You see that massive shadow over the stadium? That’s him. Since 2017, Ho-Oh in Pokémon GO has been this weird, legendary enigma that players either absolutely adore or find incredibly frustrating to catch. It’s the Johto mascot. The rainbow bird. A literal phoenix that refuses to stay in the Poké Ball. Honestly, if you’ve ever sat through a raid weekend only to have a 98% IV Ho-Oh flee after thirteen Excellent curveballs, you know the heartbreak is real. But there’s a reason we keep coming back to it.
Ho-Oh isn't just another entry in the Pokédex. It’s a Master League staple. It’s a PvE tank. It’s a trophy.
The Massive Impact of Ho-Oh in Pokémon GO Meta
Let’s get one thing straight: Ho-Oh isn't a glass cannon. If you’re looking for something that hits like a truck but dies if a breeze touches it, go grab a Blaziken. Ho-Oh is built like a brick house. In the Master League, it occupies this space where it just... lingers. It forces shields. It baits out switches. With the addition of Sacred Fire—and specifically the Sacred Fire+ and ++ versions from Apex Shadow Ho-Oh—it became a genuine menace.
Sacred Fire is the game-changer. Before that move was introduced, Ho-Oh was kinda "meh." You were stuck running Brave Bird and hoping you didn't self-debuff into oblivion, or maybe Fire Blast if you were feeling spicy. Now? You have a 50% chance to drop your opponent's attack stat. That is huge. In a high-stakes GBL match, a single attack drop can turn a losing matchup into a dominant win.
Why the Typing is a Double-Edged Sword
Fire and Flying. It sounds cool, right? It is, until you run into a Tyranitar or a Kyogre. Ho-Oh takes double super-effective damage from Rock-type moves. One Smack Down and you’re basically cooked poultry. This is the biggest hurdle for newer players. They see the high CP—Ho-Oh can soar well past 4,000 at level 50—and assume it’s invincible. It’s not. It’s a specialist. You have to know when to swap.
If you’re facing a Togekiss or a Dialga, you’re usually having a great time. If a Landorus (Therian) shows up with Stone Edge? You better have a shield ready or a very fast finger on the switch button.
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Finding the Best Moveset Without Overthinking It
Don't overcomplicate this. For years, people argued about Extrasensory versus Steel Wing. Forget that. Incinerate is the only fast move you should care about for Ho-Oh in Pokémon GO. It generates energy like crazy. Yes, the animation is slow. It takes five turns. That can feel clunky if you’re used to Dragon Breath users, but the trade-off is worth it.
For your charged moves, Sacred Fire is non-negotiable. If you don't have an Elite TM and you're using a regular Ho-Oh, you’re playing at a disadvantage. Your second move should almost always be Brave Bird. It’s your nuke. You use it when you know it’ll land, or right before you swap out to reset your defense debuff. Some people run Earthquake for the coverage against Rock and Electric types, which is a big brain move, but it takes a long time to charge.
- Incinerate (Fast Move)
- Sacred Fire (Elite TM required)
- Brave Bird or Earthquake (Second Charged Move)
The Apex Shadow Controversy and Why it Matters
Remember the Pokémon GO Tour: Johto? That was when Niantic dropped Apex Shadow Ho-Oh. This wasn't just a regular shadow. It had a different aura. It had better stats. Most importantly, it had Sacred Fire+, which eventually purifies into Sacred Fire++.
There’s a massive debate in the community. To purify or not to purify? Usually, the rule is "Never Purify." Shadow Pokémon get a 20% attack boost. But Apex Ho-Oh is a bit different because Sacred Fire++ is technically stronger in raids. However, for PvP, the Shadow version usually wins out because that raw damage output is just too high to ignore. If you have one, keep it as a Shadow. You can't get another one easily, and the rarity alone makes it the crown jewel of any collection.
Raiding Ho-Oh: Don't Go In Alone
Raiding Ho-Oh in Pokémon GO is a lesson in patience. It sits far back on the screen. It moves up and down. If you're impatient, you're going to waste your Premier Balls. Wait for the attack animation. It’s that big, sweeping dive. Right as it’s pulling back to its center position, throw your curveball.
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You need Rock types. Period. Because of that 4x weakness, a team of Rhyperior with Rock Wrecker or Rampardos with Smack Down will melt Ho-Oh's HP. You can duo a Ho-Oh if you and a friend have maxed out Mega Aerodactyl or Mega Tyranitar. If you're using random players from a remote raid app, aim for at least four or five people.
- Mega Tyranitar: The absolute gold standard.
- Rampardos: Highest DPS but dies quickly.
- Rhyperior: The "ol' reliable" of Ho-Oh raids.
- Terrakion: Great if it has Smack Down.
Shiny Ho-Oh and the Luck Factor
The shiny rate for legendary raids is usually around 1 in 20. Shiny Ho-Oh is gorgeous. It trades the red and orange for a brilliant gold and silver. It’s one of the most recognizable shinies in the game. If you encounter one, remember: legendary shinies from raids are a guaranteed catch as long as you land the ball. Do not waste a Golden Razz Berry. Use a Silver Pinap or a regular Pinap Berry to get that extra candy.
Real Talk on Resource Investment
Is it worth the Stardust?
Look, Candy XL is hard to come by. To get a Ho-Oh to level 50, you're looking at a massive grind. If you aren't a hardcore Master League player, a level 40 Ho-Oh is perfectly fine for raids. But if you want to climb the ranks in GBL, you need those XLs. Walking a Ho-Oh as a buddy is a slow process—20km per candy (or 10km if it's excited). Most people end up using Rare Candy XL which they’ve hoarded from in-person raids.
There’s also the "Background" factor. Recently, Niantic has been doing special backgrounds for location-based events. A Ho-Oh with a special background is the ultimate flex. It doesn't change the stats, but in the trading world, those are worth their weight in gold.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think Ho-Oh is a "bad" fire type compared to Reshiram. In a vacuum? Sure. Reshiram has Fusion Flare and higher base attack. But Reshiram is a glass cannon in comparison. Ho-Oh’s value is in its longevity. It survives Charged Attacks that would delete other Fire types. It's a defensive anchor.
Also, don't believe the "Fast Catch" myth for raids. Some people think you can skip the catch screen for legendaries. You can't. You have to throw the balls. The only way to speed it up is to get better at hitting those Excellent throws.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
If you want to master Ho-Oh in Pokémon GO, start with these specific moves. First, check your storage. If you have a Ho-Oh from a few years ago, check its IVs. Anything with a 15 attack stat is a candidate for power-up. Second, wait for a 2x Transfer Candy event if you have a bunch of low-IV ones taking up space.
Don't use your Elite TMs blindly. If you have an Apex Shadow, that is your priority. If not, wait until you have a Hundo (100% IV) or a 98% before burning that Rare TM. Join a local Discord or campfire group for the next time Ho-Oh rotates into 5-star raids. You'll want to farm at least 30-40 raids to get enough candy to make it viable for high-level play.
Focus on the "Circle Lock" technique. Hold the Poké Ball until the catch circle is small enough for an Excellent throw, then let go. Wait for Ho-Oh to attack. Throw the ball midway through the animation. This is the only consistent way to ensure you aren't wasting balls on a Pokémon that loves to move around the screen.
Lastly, pay attention to the weather. If it's Sunny or Windy, Ho-Oh gets a weather boost. It'll be harder to catch because its CP is higher, but you'll save a ton of Stardust and Candy because it starts at level 25 instead of 20.