Houndour (Pokémon)

← #227: Skarmory

Pokémon

#229: Houndoom →

Houndour デルビル Delvil #228
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Types  Dark  Fire   Dark   Dark   Dark   Dark   Dark	Species Dark Pokémon
Abilities Early Bird or Flash Fire Flash Fire Unnerve Hidden Ability
Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #— Johto #214* Hoenn #366* Sinnoh #176Pt Unova #— Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R-153 Oblivia R-266 Oblivia (past) N-083 Not in any regional Browser
Height 2'00″ Imperial 0.6m Metric 2'00″/0.6m 0.0m	Weight 23.8lbs Imperial 10.8kg Metric 23.8lbs/10.8kg 0.0kg
Dex color Black	Footprint
Body style	Catch rate 120 15.7%
Gender ratio Genderless Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Field group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 1 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 114 Battle Exp.: 1141*
External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Smogon Pokédex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V On Eevee's Pokédex On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex Generation IV Generation V Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Houndour (Japanese: デルビル Delvil) is a dual-type Dark/Fire Pokémon.

It evolves into Houndoom starting at level 24.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.1.2 Special abilities 1.2 Behavior 1.3 Habitat 1.4 Diet 2 In the anime 2.1 Houndour (Pichu Posse) 2.2 Major appearances 2.3 Minor appearances 2.4 Pokédex entries 3 In the manga 3.1 Pokédex entries 4 In the TCG 5 Game data 5.1 Pokédex entries 5.2 Game locations 5.2.1 In side games 5.3 Stats 5.3.1 Base stats 5.3.2 Pokéathlon stats 5.4 Type effectiveness 5.5 Learnset 5.5.1 By leveling up 5.5.2 By TM/HM 5.5.3 By breeding 5.5.4 By tutoring 5.5.5 Dream World-only moves 5.5.6 Special moves 5.6 Side game data 5.7 Evolution 5.8 Sprites 6 Trivia 6.1 Origin 6.1.1 Name origin 7 In other languages 8 External links

Biology

Physiology

Houndour is a dog-like Pokémon with short, black fur. It has a red underbelly and snout. Houndour has short, pointed ears and a tail. Houndour’s fangs protrude out of its mouth, and its nose is dark in coloration. There are white bands on Houndour's ankles, and more rib-like ones on its back. Houndour appears to have a simplistic, stylized skull on its forehead, with the orbits looking much like ‘eyebrow’ patterning commonly seen on dogs. Houndour also has circular, red-colored patterning on the underside of its paws.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Houndour is capable of various Dark- and Fire-type attacks (including the rarely-known Beat Up attack). Houndour can also use a couple of Poison-type damaging moves and Thunder Fang.

Houndour hunting packs show off unparalleled teamwork.

Behavior

Houndour normally travel in packs. They are very protective of one another and will not abandon any of its pack if they are hurt. It can be presumed that, as Houndour hunt in packs, they are fairly smart. Houndour use a variety of cries, and different ones for pursuing prey and communicating with others. Houndour convey their feelings using different cries, and corner prey by checking each other’s location using barks. Around dawn, Houndour’s ominous howl echoes through the area to announce its ownership of its territory.

Habitat

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Houndour are predatory Pokémon that mainly eat small mammals.

In the anime

Houndour (Pichu Posse)

A Houndour is one of the enemies of the Pichu Brothers, and can normally be seen chasing them, or anyone else that angers it. It has appeared in Pikachu and Pichu, Trouble in Big Town, Of Meowth and Pokémon and Pichu Bros. in Party Panic.

Major appearances

Houndour made its anime debut in Hour of the Houndour. A pack of these Pokémon were stealing food to aid their badly wounded leader. Ash helped the ailing Houndour to a Pokémon Center.

Cassidy's Houndour debuted in The Mystery is History.

Minor appearances

A Houndour is seen in The Rise of Darkrai.

Several Houndour are among the Pokémon resting in some hot springs in Entei at Your Own Risk.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP150 Houndour Ash's Pokédex Houndour, the Dark Pokémon. Houndour travel in packs and communicate though barks in order to surround their prey. This concludes the entries from the original series.

In the manga

In Pokémon Adventures, Gold is attacked by and defeated by four Pokémon, including a Houndour, when he enters the Ilex Forest, and is then warned to stay out by the Masked Man.

This Houndour is later used against Lt. Surge during his battle against the Masked Man, where its howls summon a herd of wild Houndour to aid it in battle. Although their constant howling prevented Lt. Surge from moving, he is able to have multiple Electrode use Selfdestruct to knock them down, allowing Surge to flee during the confusion.

Pokédex entries

Manga Chapter Entry Pokémon Adventures PS139 It communicates with fellow Houndours via a unique howl, informing them of its location. The herd will then move in together on their prey.*

In the TCG

Main article: Houndour (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. Generation I Red Blue {{{redbluedex}}} Yellow {{{yellowdex}}} Stadium {{{stadiumdex}}} Generation II Gold It uses different kinds of cries for communicating with others of its kind and for pursuing its prey. Silver To corner prey, they check each other's location using barks that only they can understand. Crystal Around dawn, its ominous howl echoes through the area to announce that this is its territory. Generation III Ruby Sapphire Emerald {{{rsedex}}} Ruby Sapphire Houndour hunt as a coordinated pack. They communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokémon's remarkable teamwork is unparalleled. Ruby {{{rubydex}}} Sapphire {{{sapphiredex}}} Emerald Houndour communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokémon's remarkable teamwork is simply unparalleled. FireRed LeafGreen {{{frlgdex}}} FireRed To corner prey, they check each other's location using barks that only they can understand. LeafGreen It uses different kinds of cries for communicating with others of its kind and for pursuing its prey. Generation IV Diamond Pearl It conveys its feelings using different cries. It works in a pack to cleverly take down prey. Diamond Pearl Platinum {{{dpptdex}}} Diamond {{{diamonddex}}} Pearl {{{pearldex}}} Platinum It is smart enough to hunt in packs. It uses a variety of cries for communicating with others. HeartGold SoulSilver {{{hgssdex}}} HeartGold It uses different kinds of cries for communicating with others of its kind and for pursuing its prey. SoulSilver To corner prey, they check each other's location using barks that only they can understand. Generation V Black White It is smart enough to hunt in packs. It uses a variety of cries for communicating with others. Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}}  ??? No Pokédex data is available.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II. Generation I Red Blue None Trade Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow None Trade Generation II Gold Silver Rare Route 7Night Crystal Common Route 7Night Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald Rare Safari Zone extension FireRed LeafGreen None Trade Colosseum None Trade XD One Shadow Pokémon Lab (Shadow) Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Breed Houndoom (Pearl only) Platinum Rare Route 214, Valor Lakefront HeartGold SoulSilver Rare Route 7, Safari Zone Pal Park Mountain Pokéwalker Volcano Path Generation V Black White Swarm Route 9 (Black only) Dream World Spooky Manor

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Trozei!	Phobos Secret Fort: Phobosphere Endless Level 19 Forever Level 19 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Silent Chasm (5F-7F) Howling Forest (1F-8F) Joyous Tower (25F-27F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Shimmer Hill (1F-17F) Final Maze (B1-B48)
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Cargo Ship Oil Field Hideout
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs	Oblivia Ruins Fire Temple
Pokémon Rumble Blast	Lake: Sunny Seashore (Post-ending)

Stats

Base stats

Stat	Range
	At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 45	105 - 152	200 - 294
Attack: 60	58 - 123	112 - 240
Defense: 30	31 - 90	58 - 174
Sp.Atk: 80	76 - 145	148 - 284
Sp.Def: 50	49 - 112	94 - 218
Speed: 65	63 - 128	121 - 251
Total: 330   Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature. Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 4/4 ★★★★	Power 2/3 ★★☆
Skill 4/4 ★★★★	Stamina 3/3 ★★★
Jump 3/4 ★★★☆	Total 16/18 ★★★

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:
Weak to Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost ½× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 0× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark ½× None	Resistant against Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost ½× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 0× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark ½× None	Unaffected by Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost ½× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 0× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark ½× None	Damaged normally by Normal 1× Fighting 2× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug 1× Ghost ½× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 0× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark ½× None
Notes: If Miracle Eye is used by an opponent, the effectiveness of  Psychic-type  moves is 1×. If this Pokémon has Flash Fire, the effectiveness of  Fire-type  moves is 0×.

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
Start	Leer	Normal	Status	—	100%	30
Start	Ember	Fire	Special	40	100%	25
4	Howl	Normal	Status	—	—%	40
8	Smog	Poison	Special	20	70%	20
13	Roar	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
17	Bite	Dark	Physical	60	100%	25
20	Odor Sleuth	Normal	Status	—	—%	40
25	Beat Up	Dark	Physical	—	100%	10
28	Fire Fang	Fire	Physical	65	95%	15
32	Faint Attack	Dark	Physical	60	—%	20
37	Embargo	Dark	Status	—	100%	15
40	Foul Play	Dark	Physical	95	100%	15
44	Flamethrower	Fire	Special	95	100%	15
49	Crunch	Dark	Physical	80	100%	15
52	Nasty Plot	Dark	Status	—	—%	20
56	Inferno	Fire	Special	100	50%	5
A level of "Start" indicates a move that will be known by a Houndour obtained at level 1 in Generation V Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Houndour Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Houndour Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM/HM

