**To use Empoleon effectively in the current VGC format, leverage its Water/Steel type typing and build around its top-performing movesets.** Empoleon appears as a prominent choice in the current Pokémon Champions format, with usage data pulled from competitive teams, tournament results and Showdown-ready pastes tracked by MetaVGC. This page brings together its most common moveset, nature, ability, item, teammates and type weaknesses so you can judge where Empoleon fits in a VGC team.

The most common build highlights Competitive, Life Orb and Modest 32/0/0/32/2/0. Its frequent moves include Flash Cannon, Protect, Hydro Pump, Ice Beam, Vacuum Wave, and Surf. Treat those choices as a data-backed starting point: they show what players are bringing, while EV spreads, Tera Type and the final move slot should still respond to your expected matchups.

Defensively, Empoleon has important weaknesses to electric 2x, fighting 2x, ground 2x. That matters during teambuilding because a strong composition needs ways to cover those attacks without giving up offensive pressure. Partners such as Sinistcha, Garchomp, Incineroar, Farigiraf, and Whimsicott appear often because they can add positioning, type coverage, speed control or safer switches into common checks.

MetaVGC tracks recent teams using Empoleon. Open the Empoleon teams page to compare complete structures, copy Showdown pastes and see how players combine Empoleon with other Pokémon in the active format.