[SET]
name: Torment
move 1: Torment
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect / Roar
move 4: Lava Plume
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Torment makes Heatran a unique sweeper by taking advantage of the fact many Pokemon only have one move that breaks its Substitute and most of the metagame does not enjoy a burn. Torment blocks repeated moves, meaning Heatran can use the Substitute and Protect combination to stall out the attack, especially against Choice-locked foes. While Torment does need to be reapplied once a new target switches in, Heatran will often already be behind a Substitute, meaning it can use Torment as the foe attacks and then safely set up another Substitute. Substitute is critical to this set’s success, as it blocks super effective coverage should the foe switch in and is faster. Heatran can then use Protect to prevent the Substitute from being broken. Substitute and Protect are naturally effectively with Heatran, as it forces switches to get the initial Substitute and then stalls for more HP with Protect.
Roar is another option over Substitute to prevent phazing from defeating Heatran. Additionally, Taunt can be used to stop phazing and, with Toxic Spikes support, can stop mono-attackers such as Blissey and defensive Suicune from beating Heatran. While losing Protect makes Heatran less reliable, just using Substitute is often enough to be effective with Torment. The most common last move is Lava Plume to spread burns and still threaten foes weak to Fire-type moves. While Heatran can use Roar over Lava Plume to maximize its utility options, it isn’t recommended, as Heatran would be completely helpless against Clefable and couldn’t threaten what it needs to.
Set Details
========
Torment Heatran should use maximum HP investment with some Special Defense EVs, as it aims for the Substitute to survive weaker attacks such as defensive Rotom-A’s Discharge and resisted ones such as Gengar’s Shadow Ball. However, it should also use a fair amount of Speed, as it does not want to take status or super effective attacks before it sets up a Substitute. The standard is to use 216 Speed EVs to outspeed Tyranitar and uninvested base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Jirachi and Zapdos. However, another option for more bulk would be to run 160 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Scizor. A Calm nature is preferred, as Heatran’s Substitute can survive weaker special attacks, but it will typically either break against physical attacks or do insignificant damage such that a Bold nature would be unnecessary.
Usage Tips
========
Torment Heatran should not reveal Torment until late in the game when its counters, such as phazers resistant to Lava Plume like Latias, foes with two moves that can break Heatran's Substitute like Swampert, and Rest + Sleep Talk sweepers such as Suicune have been incapacitated and many entry hazards are up. Before that, it should either stay hidden or act as a normal Substitute Heatran: set up Substitute when it comes in, use Protect or Roar as needed, and spread burns with Lava Plume. Once the field is ready, using Torment on Choice-locked foes or attackers that only can break Heatran's Substitute with one move is devastating, as Choice-locked attackers will be forced to struggle, and Heatran can keep up its Substitute for much longer. Once it uses Torment, Heatran should aim to have a Substitute up at all times in case the foe switches to remove Torment, so it can use Torment on opposing switch-ins unimpeded. Try to keep Heatran's health high so it can repeatedly set up Substitute, but avoid being too predictable with Protect on a foe affected by Torment, as this gives an opportunity to faster foes that switch in and try to stop Heatran.
Team Options
========
Torment Heatran needs the entire team built around setting it up. Entry hazards, Trick users such as Rotom-A and Latias, sand, and Knock Off users go a long way to setting the field up. Both Spikes and Toxic Spikes are great; Forretress in particular is a great teammate, as it potentially set up both entry hazards, use Rapid Spin to clear hazards, and potentially take out a problem Pokemon such as Clefable or Gyarados with Explosion. Skarmory and Roserade also provide defensive utility and can set up Spikes. Trick + Choice Scarf is a fantastic way to help Heatran deal with problem Pokemon such as defensive Latias, Suicune, and Clefable, as it struggles to wear these Pokemon down, and they can either defeat it or phaze it. Latias and Rotom-A are premier choices that also act as backstops against Speed boosting setup sweepers that Heatran cannot handle. Tyranitar, especially with a Choice Band, is also an excellent choice, as it can Pursuit trap Clefable and Latias and also set up sand to further wear down the foe. Generally good defensive teammates can help Heatran: Clefable can act as a primary special wall and also spread Knock Off to further wear down foes. Avoid using Knock Off around Choice item users, however. Celebi has fantastic type synergy with Heatran and can answer Swampert, Gyarados, and RestTalk Suicune. Other defensive stalwarts such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, defensive Jirachi, RestTalk Gyarados, and Bronzong also can work well with Heatran, absorbing its weaknesses and defensive responsibilities so it only has to come out late in the game when it is ready to sweep. Starmie also works to provide Rapid Spin support, keeping Heatran healthy.
