With Piplup Community Day Classic hitting Pokemon GO on January 4, 2026, trainers wonder: does Empoleon with Hydro Cannon deserve investment? This Water/Steel starter evolved from overlooked to meta-relevant thanks to recent move updates. Understanding Empoleon’s strengths determines if you should spend 100 Candy during the limited event window.
Table of Contents
Pokemon Empoleon Quick Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Water/Steel (only one in franchise) |
| Max CP | 3,279 (Level 50) |
| Great League Rank | #22 out of 1,089 |
| Ultra League Rank | #6 out of 802 |
| PvE Water Rank | #24 (A-Tier) |
PvP Dominance
Empoleon’s Metal Sound generates 4.0 energy per turn, charging Hydro Cannon and Drill Peck (40 energy each) every 5 turns for relentless spam. Water/Steel typing grants 11 resistances. Per Pokemon GO Hub, ranks #22 in Great League and #6 in Ultra League. Best IVs: 0/14/14 (Great), 1/15/14 (Ultra). See our PvP guide.
PvE Performance
Hydro Cannon (90 damage, 40 energy) makes Empoleon #24 Water attacker (A-Tier). Kyogre, Shadow Swampert, Kingler, and Water Megas outperform it. Shadow Empoleon reaches #10. Water/Steel excels vs Rock but weakens vs Fire/Ground. Reliable raid backup with gym defense strength. See our raid guide.
Getting Hydro Cannon
Evolve Prinplup with 100 Candy on January 4, 2026, 2-9 pm local time. Otherwise use Elite Charged TM. Event has 1/4 hatch distance and boosted shinies. Perfect IV: 658 CP (boosted) or 584 CP. Community Day guide.
Best Movesets
**PvP:** Metal Sound + Hydro Cannon + Drill Peck. Metal Sound’s 4.0 EPT enables pressure, Hydro Cannon devastates, Drill Peck counters Grass/Fighting.
**PvE:** Metal Claw + Hydro Cannon. Metal Claw balances damage/energy better than Waterfall. Hydro Cannon mandatory.
The Verdict
**PvP:** Absolutely yes. Top-tier in Great/Ultra League, unique typing counters Dragons, Fairies, Ice, Steel. Metal Sound spam creates constant pressure.
**PvE:** Conditionally yes. Solid backup lacking Kyogre/Shadow Swampert/Kingler. Reliably fills Water-type gaps without revolutionizing raids.
FAQs
Can I get Hydro Cannon Empoleon outside Community Day Classic?
Yes, but only using an Elite Charged TM—a rare resource earned through special research or purchased. Evolving during the January 4 event window avoids this premium cost.
Does Shadow Empoleon with Hydro Cannon perform better than regular Empoleon?
Shadow Empoleon ranks #10 in Water-type PvP and deals 20% more damage in raids, but requires significantly more Stardust and Candy to power up while being glassier.
