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How to beat Palafin
Palafin has 3 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 150 HP as a Water Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 150
- Weakness
- Lightning
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 262
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Palafin is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage. 63 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 Vanguard Punch for 130 (1 Energy). 400 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 2 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 150 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Palafin | 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 150+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Palafin | 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 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 150 | 120 | 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 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 130 from Vanguard Punch 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 Palafin card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin 22/84 | Pitch Black J | 150 | Stage 1 | Knuckle Justice WW 80+ | 2 | Lightning ×2 |
| Palafin 49/162 | Temporal Forces H | 150 | Stage 1 | Vanguard Punch W 130 Double Hit WCC 90× | 2 | Lightning ×2 |
| Palafin 60/167 Ability: Zero to Hero | Twilight Masquerade H | 100 | Stage 1 | Wave Splash WC 30 | 1 | 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 Palafin cards in Standard · how to knock out a 150 HP Pokémon · Lightning vs Water · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Palafin weak to?
Palafin is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Palafin have?
Up to 150 HP in Standard (150 on the Pitch Black version, 150 on the Temporal Forces version, 100 on the Twilight Masquerade version).
How many Prize cards does Palafin give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Palafin?
262 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 Palafin's strongest attack?
Vanguard Punch, which prints 130 damage for 1 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.
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