It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
Biology
Heatran climbing on the ceiling of a cave
Heatran is a reddish-brown, quadrupedal Pokémon. It is dotted with orange and gray spots, and it has metal bangles locked on its legs. Its four claws on each of its feet are in a cross formation. Heatran has a gray underside, and its face is covered by an iron mask, with red-orange eyes uncovered. Its eyes seem to remain open even when it is asleep. Whenever it is seen with its mouth open, an orange glow emanates from inside it. Boiling, magma-like blood circulates through its body. While its body is rugged steel, certain parts of it are partially melted, due to Heatran's own intense body heat.
Heatran is believed to the embodiment of the planet's boiling core. According to legends, Heatran is said to have been birthed from the boiling magma within volcanic mountains such as Mount Coronet and Reversal Mountain. A Magma Stone is capable of both controlling and sealing Heatran within its lair. Without the power of the stone, it would rampage and cause the volcanic crater where it dwells to erupt. Heatran's claws allow it to dig deep into walls. Its feet allow it to stick to surfaces so it can hang and climb on walls and ceilings. The body of Heatran is said to hold many unsolved mysteries. Heatran has the ability to form a shield around itself in order to protect itself from harm.
Heatran debuted in Arceus and the Jewel of Life, under the ownership of Marcus. It was a powerful opponent, but it was eventually freed by Pikachu after it chose to no longer fight for Marcus's cause.
Heatran made its animated series debut in Pokémon Ranger: Heatran Rescue!. It was being followed by Ben, who was on a mission to capture it and protect it from a collapsing mountain.
In The Magma Stone, a Heatran was awakened by Charon and subsequently began rampaging inside of Stark Mountain, but was calmed by Buck and resealed when he returned the Magma Stone to its original resting place on a stone altar.
In Pokémon Adventures, Heatran is referred to as the "Lord of Stark Mountain." It first appeared in Clobbering Claydol, where Buck sought to protect it from Team Galactic by taking the Magma Stone with him. However, him doing this caused Heatran to be unsealed, allowing Charon to catch it for his own use. Throughout the Platinum arc, Charon used Heatran in his battles against Sinnoh's other Legendary Pokémon, until he was finally defeated at the end of the arc. Following Charon's arrest, Buck agreed to take Heatran back to Stark Mountain.
Heatran's type combination has the most double resistances of all combinations, with five: Steel, Bug, Grass, Ice, and Fairy. Before Generation VI, it only had four double resistances: Steel, Bug, Grass, and Ice.
In the Japanese version of Pokémon X and Y, two women in Jaune Plaza mimic the sounds of Pokémon. One mimics the sound of a Heatran, while the other compliments her. However, this is mistranslated in the English version to say that there is a Lava Dome Pokémon in Jaune Plaza.
Heatran is the only Pokémon introduced before Hidden Abilities that cannot be obtained with its Hidden Ability in any game without an Ability Patch.
Heatran is the only Legendary Pokémon to not have either an alternate form, Evolution, or relation to another Pokémon.
Origin
Heatran may be based on volcanic remains. Its Steel typing may reference how the Earth's inner core is made of solid metal under immense pressure. It may be also based on a personification of magma. In the ancient mythologies of most cultures, the eruptions of volcanoes were explained by the presence of a fire monster living within it, often a dragon.
Name origin
Heatran may be derived from heat transfer. Its Japanese name may involve ドラゴン dragon.
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.