Stats & Training
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
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 |
Dondozo Water | A | |
Water is super effective against HippopotasView Dondozo → | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Ice is super effective against HippopotasView Weavile → | ||
Urshifu FightingDark | A | |
Water is super effective against HippopotasView Urshifu → | ||
Toedscool GroundGrass | B | |
Grass is super effective against HippopotasView Toedscool → | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Grass is super effective against HippopotasView Breloom → | ||
In Legends: Z-A, Urshifu deals 46-54% with Close Combat.
Dondozo Water | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Weavile builds →Knock Off21-25% Ice Shard 2x27-32% | ||
Urshifu FightingDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemFocus Sash NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Urshifu builds →Close Combat46-54% Sucker Punch27-32% | ||
Toedscool GroundGrass | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMyceliummight ItemEviolite NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Toedscool builds →Rapid Spin4-4% Knock Off5-6% Giga Drain 2x35-41% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemToxic Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Hippopotas View Breloom builds →Mach Punch16-18% Bullet Seed 2x20-24% | ||
Legends: Z-A Evolution
Hippopotas is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Hippowdon. Check the evolution method below. Plenty of partners 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
Legends: Z-A Hippopotas Best Moveset
Lead with Hippopotas, set Stealth Rock, and keep pressure on. Sand Stream and Eviolite buy the time it needs, with spread EVs letting it take hits while controlling the hazard game. Slack Off keeps it healthy between hits.
Best Build
Hippopotas best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
- Ice Fang
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Whirlwind
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Unknown
- Earthquake
- Double Edge
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Hippopotas in Legends: Z-A
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 Guide
Get Hippopotas to Hippowdon at level 34. At 330 BST, Hippopotas is just the starting point.
Level 34 gets you Hippowdon. Not the fastest evolution, so consider Exp. Share or route grinding to speed it up.
In Legends: Z-A, 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.
You can find Hippopotas in Legends: Z-A. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 13 other games across the series.
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 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB

Red & Blue - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves
