Special
Attacker
BTier
95Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Sp. Atk and Speed carry the offense, Defense doesn't even come close. A Dark Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 2 Sp. Atk stat exp per KO.

Base Stats
High
HP75
C
Attack90
B
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk110
B
Sp. Def80
C
Speed95
B
Total500
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.4 m
4'07"Average
Weight35.0 kg
77.2 lbsLight
Base XP175
Average
Abilities
Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.
Early Bird
Makes sleep pass twice as quickly.
Flash Fire
Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
UnnerveHA
Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.
Flash Fire grants Fire immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

The pungent-smelling flame that shoots from its mouth results from toxins burning in its body.

Crystal

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. Houndoom's special bulk (base 80 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Houndoom Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Fighting, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel
0x (Immune)Psychic
Type ChartGood
4Weak
6Resist
1Immune
Score+1
Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterFightingGroundRock
½xResist
FireGrassIceGhostDarkSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Psychic
STAB (6)
PsychicGhostGrassIceBugSteel
How to Beat Houndoom in Crystal (Best Counters)

In Crystal, Cloyster can KO Houndoom with Explosion (102-120%). Gengar's Explosion hits Houndoom for 75-89%. Tyranitar's Rock Slide also KOs at 124-146%.

Cloyster
CloysterWears down with Toxic, threatens with Spikes, walls physical sets
WaterIce
S
Recommended Build
ItemLeftovers
Moves
  • SpikesHazard
  • SurfSTAB
  • Explosion
  • ToxicUtility
Damage vs Houndoom
Surf 2x
71-84%
Explosion
102-120%KO
View Cloyster builds →

Crystal Evolution

Evolved from Houndour. Houndoom is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners 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

2 Forms
Houndour
#228Houndour
24
Level 24
Houndoom
#229Houndoom
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Houndour
DarkFire
Houndoom
DarkFire
HP
45
75+30
ATK
60
90+30
DEF
30
50+20
SP.ATK
80
110+30
SP.DEF
50
80+30
SPE
65
95+30
BST
330C-Tier
500B-Tier+170
ROLE
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Special
Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Houndoom to get Houndour eggs easily using 66 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Counter, Fire Spin and 4 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
7moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 66·

Crystal Houndoom Best Moveset

Best Build

Situational pick
Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Utility Moveset

  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • CrunchSTAB
  • PursuitSTAB
  • Sunny DaySTAB

Recommended Teammates

Snorlax
SnorlaxGood
Zapdos
ZapdosDecent
Cloyster
CloysterDecent

Moves

Without breeding, Houndoom misses out on Beat Up and Counter. That's 7 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Fire Blast and Flamethrower, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
—4010025Fire
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 7
Roar-6
C——20Normal
Lv 13
Smog
—207020Poison
Lv 20
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 30
Feint Attack
C60—20Dark
Lv 41
Flamethrower
B9510015Fire
Lv 52
Crunch
S8010015Dark

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
D—10015Normal
TM03
Curse
C——10Ghost
TM43
Detect+4
D——5Fighting
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM42
Dream Eater
—10010015Psychic
TM20
Endure+4
D——10Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
S120855Fire
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM02
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
TM31
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
TM50
Nightmare
——10015Ghost
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
—2010015Fighting
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM35
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
C9010010Poison
TM13
Snore
—4010015Normal
TM22
Solar Beam
A12010010Grass
HM04
Strength
C8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
A——5Fire
TM34
Swagger
C—8515Normal
TM39
Swift
C60—20Normal
TM46
Thief
C6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Beat Up
——10010Dark
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Fire Spin
—357015Fire
Egg
Pursuit
A4010020Dark
Egg
Rage
—2010020Normal
Egg
Reversal
D—10015Fighting
Egg
Spite
——10010Ghost

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Flamethrower
B9510015Fire

How to Get Houndoom in Crystal

You're catching Houndour first, not Houndoom. Houndour appears at decent rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.

How to Obtain Houndoom in Crystal

  1. Houndour
    Step 1Catch Houndour
    Route 7
    Grass Lv.18 Route
    20%Mid
    Night
  2. Houndoom
    Step 2Houndoom ✓

Houndoom Guide

  • For Crystal, we rate Houndoom B-Tier: a solid option in Crystal for the right team. At 500 BST, it fits the attacker role. Fire Blast with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • Mega Evolution isn't available in Crystal, but Houndoom does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Houndoom hits 600 BST.

  • In Crystal, watch for Starmie (Water), Machamp (Fighting), and Rhydon (Ground) when using Houndoom. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Rock-type attackers are also a problem.

  • 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.

  • In Crystal, run Fire Blast, Crunch, Pursuit, and Sunnyday on Houndoom. Fire Blast is the most common pick at 22% usage. Crunch provides reliable STAB damage.

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 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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