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Pokémon Houndoom
- Thread starter TaBuu
- Start date
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I love MegaDoom. I used it for a Tournament on Marriland, and I got to 4th place (Semifinals) with it. Excadrill (Especially Scarf or Sticky Web support) can stop this thing cold in its tracks. He has such a power output that is amazing. I ran this.
Houndoom@Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire--->Solar Power
EVs: 252 SpA, 252 Spd, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
Moves:
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- HP Grass (Over SolarBeam so I can continue to get through without sun)
- Sludge Bomb
Has really good Coverage. And SOO Powerful. I really think it outclasses Zard Y by a lot.
Houndoom@Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire--->Solar Power
EVs: 252 SpA, 252 Spd, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
Moves:
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- HP Grass (Over SolarBeam so I can continue to get through without sun)
- Sludge Bomb
Has really good Coverage. And SOO Powerful. I really think it outclasses Zard Y by a lot.
Please use this set OUTSIDE OF SUN AND WITH RAPID SPIN SUPPORT.
Houndoom
Item: houndoomite
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Nasty plot
Move 3: Dark Pulse
Move 4: Fire blast/flamethrower
EVs: 252spatk/252spe/4hp
Timid nature
By using substitute, Houndoom finds a lot of oppurtunities to set up nasty plots safely or just sweep unboosted while behind the protection of a sub. One example of a pokemon it can set up against is ferrothorn. Houndoom can just use sub on ferrothorn's switch or leech seed or thunder wave and proceed to destroy it next turn with a fire type move or set up on it (ferrothorn does have a 63% chance of breaking Houndoom's sub with a power whip/gyro ball)
Substitute and nasty plot are the main idea of the set. Dark pulse is a good reliable STAB move and, since Mega Houndoom is so fast, you might get some flinches. Fire blast is the preferred fire move as it is more powerful and there is already a reliable move in Dark Pulse howere Flamethrower may be used because of the accuracy and because Fire Blast's power was nerfed this gen.
Houndoom
Item: houndoomite
Move 1: Substitute
Move 2: Nasty plot
Move 3: Dark Pulse
Move 4: Fire blast/flamethrower
EVs: 252spatk/252spe/4hp
Timid nature
By using substitute, Houndoom finds a lot of oppurtunities to set up nasty plots safely or just sweep unboosted while behind the protection of a sub. One example of a pokemon it can set up against is ferrothorn. Houndoom can just use sub on ferrothorn's switch or leech seed or thunder wave and proceed to destroy it next turn with a fire type move or set up on it (ferrothorn does have a 63% chance of breaking Houndoom's sub with a power whip/gyro ball)
Substitute and nasty plot are the main idea of the set. Dark pulse is a good reliable STAB move and, since Mega Houndoom is so fast, you might get some flinches. Fire blast is the preferred fire move as it is more powerful and there is already a reliable move in Dark Pulse howere Flamethrower may be used because of the accuracy and because Fire Blast's power was nerfed this gen.
You have a good idea with that set, losedude. The only problem is that Four-Move-Slot-Syndrome keeps hindering Houndoom's potential. Tyranitar and Azumarill both force this set out, and Azumarill can set up right in front of Houndoom with Belly Drum, predicting your switch. Why not run Hidden Power Fighting over the Fire-type STAB, as weird as that sounds.
Because it's better to be walled by two Pokémon than two whole types (Fairy and Fighting). There are five other Pokémon on a team, you know.
Wish it had gotten a better ability than Solar Power. It's great and all but in most cases it seems too situational to pull off.
Not really, Solar power isn't really situational when it actually can learn it. It hits like a truck, and boosts its fire moves further, making it a perfect candidate for Solar Power. Nasty Plot can be superior in some cases however.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad ability and it makes MH a monster but if you're relying solely on the sun to boost your moves it seems like it's just lackluster. I like Mega Houndoom but Azumarill can take Solar Power STAB Fire Blast and OHKO with Superpower. Not to mention Goodra just laughs at this thing.
Probably the most disgusting counter for Mega Houndoom is Tyranitar. Replacing sun with sand removes Houndoom's ability and Ttar resists both of MH's STABs pretty much forcing a switch, especially if Tyranitar is running Assault Vest.
Some stats (IN THE SUN):
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sun: 218-258 (53.9 - 63.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sun: 113-133 (27.9 - 32.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
4+ Atk Tyranitar Stone Edge vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Houndoom: 336-396 (115 - 135.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
If Ninetails is gone, Houndoom is done. In that case you've not only wasted a Pokemon slot with Ninetails, you've used up your Mega for that match which seems like a huge waste.
