How to Catch or Buy Hippopotas in Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Hippopotas has always been one of those Pokemon that feels right at home in sandy, sun-baked environments. In Pokemon Legends: Z-A, that theme continues—its habitat, behavior, and battle role all reinforce its identity as a sturdy Ground-type with surprising defensive value. If you're building a balanced team for story progression or competitive battles, Hippopotas (and its evolution Hippowdon) can play an important part, especially for players who want access to Sand Stream strategies later on.

Below is a breakdown of where to find Hippopotas, how to catch it effectively, and when it might make more sense to simply trade or buy one instead.

Hippopotas Overview

Lumiose Pokedex: #118 
Type: Ground 
Height: 2'07” 
Weight: 109.1 lbs 
Evolution: Hippopotas → Hippowdon (Level 34)

Characteristics: 
Hippopotas protects itself by coating its body in sand, keeping germs and moisture away. It dislikes rain and water-filled areas, which fits its appearance in dry, warm regions.

Base Stats

Hippopotas isn't fast, but its bulk and solid Attack make it a strong early and mid-game wall, especially once evolved.

Where to Find Hippopotas

Location: Wild Zone 7 
Availability: After Main Mission 9: “Chase That Mysterious Pokemon!”*

Wild Zone 7 resembles a dry, rugged landscape, with rocky slopes and sparse vegetation. Hippopotas tend to appear in small clusters, usually resting or half-buried in sand. Unlike aggressive species, Hippopotas generally won't charge you—which makes sneaking and capturing fairly straightforward.

Catching Tips:

• Approach from tall grass for easier back strikes.
• Heavy Balls or Great Balls work well since Hippopotas has moderate defense and HP.
• If you're battling before catching, avoid Water- and Grass-type moves that may knock it out unexpectedly.
• Using Ground-type bait items can help draw it closer.

Should You Catch or Buy Hippopotas?

For most players, catching one naturally when progressing through the story feels smooth and fits the pacing of the game. But depending on your goals, buying Hippopotas can be more convenient, especially if:

• You want a specific nature, IV spread, or competitive move set.
• You're collecting Shiny or Alpha variants.
• You want to skip early grinding and go straight into team building.

On U4GM, a marketplace known among players for secure Pokemon trades in Pokemon Legends: Z-A, you'll find multiple Hippopotas options:

And if you're aiming for a specific build—moves, EV spreads, ball type, nature, and held item—you can also buy Custom Pokemon online for $9.90.

This is particularly helpful if you're experimenting with strategies and don't want to repeatedly restart captures to get correct stats.

Player Perspective

Hippopotas shines most when you plan to evolve it into Hippowdon, which is where the defensive bulk and field control (Sand Stream) come into play. If you're running a sand-focused team, pairing Hippowdon with Rock- or Steel-type Pokemon can make the mid-game notably easier.

If you're not planning on leaning into weather strategies, Hippopotas is still a solid tank for early enemy pressure—just don't expect it to sweep or outspeed much.

Hippopotas is easy to appreciate: dependable, resilient, and a foundation-setter for many defensive teams. Whether you decide to catch it naturally while progressing through Wild Zone 7 or buy a Shiny or optimized one for team synergy, it's absolutely worth adding to your roster—especially if you enjoy strategic, slower-paced battles.