For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
← #448: Lucario	Pokémon	#450: Hippowdon →
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Hippopotas (disambiguation).

Hippopotas Hippo Pokémon ヒポポタス Hippopotas #449 Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type Ground
Abilities Sand Stream Sand Force Hidden Ability
Gender ratio     50% male, 50% female	Catch rate 140 (28%)
Breeding Egg Group Field Hatch time 7710 - 7966 steps
Height 2'07" 0.8 m	Weight 109.1 lbs. 49.5 kg
Base experience yield 95 Gen. IV 66 V+	Leveling rate Slow
EV yield Total: 1 0 HP 0 Atk 1 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed
Shape	Footprint
Pokédex color   Brown	Base friendship 70
External Links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Hippopotas (Japanese: ヒポポタス Hippopotas) is a Ground-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.

It evolves into Hippowdon starting at level 34.

Biology

Hippopotas is a quadrupedal, hippopotamus-like Pokémon that is most commonly found in deserts and other arid places. Its skin color depends on gender: if male, it is tan with dark brown patches, and if female, its coloring is reversed. It has a large snout with round, protruding nostrils. Its eyes and small ears protrude from the top of its head. Its torso has mottled coloring and a small hole on its back. Each of its feet has two blunt claws, and it has a small tail.

Hippopotas spends its time bathing in sand and avoids water at all costs. It covers itself in sand as a protective measure against germs and expels sand instead of sweat. When it walks through the sand, it shuts its nostrils. It also keeps its mouth open while traveling in sand, swallowing any sand and prey along the way. Hippopotas are more active during the day and burrows into sand during the cold desert nights. It prefers to travel in groups of ten.

In the anime

Major appearances

 

The recurring male Hippopotas

Hippopotas (recurring)

Hippopotas debuted in Mass Hip-Po-Sis!, where Ash, with the aid of his friends, rescued the Pokémon from being trapped upon a high ledge. Rhonda and her Sinnoh Now crew revealed that they were on assignment filming a herd of Hippo Pokémon. It was then discovered that Hippopotas was lost, having been separated from his herd. As a result, Ash and his friends helped Hippopotas find his way back. Like a few other Pokémon, Hippopotas seemed to like riding atop of Ash's head.

Team Rocket attempted to steal Hippopotas multiple times for Giovanni, but their plans were foiled each time. All the while, Jessie had trouble saying the Pokémon's species name. Hippopotas fell into a stream after one of Team Rocket's attempts to capture him. With the assistance of Nurse Joy, Ash and his friends fetched a sackful of dry sand to help Hippopotas recover. Later, the group were able to reunite Hippopotas with his herd.

Hippopotas reappeared in Sleight of Sand! with his father Hippowdon. In this episode, Butch and Cassidy also wanted to kidnap the Hippo Pokémon, but they failed.

Its known moves are Yawn, Sand Attack, Sand Tomb, and Sandstorm.

Other

Multiple Hippopotas appeared in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, where one of them was borrowed by Ash and his friends for its Ground-type attacks. It played a crucial role in restoring the broken Prison Bottle during the climactic battle in Dahara City. This Hippopotas was later returned to his herd, and Bonnie bid it farewell.

Minor appearances

 

Female Hippopotas in the anime

A Hippopotas appeared in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.

In Another One Gabites the Dust!, a Coordinator's Hippopotas competed in the Battle Stage of the Chocovine Contest.

In Battling a Cute Drama!, a Hippopotas was at Shelter Town's Pokémon Center.

In a flashback in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel, a Hippopotas was living at the Nebel Plateau.

In Mind-Boggling Dynamax!, a male and female Hippopotas were in the Wild Area.

In A Pinch of This, a Pinch of That!, a male Hippopotas was in the Wild Area.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

 

Male Hippopotas in Pokémon Adventures

Darkrai Mission Story: Pokémon Ranger Vatonage - the Comic

A Hippopotas appeared in A Fresh Start.

Movie adaptations

A Hippopotas appeared in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages.

Pokémon Adventures

A male Hippopotas appeared in Bombastic Bibarel & Heroic Hippopotas, under the ownership of a Gentleman at the Seven Stars Restaurant. He appeared along with a Socialite and her Bibarel. The quartet battled Diamond's Torterra, Tru, and Pearl's Infernape, Chimler, in a Tag Battle.

