Is Empoleon Good in Diamond & Pearl Playthrough?
Water/Steel with ten type resistances. AbilityTorrent for low-health Water boost. Empoleon handles Flint, Roark, Candice, and Aaron through coverage. The Steel typing removes Water's Grass and Electric weaknesses. One of the most defensively solid starters in any generation.
Piplup resists most of Roark's coverage and hits back hard.
Prinplup trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Prinplup has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Prinplup trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Prinplup trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Empoleon resists most of Byron's coverage and hits back hard.
Empoleon resists most of Candice's coverage and hits back hard.
Empoleon trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Empoleon resists most of Aaron's coverage and hits back hard.
Empoleon has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Empoleon has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Empoleon has the type edge here and should clean up Lucian's team.
Empoleon trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Piplup is available as a starter.
- After Roark
- TM03WaterWater Pulse90100%20
- LV 22WaterBubble Beam98100%20
- After Gardenia
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- LV 29WaterBrine98100%10
- After Crasher Wake
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- After Byron
- TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
- LV 43WaterHydro Pump16580%5
- After Volkner
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
Your Piplup should hit Level 16 before you reach Gardenia, at typical leveling pace.
- After Roark
- TM03WaterWater Pulse90100%20
- After Gardenia
- TM28GroundDig80100%10
- LV 24WaterBubble Beam98100%20
- After Crasher Wake
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- LV 33WaterBrine98100%10
- After Byron
- TM13IceIce Beam90100%10
- After Volkner
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
- LV 51WaterHydro Pump16580%5
Your Prinplup should hit Level 36 before you reach Byron, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 36)
- LV 36WaterBrine98100%10
- After Gardenia
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
- After Crasher Wake
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- TM68NormalGiga Impact15090%5
- After Byron
- TM91SteelFlash Cannon120100%10
- After Volkner
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
- LV 59WaterHydro Pump16580%5
How to Get Empoleon in Diamond & Pearl
Can't catch Empoleon directly. Start with Piplup at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 36. The 3-stage chain from Piplup to Empoleon is where the leveling time goes.
Empoleon Weakness
Empoleon's Water/Steel typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Fighting, and Ground. It shrugs off Poison-type attacks completely. It resists 11 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. With 84 HP and balanced defenses, Empoleon can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Fighting, Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Water, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Ice, Steel |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Empoleon Weak Against
FortressBest Pokemon Against Empoleon
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x146-173%KO Earthquake 2x67-79% | ||
 Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x123-145%KO Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x72-85% Rock Smash 2x20-24% | ||
 Monferno FireFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Lake Verity Gift) | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x80-94% Brick Break 2x40-48% Thunder Fang 2x35-42% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x146-173%KO Earthquake 2x67-79% | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
 Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x128-152%KO Earthquake 2x58-69% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x123-145%KO Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x72-85% Rock Smash 2x20-24% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x144-169%KO Earthquake 2x63-75% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x124-146%KO Earthquake 2x56-67% | ||
 Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Lake Verity Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Infernape builds →Focus Punch 2x124-146%KO Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x120-141%KO Earthquake 2x53-63% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x141-167%KO Earthquake 2x63-75% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x123-145%KO Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Lake Verity Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Infernape builds →Focus Punch 2x121-143%KO Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x119-140%KO Earthquake 2x54-63% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x139-164%KO Earthquake 2x63-74% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x122-144%KO Earthquake 2x55-65% | ||
Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Lake Verity Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Infernape builds →Focus Punch 2x121-142%KO Earthquake 2x54-64% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x117-138%KO Earthquake 2x53-62% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x143-169%KO Earthquake 2x64-76% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x125-147%KO Earthquake 2x56-65% | ||
Infernape FireFighting | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chimchar (Lake Verity Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Infernape builds →Focus Punch 2x123-145%KO Earthquake 2x56-65% | ||
Machoke Fighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Machoke builds →Focus Punch 2x118-139%KO Earthquake 2x53-63% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Heracross builds →Focus Punch 2x143-168%KO Earthquake 2x63-75% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 2x138-163%KO Earthquake 2x62-73% | ||
Toxicroak PoisonFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Toxicroak builds →Focus Punch 2x124-147%KO Earthquake 2x56-66% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x99-116%KO Brick Break 2x49-58% | ||
In Diamond & Pearl, Azelf's Explosion hits Empoleon for 39-46%. Hippowdon deals 58-68% with Earthquake.
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Azelf builds →Explosion39-46% U Turn11-13% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityKeeneye ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x58-68% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x68-80% Stone Edge17-20% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPoison Point ItemBlack Sludge NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Empoleon View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x49-58% Ice Beam4-5% | ||
Empoleon Evolutions
The three-stage chain from Piplup through Prinplup ends here at Empoleon. Want more? Breed for Piplup eggs. A massive partner pool available via two egg groups. The evolution from Piplup pushed Empoleon to 530 total stats. Sp.Atk saw the largest single gain at +50. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Empoleon to get Piplup eggs easily using 131 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Agility, Aqua Ring, Double Hit and 7 more.
DP Empoleon Best Moveset
Water/Steel is a unique typing combination available only here, resisting 10 of 17 types. 111 Sp. Atk fires special Water and Ice attacks at high power, and the moveset sets MoveStealth Rock while tanking most attacks through those type resistances. 60 Speed is slow but the defensive profile makes up for it.
Best Build
Empoleon best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Grass Knot
- Aqua Jet
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
You'll want to breed for Agility and Aqua Ring on Empoleon. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Cannon and Hydro Pump, they expand what Empoleon can actually threaten in practice.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
The three horns that extend from its beak attest to its power. The leader has the biggest horns.
It swims as fast as a jet boat. The edges of its wings are sharp and can slice apart drifting ice.
Empoleon Diamond & Pearl Guide
In Diamond & Pearl, Empoleon works as a setup sweeper with 530 BST behind it. B-Tier on our list: a solid option in Diamond & Pearl for the right team. Ice Beam with Focus Sash is the standard set.
Torrent strengthens water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. That's the one you want on Empoleon. It's the only ability Empoleon has.
Empoleon is a mixed attacker with base 86 Attack and 111 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. Fits the setup sweeper role.
In Diamond & Pearl, run Ice Beam, Hydro Pump, Grassknot, and Aqua Jet on Empoleon. Ice Beam is the most common pick at 0% usage. This set covers the setup sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Debuting in Diamond & Pearl, Empoleon appears in 12 games across 7 generations. A reliable presence in a solid number of games, typically found through wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves