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
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 Bird
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

Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.

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 X & Y (Best Counters)

In X & Y, Garchomp can KO Houndoom with Earthquake (195-229%). Tyranitar threatens a KO with Stone Edge (246-290%). Breloom deals 79-93% with Mach Punch.

Garchomp
Garchomp
DragonGround
A
Recommended Build
AbilityRough Skin
ItemRocky Helmet
NatureJolly
Moves
  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Stealth Rock
  • Swords Dance
  • Dragon Claw
Damage vs Houndoom
Earthquake 2x
195-229%KO
View Garchomp builds →

X & Y 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 200 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Beat Up, Counter, Destiny Bond and 11 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
14moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 200·

X & Y Houndoom Best Moveset

double STAB gives Houndoom answers even while choice-locked. Choice Scarf provides speed patching through item lock, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs with Flashfire mean every prediction that lands hits hard.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Flash Fire
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Houndoom
Timid+SPE

Houndoom best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Doubles Special Revenge Killer Moveset

  • SnarlSTAB
  • Beat UpSTAB
  • FlamethrowerSTAB
  • Sludge Bomb

Recommended Teammates

Milotic
MiloticGood
Dragonite
DragoniteGood

Moves

Without breeding, Houndoom misses out on Beat Up and Counter. That's 14 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
———40Normal
Lv 1
Inferno
—100505Fire
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Nasty Plot
A——20Dark
Lv 1
Smog
—307020Poison
Lv 1
Thunder Fang
—659515Electric
Lv 4
Howl
———40Normal
Lv 8
Smog
—307020Poison
Lv 13
Roar-6
C——20Normal
Lv 16
Bite
C6010025Dark
Lv 20
Odor Sleuth
———40Normal
Lv 26
Beat Up
S—10010Dark
Lv 30
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
Lv 35
Feint Attack
—60—20Dark
Lv 41
Embargo
——10015Dark
Lv 45
Foul Play
B9510015Dark
Lv 50
Flamethrower
S9010015Fire
Lv 56
Crunch
C8010015Dark
Lv 60
Nasty Plot
A——20Dark
Lv 65
Inferno
—100505Fire

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
D—10015Normal
TM100
Confide
———20Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
S8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
C10010015Psychic
TM63
Embargo
——10015Dark
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
A110855Fire
TM43
Flame Charge
C5010020Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
S9010015Fire
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM59
Incinerate
—6010015Fire
TM50
Overheat
B130905Fire
TM66
Payback
—5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
B——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
—701005Normal
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
C——20Normal
TM94
Rock Smash
—4010015Fighting
TM48
Round
C6010015Normal
TM30
Shadow Ball
C8010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
TM36
Sludge Bomb
S9010010Poison
TM95
Snarl
S559515Dark
TM22
Solar Beam
B12010010Grass
HM04
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
C—10020Dark
TM46
Thief
C6010025Dark
TM41
Torment
——10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C—9010Poison
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
C—8515Fire

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Beat Up
S—10010Dark
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Destiny Bond
A——5Ghost
Egg
Feint+2
D3010010Normal
Egg
Fire Fang
C659515Fire
Egg
Fire Spin
D358515Fire
Egg
Nasty Plot
A——20Dark
Egg
Punishment
——1005Dark
Egg
Pursuit
D4010020Dark
Egg
Rage
—2010020Normal
Egg
Reversal
——10015Fighting
Egg
Spite
——10010Ghost
Egg
Sucker Punch+1
C801005Dark
Egg
Thunder Fang
—659515Electric

Tutor Moves

Houndoom can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
——10020Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
D——10Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
C7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
Gen 4
Swift
—60—20Normal

How to Get Houndoom in X & Y

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 X & Y

The path to Houndoom starts with Houndour at Lv. 10-21 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Houndour
    Step 1Catch Houndour
    Route 10
    Grass Lv.10 Route
    RareEarly
    Horde battle
    Route 10
    Grass Lv.19-20 Route
    CommonMid
    Yellow Flower
    Route 10
    Grass Lv.21 Route
    RareMid
  2. Houndoom
    Step 2Houndoom ✓

Houndoom Guide

  • In X & Y, Flash Fire changes the entire equation for Houndoom. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Snarl with Choice Scarf is the standard set.

  • In X & Y, Houndoom can Mega Evolve into Mega Houndoom. That's 600 BST, up from 500. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.

  • In X & Y, 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

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback