Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026
Empoleon
Say it: em-POLE-ee-un
Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand
Empoleon is the Emperor Pokémon — Water and Steel from Piplup → Prinplup → Empoleon. In Pokémon GO it is a Water/Steel attacker with Hydro Cannon from Community Day (or an Elite TM). Water helps against Fire, Ground, and Rock; Steel helps against Ice, Rock, and Fairy. Fighting, Ground, and Electric punish it. Evolve Prinplup or catch Empoleon from events.
Say it: em-POLE-ee-un
Empoleon (#395) is a Water / Steel Pokémon in Pokémon GO — the final form of Piplup. Trainers use it as a Water (and Steel) attacker with Waterfall / Metal Claw + Hydro Cannon / Flash Cannon / Drill Peck / Blizzard. Against Empoleon, lead with Fighting, Ground, or Electric. Stats, type chart, moves, and counter picks below use our Game Master snapshot.
Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).
Pokédex notes
Empoleon is a Water / Steel-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO. National Dex #0395. Use the Water/Steel type chart below before powering up — metas shift every season.
Where in GO: Wild spawns, eggs, Field Research, and seasonal events
Invest tip: Priority Community Day move: Hydro Cannon (Elite Charged TM if you missed Piplup CD). Waterfall + Hydro Cannon is the usual Water kit; Flash Cannon for Steel. Shadow Empoleon is the raid DPS lean — remove Frustration before investing.
Type matchups
- Water moves hit Fire, Ground, and Rock hard.
- Steel moves hit Ice, Rock, and Fairy hard.
When Empoleon is your opponent, Electric, Fighting, Ground hits hard.
Full type matchup guide →GO base stats
From Game Master snapshot — IVs, buddy, and power-ups change real battle stats.
- Attack
- 210
- Defense
- 186
- Stamina
- 197
Weak to
Resists
Best Pokémon to use against it
When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.
Recommended
Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.
- 1. Zekrom · beats Electric
Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt
- 2. Shadow Zekrom · beats Electric
Charge Beam + Fusion Bolt
- 3. Shadow Raikou · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 4. Xurkitree · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Discharge
- 5. Therian Thundurus · beats Electric
Volt Switch + Thunderbolt
- 6. Mega Manectric · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 7. Raikou · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 8. Electivire · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 9. Shadow Electabuzz · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Thunder Punch
- 10. Zapdos · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt
- 11. Magnezone · beats Electric
Spark + Wild Charge
- 12. Luxray · beats Electric
Spark + Wild Charge
Budget
Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.
- 1. Electivire · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 2. Luxray · beats Electric
Spark + Wild Charge
- 3. Manectric · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 4. Jolteon · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Thunderbolt
- 5. Ampharos · beats Electric
Volt Switch + Zap Cannon
- 6. Zebstrika · beats Electric
Spark + Wild Charge
- 7. Galvantula · beats Electric
Volt Switch + Discharge
- 8. Eelektross · beats Electric
Spark + Thunderbolt
- 9. Heliolisk · beats Electric
Volt Switch + Thunderbolt
- 10. Stunfisk · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Discharge
- 11. Raichu · beats Electric
Thunder Shock + Wild Charge
- 12. Magneton · beats Electric
Spark + Discharge
Recommended moves
Game Master “moves in GO” lists the always-available TM pool. Hydro Cannon is a Piplup Community Day exclusive — Elite TM if you missed the event.
Fast
- Waterfall · Standard
Water damage / default
- Metal Claw · Standard
Steel energy
- Metal Sound · Standard
Steel alternate
- Steel Wing · Standard
Steel / Flying energy
Charged
- Hydro Cannon · Community Day / Elite TM
Best Water nuke
- Flash Cannon · Standard
Steel nuke
- Drill Peck · Standard
Flying coverage
- Blizzard · Standard
Ice coverage
- Hydro Pump · Standard
Water alternate
Moves in GO
Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.
Fast
- waterfall
- metal claw
- steel wing
- metal sound
Charged
- hydro pump
- blizzard
- flash cannon
- drill peck
PvP league ranks (family snapshot)
- Great League · rank #207 of 954 · CP 1491
Metal Sound + Blizzard
- Ultra League · rank #144 of 747 · CP 2486
Metal Sound + Blizzard
- Master League · rank #144 of 1023 · CP 3279
Metal Sound + Blizzard
In your Collect
Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.
Sign in to see holdings, or open Collect.
Open Collect →Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).
Raid attacker roles
In the Competitive Guide
- Ch. 3: Current Meta Tier Lists (July 2026)
…Leaf Blade / Close Combat Closer Fast energy generation; strong in shield- down scenarios Empoleon Water / Steel Metal Claw Hydro Cannon* / Drill Peck Pivot Elite TM move required; excepti…
- Ch. 7: Recommended Movesets
…e Drapion Poison Sting Aqua Tail Crunch GL / UL pivot; solid typing and moveset diversity Empoleon Metal Claw Hydro Cannon* Drill Peck UL standout; Elite TM required for Hydro Cannon Zygar…
- Ch. 20: Lucky Pokémon & Family Trades
When lucky status matters for trades and Stardust savings.
- Ch. 21: Best Friends & Lucky Friends
Friendship steps for raid bonuses and lucky trades.
Related species
Also named in the same guide chapters (text only).