Heracross is a bipedal, coleopteraninsectoidPokémon covered in a blue exoskeleton. There is a long, pronged horn on its forehead. The horn ends in a cross on males and a heart-shape on females. On either side of the horn is a short antenna with a spherical tip. Heracross has oval, yellow eyes. Its forearms have a pair of spikes near the wrists, while its thighs have a single spike each. It has two claws on its hands, and a single long claw on each foot. There is a single pair of wings covered by elytra, which can be seen during its release from a Poké Ball in the 3D games. Heracross's claws allow it to dig into the ground for sturdy footing and also allow it to climb trees. Using its horn, it throws opponents or competitors for food. It can lift and throw objects 100 times its own weight. It uses its two antennae to search for food by scent. It lives in boreal, temperate, and tropical forests, where it feeds on tree sap. In Generation II, Megahorn was its signature move.
As seen in the anime, Heracross has been known to compete with Pokémon such as Pinsir for food. The same episode also shows Heracross allowing Butterfree to feed on tree sap after Heracross has finished its meal. In addition, it is shown to suck sap from Grass-type Pokémon such as Bulbasaur. In Alola, Heracross get along better with Pinsir, as they both have rivalries with Vikavolt.
Mega Heracross is bulkier than its previous form. Thin orange markings now rim its head, hands, and shoulders. Additionally, there is a half-circle, orange marking over its eyes. It now has a long, pointed nose that curves slightly upward. Its back now lacks wings and is completely yellow. The horn on its head has grown into a large, simple spike with two smaller spikes on the front. The antennae have lengthened as well and now have ovoid tips. Mega Heracross's forearms have thickened and lost their spines. This Pokémon has a high body temperature, so it opens the shells of its arms and torso to allow heat to escape.[1] Mega Heracross boasts such incredible strength that it can lift objects up to 500 times its own weight between its horns. However, it is left with muscular soreness after reverting to its original form.
Heracross debuted in A Sappy Ending, thus also marking the species' debut. He decided to help Ash and his friends deal with a feud between other Heracross and a group of Pinsir. Heracross later wanted to come with Ash, who caught him at the end of the episode.
In A Sappy Ending, the group of Heracross that Ash's own Heracross belonged to was feuding with a group of Pinsir after Team Rocket began siphoning all of the tree sap from the Pinsir's side of the forest.
In Absol-ute Disaster, Gordon's Heracross saved Pikachu from falling while Swellow was busy with Max. It also helped Absol and Ash's, May's, and Brock's Pokémon, with a long-range attack to push a boulder in order to stop a flood.
In Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, a Heracross that can Mega Evolve fell under the control of Levi and Cherie's Mega Wave. Heracross was briefly lent to Jessie to use in an attempt to capture Magearna. He was later freed when Alva's Mega Wave Crystal was destroyed, and he escaped.
During the ending credits of I Choose You!, Ash and Pikachu battled a Heracross in the middle of a forest. The outcome of the battle was unknown, and thus it is unclear if this Heracross was meant to be Ash's in this timeline.
Heracross, the Single Horn Pokémon. Though gentle and docile, Heracross possesses great strength and power. Their favorite food is the fresh sap of leafy trees.
Heracross, the Single Horn Pokémon. A Bug and Fighting type. Heracross takes pride in its horn, which it uses to scoop up and throw its opponent. It is very strong.
Heracross is first seen in The Legend. While Silver is communicating with Green following the conclusion of this chapter, he stands in a full shot of Sprout Tower with a bunch of Johto Pokémon in the background, Heracross being one of them.
A Heracross is seen as one of the Pokémon under Bugsy's control. He first appeared in Into the Unown where he helped defeat Team Rocket at the Ruins of Alph. Later on in Hurray for Heracross, he helped Bugsy capture an Unown before they followed Suicune to a chamber. Afterwards, he protected Bugsy after he activated the runes in the chamber where they encountered Suicune. Heracross faced the Legendary Pokémon but was easily swatted away, forcing Bugsy to switch to another tactic. He later uses him to battle Sabrina in the opening ceremonies of the Pokémon League.
A Heracross was seen in Greta's arsenal, which was first sent out in her battle against Emerald. It was able to fight evenly against his Sceptile and outscored it. It first appeared in Sneaky Like Shedinja.
Heracross are powerful creatures that are known to drive their single horns into the bellies of their foes and then toss them over their heads. The immense power of their Megahorn move is said to be the strongest among Bug Pokémon. They are one of several types of Pokémon that can be found by shaking trees.
Heracross charges in a straight line at its foe, slips beneath the foe's grasp, and then scoops up and hurls the opponent with its mighty horn. This Pokémon even has enough power to topple a massive tree.
Heracross has sharp claws on its feet. These are planted firmly into the ground or the bark of a tree, giving the Pokémon a secure and solid footing to forcefully fling away foes with its proud horn.
They gather in forests seeking the sweet sap of trees. It is completely clad in a steel-hard shell. It is proud of its horn, which it uses to fling foes.
Heracross charges in a straight line at its foe, slips beneath the foe's grasp, and then scoops up and hurls the opponent with its mighty horn. This Pokémon even has enough power to topple a massive tree.
Heracross has sharp claws on its feet. These are planted firmly into the ground or the bark of a tree, giving the Pokémon a secure and solid footing to forcefully fling away foes with its proud horn.
This Pokémon has an unparalleled horn. Heracross itself demonstrates tremendous power—it's capable of throwing several people trained in the traditional arts of war at once.
Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Heracross are incredibly powerful—strong enough to toss even large foes as if they weigh nothing at all! But they’re usually rather gentle, often sharing sap with other Pokémon.
Heracross can be seen as a counterpart to Pinsir, replacing Scyther in that role, which gained an evolution in Generation II. Both are Bug-type Pokémon based on beetles and lack an evolutionary family. Pinsir is not part Fighting like Heracross, but it learns several Fighting-type moves by leveling up. Both Pokémon and their Mega Stones are versions exclusives in Pokémon X and Y: Heracross and Heracronite are exclusive to Y while Pinsir and Pinsirite are exclusive to X. Each Mega Stone can be found in Santalune Forest in their respective versions. The heights of both Pokémon are the same, even when Mega Evolved. The Pokémon are also version exclusives in the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass. Heracross can be found on the Isle of Armor if playing Shield, whereas Pinsir can be found in its place when playing Sword.
Heracross and Heracros may be a combination of Hercules beetle (species of rhinoceros beetle named after the hero in the classical Greco-Roman mythology for its great strength), Ἡρακλῆς Hēraklēs (divine hero in Greek mythology who lent his name to his Roman mythological analogue), and cross.
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
ヘラクロス Heracros
From ヘラクレスオオカブト Herakuresu Ōkabuto, Ἡρακλῆς Hēraklēs, and cross
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Brick Mail (100%)
Heracronite (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Heracross images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
