Hippowdon - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Hippowdon Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Hippowdon in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Hippowdon, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Hippowdon - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Hippowdon

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Hippowdon
Abilities
Sand Stream	The Pokemon summons a sandstorm in battle.
Sand Force (Hidden)	Boosts certain moves'power in sandstorm.

Hippowdon Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Hippowdon

Singles Movesets for Hippowdon

Defensive Lead Moveset & Best Build

Hippowdon makes an effective lead for Sand-based teams thanks to its Sand Stream Ability, and its excellent Defense stat and access to many support moves let it fill the role of a Entry Hazard setter and phazer.

About Hippowdon's Moves

Yawn and Stealth Rock synergize well and are Hippowdon's main support moves. After setting up rocks, Hippowdon should force switches with Yawn so that the opposing team accrues entry hazard damage.

Whirlwind forcibly switches out the opposing Pokemon and is mostly used against setup sweepers and Sleep Talk users that don't care about Yawn.

Earthquake is its main STAB move and still hits hard depsite no Attack investment. It also allows Hippowdon to do something when it gets hit by Taunt.

About Hippowdon's EV Spread

We're using a simple defensive EV spread with full HP investment and 4 EVs allocated in Defense.

Although this build uses an Impish Nature, we're investing 252 EVs in Special Defense to round off Hippowdon's bulk and allow it to better withstand Water and Grass-type moves on its relatively weaker Special Defense.

About Hippowdon's Ability

Sand Stream is Hippowdon's best Ability, automatically generating a Sandstorm for 5 turns as soon as it switches in.

About Hippowdon's Held Item

Hippowdon has several options when it comes to held item.

Figy Berry restores Hippowdon's HP when it drops down to 1/3 of its maximum HP. Since it has an Impish Nature, it won't get confused if it eats it.

Sitrus Berry is another option for more immediate healing when Hippowdon's drops down to half of its maximum HP.

Other Viable Moves

Physically Defensive Moveset & Best Build

Hippowdon competes with Landorus for the title as Bulky Ground and answer to the metagame's plethora of powerful attackers.

Unlike Landorus, which relies on careful pivoting, Hippowdon has reliable recovery and utility moves which allow it to stay in battles longer.

About Hippowdon's Moves

Slack Off is Hippowdon's most important move and is what separates it from Landorus as a defensive Ground-type.

With a reliable recovery move and Yawn, the Heavyweight Pokemon can stay for longer in battle and phaze out setup sweepers attempting to boost their offensive stats.

Its last two moves are Earthquake and Rock Tomb. The former is a strong Ground-type STAB that still hits hard even without Attack investment. Rock Tomb provides utility, lowering the opposing Pokemon's Speed stat by 1 stage.

About Hippowdon's EV Spread

This build has a simple defensive EV spread with full HP and Defense investment to make Hippowdon as bulky as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Sp. Defense to slightly boost its special bulk.

About Hippowdon's Ability

Sand Stream is Hippowdon's best Ability, automatically generating a Sandstorm for 5 turns as soon as it switches in.

About Hippowdon's Held Item

Rocky Helmet is the best held item for this build. Opposing Pokemon that hit Hippowdon with contact moves will get damaged by 1/6th of its maximum HP.

Other Viable Moves

Dynamax Physical Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Although better known as a defensive Pokemon, Hippowdon's Base 112 Attack stat makes it a capable physical attacker as well.

Japanese competitive player Oniyan used such a build on their team to reach 3rd Place in Ranked Battles Season 13!

About Hippowdon's Moves

Earthquake is its main STAB move, allowing Hippowdon to threaten or even outright KO Fire, Electric, and Steel-type Pokemon such as Cinderace, Regieleki, and Heatran.

Heavy Slam is a strong coverage move that hits Fairy-types like Mimikyu, as well as Ice-types like Glastrier. Since Hippowdon is heavy, it has increased base power - especially when used against lighter Pokemon.

This move also becomes Max Steelspike during Dynamax, which boosts Hippowdon and the rest of its team's Defense stat by 1 stage.

Its last two moves are to round off its coverage.

Ice Fang lets Hippowdon hit opposing Ground, Dragon, and Flying-types that populate the metagame.

Fire Fang, on the other hand is Hippowdon's only way to hit Ferrothron and Grass-types for super effective damage.

About Hippowdon's EV Spread

This build uses a more offensive-oriented EV spread, with full investment in Atk to give Hippowdon's physical attacks a punch. 12 Spd EVs also boost its Speed slightly.

236 HP EVs give it great bulky while the remaining 8 EVs are split between Defense and Sp.Defense - with 4 Defense EVs and 4 Sp.Def EVs.

About Hippowdon's Ability

Sand Stream is Hippowdon's best Ability, automatically generating a Sandstorm for 5 turns as soon as it switches in.

About Hippowdon's Held Item

This build uses Expert Belt, which boosts the power of Hippowdon's super effective moves by 20%.

How to Use Hippowdon Effectively

A Physically Defensive Wall with Reliable Recovery

Hippowdon's great stat distribution makes it one of the most reliable physical walls in the current metagame, with the added bonus of having a reliable recovery move.

Access to utility moves, entry hazards, as well as Sand Stream allow Hippowdon to fill a variety of defensive roles as well - from phazer, lead, to weather setter for Sand-based teams.

An Underrated Physical Attacker

Despite commonly used as a defensive Pokemon, Hippowdon is no slouch when it comes to dealing damage.

With full investment in Attack, it can fire off powerful Earthquakes and surprise its usual switch-ins with its coverage moves.

How to Build a Team with Hippowdon

Although a quintessential Pokemon in the current metagame, Hippowdon often finds itself in specific teams where its teammates can take advantage of its Sand Stream ability.

As a result, it's often found in Sand-based Weather Teams or those that include a lot of Rock, Ground, and Steel-type Pokemon.

A Lead Weather Setter for Sand Teams

Hippowdon makes a great Sandstorm Lead thanks to its Sand Stream Ability

Example Sand Stream Lead Team

Lead Weather Setter	Physical Attacker	Special Wall
Hippowdon	Excadrill	Gastrodon

Hippowdon is a great weather setter and lead for Sand-based teams, using a combination of Stealth Rock and Yawn to help its team net KOs by phazing and accruing damage.

Excadrill is the best choice for physical attacker in this team thanks to its Sand Rush Ability doubling its speed during Sandstorm. It can also use Rapid Spin to remove opposing entry hazards.

Since Hippowdon is physically defensive, Gastrodon fills the role of a Special Wall in this team. It's the best answer to Rain teams since its Storm Drain Ability absorbs Water-type moves directed at Hippowdon and Excadrill, boosting its Sp.Atk by 1 stage in the process.

Check out our article below to learn more about building a Weather team.
How to Build a Weather Team

A Defensive Wall for Balanced Teams

Example Build Team

Lead Dynamax	Physical Attacker	Defensive Pivot
Nihilego	Metagross	Hippowdon

Hippowdon is a great choice for defensive Pokemon in balanced teams, with its massive bulk and reliable recovery allowing it to take repeated hits from the metagame's hard-hitting attackers.

The Heavyweight Pokemon serves as the team's Defensive Pivot; both Nihilego and Metagross are weak to Ground-type moves, which Hippowdon can comfortabley withstand while it sets up hazards.

Check out our article below to learn more about building a defensive team.
How to Build a Defensive Team

A Lead Dynamax for Offensive Teams

Hippowdon can surprise its usual counters and switch-ins by filling the role of an offensive, lead Dynamax user that uses Max Moves to support its team.

Example Build Team

Lead Dynamax	Physical Attacker	Special Attacker
Hippowdon	Kartana	Nidoking

Hippowdon takes charge by acting as Lead Dynamax user, usingl Max Quake and Max Steelspike to boost its team's Special Defense and Defense by 1 stage.

Both Kartana and Nidoking greatly appreciate these boosts as they are relatively frail, and are often enough to allow them a safe switch into battle.

Hippowdon struggles against Grass and Water-types even with its coverage moves, and that's where Kartana and Nidoking step in.

Kartana's massive Attack stat lets it KO frail or heavily damaged Water-types that may think of switching into Hippowdon. Meanwhile, Nidoking handles Grass-types with its Life Orb and Sheer Force boosted Sludge Wave.

Check out our article below to learn more about building an offensive-oriented team.
How to Build an Offensive Team | Best Hyper Offense Team

Counters for Hippowdon

Weakness

Overpower it with Special Attacks

Although Hippowdon has massive defenses, it can get worn down by powerful Water and Grass-type moves - especially if they target the Heavyweight Pokemon's weaker Sp.Defense stat!

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tapu Fini	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can heavily Damage Hippowdon with Hydro Pump or burn it with Scald ・Its Misty Surge Ability sets up Misty Terrain, preventing status moves such as Sleep activating Moveset & Best Build for Tapu Fini
Wash Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can heavily Damage Hippowdon with Hydro Pump ・Has immunity to Ground-type moves thanks to its Levitate Ability Moveset & Best Build for Wash Rotom
Mow Rotom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can heavily Damage Hippowdon with Leaf Storm ・Has immunity to Ground-type moves thanks to its Levitate Ability Moveset & Best Build for Mow Rotom

Overpower it with Super Effective Physical Moves

Despite Hippowdon's bulk, there are still plenty of outrageously strong physical attackers that can break through Hippowdon's defenses.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Dracovish	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Max Attack Fishious Rend can deal significant damage against Hippowdon ・Sand Rush Choice Band Dracovish is also a solid option that turns Hippowdon's sandstream against him. Moveset & Best Build for Dracovish
Rillaboom	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・G-Max Drum Solo in Grassy Terrain deals a significant amount of damage against Hippowdon. ・Choice Band Wood Hammer also deals destructive damage to Hippowdon. Moveset & Best Build for Rillaboom
Galarian Darmanitan	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Choice Band Icicle Crash deals a significant amount of damage against Hippowdon. Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Darmanitan

Take Advantage of its Low Speed

Hippowdon has a very low Speed stat, which means attackers and even some defensive Pokemon can take distrupt the Heavyweight Pokemon's strategies before it has a chance to act!

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Immune to Ground-types and damaged normally by Rock and Ice-type moves ・Since it's faster, it can set up with Body Press to lessen the damage it gets from Hippowdon's attacks Moveset & Best Build for Corviknight
Galarian Moltres	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Immune to Ground-type moves ・Since it's faster, it can prevent Hippowdon from moving by flinching it with Fiery Wrath Moveset & Best Build for Galarian Moltres
Gyarados	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Immune to Ground-type moves ・Can set up Dragon Dance and force Hippowdon to switch out with its boosted Waterfall Moveset & Best Build for Gyarados

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo