Stats & Training
Sp. Atk and Sp. Def carry most of Prinplup's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
It swims gracefully through the frigid sea and sings with a voice like the roaring tide. It has powerful, sturdy wings and dignity to match.
Prinplup Weakness
Type-wise, Prinplup takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Just 2 weak spots to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
 Wo-Chien DarkGrass | B | |
Obtain MethodSouth Province Area One Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Wo-Chien builds →Power Whip 2x119-140%KO Solar Beam 2x119-140%KO Seed Bomb 2x81-95% Giga Drain 2x75-88% | ||
 Meowscarada GrassDark | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Sprigatito (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Meowscarada builds →Leaf Storm 2x114-134%KO Solar Beam 2x104-123%KO Energy Ball 2x78-93% Seed Bomb 2x99-117%KO | ||
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Leafeon builds →Solar Beam 2x84-99% Leaf Blade 2x110-129%KO Seed Bomb 2x99-117%KO Giga Drain 2x53-63% | ||
 Toedscruel GroundGrass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Toedscruel builds →Power Whip 2x102-121%KO Solar Beam 2x104-123%KO Seed Bomb 2x69-82% Giga Drain 2x65-78% | ||
 Gogoat Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Gogoat builds →Solar Beam 2x121-142%KO Leaf Blade 2x102-121%KO Seed Bomb 2x91-108%KO Horn Leech 2x86-101%KO | ||
In Scarlet & Violet, Magnezone threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (104-123%). Rotom deals 51-61% with Thunderbolt.
 Sinistcha GrassGhost | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityHospitality ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Sinistcha builds →Shadow Ball22-26% | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityAnalytic ItemChoice Specs NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Magnezone builds →Flash Cannon23-27% Volt Switch 2x81-96% Thunderbolt 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Rotom ElectricGhost | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Prinplup View Rotom builds →Volt Switch 2x41-48% Shadow Ball23-27% Thunderbolt 2x51-61% | ||
Scarlet & Violet Evolution
Partway through Piplup's chain. Prinplup still has another evolution ahead before reaching Empoleon. For breeding, average hatch time with a massive partner pool via two egg groups. Sp.Atk has grown the most so far (+20), but there's still another 125 stats to gain in the final evolution. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Prinplup to get Piplup eggs easily using 206 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups.
Scarlet & Violet Prinplup Best Moveset
The physical wall spread is where Prinplup earns its spot. Eviolite for a bulk boost that only works before full evolution, Bold nature for the right lean, and Roost handles sustain. Competitive does the rest without needing a move slot.
Best Build
Prinplup best EVs are HP and Sp. Def
Wall Moveset
- Roost
- Ice Beam
- Whirlpool
- Psych Up
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Hard to wall, honestly. Prinplup threatens 10 types beyond its own STAB, with Normal and Flying standing out. Pair that with Hydro Pump and Surf and switchins need to think twice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Prinplup in Scarlet & Violet
Prinplup isn't available in the wild in Scarlet & Violet. Start by transferring Piplup from Diamond, Platinum, or Legends: Arceus. The evolution path from Piplup to Prinplup is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Prinplup in Scarlet & Violet
Step 1Obtain Piplup
Step 2Prinplup ✓
Prinplup Guide
Prinplup is meant to evolve into Empoleon. At 405 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Torrent is the go-to ability for Prinplup. It strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. Its hidden ability Competitive can work in specific setups.
Base 50 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Prinplup is a special attacker with base 81 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Game Availability
Available in 12 titles since its debut in Diamond & Pearl, Prinplup spans 7 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through catching or hatching as a base form in a solid number of games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves