--- title: "Piplup (#0393): Stats, Weaknesses, Moves & Lore | pokee.si" url: "https://pokee.si/pokemon/piplup" description: "Piplup (#0393): Water-type Penguin Pokémon from Sinnoh. Base stat total 314. Abilities: Torrent, Competitive. Stats, matchups, evolutions, moves, every Pokédex entry and lore on pokee.si." last_updated: "2026-10-21" publisher: "pokee.si: a Pokédex for families (unofficial fan site)" last_checked: "2026-10-20" --- #0393 · Sinnoh · Generation 4 · starter # Piplup Penguin Pokémon · Water-type ![Piplup official artwork](https://pokee.si/img/art/393.webp) Piplup is a [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water)-type Pokémon, the Penguin Pokémon, number 393 (#0393) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 4 and comes from the [Sinnoh](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/sinnoh) region. It is 0.4 m tall and weighs 5.2 kg. Piplup is the Penguin Pokémon, a small Water-type chick with enormous pride. The Pokédex says it hates accepting food from people and puffs out its chest even after it falls over, which it often does. ## How to pronounce Piplup Piplup is pronounced **PIP-lup**. The capital letters show the stressed syllable. Listen to Piplup said out loud: [Listen](https://pokee.si/audio/names/393.mp3) In Japanese it is ポッチャマ (Pochama). Hear every other name on the [Pokémon pronunciation guide](https://pokee.si/pronounce). ## Lore ### Biology Piplup is a small, pale cyan penguin, 0.4 m tall and 5.2 kg, wrapped in thick insulating down. Its head is blue with a mostly white face and a small yellow beak, and blue feathers stream along its back and round its neck like a cape. Two white ovals mark its chest, a pale crown-like mark sits above its beak, and its arms are flippers. ### Behaviour Piplup is proud to the point of stubbornness: the HeartGold entry says it dislikes being looked after and is hard to bond with because it will not listen to its Trainer. It is a poor walker, but it swims well and can stay under for more than 10 minutes while hunting. The Legends: Arceus entry calls it an adorable little thing. ### Habitat The Pearl entry says it lives along the shores of northern countries, and the Legends: Arceus entry says it favours cold climates and turns up along coasts. Bulbapedia notes it has recently been seen in the Terarium of Blueberry Academy. ### Powers Its Ability Torrent strengthens Water moves by 1.5 times when its HP is a third or lower, and the hidden Competitive raises its Special Attack sharply whenever a stat is lowered. It learns Water Gun, Bubble Beam, Whirlpool and Hydro Pump at level 43, and Drill Peck at 39. Its highest base stat is 61 Special Attack, and its base stat total is only 314. ### Name origin Piplup likely echoes 'plop' or 'plup', the sound of a pebble landing in water, and may also nod to 'pip' or 'peep'. The Japanese name is Pochama (ポッチャマ), from pochapocha ('splashing') and possibly botchama ('young master'). ### Design inspiration Bulbapedia credits Yusuke Ohmura with designing Piplup. It seems to be a young penguin, perhaps an emperor penguin chick, and the crown-like marking may hint at emperors. The cape of feathers also looks like a tailcoat. These are fan readings. ### Evolution notes Piplup evolves into Prinplup at level 16, and Prinplup becomes Empoleon at level 36. ### In the games Piplup is one of Pikachu's best friends in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure and the only old friend to return in PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond. It first appeared in Diamond and Pearl as one of the Sinnoh partner Pokémon. In Legends: Arceus it appears on the Cobalt Coastlands. In Scarlet and Violet, The Teal Mask gives it as an Egg gift on Reveler's Road and The Indigo Disk spawns it in the Terarium's Polar Biome; Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Legends: Z-A. ### In the anime Dawn's Piplup debuted in 'Following A Maiden's Voyage!', squabbling with a Chimchar over food in Professor Rowan's lab, and Dawn then chose it as her first partner. It has been her main Pokémon ever since and is usually seen outside its Poké Ball. ### Fun facts - Bulbapedia reports that, according to former Nintendo of America marketer Seth McMahill, Piplup was originally going to be called Piploop, but the name sounded too much like 'poop'. - In the anime Piplup has been shown flying short distances. - Piplup is the most chosen Sinnoh starter in the anime, being the first partner of Dawn, Kenny and Tyler, Bulbapedia notes. Sources: [Bulbapedia: Piplup (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Piplup_(Pok%C3%A9mon)) · [Serebii: Piplup (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/piplup/) ## Base stats - HP: **53** - Attack: **51** - Defense: **53** - Sp. Atk: **61** - Sp. Def: **56** - Speed: **40** Piplup’s base stat total is **314**. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk. ## Type matchups ### What is Piplup weak to? Piplup takes extra damage from [Electric](https://pokee.si/types/electric) (2×), [Grass](https://pokee.si/types/grass) (2×) moves. It resists [Fire](https://pokee.si/types/fire) (½×), [Water](https://pokee.si/types/water) (½×), [Ice](https://pokee.si/types/ice) (½×), [Steel](https://pokee.si/types/steel) (½×). ## Evolution ### How does Piplup evolve? Piplup evolves into [Prinplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/prinplup) at level 16. The whole family: **Piplup**, [Prinplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/prinplup), [Empoleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/empoleon). - [Prinplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/prinplup) evolves into [Empoleon](https://pokee.si/pokemon/empoleon) at level 36. ## Abilities - [Torrent](https://pokee.si/abilities/torrent): Strengthens Water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. - [Competitive](https://pokee.si/abilities/competitive) (hidden ability): Raises Special Attack by two stages upon having any stat lowered. ## Moves ### Moves Piplup learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet | Level | Move | Type | Category | Power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Pound](https://pokee.si/moves/pound) | Normal | Physical | 40 | | 4 | [Growl](https://pokee.si/moves/growl) | Normal | Status | — | | 8 | [Water Gun](https://pokee.si/moves/water-gun) | Water | Special | 40 | | 11 | [Charm](https://pokee.si/moves/charm) | Fairy | Status | — | | 15 | [Peck](https://pokee.si/moves/peck) | Flying | Physical | 35 | | 18 | [Bubble Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/bubble-beam) | Water | Special | 65 | | 22 | [Swagger](https://pokee.si/moves/swagger) | Normal | Status | — | | 25 | [Fury Attack](https://pokee.si/moves/fury-attack) | Normal | Physical | 15 | | 29 | [Brine](https://pokee.si/moves/brine) | Water | Special | 65 | | 32 | [Whirlpool](https://pokee.si/moves/whirlpool) | Water | Special | 35 | | 36 | [Mist](https://pokee.si/moves/mist) | Ice | Status | — | | 39 | [Drill Peck](https://pokee.si/moves/drill-peck) | Flying | Physical | 80 | | 43 | [Hydro Pump](https://pokee.si/moves/hydro-pump) | Water | Special | 110 | ### TM moves (37) Piplup can learn 37 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: [Charm](https://pokee.si/moves/charm), [Agility](https://pokee.si/moves/agility), [Protect](https://pokee.si/moves/protect), [Water Pulse](https://pokee.si/moves/water-pulse), [Disarming Voice](https://pokee.si/moves/disarming-voice), [Chilling Water](https://pokee.si/moves/chilling-water), [Facade](https://pokee.si/moves/facade), [Aerial Ace](https://pokee.si/moves/aerial-ace), [Swift](https://pokee.si/moves/swift), [Icy Wind](https://pokee.si/moves/icy-wind), [Rock Tomb](https://pokee.si/moves/rock-tomb), [Fling](https://pokee.si/moves/fling), [Endure](https://pokee.si/moves/endure), [Rain Dance](https://pokee.si/moves/rain-dance), [Snowscape](https://pokee.si/moves/snowscape), [Brick Break](https://pokee.si/moves/brick-break), [Sleep Talk](https://pokee.si/moves/sleep-talk), [Waterfall](https://pokee.si/moves/waterfall), [Grass Knot](https://pokee.si/moves/grass-knot), [Rest](https://pokee.si/moves/rest), [Substitute](https://pokee.si/moves/substitute), [Liquidation](https://pokee.si/moves/liquidation), [Surf](https://pokee.si/moves/surf), [Ice Spinner](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-spinner), [Helping