Houndoom · Neo Discovery, what to know.
About the Houndoom card
Numbered 4 of 75 in Neo Discovery, released in June 2001, Houndoom is a Rare Holo, a Stage 1 Darkness-type carrying 70 HP.
It evolves from Houndour, so Houndoom is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Shin-ichi Yoshida.
Houndoom carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Upon hearing its eerie howls, other Pokémon get the shivers and head straight back to their nests."
About Houndoom in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Houndour. Larger dog-demon silhouette. Phantasmal Flames Mega Houndoom ex revived collector interest. Vintage Neo Discovery holo Houndoom has appreciated alongside.
What is Houndoom worth?
Houndoom is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Neo Discovery's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Neo Discovery holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Neo Discovery produced 1st Edition, Unlimited prints. For Houndoom, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
On a holo like Houndoom, surface is the grade cap. The darkness foil shows hairlines under raking light, and the print reveals scratches that flat scans miss. Centering on the left and right borders is the second thing to check.
If you are collecting Houndoom
When you go to buy Houndoom, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Houndoom, so price the specific copy in front of you.
