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.
HO-OH’s feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This POKéMON is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
HO-OH’s feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This POKéMON is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.
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. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Ho Oh's special bulk (base 154 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Electric |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Fighting, Steel |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
In Ruby & Sapphire, Magneton's Thunderbolt hits Ho Oh for 60-71%. Aerodactyl threatens a KO with Rock Slide (198-233%). Starmie deals 48-57% with Surf.
 Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemMagnet NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Magneton builds →Thunderbolt 2x60-71% | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRockhead ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Slide 4x198-233%KO Double Edge52-62% | ||
 Starmie WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Starmie builds →Rapid Spin8-10% Ice Beam16-19% Thunderbolt 2x32-38% Surf 2x48-57% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves View Gyarados builds →
| ||
Ruby & Sapphire 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
Breeding
Ruby & Sapphire Ho-oh Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
TMs carry this one. Ho Oh learns Overheat and Fire Blast naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Rock and beyond give it real matchup play.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Ho-oh in Ruby & Sapphire
No wild encounters for Ho-oh in Ruby & Sapphire. 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.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire.
Also found in:
Ho-oh Guide
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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 Ruby & Sapphire, 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 mixed attacker with base 130 Attack and 110 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a wallbreaker.
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves