HEATran… (QC 0/2)

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[OVERVIEW]
Heatran sets itself apart in BDSP OU with its impressive bulk and unique defensive typing, which lets it check Pokemon such as Scizor, Weavile, Latios, Togekiss, and Clefable. Its ability, Flame Body, is absolutely fantastic for punishing Scizor's typically low-risk U-turns with a burn, and it can help against other physical attackers like Choice Band Weavile in a pinch. Its ability to threaten hazard removal options like Defog Scizor, makes it an effective Stealth Rock user for teams. Heatran is no slouch offensively either, Magma Storm from its massive base 130 Special Attack is a force to be reckoned with, even without investment, and can wear down even Fire-resistant Pokemon like Rotom-Wash and Garchomp, or even trap and totally remove specially bulky Pokemon like Blissey from the battle under the right circumstances. Heatran does have its drawbacks though, the most obvious being is its weakness to Ground-type attacks, which are quite common. Furthermore, its lack of consistent recovery make it a short term stopgap at best to the aforementioned thteats. Despite these factors, Heatran's fantastic defensive presence and utility that doesn't come at the cost of passivity makes it a great choice for many teams.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Payback / Roar
move 3: Protect / Taunt
move 4: Stealth Rock / Will-O-Wisp
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 172 SpD / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Specially Defensive Heatran is a reliable Stealth Rock setter for teams and an effective check to the likes of Latios, Shaymin, and Scizor. Magma Storm lets Heatran threaten to trap Pokemon that struggle to take it down, such as Clefable, Blissey, and Calm Mind Latios, and quickly wears down its switchins. Payback specifically targets Calm Mind Latios and Latias, letting Heatran act as an effective answer to an otherwise terrifying setup sweeper, while also deterring Starmie from switching in safely. Roar has more widespread utility than Payback and can still be used to phaze Latios, but its inability to prevent Latios from setting up lategame as its team's last Pokemon should be accounted for. Protect allows Heatran to gain valuable Leftovers recovery, scout Choice-locked moves, and apply extra Magma Storm damage to the opponent without risk. Taunt lets Heatran break through Blissey and Calm Mind Clefable, making it very difficult for certain defensive teams to handle. Will-O-Wisp provides even more residual damage and can pressure physical attackers that may attempt to take advantage of Heatran, such as Garchomp, Feraligatr, and Azumarill, as well as potentially ruining Gliscor that attempt to switch in without their Toxic Orb already being activated. The given spread lets Heatran outspeed Adamant Crawdaunt while maximising its special bulk.

Specially Defensive Heatran fits nicely on more balanced teams, where it can provide defensive utility without totally sacrificing offensive presence. It appreciates teammates that can cover its major defensive shortcomings, namely meaning its weaknesses to Ground, Water, and Fighting moves. Grass-type Pokemon can naturally take on Ground- and Water-type Pokemon, making them quite well-suited as Heatran teammates. Shaymin's ability to check threats such as Starmie, Crawdaunt, Breloom, and Gastrodon make it a stand-out choice as a Heatran partner. In return, Heatran can threaten the likes of Scizor and Skarmory effectively, and take any Bug, Ice, or Flying-type attacks from the likes of Weavile, Scizor, and Togekiss aimed at Shaymin comfortably. Rotom-Wash is another fantastic teammate, as it can check Water and Ground-type Pokemon such as Feraligatr and Gliscor, while Heatran handles the Grass-type Pokemon that it lures in and pivots against with Volt Switch. Fighting-resistant Pokemon like Slowbro, Gliscor, Latias, and Latios patch up another of Heatran's main weaknesses, dealing with the Fighting-type attacks from Pokemon like Breloom and Infernape Unaware Clefable can be a useful teammate on slower-paced teams, as it helps with handling Swords Dance Garchomp and other Pokemon, such as Feraligatr and Dragonite, that may use Heatran as setup fodder.

[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Magma Storm / Lava Plume
move 2: Protect / Earth Power
move 3: Will-O-Wisp
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt
item: Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Physically Defensive Heatran is a great Stealth Rock user and a solid check to a few prominent of Pokemon in the tier such as Weavile and Scizor, as well as punishing physical Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Dragonite from locking into their Dragon-type STAB move via Flame Body burns. Magma Storm lets Heatran trap and wear down Pokemon like Latios and Rotom-W that switch into it, while Lava Plume provides a more consistent option that can also cripple Garchomp and Feraligatr with a burn, which would otherwise be able to switch into it relatively safely. Protect allows Heatran to rack up Leftovers recovery, while also scouting moves from choice item users such as Breloom, Garchomp, and Latios. Earth Power lets Heatran threaten out opposing Heatran consistently, as well as deter the likes of Nidoking and Infernape from switching into it. Will-O-Wisp lets Heatran consistently punish the likes of Garchomp, Feraligatr, and Azumarill that switch into it. Taunt lets Heatran prevent Blissey and Clefable from switching into it and using it as setup fodder, as well as prevent it from being setup fodder from the likes of Belly Drum Azumarill and Swords Dance Crawdaunt. The given spread allows Heatran to outspeed Adamant Crawdaunt while maximising its physical bulk.

