Piplup (Japanese: ポッチャマ Pochama) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.

It evolves into Prinplup starting at level 16, which evolves into Empoleon starting at level 36.

Along with Turtwig and Chimchar, Piplup is one of the three Sinnoh first partner Pokémon available at the beginning of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, and Shining Pearl.

Table of Contents

Biology

Piplup is a light-blue, penguin-like Pokémon, which is covered in thick down to insulate against the cold. It has a dark blue head with a primarily white face and a short, yellow beak. The dark blue feathers on its head extend down its back and around its neck, which causes it to appear to be wearing a cape. There are two white ovals on its chest and a small, light-blue marking resembles a crown above its beak. It has flipper-like arms and yellow feet with three toes each.

Piplup has a strong sense of self-pride. Because of its pride, it has a hard time accepting food from humans and bonding with its caretakers. It will even puff out its chest after it falls down, which it often does due to its poor walking abilities. However, it is a skilled swimmer that can dive for over ten minutes in order to hunt. It has also been shown to fly short distances in the anime. It lives along the seashore in colder climates. It has been recently seen living in the Terarium of Blueberry Academy.

Evolution

Piplup evolves into Prinplup, which evolves into Empoleon.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV Sinnoh#007 Johto#—
Diamond Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from cold.
Pearl It lives along shores in northern countries. A skilled swimmer, it dives for over 10 minutes to hunt.
Platinum A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care.
HeartGold It doesn't like to be taken care of. It's difficult to bond with since it won't listen to its Trainer.
SoulSilver
Generation V Unova#—
Black A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care.
White
Black 2 A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care.
White 2
Generation VI Kalos#— Hoenn#—
X It doesn't like to be taken care of. It's difficult to bond with since it won't listen to its Trainer.
Y Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from cold.
Omega Ruby It doesn't like to be taken care of. It's difficult to bond with since it won't listen to its Trainer.
Alpha Sapphire Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from the cold.
Generation VIII Galar#— Sinnoh#007 Hisui#161
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Sword and Shield.
Brilliant Diamond Because it is very proud, it hates accepting food from people. Its thick down guards it from cold.
Shining Pearl It lives along the shore in northern countries. A skilled swimmer, it dives for over 10 minutes while hunting.
Legends: Arceus 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.
Generation IX Paldea#— Kitakami#— Blueberry#197
Scarlet A poor walker, it often falls down. However, its strong pride makes it puff up its chest without a care.
Violet It doesn’t like to be taken care of. It’s difficult to bond with since it won’t listen to its Trainer.

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Generation IX

In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

In events

Games Event Language/Region Location Level Distribution period
BW Pokémon Searcher BW Piplup Japanese Japan 15 April 28 to May 6, 2012
B2W2 Recital Piplup Japanese JapanWi-Fi 15 July 20 to August 9, 2012
BWB2W2 Concert Piplup Korean South Korea 15 December 22 to 25, 2012
XYORAS Pokémon Center Tokyo Piplup All Japan 7 December 6, 2014
SM Verity's Piplup Japanese region Online 30 August 1 to 28, 2017
SM Verity's Piplup All Japan 30 August 22 to September 3, 2017
SM Pokémon Festa Verity's Piplup All South Korea 30 November 4 to 12, 2017
BDSP Project Pochama Pocha Marche Piplup All Online 15 February 5, 2022 to February 28, 2023
LA Project Pochama Pocha Marche Piplup All Online 15 February 5, 2022 to February 28, 2023
BDSP Dawn's Piplup All Online 50 June 1 to July 31, 2022
LA Dawn's Piplup All Online 50 June 1 to July 31, 2022
In-game events

Pokémon Global Link promotions

Games Event Language Location Level Distribution period
BW Global Link Piplup Japanese PGL 10 October 29, 2010 to November 30, 2011
BW Global Link Piplup Korean PGL 10 June 1, 2011 to June 1, 2013
B2W2 Global Link Piplup English PGL 10 December 6, 2012 to July 31, 2013
B2W2 Global Link Piplup French PGL 10 December 6, 2012 to July 31, 2013
B2W2 Global Link Piplup German PGL 10 December 6, 2012 to July 31, 2013
B2W2 Global Link Piplup Italian PGL 10 December 6, 2012 to July 31, 2013
B2W2 Global Link Piplup Spanish PGL 10 December 6, 2012 to July 31, 2013

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Speed
4/5 ★★★★☆
Jump
3/5 ★★★☆☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damagednormally by:
Immune to:
Resistant to:

Learnset

By leveling up

Generation IX
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Piplup
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Piplup
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM

Generation IX
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Piplup
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution or an alternate form of Piplup
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation IX
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Piplup
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Piplup
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Piplup
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

TCG-only moves

Side game data

Evolution data

Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Generation IV
Generation V
Generation VI
Generation VII
Generation VIII
Cross-Generation

Other sprites

In the anime

A Piplup Egg in the anime

Main series

Major appearances

Dawn's Piplup

Piplup debuted in Following A Maiden's Voyage!, where he got into a fight with a Chimchar over their food in Professor Rowan's lab. After ruining the lab, the two escaped, and Dawn was given the task of finding them. She found Piplup, and the two narrowly escaped an Ariados attack. Back at Rowan's lab, Dawn chose Piplup as her first partner Pokémon. Since then, he has been her main Pokémon and has been mostly seen outside of his Poké Ball.

Team Poképals

A Piplup, who used to be a human, was one of the two main members of Team Poképals in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness.

Other

In The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!, Tyler used a female Piplup nicknamed Pippy to catch a Yanma. She is different from other Piplup because she wears a tiara.

In DPS01, Professor Rowan presented a Piplup to Shinko as one of the first partner Pokémon for her to pick. It fought with Rowan's Chimchar after it stole its food; this led to a window breaking and Piplup and Chimchar escaping. They were captured by an Ariados's web before being rescued by Shinko and Dawn.

A Piplup appeared in I Choose You!, under the ownership of Verity. It is her main Pokémon.

In The Sinnoh Iceberg Race!, Lauren's Piplup ran away from Sinnoh after becoming jealous of Lauren's new Croagunk. Eventually, it was returned to her by Ash and Goh after they found it in Vermilion City. Piplup entered itself and Croagunk into the Pokémon Iceberg Race, but the two partnered up to save Lauren after Team Rocket interrupted the race.

Alternate World Dawn's Piplup appeared in flashbacks and photos in The Gates of Warp! and physically in Showdown at the Gates of Warp!.

Minor appearances

In Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade, a Piplup watched Meloetta's concert.

In Going for the Gold!, multiple Piplup were living in the Ambrette Aquarium. Seeing these Piplup reminded Ash of Dawn's, since her Piplup was "something else".

In Pikachu and the Pokémon Music Squad, a Piplup was living in a forest.

A Piplup appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.

In The Cuteness Quotient!, a Trainer's Piplup competed in the Friendship Festival.

A Piplup appeared in a fantasy alongside the other first partner Pokémon in Getting More Than You Battled For!.

Multiple Piplup appeared in A Midsummer Night's Light! at the Cerise Laboratory, having hatched from Eggs.

A Piplup appeared in The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One), under the ownership of a student of Indigo Academy.

A Trainer's Piplup appeared during a flashback in The Bittersweet Truth.

A Student's Piplup appeared in HZ046.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry
DP003 Piplup Ash's Pokédex Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. It's very proud, and its thick down protects it from the cold.
DP143 Piplup Lyra's Pokédex Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. Although not the most sure-footed, it is proud nonetheless, getting right back up after a fall with head held high.
Episode Pokémon Source Entry
BW086 Piplup Ash's Pokédex Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. Piplup's limited walking skills often cause it to fall down, but that never hurts its pride.
Episode Pokémon Source Entry
JN008 Piplup Ash's Rotom Phone Piplup, the Penguin Pokémon. A Water type. Piplup is a proud Pokémon and an excellent swimmer, and it has a layer of down that keeps out the cold.

Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer

A Piplup appeared in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer, under the ownership of Barry. Alongside Bettie's Pikachu and Iris's Haxorus, it battled Skyla's Swanna, Flint's Infernape, and Acerola's Palossand, though the outcome was left unknown.

Pokémon Evolutions

A Piplup appeared in The Rival under the ownership of Barry. Barry was shown choosing it as his first partner Pokémon when attacked by a wild Starly at Lake Verity and was later used to defeat Roark's Cranidos in a Gym battle, earning him the Coal Badge. It later evolved into a Prinplup and Empoleon.

GOTCHA!

A Piplup briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

Bidoof's Big Stand

Two Piplup appeared in Bidoof's Big Stand.

Piplup Drawing Song

The Piplup Drawing Song music video features an animation demonstrating how to draw Piplup.

In the manga

Movie adaptations

Main article: Dawn's Piplup

Dawn's Piplup appears in the following manga adaptations of Pokémon movies: The Rise of Darkrai, Giratina and the Sky Warrior, Arceus and the Jewel of Life and Zoroark: Master of Illusions. Like in the anime, it is Dawn's main Pokémon. The role of Piplup is basically the same in all the chapters, but in most stories, it is shown inside his Poké Ball and has fewer interactions with Pokémon present in the story.

Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl

Main article: Dawn's Piplup

Dawn's Piplup appeared in Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl.

Pocket Monsters DP

A Piplup appeared in PMDP24, under the ownership of Professor Oak.

Pokémon Adventures

Main article: Platinum's Piplup

In Pokémon Adventures, Platinum began her journey with a Piplup. She eventually evolved into a Prinplup and an Empoleon. She first appeared in Stagestruck Starly.

A Piplup appeared in a flashback in Homecoming and the Brilliant Professional Golfer. Moon accidentally exposed it to poison and traveled to Alola to find a cure for it. By the end of the chapter, it had been cured.

Pokémon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!

A Piplup appeared in ABM01.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Main article: Hareta's Piplup

Hareta randomly selected Piplup to battle an enraged Onix in In Search of the Legendary Pokémon Dialga!!. After their first encounter with Onix, Hareta chose Piplup as his first Pokémon. Piplup was originally disobedient to Hareta, but eventually listened to him in order to defeat the Onix during their second battle.

In the TCG

Main article: Piplup (TCG)

In the TFG

One Piplup figure has been released.

Other appearances

Piplup in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

On being released from a Poké Ball, Piplup slides along the stage using Surf. Anyone caught in it will be pushed until Piplup disappears, or pushes the character off the stage. Piplup will keep using Surf even when off the stage.

Trophy information

A Penguin Pokémon. It's one of the starter Pokémon received from Professor Rowan when the player departs from the Sinnoh region. It's a Water type, so it's strong versus Rock and Ground-types. It's very cute but filled with pride--it hates to accept food from people. When it levels up, it evolves into Prinplup.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

While Piplup no longer appears from Poké Balls, having been replaced by Oshawott, it makes a cameo appearance in the Kalos Pokémon League stage. When the stage transitions to the Flood Chamber, it can be seen in the background along with Blastoise, Wailord, and Clawitzer.

Trophy information

You wouldn't think it from its adorable exterior, but this Pokémon is very proud and often won't listen to its Trainer. When it walks on land, it waddles and even falls over sometimes, all in a suitably cute way, but once it's in the water you'll see its true potential. It's a skilled swimmer and can dive for over ten minutes at a time to hunt.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Piplup appears as a Spirit.

Trivia

Origin

Piplup is likely based on a young penguin, possibly an emperor penguin chick. The light blue crown-shaped marking above its beak may also allude to emperor penguins, or to emperors and kings in general. Piplup's body looks like it is clothed in a tailcoat which is often compared to black and white plumage of penguins.

Name origin

Piplup is derived from plop or plup, the sound of a pebble hitting water.[3] It may also incorporate pip, a stage of growth in baby birds immediately before they hatch from the eggshell.

Pochama is derived from ぽちゃぽちゃ pochapocha (the sound of a pebble splashing in water).[3] It may also incorporate 坊っちゃま botchama (young master).

In other languages

See also

References