Initially, Houndoom gained attention for its stunning full-art variant in the Triumphant Light set. However, attempts to integrate this Fire-type into standard Pokemon TCG Pocket decks have largely fallen flat. Despite its rare and striking artwork, Houndoom is in a tough spot due to the lack of a viable meta shell to support it.
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Currently, Houndoom holds less than 1% of the TCG Pocket metagame, making it one of the least favored cards in competitive play. Still, we set out to find the best possible Houndoom deck—one that not only mitigates its weaknesses but also offers enough consistency to be a viable option in PvP. But before exploring the deck, let’s take a quick look at Houndoom itself.
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Houndoom Card Overview
- Rarity: Two-diamond, one-star
- Stage: One
- HP: 100
- ATK: 60
- Text: During your opponent’s next turn, the Defending Pokemon can’t retreat.
- ATK Energy: Two (one Fire, one Colorless)
- Retreat Cost: Two
- Weakness: Water
The Best Deck for Houndoom
Houndoom fits seamlessly into a standard Infernape ex setup. To build this deck, you’ll need Houndour, Chimchar, and Monferno for the evolution lines. For Trainer Cards, key inclusions are Cyrus, Sabrina, Dawn, and Pokemon Communication. If Energy distribution becomes an issue, adding a single copy of Moltres ex can help balance things out.
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Moltres ex is a flex option for this deck.
Houndoom Deck Synergies
- Houndoom is the control agent, locking the opponent in the Active Spot to either take it out itself or set up an easy knockout for Infernape ex.
- Infernape ex is the deck’s primary damage dealer, capable of dealing 140 damage with just two Energies—enough to take down many top-tier cards.
- Cyrus and Sabrina are essential for targeting Benched opponents.
- Dawn helps counteract Infernape ex’s Energy-discarding effect, allowing it to attack consistently.
- Pokemon Communication is vital for managing the deck’s clunky evolution lines, ensuring you can draw the right cards when needed.
- If Moltres ex is included, it provides additional Energy acceleration, helping both Houndoom and Infernape ex ramp up efficiently.
Houndoom Performance Report
- Tournament Appearance: Less than 200
- Meta Share: Less than 1%
- Win Rate: ~ 40%
Unsurprisingly, Houndoom decks have performed well against Grass-type decks from previous expansions. Specifically, the once-dominant Exeggutor ex & Celebi setup has been defeated by Houndoom decks 80% of the time in recent tournaments—an impressive win rate.
However, it’s important to note that there’s limited data on Houndoom’s PvP performance, as it isn’t a popular PvP deck. If trends continue as they are, the future looks bleak for Houndoom unless a new, powerful Fire-type Pokemon with perfect synergy comes to its rescue.
How to Counter Houndoom
Most Houndoom decks in TCG Pocket are relatively easy to counter. Several options are available, including the 18-Trainer Articuno ex, Gyarados ex & Greninja, and the top setup from the previous expansion: Magnezone & Darkrai ex.
Houndoom decks face two key drawbacks: their burst damage often isn’t enough to take down the enemy’s primary damage dealers, and their evolution lines can be clunky. Given these weaknesses, the best counter would be any fast-paced deck with above-average HP. The 18-Trainer Articuno ex is a perfect example. It’s tanky and starts dealing 60 damage with just two Energies, which can be devastating for Houndoom decks.
The Triumphant Light expansion brought a surprising shift to the meta with the introduction of three game-changing cards: Arceus ex, Leafeon ex, and Irida. These cards have each dealt a unique blow to Houndoom, pushing it down to the lowest tiers of the metagame.
Arceus ex currently dominates the meta, and its fast build-up and high early-game damage make it a strong counter to Houndoom. Meanwhile, Leafeon ex and Irida have formed an unexpected alliance, and the duo has proven highly effective against Houndoom. Irida’s inclusion has also bolstered some Water-based decks, like the 18-Trainer Articuno ex setup, which has performed well against Houndoom.