name: Torment
move 1: Torment
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Protect / Roar
move 4: Lava Plume
item: Leftovers
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Torment makes Heatran a unique sweeper by taking advantage of the fact many Pokemon only have one move that breaks its Substitute and most of the metagame does not enjoy a burn. Torment blocks repeated moves, meaning Heatran can use the Substitute and Protect combination to stall out the attack, especially against Choice-locked foes. While Torment does need to be reapplied once a new target switches in, Heatran will often already be behind a Substitute, meaning it can use Torment as the foe attacks and then safely set up another Substitute. Substitute is critical to this set’s success, as it blocks super effective coverage should the foe switch in and is faster. Heatran can then use Protect to prevent the Substitute from being broken. Substitute and Protect are naturally effectively with Heatran, as it forces switches to get the initial Substitute and then stalls for more HP with Protect.
Roar is another option over Substitute to prevent phazing from defeating Heatran. Additionally, Taunt can be used to stop phazing and, with Toxic Spikes support, can stop mono-attackers such as Blissey and defensive Suicune from beating Heatran. While losing Protect makes Heatran less reliable, just using Substitute is often enough to be effective with Torment. The most common last move is Lava Plume to spread burns and still threaten foes weak to Fire-type moves. While Heatran can use Roar over Lava Plume to maximize its utility options, it isn’t recommended, as Heatran would be completely helpless against Clefable and couldn’t threaten what it needs to.
Set Details
========
Torment Heatran should use maximum HP investment with some Special Defense EVs, as it aims for the Substitute to survive weaker attacks such as defensive Rotom-A’s Discharge and resisted ones such as Gengar’s Shadow Ball. However, it should also use a fair amount of Speed, as it does not want to take status or super effective attacks before it sets up a Substitute. The standard is to use 216 Speed EVs to outspeed Tyranitar and uninvested base 100 Speed Pokemon such as Jirachi and Zapdos. However, another option for more bulk would be to run 160 Speed EVs to outspeed Adamant Scizor. A Calm nature is preferred, as Heatran’s Substitute can survive weaker special attacks, but it will typically either break against physical attacks or do insignificant damage such that a Bold nature would be unnecessary.
Usage Tips
========
Torment Heatran should not reveal Torment until late in the game when its counters, such as phazers resistant to Lava Plume like Latias, foes with two moves that can break Heatran's Substitute like Swampert, and Rest + Sleep Talk sweepers such as Suicune have been incapacitated and many entry hazards are up. Before that, it should either stay hidden or act as a normal Substitute Heatran: set up Substitute when it comes in, use Protect or Roar as needed, and spread burns with Lava Plume. Once the field is ready, using Torment on Choice-locked foes or attackers that only can break Heatran's Substitute with one move is devastating, as Choice-locked attackers will be forced to struggle, and Heatran can keep up its Substitute for much longer. Once it uses Torment, Heatran should aim to have a Substitute up at all times in case the foe switches to remove Torment, so it can use Torment on opposing switch-ins unimpeded. Try to keep Heatran's health high so it can repeatedly set up Substitute, but avoid being too predictable with Protect on a foe affected by Torment, as this gives an opportunity to faster foes that switch in and try to stop Heatran.
Team Options
========
Torment Heatran needs the entire team built around setting it up. Entry hazards, Trick users such as Rotom-A and Latias, sand, and Knock Off users go a long way to setting the field up. Both Spikes and Toxic Spikes are great; Forretress in particular is a great teammate, as it potentially set up both entry hazards, use Rapid Spin to clear hazards, and potentially take out a problem Pokemon such as Clefable or Gyarados with Explosion. Skarmory and Roserade also provide defensive utility and can set up Spikes. Trick + Choice Scarf is a fantastic way to help Heatran deal with problem Pokemon such as defensive Latias, Suicune, and Clefable, as it struggles to wear these Pokemon down, and they can either defeat it or phaze it. Latias and Rotom-A are premier choices that also act as backstops against Speed boosting setup sweepers that Heatran cannot handle. Tyranitar, especially with a Choice Band, is also an excellent choice, as it can Pursuit trap Clefable and Latias and also set up sand to further wear down the foe. Generally good defensive teammates can help Heatran: Clefable can act as a primary special wall and also spread Knock Off to further wear down foes. Avoid using Knock Off around Choice item users, however. Celebi has fantastic type synergy with Heatran and can answer Swampert, Gyarados, and RestTalk Suicune. Other defensive stalwarts such as Gliscor, Hippowdon, defensive Jirachi, RestTalk Gyarados, and Bronzong also can work well with Heatran, absorbing its weaknesses and defensive responsibilities so it only has to come out late in the game when it is ready to sweep. Starmie also works to provide Rapid Spin support, keeping Heatran healthy.
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