Pokemon Go: Best Heatran Counters, Weaknesses, And More Raid Tips Guide

The Generation 4 Legendary Pokémon returns to five-star Raid Battles through January 19, presenting trainers with strategic combat opportunities and rare capture chances. This limited-time appearance coincides with Pokémon Go’s Sinnoh Celebration event, offering both veteran and new players a chance to obtain this powerful Fire/Steel type creature.

Heatran – The Lava Dome Pokémon

Heatran appears as a formidable five-star Raid boss at Gyms worldwide during this limited engagement period. Participation requires a Raid Pass, which can be acquired through multiple methods. Trainers may purchase passes from the in-game shop or obtain a complimentary one by spinning the Photo Disc at any PokéStop. Strategic inventory management is crucial since players can only maintain a single free Raid Pass simultaneously.

While Heatran encounters can materialize throughout the day, your optimal opportunity occurs during Wednesday, January 13, from 6-7 PM local time. This weekly Raid Hour event dramatically increases spawn frequency, essentially ensuring multiple chances to confront this Legendary Pokémon. Planning your raid schedule around this timeframe maximizes efficiency and resource utilization.

Heatran’s dual Fire/Steel typing creates distinctive offensive and defensive characteristics that dictate optimal counter selection. This combination yields critical vulnerabilities to Ground-type attacks, which deal 256% of normal damage due to double super effectiveness. Water and Fighting types also prove advantageous, though with reduced effectiveness compared to Ground specialists.

Premium Ground-type selections include Groudon with Mud Shot and Earthquake, Rhyperior utilizing Mud-Slap and Earthquake, and Garchomp employing Mud Shot and Earth Power. These Pokémon leverage Heatran’s primary weakness while possessing sufficient bulk to withstand its fiery assaults. Secondary options from Water and Fighting categories feature Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch, Kyogre using Waterfall and Surf, and Swampert with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon.

Conversely, several type categories perform poorly against Heatran’s defensive profile. Dragon and Psychic types face significant resistance due to Steel-type immunities and reduced damage output. Bug, Grass, and additional Steel Pokémon also suffer from type disadvantage, making them suboptimal choices for raid battles. Understanding these resistance mechanics prevents wasted resources and failed attempts.

Successful Heatran raids require more than just type-appropriate counters; they demand strategic team construction and battle execution. Assemble teams with 4-6 high-level trainers utilizing optimal counters to ensure victory. Coordinate with local raid groups through Discord or social media to maximize participant numbers and success probability.

Weather conditions significantly impact raid effectiveness. Sunny weather boosts Heatran’s Fire-type moves while simultaneously empowering your Ground-type attackers. Partly cloudy conditions enhance Rock-type moves that some Ground Pokémon utilize effectively. Avoid rainy weather despite Water-type benefits, as it diminishes Ground-type attack potency.

Post-victory capture strategy proves equally crucial. Heatran features a base catch rate of 2%, increased to approximately 10% with excellent throws, curveballs, and golden razz berries. Master the circle lock technique to guarantee successful throws and maximize your chances of adding this Legendary to your collection. For comprehensive team building strategies, consult our Class Guide to optimize your combat approach.

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