How to beat Volcanion
Volcanion has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 130 HP as a Water Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 130
- Weakness
- Lightning, Water
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 356
- Fastest KO
- 1 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Volcanion is weak to Lightning and Water, so those attacks do double damage. 103 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 Backfire for 130 (3 Energy). 375 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- 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 Lightning/Water attacks do at least 130 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Volcanion | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| 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 |
| Palafin Temporal Forces | Water | Vanguard Punch W | 130 | 130 | 150 | 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 |
| 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 130+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Volcanion | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 130 | 140 | 1 |
| 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 130 from Backfire 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 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Carracosta Black Bolt | Water | Stage 2 | 180 | Lightning ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Cetitan Surging Sparks | Water | Stage 1 | 180 | Metal ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Coalossal Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Stage 2 | 180 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Coalossal Temporal Forces | Fighting | Stage 2 | 180 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Volcanion card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volcanion 25/88 | Perfect Order J | 130 | Basic | Strength WC 50 Powerful Steam WWC 90× | 3 | Lightning ×2 |
| Volcanion 25/132 | Mega Evolution I | 130 | Basic | Singe R — Backfire RRC 130 | 2 | Water ×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 Volcanion cards in Standard · how to knock out a 130 HP Pokémon · Lightning vs Water · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Volcanion weak to?
Volcanion is weak to Lightning and Water, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Volcanion have?
Up to 130 HP in Standard (130 on the Perfect Order version, 130 on the Mega Evolution version).
How many Prize cards does Volcanion give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Volcanion?
356 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 Volcanion's strongest attack?
Backfire, which prints 130 damage for 3 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.