How to beat Cresselia
Cresselia has 3 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 120 HP as a Psychic Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 120
- Weakness
- Darkness
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 430
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Cresselia is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage. 86 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. Cresselia resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Lunar Blast for 100 (3 Energy). 834 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 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Cresselia | 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 |
| Krookodile Phantasmal Flames | Darkness | Vengeful Fang D | 60+ | 120 | 170 | 1 |
| Lokix Journey Together | Darkness | Low Sweep D | 60 | 120 | 120 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Nidoqueen Destined Rivals | Darkness | Love Impact D | 60+ | 120 | 170 | 1 |
| 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 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Cresselia | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 120 | 110 | 1 |
| 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 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 130 | 130 | 1 |
| Lurantis Destined Rivals | Grass | Petal Blade Dance G | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
| Palafin Temporal Forces | Water | Vanguard Punch W | 130 | 130 | 150 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 100 from Lunar Blast 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 Cresselia card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cresselia 74/128 | 30th Celebration J | 120 | Basic | Aurora Gain PC 30 Lunar Blast PCC 100 | 1 | Darkness ×2 |
| Cresselia 39/94 | Phantasmal Flames I | 120 | Basic | Swelling Light P — Aurora Beam PPC 90 | 1 | Darkness ×2 |
| Cresselia 21/64 | Shrouded Fable H | 120 | Basic | Healing Pirouette P — Crescent Purge PPP 80+ | 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 Cresselia cards in Standard · how to knock out a 120 HP Pokémon · Darkness vs Psychic · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Cresselia weak to?
Cresselia is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Cresselia have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard (120 on the 30th Celebration version, 120 on the Phantasmal Flames version, 120 on the Shrouded Fable version).
How many Prize cards does Cresselia give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Cresselia?
430 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 120 damage); Malamar's Brain Crush (1 Energy, 260 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage).
What is Cresselia's strongest attack?
Lunar Blast, which prints 100 damage for 3 Energy.
What does Cresselia 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.