Houndoom

Species

Quote
“The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.” — Houndoom's Pokédex entry^[src]

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Houndoom [Edit] [Talk]

Houndoom ^{(JPJapanese: ヘルガー

Romaji: Hellgar)} is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a dual-type Dark/Fire Pokémon that made its first appearance in the second generation games Gold and Silver. It evolves from Houndour at level 24. It can Mega Evolve into Mega Houndoom if it holds Houndoomite.

Physiology and Behaviour[]

Houndoom is a quadrupedal, canine Pokémon that is mainly colored black with a long orange snout and an orange underbelly. It has small, red eyes and a black nose. Around its neck is a white band with a small skull-shaped pendant on its throat. There are two white bands on each of its ankles, as well as three rib-like ridges on its back. Houndoom has a long, skinny tail with a triangular tip and three clawed toes on each paw. On top of its head is a pair of long, curved gray horns. These horns are smaller on the female than the male.

In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply towards the back serves a leadership role. Leadership is determined by fights within the pack. Its gut is full of toxins, which are used to create unique fire mixed with poison. This gives Houndoom's fire a foul odor and the wounds it inflicts will never heal. After finishing off the prey, Houndoom divides it evenly among its pack. Houndoom appears near rough terrain areas. Its howling induces shivering in other Pokémon, and often sends them scurrying back to their nests. This resulted in people referring to Houndoom's howl as the Grim Reaper.

As Mega Houndoom, the ridges on its back thicken, and it gains additional, bone-like rings around the base of its tail. The rings on its tail have small spikes on top, causing them to resemble vertebrae. The ridge at the base of Mega Houndoom's neck is longer and curves forward towards its shoulders. Instead of a band with a skull pendant, there is a large, toothed structure around its neck. This bone-like formation has two large spikes on either side and three pointed teeth on the bottom. Mega Houndoom's horns now point straight up with a small, outward curve in the middle. The two bands on its hind legs have vanished, and those on its forelegs are broken in the front. Its claws are a dark red due to its ability to generate more heat, which themselves cause pain to Mega Houndoom. Finally, the tip of its tail is now split down the middle. When it Mega Evolves, its entire body generates heat. Its fiery breath is now powerful enough to burn foes into ashes.

Appearances[]

Main Pokémon games[]

Other Pokémon games[]

Super Smash Bros. series[]

Trophy descriptions[]

In the anime[]

Origin and inspiration[]

Houndoom seems to be based on the legends of hellhounds, black dogs, and possibly Cerberus, dog of Hades in Greek mythology (Pluto for Romans). Its horns and pointed tail resemble common depictions of the devil. Its skeletal adornments may be a reference to the hellhounds' and black dogs' associations with death. They may also be inspired by the grim reaper, and the bands around its ankles resemble shackles. Its build and coloration are similar to a Dobermann, and it also somewhat resembles the extinct Tasmanian wolf due to the stripe-like bony ridges on its back. Its pack-hunting behavior and eerie howling are reminiscent of wolves.

In-game information[]

Pokédex entries[]

Title	Entry

Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	If you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, the pain will never go away.
Pokémon Silver	Upon hearing its eerie howls, other Pokémon get the shivers and head straight back to their nests.
Pokémon Crystal	The pungent-smelling flame that shoots from its mouth results from toxins burning in its body.
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply towards the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting amongst themselves.
Pokémon Sapphire	In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply towards the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting amongst themselves.
Pokémon Emerald	In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply back serves a leadership role. They choose their leader by fighting among themselves.
Pokémon FireRed	Upon hearing its eerie howls, other Pokémon get the shivers and head straight back to their nests.
Pokémon LeafGreen	If you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, the pain will never go away.
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.
Pokémon Pearl	Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.
Pokémon Platinum	The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.
Pokémon HeartGold	If you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, the pain will never go away.
Pokémon SoulSilver	Upon hearing its eerie howls, other Pokémon get the shivers and head straight back to their nests.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.
Pokémon White	The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.
Pokémon Black 2	The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.
Pokémon White 2	The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.
Pokémon Y	The flames it breathes when angry contain toxins. If they cause a burn, it will hurt forever.
Pokémon Omega Ruby	In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply toward the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting among themselves.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply toward the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting among themselves.
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ultra Sun	They spew flames mixed with poison to finish off their opponents. They divvy up their prey evenly among the members of their pack.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Identifiable by its eerie howls, people a long time ago thought it was the grim reaper and feared it.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.
Pokémon Shining Pearl	Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	If you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, the pain will never go away.
Pokémon Violet	Upon hearing its eerie howls, other Pokémon get the shivers and head straight back to their nests.

Game locations[]

Title	Location(s)
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	Evolve Houndour
Pokémon Silver	Evolve Houndour
Pokémon Crystal	Evolve Houndour
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	Trade
Pokémon Emerald	Evolve Houndour
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Pearl	Routes 214 and 215 (Poké Radar)
Pokémon Platinum	Evolve Houndour
Pokémon HeartGold	Safari Zone
Pokémon SoulSilver	Safari Zone
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Evolve Houndour
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Evolve Houndour
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Route 12
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	Routes 214 and 215 (Poké Radar) Grand Underground - Spacious Cave, Dazzling Cave, Volcanic Cave, Sandsear Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Typhlo Cavern
Pokémon Shining Pearl	Routes 214 and 215 (Poké Radar) Grand Underground - Spacious Cave, Dazzling Cave, Volcanic Cave, Sandsear Cave, Stargleam Cavern, Typhlo Cavern
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	South Province: Area Four, Area Six, North Province: Area Two Tera Raid Battle (5★)
Pokémon Violet	South Province: Area Four, Area Six, North Province: Area Two Tera Raid Battle (5★)