Utility
Attacker
530High
60Moderate
BTier

Free switch-ins on Poison moves make Empoleon useful in any team that needs that coverage. Only 3 weaknesses keeps it safe in most matchups. Can go either physical or special depending on the set. Part of the Gen 4 roster.

Nothing fancy in Empoleon's spread. It leans special with Sp. Atk out front. And you'll get 3 Sp. Atk EVs per KO for it. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
530High
HP84
C
Attack86
C
Defense88
C
Sp. Atk111
B
Sp. Def101
B
Speed60
C
Total530
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Empoleon yields +3 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+3SpDSpe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.7m / 5'07"•84.5kg / 186.3 lbs•239Base XP
Pokedex Entries

The three horns that extend from its beak attest to its power. The leader has the biggest horns.

Brilliant Diamond

It swims as fast as a jet boat. The edges of its wings are sharp and can slice apart drifting ice.

Shining Pearl

Empoleon Weakness

Fortress

Empoleon's Water/Steel typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Fighting, and Ground moves. It shrugs off Poison-type attacks completely. It resists 10 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. With 84 HP and balanced defenses, Empoleon can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
ElectricFightingGround
½xResisti
NormalWaterFlyingPsychicBugRockDragonFairy
¼xResisti
IceSteel
0xImmunei
Poison
STAB (5)i
FireGroundRockIceFairy
3Weak
10Resist
1Immune
Scorei+9
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Abilities
TorrentStrengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
CompetitiveHARaises Special Attack by two stages upon having any stat lowered.

The three-stage chain from Piplup through Prinplup ends here at Empoleon. Want more? Breed for Piplup eggs. No compatible partners available via two egg groups. The evolution from Piplup pushed Empoleon to 530 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +50.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Piplup
#393Piplup
16
Level 16
Prinplup
#394Prinplup
36
Level 36
Empoleon
#395Empoleon
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Piplup
Water
Prinplup
Water
Empoleon
WaterSteel
HP
53
64+11
84+20
ATK
51
66+15
86+20
DEF
53
68+15
88+20
SP.ATK
61
81+20
111+30
SP.DEF
56
76+20
101+25
SPE
40
50+10
60+10
BST
314D-Tier
405D-Tier+91
530B-Tier+125
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Utility
Special
Special
Breeding
Easy

Breed with Empoleon to get Piplup eggs easily from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Agility, Aqua Ring, Double Hit and 8 more.

Egg Groups
GroundWater1
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
11moves

Empoleon doesn't rely on pure speed. Leftovers gives it passive recovery each turn to stay healthy, and Modest nature still pushes offense. Scald and the remaining moves keep the pressure on while max HP and Sp. Atk EVs balance power and survivability.

Best Build

Special Tank
Ability
Torrent
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Empoleon Moveset

  • ScaldSTAB
  • Flash CannonSTAB
  • Ice Beam
  • Grass Knot

Recommended Teammates

Pelipper
PelipperDecent
Kingdra
KingdraDecent

You'll want to breed for Agility and Aqua Ring on Empoleon. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Cannon and Hydro Pump, they expand what Empoleon can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Aqua Jet+1
4010020Water
Lv 1
Charm
—10020Fairy
Lv 1
Growl
—10040Normal
Lv 1
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Lv 1
Pound
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 4
Growl
—10040Normal
Lv 8
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 11
Swords Dance
——20Normal
Lv 15
Peck
3510035Flying
Lv 19
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 24
Swagger
—8515Normal
Lv 28
Fury Attack
158520Normal
Lv 33
Brine
6510010Water
Lv 39
Whirlpool
358515Water
Lv 46
Mist
——30Ice
Lv 52
Drill Peck
8010020Flying
Lv 59
Hydro Pump
110805Water

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM72
Avalanche-4
6010010Ice
TM14
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM83
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM93
Cut
509530Normal
TM97
Defog
——15Flying
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM91
Flash Cannon
8010010Steel
TM56
Fling
—10010Dark
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
—10020Grass
TM07
Hail
——10Ice
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM88
Pluck
6010020Flying
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM05
Roar-6
——20Normal
TM100
Rock Climb
908520Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM98
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM49
Scald
8010015Water
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM82
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM76
Stealth Rock
——20Rock
TM47
Steel Wing
709025Steel
TM96
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM95
Surf
9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
——20Normal
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM99
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM10
Work Up
——30Normal

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Agility
——30Psychic
Egg
Aqua Ring
——20Water
Egg
Double Hit
359010Normal
Egg
Feather Dance
—10015Flying
Egg
Flail
—10015Normal
Egg
Hydro Pump
110805Water
Egg
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Egg
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Egg
Snore
5010015Normal
Egg
Supersonic
—5520Normal
Egg
Yawn
——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Hydro Cannon
150905Water

No wild encounters for Empoleon. The 3-stage chain runs through Piplup, which you can catch at moderate rates from the locations below. Evolve at level 36 once you've got the levels.

How to Obtain Empoleon in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

To get Empoleon, start by catching Piplup through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Piplup
    Step 1Catch Piplup
    Fountainspring Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Fountainspring Cave
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Shining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
  2. Prinplup
    Step 2Evolve into Prinplup
  3. Empoleon
    Step 3Empoleon ✓

  • Empoleon works as an attacker with 530 BST behind it. B-Tier on our list — a solid choice for the right team. That 111 base Sp. Atk does the heavy lifting.

  • Watch for Rotom (Electric), Machamp (Fighting), and Rhydon (Ground) when using Empoleon. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

  • Prinplup evolves into Empoleon at level 36. Empoleon is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Piplup. At 530 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Torrent strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less — that's the one you want on Empoleon. Competitive is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

  • Empoleon is leaning toward the special side (base 111 Sp. Atk). Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — at base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the attacker role.

  • Empoleon appears in 12 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.

Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Empoleon appears in 12 games across 6 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.