Physically Defensive Heatran fits best on bulky offense and balance teams where its solid offensive pressure and unique defensive capabilities are greatly appreciated. As it is a Steel-type that isnt a consistent check to Latios, other switch ins such as Blissey and Slowking that can pivot into Latios work well alongside it. Water-type resists such as the aforementioned Slowking, Tangrowth, and Rotom-W are also solid partners as they switch into Water-type moves from the likes of Azumarill, Crawdaunt, and opposing Rotom-W. Fighting-type resists such as Latias, Gliscor, and Togekiss can deal with the Fighting-type moves directed at Heatran from the likes of Breloom and Infernape, while appreciating Heatran switching into the Ice- and Steel-type moves from Weavile and Scizor. Offensive threats such as the previously mentioned Weavile and Crawdaunt greatly appreciate Heatran consistently setting Stealth Rock for them, and in return they threaten out Gliscor whilst wearing down Water-types for it.

[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Earth Power / Payback
move 3: Solar Beam / Taunt
move 4: Stealth Rock / Taunt
item: Power Herb / Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Offensive Heatran trades in most of its defensive capabilities in order to become a solid breaker, punching holes in teams lacking a consistent check such as Gliscor, and even luring removing would-be checks such as Rotom-W and Gastrodon with Solar Beam while still functioning as an amazing Stealth Rock user. Magma Storm quickly wears down switch-ins such as Rotom-W, Garchomp, and Tyranitar. Earth Power deals with opposing Heatran, as well as provides an accurate move to wear down Fire-type resists like the aforementioned Garchomp and Tyranitar. Payback lets Heatran still function as a soft check to Calm Mind variants of Latios and Latias, while punishing Starmie as it switches in. Solar Beam lures Water- and Ground-types like Gastrodon, Starmie, and Rotom-W, while preventing it from being setup fodder for Azumarill and Feraligatr. Taunt lets it cripple Pokemon such as Clefable and Blissey, preventing them from recovering the damage dealt. A Timid nature is preferred to outspeed threats such as Feraligatr and Mamoswine, although a Modest nature can also be used if wearing down the likes of Rotom-W and Garchomp is more preferred.

Offensive Heatran fits best on offense and bulky offense teams which appreciate its ability to wear down its checks very quickly, and lure and eliminate would-be checks, as well as its solid defensive capabilities. Weavile and Crawdaunt are great partners as they appreciate Heatran luring in and KOing Rotom-W with Solar Beam, freeing them to click their STAB move more often, while pressuring Gliscor in return. Slowking and Rotom-W are also great partners as they deal with Latios, Weavile, and Scizor, which can easily overwhelm offensive Heatran, while also switching into the Water-types which force Heatran out.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

Charcoal is an option alongside Overheat which gives Heatran a one-time nuke move that is capable of eliminating its biggest check in Gliscor, while also denting other checks.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Ground-type Pokemon**: Gliscor can outspeed Heatran and threaten it with Earthquake while cancelling out Magma Storm's residual damage with Poison Heal, and Roost off any damage dealt. Garchomp is less resilient to residual damage due to its lack of reliable recovery, but it takes very little damage from Magma Storm and threatens to outspeed and OHKO Heatran; however, it must be wary of Will-O-Wisp, and offensive sets can wear it down relatively quickly. Gastrodon and Quagsire are more specific than the above Pokemon, but versus Heatran lacking Solar Beam they can stomach Magma Storms and threaten Heatran with Earth Power and Earthquake, respectively. Other Ground-types such as Nidoking and Mamoswine are unable to switch into Heatran, although they can force it out.

**Water-type Pokemon**: Milotic outspeeds standard defensive Heatran, allowing it to reliably stay healthy versus even Taunt sets and break Heatran down with Scald while taking negligible damage from Magma Storm. Slowking is more vulnerable to Taunt, but its bulk means it can still reliably switch into Heatran. Rotom-Wash's lack of a recovery option make it easily worn down by Heatran in the long term. but it can act as a short-term safety measure thanks to its natural bulk and resistance to Magma Storm, while threatening Heatran out with Hydro Pump. Offensive Water-type Pokemon, such as Starmie, Azumarill, and Feraligatr, can switch in against Heatran comfortably at least once and threaten it, but Starmie must be wary of Payback and the latter two must watch out for Will-O-Wisp. All of these Pokemon dislike taking a Solar Beam, however.

**Blissey**: Blissey stonewalls any Heatran lacking Taunt one-on-one, and heal off any damage dealt. However, Heatran variants with Taunt can potentially beat it if Blissey switches into it, although it will still be extremely worn down.

**Dragon-types**: Salamence and Dragonite can both easily shrug off defensive Heatran's attacks and threaten in return with Earthquake. This isn't ideal for Dragonite, however, as it all but guarantees its Multiscale will end up broken. Latios and Latias can also switch into and force out Heatran with Surf or Earthquake, although both are unable to deal with Heatran carrying Payback.

[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Eve, 375272], [adem, 529732]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
 
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