Hippopotas Best Moveset
Ground at 72 Attack and 78 Defense with AbilitySand Stream setting sandstorm on entry. The sand support is valuable for teammates running AbilitySand Rush, and the Rock-type Sp. Def boost helps the whole team. The moveset sets sand and tanks physical hits. Evolve to Hippowdon for 112 Attack and A-Tier sandstorm utility.
Hippopotas sat at B-Tier in Gen IV. This was Hippopotas's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Sand Stream with Focus Sash, favoring a Bold nature.
Best Moves
Best Build
Hippopotas best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Sand Attack
- Yawn
- Mud Slap
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Hippopotas saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). This was a decline from B-Tier in the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sand Stream with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.
Wall Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Hippopotas saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Hippopotas maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sand Stream with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.
Wall Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
Recommended Teammates
Hippopotas saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Hippopotas maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sand Stream with Eviolite, favoring a Impish nature.
Wall Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Hippopotas saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Hippopotas maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sand Stream with Focus Sash, favoring a Hardy nature.
Utility Moveset
- Yawn
Recommended Teammates
Hippopotas saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Hippopotas maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Sand Stream with Smoothrock, favoring a Impish nature.
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Roar
Recommended Teammates
Hippopotas Weakness
Water, Grass, and Ice 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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Ice |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
What is Hippopotas Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Hippopotas
Urshifu's Close Combat hits Hippopotas for 73-86%.
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Urshifu builds →Close Combat73-86% Close Combat73-86% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLoaded Dice NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Breloom builds →Mach Punch17-20% Bullet Seed 2x21-25% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Weavile builds →Knock Off25-30% Ice Shard 2x31-37% | ||
Evolution
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Hippopotas easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
How to Get Hippopotas
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.
Where To Catch Hippopotas in SV
The path to Hippopotas starts with Hippopotas at Lv. 20-53 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Hippopotas ✓Asado Desert - DesertLv.20-38OverworldRate 36%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into HippowdonAsado Desert - DesertLv.34-53OverworldRate 8%or evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
moderate rates across 1 locations for Hippopotas in mid-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Where To Catch Hippopotas in LZA
The path to Hippopotas starts with Hippopotas at Lv. 20-64 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
- Step 1Hippopotas ✓Wild Zone 7Lv.20-22OverworldLegends: Z-A
- Step 2Catch or Evolve into HippowdonWild Zone 20Lv.54-55OverworldLegends: Z-AWild Zone 20Lv.63-64OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
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.
Where To Catch Hippopotas in PLA
Hippopotas is your first catch on the way to Hippopotas. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 21-46 across 6 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Hippopotas ✓Scarlet BogLv.21-24GrassRate 15%Sludge MoundLv.21-23GrassRate 15%Celestica TrailLv.30-33GrassRate 15%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into HippowdonScarlet BogLv.34-37GrassRate 15%Sludge MoundLv.34-37GrassRate 15%Celestica TrailLv.43-46GrassRate 15%or evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
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.
Where To Catch Hippopotas in BDSP
To get Hippopotas, start by catching Hippopotas through walking encounters at Lv. 22-54. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Hippopotas ✓Ruin Maniac Tunnel - 26 Unown caughtLv.22-25CaveRate 20%Ruin Maniac Tunnel - 10-25 Unown caughtLv.22-24CaveRate 10%Big Bluff CavernLv.25-29CaveRequires DefogRocky CaveLv.25-29CaveRequires DefogSandsear CaveLv.25-29GrassRequires DefogRuin Maniac Tunnel - 0-9 Unown caughtLv.22-23CaveRate 5%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into HippowdonRoute 228Lv.52-54GrassRate 20%Morning/dayRoute 228Lv.54GrassRate 10%Nightor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
Base Stats
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.
Hippopotas Guide
For a casual playthrough, Hippopotas works as a placeholder. Ground coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Hippowdon. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Hippopotas appears in 14 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves