Empoleon

Empoleon in the anime: the rivals' starter

Empoleon first appeared on screen with Barry, Ash's Sinnoh rival, in "Barry's Busting Out All Over!" Dawn's rival Kenny also turned out to have evolved his Prinplup into Empoleon, unveiling it in the Performance Stage of the Sinnoh Grand Festival. In the movie The Rise of Darkrai, Kai's Empoleon battled Dawn's Piplup, and in Alola, Professor Kukui used Empoleon fourth in his Full Battle against Ash, landing hits on Pikachu before Ash's Melmetal beat it.

Empoleon on cards: LV.X, BREAK, V and ex

Empoleon's first expansion was Diamond & Pearl (2007), which printed a regular holo by Nakaoka and an Empoleon LV.X by Shizurow. Holos and Rares followed through the rest of the Diamond & Pearl era, including Kouki Saitou's Stormfront holo and a Supreme Victors Empoleon FB. In the Black & White era, Plasma Freeze (2013) printed an Empoleon Secret Rare by Ayaka Yoshida, numbered above the 116-card set, and the XY era added an Empoleon BREAK promo by 5ban Graphics.

Battle Styles (2021) printed Empoleon V three ways: a regular holo V and a full art by Ayaka Yoshida, plus a second Ultra Rare illustrated by chibi. Phantasmal Flames (2025) brought Empoleon into the Mega Evolution era as Empoleon ex, a Double Rare with an Ultra Rare version numbered above the set's 94 cards, both by 5ban Graphics.

Cards to know

• Empoleon LV.X (Diamond & Pearl #120)

  Empoleon's first LV.X, from its debut expansion, illustrated by Shizurow.

• Empoleon (Plasma Freeze #117)

  A Secret Rare by Ayaka Yoshida, numbered above Plasma Freeze's 116 cards.

• Empoleon BREAK (XY Black Star Promos #XY134)

  Empoleon's BREAK card, a mechanic used only in the XY era, illustrated by 5ban Graphics.

• Empoleon V (Battle Styles #146)

  The Ultra Rare Empoleon V illustrated by chibi.

• Empoleon ex (Phantasmal Flames #070)

  A Mega Evolution era Double Rare Empoleon ex illustrated by 5ban Graphics.