For Crystal, we rate Heracross A-Tier: a strong pick in Crystal's competitive scene. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Megahorn with Leftovers is the standard set.

Does Heracross mega evolve?

Mega Evolution isn't available in Crystal, but Heracross does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Heracross hits 600 BST.

What is Heracross weak to?

In Crystal, 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.

What role does Heracross play in battle?

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.

What counters Heracross?

In Crystal, the best way to handle Heracross: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Special attackers bypass its physical bulk.

Heracross - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Wallbreaker

ATier

85Speed · Above Avg

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 stat exp.

Base Stats

High

HP80

Attack125

Defense75

Sp. Atk40

Sp. Def95

Speed85

Total500

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.5 m

Weight54.0 kg

Base XP175

Abilities

Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.

Swarm

Strengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.

Guts

Increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment.

MoxieHA

Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.

EV Yield

HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

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

Crystal

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.

Heracross Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Flying
2x (Weak)	Fire, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)	Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark

Type ChartAvg

3Weak

5Resist

0Immune

Score-3

Gen II Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def

4xCritical

Flying

2xWeak

Fire Psychic

½xResist

Grass Fighting Ground Bug Dark

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (7)

Grass Psychic Dark Normal Ice Rock Steel

How to Beat Heracross in Crystal (Best Counters)

Natu PsychicFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Peck 4x 54-64% View Natu builds →
Spearow NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Peck 4x 54-64% View Spearow builds →
Hoothoot NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 11 Damage vs Heracross Peck 4x 45-54% View Hoothoot builds →
Pidgey NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 9 Damage vs Heracross Gust 4x 54-64% View Pidgey builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Learns Wing Attack at Level 30 View Golbat builds →

Crystal 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

No Evolution

#214HeracrossDoes not evolve

Breeding

Easy

Breed Heracross easily with 23 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bide, Flail, Harden to offspring.

Egg Groups

Bug

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

25 cycles·6,425 steps

Moderate~6 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

3moves

Breed With (best first)

Crystal Heracross Best Moveset

Best Build

Solid pick

Utility

Ability

Not in Gen 2

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Nature

Not in Gen 2

Utility Moveset

MegahornSTAB
CurseSetup
RestRecovery
Sleep Talk

Recommended Teammates

SnorlaxGood

RaikouDecent

ExeggutorDecent

Moves

Breeding's the move. Bide and Flail give Heracross options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Ground coverage already covers a decent range on top of Megahorn and Fury Cutter. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 1

Tackle

D3510035Normal

Lv 6

Horn Attack

—6510025Normal

Lv 12

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Lv 19

Fury Attack

—158520Normal

Lv 27

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Lv 35

Take Down

C908520Normal

Lv 44

Reversal

B—10015Fighting

Lv 54

Megahorn

S1208510Bug

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM03

Curse

A——10Ghost

HM01

Cut

—509530Normal

TM43

Detect+4

D——5Fighting

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM26

Earthquake

A10010010Ground

TM20

Endure+4

D——10Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM49

Fury Cutter

—109520Bug

TM02

Headbutt

C7010015Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

A——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM08

Rock Smash

—2010015Fighting

TM35

Sleep Talk

A——10Normal

TM13

Snore

—4010015Normal

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM34

Swagger

C—8515Normal

TM46

Thief

C6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Bide+1

———10Normal

Egg

Flail

D—10015Normal

Egg

Harden

———30Normal

Tutor Moves

Heracross can't learn any Tutor moves

Crystal Heracross Locations

Heracross is available from early-game areas onward at high spawn rates. 4 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Crystal

4 headbutt spots from Lv. 10+ for Heracross. Sorted by game progression with rates on each row, so you can compare without scrolling through everything.

Azalea Town

Headbutting special trees Lv.10 City

30%Early

Route 33

Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route

30%Early

Route 42

Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route

30%Early

Route 44

Headbutting special trees Lv.10 Route

30%Early

Heracross Guide

For Crystal, we rate Heracross A-Tier: a strong pick in Crystal's competitive scene. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Megahorn with Leftovers is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Crystal, but Heracross does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Heracross hits 600 BST.
In Crystal, 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.
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.
In Crystal, the best way to handle Heracross: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Special attackers bypass its physical bulk.

