platinum 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
Platinum Heracross Locations
moderate rates is the best you'll get on Heracross in early-game areas. Use the sort toggle below. Best shows where the odds peak, Earliest shows where you can access it soonest in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Platinum
Heracross isn't a quick catch. 21 headbutt encounters from Lv. 5-15 with slim rates across the board. Commit to one spot instead of jumping between areas.
Heracross Guide
For Platinum, we rate Heracross B-Tier: a solid option in Platinum 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 Platinum, 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