[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat / Eruption
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Dragon Pulse
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Earth Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Modest / Quiet
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With Choice Specs, Heatran becomes the hardest-hitting special attacker in OU, devastating almost everything that doesn't resist Fire. Overheat outright OHKOes bulky Pokemon like Zapdos, Gliscor, and Machamp while even 2HKOing resistant Pokemon such as Starmie, as well as Gyarados and Dragonite after Stealth Rock. However, Eruption powers Heatran up even more, as at full health, it can even 2HKO defensive Latias and Blissey after Stealth Rock. Further, it not causing Special Attack drops means it can 2HKO Pokemon such as Clefable and defensive Suicune. The main issue with Eruption, besides its power being based on HP, is that it forces Heatran to use a Quiet nature, only outspeeding up to neutral-nature Swampert, Tyranitar, and Empoleon. As both Overheat and Eruption have drawbacks, Flamethrower is recommended alongside them to have a reliable attack for foes Heatran easily OHKOes, such as Celebi, Jirachi, and Metagross.
Dragon Pulse is fantastic for Dragon-types, as it almost always OHKOes Dragonite, Flygon, Kingdra, and offensive Latias after Stealth Rock. With the Fire-type move of choice, it has good neutral coverage on the whole tier besides opposing Heatran. Hidden Power Grass unquestionably OHKOes Swampert, as well as Starmie after Stealth Rock, and 2HKOes Milotic and Suicune. Earth Power instead can give Heatran perfect coverage, OHKOing even Shuca Berry Heatran after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing Tyranitar. Note that Overheat and Eruption outdamage Heatran's coverage moves unless the foe resists them and the coverage move is super effective.
Set Details
========
Overheat Heatran can run a Speed-boosting nature to outspeed more Pokemon, but it will miss out on OHKOing defensive Starmie after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing Milotic and defensive Suicune, so Modest is standard. Eruption is only legal with Quiet. Even with a Quiet nature, Heatran should run maximum Speed EVs to outspeed as much as it can. However, as the closest relevant benchmark is maximum Speed Tyranitar, Modest Heatran can invest 216 Speed EVs to outspeed positive-nature Tyranitar, and 228 Speed EVs with a Quiet nature can outspeed neutral-nature Tyranitar. The remaining EVs can be put into HP to be as bulky as possible, but this is generally not recommended.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Heatran typically comes into the game early or leads and uses Overheat or Eruption. Heatran should only deviate from this if the foe is hit harder by a coverage move or easily KOed with Flamethrower. Especially early-game, when not much has been revealed, Heatran can weaken prominent checks such as Latias and Suicune with Overheat and Eruption. With Overheat, Heatran generally should not try to finish off the foe at -2, as it is much easier to switch into Heatran with a Special Attack drop. Eruption doesn't have this problem, although Heatran should only use Eruption if it faster than the foe or forces the foe out, as its power drops rapidly as Heatran is damaged. Although Heatran can get a lot out of predicting switches, it generally should only do this against more defensive teams; there are few common pivots that avoid the 2HKO from Overheat or Eruption on offensive teams, only opposing Heatran and bulky Tyranitar, meaning whatever switches in will likely take huge damage, regardless of prediction. Against more defensive teams that can afford defensive Latias, predicting when it comes in and nailing it with Dragon Pulse can open up the team to Heatran's attacks.
