Prinplup Pokemon Guide

Pokemon Guide

Prinplup Pokemon Guide

Prinplup is a Water-type Pokemon known for its proud personality, strong wing strikes and evolution from Piplup. This guide covers Prinplup’s stats, best moves, abilities, evolution, shiny form, typing, weaknesses, locations and general competitive information.

Normal Form

Prinplup

Shiny Form

Shiny Prinplup

Last Updated: May 2026 | Page Status: This Prinplup 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.

Prinplup Guide Contents

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

Prinplup Description

Prinplup is the middle evolution in the Piplup line. It evolves from Piplup starting at Level 16 and evolves into Empoleon starting at Level 36.

Competitive Overview

Is Prinplup Good in Competitive?

Prinplup is usually more useful during story playthroughs than in high-level competitive play, but it can still provide solid Water-type pressure and decent bulk before evolving into Empoleon.

Prinplup’s strengths include reliable Water-type moves, useful resistances and access to support options. Its main issues are average Speed and less overall power than its final evolution.

Prinplup Quick Facts

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

Name

Prinplup

National Dex

#0394

Type

Water

Species

Penguin Pokemon

Height

2’07” / 0.8 m

80 cm

Weight

50.7 lbs / 23.0 kg

23 kg

Abilities

Torrent, Competitive

Prinplup Stats

Prinplup has balanced middle-stage stats with usable Special Attack and defenses. It becomes much stronger after evolving into Empoleon.

Attack

Defense

Special Attack

Special Defense

Speed

Prinplup Best Moves Across Pokemon Games

Prinplup can use Water, Ice, Flying, Normal and support moves across Pokemon games. These are some of Prinplup’s most useful and recognizable moves.

Water type Pokemon icon

Surf

A reliable Water-type attack that gives Prinplup consistent damage across many games.

Water type Pokemon icon

Hydro Pump

A high-power Water-type attack with strong damage potential.

Water type Pokemon icon

Scald

A useful Water-type move that can burn opponents in games where it is available.

Water type Pokemon icon

Aqua Jet

A priority Water-type move that can help Prinplup finish weakened opponents.

Ice type Pokemon icon

Ice Beam

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

Flying type Pokemon icon

Aerial Ace

Flying-type coverage that can hit Grass and Fighting-type Pokemon.

Normal type Pokemon icon

Protect

A flexible defensive move that helps Prinplup scout attacks or stall for extra turns.

Normal type Pokemon icon

Work Up

A setup move that can raise Prinplup’s offensive pressure.

Prinplup All Moves

Prinplup can learn Water, Ice, Flying, Normal, Steel and support moves across different Pokemon games. Use the section below to view Prinplup’s move list by learn method.

Move data shown from: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Level-Up Moves

Level	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
Start	Metal Claw	Steel	Physical	50	95
1	Growl	Normal	Status	–	100
1	Tackle	Normal	Physical	40	100
1	Water Gun	Water	Special	40	100
15	Peck	Flying	Physical	35	100
19	Bubble Beam	Water	Special	65	100
24	Swagger	Normal	Status	–	85
28	Fury Attack	Normal	Physical	15	85
33	Brine	Water	Special	65	100
37	Whirlpool	Water	Special	35	85
42	Mist	Ice	Status	–	–
46	Drill Peck	Flying	Physical	80	100
50	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	Double Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100
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	Metal Claw	Steel	Physical	50	95
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	Shadow Claw	Ghost	Physical	70	100
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	Take Down	Normal	Physical	90	85
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	–	–

Prinplup Typing, Weaknesses and Resistances

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

Type

Water

Weaknesses

Grass and Electric

Resistances

Steel, Fire, Water and Ice

Immunity

None

Prinplup Abilities

Prinplup’s abilities support its Water-type attacks or punish opposing stat drops depending on the game and format.

Torrent

Powers up Prinplup’s Water-type moves when its HP is low. This can help Prinplup finish battles with stronger Water attacks.

Competitive

Raises Prinplup’s Special Attack when an opposing Pokemon lowers one of its stats. This can punish Intimidate and other stat-lowering effects in supported games.

Prinplup Evolution

Prinplup evolves from Piplup starting at Level 16 and evolves into Empoleon starting at Level 36.

