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.
Piplup debuted in Following A Maiden's Voyage!, where it got into a fight with a Chimchar over their food in Professor Rowan's lab. After ruining the lab, the two escaped, and Dawn was given the task of finding them. She found Piplup, and the two narrowly escaped an Ariados attack. Back at Rowan's lab, Dawn chose Piplup as her starter Pokémon. Since then, he has been her main Pokémon and has been mostly seen outside of his Poké Ball.
In DPS01, Professor Rowan presented a Piplup to Shinko as one of the starter Pokémon for her to pick. It fought with Rowan's Chimchar after it stole its food; this led to a window breaking and Piplup and Chimchar escaping. They were then captured by an Ariados's web before being rescued by Shinko and Dawn.
A Piplup appeared in I Choose You!, under the ownership of Verity. It is her main Pokémon.
In Going for the Gold!, multiple Piplup were living in the Ambrette Aquarium. Seeing these Piplup reminded Ash of Dawn's, since her Piplup was "something else".
Hareta randomly selected Piplup to battle an enraged Onix in In Search of the Legendary Pokémon Dialga!!. After their first encounter with Onix, Hareta chose Piplup as his first Pokémon. Piplup was originally disobedient to Hareta, but eventually listened to him in order to defeat the Onix during 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.
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.
In February 2007, it was believed that Piplup's localization name was the same as its Japanese name, Pochama, due to the claim made by a piece of merchandise at Toy Fair. But this was conflicted later by another item at Toy Fair again by the merchandise named "Piplup".
Origin
Piplup is likely based on a young penguin, possibly an emperor penguin chick. The light blue crown-shaped marking above its beak may have also been 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.
