In Sword & Shield, Ho-oh is a Legendary Pokemon rated S-Tier. At 680 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wallbreaker. Base 154 Sp. Def stands out.

What is Ho-oh weak to?

In Sword & Shield, 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.

What is the best ability for Ho-oh?

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.

What role does Ho-oh play in battle?

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 wallbreaker.

What is Ho-oh's hidden ability?

In Sword & Shield, 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.

Ho-oh - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Wallbreaker

STier

90Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

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.

Base Stats

Legend

HP106

Attack130

Defense90

Sp. Atk110

Sp. Def154

Speed90

Total680

Details

Catch Rate

Legendary3 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height3.8 m

Weight199.0 kg

Base XP306

Abilities

Pressure

Increases the PP cost of moves targetting the Pokémon by one.

RegeneratorHA

Heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe

Strong Special Defense training target

Pokedex Entries

No Sword Shield entries available

Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness.

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.

Ho Oh Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Rock
2x (Weak)	Water, Electric
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Fighting, Steel, Fairy
0.25x (Resist)	Grass, Bug
0x (Immune)	Ground

Type ChartExcellent

3Weak

6Resist

1Immune

Score+3

4xCritical

Rock

2xWeak

Water Electric

½xResist

Fire Fighting Steel Fairy

¼xResist

Grass Bug

0xImmune

Ground

STAB (5)

Grass Ice Bug Steel Fighting

How to Beat Ho Oh in Sword & Shield (Best Counters)

In Sword & Shield, Slowking's Scald hits Ho Oh for 35-41%. Nihilego's Power Gem also KOs at 97-114%.

Zeraora Electric	A
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves Plasma Fists Fake Out Drain Punch Fire Punch Damage vs Ho Oh Drain Punch 11-14% View Zeraora builds →
Slowking WaterPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemColbur Berry NatureRelaxed Moves ScaldSTAB TeleportUtility Slack Off Future Sight Damage vs Ho Oh Scald 2x 35-41% View Slowking builds →
Nihilego RockPoison	A
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves Power Gem Grass Knot Stealth Rock Sludge Wave Damage vs Ho Oh Power Gem 4x 97-114%KO View Nihilego builds →
Rhyperior GroundRock	B
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemRocky Helmet NatureRelaxed Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stone Edge Ice Punch Stealth Rock Damage vs Ho Oh Stone Edge 4x 180-212%KO View Rhyperior builds →
Gyarados WaterFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityMoxie ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves WaterfallSTAB Dragon Dance BounceSTAB Ice Fang Damage vs Ho Oh Waterfall 2x 87-103%KO Bounce 46-54% Ice Fang 24-28% View Gyarados builds →

Sword & Shield 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

No Evolution

#250Ho-ohDoes not evolve

Breeding

Unavailable

Undiscovered egg group

Sword & Shield Ho-oh Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

TMs carry this one. Ho Oh learns Sky Attack and Burn Up naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Rock and Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Ancient Power

C601005Rock

Lv 1

Gust

C4010035Flying

Lv 1

Weather Ball

D5010010Normal

Lv 1

Whirlwind-6

D——20Normal

Lv 9

Life Dew

D——10Water

Lv 18

Safeguard

C——25Normal

Lv 27

Calm Mind

C——20Psychic

Lv 36

Extrasensory

C8010020Psychic

Lv 45

Recover

C——10Normal

Lv 54

Sacred Fire

B100955Fire

Lv 63

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

Lv 72

Fire Blast

B110855Fire

Lv 81

Future Sight

B12010010Psychic

Lv 90

Sky Attack

B140905Flying

Lv 99

Burn Up

B1301005Fire

TM Moves

TM95

Air Slash

C759515Flying

TR66

Brave Bird

B12010015Flying

TM81

Bulldoze

C6010020Ground

TR49

Calm Mind

C——20Psychic

TR67

Earth Power

C9010010Ground

TR10

Earthquake

B10010010Ground

TR26

Endure+4

C——10Normal

TM39

Facade

C7010020Normal

TR15

Fire Blast

B110855Fire

TM13

Fire Spin

D358515Fire

TR02

Flamethrower

B9010015Fire

TR55

Flare Blitz

B12010015Fire

TM06

Fly

B909515Flying

TR34

Future Sight

B12010010Psychic

TM28

Giga Drain

C7510010Grass

TM09

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TR36

Heat Wave

B959010Fire

TM41

Helping Hand+5

C——20Normal

TM08

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TR42

Hyper Voice

C9010010Normal

TM44

Imprison

D——10Psychic

TR74

Iron Head

C8010015Steel

TM17

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM92

Mystical Fire

B7510010Fire

TR43

Overheat

B130905Fire

TM25

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TR11

Psychic

C9010010Psychic

TM33

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM18

Reflect

C——20Psychic

TM21

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM76

Round

C6010015Normal

TM19

Safeguard

C——25Normal

TM32

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TR33

Shadow Ball

C8010015Ghost

TR27

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM24

Snore

—5010015Normal

TM11

Solar Beam

B12010010Grass

TM30

Steel Wing

C709025Steel

TR20

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM34

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM40

Swift

C60—20Normal

TR09

Thunder

C1107010Electric

TM14

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

TR08

Thunderbolt

C9010015Electric

TM46

Weather Ball

D5010010Normal

TM38

Will-O-Wisp

C—8515Fire

TR69

Zen Headbutt

C809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Ho-oh doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Dual Wingbeat

C409010Flying

Tutor

Scorching Sands

C7010010Ground

How to Get Ho-oh in Sword & Shield

No wild encounters for Ho-oh in Sword & Shield. It's available in Gold, Crystal, or Ultra Sun 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 found in:

Gold Crystal Emerald FireRed HeartGold Omega Ruby

Ho-oh Guide

In Sword & Shield, Ho-oh is a Legendary Pokemon rated S-Tier. At 680 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wallbreaker. Base 154 Sp. Def stands out.
In Sword & Shield, 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 wallbreaker.
In Sword & Shield, 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

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