Stage 1

Piplup

Starting form

Stage 2

Prinplup

Evolves from Piplup at Level 16

Stage 3

Empoleon

Evolves from Prinplup at Level 36

Where to Find Prinplup in Pokemon Games

Prinplup availability changes depending on the Pokemon game.

Generation 1: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow

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

Generation 2: Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal

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

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

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

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

Game	Where to Find Prinplup
Pokemon Diamond	Evolve Piplup.
Pokemon Pearl	Evolve Piplup.
Pokemon Platinum	Evolve Piplup.
Pokemon HeartGold	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon SoulSilver	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.

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

Game	Where to Find Prinplup
Pokemon Black	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon White	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Black 2	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon White 2	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.

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

Game	Where to Find Prinplup
Pokemon X	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Y	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Omega Ruby	Evolve Piplup.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire	Evolve Piplup.

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

Game	Where to Find Prinplup
Pokemon Sun	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Moon	Trade, transfer or migrate from another game.
Pokemon Ultra Sun	Route 16.
Pokemon Ultra Moon	Route 16.
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 Prinplup
Pokemon Sword	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Shield	Not available in this game.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond	Evolve Piplup.
Pokemon Shining Pearl	Evolve Piplup.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus	Spring Path.

Generation 9: Scarlet, Violet and Legends Z-A

Game	Where to Find Prinplup
Pokemon Scarlet	Evolve Piplup in The Indigo Disk or transfer from Pokemon HOME.
Pokemon Violet	Evolve Piplup in The Indigo Disk or transfer from Pokemon HOME.
Pokemon Legends Z-A	Location data not yet available.

Generation 10: Pokemon Winds and Waves

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

Prinplup is part of The Game Haus Pokemon coverage, including Pokemon guides, Pokedex pages, Pokemon Champions coverage and future Pokemon game updates.

Pokemon Hub	Full Pokemon Pokedex
Pokemon Champions Hub	Best Pokemon Champions Builds and Guides

Pokemon Pokedex

View Every Pokemon

Looking for another Pokemon? Visit the full The Game Haus Pokedex to browse every Pokemon by National Dex number.

View Full Pokedex

Latest Pokemon News

Stay up to date with the latest Pokemon news, guides, updates and coverage from The Game Haus.

All New Pokemon in Pokopia Bubbly Basin Expansion

Pokemon

Varno Harris II

June 10, 2026

The new Pokemon Pokopia expansion consists of 3 separate content add-ons, promising players an underwater exploration. There will be new areas and locations, along with cosmetic items such as clothes and furniture, as well as other exciting new features. Could some of those features be new Pokemon in Pokopia Bubbly Basin Expansion? Within the newest trailer for the DLC, players can see that there are, in fact, new Pokemon that …

Pokemon Pokopia Bubbly Basin: Everything You Need to Know

Varno Harris II

June 10, 2026

Pokemon Pokopia Bubbly Basin Expansion Breakdown

Robert Hanes

June 9, 2026

Best Sylveon Build in Pokémon Champions: Competitive Guide

Connor Knudsen

May 15, 2026

Best Excadrill Build in Pokémon Champions: Competitive Guide

Connor Knudsen

May 15, 2026

Prinplup FAQ

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

What type is Prinplup?

Prinplup is a Water-type Pokemon.

What is Prinplup weak against?

Prinplup is weak to Grass and Electric-type moves.

What does Prinplup evolve from?

Prinplup evolves from Piplup starting at Level 16 and evolves into Empoleon starting at Level 36.

What are Prinplup’s abilities?

Prinplup’s abilities are Torrent, Competitive.

What are Prinplup’s best moves?

Prinplup’s best moves often include Surf, Hydro Pump, Scald, Aqua Jet, Ice Beam, Aerial Ace, Protect and Work Up.

Is Prinplup good in Pokemon?

Prinplup is usually more useful during story playthroughs than in high-level competitive play, but it can still provide solid Water-type pressure and decent bulk before evolving into Empoleon.

How do you get Prinplup?

Prinplup availability changes depending on the Pokemon game.

Does Prinplup have a Mega Evolution?

No, Prinplup does not have a Mega Evolution, Gigantamax form or major alternate form in the main Pokemon games.

↑

Prinplup Pokemon Guide