[OVERVIEW]
Houndour has one purpose—to trap and eliminate Xatu with Pursuit. Since it is immune to Xatu's nearly unresisted STAB Psychic, takes little from Hidden Power Ice or Electric, and has a solid Special Attack, Houndour can consistently clear the way for teammates that are otherwise walled or annoyed by Xatu's presence, such as Primeape, Hitmonlee, Kingler, Gloom, and Weezing. Houndour's Fire Blast is also quite strong, being as strong as Rapidash, and it's faster than Pokemon like Weezing and Gloom, so even after it removes Xatu, it might still be able to force damage on the opponent's valuable defensive pieces. However, after removing Xatu, Houndour often does little else and is usually sacrificed for a free switch, as it is extremely frail, is relatively slow, is walled by other Fire-types, and takes heavy damage from Water-type moves, with Octillery even OHKOing it with Surf. Houndour often makes for defensively flawed teams, since it so often does very little compared to an otherwise better Pokemon once it is done trapping Xatu. This is not even to mention that some teams do not even use Xatu, in which case it can feel like playing a five versus six matchup. Houndour also struggles heavily against Pokemon like Dewgong and Stantler, further limiting what it can do beyond trapping Xatu.
[SET]
name: Pursuit
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Solar Beam / Crunch
move 4: Sunny Day / Counter
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Pursuit allows Houndour to trap and KO Xatu, one of the most common foes and one that takes advantage of Pokemon like Hitmonlee and Gloom. Houndour is the only Dark-type Pokemon in the tier that learns Pursuit; while other Pokemon do learn it, Houndour is the only effective user. Often, after Houndour has switched into the opposing Xatu and removed it, it has accomplished its goal and can be used as sacrifice fodder to get one of its teammates in safely. Fire Blast is the main choice of a Fire-type STAB move to do as much damage as possible before Houndour goes down, and crucially lower Xatu into Pursuit range in the absence of Crunch since Pursuit cannot 3HKO. Sunny Day allows Houndour to power up its Fire Blast and seriously threaten both Xatu and whatever may switch in, such as a Stantler or Fearow. Sunny Day also reduces the damage of opposing Surf and allows Houndour to use Solar Beam. Solar Beam 2HKOes Octillery and OHKOes Graveler and Pupitar, allowing Houndour to potentially clean through a slow team if preserved. Against teams with a Fire-type of their own, such as Ninetales, where even sun-boosted Fire Blasts won't accomplish much, Houndour should prioritize trapping Xatu and being relegated to a sacrifice rather than attempting to break holes with Sunny Day. With Crunch, Houndour 2HKOes Xatu, preventing situations where Houndour loses to Xatu because it has taken prior chip damage, misses Fire Blast into Xatu, or gets critically hit by Xatu's Hidden Power Electric, though it comes at the cost of dropping Solar Beam. Counter is often used over Sunny Day in conjunction with Crunch, since without Solar Beam, Sunny Day becomes less useful. Counter mainly allows Houndour to take advantage of its ability to take one neutral physical hit if at high health, such as a Fearow Double-Edge, and retaliate back with a surprise KO. Houndour can also surprise greedy Stantler that come in to revenge kill Houndour with a KO from Counter if they use Return instead of Earthquake in an attempt to not let in Xatu or Fearow freely. Additionally, Houndour can switch into Weezing on a revenge kill or a double switch and force damage on it with Fire Blast or Pursuit, helping to weaken it for a Primeape or Hitmonlee that Houndour may be partnering with.
Team Options
========
Body Slam Hitmonlee is a prime partner for Houndour, as Xatu otherwise walls it. Hitmonlee is also a solid answer to Octillery, Dewgong, and Chinchou, all of which can switch into Houndour and take advantage of it. Ice Beam Octillery is also a fine choice alongside; while it isn't particularly wanting of Xatu's removal, it works well alongside Hitmonlee to answer opposing Water-types that beat Ice Beam Octillery while also covering Dugtrio and Fire-types like Magmar and Rapidash well for Hitmonlee and Houndour. Gloom, additionally, is walled by Xatu, so Houndour is a natural partner. Gloom can also take on Hidden Power Electric Octillery, Chinchou, and Primeape, all of which threaten Houndour, without being worried about an opposing Xatu blocking it from making progress with Stun Spore or Sludge Bomb. Primeape and Weezing are capable of breaking past Xatu on the switch-in with Thunder; however, Xatu is still an annoyance and can revenge kill both easily, so it can be worth using Houndour alongside them. Using Houndour can also allow Primeape to drop Thunder and instead use a move like Meditate or Thief on Substitute sets or Double-Edge on RestTalk sets. Hidden Power Ground Kingler's biggest enemy is Xatu, so Houndour works well with it, too. Stantler also appreciates Xatu being gone so the opponent has a harder time switching into or revenge killing it. Graveler can be a good partner for Houndour, as while the two don't particularly synergize well beyond Xatu sometimes being annoying for Graveler, many Pokemon that struggle with Xatu, such as Hitmonlee, Gloom, and Kingler, also naturally struggle with Pineco and Fearow.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Houndour can use Thief to steal Leftovers from an opposing Xatu before it escapes Pursuit or from whatever Pokemon is switching into Houndour, and this is additionally useful for when the opponent is not using Xatu. However, it consumes a turn that Houndour may rather spend using a different attack, and, in the case of Xatu switching out, means Houndour is losing surprise factor and the opponent's Xatu still remains instead of taking heavy damage from Pursuit.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Flareon, Ninetales, Magmar, and Rapidash all have very high Special Defense while resisting Houndour's Fire Blast, so they are able to wall Houndour and take it down. Magmar, Rapidash, and mixed Flareon are able to quickly KO Houndour with their physical attacks, though Rapidash and Flareon should be wary of Counter if Houndour has not used Sunny Day. Flareon can also take advantage of Houndour to set up Growth boosts and pass them out to a powerful special attacker like Dewgong with Baton Pass.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Fast and powerful attackers like Primeape, Stantler, Fearow, Hitmonlee, and Kingler can outspeed Houndour and easily 2HKO or even OHKO it, and, in the case of Kingler, use it to boost with Swords Dance. Porygon is outsped by Houndour, but it has access to Thunder Wave and Recover and can easily shrug off its attacks and boost up with Curse or wear Houndour down with Thunder. Stantler and Fearow do need to be careful of Counter if Houndour has not revealed Sunny Day, though, as if at full health, Houndour can take one attack and retaliate with an OHKO from Counter, though Stantler's Earthquake has a chance to OHKO it.
