#0430

Honchkrow

Best moveset, PvP rankings, counters & stats for Pokemon GO.

Max CP 3,065 Peck + Brave Bird Fog Windy
Honchkrow Pokemon GO sprite

Honchkrow is a Dark/Flying-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO, originally from the Sinnoh region (#430, Generation 4). With a max CP of 3,065 and base stats of 243/103/225 (Atk/Def/Sta), Honchkrow has a total stat product of 571. Honchkrow's best moveset is Peck and Brave Bird.

Honchkrow is weak to Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock-type moves. It resists Ground, Psychic, Dark, Ghost, Grass-type attacks. Honchkrow is a 3.0 km buddy Pokemon.

Stats

Max CP
3,065
Lv.40: 2,711 Lv.50: 3,065
Attack 243
Defense 103
Stamina 225
Total 571
Buddy 3.0 km Gen 4 · Sinnoh 2nd Move: 50,000 Dust · 50 Candy

Rankings

PvP Battle
Great League
S
#13
74.30% Win Rate
Flying type Peck
Flying type Brave Bird
Ideal IVs 0/15/15
Ultra League
S
#14
74.17% Win Rate
Flying type Peck
Flying type Brave Bird
Ideal IVs 0/15/15

Moves

Fast Moves

Flying
Peck STAB
10
DPS
10.0 PWR 10 EN 1.0s DUR 10 EPS Windy
Dark
Snarl STAB
11
DPS
11.0 PWR 13 EN 1.0s DUR 13 EPS Fog

Charged Moves

Flying
Brave Bird STAB Buff
65
DPS
130.0 PWR 100 EN 2.0s DUR
Dark
Dark Pulse STAB
26.7
DPS
80.0 PWR 50 EN 3.0s DUR
Psychic
Psychic Buff
31.7
DPS
95.0 PWR 50 EN 3.0s DUR
Flying
Sky Attack STAB
40
DPS
80.0 PWR 50 EN 2.0s DUR

Best Moveset Analysis

In Great League PvP, Honchkrow runs Peck and Brave Bird, ranked #13 (Tier S) with a 74.30% win rate. In Ultra League PvP, Honchkrow runs Peck and Brave Bird, ranked #14 (Tier S) with a 74.17% win rate. Honchkrow has access to 2 fast moves and 4 charged moves, giving trainers flexibility depending on the battle format.

Among fast moves, the highest DPS option is Snarl (11 DPS), while Snarl generates energy the fastest (13 EPS).

Evolution

Murkrow Pokemon GO
Murkrow
100 Candy
Sinnoh Stone
Honchkrow Pokemon GO
Honchkrow

Raid Guide

Honchkrow as Raid Boss

Not Currently in Raids

Honchkrow is not currently available as a raid boss. When Honchkrow returns to raids, here are the best counters to defeat it. A 100% IV Honchkrow from raids would have 1549 CP at level 20, or 1937 CP at level 25 with weather boost.

View full raid guide →

Best Counters to Beat Honchkrow

Honchkrow is weak to Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock-type moves, so counters with these move types will deal the most damage.

How to Get Honchkrow

Honchkrow evolves from Murkrow using 100 Candy and a Sinnoh Stone.

A Shadow version of Honchkrow is available from Team GO Rocket. Shadow Honchkrow knows Frustration as its charged move, which can be removed with a Charged TM. Purifying costs 3,000 Stardust and 3 Candy, and the purified form learns Return. Walking Honchkrow as your buddy earns 1 candy every 3.0 km.

Honchkrow Catch CP

These are the possible CP values when encountering Honchkrow in different scenarios. The range shows minimum (lowest IV floor) to maximum (100% perfect IV).

Wild Catch
Level 1–30
67 – 2,343 CP
Wild (Weather Boost)
Level 1–35
67 – 2,537 CP
Raid Catch
Level 20
1,508 – 1,588 CP
Raid (Weather Boost)
Level 25
1,876 – 1,975 CP
Egg Hatch
Level 20
1,508 – 1,588 CP
Research Encounter
Level 15
1,140 – 1,200 CP
GO Battle League
Level 20
1,508 – 1,588 CP

A 100% IV Honchkrow from raids or eggs will show 1,549 CP at level 20. If you see this number, don't hesitate — it's a perfect catch!

Trainer Tips

Honchkrow is a Dark/Flying-type Pokemon with a stat total of 571. With its high Attack stat (243), Honchkrow is best suited for offensive roles in both raids and PvP.

Watch out for Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock-type moves when using Honchkrow. These types deal super effective damage that can cut into Honchkrow's performance.

Honchkrow's moves get a damage boost in Fog and Windy weather. Take advantage of weather conditions to maximize your DPS in raids and gym battles.

Unlocking a second charged move costs 50,000 Stardust and 50 Candy. With 4 charged moves available, a second move gives Honchkrow much better coverage in PvP battles.

Should I Invest in Honchkrow?

Power-Up Costs

Level 20 → 40 (Standard)
135,000 Stardust
15 Candy
Level 40 → 50 (XL Candy)
0 Stardust
0 XL Candy
Total (20 → 50)
135,000 Stardust

Verdict

Recommended for PvP
Honchkrow doesn't stand out as a raid attacker but has a place in PvP, ranked #13 (Tier S) in Great League with a 74.30% overall win rate. With base stats of 243/103/225 and a max CP of 3,065, its stat distribution is more offense-oriented. Run Peck with Brave Bird for best results. Worth investing in a second charged move to expand coverage and improve matchups across the board.

Shadow vs Regular: Shadow Honchkrow deals 20% more damage but takes ~20% more. For raids, Shadow is generally the better investment. For PvP, evaluate matchups carefully — the bulk loss can be significant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best moveset for Honchkrow in Pokemon GO?
Honchkrow's best moveset is Peck (fast) and Brave Bird (charged). This combination maximizes damage output thanks to STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), strong energy generation from the fast move, and high DPE (damage per energy) on the charged move.
What are Honchkrow's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Honchkrow is weak to Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock-type moves. On the other hand, Honchkrow resists Ground, Psychic, Dark, Ghost, Grass-type attacks, so avoid using those types against it. To counter Honchkrow effectively in raids and gyms, build a team using its weakest type matchups and pick attackers that have STAB moves of those types.
What is Honchkrow's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Honchkrow's maximum CP is 3,065 at level 50 (with XL Candy), or 2,711 at level 40. Reaching level 50 requires XL Candy, which is only available to trainers level 31 and above — earning XL Candy involves catching, hatching, transferring, and walking Pokemon. Honchkrow's CP is calculated from its base stats: 243 Attack, 103 Defense, and 225 Stamina. Powering up from level 40 to 50 requires a significant investment of XL Candy and Stardust, so plan your resources carefully. A 100% IV Honchkrow caught from raids or eggs (level 20) will have 1,549 CP, or 1,937 CP with weather boost (level 25).
Is Honchkrow good for PvP in Pokemon GO?
Honchkrow is ranked #13 (Tier S) in Great League with a 74.30% overall win rate. The recommended moveset is Peck and Brave Bird. The ideal IV spread for Great League is 0/15/15 — for CP-capped leagues like Great League and Ultra League, lower Attack IVs with higher Defense and Stamina allow Honchkrow to reach a higher level within the CP cap, gaining more total stat product. Honchkrow is ranked #14 (Tier S) in Ultra League with a 74.17% overall win rate. The recommended moveset is Peck and Brave Bird. The ideal IV spread for Ultra League is 0/15/15 — for CP-capped leagues like Great League and Ultra League, lower Attack IVs with higher Defense and Stamina allow Honchkrow to reach a higher level within the CP cap, gaining more total stat product. When deciding which league to prioritize, consider where Honchkrow has its best ranking and win rate. Unlocking a second charged move (costing 50,000 Stardust and 50 Candy) is highly recommended for PvP, as it gives Honchkrow better coverage and the ability to bait shields more effectively.
What CP is a 100% IV Honchkrow?
A perfect 15/15/15 IV Honchkrow has the following CP at key levels: 1,162 CP at level 15 (research encounters), 1,549 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches), 1,937 CP at level 25 (weather-boosted raids), and 3,065 CP at level 50 fully powered up. If you catch a perfect IV Honchkrow, it is worth investing Stardust and Candy to power it up, especially if Honchkrow ranks well in raids or PvP. A 100% IV (also called a "hundo") is the rarest IV combination, so tag and favorite it to make sure you don't accidentally transfer it.
Is Shadow Honchkrow better than regular?
Shadow Honchkrow deals 20% more damage than its regular counterpart but also takes 20% more damage. For raids, Shadow Honchkrow is generally better due to the higher DPS output. For PvP, it depends on the matchup — the extra damage taken can be a significant drawback in extended battles where survivability matters. Shadow Honchkrow comes with Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM before powering up.
How to get Honchkrow in Pokemon GO?
Honchkrow is obtained by evolving its pre-evolution (Murkrow with 100 Candy + Sinnoh Stone). Honchkrow can also be obtained through trading with other trainers.
Can Honchkrow be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Honchkrow's availability depends on whether Niantic has released its shiny form. Not all Pokemon have their shiny forms available yet. Check the current events page and Community Day announcements for any updates on shiny Honchkrow availability and boosted shiny rates during special events.

Max CP per Level

L1 38 CP
L5 365 CP
L10 775 CP
L15 1,162 CP
L20 1,549 CP
L25 1,937 CP
L30 2,324 CP
L35 2,518 CP
L40 2,711 CP
L50 3,065 CP

Pokedex Info

Pokedex Number #430
Generation Gen 4
Region Sinnoh
Height 0.90 m
Weight 27.30 kg
Buddy Distance 3.0 km
Tradable Yes
2nd Charged Move 50,000 Dust / 50 Candy
Shadow Move Frustration
Purified Move Return
Purification Cost 3,000 Dust / 3 Candy