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 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.
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 |
 Pelipper Water | B | |
Obtain MethodPoni Wilds Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Pelipper builds →Hydro Pump 2x86-102%KO Blizzard 2x57-68% Surf 2x71-84% Ice Beam 2x47-56% | ||
 Serperior Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Serperior builds →Leaf Storm 2x85-100%KO Solar Beam 2x78-92% Leaf Blade 2x40-48% Energy Ball 2x58-69% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Exeggutor builds →Leaf Storm 2x128-151%KO Wood Hammer 2x64-75% Solar Beam 2x118-139%KO Energy Ball 2x89-105%KO | ||
 Dartrix Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Dartrix builds →Solar Beam 2x74-87% Leaf Blade 2x40-48% Energy Ball 2x56-66% Razor Leaf 2x25-30% | ||
 Delibird Ice | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Delibird builds →Blizzard 2x64-75% Ice Beam 2x52-62% Frost Breath 2x36-43% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Excadrill builds →Earthquake30-35% Rapid Spin10-12% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Jirachi builds →U Turn11-13% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Magnezone builds →Flash Cannon49-58% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemFocus Sash NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Hippowdon View Tyranitar builds →Crunch26-31% Rock Slide12-14% | ||
Sun & Moon 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 218 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Body Slam, Curse, Revenge and 7 more.
Sun & Moon Hippowdon Best Moveset
The build centers on Stealth Rock and survivability. Leftovers means passive recovery each turn, and HP-heavy investment 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 Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Wall Moveset
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn
- Roar
- Mud Slap
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 Dig for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Hippowdon in Sun & Moon
Hippowdon can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Transfer Hippopotas from Diamond, Platinum, or Scarlet and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Hippowdon in Sun & Moon
Step 1Obtain Hippopotas
Step 2Hippowdon ✓
Hippowdon Guide
In Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon, 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 Sun & Moon, the core moveset is Earthquake, Toxic, Stealth Rock, and Slack Off. 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