Is Piplup a starter Pokémon?

Yes. Piplup is the Water type starter offered in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, alongside Turtwig and Chimchar.

How does Piplup evolve?

Piplup evolves into Prinplup at level 16, then into Empoleon at level 36.

Did Dawn's Piplup ever evolve in the anime?

No. In "Stopped in the Name of Love!" it started evolving into Prinplup twice and stopped both times with Bide, and Dawn was given an Everstone so it would never have to evolve.

How many Piplup cards are there?

Our catalog lists 28 Piplup cards across 19 sets, spanning seven eras from Diamond & Pearl to Mega Evolution.

All Sets21,625Miscellaneous Promos1

Base Set102

Jungle64

Wizards Black Star Promos56

Fossil62Jumbo cards217

Legendary Collection110

Expedition Base Set165

Nintendo Black Star Promos38

Dragon100

Team Magma vs Team Aqua97

Hidden Legends102

EX trainer Kit (Latias)10

EX trainer Kit (Latios)10

Poké Card Creator Pack5

FireRed & LeafGreen116

POP Series 117

Team Rocket Returns111

Unseen Forces Unown Collection27

Delta Species114

Legend Maker93EX trainer Kit 2 (Minun)12

EX trainer Kit 2 (Plusle)12

DP Black Star Promos53

Mysterious Treasures124

DP trainer Kit (Lucario)11

DP trainer Kit (Manaphy)12

HeartGold SoulSilver124

HGSS Black Star Promos25

HS trainer Kit (Gyarados)30

HS trainer Kit (Raichu)30

BW Black Star Promos102McDonald's Collection 201112

Emerging Powers95BW trainer Kit (Excadrill)30BW trainer Kit (Zoroark)30

Noble Victories99

Next Destinies103

Dark Explorers111McDonald's Collection 201212

Dragons Exalted128

Dragon Vault21

Boundaries Crossed152

Plasma Storm135

Plasma Freeze120

Plasma Blast104

XY Black Star Promos211

Legendary Treasures140

Kalos Starter Set39

XY146

XY trainer Kit (Noivern)30

XY trainer Kit (Sylveon)30

Flashfire109McDonald's Collection 201412

Furious Fists114

XY trainer Kit (Bisharp)30

XY trainer Kit (Wigglytuff)29

Phantom Forces122

Primal Clash164

Double Crisis34

XY trainer Kit (Latias)30

XY trainer Kit (Latios)30

Roaring Skies112

Ancient Origins101

BREAKthrough165McDonald's Collection 201512

BREAKpoint126

Generations116

XY trainer Kit (Pikachu Libre)30

XY trainer Kit (Suicune)30

Fates Collide126

Steam Siege116McDonald's Collection 201612

Evolutions113

SM Black Star Promos248

Sun & Moon172

SM trainer Kit (Alolan Raichu)29

SM trainer Kit (Lycanroc)18

Guardians Rising169McDonald's Collection 201712

Burning Shadows169Shining Legends78

Crimson Invasion124

Ultra Prism173

Forbidden Light146

Celestial Storm183Dragon Majesty78McDonald's Collection 201812

Hidden Fates Shiny Vault94McDonald's Collection 201912

Cosmic Eclipse271

SWSH Black Star Promos304

McDonald's Collection 202125

Shining Fates73Shining Fates Shiny Vault122

Battle Styles183

Chilling Reign233

Evolving Skies237

Celebrations25Celebrations Classic Collection25

Fusion Strike284

Brilliant Stars186Brilliant Stars Trainer Gallery30

Astral Radiance216Astral Radiance Trainer Gallery30

Pokémon GO88McDonald's Collection 202215

Lost Origin217Lost Origin Trainer Gallery30

Silver Tempest215Silver Tempest Trainer Gallery30

Crown Zenith160Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery70

Scarlet & Violet258Scarlet & Violet Energy24SVP Black Star Promos216

Paldea Evolved279McDonald's Collection 202315

Obsidian Flames230

151207My First Battle30

Paradox Rift266

Paldean Fates245

Temporal Forces218

Twilight Masquerade226

Shrouded Fable99

Stellar Crown175

Surging Sparks252McDonald's Collection 202415

Prismatic Evolutions180

Journey Together190

Destined Rivals244

Black Bolt172

White Flare173Mega Evolution Energy16

Mega Evolution188

MEP Black Star Promos107

30th Classic Collection30

Delta Reign141McDonald's Collection 202615

All Hits Chase Movers Accumulation Oversold

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Piplup

28 cards · 19 sets · All Pokémon in the Pokédex

About Piplup

National Dex #: #393
Cards in the catalog: 28
Sets: 19
First printed: Diamond & Pearl (2007)
Latest set: Phantasmal Flames
Index level: 1,156.95
Category: Penguin Pokémon
Type: Water
Height: 0.4 m (1'04")
Weight: 5.2 kg (11.5 lbs)
Abilities: Torrent, Competitive (hidden)
Evolves into: Prinplup (level 16), then Empoleon (level 36)

Piplup in the games: Sinnoh's Water starter

Piplup is one of the three starters offered at the beginning of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, alongside the Grass type Turtwig and the Fire type Chimchar. It evolves into Prinplup at level 16 and into Empoleon, which adds the Steel type, at level 36. Its standard ability, Torrent, powers up Water type moves when its HP runs low, and its hidden ability, Competitive, sharply raises its Special Attack whenever an opponent lowers one of its stats.

