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Alakazam Dusknoir

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Alakazam's Powerful Hand puts 2 damage counters per card in your hand on their Active. Fill your hand with evolution draws, then add Cursed Blast from Dusknoir to KO anything, Active or Benched.

Difficulty: HardPrizes: Mostly 1-Prize; each Cursed Blast gifts 1, Fezandipiti ex gives 2

Your turn-2 goal

  • 2+ Abra and 2+ Duskull on the Bench from Buddy-Buddy Poffin and Telepathic Psychic Energy.
  • Budew Active on turn 1 to lock their Items.
  • An Alakazam evolving from your hand: Psychic Draw for 3 more cards.
  • 7+ cards in hand when you attack, and a Dusclops or Dusknoir ready to Blast.

Your attackers

AlakazamPowerful Hand

2 counters per card in hand

Your main attack. 7 cards KO a 140 HP Pokémon, 11 cards a 210 HP ex, 16 cards a 320 HP ex.

DusknoirCursed Blast

13 counters anywhere; Dusknoir is KO'd

KO a 130 HP Pokémon on the Bench, or cut 6–7 cards off the Powerful Hand you need.

DusclopsCursed Blast

5 counters anywhere; Dusclops is KO'd

Finish a damaged Pokémon or save 2–3 cards on a Powerful Hand KO.

Fezandipiti exCruel Arrow

100 to any Pokémon

Your only real damage, for Pokémon that ignore counters from attacks. Gives up 2 Prizes.

DuskullCome and Get You

Up to 3 Duskull from discard to Bench

Rebuild your Cursed Blast ammo after Gwynn discards or KOs.

Key decisions

  • Count cards before you play them. Every card you play is 2 counters less. Only play what the KO needs; keep Strange Timepiece and spare evolutions in hand.
  • Evolve step by step when you can. Kadabra then Alakazam draws 5 cards; Rare Candy to Alakazam draws only 3. Candy only when you need the attacker now.
  • Every Cursed Blast is a Prize for them. Blast when it wins a 2-Prize ex, removes their engine, or ends the game.
  • Jump past 3 Prizes. Their Special Red Card only works when you have 3 or fewer left. Go from 4 to 2 in one turn with Blast plus Powerful Hand.
  • Gwynn after a hand reset. Discard 2 Pokémon to draw 6; get them back later with Night Stretcher, Sacred Ash or Come and Get You.

Common mistakes

  • Emptying your hand before Powerful Hand: Poké Pad, Poffin and Supporters all shrink your attack.
  • Using Strange Timepiece on a damaged Pokémon: an Alakazam with 100 damage goes back to a 50 HP Abra and is KO'd.
  • Blasting with no Prize count: two Dusclops and two Dusknoir can hand over 4 Prizes.
  • Leaving Abra, Duskull and Budew on the Bench without Shaymin against Bench damage.

Versions

Standard

4 Dawn, 4 Hilda, 3 Gwynn, 4 Rare Candy, 3 Strange Timepiece, Prime Catcher, Shaymin. The most consistent build for long hand-size games.

Flutter Mane

Flutter Mane Active turns off their Active's Abilities and hits 90 plus 2 counters on the Bench. For Ability-based defences and engines.

Hammer / Latias

Enhanced Hammer removes Special Energy that blocks attack effects; Latias ex gives your Basics free retreat but gives up 2 Prizes.

Matchups

Alakazam Dusknoir vs Dragapult

Even. Phantom Dive one-shots your Stage 2 attackers and spreads onto Abra and Duskull; Cursed Blast plus Powerful Hand KOs Dragapult ex in a single turn. Count the Prize every Cursed Blast hands over.

Their plan

  • Phantom Dive: 200 to the Active KOs Alakazam (140) or Dusknoir (160), and 6 counters on your Bench pick off Abra (50), Duskull (60) or Budew (30).
  • Budew: Itchy Pollen shuts off Rare Candy, Poké Pad, Buddy-Buddy Poffin and Strange Timepiece, most of your engine, for a turn.
  • Risky Ruins: Abra, Duskull and Budew enter your Bench with 2 counters. Two Abra at 30 each are exactly Phantom Dive's 6 counters.
  • Crushing Hammer (4): Powerful Hand needs only one Psychic Energy, so a single heads can leave Alakazam unable to attack.

Your prize plan

  1. Bench only what you need. Telepathic Psychic Energy and Poffin bring Abra and Duskull; get them down before Risky Ruins and don't give Phantom Dive extra targets.
  2. KO Drakloak first. Dusknoir's Cursed Blast (13 counters) KOs it on the Bench; Active, Powerful Hand with 5 cards does it. Fewer Drakloak means a slower Dragapult ex.
  3. Dragapult ex in one turn. Dusknoir (13) + Dusclops (5) + Powerful Hand with 7 cards = 32 counters: 2 Prizes for the 2 Cursed Blasts you give up.
  4. Their Munkidori is weak to Darkness. Fezandipiti ex's Cruel Arrow does 200 to it Active; on the Bench, Dusknoir's 13 counters KO it (110).

Against an Active Dragapult ex (320 HP)

Powerful Hand, 10 cards200
Cursed Blast (Dusknoir) + Powerful Hand, 10 cards330 · KO
Cursed Blast (Dusknoir + Dusclops) + Powerful Hand, 7 cards320 · KO
Powerful Hand, 16 cards320 · KO

Don't

  • Spending Cursed Blast on Dreepy early: each one is a Prize for them, and you need two for every Dragapult ex.
  • Playing out cards you don't need before Powerful Hand: every card played is 2 counters fewer. Hold Strange Timepiece and spare evolutions.
  • Sitting at 3 Prizes left while they hold Special Red Card: it bottoms your hand. Jump from 4 to 2 in one turn.

Key turn

  • Their first Dragapult ex: KO it the turn after it attacks. Every turn it stays, Phantom Dive takes the Active and more of your Bench.
  • Under Budew's lock: Dawn and Hilda are Supporters, so you still find the line, and Kadabra evolving normally still draws 2.

If they play…

Judge

Both players shuffle and draw 4: Powerful Hand drops to 8 counters. Gwynn rebuilds your hand the next turn.

Moltres

Fighting Wings does 110 only to an Active ex, so your Fezandipiti ex is the target. Moltres (120): Powerful Hand with 6 cards KOs it.

Dudunsparce

Dunsparce (60) on the Bench falls to Dusknoir's 13 counters; Run Away Draw shuffles Dudunsparce away, so don't chase it.

Alakazam Dusknoir vs Dhelmise

Uphill. Hide 'n' Sneak makes half their deck immune to Powerful Hand and Cursed Blast, and Vengeful Anchor (170) KOs your attackers. Take Prizes from Dhelmise and their ex, and use Fezandipiti ex for real damage.

Their plan

  • Hide 'n' Sneak: Shuppet, Banette, Poltchageist and Sinistcha ignore the effects of your attacks and Abilities. Powerful Hand and Cursed Blast do nothing to them.
  • Vengeful Anchor: 170 for one Energy with 4 Hide 'n' Sneak Pokémon in their discard. It KOs Alakazam (140) and Dusknoir (160).
  • Matcha Spin (6 in the discard): 4 counters on each of your Pokémon. Budew falls, Abra drops to 10, Duskull to 20 and Kadabra to 40.
  • Banette's Puppet Pull: 80 plus any card from their deck. It KOs Kadabra (80), Abra and Duskull.

Your prize plan

  1. Hit only what lacks Hide 'n' Sneak. Dhelmise (140): Powerful Hand with 7 cards, or Dusknoir's Cursed Blast + 1 card.
  2. Fezandipiti ex does real damage. Cruel Arrow does 200 to an Active Dhelmise or Banette (weak to Darkness); 100 on the Bench KOs Banette, Shuppet or Sinistcha.
  3. Take Prizes from their ex. Lillie's Clefairy ex (190): Boss's Orders or Prime Catcher + Dusknoir (13) + 3 cards = 2 Prizes.
  4. Count your Cursed Blasts. Each gives up a Prize; against single-Prize Dhelmise, use them only to finish a KO.

Against an Active Dhelmise (140 HP)

Powerful Hand, 5 cards100
Powerful Hand, 7 cards140 · KO
Cursed Blast (Dusknoir) + Powerful Hand, 1 card150 · KO
Dusknoir Shadow Bind150 · KO
Fezandipiti ex Cruel Arrow (Weakness)200 · KO

Don't

  • Aiming Powerful Hand or Cursed Blast at Shuppet, Banette, Poltchageist or Sinistcha: Hide 'n' Sneak prevents it completely.
  • Leaving Budew and Abra on the Bench once Matcha Spin is live: 4 counters KO Budew (30) and leave Abra at 10 for any follow-up.
  • Throwing Fezandipiti ex into the Active early: it is your only real damage and 2 Prizes. Bring it up for a KO, not as a wall.

Key turn

  • When their discard reaches 4: Vengeful Anchor jumps from 30 to 170 and starts KOing Alakazam and Dusknoir. From then on, take a Dhelmise every turn.
  • When Lillie's Clefairy ex hits their Bench: Prime Catcher + Dusknoir + 3 cards takes 2 Prizes from a deck that otherwise gives 1.

If they play…

Spiritomb

With 13 Hide 'n' Sneak in the discard it quadruples counters on 2 of your Pokémon. It has no Hide 'n' Sneak: Powerful Hand with 3 cards KOs it (60).

Latias ex

210 HP and weak to Darkness: Dusknoir (13) + 4 cards KOs it for 2 Prizes. Skyliner gives Dhelmise free retreat.

Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex

Blood Moon (240) KOs anything you have. 260 HP, no Hide 'n' Sneak: Dusknoir (13) + 7 cards for 2 Prizes.

Alakazam Dusknoir vs N's Zoroark

Any of their attacks knocks out anything of yours, so it's a prize race: your 1-Prize Pokémon against their 2-Prize N's Zoroark ex. Keep your hand big through Judge and Unfair Stamp and count every Cursed Blast.

Their plan

  • Night Joker copies a Benched N's Pokémon: Rampaging Thunder (250) or Virtuous Flame (170). Both KO Alakazam (140) and Dusknoir (160).
  • Your Pokémon are weak to Darkness: even a copied Shred (70) hits Alakazam for 140, a KO.
  • Hand disruption: Judge leaves you 4 cards, Unfair Stamp only 2. That's 8 or 4 counters from Powerful Hand.
  • Pecharunt ex: Irritated Outburst does 60 for each Prize you've taken, so it gets stronger late.

Your prize plan

  1. KO N's Zorua (70) before it evolves: Powerful Hand with 4 cards if it's Active, or Dusknoir's Cursed Blast (13 counters) on the Bench.
  2. Cut off the big attack: N's Zekrom and N's Reshiram (130) die to one Cursed Blast on the Bench. Without them, Night Joker loses its 250 and 170 attacks.
  3. Zoroark ex (280) in one turn: Cursed Blast + Powerful Hand with 8 cards, or Dusclops + Dusknoir + 5 cards. Don't leave it half-damaged.
  4. Cheap 2-Prize targets: Pecharunt ex (190) is Dusknoir + 3 cards; Meowth ex (170) is Dusknoir + 2. Pull them in with Boss's Orders or Prime Catcher.

Against an Active N's Zoroark ex (280 HP)

Powerful Hand, 8 cards160
Powerful Hand, 14 cards280 · KO
Cursed Blast (Dusknoir) + Powerful Hand, 8 cards290 · KO
Cursed Blast (Dusclops + Dusknoir) + Powerful Hand, 5 cards280 · KO

Don't

  • Cursed Blast without counting Prizes: each one gives them a Prize. They need 6, so plan how many you can afford.
  • Playing cards you don't need before Powerful Hand: every card played is 2 counters less.
  • Leaving Special Red Card unused: once they're at 3 Prizes, it resets their hand to 3 cards before their KO turn.

Key turn

  • The turn after their Judge or Unfair Stamp. Gwynn (up to 6 cards) and evolving Kadabra/Alakazam refill the hand; if you still KO a Zoroark ex, you stay ahead.
  • The turn you take a Zoroark ex and a Benched Zorua or Zekrom together: 3 Prizes in one go.

If they play…

N's Darmanitan

Flamebody Cannon does 90 to your Bench: Dusclops, Kadabra and Basics fall. Get Shaymin down early; Flower Curtain stops it.

Yveltal

Clutch stops your Active from retreating. Keep an Abra handy: Teleportation Attack switches it out.

Fezandipiti ex

Another 2-Prize target: Dusknoir + 4 cards KOs its 210 HP. Flip the Script refills their hand after your KOs.

Alakazam Dusknoir vs Basic Box

Your Pokémon give 1 Prize each; theirs give 2 or 3. Take 2-Prize turns with Cursed Blast + Powerful Hand faster than Mega Kangaskhan ex can knock out six of yours.

Their plan

  • Mega Kangaskhan ex: Rapid-Fire Combo does at least 200, enough to KO anything you have. Run Errand draws 2 while it's Active.
  • Bench damage: Fezandipiti ex's Cruel Arrow (100) and Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex's Torrential Pump (120) pick off Kadabra (80), Dusclops (90) and your Basics.
  • Hand disruption: Unfair Stamp after you KO something leaves you with 2 cards for Powerful Hand.
  • Latias ex gives their Basics free retreat, so they switch attackers every turn.

Your prize plan

  1. Turn 1: Budew + Shaymin. Itchy Pollen stops Ultra Ball and Energy Switch, slowing their 3-Energy Kangaskhan; Flower Curtain protects your Bench from Cruel Arrow and Torrential Pump.
  2. Take the 2-Prize ex first: Meowth ex (170) is Dusknoir + 2 cards, Lillie's Clefairy ex (190) + 3, Teal Mask Ogerpon ex or Latias ex (210) + 4.
  3. Kangaskhan (300) is 3 Prizes: Dusknoir + Powerful Hand with 9 cards, or Dusclops + Dusknoir + 6 cards. Take it when it's Active.
  4. Three ex KOs win. Spend no more than 2-3 Cursed Blasts: each one gives them a Prize toward their 6.

