Nominating Hippowdon from B- to B/B+
Hippowdon is a very potent Ground-type anchor for fat and bulky teams that forgo Gliscor to assist hazard stack playstyles. Hippowdon can utilize physically defensive or specially defensive spreads to serve its role as a rocker, phaser/toxic user, and checking many threats with its powerful unboosted Earthquake such as Heatran, Tapu Koko, and Mega-Diancie. Currently, specially defensive sets are favored as Hippowdon's immense natural physical bulk allow it to routinely avoid 2HKO's from imposing physical threats. Hippowdown's ability, Sand Stream, allows it to be less passive as opposed to other ground's looking to fill its slot such as Gastrodon. Sand Stream also offers valuable weather control to ease matchups versus rain, sun (including double setter teams with Mega Charizard Y), and even hail teams.
Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic/Whirlwind
- Slack Off
The standard specially defensive set utilizes Hippowdon's huge HP, Sand Stream, and access to pressuring moves such as Toxic/Whirlwind to turn Hippowdon into a surprisingly non-passive wall that can effectively set rocks against many archetypes.
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic/Whirlwind
- Slack Off
The standard specially defensive set utilizes Hippowdon's huge HP, Sand Stream, and access to pressuring moves such as Toxic/Whirlwind to turn Hippowdon into a surprisingly non-passive wall that can effectively set rocks against many archetypes.
Calcs
252 SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon in Psychic Terrain: 169-201 (40.3 - 47.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 186-219 (44.3 - 52.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 169-201 (40.3 - 47.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 154-182 (36.7 - 43.4%) -- 98.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Lopunny-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Hippowdon: 189-223 (45.1 - 53.2%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers
4 SpA Arctozolt Blizzard vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 194-230 (46.3 - 54.8%) -- 9.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Victini Blue Flare vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 157-186 (37.4 - 44.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Diancie-Mega Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 160-190 (38.1 - 45.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 0 SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 174-205 (41.5 - 48.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 218-260 (52 - 62%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 0 SpA Latias-Mega Psyshock vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Hippowdon: 199-235 (47.4 - 56%) -- 25.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Volcarona Flamethrower vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 267-315 (63.7 - 75.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Hippowdon: 268-316 (63.9 - 75.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Replays
Hippowdon fends off an endgame cleanup from Zapdos and 1v1s Lopunny, as well as killing Ash-Greninja with its Earthquake.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1703771710
Hippowdon answers Mega Charizard Y consistently even while toxic'd, as well as providing valuable weather control against Torkoal.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1682294124
Hippowdon keeps rain off and gives precious time and breathing room to teamates while simultaneously applying it's own pressure using rocks and toxic
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1708175785
252 SpA Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon in Psychic Terrain: 169-201 (40.3 - 47.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 186-219 (44.3 - 52.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Zapdos Hurricane vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 169-201 (40.3 - 47.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Koko Hidden Power Ice vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 154-182 (36.7 - 43.4%) -- 98.9% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Lopunny-Mega High Jump Kick vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Hippowdon: 189-223 (45.1 - 53.2%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers
4 SpA Arctozolt Blizzard vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 194-230 (46.3 - 54.8%) -- 9.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Victini Blue Flare vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 157-186 (37.4 - 44.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Diancie-Mega Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 160-190 (38.1 - 45.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 0 SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 174-205 (41.5 - 48.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Rotom-Wash Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 218-260 (52 - 62%) -- 97.7% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 0 SpA Latias-Mega Psyshock vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Hippowdon: 199-235 (47.4 - 56%) -- 25.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252 SpA Volcarona Flamethrower vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Hippowdon: 267-315 (63.7 - 75.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+2 252+ Atk Hawlucha Acrobatics (110 BP) vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Hippowdon: 268-316 (63.9 - 75.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Replays
Hippowdon fends off an endgame cleanup from Zapdos and 1v1s Lopunny, as well as killing Ash-Greninja with its Earthquake.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1703771710
Hippowdon answers Mega Charizard Y consistently even while toxic'd, as well as providing valuable weather control against Torkoal.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1682294124
Hippowdon keeps rain off and gives precious time and breathing room to teamates while simultaneously applying it's own pressure using rocks and toxic
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8nationaldex-1708175785
In conclusion, due to its great defensive typing, immense natural bulk, and Stealth Rocks + Toxic/Whirlwind, Hippowdon slots very well on certain bulky builds. Although one could argue Hippowdon is selective in its role, it excels in that role, in addition to having genuine merit over Gliscor. Hippowdon can pair very well with the likes of Skarmory, Toxapex, and Mega Latias, beating many of their checks and recieving valuable support in return. Although it may not slot on every team, Hippowdon provides a very valuable defensive backbone and support, carrying its weight very well in many matchups.
(A special thanks to my co-writers Hidin and Sealoo)
Last edited: