Houndstone, the Ghost Dog Pokémon. Houndstone spends most of its time sleeping in graveyards. Among all the dog Pokémon, this one is most loyal to its master. A lovingly mourned Pokémon was reborn as Houndstone. It doesn't like anyone touching the protuberance atop its head.

Overview

Houndstone was introduced to generation 9 with great aplomb, having a relatively spooky introduction video, heart wrenching Dex entries and general doggo energy. But that is nothing compared to what Houndstone did competitively. Last Respects is arguably one of the most broken offensive moves in the game, gaining a whopping 50 Power for each KO’d ally, reaching a 300 Base Power STAB attack if Houndstone is the last member in a 6v6 match, more than offsetting its decent Attack. And as Spectrier and Calyrex Shadow Rider have proven, Ghost is a fantastic offensive typing given how hard it is to resist. And if that wasn’t enough, Houndstone has two fantastic abilities that enable it to leverage this power, either patching up its speed as a Sand Rush sweeper or become incredibly durable physically thanks to Fluffy. And Houndstone’s moveset isn’t lacking either, having coverage for the types that resist Ghost as well as the disruptive options expected of Ghost types like Will-o-Wisp.

Houndstone’s effectiveness in the end comes down to Last Respects. When not using Last Respects, Houndstone is underwhelming. Additionally, VGC and Battle Spot have team caps of 4 and 3 respectively limiting Last Respects’ power, and outside of a boosted Last Respects, Houndstone’s middling Attack really starts to show. If not using Sand Rush, Houndstone’s speed is poor, forcing it to take hits -hits that will stack up due to lack of recovery. Houndstone is no longer the only Last Respects user either, with Basculegion giving Houndstone a run for its money. However, when your back is to the wall, they are few more reliable than this good friend.
Positives
Last Respects is insane, easily reaching OHKOing power with no drawbacks and is hard to resist due to its Ghost typing.
Houndstone has a great movepool, with Body Press and Play Rough for Normal and Dark types along with stellar disruptive options in Will-o-Wisp and Yawn.
Two Fantastic abilities in Sand Rush and Fluffy that mix up how Houndstone plays.

Negatives
Without Last Respects, Houndstone’s offense is unimpressive and Last Respects power is only good in the endgame.
Poor Speed outside of Sand Rush, forcing Houndstone to tank an attack before firing back.
Lack of recovery belies decent defenses and Fluffy, preventing Houndstone from taking repeated hits.

Movesets

Spooky Scary Skeleton Spaniel Sweeper

-Last Respects
-Body Press
-Play Rough
-Shadow Sneak
Ability: Sand Rush
Item: Life Orb
EVs and Nature:
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature

This Houndstone is a late game ending sweeper, taking advantage of a previous allies' Sandstorm to trigger Sand Rush and get the jump on the opposition. A fully powered Last Respects is obscenely powerful, able to OHKO offensive Arceus forms, and favored to OHKO defensive ones aside from Dark and Normal. Body Press and Play Rough are invaluable coverage, both hitting Dark types and the former hitting Ghost immune Normal types that otherwise give Houndstone problems. Shadow Sneak provides invaluable STAB priority, enabling Houndstone to pick off weakened targets that may have priority of their own, and preventing Houndstone from being dead weight when Sandstorm isn't up.

Tera Types:
Ghost is recommended, pushing Last Respects' and Shadow Sneak's power to reach KOs thought impossible. A base 300 Tera Ghost Last Respects does 75% to offensive Arceus Dark, while Shadow Sneak can do a third to Miraidon. As this Houndstone is meant to be a die or fly sweeper, it is hard to argue any other type, especially given the power of Last Respects. Tera Fighting and Fairy are backup options given they boost coverage moves and give resistance to Dark.

