Stats & Training
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 brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It raises vast quantities of sand while attacking.
It brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It raises vast quantities of sand while attacking.
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Metagross's Explosion hits Hippowdon for 47-55%.
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLum Berry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Tyranitar builds →Crunch21-25% Pursuit10-12% Stone Edge13-15% Earthquake17-20% | ||
 | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLum Berry NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Metagross builds →Earthquake19-22% Explosion47-55% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Scizor builds →Bullet Punch17-20% Superpower33-39% U Turn29-34% Pursuit11-13% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Jolteon builds →Shadow Ball36-43% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemChoice Scarf NatureNaive Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Magneton builds →Flash Cannon39-46% Explosion18-22% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver 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 131 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Curse, Revenge and 5 more.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Hippowdon Best Moveset
The build centers on Stealth Rock and survivability. Leftovers means passive recovery each turn, 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
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
Recommended Teammates
Moves
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 Earth Power for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Hippowdon in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Hippowdon isn't available in the wild in HeartGold & SoulSilver. 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 HeartGold & SoulSilver
Step 1Obtain HippopotasCatch in the wild in:
Then trade to HeartGold & SoulSilver to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
Step 2Hippowdon ✓
Hippowdon Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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.
For HeartGold & SoulSilver, the core moveset is Earthquake, Slack Off, Stealth Rock, and Roar. Earthquake leads at 25% 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 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