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.
They gather in forests seeking the sweet sap of trees. It is completely clad in a steel-hard shell. It is proud of its horn, which it uses to fling foes.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Flying |
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
 Taillow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Taillow builds →Wing Attack 4x78-92% Peck 4x54-65% | ||
 Wingull Water | D | |
 Zubat Poison | D | |
 Torchic Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Torchic builds →Ember 2x26-32% Peck 4x35-43% | ||
 Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodLittleroot Town Gift | ||
Taillow Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Taillow builds →Wing Attack 4x77-91% Peck 4x51-61% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Zubat Poison | D | |
Torchic Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Torchic builds →Ember 2x25-30% Peck 4x34-41% | ||
Cyndaquil Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodLittleroot Town Gift | ||
 Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 4x97-115%KO Peck 4x60-70% | ||
 Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Swellow builds →Wing Attack 4x102-121%KO Peck 4x65-77% | ||
 Golbat Poison | D | |
 Swablu Normal | D | |
Wingull Water | D | |
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Skarmory builds →Air Cutter 4x96-114%KO Peck 4x61-72% | ||
Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Swellow builds →Wing Attack 4x102-120%KO Peck 4x61-72% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Swablu Normal | D | |
Wingull Water | D | |
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Skarmory builds →Fly 4x144-170%KO Air Cutter 4x101-119%KO Aerial Ace 4x101-119%KO Peck 4x62-74% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Tropius builds →Fly 4x129-153%KO Aerial Ace 4x86-102%KO Gust 4x62-74% | ||
Swellow Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Swellow builds →Fly 4x149-175%KO Wing Attack 4x101-119%KO Aerial Ace 4x101-119%KO Peck 4x62-74% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 4x101-119%KO Aerial Ace 4x101-119%KO | ||
Swablu Normal | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Swablu builds →Fly 4x91-108%KO Aerial Ace 4x62-74% Peck 4x38-45% | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Skarmory builds →Fly 4x145-171%KO Air Cutter 4x97-114%KO Aerial Ace 4x97-114%KO Peck 4x60-71% | ||
 Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Dodrio builds →Fly 4x186-219%KO Aerial Ace 4x125-148%KO Peck 4x76-90% | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x90-107%KO Psychic 2x68-81% Fly 4x137-162%KO Aerial Ace 4x93-110%KO | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Tropius builds →Fly 4x125-148%KO Aerial Ace 4x85-100%KO Gust 4x60-71% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 4x97-114%KO Air Cutter 4x97-114%KO Aerial Ace 4x97-114%KO | ||
Skarmory Steel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Skarmory builds →Fly 4x145-171%KO Air Cutter 4x97-114%KO Aerial Ace 4x97-114%KO Peck 4x60-71% | ||
Dodrio Normal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Dodrio builds →Fly 4x186-219%KO Aerial Ace 4x125-148%KO Peck 4x76-90% | ||
Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x90-107%KO Psychic 2x68-81% Fly 4x137-162%KO Aerial Ace 4x93-110%KO | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Tropius builds →Fly 4x125-148%KO Aerial Ace 4x85-100%KO Gust 4x60-71% | ||
Golbat Poison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Golbat builds →Wing Attack 4x97-114%KO Air Cutter 4x97-114%KO Aerial Ace 4x97-114%KO | ||
In Emerald, Claydol's Explosion hits Heracross for 81-95%.
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Blissey builds →Ice Beam26-31% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Claydol builds →Rapid Spin17-20% Earthquake24-29% Explosion81-95% Psychic 2x47-56% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilitySynchronize ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Umbreon builds →Pursuit5-5% | ||
 Glalie Ice | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemSalacberry NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Glalie builds →Explosion56-66% Ice Beam28-33% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilitySuctioncups ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Heracross View Cradily builds →Earthquake17-20% | ||
Emerald 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 37 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bide, False Swipe, Flail and 1 more to offspring.
Emerald Heracross Best Moveset
Find one free turn for Swords Dance and Heracross can run through teams. Jolly nature leans fast physical, Swarm supports the sweep, and utility options stops anything from walling it cleanly.
Best Build
Heracross best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Bide and False Swipe give Heracross options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Ground coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Megahorn. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Emerald Heracross Locations
You'll want mid-game access before hunting Heracross. Moderate rates across 1 encounter spots means the location matters. Sort by Best below and target the top-rated area first.
Best Locations to Catch Heracross in Emerald
Heracross Guide
For Emerald, we rate Heracross B-Tier: a solid option in Emerald for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Megahorn with Salacberry is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Emerald, 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