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
TM		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	TM05	Roar	Normal	Status	—	100%	20
	TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	—	90%	10
	TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	—	100%	15
	TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	—	—%	5
	TM12	Taunt	Dark	Status	—	100%	20
	TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20
	TM22	SolarBeam	Grass	Special	120	100%	10
	TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20
	TM30	Shadow Ball	Ghost	Special	80	100%	15
	TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	—	—%	15
	TM35	Flamethrower	Fire	Special	95	100%	15
	TM36	Sludge Bomb	Poison	Special	90	100%	10
	TM38	Fire Blast	Fire	Special	120	85%	5
	TM41	Torment	Dark	Status	—	100%	15
	TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20
	TM43	Flame Charge	Fire	Physical	50	100%	20
	TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10
	TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	—	100%	15
	TM46	Thief	Dark	Physical	40	100%	10
	TM48	Round	Normal	Special	60	100%	15
	TM50	Overheat	Fire	Special	140	90%	5
	TM59	Incinerate	Fire	Special	30	100%	15
	TM61	Will-O-Wisp	Fire	Status	—	75%	15
	TM63	Embargo	Dark	Status	—	100%	15
	TM66	Payback	Dark	Physical	50	100%	10
	TM67	Retaliate	Normal	Physical	70	100%	5
	TM85	Dream Eater	Psychic	Special	100	100%	15
	TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15
	TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10
	TM94	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	40	100%	15
	TM95	Snarl	Dark	Special	55	95%	15
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Houndour Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Houndour Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
	Beat Up	Dark	Physical	—	100%	10
	Counter	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	20
	Feint	Normal	Physical	30	100%	10
	Fire Fang	Fire	Physical	65	95%	15
	Fire Spin	Fire	Special	35	85%	15
	Nasty Plot	Dark	Status	—	—%	20
	Spite	Ghost	Status	—	100%	10
	Punishment	Dark	Physical	—	100%	5
	Pursuit	Dark	Physical	40	100%	20
	Rage	Normal	Physical	20	100%	20
	Reversal	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	15
	Sucker Punch	Dark	Physical	80	100%	5
	Thunder Fang	Electric	Physical	65	95%	15
Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Houndour in Generation V Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Houndour in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Houndour Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Houndour Click on the generation numbers at the top to see egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Game		Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
This Pokémon learns no moves by tutoring.
A black abbreviation in a colored box indicates that Houndour can be tutored the move in that game A colored abbreviation in a white box indicates that Houndour cannot be tutored the move in that game Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Houndour Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Houndour Click on the generation numbers at the top to see move tutor moves from other generations

Dream World-only moves

Generation V Other generations: II - III - IV
Event	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP
Dream World	Feint	Normal	Physical	30	100%	10
Dream World	Dark Pulse	Dark	Special	80	100%	15
A superscript level indicates that Houndour can learn this move normally in Generation V at that level Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Houndour Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Houndour Click on the generation numbers at the top to see event moves from other generations

Special moves

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness
Shadow moves		Level 17+	Purified moves
Shadow Blitz	Shadow		Charm	Normal
Shadow Shed	Shadow		Faint Attack	Dark
--			Ember	Fire
--			Roar	Normal

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball  N/A  Not available	Pokémon Pinball RS  N/A  Not available	Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 11.4% Friend Area: Ravaged Field Phrases 51%-100% HP I'm good at running down prey using teamwork. 26%-50% HP My HP's been cut in half. 1%-25% HP I can't go on... I'm about to drop... Level up Yes! I got my level up! I'll work harder! Partner phrases 51%-100% HP <name>, my HP is between 51% and 100%. 26%-50% HP <name>, my HP is between 26% and 50%. 1%-25% HP <name>, my HP is between 1% and 25%. Level up Yes! I got my level up! I'll work harder!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2% IQ group: C
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Normal  Poké Assist: None Field move: None Loops: 0 Min. exp.: 0 Max. exp.: 0 Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Dark  Poké Assist: ( Dark ) Field move: (Tackle ×1) Browser entry   It spits blobs of fire and lets loose dark pulses to attack.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Dark  ( Dark ) Past ( Normal ) (Tackle ×2) Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   It releases a dark pulse around itself that makes Pokémon Tired.
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.

Evolution

Unevolved Houndour  Dark  Fire

Level 24 →

First evolution Houndoom  Dark  Fire

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
	This Pokémon did not appear during Generation I.
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White				Back

For other sprites and images, please see Houndour images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Houndour and its evolution.
• Despite being a Generation II Pokémon, it was actually native to Kanto in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. The same is true for Murkrow and Slugma.
• The only two games so far in which Houndour can be captured by the player before viewing the end credits are Pokémon XD and Pokémon Platinum.
• Houndour is one of fourteen Pokémon that one can collect foreign Pokédex entries for in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.

Origin

Houndour may have been based on the Cerberus of Greek and Roman mythology, or other legends of hellhounds. Houndour is also similar in appearance to Dobermanns and Rottweilers.

Name origin

Its name is a combination of hound and dour, or harshness. Its name could also be a misspelling of "hundur" the Icelandic word for dog. Its Japanese name is a corruption of devil.

In other languages

Language Name Name Origin German Hunduster A combination of Hund and düster. French Malosse From mal and molosse. Familiarly molosse refers to a bulky dog or a watchdog. Korean 델빌 Delbil Chinese (Taiwan and Hong Kong) 戴魯比 Dài Lǔ Bǐ Transliteration of its Japanese name.

External links

← #227: Skarmory

Pokémon

#229: Houndoom →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.