**Water-types**: Octillery, Dewgong, and Chinchou take little from Fire Blast and Crunch and do massive damage with STAB Surf, with Octillery even OHKOing it from full health. Dewgong and Chinchou are also both faster than Houndour. However, Houndour can use Sunny Day in front of Octillery or before it comes into the battle and deal heavy damage with Solar Beam, and if Houndour has set up sun before Chinchou enters the battle, it will lose to a healthy Houndour.
**Dugtrio**: Dugtrio outspeeds Houndour and OHKOes it with Earthquake. Dugtrio can also switch into Crunch if needed or take advantage of Houndour using Pursuit to get a free switch. Dugtrio also has Substitute and Screech to take advantage of a potential switch from Houndour. However, Dugtrio takes heavy damage from Fire Blast, and, if using Substitute too carelessly, can lose HP unnecessarily when the trainer may just want to sacrifice Houndour.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beeorsomething.583728/
Earlier versions written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/holly.508601/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mrsoup.375193/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dawnbuster.508601/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Houndour has one purpose—to trap and eliminate Xatu with Pursuit. Since it is immune to Xatu's nearly unresisted STAB Psychic, takes little from Hidden Power Ice or Electric, and has a solid Special Attack, Houndour can consistently clear the way for teammates that are otherwise walled or annoyed by Xatu's presence, such as Primeape, Hitmonlee, Kingler, Gloom, and Weezing. Houndour's Fire Blast is also quite strong, being as strong as Rapidash, and it's faster than Pokemon like Weezing and Gloom, so even after it removes Xatu, it might still be able to force damage on the opponent's valuable defensive pieces. However, after removing Xatu, Houndour often does little else and is usually sacrificed for a free switch, as it is extremely frail, is relatively slow, is walled by other Fire-types, and takes heavy damage from Water-type moves, with Octillery even OHKOing it with Surf. Houndour often makes for defensively flawed teams, since it so often does very little compared to an otherwise better Pokemon once it is done trapping Xatu. This is not even to mention that some teams do not even use Xatu, in which case it can feel like playing a five versus six matchup. Houndour also struggles heavily against Pokemon like Dewgong and Stantler, further limiting what it can do beyond trapping Xatu.
[SET]
name: Pursuit
move 1: Pursuit
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Solar Beam / Crunch
move 4: Sunny Day / Counter
item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Pursuit allows Houndour to trap and KO Xatu, one of the most common foes and one that takes advantage of Pokemon like Hitmonlee and Gloom. Houndour is the only Dark-type Pokemon in the tier that learns Pursuit; while other Pokemon do learn it, Houndour is the only effective user. Often, after Houndour has switched into the opposing Xatu and removed it, it has accomplished its goal and can be used as sacrifice fodder to get one of its teammates in safely. Fire Blast is the main choice of a Fire-type STAB move to do as much damage as possible before Houndour goes down, and crucially lower Xatu into Pursuit range in the absence of Crunch since Pursuit cannot 3HKO. Sunny Day allows Houndour to power up its Fire Blast and seriously threaten both Xatu and whatever may switch in, such as a Stantler or Fearow. Sunny Day also reduces the damage of opposing Surf and allows Houndour to use Solar Beam. Solar Beam 2HKOes Octillery and OHKOes Graveler and Pupitar, allowing Houndour to potentially clean through a slow team if preserved. Against teams with a Fire-type of their own, such as Ninetales, where even sun-boosted Fire Blasts won't accomplish much, Houndour should prioritize trapping Xatu and being relegated to a sacrifice rather than attempting to break holes with Sunny Day. With Crunch, Houndour 2HKOes Xatu, preventing situations where Houndour loses to Xatu because it has taken prior chip damage, misses Fire Blast into Xatu, or gets critically hit by Xatu's Hidden Power Electric, though it comes at the cost of dropping Solar Beam. Counter is often used over Sunny Day in conjunction with Crunch, since without Solar Beam, Sunny Day becomes less useful. Counter mainly allows Houndour to take advantage of its ability to take one neutral physical hit if at high health, such as a Fearow Double-Edge, and retaliate back with a surprise KO. Houndour can also surprise greedy Stantler that come in to revenge kill Houndour with a KO from Counter if they use Return instead of Earthquake in an attempt to not let in Xatu or Fearow freely. Additionally, Houndour can switch into Weezing on a revenge kill or a double switch and force damage on it with Fire Blast or Pursuit, helping to weaken it for a Primeape or Hitmonlee that Houndour may be partnering with.
