How to beat Shiftry
Shiftry has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 160 HP as a Grass Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 160
- Weakness
- Fire
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 233
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Shiftry is weak to Fire, so those attacks do double damage. 72 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 Energy Loop for 140 (2 Energy). 344 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 Fire attacks do at least 160 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Shiftry | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 440 | 140 | 1 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 260 | 130 | 1 |
| Camerupt Ascended Heroes | Fire | Roasting Burn R | 110 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Mega Camerupt ex Mega Evolution | Fire | Roasting Heat R | 80+ | 160 | 340 | 3 |
| Blaziken ex Journey Together | Fire | Smolder-sault RC | 200 | 400 | 320 | 2 |
| Centiskorch Temporal Forces | Fire | Charring Breath RR | 180 | 360 | 140 | 1 |
| Chandelure White Flare | Fire | Burn It All Up RR | 180 | 360 | 150 | 1 |
| Flareon ex Prismatic Evolutions | Fire | Burning Charge RC | 130 | 260 | 270 | 2 |
| Rapidash Temporal Forces | Fire | Inferno Onrush RC | 120 | 240 | 110 | 1 |
| Team Rocket's Houndoom Destined Rivals | Fire | Scorching Fire RC | 120 | 240 | 130 | 1 |
| Victini White Flare | Fire | V-Force RR | 120 | 240 | 80 | 1 |
| Talonflame Perfect Order | Fire | Fire Wing RR | 110 | 220 | 150 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 160+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Shiftry | 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 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| 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 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 260 | 160 | 1 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Draconic Buster FF | 260 | 260 | 330 | 2 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 250 | 310 | 2 |
| Salamence ex 30th Celebration | Dragon | Dragon Pulse RW | 240 | 240 | 330 | 2 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 140 from Energy 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 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Archaludon Phantasmal Flames | Metal | Stage 1 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 2 | 1 |
| Archaludon Prismatic Evolutions | Metal | Stage 1 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 2 | 1 |
Every Standard Shiftry card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shiftry 15/132 | Mega Evolution I | 160 | Stage 2 | Reversing Gust G — Perplex GC 100 | 2 | Fire ×2 |
| Shiftry 5/162 | Temporal Forces H | 150 | Stage 2 | Expelling Tornado G — Energy Loop CC 140 | 2 | Fire ×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 Shiftry cards in Standard · how to knock out a 160 HP Pokémon · Fire vs Grass · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Shiftry weak to?
Shiftry is weak to Fire, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Shiftry have?
Up to 160 HP in Standard (160 on the Mega Evolution version, 150 on the Temporal Forces version).
How many Prize cards does Shiftry give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Shiftry?
233 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Ceruledge's Infernal Slash (1 Energy, 440 damage); Centiskorch's Billowing Heat Wave (1 Energy, 260 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage).
What is Shiftry's strongest attack?
Energy Loop, which prints 140 damage for 2 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.