Piplup Pokémon Review: Evolution Chart, Abilities & How to Catch

October 28, 2025Maya Bennett

If you’re a fan of water-type starters, then you’ve probably come across Piplup Pokémon, the adorable penguin-like companion that’s been a favorite since Generation IV. But Piplup isn’t just cute. It also has some solid abilities and evolutions that make it worth raising on your team. For today, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Piplup. We’ll start with its basic stats, abilities, and attributes, then walk through its full evolution line with a handy evolution chart, too. We’ll also show you exactly where you can find Piplup in Pokémon Legends: Arceus and wrap things up with a bonus tip on how to boost your chances of catching one using a tool. Overall, you’ll know exactly why Piplup has earned its spot as one of the most iconic water-type starters and how to get one for yourself.

Piplup Pokémon

Part 1. All You Should Know about Piplup Pokémon

Piplup is one of the most loved starter Pokémon because of its adorable penguin appearance and confident personality. Piplup is a pure Water-type Pokémon that was first introduced in the Sinnoh region. Are you wondering what generation is Piplup? To answer that, Piplup is a Generation IV Pokémon that was introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl.

Here are some of Piplup’s basic attributes:

• Type: Water

• Height: Around 1’04” (0.4 m)

• Weight: 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg)

• Category: Penguin Pokémon

• Abilities: Piplup's primary ability is Torrent, which increases the power of Water-type moves if Piplup is low on HP. Some games have hidden abilities, such as Defiant, which increases Attack when an opponent lowers Piplup's stats.

Piplup, although modest in stature, is often known to be supremely independent and somewhat stubborn, which aligns with its in-game qualities, including decent defense and special attack. It makes an excellent choice as a character for trainers who want a bit of cuteness with some fighting abilities.

Part 2. Pokémon Piplup Evolution

Like most starter Pokémon, Piplup doesn’t stay small and cute forever. It grows stronger through evolution. The Piplup evolution line is straightforward, but each stage adds more power and personality to this water-type starter.

• Initial Form: Piplup – Piplup is the cute penguin-like Water-type starter Pokémon introduced in Generation IV (Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum). Despite its small size, Piplup is known for being quite stubborn and proud. It doesn’t like being underestimated or treated as weak. In battle, it has solid special attack stats for a starter and access to useful Water-type moves like Bubble and Water Gun early on. Trainers love it not only for its design but also because it’s one of the most iconic starters from the Sinnoh region.

• First Evolution: Prinplup (Level 16) – Once Piplup reaches level 16, it evolves into Prinplup. It also means Prinplup becomes slightly taller. It loses some of its baby-adaptability. Finally, it assumes a more serious and authoritative presence. Similar to Piplup, Prinplup is a Water-type Pokémon overall, and its stats begin to balance out in the middle levels, exhibiting increased defense and attack performance, which makes it less likely to faint in a moderately skilled battle. Prinplup's proud nature continues because Prinplup does not like to work in groups, and due to its independence, is likely to reject offers to battle in groups and prefers to train alone.

• Final Evolution: Empoleon (Level 36) – Level 36 is when Prinplup evolves into Empoleon, the strong and full-scale majestic Water/Steel-type Pokémon. It is worth noting that this Evolution line is unique because it is Water/Steel and thus has great defensive capabilities. Additionally, Empoleon boasts high special attack and defense stats, and can unleash powerful moves such as Hydro Pump, Flash Cannon, or Ice Beam, while also being able to withstand some hits. The design of Empoleon with a trident-shaped beak provides a regal look, representing it as a leader, which makes sense for the final evolution of a prideful starter line. Empoleon is also popular in competitive battling because of its unique typing and versatility.

Here’s a simple Piplup evolution chart to make it clear:

Pokémon Evolution Level Type
Piplup Starter (Level 1) Water
Prinplup Evolves at Level 16 Water
Empoleon Evolves at Level 36 Water/Steel

And yes! There are also shiny Piplup evolutions! A shiny Piplup has a lighter blue color, which carries over to Prinplup and Empoleon, making them stand out even more in your team. Collectors especially love shiny Empoleon for its unique look compared to the standard design.

