Dwayne's Houndoom

**Dwayne's Houndoom** (Japanese: **ドゥエインのヘルガー** *Douein's Hellgar*) is the third Pokémon that Dwayne caught during his travels in the Johto region, and his fifteenth overall.

## **New Era**

### **Johto Journey**

While at Ilex Forest, Dwayne sets up for lunch. After setting a cloth for him to sit on, Dwayne goes to grab his sandwiches, but but notices his bag has vanished. He then spots several three-toed footprints in the ground, and decides to follow them. Back in Azalea Town, Nurse Joy and her Chansey have finished their groceries and decide to get some ice cream from a waiting truck. Joy quickly spots her ham bag completely empty and inspects it. Dwayne then shows up and notices Nurse Joy seems to have a problem. She reveals her ham was mysteriously stolen and Dwayne replies that his bag was also taken. Noticing more of the same footprints, Dwayne runs off to find the mystery thief and Joy wishes him luck and stays behind. In the alley.

Dwayne soon find themselves in the middle of the dense Ilex Forest again, and decides to end his chase. The clearing’s good wind direction gives Dwayne an idea, so he decides to set up camp. After cooking some sausages – one of which happens to be made of carved wood – Dwayne places his decoy on a plate and waits for the Pokémon to be drawn by the scent. As night falls, Dwayne waits behind some shrubs and watches as the wood sausage is whisked away by a black shadow. Knowing that since it was fake food, the mysterious creature will return for the real thing if it is hungry. Dwayne waits patiently, but fearfully for the return of the yet unknown Pokémon. Eventually the scary red eyes appear in the bushes once again, this time as a pack. As the menacing Pokémon surround the grou, Dwayne's Pokédex reveals the Pokémon to be a pack of Houndour.

Dwayne then spots the Alpha Houndour on a cliff above him. Dwayne is determined to get his backpack, so he calls on some assistance. Dwayne sends out Kirlia, Roserade, Heracross, and Chikorita to battle the pack of Houndour. The tough battle appears to end after Chikorita's Energy Ball startles the Houndour, but the Alpha Houndour jumps down to challenge Dwayne in a one-on-one match. Dwayne ponders on his choice, until Roselia steps up to battle, and despite the type disadvantage, Dwayne accepts Roselia's offer. Roselia starts off with Power Whip, but her attack misses, and she is forced to dodge a Flamethrower. Houndour narrowly evades Roselia's Bullet Seed attack, but is left clearly exhausted. The Houndour overhear some distant cries and they use Smog to escape. Everyone shields their eyes and mouths from the fumes before chasing after the pack.

At the Houndour's den, a wild Golem has left one of the Houndour injured. Houndour's friends leap into the squabble, but their fire attacks prove useless against Golem's tough exterior. Dwayne watches the scene unfold from a cliff and quickly realizes that the stolen belongings were to help feed the Houndour's sick member. Assessing the situation, Dwayne jumps in the way to protect the leader who was about to be knocked out by Golem. The troublesome Golem runs away after Chikorita uses a single Razor Leaf attack. Dwayne soon turns his attention to the injured Houndour. Dwayne manages to spray some Super Potion on Houndour's leg, but it is still in a dire situation. Dwayne soon realizes that the wounded Houndour must get to a Pokémon Center, and Dwayne is adamant that he can carry it all the way there. However, Dwayne soon tires, though the pack shows up to carry the wounded Houndour.

At the Center, Nurse Joy rushes the Pokémon to emergency and eventually returns stating that it will be fine. The Houndour pack are grateful and overwhelm Dwayne with their continuous licking. The following day, Dwayne is glad to see that Houndour is now feeling better, with only a bandaged leg. He offers it a sausage to helps its recovery, which Houndour happily accepts. As Dwayne prepares to depart, the Houndour pack gives him a resounding howl to thank him. Then, the Houndour that was injured climbs down the cliff and stares at Dwayne, who asks whether Houndour wanted to join him, and Houndour nods in agreement. Dwayne asks the pack whether they were okay with it, and the Alpha Houndour nods to confirm that he had permission to catch it, which Dwayne does so. Dwayne bids the Houndour pack goodbye as they give him a second resounding howl.

