TL;DR
Behind Reshiram and top shadows (Moltres, Entei, Blaziken, maybe Charizard), but better than all other non-shadow non-megas not named Reshiram.
It’s a huge upgrade for Heatran, but your rare candies and ETMs are probably better spent on Reshiram instead.
Event Info
Heatran returns to raids from June 29 to July 6 (10am). Heatran caught before 8pm on Sunday, July 2 (end of Dark Flames event) will know the exclusive move Magma Storm; it’s unclear whether Heatran caught after that will still learn it. You can also get it with an Elite Charged TM.
Magma Storm Heatran as a Fire-type raid attacker
Charts of ASE with and without dodging are here.
Magma Storm Heatran sits between non-shadows and shadows (& Reshiram).
Magma Storm is a significant upgrade on Heatran itself – the 11% upgrade is more than several recent legendary signature moves. However, the move’s raw power is still slightly weaker than Fusion Flare and Blast Burn.
For most players, resources like rare candies and ETMs are better spent on Reshiram and shadows (Blaziken being the most accessible right now). But for variety lovers and those who want to power up a Heatran for other reasons, it’s a great attacker.
Heatran compared to top fire attackers
Most comparisons here are pretty clear – Heatran is worse than them.
- Even though Heatran has an excellent typing for a fire attacker (double resisting every STAB move from the boss), its raw power is too far from Reshiram and top shadows to be saved by typing.
Heatran vs. Shadow Charizard is a little more intriguing.
- They have similar ER values, but Shadow Charizard is a classic glass cannon: 13% higher DPS but 30% less TDO.
- In estimator, they’re actually pretty even in terms of “win” rates, but Heatran’s Average Scaled Estimator (ASE) is higher because its bad scenarios are less bad than Shadow Charizard’s.
- Shadow Charizard is better in TTW, or if you dodge.
Shadow Heatran in the Future
Charts of ASE with and without dodging are here.
Once Shadow Heatran comes, it will (likely) become the best non-mega fire attacker, until Shadow Reshiram dethrones it again.
- Shadow Chandelure and Shadow Darmanitan will be worse (unless they get better moves themselves). However, they will likely be more accessible than Shadow Heatran, being non-legendaries.
Keep in mind that Shadow Heatran’s Giovanni debut will only come in 2024 or 2025 at the earliest, and its entry in shadow raids will likely be even later.
Appendix: List of my previous analyses
Here‘s a Google Sheets spreadsheet with all my previous analysis articles. You can also filter by type, as explained in the spreadsheet.
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