From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Prinplup (Japanese: ポッタイシ Pottaishi) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation IV.
It evolves from Piplup starting at level 16 and evolves into Empoleon starting at level 36.
Biology
Prinplup is a blue, penguin-like Pokémon. It is mostly dark blue with light blue facial markings, wing tips, and lower body. Its eyes are blue and it has a short yellow beak with a small point above it. Two large, yellow ridges extend from its beak over the back of its head and meet just above the nape of its neck. On its body are four large, white spots that resemble buttons. Instead of arms, it has long, sturdy, flipper-like wings that are capable of knocking over and snapping trees. It has short legs with yellow, three-toed feet.
Prinplup has a high sense of self-pride, which prevents it from forming groups of its own kind. This Pokémon can be found in icy waters, where it hunts for prey. Prinplup can swim gracefully in the cold seas. Its singing voice has been compared to a roaring tide.
Evolution
Prinplup evolves from Piplup and evolves into Empoleon.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
Game data
Pokédex entries
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV. |
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| Generation IV | | Sinnoh
#008 | | Johto
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| Diamond | It lives alone, away from others. Apparently, every one of them believes it is the most important. |
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| Pearl | Its wings deliver wicked blows that snap even the thickest of trees. It searches for prey in icy seas. |
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| Platinum | Because every Prinplup considers itself to be the most important, they can never form a group. |
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| HeartGold | It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees. |
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| SoulSilver |
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| Generation V | | | Unova
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| Black | Because every Prinplup considers itself to be the most important, they can never form a group. |
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| White |
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| Black 2 | Because every Prinplup considers itself to be the most important, they can never form a group. |
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| White 2 |
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| Generation VI | | Kalos
#— | | Hoenn
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| X | It lives alone, away from others. Apparently, every one of them believes it is the most important. |
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| Y | It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees. |
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| Omega Ruby | It lives alone, away from others. Apparently, every one of them believes it is the most important. |
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| Alpha Sapphire | It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees. |
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| Generation VIII | | Galar
#— | | Sinnoh
#008 | | Hisui
#162 |
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| This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Sword and Shield. |
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| Brilliant Diamond | It lives alone, away from others. Apparently, every one of them believes it is the most important. |
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| Shining Pearl | Its wings deliver wicked blows that snap even the thickest of trees. It searches for prey in icy seas. |
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| Legends: Arceus | 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. |
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| Generation IX | | Paldea
#— | | Kitakami
#— | | Blueberry
#198 |
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| Scarlet | It lives a solitary life. Its wings deliver wicked blows that can snap even the thickest of trees in half with a single hit. |
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| Violet | Because every Prinplup considers itself to be the most important, they can never form a group. |
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Game locations
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV. |
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In side games
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV. |
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| Generation VIII | |
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| This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation VIII side games. |
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Held items
Stats
Base stats
Pokéathlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is: | |
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Prinplup
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Prinplup
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Prinplup
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution or an alternate form of Prinplup
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Prinplup
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Prinplup
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Prinplup
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Prinplup
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Prinplup
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations
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Side game data
Evolution data
Sprites
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV. |
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Other sprites
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| Platinum intro's sprite |
In the anime
Main series
Major appearances
A Prinplup appeared in Getting the Pre-Contest Titters, under the ownership of Kenny. In the following episode, it battled Dawn's Piplup. In Last Call — First Round!, it was revealed to have evolved into an Empoleon by the time of the Sinnoh Grand Festival.
Other
Prinplup debuted in Dawn Of A New Era!. Three young Trainers stopped by at a Pokémon Center with their first partner Pokémon, but the girl of that group had a Prinplup.
Minor appearances
Pokédex entries
| Episode | Pokémon | Source | Entry |
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| DP004 | Prinplup | Dawn's Pokédex | Prinplup, the Penguin Pokémon, and the evolved form of Piplup. A strike of its wings can be harmful as it searches the oceans for prey. | | DP026 | Prinplup | Ash's Pokédex | Prinplup, the Penguin Pokémon, and the evolved form of Piplup. One blow from its wings is strong enough to knock down trees. |
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Pokémon Evolutions
A Prinplup appeared in The Rival under the ownership of Barry, having evolved from his Piplup. It was used to battle Jupiter and her Skuntank at Lake Acuity and was eventually defeated. It later evolved into Empoleon.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Main article: Platinum's PrinplupPlatinum had a female Prinplup after her Piplup evolved in Eterna City in Ring Around the Roserade I. She has since evolved into an Empoleon.
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
Main article: Hareta's PrinplupPrinplup makes a brief appearance after Hareta's Piplup evolves after its Everstone is removed in (Violent) Earthquake! Cyrus's Consuming Ambition. It then quickly evolves into Empoleon.
Pokémon + Nobunaga's Ambition ~ Ranse's Color Picture Scroll ~
A Prinplup appeared in The Scarlet Scroll: Kunoichi's Situation.
In the TCG
Main article: Prinplup (TCG)Trivia
- Prinplup shares its category with its pre-evolved form and Eiscue. They are all known as the Penguin Pokémon.
Origin
Prinplup is based on a penguin. The crests on its head suggest it may be based on a species of crested penguin. Prinplup's body looks like it is clothed in a tailcoat adorned with buttons, often likened to the black and white plumage of penguins.
Name origin
Prinplup may be a combination of prince and plup (sound of a pebble hitting water).
Pottaishi may be a combination of ぽちゃぽちゃ pochapocha (sound of a pebble splashing in water) and 皇太子 kōtaishi (crown prince).
In other languages
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| More languages |  Hindi | प्रिंगपु Pringpu | From prince |  Thai | โพจไทชิ Photthaichi | Transcription of Japanese name |
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See also
External links
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