Team Options
========
Choice Specs Heatran enjoys teammates spreading paralysis, especially if running Eruption, so it can outspeed foes and hit them with powerful attacks. It's an excellent early-game wallbreaker for teams that spread paralysis, meaning Starmie, Blissey, and defensive Zapdos are excellent partners. Starmie can spin away entry hazards, keeping Heatran's health high so it can use Eruption or its other strong attacks for longer. Blissey can switch into many attackers that aren't OHKOed by Overheat or Eruption, such as Starmie, offensive Suicune, and offensive Latias, and set up Stealth Rock or spread paralysis. Zapdos similarly can switch into all attacks Heatran is weak to, and it can threaten or wall their users. It additionally appreciates Starmie's Rapid Spin, given its Stealth Rock weakness. As Heatran is primarily an attacker, it cannot use its Steel typing to switch into powerful Dragon-type moves. For this reason, Jirachi and Choice Scarf Metagross are great teammates, as they can revenge kill or wall Dragonite, Choice Scarf Flygon, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Dragon Dance Tyranitar—further, each threat can survive one hit from Heatran and potentially set up. Other Pokemon that can help cover for Heatran defensively include Celebi, Clefable, Bronzong, and Gliscor, and the former two can provide paralysis for it. Breloom is also a great partner, as it takes advantage of all of the bulky Water-types and Blissey trying to survive Heatran's attacks, and it appreciates Heatran potentially incapacitating Latias.
Heatran also can fit alongside more offensive teammates that can lure in and KO the few Pokemon that repeatedly survive its attacks, such as Tyranitar, Latias, and Suicune. Dragon Dance Gyarados with Outrage is excellent, as it lures in and KOes defensive Latias and can switch in on all of Heatran's type weaknesses. As these offensive teams typically do not have much defensive backbone, Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Latias and Rotom-A are excellent teammates, revenge killing the many Pokemon that can set up on Heatran locked into Overheat or a coverage move. Similarly, offensive Swords Dance Scizor has a Bullet Punch strong enough to prevent Tyranitar and Dragonite from taking advantage of Heatran, and it can potentially trap defensive Latias with Pursuit. Also, Scizor and offensive Empoleon can switch into powerful Dragon-type attacks Heatran cannot take. Once defensive Latias is down, Heatran can often open up defensive teams, as they simply have no other common Overheat or Eruption switch-ins. Choice Specs Latias and offensive Suicune can take advantage of Heatran heavily weakening Clefable switching in, and both offer defensive utility.
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Overheat / Eruption
move 2: Flamethrower
move 3: Dragon Pulse
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Earth Power
item: Choice Specs
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Modest / Quiet
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With Choice Specs, Heatran becomes the hardest-hitting special attacker in OU, devastating almost everything that doesn't resist Fire. Overheat outright OHKOes bulky Pokemon like Zapdos, Gliscor, and Machamp while even 2HKOing resistant Pokemon such as Starmie, as well as Gyarados and Dragonite after Stealth Rock. However, Eruption powers Heatran up even more, as at full health, it can even 2HKO defensive Latias and Blissey after Stealth Rock. Further, it not causing Special Attack drops means it can 2HKO Pokemon such as Clefable and defensive Suicune. The main issue with Eruption, besides its power being based on HP, is that it forces Heatran to use a Quiet nature, only outspeeding up to neutral-nature Swampert, Tyranitar, and Empoleon. As both Overheat and Eruption have drawbacks, Flamethrower is recommended alongside them to have a reliable attack for foes Heatran easily OHKOes, such as Celebi, Jirachi, and Metagross.
Dragon Pulse is fantastic for Dragon-types, as it almost always OHKOes Dragonite, Flygon, Kingdra, and offensive Latias after Stealth Rock. With the Fire-type move of choice, it has good neutral coverage on the whole tier besides opposing Heatran. Hidden Power Grass unquestionably OHKOes Swampert, as well as Starmie after Stealth Rock, and 2HKOes Milotic and Suicune. Earth Power instead can give Heatran perfect coverage, OHKOing even Shuca Berry Heatran after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing Tyranitar. Note that Overheat and Eruption outdamage Heatran's coverage moves unless the foe resists them and the coverage move is super effective.
