vadredit: iss took this over since in your post in loa you said we can reassign
have fun at camp!!
http://veekun.com/dex/pokemon/houndour
[Overview]
<p>Houndour is one of the hardest Pokemon to switch into in LC because of its excellent STAB coverage and offensive stats. Once in, Houndour has very few reliable counters. Getting a faster Pokemon that can OHKO Houndour is often not enough since STAB Sucker Punch can OHKO many frail Pokemon. In addition to being hard to switch into, Houndour makes a decent Ghost-type trapper with STAB Pursuit. If the sun is up, Houndour makes a terrifying sweeper with Fire Blast and SolarBeam. It can also be quite effective for gaining early-game momentum as an anti-lead.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Lonely
evs: 196 Atk / 196 SpA / 36 SpD / 76 Spe
ivs: 0 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One of the hardest sets to switch into because of its amazing STAB coverage and power. Fire Blast and Crunch hit everything but Carvanha and other Houndour for neutral damage, however those two Pokemon are 2HKOed anyway (Carvanha can be OHKOed). Substitute is very useful to ease prediction, especially considering that opponents will likely be forced to switch and predict around Houndour's attacks to survive. Sucker Punch is Houndour's most useful tool for being a pseudo-revenge killer as well as stopping other Pokemon from revenge killing it.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Houndour can use Hidden Power Fighting to deal with opposing Houndour more effectively. Pursuit can be used over Substitute or Crunch to deal with Ghosts, but Crunch is generally a more reliable sweeping move than Sucker Punch, and Pursuit cannot hit Pokemon on the switch.</p>
<p>Since very few Pokemon can switch into Houndour, it is most important to deal with Pokemon that can come in to revenge kill. Croagunk makes a good revenge killer for Houndour, so carrying something like Frillish or Gligar will be useful. Ferroseed makes a great switch-in for Pokemon such as Carvanha who may also being trying to beat Houndour. Omanyte is uncommon, but preparing for it in the sand is not a bad idea.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Pursuit / SolarBeam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Due to its high offensive stats, Houndour makes a great Choice Scarf user. Fire Blast is Houndour's main sweeping attack because of its sheer power. If you need a more reliable finisher, Dark Pulse is quite useful, and it also has great neutral coverage with Fire Blast. Hidden Power Fighting hits opposing Houndour, Munchlax, and Carvanha which could otherwise fend off a Fire Blast or Dark Pulse. Pursuit is useful in the last slot to trap Ghost-types, but SolarBeam is a must-have if Houndour is being used on a team with Sunny Day or Drought.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Munchlax can switch into this variant quite easily since it has no STAB Crunch. A Munchlax lure, such as Magby, Elekid, or Croagunk are effective ways of getting around it. Otherwise, having Frillish to take Munchlax's attacks and spread Will-O-Wisp is a good idea. Croagunk and Munchlax are both useful, the former for switching into Carvanha's Aqua Jet and the latter for fending off other Croagunk and dealing damage to the opponent's team.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Choice Band and purely physical sets are discouraged mainly because Fire Fang is so lackluster, especially compared to Fire Blast. Nasty Plot can be used as well, but most teams can barely switch into Houndour as it is. It can be trouble for pure stall teams, however. A lead set could also be used, however if the opponent carries a counter lead, Houndour becomes essentially dead weight.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Munchlax is a fairly reliable counter, however, it definitely needs to steer clear of Crunch as much as possible. Bulky Water-types such as bulky Omanyte, and even the rare Wooper can switch in reliably. With an Evolution Stone, Dokkora can barely take a Fire Blast, but Mach Punch allows it to check Houndour quite effectively. Similarly, Carvanha and Croagunk cannot switch into Houndour but they can revenge kill it with priority.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Having two immunities is one of Houndour's main selling points. Flash Fire is too good to pass up to any other ability, especially since most Pokemon carry Evolution Stone over Oran Berry.</p>
have fun at camp!!
http://veekun.com/dex/pokemon/houndour
[Overview]
<p>Houndour is one of the hardest Pokemon to switch into in LC because of its excellent STAB coverage and offensive stats. Once in, Houndour has very few reliable counters. Getting a faster Pokemon that can OHKO Houndour is often not enough since STAB Sucker Punch can OHKO many frail Pokemon. In addition to being hard to switch into, Houndour makes a decent Ghost-type trapper with STAB Pursuit. If the sun is up, Houndour makes a terrifying sweeper with Fire Blast and SolarBeam. It can also be quite effective for gaining early-game momentum as an anti-lead.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Crunch
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Sucker Punch
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Lonely
evs: 196 Atk / 196 SpA / 36 SpD / 76 Spe
ivs: 0 HP
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One of the hardest sets to switch into because of its amazing STAB coverage and power. Fire Blast and Crunch hit everything but Carvanha and other Houndour for neutral damage, however those two Pokemon are 2HKOed anyway (Carvanha can be OHKOed). Substitute is very useful to ease prediction, especially considering that opponents will likely be forced to switch and predict around Houndour's attacks to survive. Sucker Punch is Houndour's most useful tool for being a pseudo-revenge killer as well as stopping other Pokemon from revenge killing it.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Houndour can use Hidden Power Fighting to deal with opposing Houndour more effectively. Pursuit can be used over Substitute or Crunch to deal with Ghosts, but Crunch is generally a more reliable sweeping move than Sucker Punch, and Pursuit cannot hit Pokemon on the switch.</p>
<p>Since very few Pokemon can switch into Houndour, it is most important to deal with Pokemon that can come in to revenge kill. Croagunk makes a good revenge killer for Houndour, so carrying something like Frillish or Gligar will be useful. Ferroseed makes a great switch-in for Pokemon such as Carvanha who may also being trying to beat Houndour. Omanyte is uncommon, but preparing for it in the sand is not a bad idea.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Grass
move 4: Pursuit / SolarBeam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid / Modest
evs: 200 SpA / 40 SpD / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Due to its high offensive stats, Houndour makes a great Choice Scarf user. Fire Blast is Houndour's main sweeping attack because of its sheer power. If you need a more reliable finisher, Dark Pulse is quite useful, and it also has great neutral coverage with Fire Blast. Hidden Power Fighting hits opposing Houndour, Munchlax, and Carvanha which could otherwise fend off a Fire Blast or Dark Pulse. Pursuit is useful in the last slot to trap Ghost-types, but SolarBeam is a must-have if Houndour is being used on a team with Sunny Day or Drought.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Munchlax can switch into this variant quite easily since it has no STAB Crunch. A Munchlax lure, such as Magby, Elekid, or Croagunk are effective ways of getting around it. Otherwise, having Frillish to take Munchlax's attacks and spread Will-O-Wisp is a good idea. Croagunk and Munchlax are both useful, the former for switching into Carvanha's Aqua Jet and the latter for fending off other Croagunk and dealing damage to the opponent's team.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Choice Band and purely physical sets are discouraged mainly because Fire Fang is so lackluster, especially compared to Fire Blast. Nasty Plot can be used as well, but most teams can barely switch into Houndour as it is. It can be trouble for pure stall teams, however. A lead set could also be used, however if the opponent carries a counter lead, Houndour becomes essentially dead weight.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Munchlax is a fairly reliable counter, however, it definitely needs to steer clear of Crunch as much as possible. Bulky Water-types such as bulky Omanyte, and even the rare Wooper can switch in reliably. With an Evolution Stone, Dokkora can barely take a Fire Blast, but Mach Punch allows it to check Houndour quite effectively. Similarly, Carvanha and Croagunk cannot switch into Houndour but they can revenge kill it with priority.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Having two immunities is one of Houndour's main selling points. Flash Fire is too good to pass up to any other ability, especially since most Pokemon carry Evolution Stone over Oran Berry.</p>
