Houndstone

Single-format usage sits at 0.13% (rank 154), a fringe presence in the metagame. Sand Rush doubles its 68 base Speed to 136 under sand, turning it into a fast Ghost-type cleaner within that archetype. The Ghost typing grants full immunity to Normal and Fighting while resisting Poison and Bug, but the double weakness to Ghost and Dark is precisely what keeps it off most teams. Last Respects is the primary stab Ghost move, and Spell Tag boosts that damage further. Its narrow role as a sand sweeper, combined with uncomfortable defensive vulnerabilities, keeps its usage low. Last Respects is the main stab Ghost move and Spell Tag pushes its damage further. The narrow role as a sand sweeper, plus uncomfortable defensive vulnerabilities, keeps usage low.

Playstyle：Last Respects is the defining move, paired with Shadow Sneak for priority. Will-O-Wisp softens physical attackers, Body Press leverages the 100 base Defense for a Fighting coverage option, and Play Rough covers Dark-types. Colbur Berry at 41.8% preemptively answers Dark priority, Life Orb at 21.1% is the raw damage option, Spell Tag at 19.8% pushes Last Respects past key benchmarks, and Leftovers at 14.7% offers sustained recovery. Nearly every spread is Adamant; the top two push Speed to 136 while shoring up bulk, ensuring stable turn order under sand and survival against common stab hits.

Doubles usage is 0.31% (rank 117), slightly more common than singles but still on the fringe. Sand Rush still defines the set, and the Spell Tag (21.5%) versus Life Orb (22.8%) split shows two coexisting archetypes: a burst-cleaner build and a bulkier sustain build. The double Ghost and Dark weaknesses continue to define narrow switch-in windows, and Protect alongside Ally Switch are essential survival tools.

Playstyle：The doubles movepool shifts noticeably: Protect at 19.1% ranks second, Ally Switch at 9.3%, and Disable at 5.1% are all utility tools, indicating that pure cleaning takes a back seat to team-protection roles. Will-O-Wisp at 18.6% still features heavily, and Body Press rounds out the Fighting coverage to dent opposing Steel walls. Sitrus Berry at 41.5% is the leading item, a marked contrast to singles where Colbur Berry dominates, reflecting the doubles emphasis on immediate HP recovery over preemptive Dark priority answers. Adamant spreads are standard, pushing Speed to 136 under sand and investing HP and Defense to survive common spread damage.