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

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Hoothoot NormalFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves PeckLv. 11 Learns Peck at Level 11 View Hoothoot builds →
Pidgey NormalFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves GustLv. 9 Learns Gust at Level 9 View Pidgey builds →
Zubat PoisonFlying	D
Upcoming Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 27 Learns Wing Attack at Level 27 View Zubat builds →
Cyndaquil Fire	D
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Upcoming Move Moves EmberLv. 12 Learns Ember at Level 12 View Cyndaquil builds →

Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 11 Damage vs Heracross Peck 4x 49-59% View Noctowl builds →
Butterfree BugFlying	C
Available Move Moves ConfusionLv. 10 Damage vs Heracross Confusion 2x 27-32% View Butterfree builds →
Pidgeotto NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves GustLv. 9 Damage vs Heracross Gust 4x 62-73% View Pidgeotto builds →
Natu PsychicFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Peck 4x 49-59% View Natu builds →
Spearow NormalFlying	D
Available Move Moves PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Peck 4x 55-66% View Spearow builds →

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Damage vs Heracross Wing Attack 4x 122-144%KO View Scyther builds →
Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 11 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 102-120%KO Peck 4x 45-54% View Noctowl builds →
Fearow NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 153-180%KO Peck 4x 66-78% View Fearow builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Damage vs Heracross Wing Attack 4x 96-114%KO View Golbat builds →
Pidgeotto NormalFlying	D
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 GustLv. 9 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 117-138%KO Gust 4x 56-66% View Pidgeotto builds →

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Damage vs Heracross Wing Attack 4x 123-146%KO View Scyther builds →
Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 11 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 99-117%KO Peck 4x 44-52% View Noctowl builds →
Fearow NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 153-181%KO Peck 4x 64-76% View Fearow builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Damage vs Heracross Wing Attack 4x 93-111%KO View Golbat builds →
Pidgeotto NormalFlying	D
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 GustLv. 9 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 114-134%KO Gust 4x 54-64% View Pidgeotto builds →

Scyther BugFlying	C
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Damage vs Heracross Wing Attack 4x 123-146%KO View Scyther builds →
Noctowl NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 11 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 99-117%KO Peck 4x 44-52% View Noctowl builds →
Fearow NormalFlying	C
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 153-181%KO Peck 4x 64-76% View Fearow builds →
Golbat PoisonFlying	D
Available Move Moves Wing AttackLv. 30 Damage vs Heracross Wing Attack 4x 93-111%KO View Golbat builds →
Farfetch'd NormalFlying	D
Available Moves Moves FlyHM02 PeckLv. 1 Damage vs Heracross Fly 4x 153-181%KO Peck 4x 64-76% View Farfetch'd builds →

BlisseyWears down with Toxic, threatens with Flamethrower, cures status via Natural Cure Normal	A
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves Soft Boiled Heal Bell Flamethrower Ice Beam Damage vs Heracross Flamethrower 2x 36-43% Ice Beam 18-21% View Blissey builds →
GolemSturdy guarantees survival, walls physical sets RockGround	A
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves EarthquakeSTAB Explosion Rapid Spin RoarUtility Damage vs Heracross Earthquake 27-31% Explosion 88-104%KO Rapid Spin 18-21% View Golem builds →
NidokingResists Bug PoisonGround	B
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves EarthquakeSTAB Ice Beam Lovely Kiss Thunder Damage vs Heracross Earthquake 23-27% Ice Beam 20-23% Thunder 24-29% View Nidoking builds →
UmbreonRecovers with Moonlight, wears down with Toxic, threatens with Rest Dark	B
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves ToxicUtility PursuitSTAB Confuse Ray MoonlightRecovery Damage vs Heracross Pursuit 5-6% View Umbreon builds →
MarowakThreatens with Fire Blast, walls physical sets Ground	B
Recommended Build ItemThickclub Moves EarthquakeSTAB Rock Slide Swords Dance Fire Blast Damage vs Heracross Earthquake 19-22% Rock Slide 19-23% Fire Blast 2x 32-38% View Marowak builds →