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Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP)

Best Houndoom Decks and Card List

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Pokemon TGC Pocket - Houndoom Best Deck Build and How to Play

This guide will show you how to build some of the strongest Houndoom Decks. We'll cover the best Houndoom Deck builds, how to use them, as well how to beat Houndoom Decks, and more!

The decks on this page reflect the meta around the Celestial Guardians Expansion.

Best Houndoom Decks

Houndoom Deck Variants Strengths and Weaknesses
Shining Revelry Charizard and Houndoom Deck Icon Shining Revelry Charizard and Houndoom Deck
[★ Best ★]
Strengths:
• Shining Revelry Charizard can set itself up if it has to using Stoke.
• Steam Artillery deals a sizeable 150 damage, which is enough to KO most ex Pokemon.
• Benefits from Rare Candy, which speeds up its setup.
Weaknesses:
• Steam Artillery requires 5 Energy to use.
• May not be able to OHKO high-HP ex Pokemon with Giant Cape.
Houndoom and Rapidash Deck Icon Houndoom and Rapidash Deck Strengths:
• Single Point attackers in the deck are all very effective attackers.
• Houndoom's Corner allows you to guarantee KOs on unprepared Pokemon.
• Can guarantee a KO on Dialga ex if it is able to corner it.
Weaknesses:
• Pokemon in the deck all have low HP.
• Unable to consistently OHKO high-HP Pokemon.

Shining Revelry Charizard ex and Houndoom Deck

Houndour ×1 Houndoom ×1 Charmander ×2 Charmeleon ×1
Charizard ex ×2 Sabrina ×1 Pokemon Communication ×1 Giant Cape ×1
Iono ×1 Pokemon Center Lady ×1 Red ×1 Rare Candy ×2
Lillie ×1 Poke Ball × Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used
Fire Icon

Charizard ex' is a Stage 2 that benefits from Rare Candy, which greatly speeds up its setup. It can evolve from Charmander, then immediately use Stoke and position itself for a sweep. It no longer needs Moltres ex to set up, as it can set up and attack earlier and quicker thanks to Rare Candy.

This deck runs a 1-1 line of Houndoom, which can help in matchups against Pom-Pom Oricorio, which Charizard ex cannot damage.

Expansions Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1) Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a) No cards needed from this expansion.
Spacetime Smackdown (A2) Pokemon Communication x 1 (Dialga Pack)
Giant Cape x 1 (Dialga Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a) Houndour x 1 (Arceus Pack)
Houndoom x 1 (Arceus Pack)
Shining Revelry (A2b) Charmander x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Charmeleon x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Charizard ex x 2 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Iono x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Pokemon Center Lady x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Red x 1 (Shiny Charizard Pack)
Celestial Guardians Rare Candy x 2 (Any Pack)
Lillie x 1 (Solgaleo Pack)
Extradimensional Crisis No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A Poke Ball x (Promo-A Pack)
Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Alternate Card Suggestions

Alternate Cards Possible Cuts

Pokemon Communication
(A2 146)

• You can replace Charmeleon with a second Pokemon Communication to increase your odds of evolving quickly.

Lillie
(A3 155)

• You can replace Pokemon Center Lady with a second Lillie to increase Charizard ex's survivability.
• Losing Pokemon Center Lady could make matchups against decks with Hitmonlee more difficult because it could 2HKO Charmander easily.

Houndoom and Rapidash Deck

Farfetch'd ×2 Ponyta ×2 Rapidash ×2 Houndour ×2
Houndoom ×2 Sabrina ×1 Rocky Helmet ×2 Cyrus ×1
X Speed ×2 Poke Ball ×2 Professor's Research ×2
Energy Used
Fire Icon

Houndoom can score points if it can strand an unprepared Pokemon in the Active Spot. Additionally, Rapidash is your backup single-point attacker for when you need a little extra damage.

Prioritize using Houndoom's Corner as often as possible before taking a risk with Rapidash's Rising Lunge.

Expansions Cards to Get and Packs to Open
Genetic Apex (A1) Farfetch'd x 2 (Any Pack)
Sabrina x 1 (Charizard Pack)
Mythical Island (A1a) Ponyta x 2 (Mew Pack)
Rapidash x 2 (Mew Pack)
Spacetime Smackdown (A2) Rocky Helmet x 2 (Palkia Pack)
Cyrus x 1 (Palkia Pack)
Triumphant Light (A2a) Houndour x 2 (Arceus Pack)
Houndoom x 2 (Arceus Pack)
Shining Revelry (A2b) No cards needed from this expansion.
Celestial Guardians No cards needed from this expansion.
Extradimensional Crisis No cards needed from this expansion.
Eevee Grove No cards needed from this expansion.
Wisdom of Sky and Sea No cards needed from this expansion.
Secluded Springs No cards needed from this expansion.
Mega Rising No cards needed from this expansion.
Promo-A X Speed x 2 (Promo-A Pack)
Poke Ball x 2 (Promo-A Pack)
Professor's Research x 2 (Promo-A Pack)

Houndoom Deck Strategy Guide

Corner Vulnerable Pokemon with Houndoom

Houndoom's Corner can put opponents in difficult situations where they're forced to sacrifice a Pokemon and give up points. Use cards like Sabrina and Cyrus to support this gameplan and drive opponents into a corner!

How to Beat Houndoom Decks

Single-Point Water Pokemon

The Pokemon in this deck do not have high HP, so it is easy to knock them out when hitting them with their weakness. It may be better to use non-ex Pokemon to prevent your opponent from gaining more points.

Have Healing Cards Ready

This deck's strategy relies on getting your Pokemon down to Houndoom's KO range. Using Trainer Cards to heal your Pokemon may get your Pokemon back to a safer HP range.

HP Recovery and Healing Cards List

Don't Bench Pokemon Unnecessarily

Sabrina and Cyrus are especially potent in Houndoom decks. These cards can get a vulnerable Pokemon stranded in the Active Spot for Houndoom to prey on. Having no Pokemon on your Bench means there's nothing to switch with Sabrina.

Pokemon TCG Pocket Related Guides

Decks

Best Meta Decks Tier List

Mega Rising Decks

Mega Altaria ex Deck IconMega Altaria ex Indeedee ex Deck Icon Indeedee ex Greninja ex Deck IconGreninja ex Mega Blaziken ex Deck IconMega Blaziken ex
Mega Absol ex Deck IconMega Absol ex Mega Gyarados ex Deck IconMega Gyarados ex Hydreigon Deck IconHydreigon Jolteon ex Deck Icon Jolteon ex
Mega Ampharos ex Deck IconMega Ampharos ex Melmetal ex Deck IconMelmetal ex Luxray Deck Icon Luxray Goodra Deck IconGoodra
Mega Pinsir ex Deck IconMega Pinsir ex Hitmonchan ex Deck IconHitmonchan ex Dragalge ex Deck IconDragalge ex Whimsicott ex Deck Icon Whimsicott ex
Rapidash ex Deck IconRapidash ex Tauros ex Deck IconTauros ex Golurk Deck IconGolurk Mega Pidgeot ex Deck IconMega Pidgeot ex

Top Decks in the Meta

S Tier Tier
Mega Altaria ex and Chingling DeckMega Altaria ex and Chingling Deck Greninja ex and Suicune ex DeckGreninja ex and Suicune ex Deck Mega Absol ex and Hydreigon DeckMega Absol ex and Hydreigon Deck -
A+ Tier Tier
Mega Blaziken ex and Heatmor DeckMega Blaziken ex and Heatmor Deck Pom-Pom Oricorio and Magnezone DeckPom-Pom Oricorio and Magnezone Deck Decidueye ex DeckDecidueye ex Deck -
A Tier Tier
Mega Absol ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio DeckMega Absol ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck Mega Absol ex and Weezing DeckMega Absol ex and Weezing Deck Hydreigon DeckHydreigon Deck Espeon ex and Indeedee ex DeckEspeon ex and Indeedee ex Deck
B Tier Tier
Mega Blaziken ex and Entei ex DeckMega Blaziken ex and Entei ex Deck Mega Gyarados ex and Milotic DeckMega Gyarados ex and Milotic Deck Indeedee ex and Giratina ex DeckIndeedee ex and Giratina ex Deck Luxray DeckLuxray Deck
Pom-Pom Oricorio and Greninja DeckPom-Pom Oricorio and Greninja Deck Giratina ex and Darkrai ex DeckGiratina ex and Darkrai ex Deck Guzzlord ex and Naganadel DeckGuzzlord ex and Naganadel Deck -
C Tier Tier
Mega Pinsir ex and Leafeon ex DeckMega Pinsir ex and Leafeon ex Deck Mega Ampharos ex and Raikou ex DeckMega Ampharos ex and Raikou ex Deck Hitmonchan ex and Lucario DeckHitmonchan ex and Lucario Deck Jolteon ex and Jolteon DeckJolteon ex and Jolteon Deck
Tapu Koko ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio DeckTapu Koko ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck SR Pikachu ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio DeckSR Pikachu ex and Pom-Pom Oricorio Deck Crobat and Arceus ex DeckCrobat and Arceus ex Deck Goodra and Indeedee ex DeckGoodra and Indeedee ex Deck
D Tier Tier
Rapidash ex and Ninetales DeckRapidash ex and Ninetales Deck Tauros ex and Hydreigon DeckTauros ex and Hydreigon Deck Whimsicott ex and Meowscarada DeckWhimsicott ex and Meowscarada Deck Dragalge ex and Nihilego DeckDragalge ex and Nihilego Deck
Golurk DeckGolurk Deck Aegislash and Togedemaru DeckAegislash and Togedemaru Deck Mega Pidgeot ex and Raikou ex DeckMega Pidgeot ex and Raikou ex Deck -

List of All Decks

Core Expansion Decks
Mega Rising Logo
(B1)
Aegislash
Dragalge ex
Greninja ex
Golurk
Goodra
Hitmonchan ex
Hydreigon
Indeedee ex
Jolteon ex
Luxray
Mega Absol ex
Mega Altaria ex
Mega Ampharos ex
Mega Blaziken ex
Mega Gyarados ex
Mega Pidgeot ex
Mega Pinsir ex
Melmetal ex
Rapidash ex
Tauros ex
Whimsicott ex
Secluded Springs Logo
(A4a)
Altaria
Celebi
Dugtrio
Entei ex
Galarian Cursola
Jumpluff ex
Latios
Miltank
Poliwrath ex
Raikou ex
Slowking
SS Eelektross
Suicune ex
Zoroark
Wisdom of Sea and Sky Logo
(A4)
Crobat ex
Donphan ex
Espeon ex
Ho-oh ex
Kingdra ex
Lanturn ex
Lugia ex
Magcargo
Raikou
Scizor
Shuckle ex
Skarmory ex
Steelix
Umbreon ex
WSS Gyarados
WSS Tyranitar
Xatu
Eevee Grove Logo
(A3b)
Alcremie
Dragonite ex
Espeon
Flareon ex
Glaceon
Jolteon
Leafeon
Primarina ex
Slurpuff
Snorlax ex
Sylveon ex
Umbreon
Vaporeon
Extradimensional Crisis Logo
(A3a)
Alolan Dugtrio ex
Blacephalon
Buzzwole ex
Guzzlord ex
Lycanroc ex
Naganadel
Nihilego
Pheromosa
Shiinotic
Silvally
Stoutland
Tapu Koko ex
Ultra Necrozma ex
Celestial Guardians Logo
(A3)
Alolan Muk ex
Alolan Ninetales
Alolan Raichu ex
Araquanid
Banette
Crabominable ex
Decidueye ex
Dhelmise ex
Incineroar ex
Kommo-o
Lunala ex
Mimikyu
Passimian ex
Pom-Pom Oricorio
Rayquaza ex
Solgaleo ex
Tsareena
Turtonator
Vikavolt
Wishiwashi ex
Shining Revelry Logo
(A2b)
Beedrill ex
Bibarel ex
Dondozo
Gholdengo
Giratina ex
Lucario ex
Meowscarada
Paldean Clodsire ex
Pawmot
SR Charizard ex
SR Pikachu ex
Tinkaton ex
Wugtrio ex
Triumphant Light Logo
(A2a)
Abomasnow
Arceus ex
Bronzong
Carnivine
Crobat
Donphan
Garchomp ex
Gengar
Glaceon ex
Heatran
Houndoom
Leafeon ex
Origin Forme Palkia
Probopass ex
Snorlax
Staraptor
TL Tyranitar
Space-Time Smackdown Logo
(A2)
Bastiodon
Darkrai ex
Dialga ex
Empoleon
Gallade ex
Garchomp
Infernape ex
Lickilicky ex
Lucario
Luxray
Magnezone
Mesprit
Mismagius ex
Pachirisu ex
Palkia ex
Porygon-Z
Rampardos
Rhyperior
Togekiss
Torterra
Weavile ex
Yanmega ex
Mythical Island Logo
(A1a)
Aerodactyl ex
Celebi ex
Golem
Gyarados ex
Mew ex
Pidgeot ex
Scolipede
Genetic Apex Logo
(A1)
Aerodactyl
Alakazam
Arbok
Arcanine ex
Articuno
Articuno ex
Blastoise
Blastoise ex
Centiskorch
Charizard
Dragonite
Exeggutor ex
Frosmoth
GA Charizard ex
GA Gyarados
GA Pikachu ex
Gengar ex
Greninja
Kabutops
Kingler
Lapras ex
Machamp ex
Marowak ex
Melmetal
Mewtwo ex
Moltres ex
Ninetales
Omastar
Pidgeot
Poliwrath
Primeape
Raichu
Starmie ex
Venusaur
Venusaur ex
Weezing
Wigglytuff ex
Zapdos
Zapdos ex

Best Rental Deck Tier List

Deck-Building Guides and Lists

Lists of Decks by Type
Best F2P Beginner Decks Best Non-ex Decks
Which ex Starter Deck Should You Get? List of Rental Decks
Best 18 Trainers Decks Best Trainerless Decks for Solo Battle Missions
List of Meme or Troll Decks List of Ultra Beast Decks
Best Eeveelution Decks Best Baby Pokemon Decks
Deck-Building Guides
Deck Building Guide How Rental Decks Work
Staple Cards for Decks -
Deck Analyses
Deck Matchup Statistics 10 Match Tests vs Pikachu ex Deck - Statistics

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