Physical
Cannon
CTier
71Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Raw Attack carries Honchkrow's bulk more than the defenses do. Defense barely registers. But that HP pool covers for it. A tough to catch Big Boss Pokemon that yields 2 Attack EVs on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
High
HP100
B
Attack125
A
Defense52
D
Sp. Atk105
B
Sp. Def52
D
Speed71
C
Total505
Details
Catch Rate
Difficult30 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.9 m
2'11"Small
Weight27.3 kg
60.2 lbsLight
Base XP177
Average
Abilities
Insomnia
Prevents sleep.
Super LuckRare
Raises moves' critical hit rates one stage.
MoxieHATop Pick
Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

If one utters a deep cry, many Murkrow gather quickly. For this, it is called “Summoner of Night.”

Honchkrow Weakness

Type-wise, Honchkrow takes extra damage from Electric, Ice, Rock, and Fairy. Ground and Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.

Honchkrow Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ice, Rock, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Ghost, Dark
0x (Immune)Ground, Psychic
Type ChartGood
4Weak
3Resist
2Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricIceRockFairy
½xResist
GrassGhostDark
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
GroundPsychic
STAB (5)
PsychicGhostGrassFightingBug
How to Beat Honchkrow in X & Y (Best Counters)

In X & Y, Clefable's Moonblast hits Honchkrow for 81-96%. Weavile's Ice Shard hits Honchkrow for 78-92%. Zapdos's Thunderbolt also KOs at 97-115%.

Clefable
Clefable
Fairy
A
Recommended Build
AbilityMagic Guard
ItemLeftovers
NatureBold
Moves
  • MoonblastSTAB
  • Soft Boiled
  • Calm Mind
  • Thunder Wave
Damage vs Honchkrow
Moonblast 2x
81-96%
View Clefable builds →

X & Y Evolution

Getting Honchkrow requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Murkrow. Breed this form to get Murkrow eggs (average hatch time). HP grew the most through evolution (+40 over Murkrow), and Honchkrow peaks at 505 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Murkrow
#198Murkrow
Dusk Stone
Dusk Stone
Honchkrow
#430Honchkrow
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Murkrow
DarkFlying
Honchkrow
DarkFlying
HP
60
100+40
ATK
85
125+40
DEF
42
52+10
SP.ATK
85
105+20
SP.DEF
42
52+10
SPE
91
71-20
BST
405B-Tier
505B-Tier+100
ROLE
Balanced
Cannon
TYPE
Mixed
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Honchkrow to get Murkrow eggs easily using 51 partners from the Flying egg group. Notable egg moves include Assurance, Brave Bird, Confuse Ray and 12 more.

Egg Groups
Flying
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
15moves
Breed With (best first)
togekisstogetichawluchaaltariaswannapelipperswoobatfarfetchdwoobatswabluarcheopsducklett
12 of 51·

X & Y Honchkrow Best Moveset

Fighting coverage keeps opponents guessing about Honchkrow's real targets. Blackglasses provides extra utility while max HP and Attack EVs and Adamant nature handle the stat profile. Moxie ties it together.

Best Build

Situational pick
Ability
Moxie
Item
Black Glasses
Best Nature for Honchkrow
Adamant+ATK

Honchkrow best EVs are Attack and HP

EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Sucker PunchSTAB
  • Brave BirdSTAB
  • SuperpowerCoverage
  • Night SlashSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Talonflame
TalonflameDecent
Swellow
SwellowDecent

Moves

Breeding's the move. Assurance and Brave Bird give Honchkrow options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Sky Attack and Brave Bird. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Astonish
—3010015Ghost
Lv 1
Haze
C——30Ice
Lv 1
Night Slash
A7010015Dark
Lv 1
Pursuit
C4010020Dark
Lv 1
Sucker Punch+1
S801005Dark
Lv 1
Wing Attack
—6010035Flying
Lv 25
Swagger
——9015Normal
Lv 35
Nasty Plot
C——20Dark
Lv 45
Foul Play
S9510015Dark
Lv 55
Night Slash
A7010015Dark
Lv 65
Quash
——10015Dark
Lv 75
Dark Pulse
B8010015Dark

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
C60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
D—10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
C——20Psychic
TM100
Confide
———20Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
B8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
C10010015Psychic
TM63
Embargo
——10015Dark
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
HM02
Fly
B909515Flying
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM59
Incinerate
—6010015Fire
TM66
Payback
—5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
D——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
TM60
Quash
——10015Dark
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
—701005Normal
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM19
Roost
C——10Flying
TM48
Round
C6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM95
Snarl
C559515Dark
TM51
Steel Wing
A709025Steel
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
C6010025Dark
TM73
Thunder Wave
C—10020Electric
TM41
Torment
——10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Assurance
C6010010Dark
Egg
Brave Bird
S12010015Flying
Egg
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost
Egg
Drill Peck
B8010020Flying
Egg
Feather Dance
——10015Flying
Egg
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Egg
Flatter
——10015Dark
Egg
Mirror Move
———20Flying
Egg
Perish Song
C——5Normal
Egg
Psycho Shift
D—10010Psychic
Egg
Roost
C——10Flying
Egg
Screech
——8540Normal
Egg
Sky Attack
B140905Flying
Egg
Whirlwind-6
C——20Normal
Egg
Wing Attack
—6010035Flying

Tutor Moves

Honchkrow can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Rem
Rem
Assurance
C6010010Dark
Rem
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Rem
Mean Look
———5Normal
Rem
Night Shade
D—10015Ghost
Rem
Peck
—3510035Flying
Rem
Tailwind
S——15Flying
Rem
Taunt
C—10020Dark
Rem
Torment
——10015Dark

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 4
Air Cutter
C609525Flying
Gen 4
Captivate
——10020Normal
Gen 4
Defog
C——15Flying
Gen 4
Endure+4
D——10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
Gen 4
Ominous Wind
—601005Ghost
Gen 5
Pluck
—6010020Flying
Gen 4
Swift
—60—20Normal
Gen 4
Twister
—4010020Dragon

How to Get Honchkrow in X & Y

Honchkrow doesn't appear wild. Catch Murkrow instead, it shows up at decent rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Honchkrow. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Honchkrow in X & Y

The path to Honchkrow starts with Murkrow at Lv. 18+ via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Murkrow
    Step 1Catch Murkrow
    Route 15
    XGrass Lv.18 Route
    UncommonMid
    Horde battle
    Route 15
    YGrass Lv.18 Route
    UncommonMid
    Horde battle
    Route 16
    XGrass Lv.18 Route
    UncommonMid
    Horde battle
    Route 16
    YGrass Lv.18 Route
    UncommonMid
    Horde battle
  2. Honchkrow
    Step 2Honchkrow ✓

Honchkrow Guide

  • For X & Y, we rate Honchkrow C-Tier: a niche pick in X & Y's meta. At 505 BST, it fits the cannon role. Sucker Punch with Blackglasses is the standard set.

  • In X & Y, Honchkrow's biggest threats include Manectric (Electric), Weavile (Ice), and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Fairy-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Insomnia is the go-to ability for Honchkrow. It prevents sleep. Its hidden ability Moxie can work in specific setups. Super Luck is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.

  • Base 71 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Honchkrow is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a cannon.

  • For X & Y, the core moveset is Sucker Punch, Bravebird, Superpower, and Nightslash. Sucker Punch leads at 24% usage. This set covers the cannon role with a mix of damage and utility.

Game Availability

Obtainable through an item-based evolution, Honchkrow appears in 12 titles across 7 generations since Diamond & Pearl. The evolution method adds a barrier that wild-catchable Pokemon don't have.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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