The Best Build for Hippowdon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (Pokemon SV). See the recommended Move set, held items, how to distribute EV, and build up for each type.
Slack Off helps to keep restoring in Pivot Battles
It'd be a stable Tank against Physical style Dragapult and Dragonite if Hippowdon got enhanced with EV to its HP and Def and learned Slack Off. And an easy-to-use recovery move like Slack Off makes a Tank Pokemon harder to faint. While there are other Pokemon with roles similar to Hippowdon's, such as Dondozo, Hippowdon's capability to keep fighting in battles is an advantage that no other Pokemon has.
Yawn allows you to get a look at the opponent's party
It is powerful that you can use Hippowdon as a Physical Tank, and then force the opponent switching Pokemon with Yawn. Yawn allows you to put the opponent to sleep, or to grasp the opponent's party Pokemon, making it easier to use your other Pokemon and be a Setup for next action.
Things to Keep in Mind
Beware of Pokemon with Lum Berry
Hippowdon's build is highly dependent on Yawn. If the opponent has a combination of Lum Berry and Swords Dance, Hippowdon may not be able to carry out its role as a Physical Tank and may be knocked down.
Can't be used as Special Tank
This style of Hippowdon has been enhanced HP and Defense with EV, so it is not strong against Special Moves. When facing a Special Attacker, you need to carefully decide whether to continue using Hippowdon as a Physical Tank or not. If you really want to withstand the Special moves but can't switch out, use Terastal to resist the opponent's attacks and escape with Yawn.
Hippowdon is strong against Mimikyu, which Dragapult is weak against, and Hippowdon's [Yawn] allows Dragapult to stack Dragon Dance or make a turn to Attack.
Physical Tank Hippowdon with [Slack Off] and Special Tank Blissey with [Soft-Boiled] can deal with both Physical and Special Attackers of the opponent.
Works well with Stats boosting Attackers which lack Physical durability
The greatest strength of Physical Tank Hippowdon is that it can take the attacks of the opponent's Physical Attacker and use Yawn to force the opponents switching out with a high probability. Dragapult, Volcarona, and Dragonite, the Stats boosting Attackers which would normally be blocked by Dragapult and Mimikyu, are a good match for Hippowdon.
Other Suggestions
Suggested Items Other Than [Sitrus Berry]
Type
Reason
Leftovers
By using [Yawn] repeatedly, you can force the opponent to choose between falling asleep or continuing to recover with [Leftovers].
Suggested Tera Types
Type
Reason
It can halve the damage from Grass and Ice types which are Hippowdon's weaknesses. Unlike Grass Terastal, it doesn't need to take the damage of Sandstorm.
Compared to [Rock Tomb], it is a little weaker against [Taunt], but it can force the opponent switching out the [Substitute] which is commonly used against [Yawn].
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Builds & Movesets for Ranked Battles
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