Is Houndoom Good in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Playthrough?
Imported Houndoom brings Dark/Fire for Phoebe and Tate and Liza. Mega Houndoom with AbilitySolar Power boosts Special Attack in sun at the cost of HP. Strong against three of the five endgame bosses (Phoebe, Tate and Liza, Glacia).
Houndour trades roughly evenly with Roxanne's team.
Houndour trades roughly evenly with Brawly's team.
Houndour has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.
Houndoom trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.
Houndoom trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.
Houndoom has the type edge here and should clean up Winona's team.
Houndoom has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.
Houndoom trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.
Houndoom trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.
Houndoom has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.
Houndoom has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.
Houndoom trades roughly evenly with Drake's team.
Houndoom has the type edge here and should clean up Steven's team.
Houndoom cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 24.
How to Get Houndoom in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
No wild encounters for Houndoom in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. Bring Houndour over from Gold & Silver, Crystal, or Legends: Z-A, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
How to Obtain Houndoom in ORAS
Step 1Obtain HoundourCARTRIDGE TRADEfrom X & YAvailableCatch in X & Y via Walking · Route 10 · Yellow Flower, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Walking · Route 7. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Walking · Route 7. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom EmeraldNot TradeableAppears in Emerald via Walking · Altering Cave. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom PlatinumNot TradeableAppears in Platinum via Walking · Route 214. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCENot TradeableAppears in HeartGold & SoulSilver via Walking · Route 7. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Black & WhiteNot TradeableAppears in Black & White via Swarm · Route 9 · Swarm active. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Houndoom ✓
Houndoom Weakness
Water, Fighting, Ground, and Rock 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Fighting, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
What is Houndoom Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Houndoom
 Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Shellos builds →Surf 2x61-73% Mud Bomb 2x31-37% | ||
 Piplup Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Piplup builds →Surf 2x61-73% Rock Tomb 2x35-41% | ||
 Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Mudkip Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Mudkip builds →Surf 2x57-67% Rock Tomb 2x41-49% Mud-Slap 2x12-16% | ||
 Tympole Water | D | |
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Shellos Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Shellos builds →Surf 2x61-72% Mud Bomb 2x31-37% | ||
Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Piplup Water | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Piplup builds →Surf 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x33-41% | ||
 Makuhita Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Makuhita builds →Force Palm 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x41-48% Surf 2x24-30% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
 Prinplup Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Piplup (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Prinplup builds →Surf 2x73-86% Rock Tomb 2x39-47% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Archen Rock | C | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift | ||
 Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x190-224%KO Bulldoze 2x59-70% Rock Tomb 2x59-70% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hariyama builds →Vital Throw 2x103-122%KO Dig 2x80-95% Rock Tomb 2x59-70% Surf 2x30-35% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x49-59% Rock Smash 2x25-31% | ||
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Sawk builds →Brick Break 2x114-135%KO Dig 2x81-97% Rock Tomb 2x62-73% | ||
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Ludicolo builds →Surf 2x75-89% Rock Smash 2x27-33% | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x192-226%KO Bulldoze 2x61-72% Rock Tomb 2x61-72% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hariyama builds →Vital Throw 2x105-124%KO Dig 2x80-95% Rock Tomb 2x61-72% Surf 2x29-35% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x48-58% Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Sawk builds →Brick Break 2x115-136%KO Dig 2x81-97% Rock Tomb 2x63-74% | ||
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Ludicolo builds →Surf 2x75-90% Rock Smash 2x28-33% | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x194-229%KO Bulldoze 2x61-73% Rock Tomb 2x61-73% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hariyama builds →Vital Throw 2x107-126%KO Dig 2x81-96% Rock Tomb 2x61-73% Surf 2x29-35% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x139-165%KO Rock Tomb 2x56-67% Rock Smash 2x38-45% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x89-106%KO Dig 2x51-61% Rock Smash 2x26-31% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Sawk builds →Brick Break 2x117-138%KO Dig 2x83-98% Rock Tomb 2x63-75% | ||
 Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Blaziken builds →High Jump Kick 2x199-234%KO Stone Edge 2x102-121%KO Dig 2x82-97% | ||
 Infernape FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x163-192%KO Stone Edge 2x91-107%KO Dig 2x72-85% | ||
 Emboar FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tepig (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Emboar builds →Hammer Arm 2x155-183%KO Stone Edge 2x104-122%KO Bulldoze 2x63-75% | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x189-223%KO Stone Edge 2x106-125%KO Dig 2x85-100%KO | ||
Hitmonlee Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x199-234%KO Stone Edge 2x102-121%KO Bulldoze 2x63-74% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x178-209%KO Earthquake 2x99-117%KO Stone Edge 2x99-117%KO Surf 2x28-33% | ||
Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Blaziken builds →High Jump Kick 2x192-227%KO Earthquake 2x99-117%KO Stone Edge 2x99-117%KO | ||
Infernape FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x158-186%KO Earthquake 2x88-104%KO Stone Edge 2x88-104%KO | ||
Emboar FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tepig (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Emboar builds →Hammer Arm 2x152-179%KO Earthquake 2x101-119%KO Stone Edge 2x101-119%KO Scald 2x49-58% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x183-216%KO Earthquake 2x102-121%KO Stone Edge 2x102-121%KO | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodMirage Spots Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Terrakion builds →Close Combat 2x194-228%KO Stone Edge 2x162-191%KO Earthquake 2x108-127%KO | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x182-214%KO Earthquake 2x101-119%KO Stone Edge 2x101-119%KO Surf 2x27-32% | ||
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Rustboro City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 2x300-354%KO Earthquake 2x133-157%KO Brick Break 2x101-119%KO Surf 2x38-45% | ||
Blaziken FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Torchic (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Blaziken builds →High Jump Kick 2x197-232%KO Earthquake 2x101-119%KO Stone Edge 2x101-119%KO | ||
Infernape FireFighting | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Route 101 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Infernape builds →Close Combat 2x161-190%KO Earthquake 2x90-106%KO Stone Edge 2x90-106%KO | ||
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Excadrill can KO Houndoom with Earthquake (200-236%). Lucario threatens a KO with Close Combat (271-319%). Rhyperior's Earthquake also KOs at 226-266%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x200-236%KO Rapid Spin33-40% | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySteadfast ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Lucario builds →Close Combat 2x271-319%KO Extreme Speed60-71% Aura Sphere 2x95-111%KO Flash Cannon23-27% | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Houndoom View Rhyperior builds →Earthquake 2x226-266%KO Stone Edge 2x226-266%KO | ||
Houndoom Evolutions
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Houndoom to get Houndour eggs easily using 200 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Counter, Destiny Bond and 11 more.
ORAS Houndoom Best Moveset
Dark/Fire at 110 Sp. Atk and 95 Speed. Mega Houndoom adds AbilitySolar Power boosting Sp. Atk in sun at HP cost, reaching 140 Sp. Atk before the sun boost. AbilityFlash Fire on base form absorbs Fire. The moveset earns B-tier through Mega sun power.
Best Build
Houndoom best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
- Destiny Bond
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Without breeding, Houndoom misses out on Beat Up and Counter. That's 14 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Overheat and Fire Blast, with coverage across 9 types rounding things out.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply toward the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting among themselves.
Houndoom Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Guide
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Dark Pulse with Focus Sash is the standard set.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Houndoom can Mega Evolve into Mega Houndoom. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
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.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Houndoom has appeared in 17 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
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 6ORASMega
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