Ho-oh Best Moveset
130 Attack and 154 Sp. Def at 106 HP on Fire/Flying with AbilityRegenerator healing a third of HP every switch. Held ItemHeavy Duty Boots blocks the 50% HP cost from TermEntry Hazards. NatureImpish patches physical Defense. The moveset pivots in and out healing passively, fires MoveSacred Fire for 50% burn chance, and never stays down. S-Tier through sustained defensive pressure.
130 Attack with Sacred Fire in Gen II (Gold & Silver). 50% burn chance crippled physical switch-ins, and 154 Sp. Def was nearly Lugia-tier on the special side.
Best Moves
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Fire Blast
- Sacred Fire
Choice Band Sacred Fire was devastating in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). A physical attack that burned physical switch-ins. Nothing safely answered it.
Support Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Recover
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Stealth Rock took 50% on switch-in due to 4x Rock weakness in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). But Ho-Oh was so powerful that teams willingly paid the cost.
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake
- Roost
Recommended Teammates
Regenerator arrived in Gen V (Black & White). Switch in, take 50% from rocks, attack, switch out, heal a third. The hazard damage was partially offset.
Physical Wallbreaker Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake
- Sleep Talk
Recommended Teammates
Five gens at the top despite the worst Stealth Rock weakness possible in Gen VI (X & Y). Regenerator plus raw power plus Sacred Fire burns justified the hazard tax.
Physical Wallbreaker Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake
- Sleep Talk
Z-Sacred Fire was a nuclear option in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Even with the 50% Stealth Rock penalty, Ho-Oh hit hard enough to earn its team slot.
Wall Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Toxic
- Earthquake
Heavy-Duty Boots finally solved the Stealth Rock problem in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Ho-Oh could switch freely without losing half its HP. Completely unleashed.
Wall Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Defog
- Brave Bird
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Eight consecutive gens at the top in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). From playable despite 50% hazard damage to completely freed by Boots. Ho-Oh never needed help, but appreciated it.
Bulky Support Moveset
- Sacred Fire
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Defog
Recommended Teammates
Ho-oh Weakness
Type-wise, Ho Oh takes extra damage from Rock, Water, and Electric. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Ho Oh's special bulk (base 154 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Electric |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Fighting, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
What is Ho Oh Weak Against
ExcellentBest Pokemon Against Ho-oh
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain2-2% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin6-7% Volt Switch 2x11-13% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin6-7% Volt Switch 2x11-13% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves View Tinkaton builds →
| ||
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemScizorite NatureAdamant Moves View Scizor-Mega builds →
| ||
Evolution
No breeding, no evolution. Ho Oh is a Fire/Flying legendary with 680 base stat total that you obtain once and build around. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
How to Get Ho-oh
Ho-oh doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Ho-oh is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
No wild encounters for Ho-oh in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. It's available in Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Ho-oh is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
No wild encounters for Ho-oh in Sword & Shield. It's available in Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Ho-oh is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Ho-oh waits at a fixed spot in this game. Head to Ultra Space Wilds for a one-time encounter. No random spawns or encounter rates involved — it's a set battle at a known location.
How to Get Ho-oh in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Base Stats
Sp. Def and Attack carry most of Ho-oh's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Near-impossible to catch and yields 3 Sp. Def EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness.
Ho-oh Guide
Ho-oh is a Legendary Pokemon rated S-Tier. At 680 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wall. Base 154 Sp. Def stands out.
Ho-oh's biggest threats include Aerodactyl (Rock), Gyarados (Water), and Raikou (Electric), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Aerodactyl is the most dangerous since Rock moves deal 4x damage. Ho-oh has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Regenerator is what you want on Ho-oh. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Pressure) work on paper but Regenerator is what makes Ho-oh worth using. Regenerator synergizes with Ho-oh's base 154 Sp.Def, letting it soak special attacks as a pivot.
Base 90 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Ho-oh is a physical attacker with base 130 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a wall.
Regenerator is the hidden ability. It heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out. Worth hunting for if you want Ho-oh to compete at a higher level.
Game Availability
First obtainable in Gold & Silver, Ho Oh has been featured in 17 titles across 9 generations. Legendary status means a single encounter per playthrough in most games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves