Honchkrow

Using Honchkrow in a Playthrough

The Murkrow line is an offensively oriented Dark/Flying family whose usefulness changes sharply depending on whether Honchkrow is available. Murkrow itself has respectable mixed offenses and good Speed for an unevolved Pokemon, but its poor defenses make it fragile, especially in games where it must remain unevolved for a long portion of the story. From Generation IV onward, a Dusk Stone can evolve Murkrow into Honchkrow, which gains enormous base 125 Attack and base 105 Special Attack but drops to base 71 Speed, shifting the line from a fast nuisance into a slower, much harder-hitting attacker. Honchkrow makes especially good use of powerful Flying STAB, Dark moves such as Sucker Punch or Night Slash, and broad physical coverage, while Insomnia can provide a useful immunity to sleep and Super Luck can support critical-hit-focused sets. Its poor 52/52 defenses and weaknesses to Electric, Ice, Rock, and, from Generation VI onward, Fairy make it much safer as an offensive finisher than as a Pokemon expected to switch repeatedly into neutral attacks.

Honchkrow in Competitive Pokémon

Both Murkrow and Honchkrow have had meaningful competitive identities, but for very different reasons. Honchkrow has repeatedly functioned as a dangerous lower-tier wallbreaker and cleaner through base 125 Attack, Brave Bird, Sucker Punch, Superpower, and Moxie, with each knockout potentially allowing it to snowball through an opposing team. Its drawbacks are equally pronounced: base 71 Speed leaves it reliant on Sucker Punch against faster threats, Brave Bird recoil shortens its lifespan, and a Stealth Rock weakness limits the number of times it can safely enter battle. Murkrow became strategically important in its own right after receiving Prankster, which gives priority to status moves and has supported Tailwind, Haze, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Quash, and other disruptive roles, particularly in doubles formats where speed control and priority utility can outweigh its unevolved stats. The family therefore has an unusual competitive split—Honchkrow applies direct offensive pressure, while Murkrow can remain useful without evolving because Prankster gives it a support niche that Honchkrow does not inherit.

Honchkrow in Nuzlockes

The Murkrow line can be a powerful but unforgiving Nuzlocke option because its Dark/Flying typing supplies complete immunities to Psychic and Ground attacks along with useful resistances to Grass, Ghost, and Dark. Those immunities can create excellent planned switches, but Murkrow's low defenses and Honchkrow's equally poor base 52 defenses mean that a wrong prediction or unexpected coverage move can be fatal. Honchkrow's high Attack and access to priority through Sucker Punch can reduce risk by eliminating weakened opponents before they act, while Insomnia can create safe opportunities against predictable sleep moves. The line must be especially careful around Rock, Electric, and Ice attacks, with Fairy becoming an additional concern from Generation VI onward; recoil from strong moves such as Brave Bird also matters more in a permadeath format than in ordinary play. It is best used as an aggressive matchup specialist that enters on immunities or resisted attacks and immediately applies pressure rather than as a general-purpose defensive pivot.

Honchkrow rules groups of Murkrow with a ruthless social hierarchy, summoning more than one hundred followers with a single cry and directing them to gather food, steal valuables, or fight on its behalf. The flock may darken the sky when it gathers, giving Honchkrow the nickname 'Summoner of Night,' while Honchkrow itself often allows the Murkrow to do most of the work before personally delivering the finishing blow. Failure and betrayal are not tolerated: Honchkrow is described as relentlessly hunting down followers that disappoint or turn against it. Despite this severe temperament, it spends much of the daytime alone carefully tending its feathers before becoming active at night. Honchkrow is also known to guard collections of jewels, which are believed to have been gathered for it by subordinate Murkrow.