Mid-stage Pokemon like Piplup rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Empoleon, which is where the real potential kicks in. Only weak to Electric and Grass. Known as the Penguin Pokemon.
Piplup's stats barely vary. 0 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 1 Sp. Atk EV, 1.06M XP medium-slow curve to max.
Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from cold.
It lives along the shore in northern countries. A skilled swimmer, it dives for over 10 minutes while hunting.
Piplup Weakness
GoodElectric and Grass-type moves hit Piplup for super-effective damage. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.
Piplup is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Prinplup first, then eventually reaches Empoleon. For breeding, average hatch time with no compatible partners via two egg groups. The evolved forms gain up to 216 total stats over Piplup.
How to Evolve
Breed Piplup easily from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Agility, Aqua Ring, Double Hit and 8 more to offspring.
The recommended build leans into Piplup's strengths as an attacker. Nothing provides extra utility, and max HP and Attack EVs back that up. Torrent rounds out the package.
Best Build
Best Piplup Moveset
- Whirlpool
- Drill Peck
- Bubble Beam
- Hydro Pump
Recommended Teammates
Don't skip the egg moves. Piplup picks up Agility and Aqua Ring only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Hydro Pump and Surf while coverage across 8 types adds range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
moderate rates for Piplup across 6 locations in endgame routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations
6 spots to find Piplup at Lv. 58-63 via walking. Not all of them exist in both Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl versions, so filter by your copy below.
Piplup isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Prinplup to unlock its full potential. At 314 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Piplup evolves into Prinplup at level 16. Piplup is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Torrent strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less — that's the one you want on Piplup. Competitive is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Piplup fills the balanced role. It's a special attacker with base 61 Sp. Atk. Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Piplup appears in 12 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
Piplup first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 12 games across 6 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A