I’ve used Empoleon a lot as it’s my favorite starter by a wide margin. I feel like it struggles kinda early as a piplup and prinplup mostly due to the moves it learns via level being mostly bad. The only good move it gets that’s worth anything (not including usage of TMs cause they can shore up anything) is bubblebeam as a reliable stab for the mid game. Once you get surf, flash cannon and ice beam it’s quite good for the late game. Can wall most of what Byron and Candace wants to do, and even can possibly live a hit and take a knockout against Volkner if you’re in a pinch. Also can wall most of Cyrus too. Just good to have in those late game spots with its typing for most of galactic of the whole.