Which one is better on a Heracross? I realize that Close Combat has a **** more base power, but there are also the lowered Defense and Special Defense. Should I play it safe with Brick Break or go ahead with Close Combat?

Brick Break with the power to bust walls its a No Brainer

CC does lower it's defenses, but the 180 total power is enough to OHKO a lot of pokemon. If the drops worry you use a choice scarf on him. def drops don't matter if you outspeed and KO first

Brick break's low power just seems too much of a waste on a great attacker like heracross. Screens aren't common enough in OU to merit it's screen breaking ability.

But the base power is no where near CCs.



That's what exactly what I was thinking, but I wanted an extra opinion. Thanks

While brick break is a good move, Close Combat doesn't have to be so crippling if you give the right item. Things like a white herb to instantly bring back the lowered stats.

While Screens are pretty common in todays metagame (dunno about Psypokes metagame, since I assume you guys just play Wifi and not Shoddy), Close Combat is definitely better. White Herb on Heracross? Gimme a break... is this seriously Psypoke's standard? THAT low?

Ha!

I prefer CC.
In a competitive environment, you're probably going to switching a bit, so the defense drop doesn't matter as much. Also, Choice Scarf/Band HeraX is a common set that yuo may want to look into.

However, BB has its useful screen smashing power.
It's preference, in the end.

Funny, if you had Aerial Ace, Brick Break and Close Combat on a HeraX it would be AABBCC. Too bad it can't learn Dragon Dance! XD

Close Combat.
Like lordtomato said, the switching.
Also, Heracross has base Defense and Special Defense of 75 and 95 respectively, but despite the decent 95 for Special Defense, Heracross won't exactly be sticking around for long, plus that 4x Flying weakness and weaknesses to Fire and Psychic, so the drop to defenses doesn't hurt much.

Brick Break
Using Close Combat is probably only good to use if you know that your going to win the fight quick with that move. If a fight draws on then the lowered Defence will come back at you. Brick Break has a decent amount of power and shatters Reflect and Light Screen. But really, its a move of choice. Some people can win fights with Close Combat, others can't. I used to use Close Combat for my Infernape but switched it for Brick Breakwhen i found the TM. Oh and MasterChef, Close Combat has a power of 120, not 180

Cheers, Spitfire

I think he factored in 1.5x STAB damage to get 180
still Heracross isn't quite fast enough to sweep with close combat Faceing lethal damage from fast flyers like ninjask, aerodactyl, Crobat etc
heracross should keep all the defence it can

Close Combat has a STAB power of 180, compared to Brick Break's STAB power of 112.5


If Heracross is facing a x4 SE STAB move, a -1 defense boost isn't going to change much. In that situation, Heracross should either switch, or predict and Stone Edge on the opponent's switch in. Against Aerodactyl, though, if they're going to switch into a Fighting move (or take a Scarfed Fighting move), I would rather have the power of Close Combat then Brick Break to guarantee a kill with the neutral Fighting type.

Unless you're running RestTalk Heracross, you're likely to be switching a lot anyways (common Heracross are Band/Scarf). You may as well try to Close Combat to do the most damage to a wall, then switch as necessary, rather than do less damage with Brick Break and still get forced to switch by Skarmory/Aerodactyl/etc. who threaten with a Flying move.

Hehe. I forgot about that. Sorry

Cheers, Spitfire