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.
Dawn began her journey in Sinnoh with a Piplup. In Following A Maiden's Voyage!, Piplup and the starter Chimchar got into a fight over their food, with Piplup causing chaos by using BubbleBeam on the interior of Professor Rowan's lab in pursuit of Chimchar. The two escape, and Dawn is given the task of finding them. She finds Piplup, and the two narrowly escape an Ariados attack. Back at Rowan's lab, Chimchar having been found by Rowan's Staraptor, Dawn chooses Piplup.
Tyler, a rookie Trainer that appears in The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!, has a female Piplup nicknamed Pippy. He uses her to capture a Yanma. She is different from other Piplup because she wears a tiara.
Hareta randomly selects Piplup to battle the enraged Onix in the first chapter. After their first encounter with Onix, Hareta chooses Piplup as his first Pokémon. Piplup is originally disobedient to Hareta, but listens to him in order to defeat the Onix in their second battle.
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 Grounds. It's very cute but filled with pride--it hates to accept food from people. When it levels up, it evolves into Prinplup.
While Piplup no longer appears from Poké Balls, having been replaced by Oshawott, it makes a cameo appearance in the Kalos Pokémon League stage.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.
Game data
NPC appearances
In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure Piplup is one of Pikachu's best friends. He is found keeping a trapped Wynaut company in the Beach Zone after falling through the mysterious tunnel. Once the Wynaut is safe, he takes a Pikachu shaped hot air balloon back to the Meeting Place where he mends it. He later accompanies Pikachu to the Sky Pavilion along with Chikorita and Charmander where he meets Mew.
Piplup returns in PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond where he and Pikachu arrive at a new PokéPark. They venture into the Wish Park together and try to save some of the Pokémon trapped there. Piplup inevitably becoming trapped in the Wish Park after saving Pikachu and Oshawott's lives. He is later found by Zorua and Zoroark and announces that he wishes to stay in Wish Park so he can help the Pokémon who are coaxed into coming. Piplup is later taken by Gothitelle in exchange for setting Victini free, where he is then manipulated by Darkrai. Piplup later awakens Pikachu from Darkrai's nightmare and encourages Pikachu to seek out his missing friends after their memories were taken by Darkrai right before the final battle.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation IV.
Piplup is based on a young penguin, or possibly a Little Penguin. The light blue crown-shaped marking above its beak may be inspired by Emperor Penguins.
Name origin
Piplup is derived from plop or plup from the sound of a pebble hitting water.[1] 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).[1] It may also incorporate 坊っちゃま botchama (child).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Water Gem (100%)
Metronome (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Piplup images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
