Current Events > Can you seriously get Heracross as early as the second gym in Crystal version?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Seems too good to be true. There must be a catch.

the catch is you need to headbutt for hours

Yep, it's in the headbutt trees to the right of Azalea Town. Very rare spawn chance though so you'll probably give your poor Pokemon a concussion.

As soon as you get headbutt you can. I was searching for a pineco last month, and found a heracross and an aipom. Didn't even know they were in the game, and I've beat it twice.

The thing I hated most about Crystal was that they took out Mareep so there was no reliable electric type you can get early in the game.

The catch is that its moves suck. Megahorn is basically the only actually good move it learns by level-up in Gen 2, and its TM selection isn't much better. You're basically stuck teaching it Headbutt once you can buy another TM for it in Goldenrod.

Prestoff posted...

The thing I hated most about Crystal was that they took out Mareep so there was no reliable electric type you can get early in the game.

Agree, although Chinchou is a good electric type. Even if it is a mid-game mon. Jolteon doesn't start getting decent until probably the 3rd gen.

Mystereave posted...

The catch is that its moves suck. Megahorn is basically the only actually good move it learns by level-up in Gen 2, and its TM selection isn't much better. You're basically stuck teaching it Headbutt once you can buy another TM for it in Goldenrod.

STAB Rock Smash?

Full_Pokedex posted...

STAB Rock Smash?

Rock Smash in Gen 2 is only 20 base power and doesn't have the Defense drop chance, meaning it'll always be weaker than Headbutt unless it's both super-effective and Headbutt is resisted.

So basically against Rock and Steel types, which aren't that common.

Mystereave posted...

The catch is that its moves suck. Megahorn is basically the only actually good move it learns by level-up in Gen 2, and its TM selection isn't much better. You're basically stuck teaching it Headbutt once you can buy another TM for it in Goldenrod.

It also gets Earthquake, Strength, Return, and don't underestimate Endure/Reversal with STAB running off of base 125 Attack and 85 Speed, which is usually enough to outspeed anything that doesn't strong counter Heracross anyway

just capture a geodude
it'll more or less solo 90% of the game with magnitude and rock throw

catfan2008 posted...

just capture a geodude
it'll more or less solo 90% of the game with magnitude and rock throw

Gen 2 is already one of the more boring games in the series, why make it worse.

Fun fact is it is possible to get Heracross and the other tree pokemon before you beat Bugsy. Rather than getting Headbutt from the dude in Ilex Forest, you can get Headbutt a bit earlier if you level-up a Slowpoke to level 34. It's very stupid and pointless but it is possible

Full_Pokedex posted...

Gen 2 is already one of the more boring games in the series, why make it worse.

why prolong the boring by not beating it fast

You grab an Abra and trade it in for machop.

Full_Pokedex posted...

There must be a catch.

Yes that is how Pokemon works