PlayHow to beat

How to beat Dhelmise

Dhelmise has 5 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, Fire

Resistance

Fighting

Prizes

1

One-hit KOs

294

Fastest KO

1 Energy

Game plan

1. Hit its Weakness. Dhelmise is weak to Darkness and Fire, so those attacks do double damage. 106 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 1 Energy.
2. 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.
3. Avoid Fighting attacks. Dhelmise resists them, so they do less damage.
4. Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Anchor Smash for 130 (4 Energy). 422 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
5. 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 Darkness/Fire attacks do at least 140 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.

One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness

Attacks with a printed 140+ damage (after Resistance).

Pokémon that survive its biggest attack

These can take a printed 130 from Anchor Smash and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.

Every Standard Dhelmise card

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 Dhelmise 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 Dhelmise weak to?

Dhelmise is weak to Darkness and Fire, so those attacks do double damage (×2).

How much HP does Dhelmise have?

Up to 140 HP in Standard (140 on the Pitch Black version, 130 on the Journey Together version, 130 on the Surging Sparks version, 130 on the Temporal Forces version, 120 on the Mega Evolution version).

How many Prize cards does Dhelmise give up?

1 — it's a regular Pokémon.

What can one-hit KO Dhelmise?

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 Dhelmise's strongest attack?

Anchor Smash, which prints 130 damage for 4 Energy.

What does Dhelmise resist?

Fighting — those attacks do less damage to it.