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.
Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness.
Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness.
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. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. 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, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
 Volcanion FireWater | A | |
Water is super effective against Ho OhView Volcanion → | ||
 Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Electric is super effective against Ho OhView Tapu Koko → | ||
 Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Rock deals 4x damage to Ho OhView Terrakion → | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Rock deals 4x damage to Ho OhView Rhyperior → | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Water is super effective against Ho OhView Gyarados → | ||
In Sun & Moon, Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt hits Ho Oh for 70-82%. Terrakion's Stone Edge also KOs at 303-357%.
Volcanion FireWater | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Volcanion builds →Sludge Bomb29-34% Fire Blast26-31% | ||
Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt 2x70-82% Volt Switch 2x55-65% Dazzling Gleam15-18% | ||
Terrakion RockFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityJustified ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Terrakion builds →Close Combat45-53% Stone Edge 4x303-357%KO | ||
Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Rhyperior builds →Stone Edge 4x199-235%KO | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemGroundiumz NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Ho Oh View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x79-93% | ||
Sun & Moon 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
Sun & Moon Ho-oh Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Hard to wall, honestly. Ho Oh threatens 11 types beyond its own STAB, with Normal and Psychic standing out. Pair that with Sky Attack and Overheat and switchins need to think twice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Ho-oh in Sun & Moon
Ho-oh doesn't appear in Sun & Moon. Transfer it from Gold, Crystal, or Ultra Sun to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Ho-oh is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Special encounter in:
Then trade to Sun & Moon.
Also found in:
Ho-oh Guide
In Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon, 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 physical attacker with base 130 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a wallbreaker.
In Sun & Moon, 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