[SET]
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Earth Power / Protect
move 3: Toxic / Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Air Balloon / Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set turns Heatran into a physically defensive tank that can take hits from some of the most dangerous physical threats in the metagame, such as Weavile, Melmetal, and Rillaboom. Magma Storm is a powerful STAB move that allows Heatran to accumulate chip damage on checks like Garchomp and Landorus-T that can immediately force it out. Earth Power provides Heatran great coverage to hit Pokemon that resist Magma Storm, such as opposing Toxapex, Volcanion, and opposing Heatran. Protect is an alternative if Heatran desires to accumulate extra rounds of passive recovery if running Leftovers, as well as scout moves like Superpower from Melmetal and Low Kick from Weavile. In this case, Toxic and Will-O-Wisp are great status options in the third moveslot: Toxic puts long-term switch-ins such as Gastrodon, Hippowdon, and Dragonite on a timer while Will-O-Wisp cripples more offensive checks such as Swords Dance Garchomp, Choice Band Tyranitar and Urshifu-R. Taunt should be run in this moveslot if Heatran wishes to maximize its trapping capabilities with Magma Storm and Earth Power, as it allows Heatran to trap and remove passive switch-ins like Blissey and Toxapex. Finally, Stealth Rock is a great fourth move as Heatran is one of the best hazard setters in the metagame with the ability to beat some of the best Defoggers in the tier, like Zapdos and Corviknight. With 20 Speed EVs, Heatran outspeeds uninvested Buzzwole while the rest is dumped into HP and Defense to maximize physical bulk, allowing it to check physical threats like Weavile and Melmetal. Faster EV spreads can be considered if running Will-O-Wisp to get the jump on Pokemon like Choice Band Tyranitar that would otherwise obliterate it with Earthquake or Superpower, while mixed defensive spreads can also be run on offensive teams to be more of a blanket check against special and physical threats in the metagame, such as Tapu Lele for the former and Weavile for the latter. Flame Body is the ability of choice on this set as it allows Heatran to punish contact moves such as Double Iron Bash from Melmetal, Knock Off from Weavile and Kartana as well as U-turn from Rillaboom. It also allows Heatran to fish for burns against predicted U-turns from the likes of Landorus-T and Urshifu-R that it would otherwise never stay or come in on, making pivoting more difficult for the opponent. Air Balloon is preferred on more offensive teams that prefer Heatran being able to blank Ground-types like specially defensive Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon in the short term so it can set up Stealth Rock or spread status with Will-O-Wisp and Toxic, but Leftovers is a viable alternative if Heatran desires the longevity the item provides by slowly healing off the damage it accumulates over the course of a match with the switches it forces.
Team Options
========
Physically defensive Heatran is mainly used on offensive teams that want a Steel-type alternative to Melmetal, as Heatran can force progress more effectively with its access to Stealth Rock and incredible movepool. Flame Body also allows Heatran to fish for burns on physical attackers, generating opportunities for offensive teammates to come in and take advantage of a weakened threat. Therefore, offensive partners that can take advantage of the progress Heatran generates make for wonderful teammates. Rillaboom is an exemplary teammate for physically defensive Heatran as the Grassy Terrain it sets up weakens Earthquake, allowing Heatran to either set up Stealth Rock or use a status move in front of Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp without fearing a KO. Heatran also loves the passive recovery Grassy Terrain provides, especially if running Protect. Moreover, Rillaboom's ability to remove Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off allows Heatran's Stealth Rock to inflict damage on its switch-ins, especially since most of them are weak to Stealth Rock, such as Zapdos and Tornadus-T. Weavile is another offensive Pokemon that has good synergy with Heatran as it can threaten out Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-Therian while offensively checking Dragapult. As for defensive teammates, Zapdos and Tornadus-T are great partners as they can deal with Fighting- and Ground-types like Buzzwole and Landorus-T while appreciating Heatran's ability to check Weavile. Bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Tapu Fini can share the burden of checking physical threats like Melmetal and Weavile while being a stopgap against Volcanion and Barraskewda, Pokemon that threaten Heatran with their Water-type STAB moves. Moreoever, Rotom-W is a sturdy Garchomp and Landorus-T check with its access to Levitate and Will-O-Wisp, while Tapu Fini can either revenge kill Dragapult with Choice Scarf sets, or reliably take hits from it with bulkier Calm Mind and Whirlpool sets. Specially defensive Pokemon are great defensive partners as this Heatran set does not have the investment to check special threats such as Tapu Lele, Dragapult, Blacephalon, and Volcarona. Specially defensive Landorus-T is a wonderful teammate as it checks all four Pokemon with its special bulk and ability to deal big damage with its strong Earthquake or remove their items with Knock Off. Gastrodon is a great alternative on bulkier builds as its typing and access to reliable recovery allows it to stymie the aforementioned threats in the long run. Secondary Fairy-type checks such as Ferrothorn and Galarian Slowking are also appreciated as most of the tier's Fairy-types are specially oriented, such as Clefable, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Lele. Ferrothorn deserves a special mention as its Spikes forms a hazard stacking core with Heatran's Stealth Rock, wearing down grounded switch-ins to Heatran like Gastrodon, Hippowdon, Tapu Fini, and Garchomp immensely.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/airfare.456987/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
name: Physically Defensive
move 1: Magma Storm