Team Options
========
Body Slam Hitmonlee is a prime partner for Houndour, as Xatu otherwise walls it. Hitmonlee is also a solid answer to Octillery, Dewgong, and Chinchou, all of which can switch into Houndour and take advantage of it. Ice Beam Octillery is also a fine choice alongside; while it isn't particularly wanting of Xatu's removal, it works well alongside Hitmonlee to answer opposing Water-types that beat Ice Beam Octillery while also covering Dugtrio and Fire-types like Magmar and Rapidash well for Hitmonlee and Houndour. Gloom, additionally, is walled by Xatu, so Houndour is a natural partner. Gloom can also take on Hidden Power Electric Octillery, Chinchou, and Primeape, all of which threaten Houndour, without being worried about an opposing Xatu blocking it from making progress with Stun Spore or Sludge Bomb. Primeape and Weezing are capable of breaking past Xatu on the switch-in with Thunder; however, Xatu is still an annoyance and can revenge kill both easily, so it can be worth using Houndour alongside them. Using Houndour can also allow Primeape to drop Thunder and instead use a move like Meditate or Thief on Substitute sets or Double-Edge on RestTalk sets. Hidden Power Ground Kingler's biggest enemy is Xatu, so Houndour works well with it, too. Stantler also appreciates Xatu being gone so the opponent has a harder time switching into or revenge killing it. Graveler can be a good partner for Houndour, as while the two don't particularly synergize well beyond Xatu sometimes being annoying for Graveler, many Pokemon that struggle with Xatu, such as Hitmonlee, Gloom, and Kingler, also naturally struggle with Pineco and Fearow.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Houndour can use Thief to steal Leftovers from an opposing Xatu before it escapes Pursuit or from whatever Pokemon is switching into Houndour, and this is additionally useful for when the opponent is not using Xatu. However, it consumes a turn that Houndour may rather spend using a different attack, and, in the case of Xatu switching out, means Houndour is losing surprise factor and the opponent's Xatu still remains instead of taking heavy damage from Pursuit.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types**: Flareon, Ninetales, Magmar, and Rapidash all have very high Special Defense while resisting Houndour's Fire Blast, so they are able to wall Houndour and take it down. Magmar, Rapidash, and mixed Flareon are able to quickly KO Houndour with their physical attacks, though Rapidash and Flareon should be wary of Counter if Houndour has not used Sunny Day. Flareon can also take advantage of Houndour to set up Growth boosts and pass them out to a powerful special attacker like Dewgong with Baton Pass.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Fast and powerful attackers like Primeape, Stantler, Fearow, Hitmonlee, and Kingler can outspeed Houndour and easily 2HKO or even OHKO it, and, in the case of Kingler, use it to boost with Swords Dance. Porygon is outsped by Houndour, but it has access to Thunder Wave and Recover and can easily shrug off its attacks and boost up with Curse or wear Houndour down with Thunder. Stantler and Fearow do need to be careful of Counter if Houndour has not revealed Sunny Day, though, as if at full health, Houndour can take one attack and retaliate with an OHKO from Counter, though Stantler's Earthquake has a chance to OHKO it.
**Water-types**: Octillery, Dewgong, and Chinchou take little from Fire Blast and Crunch and do massive damage with STAB Surf, with Octillery even OHKOing it from full health. Dewgong and Chinchou are also both faster than Houndour. However, Houndour can use Sunny Day in front of Octillery or before it comes into the battle and deal heavy damage with Solar Beam, and if Houndour has set up sun before Chinchou enters the battle, it will lose to a healthy Houndour.
**Dugtrio**: Dugtrio outspeeds Houndour and OHKOes it with Earthquake. Dugtrio can also switch into Crunch if needed or take advantage of Houndour using Pursuit to get a free switch. Dugtrio also has Substitute and Screech to take advantage of a potential switch from Houndour. However, Dugtrio takes heavy damage from Fire Blast, and, if using Substitute too carelessly, can lose HP unnecessarily when the trainer may just want to sacrifice Houndour.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beeorsomething.583728/
Earlier versions written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/holly.508601/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mrsoup.375193/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dawnbuster.508601/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
