Houndour Best Moveset
Dark/Fire at 80 Sp. Atk and 65 Speed. AbilityFlash Fire grants Fire immunity and boosts Fire moves. The Sp. Atk has some potential for a pre-evolution but the stats trail Houndoom by enough to matter. Evolve for 110 Sp. Atk and 95 Speed that compete.
Dark/Fire pre-evolution with 80 Sp. Atk in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Flash Fire absorbed Fire moves. The type combo was rare and useful.
Best Moves
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Flamethrower
Two gens as Houndoom's pre-evolution in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Early Bird halved sleep. Decent stats for a pre-evo but Houndoom was always the pick.
Wall Moveset
- Pursuit
- Fire Blast
- Will O Wisp
- Crunch
Recommended Teammates
Houndour saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Houndour maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Life Orb, favoring a Lonely nature.
Utility Moveset
- Sucker Punch
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Pursuit
Recommended Teammates
Houndour saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Houndour maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Earlybird with Life Orb, favoring a Lonely nature.
Utility Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Sucker Punch
- Crunch
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Houndour saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Houndour maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Earlybird with Nothing, favoring a Hardy nature.
Utility Moveset
- Flame Charge
- Fire Blast
- Flamethrower
- Fire Fang
Recommended Teammates
Houndour saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Houndour maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Destiny Bond
- Toxic
- Dark Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Houndour saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Houndour maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Flashfire with Life Orb, favoring a Naive nature.
Utility Moveset
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Sucker Punch
- Flame Charge
Recommended Teammates
Houndour Weakness
Houndour is weak to Water, Fighting, Ground, and Rock. On the flip side, it's immune to Psychic-type moves entirely. 6 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Fighting, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
What is Houndour Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Houndour
Greninja can KO Houndour with Surf (274-322%). Machamp threatens a KO with Close Combat (419-494%). Garchomp's Earthquake also KOs at 319-375%.
 Greninja WaterDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Houndour View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse61-71% Ice Beam45-54% Surf 2x274-322%KO | ||
 Machamp Fighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNoguard ItemFlame Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Houndour View Machamp builds →Bullet Punch23-28% Close Combat 2x419-494%KO Stone Edge 2x233-274%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRough Skin ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Houndour View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x319-375%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Houndour View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off87-103%KO Stone Edge 2x535-630%KO | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemEviolite NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Houndour View Mienfoo builds →Knock Off28-33% U Turn61-72% High Jump Kick 2x226-267%KO | ||
Evolution
Houndour evolves into Houndoom. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 170 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Houndour easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
How to Get Houndour
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 24 locations. Houndour's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Where To Catch Houndour in SV
The path to Houndour starts with Houndour at Lv. 2-60 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Houndour ✓South Province (Area Four) - RockyLv.2-20OverworldRate 36%South Province (Area One) - CaveLv.2-20OverworldRate 36%Chilling WaterheadLv.7-60OverworldCrystal PoolLv.7-60OverworldFellhorn GorgeLv.7-60OverworldInfernal PassLv.7-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.7-60OverworldOni MountainLv.7-60OverworldParadise BarrensLv.7-60OverworldWistful FieldsLv.7-60OverworldNorth Province (Area Two) - CaveLv.24-60OverworldRate 8%North Province (Area Two) - RockyLv.24-60OverworldRate 8%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into HoundoomChilling WaterheadLv.24-60OverworldCrystal PoolLv.24-60OverworldFellhorn GorgeLv.24-60OverworldInfernal PassLv.24-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.24-60OverworldOni MountainLv.24-60OverworldParadise BarrensLv.24-60OverworldNorth Province (Area Two) - CaveLv.24-60OverworldRate 8%North Province (Area Two) - RockyLv.24-60OverworldRate 8%or evolve from Houndour (Step 1)
Houndour starts showing up in mid-game routes at moderate rates across 1 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Houndour in LZA
Houndour is your first catch on the way to Houndour. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 17-50 across 3 total spots in the chain.
- Step 1Houndour ✓Wild Zone 6Lv.17-18OverworldLegends: Z-A
- Step 2Catch or Evolve into HoundoomWild Zone 6Lv.32-33OverworldLegends: Z-AWild Zone 19Lv.49-50OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Houndour (Step 1)
Can't catch Houndour directly. Start with Houndour in the wild from the locations below, then evolve at level 24. The 2-stage line from Houndour to Houndour is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Houndour in BDSP
To get Houndour, start by catching Houndour through walking and special encounters at Lv. 16-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Houndour ✓
Step 2Catch or Evolve into HoundoomVolcanic CaveLv.16-63CaveBrilliant DiamondRate 100%Unique encounterVolcanic CaveLv.16-63CaveShining PearlRate 70%Unique encounterTyphlo CavernLv.16-63CaveBrilliant DiamondRate 50%Unique encounterTyphlo CavernLv.16-63CaveShining PearlRate 40%Unique encounterRoute 215Lv.20-22Using PokeRadarShining PearlRate 22%Route 214Lv.23-24Using PokeRadarShining PearlRate 22%Dazzling CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameSandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameSpacious CaveLv.58-63CavePost-gameStargleam CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameor evolve from Houndour (Step 1)
No searching required for Houndour. You receive it at Poké Pelago from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
How to Obtain Houndour in USUM
Houndour is your first catch on the way to Houndour. You'll find gift and walking encounters from Lv. 29-55 across 3 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Houndour ✓Poké Pelago - Poni Island reachedLv.37-43Gift from NPCUltra SunPoké Pelago - Elite Four defeatedLv.49-55Gift from NPCUltra Sun
Step 2Catch or Evolve into HoundoomRoute 12Lv.29-32GrassUltra SunRate 20%or evolve from Houndour (Step 1)
Base Stats
Houndour's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Atk leads, Defense trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Common in the wild and worth 1 Sp. Atk EV, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It is smart enough to hunt in packs. It uses a variety of cries for communicating with others.
Houndour Guide
Houndour does the job early-game if you need a Dark/Fire type on your team. Evolve it into Houndoom before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Game Availability
Houndour first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 9 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
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