move 2: Earth Power / Protect
move 3: Toxic / Will-O-Wisp / Taunt
move 4: Stealth Rock
item: Air Balloon / Leftovers
ability: Flame Body
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 236 Def / 20 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
This set turns Heatran into a physically defensive tank that can take hits from some of the most dangerous physical threats in the metagame, such as Weavile, Melmetal, and Rillaboom. Magma Storm is a powerful STAB move that allows Heatran to accumulate chip damage on checks like Garchomp and Landorus-T that can immediately force it out. Earth Power provides Heatran great coverage to hit Pokemon that resist Magma Storm, such as opposing Toxapex, Volcanion, and opposing Heatran. Protect is an alternative if Heatran desires to accumulate extra rounds of passive recovery if running Leftovers, as well as scout moves like Superpower from Melmetal and Low Kick from Weavile. In this case, Toxic and Will-O-Wisp are great status options in the third moveslot: Toxic puts long-term switch-ins such as Gastrodon, Hippowdon, and Dragonite on a timer while Will-O-Wisp cripples more offensive checks such as Swords Dance Garchomp, Choice Band Tyranitar and Urshifu-R. Taunt should be run in this moveslot if Heatran wishes to maximize its trapping capabilities with Magma Storm and Earth Power, as it allows Heatran to trap and remove passive switch-ins like Blissey and Toxapex. Finally, Stealth Rock is a great fourth move as Heatran is one of the best hazard setters in the metagame with the ability to beat some of the best Defoggers in the tier, like Zapdos and Corviknight. With 20 Speed EVs, Heatran outspeeds uninvested Buzzwole while the rest is dumped into HP and Defense to maximize physical bulk, allowing it to check physical threats like Weavile and Melmetal. Faster EV spreads can be considered if running Will-O-Wisp to get the jump on Pokemon like Choice Band Tyranitar that would otherwise obliterate it with Earthquake or Superpower, while mixed defensive spreads can also be run on offensive teams to be more of a blanket check against special and physical threats in the metagame, such as Tapu Lele for the former and Weavile for the latter. Flame Body is the ability of choice on this set as it allows Heatran to punish contact moves such as Double Iron Bash from Melmetal, Knock Off from Weavile and Kartana as well as U-turn from Rillaboom. It also allows Heatran to fish for burns against predicted U-turns from the likes of Landorus-T and Urshifu-R that it would otherwise never stay or come in on, making pivoting more difficult for the opponent. Air Balloon is preferred on more offensive teams that prefer Heatran being able to blank Ground-types like specially defensive Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon in the short term so it can set up Stealth Rock or spread status with Will-O-Wisp and Toxic, but Leftovers is a viable alternative if Heatran desires the longevity the item provides by slowly healing off the damage it accumulates over the course of a match with the switches it forces.
Team Options
========
Physically defensive Heatran is mainly used on offensive teams that want a Steel-type alternative to Melmetal, as Heatran can force progress more effectively with its access to Stealth Rock and incredible movepool. Flame Body also allows Heatran to fish for burns on physical attackers, generating opportunities for offensive teammates to come in and take advantage of a weakened threat. Therefore, offensive partners that can take advantage of the progress Heatran generates make for wonderful teammates. Rillaboom is an exemplary teammate for physically defensive Heatran as the Grassy Terrain it sets up weakens Earthquake, allowing Heatran to either set up Stealth Rock or use a status move in front of Ground-types like Landorus-T and Garchomp without fearing a KO. Heatran also loves the passive recovery Grassy Terrain provides, especially if running Protect. Moreover, Rillaboom's ability to remove Heavy-Duty Boots with Knock Off allows Heatran's Stealth Rock to inflict damage on its switch-ins, especially since most of them are weak to Stealth Rock, such as Zapdos and Tornadus-T. Weavile is another offensive Pokemon that has good synergy with Heatran as it can threaten out Ground-types like Garchomp and Landorus-Therian while offensively checking Dragapult. As for defensive teammates, Zapdos and Tornadus-T are great partners as they can deal with Fighting- and Ground-types like Buzzwole and Landorus-T while appreciating Heatran's ability to check Weavile. Bulky Water-types like Rotom-W and Tapu Fini can share the burden of checking physical threats like Melmetal and Weavile while being a stopgap against Volcanion and Barraskewda, Pokemon that threaten Heatran with their Water-type STAB moves. Moreoever, Rotom-W is a sturdy Garchomp and Landorus-T check with its access to Levitate and Will-O-Wisp, while Tapu Fini can either revenge kill Dragapult with Choice Scarf sets, or reliably take hits from it with bulkier Calm Mind and Whirlpool sets. Specially defensive Pokemon are great defensive partners as this Heatran set does not have the investment to check special threats such as Tapu Lele, Dragapult, Blacephalon, and Volcarona. Specially defensive Landorus-T is a wonderful teammate as it checks all four Pokemon with its special bulk and ability to deal big damage with its strong Earthquake or remove their items with Knock Off. Gastrodon is a great alternative on bulkier builds as its typing and access to reliable recovery allows it to stymie the aforementioned threats in the long run. Secondary Fairy-type checks such as Ferrothorn and Galarian Slowking are also appreciated as most of the tier's Fairy-types are specially oriented, such as Clefable, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Lele. Ferrothorn deserves a special mention as its Spikes forms a hazard stacking core with Heatran's Stealth Rock, wearing down grounded switch-ins to Heatran like Gastrodon, Hippowdon, Tapu Fini, and Garchomp immensely.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/airfare.456987/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tysonslayer.349443/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
