Prinplup
Prinplup is a Water-type Pokémon, the Penguin Pokémon, number 394 (#0394) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 4 and comes from the Sinnoh region. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 23 kg.
Prinplup is the Penguin Pokémon, a Water-type penguin so sure of its own importance that, the Pokédex says, no group of Prinplup can ever form. Its flipper wings are strong enough to snap thick trees.
How to pronounce Prinplup
Prinplup is pronounced PRIN-plup. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Prinplup said out loud:
In Japanese it is ポッタイシ (Pottaishi).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Prinplup is a dark blue, penguin-like Pokémon, 0.8 m tall and 23 kg, with light blue markings on its face, wing tips and underside. Two broad yellow ridges sweep back from its short beak to the nape of its neck, and four white spots on its body look like buttons. Where arms would be, it has long, sturdy wings, and its feet are yellow with three toes.
Behaviour
Prinplup lives a solitary life, away from others. Its wings deliver blows that the Pokédex says snap even the thickest trees, and the Legends: Arceus entry describes graceful swimming in freezing seas and a singing voice likened to the tide.
Habitat
The Pearl entry says it hunts for prey in icy seas.
Powers
Prinplup has the Ability Torrent and the hidden Competitive, like Piplup. It learns Brine at level 33, Whirlpool at 37 and Hydro Pump at 50. With 81 base Special Attack and 76 Special Defense it is a balanced special attacker, though 50 Speed keeps it slow.
Name origin
Prinplup may combine 'prince' and plup, the sound of a pebble hitting water. The Japanese name is Pottaishi (ポッタイシ), possibly from pochapocha ('splashing') and kōtaishi ('crown prince').
Design inspiration
Prinplup is based on a penguin, and the crests on its head suggest a crested species. Its body also looks like a tailcoat with buttons, a common comparison for penguin plumage. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Prinplup evolves from Piplup at level 16 and into Empoleon at level 36, gaining the Steel type when it does.
In the games
As the middle stage of the Sinnoh starter line, Prinplup first appeared in Diamond and Pearl. In Legends: Arceus it appears on the Cobalt Coastlands, near Spring Path and Islespy Shore. In Scarlet and Violet it is obtained by evolving Piplup in The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, and Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Legends: Z-A.
In the anime
Prinplup debuted in 'Dawn Of A New Era!', where a girl at a Pokémon Center showed off her Prinplup. Kenny's Prinplup battled Dawn's Piplup in the following episodes, and by the Sinnoh Grand Festival it was revealed to have become an Empoleon.
Fun facts
- Prinplup shares the Penguin Pokémon category with Piplup and Eiscue.
- Prinplup learns the Steel-type move Metal Claw as soon as it evolves, even though it is a pure Water type.
- Bulbapedia says that in Pokémon Sleep a sleeping Prinplup sometimes crosses its arms, keeping up its arrogant pose even in its sleep.
Base stats
- HP: 64
- Attack: 66
- Defense: 68
- Sp. Atk: 81
- Sp. Def: 76
- Speed: 50
Prinplup’s base stat total is 405. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.
Type matchups
What is Prinplup weak to?
Prinplup takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Grass (2×) moves.
It resists Fire (½×), Water (½×), Ice (½×), Steel (½×).
Evolution
What does Prinplup evolve from?
Prinplup evolves from Piplup at level 16.
How does Prinplup evolve?
Prinplup evolves into Empoleon at level 36.
The whole family: Piplup, Prinplup, Empoleon.
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 Prinplup learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evo | Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 |
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — |
| 1 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 |
| 15 | Peck | Flying | Physical | 35 |
| 19 | Bubble Beam | Water | Special | 65 |
| 24 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — |
| 28 | Fury Attack | Normal | Physical | 15 |
| 33 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 |
| 37 | Whirlpool | Water | Special | 35 |
| 42 | Mist | Ice | Status | — |
| 46 | Drill Peck | Flying | Physical | 80 |
| 50 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 |
“Evo” means Prinplup learns the move the moment it evolves: Metal Claw.
TM moves (41)
Prinplup can learn 41 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Charm, Agility, Protect, Water Pulse, Disarming Voice, Chilling Water, Facade, Aerial Ace, Metal Claw, Swift, Icy Wind, Rock Tomb, Fling, Endure, Rain Dance, Snowscape, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Sleep Talk, Waterfall, Grass Knot, Rest, Substitute, Liquidation, Surf, Ice Spinner, Helping Hand, Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Water Pledge, Tera Blast, Haze, Weather Ball, Flip Turn, Psych Up, Double-Edge, Whirlpool, Triple Axel, Feather Dance.
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 2 Sp. Atk effort values.
- Base experience yield: 142.
Pokédex entries
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. (Legends: Arceus)
It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees. (HeartGold, SoulSilver, Y, Alpha Sapphire)
It lives alone, away from others. Apparently, every one of them believes it is the most important. (Diamond, X, Omega Ruby)
Because every Prinplup considers itself to be the most important, they can never form a group. (Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2)
Its wings deliver wicked blows that snap even the thickest of trees. It searches for prey in icy seas. (Pearl)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ポッタイシ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Pottaishi |
| French | Prinplouf |
| German | Pliprin |
| Spanish | Prinplup |
| Italian | Prinplup |
| Korean | 팽태자 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 波皇子 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 波皇子 |
Trivia
- Taller than 39% of all Pokémon (0.8 m).
- Heavier than 45% of all Pokémon (23 kg).
- Base stat total 405, ranked #605 of 1,025.
- One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 170 blue Pokémon.
- Number 8 of 107 Pokémon introduced in Generation 4 (Sinnoh).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 57 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: Prinplup (Pokémon), Serebii: Prinplup (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (PRIN-plup): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Water-type Pokémon · Sinnoh region guide · Torrent ability · Competitive ability · Compare Prinplup · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
Browse similar Pokémon
Gen 4 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 4 Pokémon list · Blue Pokémon list · Water 1 egg group · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with P · Bird Pokémon · Penguin Pokémon