[OVERVIEW]
Houndoom's typing gives it a powerful secondary Dark-type STAB move that much of the tier struggles against, lets it counter Pokemon like Ninetales and Sigilyph in conjunction with its ability, helps it act as an offensive check to a plethora of Psychic-, Ghost-, and Fire-types, and gives it a good matchup against priority users like Toxicroak and Abomasnow. Houndoom has a great Speed tier, outpacing threats like Roserade, Toxicroak, and Meloetta. A decent support movepool gives Houndoom options like Taunt that let it completely obliterate stall, shutting down staples such as Pyukumuku, Cresselia, and Umbreon. However, Houndoom's bulk, particularly physically, leaves much to be desired and limits its setup opportunities. A glaring weakness to every entry hazard in the game, especially Stealth Rock, further limits its ability to set up and makes it difficult to check Ghost-, Psychic-, and Fire-types. Dark Pulse's low Base Power leaves Houndoom very reliant on its Z-Move against Water-types such as Milotic, meaning it'll be helpless against them if another Pokemon can successfully lure its Z-Move. Other Fire-types such as Salazzle and Ninetales are usually more consistent picks due to their amazing Speed and much better damage output, respectively.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Taunt
item: Darkinium Z
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot lets Houndoom boost its Special Attack to scary levels. Dark Pulse is Houndoom's strongest, most reliable STAB attack that can be boosted by Darkinium Z for a one-time nuke. Fire Blast is Houndoom's secondary STAB attack that hits harder at the cost of accuracy. Taunt lets Houndoom get around Pokemon like Toxic Mandibuzz and lets it decimate stall staples like Pyukumuku and Umbreon. It is also fantastic for stopping Pokemon like Porygon2 from healing.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed EVs along with a Timid nature let Houndoom outpace Pokemon like Meloetta, and 252 Special Attack EVs let it hit as hard as possible. Darkinium Z lets Houndoom break through defensive counterplay like Milotic after boosting. Flash Fire gives Houndoom some defensive utility, letting it hard counter Ninetales.
Usage Tips
========
Understand that many Fire-, Psychic-, and Ghost-types are free setup for Houndoom, so use this to your advantage by positioning Houndoom against Pokemon like Ninetales and Sigilyph. Keep in mind that using unboosted Dark Pulse and sometimes Fire Blast is a great middle-ground play that can discourage offensive early-game plays like hard switching to revenge killers, notably Tyrantrum and Virizion. Chip down defensive threats such as specially defensive Milotic and clear entry hazards from your side of the field so as to give Houndoom an easier time at breaking the opposing team. If given the opportunity, eliminate revenge killers that threaten Houndoom. Use Taunt against stall to prevent Pokemon like Toxic Pyukumuku and Toxic Cresselia from crippling Houndoom. Similarly, prevent walls like Porygon2 and Umbreon from healing by using Taunt on them.
Team Options
========
Slow pivots like U-turn Gligar and Volt Switch Mega Ampharos can bring Houndoom in freely, giving it more setup opportunities. Roserade provides Spikes, which is fantastic for softening walls, and can take on a few specific checks to Houndoom, notably Mega Blastoise and specially defensive Milotic. If using Houndoom on a balance team, make sure to pack answers to common Pokemon that force it out. For example, Registeel can take on opposing Choice Scarf Tyrantrum and provide Stealth Rock, and Gligar can answer Zygarde-10% and Virizion. Pair Houndoom with entry hazard removers like Mega Blastoise so that when it comes in to set up it won't drop to a weak attack. Be wary of stacking heavy weakness when teambuilding with Houndoom. For example, it's very easy to stack a Ground weakness when using a core like Houndoom Toxicroak, so make sure to patch up the team later on with a sturdy answer to Ground-types, notably physically defensive Gligar or Chesnaught.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute lets Houndoom threaten slower teams that rely on their Choice Scarf user to force out setup sweepers. Choice Scarf Houndoom can act as a revenge killer, outpacing many setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Virizion and Z-Celebrate Meloetta.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Faster Rock-types such as Lycanroc-D, Gigalith, and Tyrantrum beat Houndoom with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Choice Scarf Users and Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users like Tyrantrum as well as faster threats like Virizion force out Houndoom with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Water-types**: Water-types threaten Houndoom, especially after it has used its Z-Move, and others like specially defensive Milotic outright beat it.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Defensive threats like specially defensive Milotic, Diancie, Goodra, and Snorlax can take hits from Houndoom and KO it in return. Although some walls can be threatened by Houndoom's Z-Move, after it has been used, they have no trouble walling it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[roman, 396169]]
- Quality checked by: [[eternally, 295647], [phantom, 180300], [MrAldo, 227521]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [martha, 384270]]
