Piplup Pokemon Guide

Pokemon Guide

Piplup Pokemon Guide

Piplup is a Water-type starter Pokemon known for its penguin design, proud personality, Torrent ability and evolution into Prinplup and Empoleon. This guide covers Piplup’s stats, best moves, abilities, evolution, shiny form, typing, weaknesses and locations across Pokemon games.

Normal Form

Piplup

Shiny Form

Shiny Piplup

Last Updated: May 2026 | Page Status: This Piplup guide supports current Pokemon games, Pokemon Champions and future updates. Location, moves and availability details will be updated as new Pokemon game data becomes available.

Piplup Guide Contents

Description	Quick Facts
Stats	Best Moves
All Moves	Weaknesses
Evolution	Locations
Abilities	FAQ

Piplup Description

Piplup is a Water-type starter Pokemon from the Sinnoh region. It evolves into Prinplup and later Empoleon, giving it one of the most recognizable Water starter evolution lines in the Pokemon series.

Competitive Overview

Is Piplup Good in Competitive?

Piplup is usually more important as a starter and evolution step than as a top competitive Pokemon, but it can be useful in story play because of its Water typing and access to reliable Water-type moves.

Piplup’s biggest strengths are Torrent, early Water-type offense and its strong final evolution into Empoleon. Its main issues are limited bulk and weaknesses to Electric and Grass-type attacks.

Piplup Quick Facts

Here are the key facts to know about Piplup, including its type, abilities, height, weight and species information.

Name

Piplup

National Dex

#0393

Type

Water

Species

Penguin Pokemon

Height

1’04” / 0.4 m

40 cm

Weight

11.5 lbs / 5.2 kg

5.2 kg

Abilities

Torrent, Defiant

Piplup Stats

Piplup has balanced early-stage starter stats with usable Special Attack. Its Speed and bulk are modest, so it often benefits from evolving into Prinplup and then Empoleon.

Attack

Defense

Special Attack

Special Defense

Speed

Piplup Best Moves Across Pokemon Games

Piplup uses Water-type attacks and coverage moves during story progression. These are some of Piplup’s most useful and recognizable moves across Pokemon games.

Water type Pokemon icon

Water Gun

An early Water-type attack that gives Piplup reliable same-type damage.

Water type Pokemon icon

Bubble Beam

A stronger Water-type option that can also lower an opponent’s Speed in many games.

Water type Pokemon icon

Surf

A reliable Water-type attack and one of the most useful moves in story play.

Water type Pokemon icon

Hydro Pump

A high-power Water-type attack that gives Piplup major special damage potential.

Ice type Pokemon icon

Ice Beam

Coverage against Dragon, Flying, Grass and Ground-type Pokemon when available.

Flying type Pokemon icon

Drill Peck

A physical Flying-type move that appears later in the evolution line and offers useful coverage.

Water type Pokemon icon

Aqua Jet

A priority Water-type move that can help Piplup move before faster opponents when available.

Psychic type Pokemon icon

Agility

A setup move that can raise Speed and support offensive play in some games.

Piplup All Moves

Piplup can learn different moves across Pokemon games. Use the section below to view Piplup’s move list by learn method.

Move data shown from: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Level-Up Moves

Level	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
1	Pound	Normal	Physical	40	100
4	Growl	Normal	Status	–	100
8	Water Gun	Water	Special	40	100
11	Charm	Fairy	Status	–	100
15	Peck	Flying	Physical	35	100
18	Bubble Beam	Water	Special	65	100
22	Swagger	Normal	Status	–	85
25	Fury Attack	Normal	Physical	15	85
29	Brine	Water	Special	65	100
32	Whirlpool	Water	Special	35	85
36	Mist	Ice	Status	–	–
39	Drill Peck	Flying	Physical	80	100
43	Hydro Pump	Water	Special	110	80

TM Moves

Method	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
TM	Aerial Ace	Flying	Physical	60	–
TM	Agility	Psychic	Status	–	–
TM	Blizzard	Ice	Special	110	70
TM	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100
TM	Charm	Fairy	Status	–	100
TM	Chilling Water	Water	Special	50	100
TM	Disarming Voice	Fairy	Special	40	–
TM	Endure	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100
TM	Feather Dance	Flying	Status	–	100
TM	Fling	Dark	Physical	–	100
TM	Flip Turn	Water	Physical	60	100
TM	Grass Knot	Grass	Special	–	100
TM	Haze	Ice	Status	–	–
TM	Helping Hand	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Hydro Pump	Water	Special	110	80
TM	Ice Beam	Ice	Special	90	100
TM	Ice Spinner	Ice	Physical	80	100
TM	Icy Wind	Ice	Special	55	95
TM	Liquidation	Water	Physical	85	100
TM	Protect	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Psych Up	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Rain Dance	Water	Status	–	–
TM	Rest	Psychic	Status	–	–
TM	Rock Tomb	Rock	Physical	60	95
TM	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Snowscape	Ice	Status	0	–
TM	Substitute	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Surf	Water	Special	90	100
TM	Swift	Normal	Special	60	–
TM	Tera Blast	Normal	Special	80	100
TM	Triple Axel	Ice	Physical	20	90
TM	Water Pledge	Water	Special	80	100
TM	Water Pulse	Water	Special	60	100
TM	Waterfall	Water	Physical	80	100
TM	Weather Ball	Normal	Special	50	100
TM	Whirlpool	Water	Special	35	85

