[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Lava Plume
move 2: Protect
move 3: Stealth Rock / Roar
move 4: Explosion / Stealth Rock / Earth Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With full Special Defense investment, Heatran is remarkably bulky: it will avoid the OHKO from most powerful super effective special moves such as Starmie’s Choice Specs Hydro Pump, opposing Heatran's Earth Power, and Gengar’s Life Orb Focus Blast. It also becomes a fantastic switch-in to Latias and Electric-types such as Zapdos and Rotom-A, especially since it is both immune to burn and Toxic. This ability makes it fantastic to spread burns with Lava Plume, as even without investment, it still is powerful enough to OHKO physically defensive Skarmory and at least 2HKO every Steel-type weak to it. It is also is quite annoying to switch into, as Heatran has the bulk to continually fish for devastating burns. As Heatran lacks reliable recovery, Protect is Heatran's best way of healing itself. It’s especially helpful due to Heatran using its raw bulk to answer defensive Pokemon. Protect also scouts strong attacks and racks up burn damage.
Roar is prominent on specially defensive Heatran, as it is a fantastic way of spreading entry hazard damage and preventing foes from setting up on Heatran. Heatran is an excellent user of Stealth Rock and can set it up repeatedly. Beware that this set does not deal well with defensive Starmie, however. Another option for good general coverage is Earth Power, as Heatran survives most other Heatran’s Earth Power and can KO back should the opposing Heatran lack Shuca Berry. Another option is to use Explosion, as Heatran can be a great lure. Once it has revealed Protect and especially Roar, opponents are unlikely to scout for Explosion, leading to Heatran getting a KO on a special wall or problematic sweeper.
Set Details
========
Heatran needs full Special Defense investment to comfortably shrug off special attacks from Zapdos, Rotom-A, and Latias. However, it can spare some Speed EVs to make Roar more effective against defensive Gyarados for example. Heatran can use 80 Speed EVs to outspeed minimum Speed Rotom-A and Machamp. Should Heatran use Explosion, Sassy is an option to power it up, but beware that Heatran is now slower than Skarmory, Breloom, and Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
Specially defensive Heatran only recovers health through Leftovers and can be worn down quickly through entry hazards and repeated weaker attacks. As such, it should only come in on attacks it is immune to and Pokemon that it walls to maintain its HP. From here, it should set up Stealth Rock if it has it, phaze the foe, and then spread status. Avoid being too predictable with Protect, especially since Heatran has no protection from Substitute to prevent sweepers from OHKOing it. Opponents often underestimate how specially bulky Heatran is, especially at full health; it can survive attacks such as offensive Suicune's +1 Hydro Pump, Gengar's Life Orb Focus Blast, and unboosted Heatran's Earth Power and retaliate appropriately. Explosion is often unexpected from a Heatran with Roar and Protect, allowing it to bait in and use Explosion on Clefable and Latias should Heatran no longer be needed defensively. Be wary of using Explosion too early, as it might be needed to check physical Jirachi.
Team Options
========
Specially defensive Heatran is often used a special wall for more offensive Spikes based teams that cover threats based on resistances and can also be used as an answer to defensive Steel-types for slower teams. Some of its best partners are Spikers such as Roserade, Forretress, and Skarmory, as Spikes wear down its switch-ins, and Heatran can spread entry hazard damage with Roar. As Heatran is an excellent switch-in for weaker Electric-types such as defensive Zapdos and Rotom-A, Scizor is an excellent partner, as it baits in Fire-type attacks, gets Heatran easy entry with U-turn, and revenge kills dangerous sweepers such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Dragon Dance Dragonite. Heatran also facilitates Pokemon such as Calm Mind Latias, Calm Mind Suicune, offensive Zapdos, and mixed Flygon, as it can potentially bait in Clefable and KO it with Explosion. Latias also helps out against Water-types such as Gyarados and Swampert as well as faster Breloom trying to take advantage of Heatran. Starmie is also an excellent partner, as Heatran can get worn down by entry hazards, and Rapid Spin helps to alleviate that burden. Heatran can also effectively partner with Grass- and Water-types to form a Fire-Water-Grass core; some good partners for Grass-types include the aforementioned Roserade as well as Celebi and Breloom, while Water-types such as Swampert and Suicune are great choices. Other good partners for this pairing include Metagross, Gengar, and utility or Choice Scarf Rotom-A. Good defensive teammates include Hippowdon and defensive Jirachi to better handle physical setup sweepers Heatran cannot deal with, such as Clefable, defensive Latias, Gliscor, and Bronzong. Heatran appreciates Wish support to keep it healthy, all of Jirachi, Latias, and Clefable can provide this support.
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Lava Plume
move 2: Protect
move 3: Stealth Rock / Roar
move 4: Explosion / Stealth Rock / Earth Power
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm / Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
With full Special Defense investment, Heatran is remarkably bulky: it will avoid the OHKO from most powerful super effective special moves such as Starmie’s Choice Specs Hydro Pump, opposing Heatran's Earth Power, and Gengar’s Life Orb Focus Blast. It also becomes a fantastic switch-in to Latias and Electric-types such as Zapdos and Rotom-A, especially since it is both immune to burn and Toxic. This ability makes it fantastic to spread burns with Lava Plume, as even without investment, it still is powerful enough to OHKO physically defensive Skarmory and at least 2HKO every Steel-type weak to it. It is also is quite annoying to switch into, as Heatran has the bulk to continually fish for devastating burns. As Heatran lacks reliable recovery, Protect is Heatran's best way of healing itself. It’s especially helpful due to Heatran using its raw bulk to answer defensive Pokemon. Protect also scouts strong attacks and racks up burn damage.
Roar is prominent on specially defensive Heatran, as it is a fantastic way of spreading entry hazard damage and preventing foes from setting up on Heatran. Heatran is an excellent user of Stealth Rock and can set it up repeatedly. Beware that this set does not deal well with defensive Starmie, however. Another option for good general coverage is Earth Power, as Heatran survives most other Heatran’s Earth Power and can KO back should the opposing Heatran lack Shuca Berry. Another option is to use Explosion, as Heatran can be a great lure. Once it has revealed Protect and especially Roar, opponents are unlikely to scout for Explosion, leading to Heatran getting a KO on a special wall or problematic sweeper.
Set Details
========
Heatran needs full Special Defense investment to comfortably shrug off special attacks from Zapdos, Rotom-A, and Latias. However, it can spare some Speed EVs to make Roar more effective against defensive Gyarados for example. Heatran can use 80 Speed EVs to outspeed minimum Speed Rotom-A and Machamp. Should Heatran use Explosion, Sassy is an option to power it up, but beware that Heatran is now slower than Skarmory, Breloom, and Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
Specially defensive Heatran only recovers health through Leftovers and can be worn down quickly through entry hazards and repeated weaker attacks. As such, it should only come in on attacks it is immune to and Pokemon that it walls to maintain its HP. From here, it should set up Stealth Rock if it has it, phaze the foe, and then spread status. Avoid being too predictable with Protect, especially since Heatran has no protection from Substitute to prevent sweepers from OHKOing it. Opponents often underestimate how specially bulky Heatran is, especially at full health; it can survive attacks such as offensive Suicune's +1 Hydro Pump, Gengar's Life Orb Focus Blast, and unboosted Heatran's Earth Power and retaliate appropriately. Explosion is often unexpected from a Heatran with Roar and Protect, allowing it to bait in and use Explosion on Clefable and Latias should Heatran no longer be needed defensively. Be wary of using Explosion too early, as it might be needed to check physical Jirachi.
Team Options
========
Specially defensive Heatran is often used a special wall for more offensive Spikes based teams that cover threats based on resistances and can also be used as an answer to defensive Steel-types for slower teams. Some of its best partners are Spikers such as Roserade, Forretress, and Skarmory, as Spikes wear down its switch-ins, and Heatran can spread entry hazard damage with Roar. As Heatran is an excellent switch-in for weaker Electric-types such as defensive Zapdos and Rotom-A, Scizor is an excellent partner, as it baits in Fire-type attacks, gets Heatran easy entry with U-turn, and revenge kills dangerous sweepers such as Dragon Dance Tyranitar and Dragon Dance Dragonite. Heatran also facilitates Pokemon such as Calm Mind Latias, Calm Mind Suicune, offensive Zapdos, and mixed Flygon, as it can potentially bait in Clefable and KO it with Explosion. Latias also helps out against Water-types such as Gyarados and Swampert as well as faster Breloom trying to take advantage of Heatran. Starmie is also an excellent partner, as Heatran can get worn down by entry hazards, and Rapid Spin helps to alleviate that burden. Heatran can also effectively partner with Grass- and Water-types to form a Fire-Water-Grass core; some good partners for Grass-types include the aforementioned Roserade as well as Celebi and Breloom, while Water-types such as Swampert and Suicune are great choices. Other good partners for this pairing include Metagross, Gengar, and utility or Choice Scarf Rotom-A. Good defensive teammates include Hippowdon and defensive Jirachi to better handle physical setup sweepers Heatran cannot deal with, such as Clefable, defensive Latias, Gliscor, and Bronzong. Heatran appreciates Wish support to keep it healthy, all of Jirachi, Latias, and Clefable can provide this support.
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