Hippowdon Best Moveset
AbilitySand Stream sets sandstorm on entry, chipping opponents and boosting Rock-type Sp. Def by 50%. 108 HP and 118 Defense behind Held ItemRocky Helmet absorb physical hits while punishing contact. NatureRelaxed maximizes the physical bulk. Ground TermStab fires back with 112 Attack. The moveset defines sand teams. A-Tier as the premier physical wall and sand setter.
Sand Stream summoned permanent sandstorm in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Stealth Rock plus Slack Off from a Ground-type wall that passively chipped opponents every turn.
Best Moves
Best Build
Hippowdon best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Recommended Teammates
Permanent sand made Hippowdon the centerpiece of Sand teams in Gen V (Black & White). Excadrill and Landorus swept while Hippowdon tanked hits and kept the weather up.
Wall Moveset
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Weather nerfed to five turns in Gen VI (X & Y). Sand Stream still set the weather but Hippowdon had to stay on the field to keep refreshing it. Three gens at the top before the drop.
Wall Moveset
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Slide
Recommended Teammates
Landorus-Therian did the Ground-type wall job better in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Intimidate plus U-turn pivoting outclassed Hippowdon's passive Sand support.
Wall Moveset
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Yawn plus Stealth Rock plus Slack Off was still functional in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield), but Hippowdon was the second-choice Ground wall in every team discussion.
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Three gens below the top in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Sand Stream and Slack Off kept it viable, but the gap between Hippowdon and top-tier Ground-types widened each generation.
Wall Moveset
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Whirlwind
Recommended Teammates
Hippowdon Weakness
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 |
What is Hippowdon Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Hippowdon
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemLeppaberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Pawmot builds →Close Combat19-22% Mach Punch6-8% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Clodsire builds →Earthquake9-11% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTintedlens ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Lokix builds →U Turn16-19% Knock Off15-18% | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPoisontouch ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves View Muk-Alola builds →
| ||
Evolution
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.
How to Get Hippowdon
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 SV
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 - DesertLv.20-38OverworldRate 36%
Step 2Hippowdon ✓Asado Desert - DesertLv.34-53OverworldRate 8%or evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
moderate rates across 2 locations for Hippowdon in endgame 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 Hippowdon in LZA
The path to Hippowdon starts with Hippopotas at Lv. 20-64 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
- Step 1Catch HippopotasWild Zone 7Lv.20-22OverworldLegends: Z-A
- Step 2Hippowdon ✓Wild Zone 20Lv.54-55OverworldLegends: Z-AWild Zone 20Lv.63-64OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
Hippowdon appears at decent spawn rates across 3 spots in late-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 PLA
Hippopotas is your first catch on the way to Hippowdon. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 21-46 across 6 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch HippopotasScarlet BogLv.21-24GrassRate 15%Sludge MoundLv.21-23GrassRate 15%Celestica TrailLv.30-33GrassRate 15%
Step 2Hippowdon ✓Scarlet BogLv.34-37GrassRate 15%Sludge MoundLv.34-37GrassRate 15%Celestica TrailLv.43-46GrassRate 15%or 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 BDSP
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 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 2Hippowdon ✓Route 228Lv.52-54GrassRate 20%Morning/dayRoute 228Lv.54GrassRate 10%Nightor evolve from Hippopotas (Step 1)
Base Stats
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.
Hippowdon Guide
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 mixed attacker with base 112 Attack and 68 Sp. Atk. 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, Stealth Rock, Earthquake, and Whirlwind. Slack Off leads at 0% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
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 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