When Dwayne challenged the Ecruteak Gym, Houndour was chosen as his third Pokémon to battle against Morty's Gastly. Dwayne has Houndour start things off with a Flamethrower attack. Gastly dodges, countering with Night Shade, which Houndour dodges. Gastly uses Lick, but Houndour just runs up Gastly's tongue and uses Flamethrower on it, finally defeating Gastly. Morty then chooses Haunter as his second Pokémon. Houndour tries to hit it with Flamethrower, but Haunter disappears and then uses Mean Look, which forces Dwayne to use Houndour until the end of the round. Dwayne orders Houndour to fire back up and use Bite, which hurts Haunter. Haunter uses Hypnosis, which nearly works; but Houndour counters with Smog. Through the Smog, Haunter grabs Houndour and then Licks it, ending Houndour's ability to battle.

Houndour was summoned to battle alongside Lagi's Charmeleon to prevent the baby Lugia from being stolen by Fabius and Harlynn. The duo tries to keep Lugia at bay, but Harlynn and Fabius counter each of their attempts. Loudred knocks Houndour with its enraged Hyper Voice, while Charmeleon is recalled after being hit by a powerful Stone Edge. Dwayne and Lagi try to warn the parent again, but this time Lugia lashes out at them with an Aeroblast. Lugia reaches its child and the trap activates, holding Lugia captive in a field of energy. Shortly thereafter, Houndour and Charmeleon battle together against the head scientist's Electabuzz, whose power was enhanced by a mechanical headband. Electabuzz goes for a Thunder Punch, leaving a crater in the floor, but Houndour and Charmeleon manage to dodge the attack. They retaliate with a Flamethrower each, but Electabuzz uses Light Screen to the attack's power in half. Electabuzz unleashes a powerful Thunderbolt, hitting both Houndour and Charmeleon easily. The head scientist continues to dial up the rage level of his Electabuzz, making Houndour's and Charmeleon's attempts useless. Lagi suggests they aim for the controller in the head scientist's hands, and Dwayne agrees to the idea. Houndour acts a distraction, and while the head scientist focuses on the battle, Charmeleon delivers a direct hit with Flamethrower and breaks the controller. The Electabuzz snaps out of its rage, and the two Fire-type Pokémon perform a double Flamethrower attack to then knock it out.

When Dwayne challenged the Olivine Gym, Houndour was chosen as his second Pokémon to battle against Jasmine's Steelix. He tells Houndour to use Flamethrower, but before Houndour's attack hits, Steelix whips up a Sandstorm to defend itself. When the Sandstorm has subsided, Dwayne realizes that Steelix has used Dig to go underground. Steelix pops out from under and uses Iron Tail, which Houndour easily dodges. After being busy with dodging, Houndour finally uses another Flamethrower on Steelix, but Steelix uses a Sandstorm defense and disappears underground. Steelix emerges soon after and tries to knock Houndour out with several Iron Tails. Dwayne has Houndour aim a Flamethrower at the wall, and it narrowly dodges an oncoming Iron Tail. Jasmine is impressed by the tactic, so she decides to step things up a notch. Steelix dives underground once again and it emerges in front of Houndour. As Steelix approaches with an Iron Tail, Houndour tries a Crunch attack. Steelix uses Sandstorm to blow him away. However, when Steelix stops for a moment, Houndour isn't there. Houndour soon appears from a hole behind Steelix and shoots out a Flamethrower at an advantage. Steelix gets hit, but it isn't quite down from the blow, getting mad instead. Houndour heads underground again, and Steelix strikes the ground with an Iron Tail. Dwayne is forced to retire his dive in the hole tactic and orders Houndour to resurface. Houndour tries to dodge an Iron Tail, though it gets smacked out of the ring.

Everyone thinks that Houndour is knocked out, but Houndour struggles back onto the field. Houndour collapses and Janina is about to make the final call, but Houndour recovers enough and upon regaining his footing, begins evolving into Houndoom. Steelix dives in for a Crunch attack and Houndoom evades. Houndoom tries another Flamethrower, and Steelix spins into its Sandstorm defense. This time, however, Houndoom switches from Flamethrower to Fire Blast. The Sandstorm eventually changes to a brazen red color, and the swirling vortex turns into a deadly and inescapable firestorm. Steelix stops twirling around, and a few anxious moments pass before it finally collapses from the searing heat.