Most valuable Piplup cards

The 10 most valuable Piplup cards
#	Card	Set	Year	Rarity	Print	Price	30D
1	Blastoise & Piplup GX	Cosmic Eclipse	2019	Ultra Rare	Holo	$501.40^guide	+3.2%
2	Blastoise & Piplup GX	Cosmic Eclipse	2019	Secret Rare	Holo	$182.30^guide	+3.5%
3	Blastoise & Piplup GX	Cosmic Eclipse	2019	Ultra Rare	Holo	$108.72^guide	+7.1%
4	Blastoise & Piplup GX	Cosmic Eclipse	2019	Ultra Rare	Holo	$83.53^guide	+0.6%
5	Piplup	Cosmic Eclipse	2019	Secret Rare	Holo	$62.78^guide	+3.8%
6	Piplup	DP Black Star Promos	2007	Common	Holo	$49.34^guide	0.0%
7	Piplup	POP Series 6	2007	Common	—	$34.54^guide	+0.4%
8	Piplup	POP Series 8	2008	Common	—	$17.77^guide	+1.3%
9	Piplup	Legendary Treasures	2013	Uncommon	—	$16.17^guide	-4.7%
10	Piplup	POP Series 9	2009	Common	—	$10.14^guide	+5.6%

Ranked by each card’s main print in near-mint raw condition. 1st Edition, Shadowless and other versions are priced on each card’s page. The table updates live.

Piplup card value

The Piplup cards that carry the most value come from across the Diamond & Pearl, Sun & Moon and later eras, and the most valuable Piplup card is the Blastoise & Piplup GX Ultra Rare from Cosmic Eclipse (2019). All 28 Piplup cards carry a market value, spanning 2007 to 2025, and the ten leading cards hold 95 percent of the total value. Piplup card value is therefore packed into a small group at the top, with the remaining cards sharing very little of it.

What makes the top Piplup cards valuable

The Blastoise & Piplup GX leads Piplup card value from Cosmic Eclipse (2019) and sits 2.8 times ahead of the next card, which is the Secret Rare version of the same card. The Ultra Rare versions take the 3rd and 4th places. A Cosmic Eclipse Secret Rare Piplup follows at rank 5, and the DP Black Star Promos Piplup from 2007, a Common, is 6th. The top four are all Blastoise & Piplup GX prints, so one card in different rarities fills the leading spots among the most valuable Piplup cards.

Piplup cards by era

Piplup cards in the leading twenty-five are spread across seven eras: 7 from Diamond & Pearl, 7 from Sun & Moon, 3 each from EX and Black & White, 2 each from XY and Mega Evolution, and 1 from Sword & Shield. The newest era's leader is the MEP Black Star Promos Piplup from 2025, in 10th place overall. Every one of the ten leading cards and all twenty-five leading cards are modern, none from the WOTC era that counts as vintage.

Rarities and prints among the top Piplup cards

Among the ten leading Piplup cards, the printed rarities are 3 Common, 3 Ultra Rare, 2 Secret Rare, 1 Promo and 1 Uncommon. Widening to the leading twenty-five, Common accounts for 15 cards, with 3 Ultra Rare, 2 Secret Rare, 1 Illustration rare, 1 Promo and 1 Uncommon. Commons from DP Black Star Promos, POP Series 6 and POP Series 8 sit inside the top ten alongside the Cosmic Eclipse Ultra Rare and Secret Rare cards.

How Piplup cards compare with other Pokémon

By the value of its single leading card, Piplup ranks 72nd of 1020 species with priced cards, and 85th of 753 by the combined value of its ten leaders. In its evolution line, Empoleon ranks 92nd of 1020 by top card and Prinplup 969th. Piplup is the strongest of the three, and the Piplup cards market rests on a few Cosmic Eclipse prints at the top rather than on spread across the line.

Written from market data as of October 29, 2026; the table updates live.

Piplup

About Piplup

Piplup in the games: Sinnoh's Water starter

Piplup

Piplup

About Piplup

Piplup in the games: Sinnoh's Water starter

Piplup in the anime: Dawn's partner that stayed a Piplup

Piplup on cards: Sinnoh-era Commons to Blastoise & Piplup GX

Cards to know

Piplup: common questions

Most valuable Piplup cards

Piplup card value

What makes the top Piplup cards valuable

Piplup cards by era

Rarities and prints among the top Piplup cards

How Piplup cards compare with other Pokémon

Piplup