Hippowdon's spread favors physical bulk over offense. Defense leads the defensive side, Speed eats the cost. Yields 2 Defense EVs per defeat. Slow 1.25M XP grind to level.
It is surprisingly quick to anger. It holds its mouth agape as a display of its strength.
It brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It raises vast quantities of sand while attacking.
Type-wise, Hippowdon takes extra damage from Water, Grass, and Ice. Electric moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Hippowdon's physical bulk (base 118 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 |
Pawmot's Close Combat hits Hippowdon for 36-43%. Pawmot deals 36-43% with Close Combat.
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemSafetygoggles NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Incineroar builds →Knock Off12-15% Flare Blitz23-27% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIronfist ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Pawmot builds →Close Combat36-43% Mach Punch13-15% | ||
| A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIronfist ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Pawmot builds →Close Combat36-43% Mach Punch13-15% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Registeel builds →
| ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityToxicchain ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Fezandipiti builds →U Turn7-8% Moonblast24-29% Heat Wave16-19% | ||
Hippowdon is the evolved form of Hippopotas. Breeding produces Hippopotas eggs, and they're slow to hatch. Evolving from Hippopotas gave Hippowdon the biggest boost in HP (+40), bringing the total to 525 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Hippowdon to get Hippopotas eggs easily using 278 partners from the Ground egg group.
The build centers on Stealth Rock and survivability. Rocky Helmet means chip damage on every physical hit received, and max HP and Defense EVs give Hippowdon the bulk to set up repeatedly. Sand Stream adds another layer of staying power. Slack Off keeps it healthy between hits.
Best Build
Hippowdon best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Yawn
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Yawn
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Wall Moveset
- Yawn
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Moves
TMs define Hippowdon's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Earthquake and High Horsepower, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it coverage across 9 types. That's where the options open up.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
TMs define Hippowdon's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Earthquake and Earth Power, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it coverage across 8 types. That's where the options open up.
Hippowdon's movepool balances level-up moves with TM options. Consistent STAB comes from High Horsepower and Earth Power, and coverage across 9 types keeps opponents from switching in for free. No major gaps here.
The egg pool carries weight here. Body Slam and Curse aren't available any other way for Hippowdon, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Earthquake and Dig for solid options.
A few locations for Hippowdon with moderate rates across late-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 Hippowdon in Scarlet & Violet
To get Hippowdon, start by catching Hippopotas through walking encounters at Lv. 20-53. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch HippopotasAsado Desert - DesertVioletOverworld Lv.20-38 Desert36%MidAsado Desert - DesertScarletOverworld Lv.20-38 Desert36%Mid
Step 2Hippowdon ✓Asado Desert - DesertVioletOverworld Lv.34-53 Desert8%LateAsado Desert - DesertScarletOverworld Lv.34-53 Desert8%Lateor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
Hippowdon isn't available in the wild in Legends: Z-A. Start by transferring Hippopotas from Diamond, Platinum, or Scarlet. The evolution path from Hippopotas to Hippowdon is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Hippowdon in Legends: Z-A
- Step 1Obtain Hippopotas
Catch in the wild in:
Then trade to Legends: Z-A to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
- Step 2Hippowdon ✓
Hippowdon appears at decent spawn rates across 3 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Hippowdon in Legends: Arceus
Hippopotas is your first catch on the way to Hippowdon. You'll find walking encounters from walking across 6 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch HippopotasCelestica TrailGrass RouteUncommonScarlet BogGrass SwampUncommonSludge MoundGrassUncommon
Step 2Hippowdon ✓Celestica TrailGrass RouteUncommonScarlet BogGrass SwampUncommonSludge MoundGrassUncommonor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
decent spawn rates for Hippowdon across 4 locations in endgame routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Where To Catch Hippowdon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The path to Hippowdon starts with Hippopotas at Lv. 22-54 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch HippopotasRuin Maniac Tunnel - 26 Unown caughtShining PearlGrass Lv.22-25 Cave20%MidRuin Maniac Tunnel - 26 Unown caughtBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.22-25 Cave20%MidRuin Maniac Tunnel - 10-25 Unown caughtShining PearlGrass Lv.22-24 Cave10%MidRuin Maniac Tunnel - 10-25 Unown caughtBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.22-24 Cave10%MidBig Bluff CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.25-29 CaveMidRequires DefogBig Bluff CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.25-29 CaveMidRequires DefogRocky CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.25-29 CaveMidRequires DefogRocky CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.25-29 CaveMidRequires DefogSandsear CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.25-29 DesertMidRequires DefogSandsear CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.25-29 DesertMidRequires DefogRuin Maniac Tunnel - 0-9 Unown caughtBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.22-23 Cave5%MidRuin Maniac Tunnel - 0-9 Unown caughtShining PearlGrass Lv.22-23 Cave5%Mid
Step 2Hippowdon ✓Route 228Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.52-54 Route20%PostMorning/dayRoute 228Shining PearlGrass Lv.52-54 Route20%PostMorning/dayRoute 228Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.54 Route10%PostNightRoute 228Shining PearlGrass Lv.54 Route10%PostNightor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
Don't let Hippowdon's 525 base stat total fool you. Sand Stream is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier as a tank.
Run Sand Stream on Hippowdon. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Hippowdon also gets Sand Force, but they don't compare.
Hippowdon fills the tank role. It's a physical attacker with base 112 Attack. Base 47 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
The core moveset is Slack Off, Earthquake, Stealth Rock, and Whirlwind. Slack Off leads at 24% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
Hippowdon first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 14 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through wild encounters in most titles where it appears.
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