EVs and Items:
As a sweeper you want as much Speed and Attack as possible. Adamant nature is recommended for reaching KOs with Last Respects, as you outspeed the entire unboosted roster bar Regieleki in Sand, while still outspeeding Scarf Chi-Yu. Jolly enables you to outspeed Max Speed Espathra at +1, as well as Protosynthesis Roaring Moon. Life Orb is recommended for as much power as possible while not locking you into a single move. Spell Tag is a great alternative, boosting Last Respects and Shadow Sneak without ruining Houndstone’s bulk. Choice Scarf and Band are other options; Scarf enables Houndstone to function regardless of Sand, while Choice Band gives an immediate power boost for reaching KOs.

Partners:
If running Sand Rush, Tyranitar is the gold standard for Sandstorm setting and should be given serious consideration. Tyranitar's ability to setup Stealth Rocks for further chip damage and ability to weaken if not eliminate opposing Dark types thanks to its natural resistance. Hippowdon is another excellent setter and is also able to setup Stealth Rock and Yawn to enable Houndstone to get in safely. Kingambit is another amazing partner for being an equally fierce end game threat, with complimentary typing. Kingambit loves Houndstone's ability for nullifying Fighting attacks while Houndstone appreciates Kingambit for tanking opposing Dark and Normal types well.

Other Options:
Crunch -mainly for Hisuain Zoroark who otherwise hard walls Last Respects + Body Press and takes Play Rough well.
Sandstorm -since Houndstone is so reliant on Sand for outspeeding, being able to setup its own is worth considering.
Trick -if running a Choice Item, gives Houndstone utility outside of damage if forced out early.
Poltergeist -if Last Respects isn't available, then this is Houndstone's best Ghost STAB.

Grave Defense

-Will-O-Wisp
-Yawn
-Last Respects
-Body Press
Ability: Fluffy
Item: Leftoversbr /> EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature

A bulky Houndstone set that takes advantage of Fluffy for Houndstone to tank massive physical attacks, and either cripple the opponent back or outright eliminate them with Last Respects. Will-O-Wisp helps greatly with the walling aspects, further cutting down on the damage Houndstone and its teammates take while Yawn is an excellent phazing option to stop sweepers before the can start. Last Respects is as amazing as always in the late game, enabling Houndstone to drag weakened targets to the grave. Body Press rounds out the set, giving coverage against Normal and Dark types while taking advantage of Houndstone’s good defense.

Tera Types:
Tera Fighting is recommended for both the boost to Body Press and shifting in defenses to resist Dark moves that could otherwise strike Houndstone down. Tera Water is another excellent option, being a solid defensive type that importantly resists Fire, counteracting the downside of Fluffy.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Defense are recommended to get the most out of Fluffy as well as bolster Body Press. Alternatively, one could forego Defense investment for Attack, especially if intending Houndstone to act as a Trick Room abuser, swapping out Impish for an Attack boosting, speed dropping Brave Nature. Leftovers is recommended for the needed passive recovery it provides. Otherwise, Spell Tag is another option to consider for boosting Last Respects.

Partners:
Defensive Houndstone’s low speed makes it a fixture on Trick Room teams. Not only does it thrive in Trick Room and is a late game threat, but it can also enable Trick Room’s setup with Yawn and Will-O-Wisp crippling attackers. As such Trick Room setters like Armarouge, Hatterene, and Calyrex Ice Rider like working with Houndstone for that reason, though the stacking of Ghost and Dark weaknesses are unfortunate.

Other Options:
Protect synergizes well with Yawn and Leftovers, helping guaranteeing Sleep and stalling for more Leftovers recovery. Substitute blocks against Status and safely pick up 2HKOs on targets that could otherwise OHKO it back.

