Empoleon Pokemon GO: Complete Guide, Best Moveset & Counters

Empoleon is a popular Water/Steel-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,900, Empoleon is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Empoleon in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Empoleon Base Stats & Overview

Empoleon (#395) is a Water/Steel-type Pokemon from Generation 4.

Base Stats
Attack	210
Defense	186
Stamina	197
Total Stats	593
Max CP	2,900
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 210 Attack, 186 Defense, and 197 Stamina, Empoleon has a total stat product of 593. While not the highest in any single stat, Empoleon’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Empoleon

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Empoleon’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Empoleon for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Water/Steel-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Empoleon Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Empoleon effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Water/Steel-type Pokemon, Empoleon has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Empoleon is weak to: Electric, Fire, Fighting, Ground-type moves. When battling against Empoleon, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Electric – Deals increased damage
• Fire – Deals increased damage
• Fighting – Deals increased damage
• Ground – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Empoleon resists: Fire, Water, Ice, Steel, Normal, Grass, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Rock, Dragon, Fairy, Poison-type moves. This means Empoleon takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Fire – Reduced damage
• Water – Reduced damage
• Ice – Reduced damage
• Steel – Reduced damage
• Normal – Reduced damage
• Grass – Reduced damage
• Flying – Reduced damage
• Psychic – Reduced damage
• Bug – Reduced damage
• Rock – Reduced damage
• Dragon – Reduced damage
• Fairy – Reduced damage
• Poison – Reduced damage

🏆 Empoleon PvP Analysis

Empoleon can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 2,900, Empoleon would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Empoleon can be used in Ultra League but won’t reach its full stat potential due to the 2500 CP cap.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Empoleon is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,900). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Empoleon Raid Guide

Empoleon is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Empoleon in Raids

When using Empoleon as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Water-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Empoleon

Whether you’re battling Empoleon in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Empoleon:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Empoleon’s weaknesses to Electric, Fire, Fighting, Ground-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Zekrom	Dragon/Electric	Top Electric DPS in the game
Electivire	Electric	Thunder Shock + Wild Charge deals high damage
Raikou	Electric	Consistent Electric damage dealer
Reshiram	Dragon/Fire	Top Fire attacker with Fire Fang + Overheat
Chandelure	Ghost/Fire	High Fire DPS with Fire Spin + Overheat
Moltres	Fire/Flying	Legendary Fire attacker

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Empoleon
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Empoleon may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Empoleon in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Empoleon in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Empoleon can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Empoleon

Yes, Shiny Empoleon is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Empoleon Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Empoleon

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Empoleon’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Empoleon with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Empoleon, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Empoleon works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Water/Steel type weak to Electric, Fire, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Empoleon spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Water moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Empoleon in the Pokemon Franchise

Empoleon first appeared in Generation 4 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Empoleon’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Empoleon was introduced as part of the Generation 4 Pokemon rollout. It became available to catch after Niantic released the Generation 4 Pokemon update.

📊 How Empoleon Compares

Let’s see how Empoleon stacks up against other Water-type Pokemon:

Stat	Empoleon	Type Average	Rating
Attack	210	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	186	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	197	~170	⭐⭐
Max CP	2,900	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Empoleon is a versatile Water/Steel-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,900 and solid base stats (210/186/197), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Empoleon’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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