Competitive Landscape
Ho-Oh’s status as a dual-type Fire/Flying Legendary Pokémon grants it formidable prowess. However, its moveset faces competition from other top-tier legendaries like Groudon and Kyogre. While Groudon’s Ground-type dominance eclipses Ho-Oh’s Fire-type coverage, Kyogre’s Water-type attacks offer greater utility against a wider range of opponents.
Value Proposition
Ho-Oh’s signature move, Sacred Fire, provides a potent Fire-type nuke. Its secondary Flying-type move, Brave Bird, adds STAB coverage, but carries a hefty recoil. The Fire/Flying combination offers resistances to Bug, Fighting, Grass, and Steel, providing versatility against several common types. Additionally, Ho-Oh’s Recovery skill allows it to restore HP, enhancing its longevity in battle.
Move Analysis
Ho-Oh’s optimal moveset varies depending on the battle format. For PvE, Solar Beam provides exceptional Grass-type coverage, while Earthquake adds Ground-type power. In PvP, Brave Bird and Sacred Fire remain the core moves, but Hidden Power (Flying) and Protect offer utility against common Electric- and Rock-type threats. The choice between Sacred Fire and Heat Wave depends on the desired consistency versus the potential for higher damage output.