Doubles and VGC Options

Power is always a tantalizing option for many trainers, and the effortless power that Last Respects provides is no exception. However, doubles is far from the ideal place for Houndstone to exercise its power, as Last Respects is at its best when Houndstone is by itself, but Last Respects can only KO one target at a time, meaning a 2v1 is not in Houndstone’s favor. Sandstorm being at its weakest does not help matters either, with all the other weathers flourishing while Sandstorm’s greatest enablers in Excadrill and Ferrothorn are nowhere to be seen. While Houndstone can and does work well in Trick Room, competition for space on such teams are fierce, and the disruption Houndstone provides is not as valuable for a Trick Room team. And the most popular Pokémon around aren’t making it easy for Houndstone either, with Booster Energy Flutter Mane easily outspeeding even in Sand, Chien-Pao’s priority Sucker Punch, and popular Intimidate users in H-Arcanine and Landorus-T all holding Houndstone down and Basculegion providing stiff competition for Houndstone as well. Houndstone does have its merits; its movepool is full of disruption that can prove ruinous and even in a 4v4 setting there are few better hat tricks than Last Respects.

Desert Bones

-Last Respects
-Will-O-Wisp
-Protect
-Body Press
Ability: Sand Rush
Item: Focus Sash
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature

Houndstone acts as a late game cleaner for sand teams in Doubles using its fallen comrades to fuel blistering assaults that are hard to resist. Last Respects is the main reason to be using Houndstone and keeping it until the late game is what makes it such a dangerous threat. If Houndstone is your last Pokémon, Last Respects reaches absurd levels of power, doing 50% to Dondozo before Terastalizing, and doing at least 75% to just about anything else that doesn't resist. Will-O-Wisp gives Houndstone early game utility if forced out early, crippling opposing physical attackers and ruining Chien-Pao if it tries going for Sucker Punch instead of another STAB attack. Protect is the best move in Doubles. Body Press is a great coverage moves against opposing Dark types. Body Press also slams Normal targets like Tera Normal Dragonite and isn't bothered by Intimidate.

Tera Ghost is to get the most out of Last Respects and place even more pressure on your opponent

Other Options & Partners:
Yawn is great disruption forcing a switch or disabling a threat for a few rounds.
Ally Switch is amazing on Ghost types, enabling mind games and making it possible for Houndstone to eat Fake Outs meant for its partner as well as Fighting STAB meant for Tyranitar.
Tyranitar -you need sand to outspeed and Tyranitar provides in spades while being a general all around threat with its wide movepool and loving the support Houndstone provides.
Ogerpon-Cornerstone -one of the best available Sandstorm abusers, loving the Special Defense boost from Sandstorm and just an all around powerhouse.

Countering Houndstone

If running Last Respects, it is unlikely that you will see Houndstone until the end game where it is at its most threatening, which can be a challenge to keep your Houndstone answer healthy the entire game. Forced switching is your best weapon against Last Respects, whether it be Roar, Whirlwind or Dragon Tail, forcing Houndstone out early for early weakening or elimination can stop a Last Respects sweep before it can start.

Hisuian Zoroark is possibly the best lure for Last Respects Houndstone, blanking both the terrifying Last Respects and Body Press while disguising itself as anything else to lure Houndstone into using the wrong move and able to quickly KO Houndstone back with Ghost STAB. Normal types in general are a great answer for Last Respects, whether it be Tera Normal Dragonite or Noivern, or Arceus, Houndstone can’t smack them with Last Respects. However, frailer Normal types dislike Body Press and physically inclined ones like Tera Normal Dragonite, Arceus and Tauros dislike Will-O-Wisp burns. Bulky Dark types like Arceus-Dark, Umbreon and Ting-Lu may work, but a full power Last Respects will still do horrific damage.

Faster Special Attackers can cause problems for defensive Houndstone, able to bypass Fluffy and Will-O-Wisp though it takes an obscene amount of Speed against Sand Rush Houndstone. Booster Energy/Scarf Flutter Mane is a key example able to outspeed Houndstone and OHKO with Ghost STAB, but must be wary of Shadow Sneak which can easily OHKO even with a Spooky Plate. Scarf Dragapult is another that reliably outspeeds in Sand. Otherwise, Armarouge, Chi-Yu, Heatran, Gholdengo, Gengar, Basculegion, etc. All fit the bill nicely.

Anime Appearences

Houndstone has yet to make an appearance in the anime # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics