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 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

In a HOUNDOOM pack, the one with its horns raked sharply back serves a leadership role. They choose their leader by fighting among themselves.

Emerald

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
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterFightingGroundRock
½xResist
FireGrassIceGhostDarkSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
PsychicFire
STAB (6)
PsychicGhostGrassIceBugSteel
How to Beat Houndoom in Emerald (Best Counters)

In Emerald, Regice's Explosion hits Houndoom for 70-83%.

Celebi
CelebiRecovers with Recover, cures status via Natural Cure, outspeeds
PsychicGrass
S
Recommended Build
AbilityNatural Cure
ItemLeftovers
NatureBold
Moves
  • Leech Seed
  • Baton Pass
  • PsychicSTAB
  • Giga Drain
Damage vs Houndoom
Giga Drain
16-19%
View Celebi builds →

Emerald 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
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 102 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Counter, Fire Spin and 5 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 102·

Emerald Houndoom Best Moveset

Flashfire helps Houndoom stick around while dealing real damage. Leftovers for passive recovery each turn, flexible EVs for the right balance, and Pursuit as the main threat. Not the fastest, but it doesn't need to be.

Best Build

Highly recommended
Special Attacker
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Houndoom
Timid+SPE

Houndoom best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Attacker Moveset

  • PursuitSTAB
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • CrunchSTAB
  • Will O WispSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Metagross
MetagrossDecent
Snorlax
SnorlaxDecent
Swampert
SwampertDecent

Moves

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
—4010025Fire
Lv 1
Howl
D——40Normal
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 7
Howl
D——40Normal
Lv 13
Smog
—207020Poison
Lv 19
Roar-6
C——20Normal
Lv 27
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 35
Odor Sleuth
——10040Normal
Lv 43
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Lv 51
Flamethrower
B9510015Fire
Lv 59
Crunch
S8010015Dark

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
S120855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
B9510015Fire
TM21
Frustration
——10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
TM50
Overheat
B140905Fire
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
—2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM36
Sludge Bomb
C9010010Poison
TM49
Snatch+4
———10Dark
TM22
Solar Beam
B12010010Grass
HM04
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM12
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
C6010025Dark
TM41
Torment
D—10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Beat Up
D—10010Dark
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Fire Spin
—357015Fire
Egg
Pursuit
S4010020Dark
Egg
Rage
—2010020Normal
Egg
Reversal
D—10015Fighting
Egg
Spite
——10010Ghost
Egg
Will-O-Wisp
A—7515Fire

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Tutor
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Tutor
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Tutor
Dream Eater
—10010015Psychic
Tutor
Endure+4
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mimic
———10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—4010015Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
——9015Normal
Tutor
Swift
—60—20Normal

How to Get Houndoom in Emerald

Houndoom doesn't appear wild. Catch Houndour instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it at level 24 to get Houndoom. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Houndoom in Emerald

  1. Houndour
    Step 1Catch Houndour
    Altering Cave
    Grass Lv.12-20 Cave
    100%Early
    Safari Zone - North Extension
    Grass Lv.36-39 Facility
    RareLate
  2. Houndoom
    Step 2Houndoom ✓

Houndoom Guide

  • In Emerald, Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as an attacker. Pursuit with Leftovers is the standard set.

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

  • In Emerald, 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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