The Cutest Empoleon Cards: Illustration Rares, Promos, and Display Picks
Empoleon cards ranked for collectors: rarest pulls, best artwork, and perfect pairings with Infernape and Piplup.
2024-09-16
Popularity Rank: #66
Fan survey data
Blended rank from two r/pokemon "favourite Pokémon" surveys, weighted 60/40 toward the 2025 results (u/Jawnysparklez; u/mamamia1001 2019).
2025 survey: #107
2019 survey: #33
#66 / 1025
Pokédex details
National Dex
#0395
Height
1.7 m
Weight
84.5 kg
Capture rate
45 / 255
Generation
Gen IV
Gender ratio
87.5% male, 12.5% female
Hatch steps
5,100 steps
Base happiness
70
Growth rate
Medium Slow
Color
Blue
Habitat
—
Shape
Upright
Why people love Empoleon
The elevator pitch for Empoleon: cute, recognizable, and worth a binder slot.
- From its Bulbapedia summary: it evolves from Prinplup starting at level 36. It is the final form of Piplup.
- Cheerful personality in-game — Empoleon feels upbeat even before you pick a favourite card.
- A staple in our Birds & Bats crowd — Empoleon is one of those picks collectors nod at immediately.
Pokémon TCG cards
Recent cards featuring Empoleon from the Trading Card Game, newest first.
Phantasmal Flames
Ultra Rare
Phantasmal Flames
Double rare
Space-Time Smackdown
Three Diamond
Brilliant Stars
Holo Rare
Battle Styles
Holo Rare V
Battle Styles
Ultra Rare
Battle Styles
Ultra Rare
SWSH Black Star Promos
Promo
Cosmic Eclipse
Rare
Forbidden Light
Rare
Ultra Prism
Rare
BREAKthrough
Rare
Showing 12 of 24 loaded cards · card data from TCGdex with pokemontcg.io as backup · images via Scrydex when needed
Binder plan & Michi Method for Empoleon
Spread layout for Empoleon, TCG picks to anchor the page, and open artwork you can print for Michi-style scene pockets.
Cards to anchor your spread
TCG picks for collectors — pair these with a printed scene below.
Empoleon V #SWSH108 (SWSH Black Star Promos) is a promo worth chasing — alternate art that stands out on any Empoleon binder page.
Empoleon #56 (Cosmic Eclipse) is a promo worth chasing — alternate art that stands out on any Empoleon binder page.
Empoleon #81 (Forbidden Light) is a promo worth chasing — alternate art that stands out on any Empoleon binder page.
Species art references
Character renders for colour matching, pose ideas, and silhouette checks.
Official artwork
Match card holo colours and keep the species silhouette consistent across pockets.
HOME render
Modern pose reference when you want a cleaner, upright character layout.
Dream World vector
Simple line-and-fill shape — handy for tracing pocket placement before you print.
Shiny palette
Alternate colourway for accent pockets or shiny-themed spreads.
Art via PokéAPI/sprites (open source).
Empoleon mini binder spread
A seeded two-page 3×3 binder mockup using Empoleon chase cards and Michi Method scene art for display planning.
Left page
SWSH Black Star Promos
Promo
Cosmic Eclipse
Rare
Forbidden Light
Rare
Phantasmal Flames
Ultra Rare
Phantasmal Flames
Double rare
Space-Time Smackdown
Three Diamond
Brilliant Stars
Holo Rare
Right page
Battle Styles
Holo Rare V
Battle Styles
Ultra Rare
Battle Styles
Ultra Rare
Ultra Prism
Rare
BREAKthrough
Rare
XY Black Star Promos
Promo
Legendary Treasures
Rare
The Michi Method treats your binder like a small gallery: print one scene that spans multiple pockets, then nest your favourite Empoleon cards around it. The picks and reference art below are meant for collectors building display spreads — not competitive lists.
Michi Method scene examples
Illustration picks when dedicated scene art is not cached yet — card frames may still show.
Scene wallpaper — Empoleon
Illustration by catwithmonocle.com
Scene art via Wallhaven — Scene wallpaper — Empoleon
Scene wallpaper — Empoleon
Scene art via Wallhaven — Scene wallpaper — Empoleon
Find more scene art
Curated galleries and search links — we do not hotlink Pinterest or ArtStation results.
Pokémon and character names are trademarks of Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK.
Additional tips
- If you're building for Birds & Bats, repeat one motif (floral border, café table, neon sign) across three cards so the theme feels authored.
- Empoleon's cheerful base temperament invites playful sticker sleeves or washi — don't force a grimdark layout unless the art demands it.
- Keep a "swap tray" of mid-value Empoleon duplicates beside the binder — trades move faster when the page is already curated.
- Reserve one sleeve for Trainer cameos or duos with Infernape, Piplup, and Prinplup; vignette cards routinely outperform sterile solo placeholders in flat lays.
Empoleon on the tabletop
For players and duel-minded collectors — abilities, hallmark moves, and tier shorthand in one place.
Base stats
In-game numbers for Empoleon — useful context beside abilities and moves.
HP
84
Attack
86
Defense
88
Sp. Atk
111
Sp. Def
101
Speed
60
Total: 530
Players file Empoleon around tier "RU" while Ability Torrent (Strengthens Water moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.) shapes the fantasy — chase art that stages that payoff, not just the highest number on the slab.
- Wave Crash — Has 33% recoil. — Illustration Rares that stage that motion tend to outperform static portraits.
- Water/Steel typings invite clash lighting or split backgrounds — lean into that tension on-page.
3D battle sprites
Animated Showdown-style models for Empoleon — normal and shiny.
Sprites via Project Pokémon. Pokémon and character names are trademarks of Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK.
Backstory & Lore
A short write-up on Empoleon, weaving together Pokédex notes, species lore, and evolution context.
The three horns that extend from its beak attest to its power. The leader has the biggest horns.
It swims as fast as a jet boat. The edges of its wings are sharp and can slice apart drifting ice.
If anyone were to hurt its pride, it would slash them with wings that can cleave through an ice floe.
Collectors still read Piplup, Prinplup, and Empoleon fastest left-to-right; matching illustration eras across those stages matters more than cramming every rarity onto one page.
A second dex beat (Omega Ruby) frames Empoleon as one that swims as fast as a jet boat.. Rotating that line on a sticky note beside the page keeps the spread feeling lived-in.
Name in other languages
Common localized names collectors may search for.
German
Impoleon
Spanish
Empoleon
French
Pingoléon
Italian
Empoleon
Japanese
エンペルト
Japanese (Romaji)
Emperte
Korean
엠페르트
Chinese (Simplified)
帝王拿波
Chinese (Traditional)
帝王拿波
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