Against an Active Mega Kangaskhan ex (300 HP)

Powerful Hand, 10 cards200
Powerful Hand, 15 cards300 · KO
Cursed Blast (Dusknoir) + Powerful Hand, 9 cards310 · KO
Cursed Blast (Dusclops + Dusknoir) + Powerful Hand, 6 cards300 · KO

Don't

  • Playing Shaymin late: one Cruel Arrow on a Kadabra or Dusclops costs you a Prize and your engine.
  • Emptying your hand before attacking: each card played is 2 counters fewer from Powerful Hand.
  • Using Cursed Blast on 1-Prize Pokémon like Chien-Pao: it trades Prizes evenly and that race favors them.

Key turn

  • The first Kangaskhan KO. 3 Prizes in one turn puts you well ahead; Boss's Orders the next ex and Special Red Card their hand once they're at 3 Prizes.
  • After their Unfair Stamp: Gwynn and evolutions rebuild the hand before you attack.

If they play…

Hero's Cape

Kangaskhan goes to 400 HP. Skip it and take two 2-Prize ex instead.

Xerosic's Machinations

Cuts your hand to 3 cards. Keep Gwynn and evolutions for the next turn to rebuild it.

Iron Crown ex

Twin Shotels does 50 to 2 Pokémon: two Abra (50) go down in one attack. Bench only the Abra you need.

Alakazam Dusknoir vs Slowking

A good matchup. Their attackers give 1 Prize but their engine is 2- and 3-Prize ex; Shaymin blanks Trifrost on your Bench, and Powerful Hand plus Cursed Blast takes Kangaskhan in one turn.

Their plan

  • Trifrost (copied by Slowking): 110 to 3 Pokémon. Abra, Kadabra, Duskull, Dusclops and Budew all fall; Alakazam (140) and Dusknoir (160) survive.
  • Metallic Hammer (copied): 150 Knocks Out an Active Alakazam (140); Dusknoir (160) survives it.
  • Rapid-Fire Combo: Mega Kangaskhan ex hits 200+, enough for anything you own. Run Errand draws them 2 a turn from the Active Spot.
  • Thunder Raid (Zeraora, copied): 210 to a Benched Pokémon ex. Your Fezandipiti ex (210) is the only target.

Your prize plan

  1. Shaymin down before their turn 2. Flower Curtain stops Trifrost damage on your Benched Abra, Duskull and Kadabra, so their sweep only damages your Active and any Benched ex.
  2. Slowking first (120). Powerful Hand with 6 cards Knocks it Out; Slowpoke (80) needs 4. Keep Cursed Blast for Pokémon worth 2 or 3 Prizes.
  3. Mega Kangaskhan ex = 3 Prizes. Dusknoir's Cursed Blast (13 counters) + Powerful Hand with 9 cards = 310 ≥ 300.
  4. Boss's Orders or Prime Catcher on their Bench ex. Meowth ex (170): Dusknoir + 2 cards. Lillie's Clefairy ex (190): Dusknoir + 3. Latias ex (210): Dusknoir + 4.

Against an Active Mega Kangaskhan ex (300 HP)

Powerful Hand, 10 cards in hand200
Powerful Hand, 15 cards in hand300 · KO
Dusknoir's Cursed Blast + Powerful Hand, 9 cards310 · KO
Dusclops + Dusknoir Cursed Blast + Powerful Hand, 6 cards300 · KO

Don't

  • Benching Fezandipiti ex early: Thunder Raid takes it for 2 Prizes.
  • Playing cards you don't need before Powerful Hand: every card played is 2 counters less.
  • Cursed Blast on a 1-Prize Slowking when Powerful Hand can do it: each Blast hands them a Prize.

Key turn

  • Their first Trifrost. With Shaymin in play your Bench takes nothing; without it you lose 3 evolving Pokémon and your draw.
  • The Kangaskhan turn: Dusknoir ready on the Bench and 9+ cards in hand takes 3 Prizes at once.

If they play…

Annihilape

Ghostly Blow places 5 counters on your Bench: counters are not damage, so Shaymin doesn't stop them. Abra (50) falls.

Special Red Card

At 3 Prizes or fewer your hand becomes 3 cards. Jump from 4 to 2 Prizes in one turn with Cursed Blast.

Zeraora

Keep Fezandipiti ex in the deck until you need Flip the Script; it is your only Benched ex.

Sources