Set Details
========
Overheat Heatran can run a Speed-boosting nature to outspeed more Pokemon, but it will miss out on OHKOing defensive Starmie after Stealth Rock and 2HKOing Milotic and defensive Suicune, so Modest is standard. Eruption is only legal with Quiet. Even with a Quiet nature, Heatran should run maximum Speed EVs to outspeed as much as it can. However, as the closest relevant benchmark is maximum Speed Tyranitar, Modest Heatran can invest 216 Speed EVs to outspeed positive-nature Tyranitar, and 228 Speed EVs with a Quiet nature can outspeed neutral-nature Tyranitar. The remaining EVs can be put into HP to be as bulky as possible, but this is generally not recommended.
Usage Tips
========
Choice Specs Heatran typically comes into the game early or leads and uses Overheat or Eruption. Heatran should only deviate from this if the foe is hit harder by a coverage move or easily KOed with Flamethrower. Especially early-game, when not much has been revealed, Heatran can weaken prominent checks such as Latias and Suicune with Overheat and Eruption. With Overheat, Heatran generally should not try to finish off the foe at -2, as it is much easier to switch into Heatran with a Special Attack drop. Eruption doesn't have this problem, although Heatran should only use Eruption if it faster than the foe or forces the foe out, as its power drops rapidly as Heatran is damaged. Although Heatran can get a lot out of predicting switches, it generally should only do this against more defensive teams; there are few common pivots that avoid the 2HKO from Overheat or Eruption on offensive teams, only opposing Heatran and bulky Tyranitar, meaning whatever switches in will likely take huge damage, regardless of prediction. Against more defensive teams that can afford defensive Latias, predicting when it comes in and nailing it with Dragon Pulse can open up the team to Heatran's attacks.
Team Options
========
Choice Specs Heatran enjoys teammates spreading paralysis, especially if running Eruption, so it can outspeed foes and hit them with powerful attacks. It's an excellent early-game wallbreaker for teams that spread paralysis, meaning Starmie, Blissey, and defensive Zapdos are excellent partners. Starmie can spin away entry hazards, keeping Heatran's health high so it can use Eruption or its other strong attacks for longer. Blissey can switch into many attackers that aren't OHKOed by Overheat or Eruption, such as Starmie, offensive Suicune, and offensive Latias, and set up Stealth Rock or spread paralysis. Zapdos similarly can switch into all attacks Heatran is weak to, and it can threaten or wall their users. It additionally appreciates Starmie's Rapid Spin, given its Stealth Rock weakness. As Heatran is primarily an attacker, it cannot use its Steel typing to switch into powerful Dragon-type moves. For this reason, Jirachi and Choice Scarf Metagross are great teammates, as they can revenge kill or wall Dragonite, Choice Scarf Flygon, Dragon Dance Gyarados, and Dragon Dance Tyranitar—further, each threat can survive one hit from Heatran and potentially set up. Other Pokemon that can help cover for Heatran defensively include Celebi, Clefable, Bronzong, and Gliscor, and the former two can provide paralysis for it. Breloom is also a great partner, as it takes advantage of all of the bulky Water-types and Blissey trying to survive Heatran's attacks, and it appreciates Heatran potentially incapacitating Latias.
Heatran also can fit alongside more offensive teammates that can lure in and KO the few Pokemon that repeatedly survive its attacks, such as Tyranitar, Latias, and Suicune. Dragon Dance Gyarados with Outrage is excellent, as it lures in and KOes defensive Latias and can switch in on all of Heatran's type weaknesses. As these offensive teams typically do not have much defensive backbone, Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Latias and Rotom-A are excellent teammates, revenge killing the many Pokemon that can set up on Heatran locked into Overheat or a coverage move. Similarly, offensive Swords Dance Scizor has a Bullet Punch strong enough to prevent Tyranitar and Dragonite from taking advantage of Heatran, and it can potentially trap defensive Latias with Pursuit. Also, Scizor and offensive Empoleon can switch into powerful Dragon-type attacks Heatran cannot take. Once defensive Latias is down, Heatran can often open up defensive teams, as they simply have no other common Overheat or Eruption switch-ins. Choice Specs Latias and offensive Suicune can take advantage of Heatran heavily weakening Clefable switching in, and both offer defensive utility.
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