Introduced in generation two, with the Pokemon Gold and Silver games, Hoppip is a dual type grass and flying Pokemon. It is the first stage evolution of its three stage evolution line and evolves into Skiploom which evolves into Jumpluff once they reach the level thresholds. Hoppip is classified by the Pokedex as the “Cottonweed Pokemon” which is likely a reference to its general behavior. This guide will showcase Hoppip’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Hoppip.
About Hoppip
As a generation two Pokemon, Hoppip first appeared in the Original Series of the anime in the episode Foul Weather Friends. In this episode, Ash encounters Mariah who works in a weather factory. She uses seven Hoppip to predict the weather. The Pokedex mentions how Hoppip’s body is light enough that it can be blown away by the breeze.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Foul Weather Friends |
| First appearance in game | Pokemon Gold and Silver |
| Region | Johto |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Jumpluff, evolves into Skiploom. |
| 1st Evo level | 18 |
| 2nd Evo level | 27 |
| Pokedex Entry | This Pokémon drifts and floats with the wind. If it senses the approach of strong winds, Hoppip links its leaves with other Hoppip to prepare against being blown away. |
Hoppip Base Stats
| HP | 35 |
| ATTACK | 35 |
| DEFENCE | 40 |
| SP. ATTACK | 35 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 55 |
| SPEED | 50 |
| TOTAL | 250 |
Appearance
Hoppip is a small red Pokemon that resembles a small cat. Most of its body is red but the two leaves that stem from its head are green. The leaves are ragged and resemble the leaves that grow on a dandelion. It has two small yellow eyes and there are two cat-like ears on either side of Hoppip’s head. It also has a small tail and two stubby feet and arms. Hoppip is a small Pokemon at only 1 foot and 4 inches, or 0.4 meters, tall.
Behavior
Hoppip has to be careful as its body is very light. A stiff breeze can easily lift Hoppip off the ground. As a result, Hoppip has become sensitive to strong winds. They are social Pokemon and will gather together to avoid being blown away. Hoppip will gather to grip the ground firmly with its feet. While a storm can be scary, the Pokedex mentions that Hoppip do enjoy gentle breezes. Hoppip can commonly be found in grasslands, they can be rarely found in fields, mountains, and cities as a result of being blown away.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As the base evolution in its evolution line, Hoppip has yet to become powerful. It has relatively balanced stats, but they all seem lower than average. Hoppip’s strongest stat is its special defense, but it would have trouble performing as a defensive Pokemon with its low base health. It can perform as a disruptive Pokemon to prevent certain strategies from working in battle. As a dual type grass and flying Pokemon, Hoppip takes 2x damage from flying, poison, rock, and fire type moves while taking 4x damage from ice type moves. It is immune to ground type moves and is resistant to fighting, water, and grass type moves.
Best Moveset
In competitive play, Hoppip is typically only viable in the LC (Little Cup) bracket. In this format, Hoppip can function as a disruptive Pokemon. A Heat Rock held item ensures that Hoppip can take advantage of the speed gain from its ability Chlorophyll. As long as Hoppip can outspeed your opponent’s Pokemon, it can disrupt your opponent’s plans. Consider running Encore, Sleep Powder, Sunny Day, and Memento/U-Turn. This set is aimed at setting up the sunny weather effect to activate Chlorophyll. After Hoppip is fast enough, it uses Sleep Powder or Encore to prevent your opponent from getting ahead. Memento and U-Turn are interchangeable depending on how much disruption or how much utility you prefer to have.
| Encore | Sleep Powder |
| Sunny Day | Memento/U-Turn |
How to Catch Hoppip in Pokemon Go?
If you would like to obtain a Hoppip in Pokemon Go, there are a few different ways of doing so. As a base evolution Pokemon, Hoppip is relatively common to encounter. You can find it spawning in the wild, at a boosted rate, near parks, farms, forests, hiking trails, gardens, and other grassy areas. Hoppip can also be hatched from 2 and 5 km eggs. Only Jumpluff has been featured as a tier three raid boss at Pokemon Gyms. To evolve Hoppip into Skiploom, it will take 25 candies. To evolve Skiploom into Jumpluff, it will take 100 candies.
Trivia
- A translator for the Pokemon franchise named Nob Ogasawara was given the opportunity to name Hoppip and its evolutions in English.
- The inspiration for Hoppip’s design is most likely based on a bulb or a root. It also bears a slight resemblance to cats.
- The name Hoppip is a derivation of the phrase hip-hop.
FAQ
Is Hoppip any good?
Hoppip can be powerful if it is left alone in battle. It is strongest when it is used as a disruptive Pokemon that slows down your opponents. If Hoppip starts disabling your opponent’s Pokemon, it can quickly take over a battle on its own. With Chlorophyll helping its speed, Hoppip can be a menacing Pokemon. It is frail, so keep it away from its bad matchups.
Where do you catch Hoppip?
In Pokemon Go, you can find Hoppip spawning in the wild at a boosted rate near gardens, forests, woodlands, hiking trails, and other grassy areas. In the mainline games, Hoppip has been available from generation two to generation seven. It typically spawns in multiple locations and has high encounter rates.
What is Hoppip?
Hoppip seems to be a combination of a beetroot and a dandelion. It also has slight cat-like features making it seem almost like an animal. Its evolutions show a clearer picture of its overall design as a dandelion. Both Jumpluff and Skipbloom have the flower and the puffed seeds of a dandelion flower.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Cottonweed Pokemon”. While Hoppip’s impact on competitive play is limited to a unique format, it is by no means a weak Pokemon. The disabling from Hoppip can be significant, and it can take over a battle. While it has lower than average stats, its movepool allows players to pursue other strategies in battle. Reserve a slot on your team for Hoppip if you want a disabling grass and flying type Pokemon.
