Houndoom Pokemon GO: Complete Guide, Best Moveset & Counters

Houndoom is a popular Dark/Fire-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,635, Houndoom is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Houndoom in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Houndoom Base Stats & Overview

Houndoom (#229) is a Dark/Fire-type Pokemon from Generation 2.

Base Stats
Attack	224
Defense	144
Stamina	181
Total Stats	549
Max CP	2,635
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 224 Attack, 144 Defense, and 181 Stamina, Houndoom has a total stat product of 549. While not the highest in any single stat, Houndoom’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Houndoom

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Houndoom’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Houndoom for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Dark/Fire-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Houndoom Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Houndoom effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Dark/Fire-type Pokemon, Houndoom has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Houndoom is weak to: Fighting, Water, Ground, Rock-type moves. When battling against Houndoom, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Fighting – Deals increased damage
• Water – Deals increased damage
• Ground – Deals increased damage
• Rock – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Houndoom resists: Ghost, Dark, Psychic, Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy-type moves. This means Houndoom takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Ghost – Reduced damage
• Dark – Reduced damage
• Psychic – Reduced damage
• Fire – Reduced damage
• Grass – Reduced damage
• Ice – Reduced damage
• Bug – Reduced damage
• Steel – Reduced damage
• Fairy – Reduced damage

🏆 Houndoom PvP Analysis

Houndoom can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 2,635, Houndoom would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Houndoom fits well in Ultra League with a max CP of 2,635. It can compete effectively against the meta threats in this league.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Houndoom is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,635). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Houndoom Raid Guide

Houndoom is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Houndoom in Raids

When using Houndoom as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Dark-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Houndoom

Whether you’re battling Houndoom in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Houndoom:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Houndoom’s weaknesses to Fighting, Water, Ground, Rock-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Machamp	Fighting	High DPS with Counter + Dynamic Punch
Lucario	Fighting/Steel	Counter + Aura Sphere deals massive damage
Conkeldurr	Fighting	Excellent attack stat with Fighting moves
Kyogre	Water	Best Water attacker with Waterfall + Hydro Pump
Swampert	Water/Ground	Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon is devastating
Gyarados	Water/Flying	Accessible and powerful Water attacker

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Houndoom
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Houndoom may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Houndoom in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Houndoom in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Houndoom can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Houndoom

Yes, Shiny Houndoom is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Houndoom Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Houndoom

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Houndoom’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Houndoom with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Houndoom, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Houndoom works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Dark/Fire type weak to Fighting, Water, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Houndoom spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Dark moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Houndoom in the Pokemon Franchise

Houndoom first appeared in Generation 2 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Houndoom’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Houndoom was introduced as part of the Generation 2 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 2 Pokemon update.

📊 How Houndoom Compares

Let’s see how Houndoom stacks up against other Dark-type Pokemon:

Stat	Houndoom	Type Average	Rating
Attack	224	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	144	~160	⭐
Stamina	181	~170	⭐⭐
Max CP	2,635	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Houndoom is a versatile Dark/Fire-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,635 and solid base stats (224/144/181), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Houndoom’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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