DEXERTOIf you’re hoping to add a twist of darkness to your Pokemon Go team, Mega Houndoom is the perfect pick. So, here’s how to defeat and catch this strong creature while it dominates the game’s Mega Raids.
When it comes to Niantic’s mobile game, being able to flex your Mega Pokemon is all part of the fun. In order to get them, though, you need to be ready to fight them first in Raid Battles.
Mega Houndoom, the scary Pokemon with a taste for all things hellfire, is back for a limited time, so if you’re still missing one or are looking for its Shiny variation or one with perfect IVs, here’s all you need to know to defeat it without breaking a sweat.
Mega Houndoom weaknesses in Pokemon Go
As a dual Fire/Dark, Mega Houndoom is weak to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type moves, so focus on building a team that covers those four options. Luckily, there are plenty of great options to pick from.
Instead, the hound from hell is resistant to Psychic, Dark, Fire, Ghost, Grass, Ice, and Steel, so don’t bother taking those types of Pokemon to the battle, as they won’t deal much damage.
Mega Houndoom best counters
Here are some of the best counters to use against Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go:
| POKEMON | SPRITE | BEST MOVESET |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Kyogre |  | Waterfall & Origin Pulse |
| Primal Groudon |  | Mud Shot & Precipice Blades |
| Mega Lucario |  | Force Palm & Aura Sphere |
| Shadow Rhyperior |  | Mud Slap & Rock Wrecker |
| Shadow Garchomp |  | Mud Shot & Earth Power |
| Terrakion |  | Double Kick & Sacred Sword |
| Diancie |  | Rock Throw & Rock Slide |
| Swampert |  | Water Gun & Hydro Cannon |
| Blaziken |  | Counter & Focus Blast |
| Tyranitar |  | Smack Down & Stone Edge |
We’ve included a mix of Megas, Legendaries, Shadow, and more common Pokemon in the table above, so there should be something for every trainer to use.
If you don’t have any of those counters or their alternate forms, use your strongest Pokemon to target Mega Houndoom’s weaknesses. Just make sure that your team is properly leveled up and has matching movesets.
How to get Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go
As with every other Mega Evolution, the only way players can get Mega Houndoom is through Mega Raids. Luckily, this fierce creature will be featured as a Raid boss from May 1, 2025, until May 12, 2025, right after Mega Mawile leaves.
It’s worth noting, though, that players cannot catch Mega Houndoom in its Mega Evolved form. Instead, once they defeat it, they’ll have be given the chance to catch a regular Houndoom using the Premiere Balls given – the number they get will be tied to their performance during battle, though.
Then, they can temporarily Mega Evolve their strongest standard Houndoom once they stock up on the required Mega Energy to do so.
How to evolve Houndoom into Mega Houndoom
As mentioned, when a trainer defeats and catches a Mega Evolved Pokemon, it returns to its regular form. This means that every time they want to trigger a Mega Evolution, they must use Mega Energy.
The first time a player evolves Houndoom into Mega Houndoom, they must spend 100 Mega Energy. Once the effect is over, the amount required to do it again will drop to 20, then 10, and finally 5.
DEXERTOMega Energy
Players can gather Mega Energy by constantly defeating Mega Evolved Pokemon in Mega Raids. Additionally, they can earn some more by completing Field Research Tasks and by setting their Pokemon (in this case, Houndoom) as their Buddy and going out for a walk.
It’s worth noting that for Houndoom to be able to collect Mega Energy while taking a spin, it must have been Mega Evolved at least once before.
Mega Houndoom CP in Pokemon Go
As with every Raid Boss in the game, the CP Mega Houndoom has during a Mega Raid battle won’t be the same once you manage to catch its regular form. Plus, certain types of weather can increase such CP.
| Raid Boss CP | 53,826 |
| CP range once captured | 2106 – 2195 |
| Sunny/Windy weather CP range | 2633 – 2744 |
| Mega Houndoom max CP (Level 50) | 4344 |
Mega Houndoom stats & moves
As a dual Fire/Dark-type Pokemon, Mega Houndoom has the following stats:
| ATTACK | DEFENSE | STAMINA | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 289 | 194 | 181 | 4344 |
Fast Moves
- Fire Fang (Fire/STAB)
- Snarl (Dark/STAB)
Charged Moves
- Flamethrower (Fire/STAB)
- Fire Blast (Fire/STAB)
- Crunch (Dark/STAB)
- Foul Play (Dark/STAB)
Can Mega Houndoom be Shiny?
Yes, Mega Houndoom can be Shiny in Pokemon Go, as this special variation was introduced into the game on the same day the Mega Evolution debuted.
DEXERTOPlayers who take on Mega Raids might find Shiny Mega Houndoom, which they’ll be able to recognize by its steel blue fur instead of its usual black. Plus, its dark orange details change to red.
Keep in mind that the odds of finding a Shiny Pokemon are very low, and there’s no special technique to ensure an encounter. All you can do to increase your odds is challenge Mega Houndoom as many times as you can during its time as a Mega Raid boss.
That’s everything you need to know about defeating Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go. For more, check out the latest Pokemon Go events, including the current Community Day and Spotlight Hours.