Part 3. Where to Find Piplup Legends Arceus

If you’re playing Pokémon Legends: Arceus and want to add this cute penguin to your team, you might be wondering about the exact Piplup location Legends: Arceus. Unlike some common Pokémon, Piplup can be a little tricky to find since it only spawns in specific areas. So how to catch the Pokémon in Pokémon Go?

You can catch Piplup in the Cobalt Coastlands region. Head toward the Seagrass Haven area, a small island where this Water-type likes to hang out. Piplup usually appears near the water’s edge, so take your time exploring and watch carefully. They’re not always guaranteed to show up right away.

Pro tip: bring a few stealth items, like Smoke Bombs, or crouch in tall grass to sneak up on it. Piplup tends to run if it spots you, so a careful approach makes catching it much easier. Once caught, you can start working toward its evolutions into Prinplup and eventually Empoleon.

Part 4. Bonus Tip to Increase Your Rate of Catching A Piplup Pokémon

Ultimately, finding a wild Piplup Pokémon is going to be fun, but somewhat tedious. Some players just may not have time to sit around waiting for spawns and to improve your chances of finding a wild Piplup, you could use a tool like Aiseesoft AnyCoord to spoof your location. Aiseesoft AnyCoord is a tool that can be used to change your GPS location with just a few simple clicks, allowing you to "teleport" yourself to the various habitats in which Piplup is found.

Key Features

• Instantly move your GPS location to anywhere in the Pokémon world.

• Simulate walking around to trigger more spawns naturally.

• Plan a path and let your avatar “walk” automatically.

• Designed to reduce the risks of soft bans by allowing controlled speed and realistic movement.

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How to Use Aiseesoft AnyCoord to Catch Piplup

Step 1.
Get Aiseesoft AnyCoord on your laptop/desktop and launch it.
Step 2.
To use our tool, you need to register your email first and wait for the code that will be sent to you.
Register The Code
Step 3.
To begin, click Start, then plug your iPhone or Android device into your computer with a USB cable. You can select whether to connect through USB or Wi-Fi and follow the remaining procedures.
Hit-start And Connect
Step 4.
From the main interface, select Modify Location to catch Piplup.
Select Modify Location
Step 5.
The map will appear where you are right now. Type in the known Piplup spawn spots, like Seagrass Haven in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, or any in-game area where it usually appears. Then, click Confirm Modify to proceed with the modification.
Hit Confirm Modify
Step 6.
Click Move to change your in-game location. Open Pokémon Go or Legends Arceus if using switch emulators, and begin your hunt for Piplup in the new location.

Using AnyCoord makes it much easier to chase legendary Pokémon like Piplup while saving time and energy. Just remember to follow cooldown rules and move realistically to avoid any game penalties.

Part 5. FAQs about Piplup Pokémon

Can Piplup be shiny?

Indeed! There is a gleaming Piplup. Its typical deep blue hue has been replaced with a paler, teal-like hue. This distinctive color scheme is also present in Shiny Piplup, Shiny Prinplup, and Shiny Empoleon.

Is Piplup a good starter Pokémon?

Absolutely. Piplup is a fan favorite thanks to its cute design, proud personality, and strong evolutionary line. Empoleon’s Water/Steel typing makes it especially useful in battles because it resists many common attack types.

Is Empoleon Piplup’s final evolution strong in battles?

Absolutely. Empoleon is strong for a reason. Besides its Water/ Steel typing, it has a high Special Attack and Special Defense, allowing it to be effective offensively and defensively. It does have some weaknesses to Electric, Fighting, and Ground types.

Conclusion

And there you have it! Everything you need to know about Piplup Pokémon, from its type and abilities to where you can find it and how to make catching one a little easier. We also walked through the full Pokémon Piplup evolution line, showing how this adorable penguin grows into the powerful and regal Empoleon. Regardless of whether you are playing Legends Arceus, Pokémon Go, or simply going back to the Sinnoh region, having Piplup is always a good time. Piplup is cute, proud, and unexpectedly strong, so he makes sense as a trainer favorite across the region.

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Aiseesoft AnyCoord can help you hide, fake, or change your GPS location to any other place with ease. You can even plan a moving route if needed.

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