PlayHow to beat
How to beat Tornadus
Tornadus has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 120 HP as a Colorless Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 120
- Weakness
- Lightning
- Resistance
- Fighting
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 414
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Tornadus is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage. 74 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. Tornadus resists them, so they do less damage.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Hurricane for 100 (3 Energy). 866 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 Lightning attacks do at least 120 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Tornadus | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikavolt Ascended Heroes | Lightning | Volt Switch L | 90 | 180 | 160 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Electromagnetic Catapult L | 70× | 140 | 180 | 1 |
| Heliolisk Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Wild Charge L | 70 | 140 | 100 | 1 |
| Eelektross Black Bolt | Lightning | Thunder Fang L | 60 | 120 | 160 | 1 |
| Mega Zeraora ex Pitch Black | Lightning | Thunderous Fist L | 60× | 120 | 270 | 3 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 120+ damage (after Resistance).
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Tornadus | 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 |
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 100 from Hurricane 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 Tornadus card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornadus 78/86 | White Flare I | 120 | Basic | Wrapped in Wind C — Hurricane CCC 100 | 1 | Lightning ×2 |
| Tornadus 120/142 | Stellar Crown H | 110 | Basic | Knuckle Punch CC 50 Storm Barrier CCC 100 | 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 Tornadus cards in Standard · how to knock out a 120 HP Pokémon · Lightning vs Colorless · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Tornadus weak to?
Tornadus is weak to Lightning, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Tornadus have?
Up to 120 HP in Standard (120 on the White Flare version, 110 on the Stellar Crown version).
How many Prize cards does Tornadus give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Tornadus?
414 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 120 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 240 damage).
What is Tornadus's strongest attack?
Hurricane, which prints 100 damage for 3 Energy.
What does Tornadus 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.
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