Egg Moves

Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
Aqua Ring	Water	Status	–	–
Feather Dance	Flying	Status	–	100
Power Trip	Dark	Physical	20	100
Roost	Flying	Status	–	–
Snore	Normal	Special	50	100
Supersonic	Normal	Status	–	55
Yawn	Normal	Status	–	–

Piplup Typing, Weaknesses and Resistances

Piplup is a Water-type Pokemon. This gives it resistances to Fire, Water, Ice and Steel-type moves, but it is weak to Electric and Grass-type attacks.

Type

Water

Weaknesses

Electric, Grass

Resistances

Fire, Water, Ice, Steel

Immunity

None

Piplup Abilities

Piplup’s abilities support Water-type offense or punish stat-lowering effects in games where Defiant is available.

Torrent

Powers up Water-type moves when this Pokemon has low HP.

Defiant

Raises Attack sharply when one of this Pokemon’s stats is lowered by an opposing Pokemon in games where this hidden ability is available.

Piplup Evolution

Piplup evolves into Prinplup at Level 16, and Prinplup evolves into Empoleon at Level 36. The full evolution line is Piplup, Prinplup and Empoleon.

Stage 1

Piplup

Water type Pokemon icon

Starting form

Stage 2

Prinplup

Water type Pokemon icon

Evolves from Piplup at Level 16

Stage 3

Empoleon

Evolves from Prinplup at Level 36

Where to Find Piplup in Pokemon Games

Piplup’s availability changes depending on the Pokemon game. In Sinnoh games, Piplup is one of the starter Pokemon available at the beginning of the adventure.

Generation 1: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Red	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Blue	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Yellow	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.

Generation 2: Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Gold	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Silver	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Crystal	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.

Generation 3: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Ruby	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Sapphire	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon Emerald	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon FireRed	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.
Pokemon LeafGreen	Not available because this Pokemon had not been introduced yet.

Generation 4: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Diamond	Starter Pokemon from Professor Rowan.
Pokemon Pearl	Starter Pokemon from Professor Rowan.
Pokemon Platinum	Starter Pokemon from Professor Rowan.
Pokemon HeartGold	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon SoulSilver	Trade or migrate from another game.

Generation 5: Black, White, Black 2 and White 2

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Black	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon White	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Black 2	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon White 2	Trade or migrate from another game.

Generation 6: X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon X	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Y	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Omega Ruby	Receive from Professor Birch after completing the Delta Episode, or transfer from another game.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire	Receive from Professor Birch after completing the Delta Episode, or transfer from another game.

Generation 7: Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon and Let’s Go

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Sun	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Moon	Trade or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Ultra Sun	Receive through Island Scan on Poni Wilds on certain days, or transfer from another game.
Pokemon Ultra Moon	Receive through Island Scan on Poni Wilds on certain days, or transfer from another game.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee	Not available in this game.

Generation 8: Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl and Legends: Arceus

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Sword	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Shield	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond	Starter Pokemon from Professor Rowan.
Pokemon Shining Pearl	Starter Pokemon from Professor Rowan.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus	Cobalt Coastlands, including Islespy Shore and related space-time distortion or starter-related availability.

Generation 9: Scarlet, Violet and Legends Z-A

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Scarlet	Transfer from Pokemon HOME or obtain through The Indigo Disk starter encounters.
Pokemon Violet	Transfer from Pokemon HOME or obtain through The Indigo Disk starter encounters.
Pokemon Legends Z-A	Location data not yet available.

Generation 10: Pokemon Winds and Waves

Game	Where to Find Piplup
Pokemon Winds and Waves	Coming soon once official location, encounter or transfer information is confirmed.

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Piplup FAQ

Here are quick answers to common questions about Piplup. This FAQ is visible on-page content only and does not use FAQ schema markup.

What type is Piplup?

Piplup is a Water-type Pokemon.

What is Piplup weak against?

Piplup is weak to Electric and Grass-type moves.

What does Piplup evolve into?

Piplup evolves into Prinplup at Level 16, and Prinplup evolves into Empoleon at Level 36.

What are Piplup’s abilities?

Piplup’s abilities are Torrent and Defiant.

What are Piplup’s best moves?

Piplup’s best moves often include Water Gun, Bubble Beam, Surf, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Drill Peck, Aqua Jet and Agility.

Is Piplup good in Pokemon?

Piplup is a useful starter Pokemon for story play and becomes stronger as it evolves into Prinplup and Empoleon.

How do you get Piplup?

In Sinnoh games, Piplup can be chosen as a starter Pokemon. In other games, it may require transfer, special encounters or DLC availability.

Is Mega Piplup available?

No, Piplup does not have a Mega Evolution.

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Piplup Pokemon Guide