Special
Attacker
500High
95Moderate
CTier

Psychic moves don't affect Houndoom at all — that's the advantage of Dark/Fire typing. Flash Fire absorbs Fire moves and powers up its own. Known as the Dark Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Dark Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 2 Sp. Atk EVs per KO.

Base Stats
500High
HP75
C
Attack90
B
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk110
B
Sp. Def80
C
Speed95
B
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Houndoom yields +2 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Details
Catch45ChallengingSlow1.25M XP1.4m / 4'07"35kg / 77.2 lbs175Base XP
Pokedex Entries

The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.

Black / White

Houndoom Weakness

Good

Water, Fighting, Ground, and Rock-type moves hit Houndoom for super-effective damage. The upside? Psychic-type moves can't touch it at all. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Houndoom's special bulk (base 80 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Gen V Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
4Weak
6Resist
2Immune
Scorei+1
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Early BirdMakes sleep pass twice as quickly.
Flash FireProtects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
UnnerveHAPrevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.
Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

Evolved from Houndour. Houndoom is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. HP grew the most through evolution (+30 over Houndour), and Houndoom peaks at 500 total stats.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Houndour
DarkFire
Houndoom
DarkFire
HP
45
75+30
ATK
60
90+30
DEF
30
50+20
SP.ATK
80
110+30
SP.DEF
50
80+30
SPE
65
95+30
BST
330C-Tier
500B-Tier+170
ROLE
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Houndoom to get Houndour eggs easily using 180 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Counter, Feint and 10 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
13moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy

the remaining moves is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Nasty Plot, Houndoom threatens a wide range with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and Blackglasses backing every hit.

Best Build

Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Flashfire
Item
Blackglasses
Nature
Hasty+SPE
EVs

Best Houndoom Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Sucker PunchSTAB
  • Nasty PlotSTAB
  • OverheatSTAB

Without breeding, Houndoom misses out on Beat Up and Counter. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Overheat and Fire Blast, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
4010025Fire
Lv 1
Howl
40Normal
Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Smog
207020Poison
Lv 1
Thunder Fang
659515Electric
Lv 4
Howl
40Normal
Lv 8
Smog
207020Poison
Lv 13
Roar-6
10020Normal
Lv 16
Bite
6010025Dark
Lv 20
Odor Sleuth
40Normal
Lv 26
Beat Up
10010Dark
Lv 30
Fire Fang
659515Fire
Lv 35
Feint Attack
6020Dark
Lv 41
Embargo
10015Dark
Lv 45
Foul Play
9510015Dark
Lv 50
Flamethrower
9510015Fire
Lv 56
Crunch
8010015Dark
Lv 60
Nasty Plot
20Dark
Lv 65
Inferno
100505Fire

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM63
Embargo
10015Dark
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
120855Fire
TM43
Flame Charge
5010020Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
9510015Fire
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM59
Incinerate
3010015Fire
TM50
Overheat
140905Fire
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
10020Normal
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM36
Sludge Bomb
9010010Poison
TM95
Snarl
559515Dark
TM22
Solar Beam
12010010Grass
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010010Dark
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
7515Fire

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Beat Up
10010Dark
Egg
Counter-5
10020Fighting
Egg
Feint+2
3010010Normal
Egg
Fire Fang
659515Fire
Egg
Fire Spin
358515Fire
Egg
Nasty Plot
20Dark
Egg
Punishment
1005Dark
Egg
Pursuit
4010020Dark
Egg
Rage
2010020Normal
Egg
Reversal
10015Fighting
Egg
Spite
10010Ghost
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
801005Dark
Egg
Thunder Fang
659515Electric

Tutor Moves

Houndoom can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Gen 4
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 4
Swift
6020Normal

No wild encounters for Houndoom. The 2-stage line runs through Houndour, which you can catch at solid rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 24 once you've got the levels.

How to Obtain Houndoom in Black & White

  1. Houndour
    Step 1Catch Houndour
    Route 9
    GrassLv.31-32CommonLateRouteAnySwarm active
    EFFORTLESS
  2. Houndoom
    Step 2Houndoom
  • Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker.

  • Watch for Starmie (Water), Machamp (Fighting), and Rhydon (Ground) when using Houndoom. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Rock-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Houndour evolves into Houndoom at level 24. Houndoom is the fully evolved form. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Flash Fire is what you want on Houndoom. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Early Bird, Unnerve) work on paper but Flash Fire is what makes Houndoom worth using.

  • Base 95 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Houndoom is a special attacker with base 110 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as an attacker.

  • Houndoom appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Houndoom has appeared in 17 titles over 8 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.