Prepare yourself, as a whole host of starter Pokémon need to be hunted down to complete the Pokédex in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s The Indigo Disk DLC. In this guide, we’ll tell you exactly where you can find Piplup.
The Gen IV water-type starter has been well represented in the Nintendo Switch era with appearances in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, as well as in the wild in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but you’ll have another chance to add the cool penguin to your collection in Scarlet and Violet. If you’re on the hunt for Piplup and are wondering where you can catch the slippery suspect, we’ve got you covered.
Piplup location and unlock requirements: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
To unlock Piplup as an encounterable Pokémon, you need to upgrade the Polar Biome. To do this, head to the main entrance of the Blueberry Academy, walk to the barriers, and then select “League Club Room” on the list that pops up.
Once inside the League Club Room, interact with the computer on the left-hand side and select “Contribute BP”. You then need to navigate to find the “Terarium Club” options and pick the one that reads: “Boost Biodiversity in the Polar Biome!”. You’ll need a haul of 3,000 BP to purchase the upgrade so if you’re short, complete quests to collect more.
Once you have purchased the upgrade, it’s a simple case of traveling to the Polar Biome and hunting for Piplup. I caught one swimming in the water near the Central Plaza but I also spotted one clambering over the icebergs in the north of the biome.
As you can see from the map image above, Piplup isn’t exactly a rare spawn in The Indigo Disk DLC. Make sure you’re searching in the northern sections of the Polar Biome!
Now that you know how to find and catch Piplup in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it’s time to get out there and get yourself an Empoleon!
