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 EVs 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
Early BirdRare
Makes sleep pass twice as quickly.
Flash FireTop Pick
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
No Legends Z A entries available

If you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, the pain will never go away.

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. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. 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
2Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterFightingGroundRock
½xResist
FireGrassIceGhostDarkSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
PsychicFire
STAB (6)
PsychicGhostGrassIceBugSteel
How to Beat Houndoom in Legends: Z-A (Best Counters)
Greninja
Greninja
WaterDark
S
Water is super effective against HoundoomView Greninja →

Legends: Z-A 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 is not available in this game

Legends: Z-A Houndoom Best Moveset

the remaining moves is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Nasty Plot, Houndoom threatens a wide range with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs and Heavy-Duty Boots backing every hit.

Best Build

Situational pick
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
Heavy Duty Boots
Best Nature for Houndoom
Timid+SPE

Houndoom best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • Dark PulseSTAB
  • Nasty PlotSTAB
  • FlamethrowerSTAB
  • Sludge Bomb

Moves

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Houndoom. TMs unlock coverage across 7 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Overheat and Flare Blitz into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
—4010025Fire
Lv 1
Leer
D—10030Normal
Lv 1
Nasty Plot
S——20Dark
Lv 6
Tackle
D4010035Normal
Lv 13
Roar-6
C——20Normal
Lv 16
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 21
Snarl
S559515Dark
Lv 24
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 28
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
Lv 34
Dark Pulse
S8010015Dark
Lv 44
Flamethrower
S9010015Fire
Lv 49
Crunch
C8010015Dark
Lv 55
Overheat
B130905Fire

TM Moves

TM
TM33
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
TM25
Crunch
C8010015Dark
TM90
Dark Pulse
S8010015Dark
TM56
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
TM127
Dream Eater
C10010015Psychic
TM35
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM109
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
S110855Fire
TM14
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
TM72
Fire Spin
D358515Fire
TM114
Flame Charge
A5010020Fire
TM62
Flamethrower
S9010015Fire
TM104
Flare Blitz
B12010015Fire
TM55
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM01
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
TM68
Heat Wave
S959010Fire
TM44
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM71
Hyper Voice
C9010010Normal
TM46
Mud Shot
A559515Ground
TM83
Nasty Plot
S——20Dark
TM50
Overheat
B130905Fire
TM17
Protect+4
B——10Normal
TM124
Psychic Fangs
C8510010Psychic
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM74
Shadow Ball
A8010015Ghost
TM53
Sludge Bomb
S9010010Poison
TM64
Solar Beam
B12010010Grass
TM85
Substitute
B——10Normal
TM139
Swagger
C—8515Normal
TM95
Taunt
A—10020Dark
TM21
Thunder Fang
D659515Electric
TM121
Torment
D—10015Dark
TM07
Toxic
B—9010Poison
TM115
Trailblaze
D5010020Grass
TM57
Will-O-Wisp
A—8515Fire

Egg Moves

Houndoom doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Houndoom can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Houndoom in Legends: Z-A

Houndoom isn't available in the wild in Legends: Z-A. Start by transferring Houndour from Gold, Crystal, or Scarlet. The evolution path from Houndour to Houndoom is covered in the steps below.

How to Obtain Houndoom in Legends: Z-A

  1. Houndour
    Step 1Obtain Houndour

    Catch in the wild in:

    ScarletOverworld · South Province (Area Four)

    Then trade to Legends: Z-A to continue the evolution chain.

    Also found in:

    GoldCrystalEmeraldPlatinumHeartGoldBlack
  2. Houndoom
    Step 2Houndoom ✓

Houndoom Guide

  • In Legends: Z-A, Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as an attacker. Dark Pulse with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.

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

  • In Legends: Z-A, 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.

  • Flash Fire is what you want on Houndoom. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Early Bird, Unnerve) work on paper but Flash Fire is what makes Houndoom worth using.

  • 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.

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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