While most trainers evolve Hippopotas into Hippowdon immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. Electric moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Hippo Pokemon.
Nothing fancy in Hippopotas's spread. It leans physical with Defense out front. And you'll get 1 Defense EV per KO for it. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
It shuts its nostrils tight, then travels through sand as if walking. They form colonies of around 10.
It shrouds itself in sand to ward off germs. It travels easily through the sands of the desert.
Hippopotas Weakness
AvgWater, Grass, and Ice-type moves hit Hippopotas for super-effective damage. The upside? Electric-type moves can't touch it at all. Hippopotas's physical bulk (base 78 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Hippopotas is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Hippowdon. Check the evolution method below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are slow to hatch. The evolved forms gain up to 195 total stats over Hippopotas.
How to Evolve
Breed Hippopotas easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
Lead with Hippopotas, set Stealth Rock, and keep pressure on. Sand Stream and Eviolite buy the time it needs, with a spread EV build EVs letting it take hits while controlling the hazard game. Slack Off keeps it healthy between hits.
Best Build
Best Hippopotas Moveset
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Ice Fang
Recommended Teammates
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Hippopotas's coverage across 8 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Earthquake and High Horsepower for same-type damage. Take Down and Earthquake are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Hippopotas's coverage across 7 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Earthquake and Earth Power for same-type damage. Take Down and Earthquake are the payoff moves.
A compact toolkit overall. The offense runs through High Horsepower and Earth Power for Hippopotas, with Normal and Dark coverage and more doing what it can. Don't expect versatility from this one.
Don't skip the egg moves. Hippopotas picks up Body Slam and Curse only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Earthquake and Dig while Normal and Dark coverage and more adds range.
Hippopotas's scattered across 2 spots in mid-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations
Hippopotas can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Bring it over from Diamond, Platinum, or Scarlet instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Hippopotas is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Catch in the wild in:
Then trade to Legends: Z-A.
Also found in:
Hippopotas starts showing up in mid-game routes at decent spawn rates across 3 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations
Walking encounters at walking across 3 spots for Hippopotas. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
A solid number of locations for Hippopotas with decent spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations
Hippopotas's encounter pool splits between Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond. You've got 12 walking spots at Lv. 22-29 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
At 330 BST, Hippopotas is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Hippowdon before bringing it to any serious fight.
Hippopotas evolves into Hippowdon at level 34. Hippopotas is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Hippopotas gets Sand Stream and Sand Force. But Sand Stream is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Hippopotas is a physical attacker with base 72 Attack. But the speed tells the real story — base 32 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.
Hippopotas appears in 14 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Hippopotas appears in 14 games across 6 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A