Hippowdon Analysis - PokéCheats Pokémon #450, Analysis, Movesets


01/15/25, 13:44
Hippowdon Analysis
#449 Hippopotas Pokédex Strategy Moves Database Skorupi #451

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This article gives you ideas of how to use Hippowdon in battle in the Pokémon Black, Pokémon White and Pokemon B2W2 Games. It lists popular movesets used by competitive battlers, as well as a description on how to use each set to help you understand why the moves were chosen. These popular sets are usually the best to use in battle and so reading this guide will help you in your team building.

Gen 5: Overview

Hippowdon hasn´t really gained all too much in this generation, but it still accomplished what it is meant to do. Hippowdon is the slowest Auto-Weather Pokemon, so Sand Stream will always be activated if Hippowodon is in the lead position. Hippowdon is also a great tank, having 108/118/72 defenses. Hippowdon also has a massive attack stat of 112, which allows the sand hippo to deal a good amount of damage even without any investment. There are a few drawbacks with Hippowdon though. With it´s Ground typing, Hippowdon gets no special defense boost from the sand that it creates, which means Special Attackers can have their way with it. Hippowdon also has a very limited move pool. Even with these drawbacks, Hippowdon is still a great member to either Stall teams or Sand teams. It got a nifty Dream World ability, Sand Force, but it is completely outclassed by Sand Stream, as Auto-Weather is vital in Gen V. Hippowdon also got access to whirlwind through breeding, but Whirlwind is illegal with Stealth Rock, as Stealth Rock is a 4th gen TM.


 
Ability Nature Item HP Atk. Def. SpAtk. SpDef. Speed
Sand Stream Impish leftovers 252 0 152 0 104 0
There are no current set statistics analysed






The classic Hippowdon set returns in Gen V with pretty much the same intention: Start up Sand and get Stealth Rocks up. With Hippowdon´s defenses, it can easily survive one attack and get Stealth Rocks up. Earthquake is the best option for the second move slot, being STAB and Hippowdon´s best attack. Slack Off gives Hippowdon a lot of survivability and becomes very hard to take down. The last move slot is up for grabs, but each move has an entirely different function. Roar lets you shift your opponents around and stack up residual damage. Ice Fang allows you to nail Gliscor, who will laugh at Earthquake or Stone Edge, and Garchomp for 4x Super Effective Damage. Toxic lets you beat other Hippowdon, which could become a huge pain in the future. Stone Edge grants that awesome Rock/Ground coverage and lets you hit Gyarados and Zapdos harder.

Additional Comments

An EV spread of 252 HP; 188 Def; 88 SpDef can be used to allow Hippowdon to handle Gliscor w/o Toxic and Doryuuzu easier.

 
Ability Nature Item HP Atk. Def. SpAtk. SpDef. Speed
Sand Stream Careful leftovers 252 0 4 0 252 0
There are no current set statistics analysed






This set is designed so that Hippowdon can actually survive either a weak Super Effective or a neutral Special Attack from Pokemon like Ninetails and KO with Earthquake. The move set of Hippowdon is very similar to the phsyical wall. Stealth Rocks is recommended because Hippowdon is very likely to get rocks up. Earthquake is used in the second slot due to it being STAB and Hippowdon´s best attacking option. Slack Off is used in the third slot so that Hippowdon has a reliable method of recovery. The last move slot is once again a toss up. Roar is used in order to shift Pokemon around and stack up residual damage. Ice Fang is used to hit Gliscor and Garchomp harder, while Crunch will put a nice dent in Gengar and Rankurusu. Toxic can be used to beat walls, including other Hippowdon.

Additional Comments

This EV spread will be a bit worse off against physical attackers though, so be wary of that.

 
Ability Nature Item HP Atk. Def. SpAtk. SpDef. Speed
Sand Power / Sand Stream Adamant choice band 252 252 4 0 0 0
There are no current set statistics analysed






While Hippowdon is mainly used as a tank, it still sports a pretty hefty 108 base attack. This set can catch a lot of opponents off guard and put a nice dent into their Pokemon. Sand Power is recommended here, as Earthquake and Stone Edge will get a nice 33% boost in the sand.

Earthquake is used in the first slot, as it is the strongest STAB move Hippowdon has access to. Stone Edge is recommended in the second slot in order to have the great Rock/Ground coverage. Ice Fang is recommended to hit one specific Pokemon, Gliscor, who is the biggest annoyance to Hippowdon. The last move slot is essentially a toss up. Slack Off can be used in order to regain some lost health. Toxic can be used in order to cripple other walls, like opposing Hippowdon. Crunch guarantees a OHKO on Gengar, but that´s all it really does.