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Sunny Day for 2.25x special Fire-type damage, 1.5x Special Attack, and -1/8 HP every turn.
Nasty Plot for 2x Special Attack, for all types. No HP loss.
It seems pretty clear to me that without permanent sun, Solar Power is kind of an unfortunate ability, especially without recovery or any draining moves.
Is this guy worth running Heat Rock Drought Ninetales? Probably not.
I said it earlier in this thread and I'll say it again. The main benefit of running Sunny Day over NP as your setup move is that water type Pokemon no longer counter you. They switch in on your SD and they have an absurdly powerful Solarbeam looking at them. Their Water type moves are also no longer super effective against Houndoom who has good defences after mega evolving. If Ttar switches in on you, your sun also replaces its sand. Sunny Day/Solar Power/Solarbeam just has too many benefits to ignore IMO.
the only reason to run houndoom imo is because it has the fastest normal priority destiny bond in the tier, which is nothing to scoff at. As long as you don't stay in on anything that carries paralysis, you are going to at least dent something and DB another.
Setup move/dark pulse/flamethrower/Destiny bond
Setup move/dark pulse/flamethrower/Destiny bond
I'm not really understanding your logic here. If a Ttar switches in to Houndoom in the sun, Sand Stream takes effect.
You predict the (obvious) switch to Tyranitar and click Sunny Day. TTar comes in, sand goes up, then Sunny Day happens and it's all sunshine again. MegaDoom gets a free turn to do this, in the best case scenario:
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Tyranitar in Sun: 412-486 (101.9 - 120.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
But that's the very, very best case scenario. This could also happen:
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sun: 200-236 (49.5 - 58.4%) and TTar OHKOs right back.
Or TTar switches out and lets something (anything) tank the Solarbeam, and then TTar switches in again.
Or TTar Mega Evolves and it's game over for MegaDoom.
He means that if Tyranitar switches in on the turn Sunny Day is used, sandstorm will be removed.
Solar Beam isn't really a great reason to lose 1/8th of your HP each turn and have a weaker Dark Pulse, in my opinion. Azumarill and Tyranitar are really the only targets, and I'm fairly certain Assault Vest Tyranitar can handle a Solar Beam and KO back with Earthquake.
Edit: Wow. Ninja'd with both an explanation AND calcs. Fuuuuuuuuu
Makes sense. Is it a good idea to use up a moveslot for Sunny Day on Houndoom though?
If you use Sunny Day as he switched in, Sand Stream will activate before it. It requires prediction, but it's totally doable. It wouldn't hurt to have a sub up, but you don't really have room for the move (nor does it synergize with Solar Power.)
(Ninja'd, but oh well.)
That's a good idea, but I get the feeling that, in practice, it kind of falls short. In terms of coverage, that STAB combo is resisted by few big threats like Azumarill, Tyranitar and Hydreigon. There simply isn't any way to get really good coverage and good damage output with this guy. If your team can handle his counters then by all means go for it, but it seems silly when other, better options are available.
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Tyranitar in Sun: 276-326 (68.3 - 80.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Tyranitar Earthquake vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Houndoom: 268-316 (91.7 - 108.2%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
Tyranitar could take it and OHKO with Stone Edge. Earthquake doesn't have a 100% chance to kill, but even if MH survives it will die from Solar Power that turn. Either way your Mega is going down.
There is also Rotom-W.
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-W in Sun: 284-336 (93.4 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Mega Houndoom Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-W: 190-225 (62.5 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Mega Houndoom Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-W: 261-307 (85.8 - 100.9%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Solar Power Mega Houndoom Solar Beam vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-W in Sun: 284-336 (93.4 - 110.5%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO
+2 252 SpA Mega Houndoom Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Rotom-W: 190-225 (62.5 - 74%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Mega Houndoom Dark Pulse vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-W: 261-307 (85.8 - 100.9%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
That's true. Nobody is going to keep in a Rotom-W against a Houndoom in the sun but you've at least forced a switch.
On the other hand I don't know that most people would be using Rotom-W while the sun is up to begin with unless they're just burning/volt switching.
Remember the premise is that they switched in trying to check you. The Sunny Day would have taken them by surprise.
I keep forgetting to consider that they just switched in. My bad.
If that's the case, then it's definitely a good counter.
HP Ice could be good if you're not running sun support with it?
Hidden Power Ground is a must, just to add on to the set. In case you don't wanna get walled by TTar
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