Pokemon of the Month - November 2015 - Hippowdon

About Hippowdon
Hippowdon brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It stored vast quantities of sand inside its body which it expels while attacking. It can blast sand from the ports on its body to create huge twisters which it uses to attack.

Stats
HP - 108
Attack - 112
Defense - 118
Sp. Atk - 68
Sp. Def - 72
Speed - 47

Abilities
Sand Stream: Sandstorm blows when the Pokémon enters battle. As of X & Y, this lasts 5 turns.
Hidden Ability:
Sand Force: Ground-type, Rock-type & Steel-type moves have their power increased by 33% in a Sandstorm

Hippowdon in competitive play
Hippowdon sees a lot of play in the competitive scene. It's one of the best mixed walls in OU and maybe the game, able to stop some of the metagame's most prominent threats, such as Talonflame, Garchomp and the now lesser seen Terrakion. Its has a great typing, reliable recovery, access to stealth rocks and a great ability to help bolster its special Defence as well as offering options for other members on its team. Sadly its not all good for this sandy hippo. It has weaknesses to common types as well as being slow, it also lacks a reliable way of preventing Pokemon setting up on it, outside of whirlwind.

Example Set
Mixed Wall

Earthquake
Stealth Rock
Slack Off
Stone Edge/Toxic/Whirlwind

Item:Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream/Sand Force
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/144 Def/112 SpD

This set is Hippowdon's common set. Mixing support in stealth rocks, reliable stab damage in EQ, reliable recovery in Slack off and then the last slot is filled with that you feel you need most. Toxic ruins other walls and puts set up mons on a timer. Stone edge gives you something to smash Talonflame and offer another powerful move which gains a boost if running sand force. Whirlwind stops set ups dead by forcing the foe out.
The EV spread maximises Hippowdon's ability to take hits on both sides, although don't think he can stay in and take super effective hits.

One of the great aspects to Hippowdon is its ability. It has a nice 112 attack stat to take advantage of and with Sand force, it can pack a real punch with its EQ's and Stone edge.

Hippowdon was a mayor lead for a sandstorm team idk if its still is.... Lol

He's still used as such. although looking at him, he would make an awesome team mate for a sand stream Ttar, if you use Sand Force on Hippowdon

Nice

Its not used so much for leads as just being a great pivot and wall these days, and seeing as the only sand these days is drill and this or more likely ttar, its not quite the same

Still, it's nice to have two weather setters. And given that there's only two pokemon with the ability... It's a good thing the Hippo's got some nice stats.

Of note are some alternate moves:

Yawn is a great alternate phazer to Whirlwind, also allowing you turns to set up on another pokemon if they choose to accept the nap.

Stockpile may be bred on via Heatmore, Mawile or Arbok - this takes advantage of the hippo's decent bulk and access to Slack Off.

That's much I knew already had a hippowdon on my mono type ground team, was just interested if he still being used in such.