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.
Heracross loves sweet sap and will go looking through forests for it. The Pokémon uses its two antennae to pick up scents as it searches.
This Pokémon takes pride in its strength, which allows it to lift things 100 times heavier than itself with no trouble at all.
Heracross Weakness
Type-wise, Heracross takes extra damage from Flying, Fire, Psychic, and Fairy. Watch out for Flying attacks, those deal 4x damage. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Flying |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Psychic, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark |
 Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Pluck 4x112-132%KO Peck 4x66-79% | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | D | |
 Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Woobat builds →Psycho Cut 2x41-49% Air Cutter 4x75-88% Confusion 2x29-35% Gust 4x51-62% | ||
 Natu Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Natu builds →Peck 4x51-62% Stored Power 2x18-22% | ||
 Wingull Water | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Pluck 4x103-122%KO Peck 4x65-76% | ||
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 4x109-129%KO Psybeam 2x32-38% Confusion 2x25-30% Gust 4x65-76% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
 Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 4x109-129%KO Peck 4x65-76% | ||
Woobat Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Woobat builds →Psycho Cut 2x38-46% Air Cutter 4x65-76% Confusion 2x28-34% Gust 4x44-53% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Pluck 4x103-123%KO Peck 4x64-75% | ||
 Noctowl Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noctowl builds →Sky Attack 4x156-184%KO Extrasensory 2x36-43% Air Slash 4x103-123%KO Confusion 2x25-30% | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Butterfree builds →Air Slash 4x109-130%KO Psybeam 2x31-36% Confusion 2x25-30% Gust 4x64-75% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Farfetch'd Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Farfetch'd builds →Aerial Ace 4x103-123%KO Air Cutter 4x64-75% Peck 4x64-75% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Fly 4x152-179%KO Drill Peck 4x134-158%KO Pluck 4x103-121%KO Peck 4x62-74% | ||
 Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Hawlucha builds →Fly 4x156-184%KO Bounce 4x147-174%KO Wing Attack 4x107-126%KO Aerial Ace 4x107-126%KO | ||
 Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Sigilyph builds →Fly 4x111-132%KO Air Slash 4x120-142%KO Psycho Cut 2x45-53% Psybeam 2x54-63% | ||
 Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Unfezant builds →Fly 4x188-221%KO Air Cutter 4x71-84% Gust 4x49-58% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Fly 4x153-180%KO Drill Peck 4x136-160%KO Pluck 4x102-120%KO Peck 4x63-75% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Hawlucha builds →Fly 4x161-190%KO Bounce 4x153-180%KO Wing Attack 4x110-130%KO Aerial Ace 4x110-130%KO | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Sigilyph builds →Fly 4x114-135%KO Air Slash 4x123-145%KO Psycho Cut 2x44-53% Psybeam 2x53-63% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Unfezant builds →Fly 4x191-225%KO Air Cutter 4x72-85% Gust 4x51-60% | ||
Drifloon Ghost | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Drifloon builds →Acrobatics 4x63-75% Gust 4x47-55% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Fly 4x146-173%KO Drill Peck 4x131-155%KO Air Slash 4x73-86% Pluck 4x100-118%KO | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Hawlucha builds →Fly 4x155-182%KO Bounce 4x142-168%KO Wing Attack 4x104-123%KO Aerial Ace 4x104-123%KO | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Drifblim builds →Fly 4x139-164%KO Acrobatics 4x85-100%KO Gust 4x58-68% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Sigilyph builds →Psychic 2x69-82% Fly 4x108-127%KO Air Slash 4x116-136%KO Psycho Cut 2x42-50% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Unfezant builds →Fly 4x181-214%KO Air Slash 4x85-100%KO Air Cutter 4x69-82% Gust 4x46-55% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Fly 4x148-174%KO Drill Peck 4x133-157%KO Air Slash 4x74-87% Pluck 4x99-117%KO | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Hawlucha builds →Fly 4x155-183%KO Bounce 4x148-174%KO Wing Attack 4x103-122%KO Aerial Ace 4x103-122%KO | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Drifblim builds →Fly 4x140-165%KO Acrobatics 4x88-104%KO Gust 4x59-70% | ||
Sigilyph Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Sigilyph builds →Psychic 2x70-83% Fly 4x111-130%KO Air Slash 4x118-139%KO Psycho Cut 2x42-50% | ||
Unfezant Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Unfezant builds →Fly 4x185-217%KO Air Slash 4x81-96% Air Cutter 4x66-78% Gust 4x48-57% | ||
Corviknight Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Corviknight builds →Fly 4x150-177%KO Drill Peck 4x137-161%KO Air Slash 4x72-85% Pluck 4x103-121%KO | ||
 Togekiss Fairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Togekiss builds →Sky Attack 4x154-181%KO Fly 4x99-117%KO Air Slash 4x137-161%KO Draining Kiss 2x46-54% | ||
Hawlucha Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Hawlucha builds →Fly 4x157-185%KO Bounce 4x150-177%KO Wing Attack 4x106-125%KO Aerial Ace 4x106-125%KO | ||
Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Drifblim builds →Fly 4x140-165%KO Acrobatics 4x89-105%KO Gust 4x61-72% | ||
 Noivern Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Noivern builds →Fly 4x130-153%KO Air Slash 4x116-137%KO Wing Attack 4x89-105%KO Air Cutter 4x92-109%KO | ||
In Sword & Shield, Celesteela threatens a KO with Air Slash (164-193%). Clefable deals 68-81% with Moonblast.
 Heatran FireSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 Celesteela Steel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Celesteela builds →Flamethrower 2x65-77% Air Slash 4x164-193%KO | ||
 Clefable Fairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagic Guard ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Clefable builds →Moonblast 2x68-81% Knock Off7-8% | ||
 Slowking WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemColbur Berry NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Slowking builds →Scald30-35% | ||
Sword & Shield 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 47 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Double-Edge, Feint, Flail and 4 more to offspring.
Sword & Shield Heracross Best Moveset
double STAB keeps opponents guessing about Heracross's real targets. Salacberry provides extra utility while max Attack and Speed EVs and Jolly nature handle the stat profile. Moxie ties it together.
Best Build
Heracross best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Reversal
- Endure
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Revenge Killer Moveset
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Megahorn
- Brick Break
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Double-Edge and Feint give Heracross options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 9 types already covers a decent range on top of Megahorn and Close Combat. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Sword & Shield Heracross Locations
moderate rates across 9 encounter spots for Heracross. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Sword & Shield
9 walking spots at Lv. 10-15 for Heracross, all with tough odds. Lock in the highest-rate location from the list and grind it out.
Heracross Guide
For Sword & Shield, we rate Heracross C-Tier: a niche pick in Sword & Shield's meta. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Megahorn with Salacberry is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Sword & Shield, 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