Mega Houndoom is a Dark and Fire-type Mega raid boss in Pokémon Go, and its dual typing leaves it exposed to four attack types. It sits with a maximum CP of 4344, backed by 289 Attack, 194 Defense, and 181 HP, so it hits hard but isn’t especially bulky. That balance makes it a fast raid if you bring the right team.
Quick answer: Attack Mega Houndoom with Fighting, Ground, Rock, or Water moves. Lead with Mega Mewtwo X (Counter and Dynamic Punch+), Mega Blaziken (Counter and Aura Sphere), or Resolute Keldeo (Low Kick and Secret Sword). A duo is possible in boosted weather, but a group of three to five clears it comfortably.
Mega Houndoom weaknesses and resistances
As a Dark/Fire Pokémon, Mega Houndoom takes 160% damage from four types and shrugs off a long list of others. Its double resistance to Psychic is worth noting, since that rules out one of the most common attacker types.
| Damage relationship | Types |
|---|---|
| Weak to (takes more damage) | Fighting, Ground, Rock, Water |
| Resists (takes reduced damage) | Dark, Fire, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Steel |
| Double resists | Psychic |
Best Mega Houndoom counters
Mega Mewtwo X is the standout pick thanks to its powerful Dynamic Punch+, and this is one of the rare raids where it genuinely shines. Mega Blaziken and Mega Greninja follow, and either Primal Pokémon or Mega Lucario are strong fallbacks if you don’t own the top Megas.
For non-Mega options, Resolute Keldeo with Secret Sword leads the pack, backed by Shadow Blaziken with Aura Sphere and Terrakion with Sacred Sword. After that, work down your strongest Shadow Pokémon in the types Houndoom is weak to.
| Attacker | Fast move | Charged move |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Mewtwo X | Counter | Dynamic Punch+ |
| Mega Blaziken | Counter | Aura Sphere |
| Mega Greninja | Water Shuriken | Surf+ |
| Resolute Keldeo | Low Kick | Secret Sword |
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall | Origin Pulse |
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot | Precipice Blades |
| Mega Lucario | Force Palm | Aura Sphere |
| Shadow Blaziken | Counter | Aura Sphere |
| Terrakion | Double Kick | Sacred Sword |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot | Earth Power |
| Mega Swampert | Water Gun | Hydro Cannon |
| Mega Diancie | Rock Throw | Rock Slide |
How many trainers you need
Mega Houndoom is not soloable. Its reasonable Defense stat and the extra damage from its plus move slow you down, so a solo attempt will run out of time. It is possible to duo the raid when your counters are boosted by weather and you are at a high level, roughly level 40 and up, with strong Pokémon.
In all other cases, aim for three to five trainers with high-level counters. Beating the raid faster also rewards more Mega Energy, so a larger group has an extra benefit even when it isn’t strictly required.
Weather effects to watch for
Weather changes both your team’s output and Houndoom’s threat level. Sunny and Fog raise the CP of the Houndoom you catch afterward, but they also boost Mega Houndoom’s own attacks, so weigh the trade-off.
| Weather | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cloudy | Boosts your Fighting-type counters |
| Partly Cloudy | Boosts your Rock-type counters |
| Rainy | Boosts your Water-type counters |
| Sunny | Boosts your Ground types, but also Houndoom’s Fire moves and its caught CP |
| Fog | Raises Houndoom’s caught CP, but also boosts its Dark moves |
Best Mega Houndoom moveset
If you plan to use Mega Houndoom yourself, lean into its role as a top Dark-type attacker. Snarl as the Fast Move paired with Dark Pulse+ as the Charged Move makes the most of its same-type bonus and posts the highest damage output. It is far weaker as a Fire attacker, but if you need one, Fire Fang plus Flamethrower is the combination to run.
| Move slot | Options |
|---|---|
| Fast moves | Snarl (Dark), Fire Fang (Fire) |
| Charged moves | Dark Pulse+ (Dark), Crunch (Dark), Foul Play (Dark), Flamethrower (Fire), Fire Blast (Fire) |
Houndoom CP after the raid
You cannot catch Mega Houndoom from the raid. When you win, you encounter a regular Houndoom instead. Match the CP below to spot a perfect IV catch, and remember that Fog or Sunny weather raises the range.
| Encounter | CP range |
|---|---|
| Houndoom, no weather boost | 1,432 – 1,505 CP |
| Houndoom, Fog or Sunny boost | 1,790 – 1,882 CP |
How to get Mega Houndoom
To Mega Evolve a Houndoom, you need 200 Mega Energy for the first evolution. After that first time, evolving the same Houndoom again costs only 50 Mega Energy. Any new Houndoom you want to Mega Evolve starts fresh at the 200 cost. Walking Houndoom as your buddy earns 15 Mega Energy per set distance.
Is shiny Houndoom available?
Yes. Shiny Houndoom is in the game, and its coloring shifts to an inky blue. If you Mega Evolve a shiny Houndoom, you get the shiny version of Mega Houndoom as well, so it is worth checking the IVs and shine on the Houndoom you catch after each raid.
