In Platinum, Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Dark Pulse with Life Orb is the standard set.

Does Houndoom mega evolve?

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

What is Houndoom weak to?

In Platinum, 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.

What is the best ability for Houndoom?

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.

What role does Houndoom play in battle?

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.

Houndoom - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Attacker

CTier

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

Attack90

Defense50

Sp. Atk110

Sp. Def80

Speed95

Total500

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.4 m

Weight35.0 kg

Base XP175

Abilities

Early BirdNiche

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.

UnnerveHANot in game

Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.

Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe

Special Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.

Platinum

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
Damage	Types
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

Gen IV Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Fighting Ground Rock

½xResist

Fire Grass Ice Ghost Dark Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Psychic Fire

STAB (6)

Psychic Ghost Grass Ice Bug Steel

How to Beat Houndoom in Platinum (Best Counters)

In Platinum, Azelf can KO Houndoom with Explosion (144-170%). Infernape threatens a KO with Close Combat (223-263%).

AzelfThreatens with Stealth Rock, outspeeds Psychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves Explosion Stealth Rock TauntUtility U Turn Damage vs Houndoom Explosion 144-170%KO U Turn 41-48% View Azelf builds →
Infernape FireFighting	A
Recommended Build AbilityBlaze ItemExpert Belt NatureJolly Moves Close Combat U Turn Grass Knot Fire Blast Damage vs Houndoom Close Combat 2x 223-263%KO U Turn 43-51% Fire Blast 23-27% View Infernape builds →
SkarmoryResists Dark, recovers with Roost, threatens with Spikes SteelFlying	B
Recommended Build AbilityKeeneye ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves SpikesHazard RoostRecovery WhirlwindUtility Brave Bird View Skarmory builds →
Swampert WaterGround	B
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stealth Rock Ice Beam WaterfallSTAB Damage vs Houndoom Earthquake 2x 156-184%KO Ice Beam 12-14% Waterfall 2x 125-147%KO View Swampert builds →

Platinum Evolution

Evolved from Houndour. Houndoom is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool 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

#228Houndour

Level 24

#229Houndoom

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Houndour

DarkFire

Houndoom

DarkFire

75+30

ATK

90+30

DEF

50+20

SP.ATK

110+30

SP.DEF

80+30

SPE

95+30

BST

330C-Tier

500B-Tier+170

ROLE

Balanced

Attacker

TYPE

Special

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Houndoom to get Houndour eggs easily using 131 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Counter, Fire Fang and 9 more.

Egg Groups

Ground

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

12moves

Breed With (best first)

Platinum 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 Life Orb backing every hit.

Best Build

Situational pick

Special Setup Sweeper

Ability

Flash Fire

Item

Life OrbPOWER

Best Nature for Houndoom

Hasty+SPE

Houndoom best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Atk

SpA

Spe

Special Setup Sweeper Moveset

Dark PulseSTAB
Sucker PunchSTAB
Fire BlastSTAB
Nasty PlotSTAB

Recommended Teammates

ForretressDecent

HeracrossDecent

CrobatDecent

Moves

Without breeding, Houndoom misses out on Beat Up and Counter. That's 12 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Overheat and Fire Blast, with coverage across 9 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Ember

—4010025Fire

Lv 1

Howl

———40Normal

Lv 1

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 1

Smog

—207020Poison

Lv 1

Thunder Fang

D659515Electric

Lv 4

Howl

———40Normal

Lv 9

Smog

—207020Poison

Lv 14

Roar-6

C——20Normal

Lv 17

Bite

C6010025Dark

Lv 22

Odor Sleuth

———40Normal

Lv 28

Beat Up

——10010Dark

Lv 32

Fire Fang

C659515Fire

Lv 38

Feint Attack

—60—20Dark

Lv 44

Embargo

——10015Dark

Lv 48

Flamethrower

A9510015Fire

Lv 54

Crunch

C8010015Dark

Lv 60

Nasty Plot

A——20Dark

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM78

Captivate

——10020Normal

TM79

Dark Pulse

S8010015Dark

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM85

Dream Eater

—10010015Psychic

TM63

Embargo

——10015Dark

TM58

Endure+4

———10Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

A120855Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

A9510015Fire

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

TM83

Natural Gift

D—10015Normal

TM50

Overheat

B140905Fire

TM66

Payback

C5010010Dark

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C——20Normal

HM06

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM30

Shadow Ball

C8010015Ghost

TM82

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM36

Sludge Bomb

C9010010Poison

TM49

Snatch+4

———10Dark

TM22

Solar Beam

B12010010Grass

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

C——5Fire

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM12

Taunt

C—10020Dark

TM46

Thief

—6010025Dark

TM41

Torment

——10015Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

TM61

Will-O-Wisp

C—7515Fire

Egg Moves

Egg

Beat Up

——10010Dark

Egg

Counter-5

D—10020Fighting

Egg

Fire Fang

C659515Fire

Egg

Fire Spin

—357015Fire

Egg

Nasty Plot

A——20Dark

Egg

Punishment

——1005Dark

Egg

Pursuit

D4010020Dark

Egg

Rage

D2010020Normal

Egg

Reversal

——10015Fighting

Egg

Spite

——10010Ghost

Egg

Thunder Fang

D659515Electric

Egg

Will-O-Wisp

C—7515Fire

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Heat Wave

B1009010Fire

Tutor

Mud-Slap

D2010010Ground

Tutor

Snore

D4010015Normal

Tutor

Spite

——10010Ghost

Tutor

Sucker Punch+1

A801005Dark

Tutor

Swift

—60—20Normal

Tutor

Uproar

—9010010Normal

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 3

Body Slam

C8510015Normal

Gen 3

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

How to Get Houndoom in Platinum

Can't catch Houndoom directly. Start with Houndour at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 24. The 2-stage line from Houndour to Houndoom is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Houndoom in Platinum

The path to Houndoom starts with Houndour at Lv. 23-28 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

Step 1Catch Houndour
Route 214
Grass Lv.23-24 Route
CommonMid
Day
Route 214
Grass Lv.23-24 Route
UncommonMid
Morning/night
Valor Lakefront
Grass Lv.27-28 Water
UncommonMid
Night
Valor Lakefront
Grass Lv.28 Water
UncommonMid
Morning/day
Train until Level 24
Step 2Houndoom ✓

Houndoom Guide

In Platinum, Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Dark Pulse with Life Orb is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Platinum, but Houndoom does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Houndoom hits 600 BST.
In Platinum, 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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