Ho-oh

Last updated: 2026-06-03

Ho-oh Overview

Ho-oh is a Fire/Flying-type Legendary Pokemon introduced in Generation 2 in the Johto region. It serves as the mascot for Pokemon Gold and is part of the Tower Duo alongside Lugia. Known as the Rainbow Pokemon, Ho-oh is said to create rainbows with its wings and bring happiness to those who see it. Its feathers are made of seven colors that shimmer in the light.

Ho-oh is a majestic, phoenix-like Pokemon with gold and red feathers, a greenish tail, and a distinctive feathered crest. It has 130 base Attack and 110 base Special Attack, making it equally threatening physically and specially. Its sacred flame Sacred Fire has a 50% burn chance, the highest of any move in the game. Ho-oh's hidden ability Regenerator heals 33% of its max HP when it switches out, making it extremely durable in battles where it can pivot.

Battle Strategy

Ho-oh is primarily a physical attacker in competitive play. Sacred Fire is its signature move with 100 base power, perfect accuracy, and a 50% burn rate. Banded Sacred Fire burns over half of its targets, crippling physical attackers. Brave Bird provides Flying STAB with recoil. Earthquake covers Rock and Electric-types, and Roost provides recovery. With Regenerator, Ho-oh can repeatedly switch in and out, gradually wearing down the opponent.

A standard Choice Band set is Ho-oh's most popular set. Sacred Fire 2HKOes almost everything in the Ubers tier. The burn chance neuters physical attackers that try to switch in. Brave Bird hits hard but has recoil that compounds with Stealth Rock damage. Earthquake hits Rock-types like Tyranitar and Heatran. Regenerator mitigates the passive damage from Stealth Rock and Brave Bird recoil.

Ho-oh can also run a defensive set with Heavy-Duty Boots to negate Stealth Rock (its 4x Rock weakness makes hazards devastating). This set uses Sacred Fire, Brave Bird, Roost, and Defog or Whirlwind. Maximum HP and Special Defense investment makes Ho-oh a specially defensive pivot that spreads burns and clears hazards. Substitute + Calm Mind sets can sweep on the special side using Sacred Fire's burn chance for physical defense.

Evolution Chain

Competitive Usage

Ho-oh is an Ubers-tier staple in Smogon and a restricted threat in VGC. Its 4x weakness to Stealth Rock is its primary drawback, making hazard control essential. In Generation 8, Heavy-Duty Boots significantly boosted Ho-oh's viability by removing the Stealth Rock liability. Regenerator makes Ho-oh one of the best defensive pivots in Ubers. Common checks include Rock-types like Tyranitar (resists Sacred Fire, threatens with Stone Edge), Primal Groudon (sets sun weakening Sacred Fire, threatens with Rock Slide or Stone Edge), and specially defensive Water-types like Kyogre.

Related Pokemon