Physical
Cannon
CTier
71Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Raw Attack carries Honchkrow's bulk more than the defenses do. Defense barely registers. But that HP pool covers for it. A tough to catch Big Boss Pokemon that yields 2 Attack EVs on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
High
HP100
B
Attack125
A
Defense52
D
Sp. Atk105
B
Sp. Def52
D
Speed71
C
Total505
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult30 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.9 m
2'11"Small
Weight27.3 kg
60.2 lbsLight
Base XP177
Average
Abilities
InsomniaPopular
Prevents sleep.
Super LuckPopular
Raises moves' critical hit rates one stage.
MoxieHANot in game
Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

It is merciless by nature. It is said that it never forgives the mistakes of its MURKROW followers.

Honchkrow Weakness

Type-wise, Honchkrow takes extra damage from Electric, Ice, and Rock. Ground and Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.

Honchkrow Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)Ground, Psychic
Type ChartExcellent
3Weak
3Resist
2Immune
Score+3
Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricIceRock
½xResist
GrassGhostDark
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
GroundPsychic
STAB (5)
PsychicGhostGrassFightingBug
How to Beat Honchkrow in HeartGold & SoulSilver (Best Counters)

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Azelf can KO Honchkrow with Explosion (107-126%). Zapdos threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (129-152%). Weavile deals 62-73% with Ice Shard.

Azelf
AzelfThreatens with Stealth Rock, outspeeds
Psychic
A
Recommended Build
AbilityLevitate
ItemFocus Sash
NatureJolly
Moves
  • Explosion
  • Stealth Rock
  • TauntUtility
  • U Turn
Damage vs Honchkrow
Explosion
107-126%KO
U Turn
30-36%
View Azelf builds →

HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution

Getting Honchkrow requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Murkrow. Breed this form to get Murkrow eggs (average hatch time). HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Murkrow), and Honchkrow peaks at 505 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Murkrow
#198Murkrow
Dusk Stone
Dusk Stone
Honchkrow
#430Honchkrow
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Murkrow
DarkFlying
Honchkrow
DarkFlying
HP
60
100+40
ATK
85
125+40
DEF
42
52+10
SP.ATK
85
105+20
SP.DEF
42
52+10
SPE
91
71-20
BST
405B-Tier
505B-Tier+100
ROLE
Balanced
Cannon
TYPE
Mixed
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Honchkrow to get Murkrow eggs easily using 31 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Brave Bird, Confuse Ray, Drill Peck and 9 more.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
12moves
Breed With (best first)
togekisstogeticaltariapelipperfarfetchdswabluwingullcrobatstaraptorpidgeotdodrioxatu
12 of 31·

HeartGold & SoulSilver Honchkrow Best Moveset

Fighting coverage keeps opponents guessing about Honchkrow's real targets. Life Orb provides extra damage on every hit for a health trade while max Attack and Speed EVs and Naughty nature handle the stat profile. Insomnia ties it together.

Best Build

Situational pick
Physical Sweeper
Ability
Insomnia
Item
Life OrbPOWER
Best Nature for Honchkrow
Naughty+ATK

Honchkrow best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Brave BirdSTAB
  • Sucker PunchSTAB
  • SuperpowerCoverage
  • Heat Wave

Recommended Teammates

Breloom
BreloomDecent
Starmie
StarmieDecent

Moves

Breeding's the move. Brave Bird and Confuse Ray give Honchkrow options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 9 types already covers a decent range on top of Sky Attack and Brave Bird. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Astonish
—3010015Ghost
Lv 1
Haze
D——30Ice
Lv 1
Pursuit
B4010020Dark
Lv 1
Wing Attack
C6010035Flying
Lv 25
Swagger
——9015Normal
Lv 35
Nasty Plot
C——20Dark
Lv 45
Night Slash
B7010015Dark
Lv 55
Dark Pulse
B8010015Dark

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
C60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
C——20Psychic
TM78
Captivate
——10020Normal
TM79
Dark Pulse
B8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
—10010015Psychic
TM63
Embargo
——10015Dark
TM58
Endure+4
———10Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
HM02
Fly
B909515Flying
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM83
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
TM66
Payback
C5010010Dark
TM88
Pluck
—6010020Flying
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
———10Normal
TM29
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM51
Roost
C——10Flying
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM49
Snatch+4
———10Dark
TM47
Steel Wing
C709025Steel
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
—6010025Dark
TM73
Thunder Wave
C—10020Electric
TM41
Torment
——10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Brave Bird
S12010015Flying
Egg
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost
Egg
Drill Peck
B8010020Flying
Egg
Feather Dance
——10015Flying
Egg
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Egg
Mirror Move
———20Flying
Egg
Perish Song
D——5Normal
Egg
Psycho Shift
——10010Psychic
Egg
Screech
——8540Normal
Egg
Sky Attack
B140905Flying
Egg
Whirlwind-6
D——20Normal
Egg
Wing Attack
C6010035Flying

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Air Cutter
C559525Flying
Tutor
Heat Wave
A1009010Fire
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Ominous Wind
C601005Ghost
Tutor
Sky Attack
B140905Flying
Tutor
Spite
——10010Ghost
Tutor
Sucker Punch+1
S801005Dark
Tutor
Superpower
S1201005Fighting
Tutor
Swift
—60—20Normal
Tutor
Tailwind
D——15Flying
Tutor
Twister
—4010020Dragon
Tutor
Uproar
—9010010Normal

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Assurance
—5010010Dark
Rem
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Rem
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Rem
Mean Look
D——5Normal
Rem
Night Shade
D—10015Ghost
Rem
Peck
—3510035Flying
Rem
Sucker Punch+1
S801005Dark
Rem
Taunt
C—10020Dark

How to Get Honchkrow in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Honchkrow doesn't appear wild. Catch Murkrow instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Honchkrow. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Honchkrow in HeartGold & SoulSilver

To get Honchkrow, start by catching Murkrow through walking encounters at Lv. 17-29. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Murkrow
    Step 1Catch Murkrow
    Route 7
    HeartGoldGrass Lv.17-19 Route
    CommonMid
    Night
    Route 7
    SoulSilverGrass Lv.17 Route
    CommonMid
    Night
    Route 16
    HeartGoldGrass Lv.29 Route
    UncommonMid
    Night
    Route 16
    SoulSilverGrass Lv.29 Route
    UncommonMid
    Night
  2. Honchkrow
    Step 2Honchkrow ✓

Honchkrow Guide

  • For HeartGold & SoulSilver, we rate Honchkrow C-Tier: a niche pick in HeartGold & SoulSilver's meta. At 505 BST, it fits the cannon role. Bravebird with Life Orb is the standard set.

  • In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Honchkrow's biggest threats include Manectric (Electric), Weavile (Ice), and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Insomnia is the go-to ability for Honchkrow. It prevents sleep. Its hidden ability Moxie can work in specific setups. Super Luck is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.

  • Base 71 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Honchkrow is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a cannon.

  • In HeartGold & SoulSilver, the best way to handle Honchkrow: Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Electric, Ice, and Rock-type attackers hit hardest.

Game Availability

Obtainable through an item-based evolution, Honchkrow appears in 12 titles across 7 generations since Diamond & Pearl. The evolution method adds a barrier that wild-catchable Pokemon don't have.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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