Empoleon


Fast
Charge
PvE Analysis
While several other Water-types remain better, the addition of Community Day Hydro Cannon puts Empoleon on equal footing with Feraligatr, despite a few differences with its defensive typing.
This prideful penguin is the only starter ever to boast the useful Steel secondary typing, which gives it as many as 11 resistances, as well as an undesirable weakness to Fighting. This secondary typing notably makes it stronger against Rock-types, though makes it weaker against Fire and Ground-types, Water's two other super effective uses.
Best PvE Offensive Moveset
Best |
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Waterfall and Hydro Cannon* make Empoleon a viable Water-type attacker. Hydro Pump is an unexciting replacement to the Community Day exclusive move and is noticeably weaker.
Metal Claw with Flash Cannon counters Fairy-types, but it’s underwhelming.
Steel Wing is worse than Metal Claw..
Blizzard, Flash Cannon, Metal Sound, and Drill Peck have little to no use on Empoleon.
Best PvE Defensive Moveset
Best |
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Waterfall out-paces Steel Wing, Metal Sound, and Metal Claw on defense.
Hydro Cannon is an optimal choice for damaging attackers.
Drill Peck can be spammed frequently as a 3-bar move, and is also great against Fighting-type attackers.
Hydro Pump is stronger than Flash Cannon; both can be hard to dodge.
- Blizzard probably won't get a chance to launch, but it can severely maim many common gym cleaners like the big-name Dragons.
PvP Analysis
Metal Sound offers the best energy generation, allowing Empoleon to reach its potent Charged Attacks quickly. Waterfall and Steel Wing's energy generations are below average, and Metal Claw is strictly worse than Metal Sound
Hydro Cannon is one of the most powerful charge moves in the game, and is necessary not only for its high DPE value, but also due to its significantly less energy cost. Drill Peck ties for the cheapest charge move energy-wise, which is important as Empoleon's bulk is middling. It also provides useful coverage against its vulnerability to Fighting-type Pokemon. Flash Cannon benefits from STAB and is cheaper than Blizzard, but the latter provides significantly more valuable coverage. Neither of these two moves are recommended due to their expensive energy costs.
Great League | |
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Now armed with Metal Sound, Empoleon is poised to become a top meta threat in the Great League. Sporting a unique and wonderful defensive typing and an incredibly powerful moveset, Empoleon can often find opportunities to load up on energy to threaten its would-be answers. Hydro Cannon and Drill Peck is a difficult combination to resist and will leave a dent in just about anything outside of the rare Lanturn. | |
Ultra League | |
Empoleon is also a top-tier choice in the Ultra League for the same reasons in Great League - an amazing defensive typing backed by an overwhelmingly powerful moveset. It naturally pairs well with Dragons such as Zygarde and Regidrago, protecting them from Ice- and Fairy-type attacks. | |
Master League | |
Empoleon lacks sufficient stats to perform well in Master League. |