Physical
Wallbreaker
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 EVs.

Base Stats
High
HP80
C
Attack125
A
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def95
B
Speed85
C
Total500
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.5 m
Weight54.0 kg
Base XP175
Abilities
Swarm
Strengthens bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
GutsNiche
Increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment.
MoxieHATop Pick
Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

This powerful Pokémon thrusts its prized horn under its enemies’ bellies, then lifts and throws them.

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.

Heracross Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Flying
2x (Weak)Fire, Psychic, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Ground, Bug, Dark
Type ChartVulnerable
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-5
4xCritical
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
How to Beat Heracross in X & Y (Best Counters)
Aerodactyl
Aerodactyl
RockFlying
C
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift
Available Moves
Moves
  • FlyHM02
  • Fire FangLv. 1
  • Wing AttackLv. 1
  • Aerial AceTM40
Damage vs Heracross
Fly 4x
173-204%KO
Fire Fang 2x
43-50%
Wing Attack 4x
118-140%KO
Aerial Ace 4x
118-140%KO
View Aerodactyl builds →

X & Y Evolution

What you see is what you get. Heracross sits outside any evolution chain, so focus on the egg moves and plenty of partners from one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Heracross
#214Heracross
Does not evolve

Breeding

Easy

Breed Heracross easily with 68 breeding partners from the Bug egg group. Pass egg moves like Bide, Double-Edge, Flail and 7 more 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
10moves
Breed With (best first)
flygondrapionmasquerainvolbeatillumiseparasectvibravaskorupiparastrapinchsurskitshuckle

X & Y Heracross Best Moveset

the remaining moves gives Heracross answers even while choice-locked. Choice Scarf provides speed patching through item lock, and max Attack and Speed EVs with Moxie mean every prediction that lands hits hard.

Best Build

Situational pick
Ability
Moxie
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Heracross
Jolly+SPE

Heracross best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Revenge Killer Moveset

  • MegahornSTAB
  • Close CombatSTAB
  • Knock Off
  • Stone Edge

Recommended Teammates

Moves

Breeding's the move. Bide and Double-Edge give Heracross options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Close Combat. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Arm Thrust
1510020Fighting
Lv 1
Bullet Seed
D2510030Grass
Lv 1
Endure+4
D10Normal
Lv 1
Horn Attack
6510025Normal
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Night Slash
C7010015Dark
Lv 1
Tackle
D5010035Normal
Lv 7
Fury Attack
158520Normal
Lv 10
Aerial Ace
C6020Flying
Lv 16
Chip Away
7010020Normal
Lv 19
Counter-5
D10020Fighting
Lv 25
Brick Break
B7510015Fighting
Lv 28
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 31
Pin Missile
D259520Bug
Lv 34
Close Combat
S1201005Fighting
Lv 37
Feint+2
B3010010Normal
Lv 43
Reversal
10015Fighting
Lv 46
Megahorn
S1208510Bug

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
C6020Flying
TM45
Attract
D10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
B7510015Fighting
TM08
Bulk Up
C20Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
C6010020Ground
TM100
Confide
20Normal
HM01
Cut
D509530Normal
TM28
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
B10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
S7010020Normal
TM54
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM56
Fling
D10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
D120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
D10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
D150905Normal
TM17
Protect+4
B10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
C5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
B759010Rock
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
C609515Rock
TM48
Round
D6010015Normal
TM65
Shadow Claw
C7010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM23
Smack Down
C5010015Rock
TM71
Stone Edge
B100805Rock
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM76
Struggle Bug
D5010020Bug
TM90
Substitute
C10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
A20Normal
TM46
Thief
A6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
C9010Poison
TM09
Venoshock
D6510010Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Bide+1
10Normal
Egg
Double-Edge
B12010015Normal
Egg
Flail
10015Normal
Egg
Focus Punch-3
B15010020Fighting
Egg
Harden
30Normal
Egg
Megahorn
S1208510Bug
Egg
Pursuit
D4010020Dark
Egg
Revenge-4
6010010Fighting
Egg
Rock Blast
A259010Rock
Egg
Seismic Toss
D10020Fighting

Tutor Moves

Heracross can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 4
Fury Cutter
C409520Bug
Gen 4
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Natural Gift
D10015Normal
Gen 4
Vacuum Wave+1
D4010030Fighting
Gen 5
Work Up
D30Normal

X & Y Heracross Locations

Heracross sits at moderate rates across 2 spots in mid-game routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.

Best Locations to Catch Heracross in X & Y

Route 12
Grass Lv.25 Route
RareMid
Yellow Flower
Route 12
Grass Lv.25 Route
RareMid

Heracross Guide

  • For X & Y, we rate Heracross C-Tier: a niche pick in X & Y's meta. At 500 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Megahorn with Choice Scarf is the standard set.

  • In X & Y, Heracross can Mega Evolve into Mega Heracross. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.

  • In X & Y, 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. Fairy-type attackers are also a problem.

  • 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.

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