In the TCG

Main article: Hippopotas (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: a male Hippopotas is a resident of Serene Village, and speaks with a French accent. After the player brings their partner back at the Epilogue, Hippopotas can be recruited.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

By leveling up

By TM/TR

Generation VIII Other generations: IV - V - VI - VII

TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  TM15 Dig Ground Physical 80 100% 10 TM21 Rest Psychic Status — —% 10 TM22 Rock Slide Rock Physical 75 90% 10 TM24 Snore Normal Special 50 100% 15 TM25 Protect Normal Status — —% 10 TM31 Attract Normal Status — 100% 15 TM32 Sandstorm Rock Status — —% 10 TM34 Sunny Day Fire Status — —% 5 TM39 Facade Normal Physical 70 100% 20 TM42 Revenge Fighting Physical 60 100% 10 TM46 Weather Ball Normal Special 50 100% 10 TM48 Rock Tomb Rock Physical 60 95% 15 TM49 Sand Tomb Ground Physical 35 85% 15 TM53 Mud Shot Ground Special 55 95% 15 TM76 Round Normal Special 60 100% 15 TM81 Bulldoze Ground Physical 60 100% 20 TM98 Stomping Tantrum Ground Physical 75 100% 10 TR01 Body Slam Normal Physical 85 100% 15 TR10 Earthquake Ground Physical 100 100% 10 TR17 Amnesia Psychic Status — —% 20 TR20 Substitute Normal Status — —% 10 TR26 Endure Normal Status — —% 10 TR27 Sleep Talk Normal Status — —% 10 TR31 Iron Tail Steel Physical 100 75% 15 TR32 Crunch Dark Physical 80 100% 15 TR39 Superpower Fighting Physical 120 100% 5 TR45 Muddy Water Water Special 90 85% 10 TR67 Earth Power Ground Special 90 100% 10 TR76 Stealth Rock Rock Status — —% 20 TR94 High Horsepower Ground Physical 95 95% 10

Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Hippopotas Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Hippopotas Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation VIII Other generations: IV - V - VI - VII

Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP  Curse Ghost Status — —% 10 Spit Up Normal Special — 100% 10 Stockpile Normal Status — —% 20 Swallow Normal Status — —% 10 Whirlwind Normal Status — —% 20

Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Hippopotas in Generation VIII Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation. Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Hippopotas in that game. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Hippopotas Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Hippopotas Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By tutoring

By transfer from another generation

TCG-only moves

Side game data

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2% IQ group: E
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group: Ground Poké Assist: Ground Field move: None Browser entry R-246 It causes tremors and spits hunks of sand to attack.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Ground Poké Assist: (present) Ground Field move: (present) (Tackle ×3) Poké Assist: (past) Ground Field move: (past) (Tackle ×1) Browser entry R-283/N-103 It triggers tremors to attack.
Pokémon Rumble Attack ●● Defense ●● Speed ●●●			Pokémon Rumble Blast Attack ●● Defense ●● Speed ●●●
Pokémon Rumble Rush Walking Speed: 1.25 seconds Base HP: 53   Base Attack: 70 Base Defense: 51 Base Speed: 60
Pokémon Battle Trozei Ground Attack Power: ★★★★★
Pokémon Shuffle Ground Attack Power: 50 - 115  10 #191 Quake Sometimes increases damage and leaves opponent paralyzed for a short period of time. Skill Swapper: Flash Mob			Pokémon Shuffle Ground Attack Power: 50 - 100  5 #191 T-Boost Increases damage when making a T-shaped match.
Pokémon GO Base Stamina: 169 Base Attack: 124 Base Defense: 118 Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 3 km Evolution Requirement: 50 Fast Attacks: Tackle, Bite Charged Attacks: Dig, Rock Tomb, Body Slam

Evolution

Unevolved Hippopotas  Ground

Level 34 →

First evolution Hippowdon  Ground

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV   Diamond Pearl   Platinum   HeartGold SoulSilver                 Front Back   Front Back   Front Back
Generation V   Black White   Black 2 White 2         Front Back   Front Back
Generation VI   X Y   Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire         Front Back   Front Back
Generation VII   Sun Moon   Ultra Sun Ultra Moon         Front Back   Front Back
Generation VIII   Sword Shield   HOME

 For other sprites and images, please see Hippopotas images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Despite having obvious gender differences, both Hippopotas and its evolved form have only one menu sprite and one Dream World picture, both of which depict the male variation.

Origin

Hippopotas seems to be based on a hippopotamus, with army-like desert camouflage. Because of the spout upon its back that spits sand, Hippopotas and its evolved form may be based upon the legendary Bahamut as, in some accounts of the myths behind it, it is said to support a bed of sand and have the head of a hippo.

Name origin

Hippopotas is derived from hippopotamus.

In other languages

Language Title Meaning  Japanese ヒポポタス Hippopotas Derived from hippopotamus.  French Hippopotas Same as Japanese name  Spanish Hippopotas Same as Japanese name  German Hippopotas Same as Japanese name  Italian Hippopotas Same as Japanese name  Korean 히포포타스 Hipopotaseu Transliteration of Japanese name  Cantonese Chinese      Mandarin Chinese 怪河馬 Guài Hé Mǎ Literally "Strange hippopotamus".

[hide]More languages  Russian Гиппопотас Gippopotas Transcription of English name  Thai ฮิปโปโปตัส Hippopotat Transcription of Japanese name

Related articles

External links

← #448: Lucario

Pokémon

#450: Hippowdon →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.