#0395 · Sinnoh · Generation 4 · starter

Empoleon

Emperor Pokémon · Water/Steel-type

Empoleon is a Water/Steel-type Pokémon, the Emperor Pokémon, number 395 (#0395) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 4 and comes from the Sinnoh region. It is 1.7 m tall and weighs 84.5 kg.

Empoleon is the Emperor Pokémon: a penguin of Water and Steel type with a trident-shaped crest and wings that can slice through ice floes. The Pokédex says the leader is the one with the biggest horns, and in Hisui it was revered as the Master of the Waves.

How to pronounce Empoleon

Empoleon is pronounced em-POH-lee-on. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Empoleon said out loud:

In Japanese it is エンペルト (Emperte).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Empoleon is a big, navy-blue penguin, 1.7 m tall and 84.5 kg. Its wide yellow beak sweeps up into three horns, which together make a trident-shaped crest around its eyes, with a crown-like marking above them. A blue fin circles its throat like a collar and continues down its chest and belly, and its wings are edged in blue and tipped with three golden claws. The Pokédex says the edges of its wings cut like master-crafted blades.

Behaviour

Empoleon avoids unnecessary quarrels, but the Violet entry says it will mercilessly wipe out anything that threatens its colony. Another entry says anyone who hurts its pride gets slashed. The Pokédex also says it can match a jet boat for speed in the water.

Habitat

The Pokédex gives no habitat for Empoleon, though its entries mention a colony and drifting ice.

Powers

Empoleon has Torrent, which boosts Water moves at low HP, and the hidden Ability Competitive. It learns Aqua Jet the moment it evolves, Swords Dance at level 11 and Wave Crash at 66, and it can use Hydro Cannon, Flash Cannon and Steel Beam. With 111 base Special Attack and 101 Special Defense it is a bulky special attacker, but its 60 Speed is modest.

Name origin

The name may mix 'emperor penguin' and Napoleon with 'polar' or 'South Pole'. The Japanese name is Emperte (エンペルト), possibly 'emperor penguin' plus Bonaparte, the surname of Napoleon.

Design inspiration

Empoleon seems to combine an emperor penguin with an emperor, matching its royal looks. Its beak looks like both a crown and a trident, the weapon of the Greek sea god Poseidon, and its ice-cutting wings may nod to an icebreaker ship. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Empoleon is the final form of Piplup, evolving from Prinplup at level 36.

In the games

Byron uses an Empoleon in post-game rematches in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and in Scarlet and Violet's The Indigo Disk, Blueberry Elite Four member Amarys fields one. The species debuted in Diamond and Pearl, and in Legends: Arceus an Alpha Empoleon waits at Islespy Shore. In Scarlet and Violet it is obtained by evolving Prinplup in The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, and Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Legends: Z-A.

In the anime

Empoleon debuted in 'Barry's Busting Out All Over!' as Barry's Pokémon. Professor Kukui used Empoleon as his fourth Pokémon in 'A Full Battle Bounty!', where Ash's Melmetal beat it.

Fun facts

• No other Pokémon shares Empoleon's Water and Steel typing, and it is the only fully evolved starter that is a Steel type, Bulbapedia notes.
• Empoleon resists or is immune to 11 types, more than any other fully evolved starter, Bulbapedia notes.
• In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, Empoleon rules both the Beach Zone and the Iceberg Zone, and it also runs the Snow Slide attraction.
• A Unova biker gang in Black and White is called the Black Empoleon and meets on the Tubeline Bridge on Friday nights; beat their leader and they rename themselves after your lead Pokémon.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Empoleon (Pokémon) · Serebii: Empoleon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 84
• Attack: 86
• Defense: 88
• Sp. Atk: 111
• Sp. Def: 101
• Speed: 60

Empoleon’s base stat total is 530. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Empoleon weak to?

Empoleon takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Fighting (2×), Ground (2×) moves.

It resists Ice (¼×), Steel (¼×), Normal (½×), Water (½×), Flying (½×), Psychic (½×), Bug (½×), Rock (½×), Dragon (½×), Fairy (½×).

It is immune to Poison moves.

Evolution

What does Empoleon evolve from?

Empoleon evolves from Prinplup at level 36.

Empoleon is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon.

• Piplup evolves into Prinplup at level 16.

Abilities

• Torrent: Strengthens Water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
• Competitive (hidden ability): Raises Special Attack by two stages upon having any stat lowered.

Moves

Moves Empoleon learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Empoleon learns the move the moment it evolves: Aqua Jet.

TM moves (67)

Empoleon can learn 67 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Charm, Agility, Mud-Slap, Scary Face, Protect, Water Pulse, Disarming Voice, Chilling Water, Facade, Aerial Ace, Bulldoze, Metal Claw, Swift, Icy Wind, Rock Tomb, Air Cutter, Fling, Avalanche, Endure, Rain Dance, Snowscape, False Swipe, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Air Slash, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Waterfall, Grass Knot, Rest, Rock Slide, Swords Dance, Flash Cannon, Substitute, Iron Defense, Liquidation, Stealth Rock, Surf, Ice Spinner, Helping Hand, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Water Pledge, Earthquake, Giga Impact, Hydro Cannon, Hyper Beam, Steel Beam, Tera Blast, Roar, Haze, Knock Off, Vacuum Wave, Uproar, Weather Ball, Flip Turn, Dual Wingbeat, Lash Out, Psych Up, Double-Edge, Whirlpool, Triple Axel, Feather Dance, Throat Chop, Metal Sound.

Egg moves (7):Aqua Ring, Feather Dance, Power Trip, Roost, Snore, Supersonic, Yawn.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
• Egg groups: Water 1, Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 3 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 239.

Pokédex entries

Since ancient times, it has been revered by the people of Hisui, who call it the Master of the Waves. Its wings are a match for even master-crafted blades. (Legends: Arceus)

The three horns that extend from its beak attest to its power. The leader has the biggest horns. (Diamond, Y, Alpha Sapphire)

It swims as fast as a jet boat. The edges of its wings are sharp and can slice apart drifting ice. (Pearl, X, Omega Ruby)

If anyone were to hurt its pride, it would slash them with wings that can cleave through an ice floe. (Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2)

It avoids unnecessary disputes, but it will decimate anything that threatens its pride. (HeartGold, SoulSilver)

Names around the world

Trivia

• The only Pokémon with the Water/Steel typing.
• Taller than 80% of all Pokémon (1.7 m).
• Heavier than 79% of all Pokémon (84.5 kg).
• Base stat total 530, ranked #163 of 1,025.
• One of 1 Pokémon that are both Water and Steel.
• One of 170 blue Pokémon.
• Number 9 of 107 Pokémon introduced in Generation 4 (Sinnoh).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 85 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 5 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Empoleon (Pokémon), Serebii: Empoleon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (em-POH-lee-on): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Water-type Pokémon · Steel-type Pokémon · Water/Steel weaknesses and matchups · Empoleon vs Torterra · Empoleon vs Infernape · Empoleon vs Blastoise · Empoleon vs Swampert · Empoleon vs Greninja · Sinnoh region guide · Torrent ability · Competitive ability · Compare Empoleon · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 4 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 4 Steel-type Pokémon · Gen 4 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Water 1 egg group · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with E · Bird Pokémon · Penguin Pokémon

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