How to beat Chien-Pao
Chien-Pao has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 120 HP as a Darkness Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 120
- Weakness
- Grass, Metal
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 467
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Chien-Pao is weak to Grass and Metal, so those attacks do double damage. 132 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 0 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 Icicle Loop for 120 (3 Energy). 534 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 Grass/Metal attacks do at least 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Chien-Pao | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 120 | 110 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 340 | 150 | 1 |
| Lurantis Destined Rivals | Grass | Petal Blade Dance G | 130 | 260 | 120 | 1 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 240 | 160 | 1 |
| Beedrill ex Chaos Rising | Grass | Rumbling Bees G | 110× | 220 | 310 | 2 |
| Cradily Stellar Crown | Grass | Miasma Wind G | 100× | 200 | 150 | 1 |
| Vivillon Surging Sparks | Grass | Cutting Wind G | 90 | 180 | 120 | 1 |
| Beautifly Ascended Heroes | Grass | Energy Straw G | 80× | 160 | 130 | 1 |
| Sinistcha Twilight Masquerade | Grass | Spill the Tea G | 70× | 140 | 70 | 1 |
| Butterfree Journey Together | Grass | Scale Hurricane G | 60× | 120 | 120 | 1 |
| Exeggutor Surging Sparks | Grass | Barrage O'Clock G | 60× | 120 | 130 | 1 |
| Rillaboom Twilight Masquerade | Grass | Drum Beating G | 60 | 120 | 180 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Chien-Pao | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 150 | 120 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 130 | 140 | 1 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 130 | 130 | 1 |
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
| Palafin Temporal Forces | Water | Vanguard Punch W | 130 | 130 | 150 | 1 |
| Flygon ex Surging Sparks | Fighting | Reversing Storm F | 130 | 130 | 310 | 2 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 120 from Icicle Loop 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 Chien-Pao card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chien-Pao 54/88 | Perfect Order J | 120 | Basic | Strafe D 20 Rising Blade DDC 80+ | 1 | Grass ×2 |
| Chien-Pao 56/191 Ability: Snow Sink | Surging Sparks H | 120 | Basic | Icicle Loop WWC 120 | 1 | Metal ×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 Chien-Pao cards in Standard · how to knock out a 120 HP Pokémon · Grass vs Darkness · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Chien-Pao weak to?
Chien-Pao is weak to Grass and Metal, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Chien-Pao have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard (120 on the Perfect Order version, 120 on the Surging Sparks version).
How many Prize cards does Chien-Pao give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Chien-Pao?
467 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 120 damage); Decidueye's Power Shot (1 Energy, 340 damage); Lurantis's Petal Blade Dance (1 Energy, 260 damage).
What is Chien-Pao's strongest attack?
Icicle Loop, which prints 120 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.