Is Houndstone Broken? Unpacking the Power of a Spectral Menace

Yes, Houndstone can absolutely be considered broken in specific competitive formats. Its signature move, Last Respects, is the core reason for this. The move’s damage scales incredibly with the number of fallen allies, potentially reaching astronomical levels of power that are very difficult to counter. This led to Houndstone being banned from some competitive formats, particularly those with specific rulesets that amplify its strength. While not universally overpowered in every situation, Last Respects makes Houndstone a considerable threat that demands respect and careful planning to defeat.

Understanding Houndstone’s Power

Houndstone’s strength isn’t solely based on its base stats. While decent, they aren’t overwhelmingly impressive. The key lies in the synergy between its Ghost typing, its access to Last Respects, and the strategic team compositions that can maximize the move’s potential. A well-built Houndstone team essentially sacrifices Pokémon to power up Last Respects, creating a snowball effect that can quickly overwhelm opponents. Its unique evolution method, needing to level up at night after reaching Level 30, shows that it is more than meets the eye.

The Mechanics of Last Respects

Last Respects starts as a relatively weak Ghost-type physical move. However, for each Pokémon in your party that has fainted, its base power increases by 50. This means that with just a few allies down, Last Respects becomes a devastating force. The move’s potential peaks when Houndstone is the last Pokémon standing, unleashing a 300 Base Power attack – one of the strongest in the game. This puts incredible pressure on the opponent to avoid letting Houndstone clean up late game.

The Drawbacks of Houndstone

Despite its potential, Houndstone isn’t invincible. It has several weaknesses that can be exploited:

• Type Weaknesses: Houndstone is vulnerable to Dark and Ghost-type moves.
• Speed: Houndstone is not particularly fast, making it susceptible to faster attackers that can exploit its weaknesses.
• Setup Required: Houndstone’s strength relies on Pokémon fainting. If the opponent prevents this, Last Respects will remain relatively weak.
• Predictability: Opponents are often aware of the Last Respects strategy and may try to play around it, forcing Houndstone into unfavorable situations.

Houndstone’s Competitive Viability

While banned from certain formats, Houndstone can still be a viable option in other formats. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses and building a team to support its strategy are crucial.

Here are some factors that determine its viability:

• Format Ruleset: The rules of the competitive format greatly impact Houndstone’s viability. Formats that encourage quick knockouts or allow for strategic sacrificing of Pokémon favor Last Respects.
• Team Composition: A well-constructed team should include Pokémon that can either quickly faint to power up Last Respects or provide support for Houndstone.
• Opponent’s Team: Houndstone struggles against teams with strong Dark-type attackers or those that can prevent Pokémon from fainting.
• Tera Types: The Tera mechanic in Scarlet and Violet can be used to change Houndstone’s typing, potentially eliminating its weaknesses or boosting the power of Last Respects with a Ghost-type Tera.

Houndstone: A Broken Pokémon?

The question of whether Houndstone is “broken” is ultimately subjective and depends on the context. In formats where Last Respects can be easily abused, it is undeniable that Houndstone is overpowered and thus, banned. However, in other formats with different rulesets or team compositions, Houndstone can be a powerful, but manageable threat. The GamesLearningSociety.org can offer further research on how game design impacts competitive play.

Houndstone serves as a fascinating example of how a single move can drastically alter a Pokémon’s viability and impact the competitive landscape. Understanding the nuances of Last Respects and the strategies surrounding Houndstone is key to both utilizing its power and countering it effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions About Houndstone

1. Why was Houndstone banned from some competitive formats?

Houndstone’s signature move, Last Respects, is incredibly powerful. Its damage scales with the number of fainted allies, making it a potentially unstoppable force in the late game. This led to its ban from some competitive formats to ensure fair gameplay.

2. What is Houndstone’s biggest weakness?

Houndstone’s primary weaknesses are its vulnerability to Dark and Ghost-type moves, and its relatively low Speed stat. Faster attackers with these types of moves can easily take it down before it can utilize Last Respects.

3. How does Last Respects work?

Last Respects is a Ghost-type physical move that gains 50 base power for each fainted Pokémon in your party. When the trainer’s last party member, it has 300 base power.

4. Is Houndstone good in standard gameplay?

Houndstone can be a decent option in the main game, particularly during the post-game content. However, its reliance on Pokémon fainting to reach its full potential makes it less consistent than other powerful Pokémon.

5. What are the best teammates for Houndstone?

Good teammates for Houndstone are those that can faint quickly to power up Last Respects, or provide support through setup moves or redirection. Pokémon with self-destructing moves are particularly effective for the first category.

6. Can Houndstone be countered?

Yes, Houndstone can be countered by using Pokémon with Dark or Ghost-type moves, or by preventing Pokémon from fainting. Using protective moves such as Protect, Reflect, or Light Screen can help mitigate the damage from Last Respects.

7. What is the best Tera Type for Houndstone?

The best Tera Type for Houndstone depends on the strategy and the opponent’s team. A Ghost-type Tera can boost the power of Last Respects, while a Tera Type that eliminates its weaknesses (such as Normal) can provide better defensive coverage.

8. Is Houndstone a legendary Pokemon?

No, Houndstone is not a legendary Pokémon. It is the evolved form of Greavard.

9. What are Houndstone’s base stats?

Houndstone’s base stats are as follows:

• HP: 72
• Attack: 101
• Defense: 100
• Special Attack: 50
• Special Defense: 97
• Speed: 68

10. Does Houndstone have any abilities other than Sand Rush?

Houndstone’s only ability is Sand Rush, which makes him less effective on teams that aren’t sand-based.

11. How do I evolve Greavard into Houndstone?

To evolve Greavard into Houndstone, you need to level it up at night after it reaches Level 30.

12. Is Houndstone viable in VGC (Video Game Championships)?

Houndstone’s viability in VGC depends on the specific ruleset and team compositions. While its potential is undeniable, it requires careful planning and execution to be successful.

13. What held items are best for Houndstone?

Good held items for Houndstone include:

• Choice Band: Increases Attack stat but locks the user into one move.
• Life Orb: Boosts move power but deals slight recoil damage.
• Focus Sash: Allows Houndstone to survive one hit with 1 HP, potentially allowing it to use Last Respects.

14. What is the strongest Ghost-type Pokemon?

Determining the “strongest” Ghost-type Pokémon is subjective and depends on the context. However, some of the most powerful Ghost-types include Gholdengo, Dragapult, and Shadow Rider Calyrex.

15. Can Houndstone defeat Mewtwo?

It is very unlikely that Houndstone can defeat Mewtwo in a one-on-one battle, especially if Mewtwo is equipped with powerful Psychic-type attacks. Mewtwo’s special defense is significantly high compared to Houndstone’s special attack.