How to beat Carracosta
Carracosta has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 180 HP as a Water Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 180
- Weakness
- Lightning
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 172
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Carracosta is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage. 58 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.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Big Bite for 150 (3 Energy). 281 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 3 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Lightning attacks do at least 180 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Carracosta | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikavolt Ascended Heroes | Lightning | Volt Switch L | 90 | 180 | 160 | 1 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 520 | 160 | 1 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 500 | 310 | 2 |
| Electivire Stellar Crown | Lightning | Unleash Lightning LL | 220 | 440 | 150 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Megaton Fall LC | 160 | 320 | 180 | 1 |
| Magnezone Mega Evolution | Lightning | Flashing Bolt LL | 160 | 320 | 160 | 1 |
| Ampharos Chaos Rising | Lightning | Flashing Bolt LC | 140 | 280 | 160 | 1 |
| Pawmot Phantasmal Flames | Lightning | Voltaic Fist LL | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Rotom ex Phantasmal Flames | Lightning | Thunderbolt LC | 130 | 260 | 190 | 2 |
| Manectric Destined Rivals | Lightning | Flash Impact LC | 120 | 240 | 120 | 1 |
| Vikavolt Temporal Forces | Lightning | Circuit Cannon LL | 120+ | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Wugtrio ex Temporal Forces | Lightning | Numbing Hold WW | 120 | 240 | 250 | 2 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 180+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Carracosta | 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 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Great Swing CC | 280 | 280 | 340 | 2 |
| Mega Lucario ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Mega Brave FF | 270 | 270 | 340 | 3 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Draconic Buster FF | 260 | 260 | 330 | 2 |
| Salamence ex 30th Celebration | Dragon | Dragon Pulse RW | 240 | 240 | 330 | 2 |
| Haxorus Shrouded Fable | Dragon | Dragon Pulse FM | 230 | 230 | 170 | 1 |
| Mega Gengar ex Ascended Heroes | Darkness | Void Gale DD | 230 | 230 | 350 | 3 |
| Blaziken ex Journey Together | Fire | Smolder-sault RC | 200 | 200 | 320 | 2 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 150 from Big Bite 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 Carracosta card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carracosta 23/86 Ability: Mighty Shell | Black Bolt I | 180 | Stage 2 | Big Bite WCC 150 | 3 | Lightning ×2 |
| Carracosta 38/142 Ability: Primal Knowledge | Stellar Crown H | 160 | Stage 2 | Tidal Wave WW 150 | 3 | Lightning ×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 Carracosta cards in Standard · how to knock out a 180 HP Pokémon · Lightning vs Water · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Carracosta weak to?
Carracosta is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Carracosta have?
Up to 180 HP in Standard (180 on the Black Bolt version, 160 on the Stellar Crown version).
How many Prize cards does Carracosta give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Carracosta?
172 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 240 damage); Ceruledge's Infernal Slash (1 Energy, 220 damage).
What is Carracosta's strongest attack?
Big Bite, which prints 150 damage for 3 Energy.
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.