RE:
If you've seen me in the RU room, you already know how I feel about this 'mon. I think the fact that Guts SD completely invalidates stall just by existing (unless you use something unnecessarily niche like Colbur/Z-move Cofagrigus/Slowbro) is a good sign that there's a problem here. For reference, I'm speaking of and advise this set:
Heracross @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Facade
- Knock Off
There are essentially no defensive stops to this. Fairies are 2HKOd by Guts-boosted Facade and OHKO'd at +2, most physically bulky 'mons (Donphan, Chesnaught, Nidoqueen, etc.) take one hit at best and don't even OHKO back, thanks to Hera's above average 80/75/95 bulk. Even Gligar, one of the most physically bulky mons in the tier, is 2HKOd after having its Eviolite Knocked Off, which is as simple as clicking Knock the first time Hera comes in and watching the Evio go away. It cleanly 2HKO's Pyukumuku without boosts after Guts is activated, unlike most other boosting mons. It can't be pursuit trapped, so it's not as if it destroys stall but pretty much gets one kill then dies if there's an Escav or whatever in the back (Hoopa). It isn't choice locked, like a lot of other ridiculous breakers, so it requires minimal prediction to tear apart defensive playstyles. And on top of all this, it doesn't do any recoil to itself bar Burn damage and cares little for Toxic Spikes, so your only method of whittling it quickly is something such as Rocky Helmet Druddigon.
The worst part is, it's not even limited to tearing stall a new one - it bones Balance just as hard as far as switchins go, and is only redeemed by the fact that its middling speed can cause it to be forced out vs offensive threats such as Salazzle, Swellow, Talonflame and the like. However, unlike most offensive threats, it can actually come in on the more passive mons on Balance teams due to a combination of its aforementioned good bulk and nice defensive typing that comes with resists to common types such as Fighting, Ground, and Dark, and start clicking its unresisted coverage to nab KOs.
Finally, Flame Orb - while being its only broken set - isn't its only viable set, and before you see the Orb activate you have no idea whether it is Scarf or not. This leads to a rather unfun game of "guess-the-set" for Offense, where if they leave in an offensive mon expecting Flame Orb they can get nailed by a speedy Megahorn, or switch in their one check and have it get taken down by a coverage move, leaving the team vulnerable to it later.
All in all, I just think that Flame Orb Hera creates a presence that is as a whole unhealthy for the tier, and should be looked at for voting on by the council or suspected or some such action.