#0229 · Johto · Generation 2

Houndoom

Dark Pokémon · Dark/Fire-type

Houndoom is a Dark/Fire-type Pokémon, the Dark Pokémon, number 229 (#0229) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 1.4 m tall and weighs 35 kg.

Houndoom is the Dark Pokémon, a horned hellhound whose howl people once mistook for the call of the grim reaper. Its flames carry toxins, so the Pokédex says burns from them never stop hurting, and it can Mega Evolve into a charcoal-scorching Mega Houndoom.

How to pronounce Houndoom

Houndoom is pronounced HOWN-doom. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Houndoom said out loud:

In Japanese it is ヘルガー (Hellgar).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Houndoom is a black hound, 1.4 m tall and 35 kg, with an orange snout and belly, small red eyes, a white collar with a skull-shaped pendant and long curved grey horns, which are smaller on females. Toxins gather in its gut and mix into its fire, giving the flames a foul smell.

Behaviour

Houndoom lives in packs, and the Pokédex says the pack leader is whichever has horns swept sharply backwards, chosen by fighting inside the pack. It shares prey evenly among the pack. Its howl makes other Pokémon shiver and run for their nests. It breathes fire when angry.

Habitat

Bulbapedia says it is found near rough terrain. In Scarlet and Violet it lives in North Province Area Two and Kitakami, and in Legends: Z-A in Wild Zone 6 and Lysandre Labs.

Powers

Houndoom has Early Bird or Flash Fire, with Unnerve hidden. It learns Flamethrower, Crunch, Fire Fang, Foul Play and Nasty Plot, and with 110 base Special Attack and 95 Speed it is a quick special attacker. Mega Houndoom has the Ability Solar Power and 140 Special Attack. Its back ridges thicken, bone-like rings wrap its tail, and Bulbapedia says its claws turn dark red from heat that causes it pain. The Pokédex says its fiery breath turns opponents to charcoal.

Name origin

Houndoom may combine 'hound' and 'doom', meaning death or a terrible fate. The Japanese name is Hellgar (ヘルガー), possibly from 'hell' and 'gar', an Old English word for spear referring to its tail, or Garmr, a Norse hellhound.

Design inspiration

Bulbapedia says the horns and pointed tail look like common pictures of the devil. Like Houndour, it seems based on hellhounds and black dogs, with a Dobermann's build. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Houndoom is the final stage of the line, evolving from Houndour at level 24.

In the games

Houndoom first appeared in Gold and Silver, and Houndoominite lets it Mega Evolve. It is wild in Scarlet and Violet, with 5-star Tera Raid Battles, and appears in Legends: Z-A and its Mega Dimension DLC.

In the anime

Houndoom debuted in 'Houndoom's Special Delivery', where Old Man Gon's Doomy was delivering a package when it met Misty's Togepi and took it to its home, where Ash's group found them. Harrison's Houndoom beat Ash's Snorlax at the Silver Conference, and Malva's Mega Houndoom fought Alain in 'Mega Evolution Special IV'.

Fun facts

• Houndoominite's item index number is 666, which Bulbapedia says could reference the design's origins.
• In each Generation II game Houndoom comes with three different sprites, and it does again in Generation IV, which Bulbapedia says very few Pokémon share.
• In Pokémon Generations, a Team Rocket Grunt's Houndoom is defeated by Lance's Dragonite in 'The Lake of Rage'.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Houndoom (Pokémon) · Serebii: Houndoom (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 75
• Attack: 90
• Defense: 50
• Sp. Atk: 110
• Sp. Def: 80
• Speed: 95

Houndoom’s base stat total is 500. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Houndoom weak to?

Houndoom takes extra damage from Water (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×), Rock (2×) moves.

It resists Fire (½×), Grass (½×), Ice (½×), Ghost (½×), Dark (½×), Steel (½×).

It is immune to Psychic moves.

Evolution

What does Houndoom evolve from?

Houndoom evolves from Houndour at level 24.

Houndoom is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Houndour, Houndoom.

Forms

• Mega Houndoom (Mega): Dark/Fire-type, base stat total 600 (HP 75, Attack 90, Defense 90, Sp. Atk 140, Sp. Def 90, Speed 115). Ability: Solar Power.

Abilities

• Early Bird: Makes sleep pass twice as quickly.
• Flash Fire: Protects against Fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
• Unnerve (hidden ability): Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.

Moves

Moves Houndoom learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (52)

Houndoom can learn 52 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Thief, Trailblaze, Fire Spin, Facade, Snarl, Mud Shot, Flame Charge, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Foul Play, Psychic Fangs, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Rest, Taunt, Dark Pulse, Substitute, Will-O-Wisp, Crunch, Shadow Ball, Hyper Voice, Heat Wave, Flamethrower, Helping Hand, Reversal, Nasty Plot, Fire Blast, Sludge Bomb, Giga Impact, Overheat, Hyper Beam, Flare Blitz, Solar Beam, Tera Blast, Roar, Toxic, Spite, Super Fang, Burning Jealousy, Lash Out, Pain Split, Double-Edge, Endeavor, Temper Flare, Throat Chop.

Egg moves (8), which Houndour can hatch knowing:Counter, Destiny Bond, Feint, Fire Spin, Reversal, Spite, Sucker Punch, Thunder Fang.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 35.
• Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 175.

Pokédex entries

Identifiable by its eerie howls, people a long time ago thought it was the grim reaper and feared it. (Ultra Moon)

They spew flames mixed with poison to finish off their opponents. They divvy up their prey evenly among the members of their pack. (Ultra Sun)

In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply toward the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting among themselves. (Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever. (Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y)

Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper. (Diamond, Pearl, X)

Upon hearing its eerie howls, other Pokémon get the shivers and head straight back to their nests. (Silver, FireRed, SoulSilver)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Highest Sp. Atk among Fire types in Gen 2: 110, shared with 1 other.
• Highest Sp. Atk among Dark types in Gen 2: 110.
• Taller than 68% of all Pokémon (1.4 m).
• Heavier than 57% of all Pokémon (35 kg).
• Base stat total 500, ranked #278 of 1,025.
• One of 4 Pokémon that are both Dark and Fire.
• One of 51 black Pokémon.
• Number 78 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
• Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
• Can learn 66 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 10 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Houndoom (Pokémon), Serebii: Houndoom (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (HOWN-doom): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Dark-type Pokémon · Fire-type Pokémon · Dark/Fire weaknesses and matchups · Johto region guide · Early Bird ability · Flash Fire ability · Unnerve ability · Compare Houndoom · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 2 Dark-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Fire-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Black Pokémon list · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with H · Dog Pokémon

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