Shortly afterwards, Houndoom was selected by Dwayne to participate in the Extreme Pokémon Race. On the day of the Eggseter Extreme Pokémon Race, the announcer explains that the competitors will make their way through the winding Eggseter Valley however they like, where the Shellby Ranch marks the first stop. Participants must then pick up a dummy Egg and race back to the starting line, concluding the event. The race begins at a rapid pace. Soon, a Trainer's Scyther soars into the air, knocking several contestants off their boards. Several competitors including Jade and Dwayne emerge from the subsequent dust cloud and continue racing ahead. Jade and Tauros take the lead during the mountainous section, and soon Dwayne catches up.

Dwayne and Jade are still in the lead, but the rest of the competitors are catching up. They are given their dummy Eggs by Mr. Shellby and continue the race. Jade is slightly ahead of Dwayne on the return. Dwayne then spots an overhanging cliff, and he uses it as a ramp to catch up to Jade. With the finish line in sight, Jade has Tauros speed up. Dwayne orders Houndoom to do the same, and once they cross the finish line, Houndoom's head is narrowly ahead, making for a photo finish victory for Dwayne. Jade is at first annoyed but takes it in good faith. Dwayne stands proudly on the winner's podium with the Golden Poké Ball trophy in hand, and Houndoom next to him with his own medal.

When Dwayne challenged the Mahogany Gym, Houndoom was his first Pokémon of choice to battle against Pryce's Dewgong. Dwayne sends out Houndoom and orders a Flamethrower, but Dewgong ducks underwater to evade the attack. Dewgong retaliates with an Ice Beam, freezing Houndoom in solid ice after he loses his footing. Dwayne has Houndoom turn up the heat, and he breaks free of the ice to dodge an incoming Aurora Beam. The unconventional strategy takes Pryce by surprise. He orders another Aurora Beam, but Houndoom moves out of the way and fires a Fire Blast at it. Dewgong dives underwater once again to escape.

Houndoom spots an opportunity and has Houndoom also enter the water, much to Pryce and Sheila's shock. Dewgong approaches with a Headbutt, though Dwayne bides his time before hitting Dewgong out of the water with a Crunch attack. Houndoom follows up with a Thunder Fang to knock Dewgong out of the battle. Next, Pryce sends out his trusty Piloswine. Piloswine immediately unleashes a Blizzard attack. The snow cover helps Piloswine disappear into its surroundings, it then takes Houndoom out with a Take Down.

During Dwayne's match against Raven at the finals of the Silver Conference, Houndoom was selected as his first Pokémon to battle against Raven's Ursaring. Raven starts the battle by ordering Ursaring to use Hammer Arm on the field, which causes the ground to shake violently, and Houndoom loses his balance as a result, and Raven quickly commands a follow-up Thunder Punch, which hits Houndoom directly, causing severe damage. As Houndoom struggles to get back up, Dwayne mumbles that Raven truly was an incredible Trainer, and orders Houndoom to hang in there. Raven then tells Ursaring to end the battle with another Thunder Punch, but as Ursaring closes in, Dwayne tells Houndoom to crunch Ursaring's hand, which it does, and Thunder Punch gets cancelled. As Ursaring unsuccessfully tries to free itself, Dwayne commands Houndoom to use Flamethrower, which blasts Ursaring back, before Houndoom knocks it out with a follow-up Thunder Fang.

Raven then sends out Sneasel, the same one she captured before the tournament opened. Houndoom uses Fire Blast, but Sneasel dodges and and charges towards Houndoom with Poison Jab, but Houndoom jumps to dodge the attack and follows up with Flamethrower. Sneasel uses Ice Beam to create a wall of ice to block Houndoom's attack, before finally knocking it out with Throat Chop.

Following Dwayne's decision to travel to the Hoenn region, Houndoom, along with Dwayne's other Pokémon (with the exception of Gardevoir and Dratini) were left at Professor Oak's Laboratory.

## **Personality and Characteristics**

Houndoom is an extremely loyal, and goes to great lengths to assist those he trusts. Despite the reputation of his species of being ruthless and violent, Houndoom showcases great affection for those he cares about, seen when Houndoom quickly bonded with Dwayne after the young Trainer helped heal his injuries despite them having never met before until then.

In battle, Houndoom is quite durable and agile, utiziling quick moves to remain on the lead, and is capable of withstanding a large amount of hits without losing consciousness, shown during his battle against Jasmine's Steelix. He is also quite physically strong, being able to pull Dwayne with relative ease during the Extreme Pokémon Race, with them ultimately winning the competition.

## **Moves used**

 A **†** shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.