Best Counters for Houndoom-Mega

Type matchup table

Water2x

Fighting2x

Ground2x

Rock2x

Normal1x

Electric1x

Poison1x

Flying1x

Bug1x

Dragon1x

Fairy1x

Fire0.5x

Grass0.5x

Ice0.5x

Ghost0.5x

Dark0.5x

Steel0.5x

Psychic0x

Recommended practical counters

Tyranitar

#0248

Best overallResists both STABsStrong physical attacker

RockDark

• Deals 2x damage with Rock-type attacks
• Has STAB Rock-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety

Best typeRock×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

134 offense · 61 Speed

Quaquaval

#0914

Resists both STABsStrong physical attackerBudget option

WaterFighting

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

120 offense · 85 Speed

Sneasler

#0903

Bulky switch-inFast pressureStrong physical attacker

FightingPoison

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x

130 offense · 120 Speed

Garchomp

#0445

Bulky switch-inFast pressureStrong physical attacker

DragonGround

• Deals 2x damage with Ground-type attacks
• Has STAB Ground-type attacks
• Resists the target's Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeGround×2

Safe into Fire 0.5x

130 offense · 102 Speed

Tauros-Paldea-Aqua

#0128

Resists both STABsFast pressureBudget option

FightingWater

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

110 offense · 100 Speed

Tauros-Paldea-Blaze

#0128

Resists both STABsFast pressureBudget option

FightingFire

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

110 offense · 100 Speed

Kommo-o

#0784

Resists both STABs

DragonFighting

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

110 offense · 85 Speed

Greninja

#0658

Resists both STABsFast pressureBudget option

WaterDark

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

103 offense · 122 Speed

Greninja-Bond

#0658

Resists both STABsFast pressureBudget option

WaterDark

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

103 offense · 122 Speed

Primarina

#0730

Resists both STABsStrong special attackerBudget option

WaterFairy

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

126 offense · 60 Speed

Blaziken

#0257

Resists both STABsStrong physical attackerBudget option

FireFighting

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

120 offense · 80 Speed

Emboar

#0500

Resists both STABsStrong physical attackerBudget option

FireFighting

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

123 offense · 65 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Diancie-Mega

#0719

Theoretical optionMega optionResists both STABs

RockFairy

• Deals 2x damage with Rock-type attacks
• Has STAB Rock-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeRock×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

160 offense · 110 Speed

Tyranitar-Mega

#0248

Theoretical optionMega optionResists both STABs

RockDark

• Deals 2x damage with Rock-type attacks
• Has STAB Rock-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety

Best typeRock×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

164 offense · 71 Speed

Ash’s Greninja

#0658

Theoretical optionConditional formResists both STABs

WaterDark

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

153 offense · 132 Speed

Mewtwo-Mega X

#0150

Theoretical optionMega optionFast pressure

PsychicFighting

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first
• Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety

Best typeFighting×2

Mostly neutral switch-in

190 offense · 130 Speed

Koraidon

#1007

Theoretical optionLegendary optionResists both STABs

FightingDragon

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

135 offense · 135 Speed

Blaziken-Mega

#0257

Theoretical optionMega optionResists both STABs

FireFighting

• Deals 2x damage with Fighting-type attacks
• Has STAB Fighting-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeFighting×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

160 offense · 100 Speed

Gyarados-Mega

#0130

Theoretical optionMega optionResists both STABs

WaterDark

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Dark 0.5x, Fire 0.5x

155 offense · 81 Speed

Origin Palkia

#0484

Theoretical optionLegendary optionBulky switch-in

WaterDragon

• Deals 2x damage with Water-type attacks
• Has STAB Water-type attacks
• Resists the target's Fire 0.25x STAB attacks
• Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
• Good Speed helps apply pressure first

Best typeWater×2

Safe into Fire 0.25x

150 offense · 120 Speed

Best move types to use

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Counter notes for Houndoom-Mega

• Houndoom-Mega is a Dark / Fire Pokémon with 115 base Speed and stronger special attack (140 Sp. Atk). Water, Fighting, Ground, and Rock attacks all work offensively, but safer counters are usually the ones that reduce risk from its own STAB types.
• Houndoom-Mega has several 2x weaknesses rather than a single 4x weakness, so the best counters are the ones that can hit it super-effectively while also reducing the risk from Dark / Fire STAB.
• Known abilities include Solar Power. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
• Avoid counters that are weak to Dark / Fire unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
• Houndoom-Mega has alternate forms in the National Dex, but this page focuses on the standard Dark / Fire matchup.

What not to use

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

• This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
• Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
• Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
• Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

FAQ