How to beat Espathra
Espathra has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 130 HP as a Psychic Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 130
- Weakness
- Darkness
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 346
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Espathra 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. Espathra resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Spiral Drain for 60 (2 Energy). 1,502 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 130 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Espathra | 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 130+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Espathra | 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 |
| 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 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Great Swing CC | 280 | 280 | 340 | 2 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 60 from Spiral Drain 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 Espathra card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espathra 69/142 | Stellar Crown H | 130 | Stage 1 | Psychic Flash P 50 | 1 | Darkness ×2 |
| Espathra 95/191 | Surging Sparks H | 120 | Stage 1 | Mystical Eyes C — Spiral Drain PC 60 | 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 Espathra cards in Standard · how to knock out a 130 HP Pokémon · Darkness vs Psychic · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Espathra weak to?
Espathra is weak to Darkness, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Espathra have?
Up to 130 HP in Standard (130 on the Stellar Crown version, 120 on the Surging Sparks version).
How many Prize cards does Espathra give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Espathra?
346 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 Espathra's strongest attack?
Spiral Drain, which prints 60 damage for 2 Energy.
What does Espathra 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.