How to beat Alakazam
Alakazam has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 140 HP as a Psychic Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 140
- Weakness
- Darkness
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 294
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Alakazam is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage. 75 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 1 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Avoid Fighting attacks. Alakazam resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Psychic for 10+ (1 Energy). 1,780 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 1 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Darkness attacks do at least 140 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Alakazam | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 260 | 120 | 1 |
| Crobat Chaos Rising | Darkness | Poison Sound Wave D | 80 | 160 | 130 | 1 |
| Mega Sharpedo ex Phantasmal Flames | Darkness | Greedy Fang D | 70 | 140 | 330 | 3 |
| Mega Gengar ex Ascended Heroes | Darkness | Void Gale DD | 230 | 460 | 350 | 3 |
| Hydreigon ex Surging Sparks | Darkness | Crashing Headbutt DC | 200 | 400 | 330 | 2 |
| Marnie's Grimmsnarl ex Ascended Heroes | Darkness | Shadow Bullet DD | 180 | 360 | 320 | 2 |
| Gengar ex Temporal Forces | Darkness | Tricky Steps DD | 160 | 320 | 310 | 2 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Cracking Stomp DC | 150 | 300 | 190 | 1 |
| Hydreigon 30th Celebration | Darkness | Pitch-Black Fangs DC | 140 | 280 | 170 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Nidoqueen Destined Rivals | Darkness | Mega Kick DD | 130 | 260 | 170 | 1 |
| Crobat Shrouded Fable | Darkness | Poison Fang DC | 120 | 240 | 130 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Crobat ex Destined Rivals | Darkness | Assassin's Return DD | 120 | 240 | 310 | 2 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 140+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Alakazam | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 140 | 310 | 2 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Great Swing CC | 280 | 280 | 340 | 2 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 260 | 160 | 1 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 250 | 310 | 2 |
| Salamence ex 30th Celebration | Dragon | Dragon Pulse RW | 240 | 240 | 330 | 2 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 10+ from Psychic and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Alakazam card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alakazam 56/132 Ability: Psychic Draw | Mega Evolution I | 140 | Stage 2 | Powerful Hand P — | 1 | Darkness ×2 |
| Alakazam 82/167 | Twilight Masquerade H | 140 | Stage 2 | Strange Hacking P — Psychic P 10+ | 1 | Darkness ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Alakazam cards in Standard · how to knock out a 140 HP Pokémon · Darkness vs Psychic · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Alakazam weak to?
Alakazam is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Alakazam have?
Up to 140 HP in Standard (140 on the Mega Evolution version, 140 on the Twilight Masquerade version).
How many Prize cards does Alakazam give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Alakazam?
294 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Malamar's Brain Crush (1 Energy, 260 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 240 damage).
What is Alakazam's strongest attack?
Psychic, which prints 10+ damage for 1 Energy.
What does Alakazam resist?
Fighting — those attacks do less damage to it.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.