Competitive Information for Hippowdon [Sword/Shield]
Ground
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Hippowdon? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
RillaboomIncineroarCorviknightToxapexLycanrocAzumarillRotom-HeatDragalgeMandibuzzGoodra
Hippowdon is a wonderful Ground-typed Pokemon. It's a pretty regular sight to see Hippowdon out in the 8th generation battlefield. Hippowdon is weak to Grass, Ice, and Water-typed attacks.
Item: Iapapa Berry / Weakness Policy
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- High Horsepower
- Protect
- Slack Off
- Yawn
Physical Wall Hippowdon (Popular/Trending)
Hippowdon is pretty popular Physical Wall. The purpose of this moveset is to take a hefty amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Weakness Policy activates if Hippowdon is hit by a super effective move. The Weakness Policy is consumed and its Attack and Special Attack are increased by two stages each. With Sand Stream, on switch-in Hippowdon summons sandstorm.
♦ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Hippowdon this turn).
♦ Slack Off is a status move (heals your Hippowdon by 50% of its max hp).
♦ Yawn is a status move (puts the target to sleep after 1 turn).
Item: Eject Pack / Choice Band
Ability: Sand Force
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 124 Hp / 252 Atk / 132 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Rock Slide / Double-Edge
- Superpower / Body Press
- Iron Head
Physical Sweeper Hippowdon (Sand Force)
Hippowdon is an interesting Physical Sweeper. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Hippowdon's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Sand Force, Hippowdon's ground/rock/steel attacks do 1.3x in sandstorm; immunity to it. Rock Slide was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ High Horsepower is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Ground-type move that deals a good amount of damage.
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Hippowdon's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Body Press is a physical 80-base power Fighting-type move (uses Hippowdon's defense stat as attack in damage calculation).
♦ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
Item: Smooth Rock / Eject Pack
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 124 Hp / 252 Atk / 132 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Superpower / Body Press
- Iron Head / Rock Slide
- Crunch
Physical Sweeper Hippowdon (Sand Stream)
Hippowdon is a sensational Physical Sweeper. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Sand Stream, on switch-in Hippowdon summons sandstorm. Iron Head or Rock Slide are added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ High Horsepower is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Ground-type move that deals a considerable amount of damage.
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Hippowdon's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Body Press is a physical 80-base power Fighting-type move (uses Hippowdon's defense stat as attack in damage calculation).
♦ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 126 Atk / 132 Def
Moveset:
- Stone Edge
- Fire Fang / Slack Off
- Crunch / Ice Fang
- Earthquake
Hippowdon Physical Wall (Choice Bander)
Hippowdon is a phenomenal Physical Wall. It is meant to take a considerable amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Choice Band will increase the damage of Hippowdon's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Sand Stream, on switch-in Hippowdon summons sandstorm.
♦ Fire Fang is a physical 65-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn. 10% chance to flinch).
♦ Slack Off is a status move (heals your Hippowdon by 50% of its max hp).
♦ Crunch is a physical 80-base power Dark-type move (20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage).
♦ Ice Fang is a physical 65-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze. 10% chance to flinch).
♦ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Moveset:
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge
- Substitute / Rock Slide
- Roar
Hippowdon Physical Tank (Mixed Bag)
Hippowdon is a marvelous Physical Tank. It's primary goal is to take a large amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Hippowdon last longer regaining it's stamina every turn. With Sand Stream, on switch-in Hippowdon summons sandstorm.
♦ Stone Edge is a physical 100-base power Rock-type move (high critical hit ratio).
♦ Substitute is a status move (Hippowdon takes 1/4 its max hp to put in a substitute).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Roar is a status move (forces the target to switch to a random ally).
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Hippowdon? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
ClefableExcadrillToxapexFerrothornAegislashTyranitarRotom-HeatKyuremSylveonJirachi
Item: Eject Pack / Choice Band
Ability: Sand Force
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 124 Hp / 252 Atk / 132 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Rock Slide / Rock Tomb
- Iron Head / Double-Edge
- Superpower / Body Press
Doubles Physical Sweeper Hippowdon (Sand Force)
Hippowdon is a marvelous Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Hippowdon's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Sand Force, Hippowdon's ground/rock/steel attacks do 1.3x in sandstorm; immunity to it. Iron Head was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ High Horsepower is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Ground-type move that deals a nice amount of damage.
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Rock Tomb is a physical 60-base power Rock-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
♦ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Hippowdon's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Body Press is a physical 80-base power Fighting-type move (uses Hippowdon's defense stat as attack in damage calculation).
Item: Smooth Rock / Eject Pack
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 124 Hp / 252 Atk / 132 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Rock Slide
- Iron Head / Double-Edge
- Superpower / Body Press
Doubles Physical Sweeper Hippowdon (Sand Stream)
Hippowdon is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It was designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Sand Stream, on switch-in Hippowdon summons sandstorm. Iron Head was added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ High Horsepower is a physical STAB-boosted 95-base power Ground-type move that deals a decent amount of damage.
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ Iron Head is a physical 80-base power Steel-type move (30% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
♦ Superpower is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Hippowdon's attack and defense by 1 stage).
♦ Body Press is a physical 80-base power Fighting-type move (uses Hippowdon's defense stat as attack in damage calculation).
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Hippowdon learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Hippowdon can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Hippowdon
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Stockpile + Spit Up
- Moves: Stockpile + Swallow
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
Optimize Hippowdon's EVs for Sword/Shield
Related Videos
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