Additional Comments

Sand Stream is viable since it can be used as an added element of surprise while neutralizing Leftovers. Since Hippowdon won´t be out speeding all that much, the 252 EVs normally invested in speed are put into attack, since Hippowdon is fairly bulky without all that much Defense investment.

 
Ability Nature Item HP Atk. Def. SpAtk. SpDef. Speed
Sand Stream Careful leftovers 252 0 4 0 252 0
There are no current set statistics analysed






When you have a Pokemon that´s slow as dirt, and has access to Curse and a reliable recovery move, a Curse set is guaranteed to form. The EV spread maximizes Hippowdon´s special bulk, since it will be buffing its Attack and Defense thanks to Curse. Slack Off works great with Curse, as it gives Hippowdon a reliable way to get up multiple Curses. Earthquake is recommended in the third slot, as it is Hippowdon´s most powerful move and will hurt after a few Curses under Hippowdon´s belt. The last move slot is for type coverage. Stone Edge is listed first due to its awesome type coverage with Earthquake. Ice Fang is a viable alternate in order to hit Gliscor, who is a pain for any Hippowdon that lacks it.

 
Ability Nature Item HP Atk. Def. SpAtk. SpDef. Speed
Sand Stream Impish leftovers 176 0 84 0 248 0
There are no current set statistics analysed






This set is extremely risky to use, but after a few Stockpiles, Hoppowdon becomes incredibly hard to take down. The EV spread is designed in order to maximize Hippowdon´s bulk after Stockpile. Slack Off works wonders with Stockpile, and almost always allows Hippowdon to get up 3 Stockpiles. Earthquake is recommended for the third slot, being STAB and Hippowdon´s best attacking option. The last move slot is for coverage. Ice Fang is for Gliscor, who can completely wall Hippowdon with out it. Toxic is there in order to beat other walls, like opposing Hippowdon. Whirlwind can be used either to phase away set up sweepers or to stack up residual damage.

Team Mates

Hippowdon appreciates two kinds of teammates. On offense, Hippowdon likes teammates that take advantage of Sandstorm, while on Stall, teammates that can take any Special attacks sent Hippowdon´s way. On the offensive side, Garchomp, Gliscor, Aron, Landorus and Excadrill are just some of the Pokemon that take advantage of the Sandstorm. If Hippowdon happens to be running Sand Power, then Tyranitar is a vital teammate in order to get Sandstorm up. On the stall side, Blissey or Evo Stone Chansey are excellent partners to Hippowdon, and can take any special attacks sent at Hippowdon with relative ease. Blissey is better off though due to Leftovers. A Bulky Grass Pokemon can also take hits from both of Hippowdon´s weaknesses. Roserade, Shaymin, and Celebi are all great teammates to Hippowdon.

Other Options

Fire Fang- Can be used to hit Nattorei, Scizor and Foretress harder.

Thunder Fang- can hit Gyarados harder, but Stone Edge is a much better option.

Double-Edge- Can be used along side Slack Off

Body Slam- Can be used for Paralysis support.

Superpower- Can be used on the Choice Band set, but the drop in Defense can seriously decrease Hippowdon´s survivability. Superpower is also illegal with Sand Force.

Yawn- A good option, as it not only forces switches, but has a chance of putting one of your opponent´s Pokemon to sleep.

Revenge- A nifty move and can be used since Hippowdon is so slow, but it isn´t all that viable.

Hippowdon has access to Sleep Talk, meaning it can legally run a Rest/Talk set, but Slack Off is generally better.

Usual Counters

Special Attackers that have either Water or Grass attacks really put a nice dent in Hippowdon. Shaymin and Celebi are both great counters to Hippowdon, as either Seed Flare or Grass Knot will completely mess Hippowdon up. Any special sweeper with Grass Knot, like Zoraark, Azelf, etc. can easily handle Hippowdon. Hippowdon also hates being Toxic´ed, as poison makes Hippowdon a ticking time bomb. Vaporeon or Jellicent (Burungeru) are great choices for this, as they can either Toxic Hippowdon or nail it with Boiling Water. If Hippowdon lacks Ice Fang, then Gliscor is an amazing wall for Hippowdon, as Gliscor can Taunt Hippowdon and prevent it from doing anything.

Opinion

Hippowdon hasn´t gained all too much in this gen, with the exception of Whirlwind. Despite this, Hippowdon still accomplishes what it sets out to do with incredibly good results. The sand hippo returns to hit the new meta game hard (except against Gliscor).

I give credit to Serebii for Information

I give credit to Smogon for the Stockpile EV spread.

Credit to SilentDreams for putting this in the new format.











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