This is the standard Ho-Oh set. Sacred Fire is a great STAB attack, and it has an impressive 50% burn chance. However, you should be careful about using it, as its PP is low—and even lower against Eternatus switch-ins. Ho-Oh is a great user of Defog, as it is able to repeatedly come into Necrozma-DM. Toxic is a good option to stall out Pokemon that don't particularly mind burns or are immune to them, such as Yveltal and opposing Ho-Oh. Thunder Wave is a great option for Eternatus, which is a very common switch-in that is immune to Toxic and not bothered by burns. Whirlwind is to phaze Xerneas, although it also has its uses for other setup sweepers such as Zygarde-C, Cosmic Power Eternatus, and Calyrex-S. However, you need to watch out for Ingrain Xerneas. Brave Bird is a strong secondary STAB option that hits Fire-resistant Pokemon like Eternatus and Kyogre much harder, and it helps with Sacred Fire's low PP. The given EV spread allows Ho-Oh to always survive a +2 Xerneas's Thunder, with the leftover EVs put into Defense to better deal with physical attackers such as Marshadow. If you run Thunder Wave, a spread of 248 HP / 192 Def / 52 SpD / 16 Spe should be used to let Ho-Oh outspeed Choice Specs Calyrex-S after paralysis.

Smart switching is the key to using this set, both in terms of Regenerator recovery and scouting for status or Rock-type coverage moves. Marshadow, Xerneas, and Calyrex-S are too threatening to leave Ho-Oh as your only check to them. Choice Band Marshadow can 2HKO Ho-Oh with Poltergeist or Spectral Thief, while Xerneas can threaten to KO Ho-Oh with a boosted Thunder if Ho-Oh has taken damage, or use Ingrain to prevent Ho-Oh from phazing it. Choice Specs Calyrex-S will 2HKO Ho-Oh outright. As such, Pokemon such as Yveltal, Necrozma-DM, Zarude, Buzzwole, Lunala, and Tangrowth make good defensive partners. Necrozma-DM can provide a solid defense against Ice-types, offensive Eternatus, and Xerneas, as well as Stealth Rock and status support, while Yveltal will keep Calyrex-S at bay. Lunala, Buzzwole, and Tangrowth also offer good defense against Groudon, Zekrom, and Zygarde-C, while the latter two offer a good pivot against Marshadow. Eternatus and Blissey are excellent teammates for their ability to switch into Kyogre. All of the aforementioned Pokemon appreciate Ho-Oh's ability to serve as a backup check to the tier's biggest sweepers, as well as Defog. Zarude in particular likes Ho-Oh's ability to Defog, as Zarude often replaces Yveltal on teams, and in return, Zarude can role compress a Calyrex-S check and Ground-type check into one. Ho-Oh can consistently switch into entry hazard setters such as Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn and force them out, even if they hit it with Knock Off. However, if Ho-Oh hard switches into these Pokemon every time, it can become predictable and be taken advantage of by double switches. Ho-Oh must be wary of alternative setters of Stealth Rock, such as Groudon and Tyranitar. Having a secondary Defog user, such as Yveltal, can be useful for providing more security against such Pokemon, as well as against Sticky Web and other offensive playstyles, depending on your team structure. Alternatively, Ho-Oh can be used to free up moveslots on Pokemon such as Yveltal and Necrozma-DM, who now don't need to run Defog or check Xerneas, respectively.

Choice Band Ho-Oh is one of the best wallbreakers in the tier, with most teams having to resort to offensive pressure, soft checks, and status to try to stop it. Brave Bird does massive damage to anything that resists Sacred Fire, and its recoil is minimized thanks to Regenerator. Earthquake rounds out Ho-Oh's coverage and is its strongest option against Eternatus and Zekrom. The last move is flexible. Whirlwind is generally preferred, as it gives Ho-Oh more defensive utility in phazing opposing Ho-Oh and Zygarde-C in a pinch. Flare Blitz does massive damage and is stronger than Sacred Fire; it also makes up for Sacred Fire's low PP. Defog can be used in emergency situations to clear away Stealth Rock. The given EVs allow Ho-Oh to survive a +2 Xerneas Thunder, with the remaining EVs put into Attack to maximize Ho-Oh's power. 16 Attacks EVs can be moved to Speed to make Ho-Oh faster than a paralyzed Calyrex-S. It's not advisable to go much faster than this, though, because Choice Band Ho-Oh functions best as an offensive tank, and it would rather not lose significant breaking power or the ability to check special threats.

While this set is immensely strong, the major flaw is its vulnerability to Stealth Rock. Because of this, Choice Band Ho-Oh is usually a Pokemon that teams specifically build around. At least two Defog users are recommended: Yveltal, Lunala, Xerneas, Giratina, and Corviknight are good possible partners. Xatu is notable for having Magic Bounce and being able to switch into Stealth Rock setters such as Necrozma-DM repeatedly. Additionally, teammates that can lure and break through defensive Zygarde-C are appreciated. Groudon is a good partner for this, and it can also provide sun to make Ho-Oh even stronger and to lower Thunder's accuracy. Teammates that like Eternatus being gone, such as Marshadow, synergize well, as this set often breaks through Eternatus.

This set combines Ho-Oh's great wallbreaking power with the unique support options it provides. Very few Pokemon are able to withstand Ho-Oh's STAB attacks, with Zygarde and Zekrom being notable exceptions. Sacred Fire's burn chance cripples the aforementioned foes, while Flare Blitz offers greater power and PP at the cost of recoil damage and a much lower burn chance. Notably, Flare Blitz lowers the chance of accidentally burning Eternatus, Ho-Oh's most common switch-in; instead, Ho-Oh can paralyze Eternatus with Thunder Wave, crippling it for the rest of the game. Brave Bird has a good chance to 2HKO Eternatus and is Ho-Oh's best option against opposing Ho-Oh. The last slot is flexible. Defog is extremely useful against Necrozma-DM and Ferrothorn, and can prevent Shuckle from setting Sticky Web in combination with Defog Yveltal. Meanwhile, Whirlwind lets Ho-Oh phaze out Xerneas, Cosmic Power Eternatus, SubSeed Calyrex-S, and Zygarde in a pinch. Substitute can be used to further pressure Eternatus by blocking its Toxic. The given EV spread outspeeds paralyzed Calyrex-S and lives a +2 Thunder from Xerneas, with the rest dumped into Attack to increase the chance of 2HKOing Eternatus. An alternative spread of 80 HP / 160 Atk / 252 Def / 16 Spe allows Ho-Oh to live +2 Jolly Weavile's Triple Axel and tank Marshadow's attacks better.

Ho-Oh is great at crippling Eternatus and thus works well with partners who want Eternatus gone. While Kyogre may seem counterproductive due to Drizzle, it loves Eternatus being paralyzed. Kyogre can take on Zygarde and, in turn, Ho-Oh can prevent Ferrothorn from setting Spikes. Marshadow is another fantastic teammate, as paralysis allows Marshadow to more comfortably run an Adamant nature and 2HKO Eternatus on the switch. Defensive Zygarde works well in combination with Ho-Oh to scout out Marshadow's moves, and Eternatus being paralyzed allows Coil sets to break through it. Zygarde can additionally take on Groudon and appreciates Ho-Oh stopping Weavile. Groudon is an amazing partner for its sun and Stealth Rock support, and it can provide a defensive backbone against Zekrom and opposing Groudon. Haban Berry Eternatus, Ferrothorn, Xerneas, and Zarude also help keep Zekrom at bay.