Hand](https://pokee.si/moves/helping-hand), [Ice Beam](https://pokee.si/moves/ice-beam), [Hydro Pump](https://pokee.si/moves/hydro-pump), [Blizzard](https://pokee.si/moves/blizzard), [Water Pledge](https://pokee.si/moves/water-pledge), [Tera Blast](https://pokee.si/moves/tera-blast), [Haze](https://pokee.si/moves/haze), [Weather Ball](https://pokee.si/moves/weather-ball), [Flip Turn](https://pokee.si/moves/flip-turn), [Psych Up](https://pokee.si/moves/psych-up), [Whirlpool](https://pokee.si/moves/whirlpool), [Triple Axel](https://pokee.si/moves/triple-axel), [Feather Dance](https://pokee.si/moves/feather-dance). Egg moves (7):[Aqua Ring](https://pokee.si/moves/aqua-ring), [Feather Dance](https://pokee.si/moves/feather-dance), [Power Trip](https://pokee.si/moves/power-trip), [Roost](https://pokee.si/moves/roost), [Snore](https://pokee.si/moves/snore), [Supersonic](https://pokee.si/moves/supersonic), [Yawn](https://pokee.si/moves/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 1 Sp. Atk effort value. - Base experience yield: 63. ## Pokédex entries Prefers cold climes and appears along coasts. It's an adorable little thing—as cute as any child—but it's also prideful, unwilling to accept handouts from people. *(Legends: Arceus)* Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from cold. *(Diamond, Y, Alpha Sapphire)* It doesn't like to be taken care of. It's difficult to bond with since it won't listen to its Trainer. *(HeartGold, SoulSilver, X, Omega Ruby)* A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care. *(Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2)* It lives along shores in northern countries. A skilled swimmer, it dives for over 10 minutes to hunt. *(Pearl)* ## Names around the world - **Japanese**: ポッチャマ - **Romaji**: Pochama - **French**: Tiplouf - **German**: Plinfa - **Spanish**: Piplup - **Italian**: Piplup - **Korean**: 팽도리 - **Chinese (Simplified)**: 波加曼 - **Chinese (Traditional)**: 波加曼 ## Trivia - Lowest base stat total among Water types in Gen 4: 314. - Taller than 11% of all Pokémon (0.4 m). - Heavier than 16% of all Pokémon (5.2 kg). - Base stat total 314, ranked #798 of 1,025. - One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types). - One of 170 blue Pokémon. - Number 7 of 107 Pokémon introduced in Generation 4 (Sinnoh). - Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon. - Can learn 53 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](https://pokeapi.co) open game data. - Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from [Bulbapedia: Piplup (Pokémon)](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Piplup_(Pok%C3%A9mon)), [Serebii: Piplup (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)](https://www.serebii.net/pokedex-sv/piplup/). - Pronunciation (PIP-lup): 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](https://pokee.si/types/water) · [Piplup vs Turtwig](https://pokee.si/vs/turtwig-vs-piplup) · [Piplup vs Chimchar](https://pokee.si/vs/chimchar-vs-piplup) · [Sinnoh region guide](https://pokee.si/guide/regions/sinnoh) · [Torrent ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/torrent) · [Competitive ability](https://pokee.si/abilities/competitive) · [Compare Piplup](https://pokee.si/compare?ids=393) · [Full Pokédex](https://pokee.si/pokedex) · [Type chart](https://pokee.si/types) · [All moves](https://pokee.si/moves) ## Browse similar Pokémon [Gen 4 Water-type Pokémon](https://pokee.si/types/water/gen-4) · [Gen 4 Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/pokedex/gen-4) · [Blue Pokémon list](https://pokee.si/colours/blue) · [Water 1 egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/water-1) · [Field egg group](https://pokee.si/egg-groups/field) · [Pokémon that start with P](https://pokee.si/pokemon-names/p) · [Bird Pokémon](https://pokee.si/animals/bird) · [Penguin Pokémon](https://pokee.si/animals/penguin) ← [Infernape](https://pokee.si/pokemon/infernape) | [Prinplup](https://pokee.si/pokemon/prinplup) → --- Source: https://pokee.si/pokemon/piplup (HTML page). pokee.si is an unofficial fan site and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK or The Pokémon Company. 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