Empoleon
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
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon* | 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, and Drill Peck have little to no use on Empoleon.
Best PvE Defensive Moveset
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon* or Drill Peck | Best |
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Waterfall out-paces both Steel Wing 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
Steel Wing + Hydro Cannon* and Drill Peck |
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Steel Wing offers the best overall combination of damage and energy, making it the preferred option. Waterfall can be used to further lean in on Empoleon's Water-type damage. Metal Claw is horrendous.
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 | 3.5 / 5 |
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Empoleon is a Water/Steel type Pokemon with average bulk, and access to the powerful Hydro Cannon. Water Pokemon are widely used in the meta, and while Empoleon competes with many other Water-types for a roster slot, it stands out with its unique Steel sub-typing which adds a plethora of resistances, most notably making it more resistant to Grass-type Pokemon and pseudo-Grass enemies such as Lickitung and Cresselia. It is a fantastic Pokemon to pair with Dragon-type Pokemon, handily beating up Ice- or Fairy-type enemies they may come across. | |
Ultra League | 3.5 / 5 |
Like in the Great League, Empoleon is an excellent Pokemon to partner with Dragon-type Pokemon such as Dragonite and Giratina, protecting them from Ice- and Fairy-type threats. It's also a great generalist thanks to its wide coverage provided by Steel Wing and Drill Peck. Empoleon can even make great use of Blizzard in this League as an anti-Giratina tech; its expensive cost is somewhat neutralized by Empoleon's Steel-typing, which grants it great longevity against Giratina's attacks. | |
Master League | 1 / 5 |
Empoleon lacks sufficient stats to perform well in Master League. |