USMRW13 Redx
Mega Houndoom
Tier: RUBL, UUVR: B
Aesthetically, I love this mon. Even though the current meta has many potent Megas to choose from and Hydreigon is a tier stalwart, I was curious to see if Doomer was worth using. Doomer's strengths lie in its 140 Special Attack backed by its above average base 115 Speed, rounding off with a uniquely niche typing and access to Nasty Plot. This anti-meta combination makes it a nightmare to switch into not only for defensive teams, especially after a Nasty Plot, but offensive teams that often struggle to stomach repeated unboosted attacks over the course of a match. I'll briefly touch on its role against both archetypes.
VS Offense
Doomer's wallbreaking power is well known, but it's gotten a bad rap in the past from its potential inconsistency vs offensive teams. However since the meta has settled, it's kinda nice atm. While base 115 speed is rather low compared to other Megas like Aero, Beedrill and Pidgeot, it remains a valuable benchmark against UU's offense staples, namely Latias, Gengar and Cobalion, while its typing halts priority packers such as Scizor and Bisharp and neuters Prankster Klefki. Doomer packs Sludge Bomb for slower Fairies switchins like Primarina and DD MAlt, which are 2HKO'd by Fire Blast into Sludge Bomb after some chip or a high roll, and even common scarfers and mons that resist Doomer's dual-STAB don't take an unboosted Fire Blast well, providing invaluable chip for teammates to clean up later:
VS Balance/Stall
As good as it was against fatter teams before, Doomer got even better IMO. In addition to the walls it could break before, current defensive backbones are comprised of mons that didn't have the usage or weren't even in the tier six months ago: Mega Aggron, Doublade, Gligar, Chesnaught, Amoonguss and a slew of bulky Psychics...all of which Doomer shreds in combination with a bulky pivot.
It's tempting to try Taunt, Flame Charge or even Sunny Day + Solarbeam to utilize Solar Power but Sludge Bomb is mandatory to break Fairies and fulfill its niche, especially since it avoids gifting MAlt free setup (which can present mind games anyway if it has yet to mega evolve.) Hydreigon is a better Taunt user anyway. Speaking of Drei, which generally overshadows Doomer in UU, as a pure wallbreaker it's much less reliable in my testing than Doomer since Specs variants are Choice-locked and can be exploited and the only set that can reliably break Fairies is Z-Belch, which is suboptimal compared to traditional Darkium and Dragonium variants.
Doomer's biggest drawbacks are its Stealth Rock weakness and its subpar bulk so teammates capable of hazard removal, tanking priority moves and pivoting are a necessity, but the biggest surprise I found when testing it was how easy it was to use. It usually wasn't deadweight based on matchup, wasn't overly reliant on predictions or requiring so much support that it wasn't worth using. It was just...solid. Now Doomer does compete for a role with Hydreigon who is infinitely more versatile, isn't as weak to hazards and doesn't require a Mega slot, but Doomer definitely has merit on the right team. 3/5
Edit: slowly adding quality replays, kinda running out of time to ladder tho. I also briefly tested webs with Doomer, but with the exception of Scarf Krook and MSceptile, most of its faster checks aren't affected by webs anyway.



Tier: RUBL, UUVR: B
Houndoom-Mega @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
Aesthetically, I love this mon. Even though the current meta has many potent Megas to choose from and Hydreigon is a tier stalwart, I was curious to see if Doomer was worth using. Doomer's strengths lie in its 140 Special Attack backed by its above average base 115 Speed, rounding off with a uniquely niche typing and access to Nasty Plot. This anti-meta combination makes it a nightmare to switch into not only for defensive teams, especially after a Nasty Plot, but offensive teams that often struggle to stomach repeated unboosted attacks over the course of a match. I'll briefly touch on its role against both archetypes.
VS Offense
Doomer's wallbreaking power is well known, but it's gotten a bad rap in the past from its potential inconsistency vs offensive teams. However since the meta has settled, it's kinda nice atm. While base 115 speed is rather low compared to other Megas like Aero, Beedrill and Pidgeot, it remains a valuable benchmark against UU's offense staples, namely Latias, Gengar and Cobalion, while its typing halts priority packers such as Scizor and Bisharp and neuters Prankster Klefki. Doomer packs Sludge Bomb for slower Fairies switchins like Primarina and DD MAlt, which are 2HKO'd by Fire Blast into Sludge Bomb after some chip or a high roll, and even common scarfers and mons that resist Doomer's dual-STAB don't take an unboosted Fire Blast well, providing invaluable chip for teammates to clean up later:
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon: 103-122 (31.6 - 37.5%)
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Infernape: 126-148 (43 - 50.5%) -- 96.1% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Terrakion: 104-123 (32.1 - 38%)
Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kommo-o: 91-108 (31.1 - 36.9%)
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Aerodactyl-Mega: 99-117 (32.8 - 38.8%) -- 10.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Fire Blast + Sludge Bomb vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Primarina: 84-99 (25.9 - 30.5%), 182-216 (56.1 - 66.6%)
Fire Blast + Sludge Bomb vs. 72 HP / 0 SpD Altaria-Mega: 91-108 (29.4 - 34.9%), 200-236 (64.7 - 76.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Infernape: 126-148 (43 - 50.5%) -- 96.1% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Terrakion: 104-123 (32.1 - 38%)
Fire Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Kommo-o: 91-108 (31.1 - 36.9%)
Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Aerodactyl-Mega: 99-117 (32.8 - 38.8%) -- 10.2% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Fire Blast + Sludge Bomb vs. 92 HP / 0 SpD Primarina: 84-99 (25.9 - 30.5%), 182-216 (56.1 - 66.6%)
Fire Blast + Sludge Bomb vs. 72 HP / 0 SpD Altaria-Mega: 91-108 (29.4 - 34.9%), 200-236 (64.7 - 76.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
As good as it was against fatter teams before, Doomer got even better IMO. In addition to the walls it could break before, current defensive backbones are comprised of mons that didn't have the usage or weren't even in the tier six months ago: Mega Aggron, Doublade, Gligar, Chesnaught, Amoonguss and a slew of bulky Psychics...all of which Doomer shreds in combination with a bulky pivot.






Houndoom-Mega @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
Scizor @ Buginium-Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 244 HP / 16 Atk / 148 Def / 96 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Immunity
252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Celebi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Natural Cure
40 HP / 228 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- U-turn
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
Empoleon @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Toxic
Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power Fire
- Roost
Doomer pairs well with Bulky SD Scizor. Scizor best combats the rise of DD MAlt as well as takes care of MAero, Terrak and Krook. Meanwhile Doomer roasts Steel-types and lures and chips things like Hydreigon, Kommo-o, Rotom-H and Infernape so Scizor can clean late game. Gligar gives the team a reliable Fighting resist and Ground immunity, Defog and a slow U-turn to bring in Doomer safely. I found U-turn Celebi is a fantastic partner for Doomer as it both bops many of the bulky Waters Doomer struggles to break and lures in Steel and Psychic-types for Doomer to abuse. This Bi happens to be Scarf; while pretty weak, it gives the team speed control and also allows a few surprise KO's on Hydreigon, Krook, MBeedrill and weakened MAero and even revenges both +1 Kommo-o and +1 MAlt (the latter in tandem w/ Scizor), all of which Doomer appreciates. Iapapa Berry Empoleon is the Rocker and covers the team's glaring Primarina weakness with more longevity than Leftovers variants. Finally, LO Latias is the glue mon for switching into MMane and Rotom-H, luring bulky Waters and packing Psyshock and HP Fire for the Blob and Scizor, respectively.
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Dark Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Sludge Bomb
Scizor @ Buginium-Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 244 HP / 16 Atk / 148 Def / 96 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Immunity
252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Defog
- U-turn
Celebi @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Natural Cure
40 HP / 228 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- U-turn
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
Empoleon @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Toxic
Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power Fire
- Roost
Doomer pairs well with Bulky SD Scizor. Scizor best combats the rise of DD MAlt as well as takes care of MAero, Terrak and Krook. Meanwhile Doomer roasts Steel-types and lures and chips things like Hydreigon, Kommo-o, Rotom-H and Infernape so Scizor can clean late game. Gligar gives the team a reliable Fighting resist and Ground immunity, Defog and a slow U-turn to bring in Doomer safely. I found U-turn Celebi is a fantastic partner for Doomer as it both bops many of the bulky Waters Doomer struggles to break and lures in Steel and Psychic-types for Doomer to abuse. This Bi happens to be Scarf; while pretty weak, it gives the team speed control and also allows a few surprise KO's on Hydreigon, Krook, MBeedrill and weakened MAero and even revenges both +1 Kommo-o and +1 MAlt (the latter in tandem w/ Scizor), all of which Doomer appreciates. Iapapa Berry Empoleon is the Rocker and covers the team's glaring Primarina weakness with more longevity than Leftovers variants. Finally, LO Latias is the glue mon for switching into MMane and Rotom-H, luring bulky Waters and packing Psyshock and HP Fire for the Blob and Scizor, respectively.
It's tempting to try Taunt, Flame Charge or even Sunny Day + Solarbeam to utilize Solar Power but Sludge Bomb is mandatory to break Fairies and fulfill its niche, especially since it avoids gifting MAlt free setup (which can present mind games anyway if it has yet to mega evolve.) Hydreigon is a better Taunt user anyway. Speaking of Drei, which generally overshadows Doomer in UU, as a pure wallbreaker it's much less reliable in my testing than Doomer since Specs variants are Choice-locked and can be exploited and the only set that can reliably break Fairies is Z-Belch, which is suboptimal compared to traditional Darkium and Dragonium variants.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-877155734 Textbook of what Doomer is capable of vs offense: breaking Fairies and Rotom-H, chipping Hydreigon into range of Scizor's BP (shoulda Fire Blasted turn 3, woulda secured the end game for Scizor but I was having some rotten luck before and didn't wanna miss lol)
Doomer's biggest drawbacks are its Stealth Rock weakness and its subpar bulk so teammates capable of hazard removal, tanking priority moves and pivoting are a necessity, but the biggest surprise I found when testing it was how easy it was to use. It usually wasn't deadweight based on matchup, wasn't overly reliant on predictions or requiring so much support that it wasn't worth using. It was just...solid. Now Doomer does compete for a role with Hydreigon who is infinitely more versatile, isn't as weak to hazards and doesn't require a Mega slot, but Doomer definitely has merit on the right team. 3/5
Edit: slowly adding quality replays, kinda running out of time to ladder tho. I also briefly tested webs with Doomer, but with the exception of Scarf Krook and MSceptile, most of its faster checks aren't affected by webs anyway.
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