[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Heracross has an amazing Mega Evolution that makes him an equally amazing wallbreaker.</li>
<li>Gigantic base 185 Attack when Mega-Evolved.</li>
<li>Swords Dance to boost Attack even higher.</li>
<li>Makes great use of Skill Link with a buff to Pin Missle, Bullet Seed, and Rock Blast.</li>
<li>Great abilities all around. Moxie and Guts are amazing, and Skill Link helps out later on, so Heracross can afford to pick its moment when choosing when to Mega Evolve.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Sadly not very fast in either form-its Speed even goes down to 75 when Mega Evolved.</li>
<li>Its typing is not that amazing defensively, and also have a lot of downfalls offensively.</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>name: Offensive<br />
move 1: Close Combat<br />
move 2: Pin Missile<br />
move 3: Rock Blast<br />
move 4: Swords Dance / Earthquake / Sleep Talk</p>
ability: Guts / Moxie<br />
item: Heracronite<br />
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe<br />
nature: Jolly / Adamant</p>
<p>Heracross has had its share of difficulties in recent generations, not least due to its lower speed, shallower movepool, and wider array of weaknesses than other Fighting-Types. However, Heracross was given a lifeline in late BW through the ability Moxie, which complemented its strong moves and allowed Heracross to tear apart weakened teams, parituclary in UU. But this generation, Heracross got the biggest buff it has ever received, in the form of a Mega Evolution. This partnered with its additional new ability, Skill Link, allows Heracross to be better than ever offensively. It has everything it needs to succeed and become a successful bulky sweeper in the OU metagame. Heracross can now leave the days of using very inaccurate moves like Megahorn and Stone Edge behind and instead opt for using much stronger and more accurate options, thanks to Skill Link. While Close Combat has stayed a staple, everything else has had a huge overhaul. Pin Missile is stronger and more accurate than Megahorn, and is amazingly powerful with STAB and its 125 base power. Rock Blast is an additional coverage move which helps against otherwise complete counters to this set like Togekiss, Gengar, and Dragonite. The final moveslot has multiple options. Swords Dance turns Heracross into a powerful, bulky setup sweeper, which can demolish defensive teams completely, while Sleep Talk gives it a way to abuse Guts should you choose that ability over Moxie and not have Mega Evolved yet, or act as a great counter to Breloom, and in general making it a great choice for switching into sleep-inducing moves. Earthquake is also a very worthwhile option, giving it a way to actually defeat Aegislash, an otherwise full stop to Heracross. The initial choice between Moxie and Guts on Heracross can be a very important one. Heracross still has a good amount of strength before it evolves into its Mega Evolution, which can give it the opportunity to get an early KO for an Attack boost, or if it needs to take status with Guts, which basically gets rid of the need to Mega Evolve.<p>
<p>If not using Earthquake, Heracross gets walled completely by Aegislash. Pokemon like Hippowdon and bulky Rotom-W can defeat Aegislash, and provide both hazards or momentum for Heracross. Rotom-W lures in bulky Grass-Types and gives Heracross an easy way to come in with Volt Switch, while Hippowdon sets up Stealth Rock. Stealth Rock is very important so that Heracross's common checks are worn down such as Dragonite, Bulkier Pokemon like Garchomp and Zygarde can also take a boosted Shadow Sneak and return the favor with a STAB Earthquake.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Heracross is strong enough to break through a majority of the defensive switch-ins that it will face, often being able to hit them hard enough to keep them on their toes. However, Heracross however is stopped cold by Toxic Orb Gliscor, whom it can't hurt at all unless it manages to hit Gliscor with a boosted Rock Blast. If Heracross does not run Earthquake in the final slot, then it can be beaten by Aegislash very handily, who doesn't care what you throw at it otherwise. Overall, Heracross is most likely going to be revenge killed or picked off by faster threats that carry super effective moves, which are unfortunately not uncommon, given its number of weaknesses. Good examples of this are Talonflame, Dragonite, Charizard, Volcarona, Infernape, and Alakazam. Heracross also can be crippled by status if it lacks Guts, especially Will-O-Wisp, which means that it loses the majority of its raw hitting power.</p>
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