--- title: "Hippowdon (#0450): Stats, Weaknesses, Moves & Lore | pokee.si" url: "https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippowdon" description: "Hippowdon (#0450): Ground-type Heavyweight Pokémon from Sinnoh. Base stat total 525. Stats, matchups, evolutions, moves, every Pokédex entry and lore on pokee.si." last_updated: "2026-10-21" publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)" last_checked: "2026-10-20" --- #0450 · Sinnoh · Generation 4 # Hippowdon Heavyweight Pokémon · Ground-type ![Hippowdon official artwork](https://pokee.si/img/art/450.webp) Hippowdon is a [Ground](https://pokee.si/types/ground)-type Pokémon, the Heavyweight Pokémon, number 450 (#0450) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 4 and comes from the [Sinnoh](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/sinnoh) region. It is 2 m tall and weighs 300 kg. Hippowdon is the Heavyweight Pokémon, a 300 kg Ground type that stores sand inside its body and blasts it out as a towering twister. The Pokédex says it is quick to anger and can crush a car. ## How to pronounce Hippowdon Hippowdon is pronounced **hih-POW-dun**. The capital letters show the stressed syllable. Listen to Hippowdon said out loud: [Listen](https://pokee.si/audio/names/450.mp3) In Japanese it is カバルドン (Kabaldon). Hear every other name on the [Pokémon pronunciation guide](https://pokee.si/pronounce). ## Lore ### Biology Hippowdon is a huge, hippo-like Pokémon, 2 m tall and 300 kg. A male is light brown and a female bluish-grey, and both have a dark grey back and muzzle dotted with sand ports. It has red eyes, peg-like teeth and black feet with four blunt claws. The Pokédex says its mouth is nearly 2 m (7 feet) across and has the power to crush a car outright. ### Behaviour Hippowdon loses its temper quickly and turns violent, and it holds its mouth open to show off its strength. The Pokédex says stones get stuck in its sand ports and Dwebble pick them out, so Hippowdon look after Dwebble in return. Bulbapedia adds that Drapion avoid it. ### Habitat Bulbapedia says it usually lives in deserts but can survive in swampy ground. In Scarlet and Violet it is in the Asado Desert and Tera Raids, and in Legends: Z-A in Wild Zone 20 at Centrico Plaza. ### Powers Its Ability is Sand Stream, with Sand Force hidden. It bites with Crunch, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang and Ice Fang, shakes foes with Earthquake and recovers with Slack Off. Base Defense 118 and Attack 112 make it a tough, hard-hitting wall. ### Name origin Hippowdon may blend 'hippopotamus' with 'power', 'powder' or 'pow', plus 'don', Spanish for 'lord', or the '-don' of prehistoric animal names. The Japanese name is Kabaldon (カバルドン), from kaba ('hippopotamus') and don. ### Design inspiration Hippowdon is based on a hippopotamus. The sand-spouting ports on its back may also nod to Bahamut, which some myths describe as carrying a bed of sand and having a hippo's head. This is a fan reading, not an official statement. ### Evolution notes Hippopotas evolves into Hippowdon at level 34. ### In the games Bertha, the Ground-type specialist of Sinnoh's Elite Four, uses Hippowdon in Diamond, Pearl, Platinum and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. In Scarlet and Violet it evolves from Hippopotas and turns up in 5-star and 6-star Tera Raids. It is also in Legends: Z-A and its Mega Dimension DLC. ### In the anime Debuted in 'Sleight of Sand!' as the father of the Hippopotas Ash had rescued, while Butch and Cassidy tried to collect its sand for Dr. Namba. Bertha's Hippowdon beat Ash's Torterra in 'An Elite Coverup!'. ### Fun facts - In Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, Hippowdon and Hippopotas share a recruit rate, which Bulbapedia says is unusual for one evolutionary line. - In Pokémon Adventures, Bertha's female Hippowdon also carries her books and acts as her transport. - Despite its gender differences, Bulbapedia says the anime has never shown a female Hippowdon. Sources: [Bulbapedia: Hippowdon (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Hippowdon_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) · [Serebii: Hippowdon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/hippowdon/) ## Base stats - HP: **108** - Attack: **112** - Defense: **118** - Sp. Atk: **68** - Sp. Def: **72** - Speed: **47** Hippowdon’s base stat total is **525**. Its highest stat is Defense. ## Type matchups ### What is Hippowdon weak to? Hippowdon takes extra damage from [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) (2×), [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) (2×), [Ice](https://pokee.si/types/ice) (2×) moves. It resists [Poison](https://pokee.si/types/poison) (½×), [Rock](https://pokee.si/types/rock) (½×). It is immune to [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric) moves. ## Evolution ### What does Hippowdon evolve from? Hippowdon evolves from [Hippopotas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippopotas) at level 34. Hippowdon is the final stage of its evolution family. The whole family: [Hippopotas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippopotas), **Hippowdon**. ## Abilities - [Sand Stream](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-stream): Summons a sandstorm for five turns upon entering battle (eight with a Smooth Rock). - [Sand Force](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-force) (hidden ability): Strengthens Rock, Ground, and Steel moves to 1.3× their power during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage. ## Moves ### Moves Hippowdon learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet | Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Fire Fang](https://pokee.si/moves/fire-fang) | Fire | Physical | 65 | | 1 | [Thunder Fang](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-fang) | Electric | Physical | 65 | | 1 | [Yawn](https://pokee.si/moves/yawn) | Normal | Status | — | | 1 | [Ice Fang](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-fang) | Ice | Physical | 65 | | 1 | [Sand Attack](https://pokee.si/moves/sand-attack) | Ground | Status | — | | 1 | [Tackle](https://pokee.si/moves/tackle) | Normal | Physical | 40 | | 1 | [Bite](https://pokee.si/moves/bite) | Dark | Physical | 60 | | 12 | [Sand Tomb](https://pokee.si/moves/sand-tomb) | Ground | Physical | 35 | | 16 | [Dig](https://pokee.si/moves/dig) | Ground | Physical | 80 | | 20 | [Crunch](https://pokee.si/moves/crunch) | Dark | Physical | 80 | | 24 | [Sandstorm](https://pokee.si/moves/sandstorm) | Rock | Status | — | | 28 | [Take Down](https://pokee.si/moves/take-down) | Normal | Physical | 90 | | 32 | [Roar](https://pokee.si/moves/roar) | Normal | Status | — | | 38 | [Rest](https://pokee.si/moves/rest) | Psychic | Status | — | | 44 | [Earthquake](https://pokee.si/moves/earthquake) | Ground | Physical | 100 | | 50 | [Double-Edge](https://pokee.si/moves/double-edge) | Normal | Physical | 120 | | 56 | [Fissure](https://pokee.si/moves/fissure) | Ground | Physical | — | | 62 | [Slack Off](https://pokee.si/moves/slack-off) | Normal | Status | — | ### TM moves (42) Hippowdon can learn 42 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: [Take Down](https://pokee.si/moves/take-down), [Mud-Slap](https://pokee.si/moves/mud-slap), [Protect](https://pokee.si/moves/protect), [Fire Fang](https://pokee.si/moves/fire-fang), [Thunder Fang](https://pokee.si/moves/thunder-fang), [Ice Fang](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-fang), [Facade](https://pokee.si/moves/facade), [Bulldoze](https://pokee.si/moves/bulldoze), [Mud Shot](https://pokee.si/moves/mud-shot), [Rock Tomb](https://pokee.si/moves/rock-tomb), [Endure](https://pokee.si/moves/endure), [Sunny Day](https://pokee.si/moves/sunny-day), [Sandstorm](https://pokee.si/moves/sandstorm), [Dig](https://pokee.si/moves/dig), [Body Slam](https://pokee.si/moves/body-slam), [Sleep Talk](https://pokee.si/moves/sleep-talk), [Stomping Tantrum](https://pokee.si/moves/stomping-tantrum), [Rest](https://pokee.si/moves/rest), [Rock Slide](https://pokee.si/moves/rock-slide), [Body Press](https://pokee.si/moves/body-press), [Iron Head](https://pokee.si/moves/iron-head), [Substitute](https://pokee.si/moves/substitute), [Crunch](https://pokee.si/moves/crunch), [Stealth Rock](https://pokee.si/moves/stealth-rock), [Hyper Voice](https://pokee.si/moves/hyper-voice), [Heavy Slam](https://pokee.si/moves/heavy-slam), [Amnesia](https://pokee.si/moves/amnesia), [Helping Hand](https://pokee.si/moves/helping-hand), [Earth Power](https://pokee.si/moves/earth-power), [Earthquake](https://pokee.si/moves/earthquake), [Stone Edge](https://pokee.si/moves/stone-edge), [Giga Impact](https://pokee.si/moves/giga-impact), [Hyper Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/hyper-beam), [Tera Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/tera-blast), [Roar](https://pokee.si/moves/roar), [Sand Tomb](https://pokee.si/moves/sand-tomb), [High Horsepower](https://pokee.si/moves/high-horsepower), [Double-Edge](https://pokee.si/moves/double-edge), [Muddy Water](https://pokee.si/moves/muddy-water), [Scorching Sands](https://pokee.si/moves/scorching-sands), [Curse](https://pokee.si/moves/curse), [Hard Press](https://pokee.si/moves/hard-press). Egg moves (5), which Hippopotas can hatch knowing:[Curse](https://pokee.si/moves/curse), [Spit Up](https://pokee.si/moves/spit-up), [Stockpile](https://pokee.si/moves/stockpile), [Swallow](https://pokee.si/moves/swallow), [Whirlwind](https://pokee.si/moves/whirlwind). ## Breeding & training - Gender: 50% male, 50% female. - Egg groups: Field. - Egg cycles: 30 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 3,840). - Catch rate: 60 out of 255. - Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50. - Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100). - Defeating it gives 2 Defense effort values. - Base experience yield: 184. ## Pokédex entries Short-tempered and easily moved to violence. It whips up whirlwinds of sand to crush its foes' spirits, then goes in for the attack. *(Legends: Arceus)* When roused to violence by its rage, it spews out the quantities of sand it has swallowed and whips up a sandstorm. *(Shield)* Stones can get stuck in the ports on their bodies. Dwebble help dislodge such stones, so Hippowdon look after these Pokémon. *(Sword)* It blasts internally stored sand from ports on its body to create a towering twister for attack. *(Diamond, Y, Alpha Sapphire)* It brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It raises vast quantities of sand while attacking. *(HeartGold, SoulSilver, X, Omega Ruby)* It is surprisingly quick to anger. It holds its mouth agape as a display of its strength. *(Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2)* ## Names around the world - **Japanese**: カバルドン - **Romaji**: Kabaldon - **French**: Hippodocus - **German**: Hippoterus - **Spanish**: Hippowdon - **Italian**: Hippowdon - **Korean**: 하마돈 - **Chinese (Simplified)**: 河马兽 - **Chinese (Traditional)**: 河馬獸 ## Trivia - Taller than 87% of all Pokémon (2 m). - Heavier than 96% of all Pokémon (300 kg). - Base stat total 525, ranked #189 of 1,025. - Its best stat is HP, ranked #70 of 1,025. - One of 75 Ground-type Pokémon (counting dual types). - One of 147 brown Pokémon. - Number 64 of 107 Pokémon introduced in Generation 4 (Sinnoh). - Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon. - Can learn 52 different moves in Scarlet / Violet. - Catch rate 60: about 7.8% per Poké Ball at full health. - Appears in 7 distinct Pokédex entries. ## Sources and fact-checking - Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: [PokéAPI](https://pokeapi.co) open game data. - Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from [Bulbapedia: Hippowdon (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Hippowdon_(Pok%C3%A9mon)), [Serebii: Hippowdon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/hippowdon/). - Pronunciation (hih-POW-dun): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it. **Last checked:** 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data. ## Explore [Ground-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/ground) · [Sinnoh region guide](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/sinnoh) · [Sand Stream ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-stream) · [Sand Force ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/sand-force) · [Compare Hippowdon](https://pokee.si/compare?ids=450) · [Full Pokédex](https://pokee.si/pokedex) · [Type chart](https://pokee.si/types) · [All moves](https://pokee.si/moves) ## Browse similar Pokémon [Gen 4 Ground-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/ground/gen-4) · [Gen 4 Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/pokedex/gen-4) · [Brown Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/colours/brown) · [Field egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/field) · [Pokémon that start with H](https://pokee.si/pokemon-names/h) · [Rhino and Hippo Pokémon](https://pokee.si/animals/rhino) ← [Hippopotas](https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippopotas) | [Skorupi](https://pokee.si/pokemon/skorupi) → --- Source: https://pokee.si/pokemon/hippowdon (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. Pokémon and all related names and images are © their respective owners.