Pokemon Go Mega Houndoom Raid Guide: Weaknesses & best counters
NIANTICIf you’re hoping to add a twist of darkness to your Pokemon Go team, Mega Houndoom is the perfect pick. Here’s how to defeat and catch this Gen 2 creature in the game.
When it comes to Niantic’s mobile game, Pokemon Go, 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 in Raid Battles.
Last time we covered taking on Mega Absol. Now, we’re zooming in on Mega Houndoom, the dual Fire/Dark-type Pokemon with a taste for all things hellfire that’s coming back to Mega Raids.
In order to snag a Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go, here’s everything you need to know.
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.
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.
Best counters for Mega Houndoom
These are some of the best counters and movesets to defeat Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go:
| POKEMON | SPRITE | BEST MOVESET |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Kyogre |  | Waterfall & Origin Pulse |
| Primal Groudon |  | Mud Shot & Precipice Blades |
| Mega Garchomp |  | Mud Shot & Earth Power |
| Mega Swampert |  | Mud Shot & Hydro Cannon |
| Shadow Rampardos |  | Smack Down & Rock Slide |
| Shadow Rhyperior |  | Smack Down & Rock Wrecker |
| Keldeo |  | Low Kick & Sacred Sword |
| Terrakion |  | Smack Down & Sacred Sword |
| Tyranitar |  | Smack Down & Stone Edge |
| Gyarados |  | Waterfall & Hydro Pump |
The list above includes some of the best counters you can use against Mega Houndoom. However, no matter how good they are, they still need to be leveled up and know the correct moves.
In case you don’t have any of them, you can still battle Mega Houndoom with your strongest Pokemon, as long as they have the correct typing to target the opponent’s weaknesses.
How to get Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go
You’ll be able to get Mega Houndoom during its time as a Mega Raid boss from September 14, 2024, until September 26, 2024.
However, you can’t catch a Mega Evolution, so the only way to get Mega Houndoom is to catch its regular version and evolve it into Mega Houndoom using 100 Mega Energy.
The main way to get Mega Houndoom Energy is to defeat Mega Houndoom in Raid Battles, after which you’ll be rewarded with at least 50 Mega Energy. The more you beat it, the more Energy you’ll get.
Players can also earn Mega Energy as a reward for completing research tasks or by walking with their Buddy.
Can Mega Houndoom be Shiny?
Yes, Mega Houndoom can be Shiny in Pokemon Go, as this form was introduced all the way back in 2018.
NIANTICPlayers who wake 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.
It’s worth noting that the Shiny encounter rate is slightly higher than in a normal encounter, so you actually have better chances of finding Shiny Mega Houndoom.
That’s everything you need to know about defeating Mega Houndoom in Pokemon Go. For more about Mega Evolutions, check our guide about costs and bonuses, as well as the list of all the Mega Evolutions missing from the game.