Houndoom's typing gives it a powerful secondary Dark-type STAB move that much of the tier struggles against, lets it counter Pokemon like Ninetales and Sigilyph in conjunction with its ability, helps it act as an offensive check to a plethora of Psychic-, Ghost-, and Fire-types, and gives it a good matchup against priority users like Toxicroak and Abomasnow. Houndoom has a great Speed tier, outpacing threats like Roserade, Toxicroak, and Meloetta. A decent support movepool gives Houndoom options like Taunt that let it completely obliterate stall, shutting down staples such as Pyukumuku, Cresselia, and Umbreon. However, Houndoom's bulk, particularly physically, leaves much to be desired and limits its setup opportunities. A glaring weakness to every entry hazard in the game, especially Stealth Rock, further limits its ability to set up and makes it difficult to check Ghost-, Psychic-, and Fire-types. Dark Pulse's low Base Power leaves Houndoom very reliant on its Z-Move against Water-types such as Milotic, meaning it'll be helpless against them if another Pokemon can successfully lure its Z-Move. Other Fire-types such as Salazzle and Ninetales are usually more consistent picks due to their amazing Speed and much better damage output, respectively.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Dark Pulse
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Taunt
item: Darkinium Z
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot lets Houndoom boost its Special Attack to scary levels. Dark Pulse is Houndoom's strongest, most reliable STAB attack that can be boosted by Darkinium Z for a one-time nuke. Fire Blast is Houndoom's secondary STAB attack that hits harder at the cost of accuracy. Taunt lets Houndoom get around Pokemon like Toxic Mandibuzz and lets it decimate stall staples like Pyukumuku and Umbreon. It is also fantastic for stopping Pokemon like Porygon2 from healing.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed EVs along with a Timid nature let Houndoom outpace Pokemon like Meloetta, and 252 Special Attack EVs let it hit as hard as possible. Darkinium Z lets Houndoom break through defensive counterplay like Milotic after boosting. Flash Fire gives Houndoom some defensive utility, letting it hard counter Ninetales.
Usage Tips
========
Understand that many Fire-, Psychic-, and Ghost-types are free setup for Houndoom, so use this to your advantage by positioning Houndoom against Pokemon like Ninetales and Sigilyph. Keep in mind that using unboosted Dark Pulse and sometimes Fire Blast is a great middle-ground play that can discourage offensive early-game plays like hard switching to revenge killers, notably Tyrantrum and Virizion. Chip down defensive threats such as specially defensive Milotic and clear entry hazards from your side of the field so as to give Houndoom an easier time at breaking the opposing team. If given the opportunity, eliminate revenge killers that threaten Houndoom. Use Taunt against stall to prevent Pokemon like Toxic Pyukumuku and Toxic Cresselia from crippling Houndoom. Similarly, prevent walls like Porygon2 and Umbreon from healing by using Taunt on them.
Team Options
========
Slow pivots like U-turn Gligar and Volt Switch Mega Ampharos can bring Houndoom in freely, giving it more setup opportunities. Roserade provides Spikes, which is fantastic for softening walls, and can take on a few specific checks to Houndoom, notably Mega Blastoise and specially defensive Milotic. If using Houndoom on a balance team, make sure to pack answers to common Pokemon that force it out. For example, Registeel can take on opposing Choice Scarf Tyrantrum and provide Stealth Rock, and Gligar can answer Zygarde-10% and Virizion. Pair Houndoom with entry hazard removers like Mega Blastoise so that when it comes in to set up it won't drop to a weak attack. Be wary of stacking heavy weakness when teambuilding with Houndoom. For example, it's very easy to stack a Ground weakness when using a core like Houndoom Toxicroak, so make sure to patch up the team later on with a sturdy answer to Ground-types, notably physically defensive Gligar or Chesnaught.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Substitute lets Houndoom threaten slower teams that rely on their Choice Scarf user to force out setup sweepers. Choice Scarf Houndoom can act as a revenge killer, outpacing many setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Virizion and Z-Celebrate Meloetta.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Rock-types**: Faster Rock-types such as Lycanroc-D, Gigalith, and Tyrantrum beat Houndoom with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Choice Scarf Users and Faster Pokemon**: Choice Scarf users like Tyrantrum as well as faster threats like Virizion force out Houndoom with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Water-types**: Water-types threaten Houndoom, especially after it has used its Z-Move, and others like specially defensive Milotic outright beat it.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Defensive threats like specially defensive Milotic, Diancie, Goodra, and Snorlax can take hits from Houndoom and KO it in return. Although some walls can be threatened by Houndoom's Z-Move, after it has been used, they have no trouble walling it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[roman, 396169]]
- Quality checked by: [[eternally, 295647], [phantom, 180300], [MrAldo, 227521]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [martha, 384270]]
Last edited:
