How to Catch Shiny Houndour in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

[Eleanor]

If you’re hunting for one of the coolest-looking Fire- and Dark-type Pokémon in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Shiny Houndour is a must-have for your collection. Its striking blue coloration makes it stand out from the usual red-and-black version, and finding one can be a real badge of honor for shiny hunters. Here’s everything you need to know to catch Shiny Houndour efficiently, including spawn locations, methods, and strategies to boost your odds.

Where to Find Houndour

Houndour typically spawns in the rocky or volcanic regions of the Z-A map, most notably in areas similar to Mt. Chimney or the surrounding cliffs. These zones feature Fire- and Dark-type Pokémon, making them a perfect habitat. You’ll often encounter packs of Houndour, led by a stronger Houndoom, which can make the encounter a bit more challenging—but also rewarding.

If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon an Alpha Houndour in these zones. While it won’t be shiny by default, Alpha Pokémon have higher stats and are worth catching. Some players prefer to buy alpha Pokémon from in-game trading hubs or other players to save time building strong teams, especially if shiny hunting isn’t your main goal.

Boosting Shiny Odds

Catching a Shiny Houndour still depends heavily on patience and luck, but you can increase your chances through a few key methods:

Complete the Pokédex entry for Houndour.
Finishing its Pokédex tasks to Level 10 improves shiny rates. This means catching multiple Houndour, defeating them in battle, and observing their moves.

Use Mass Outbreaks or Massive Mass Outbreaks.
These events significantly increase shiny odds. When Houndour appears in an outbreak, it’s the best time to focus your efforts.

Equip the Shiny Charm.
After completing the full regional Pokédex, the Shiny Charm becomes available. This item dramatically boosts your shiny encounter rate across the region.

Save before approaching a spawn.
If you spot a group of Houndour, save the game right before engaging. If none of them are shiny, you can reload and try again after resetting the area by fast traveling to another region.

How to Catch and Handle Shiny Houndour

Shiny Houndour can be feisty, so use Smoke Bombs or stealth mechanics to sneak up without alerting it. A back strike with a Great Ball or Ultra Ball is usually effective. If it notices you, use status effects like Sleep or Paralysis to improve catch rates.

If you encounter a Shiny Alpha Houndour, be extra careful—it’s both rare and powerful. Many collectors seek to buy alpha shiny Pokémon because of their rarity and perfect stats, but catching one yourself is far more satisfying.


Shiny Houndour evolves into a Shiny Houndoom, maintaining its blue palette—making it a top-tier shiny evolution.

Avoid using strong super-effective moves if you battle it; you don’t want to accidentally faint your shiny target.

Visit volcanic and mountainous regions during different weather conditions—sometimes spawn rates vary slightly depending on time or weather.

Catching a Shiny Houndour in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a thrilling experience that combines patience, precision, and a bit of luck. Whether you prefer to hunt in the wild or focus on completing your Pokédex for better odds, this hunt is one of the most rewarding challenges the game has to offer.