Xerneas, the first Fairy-type Legendary Pokémon in Pokémon GO, is a Tier 5 raid boss and a challenge worth tackling. Not only can you encounter it in its dazzling Shiny form, but Xerneas also packs impressive stats and bulk, making it a formidable opponent.
Xerneas Catch CP Ranges
- Level 20 (No Weather Boost): 2073 – 2160 CP
- Level 25 (Cloudy Weather Boost): 2591 – 2701 CP
Xerneas has a mono-Fairy typing, meaning it’s boosted in Cloudy weather and is particularly weak to strong Steel and Poison-type Pokémon. If you’re gearing up for this raid, be prepared to bring out your best counters, and consider teaming up with at least 3 highly prepared trainers. For optimal safety and ease, however, we recommend assembling a group of 5-7 trainers.
Top Xerneas Raid Counters
Here are the best counters for taking down Xerneas:
- Necrozma (Dusk Mane)
- Fast Move: Metal Claw (Steel)
- Charge Move: Sunsteel Strike (Steel)
- Why: Necrozma in its Dusk Mane form is an exceptional Steel-type attacker, dealing significant damage while resisting Xerneas’ Fairy-type moves.
- Metagross (Shadow)
- Fast Move: Bullet Punch (Steel)
- Charge Move: Meteor Mash (Steel)
- Why: Shadow Metagross is a powerhouse with its powerful Steel-type moves, making it one of the top counters against Xerneas.
- Gengar (Mega)
- Fast Move: Lick (Ghost)
- Charge Move: Sludge Bomb (Poison)
- Why: Mega Gengar can unleash potent Poison-type attacks, exploiting Xerneas’ weakness, and it’s also relatively fast in battle.
- Metagross
- Fast Move: Bullet Punch (Steel)
- Charge Move: Meteor Mash (Steel)
- Why: Even in its non-Shadow form, Metagross remains a top-tier Steel-type counter, offering both durability and heavy damage output.
- Rayquaza (Mega)
- Fast Move: Air Slash (Flying)
- Charge Move: Dragon Ascent (Flying)
- Why: Mega Rayquaza can deal massive damage, although its Flying-type moves aren’t super-effective, its sheer power still makes it a strong contender.
- Beedrill (Mega)
- Fast Move: Poison Jab (Poison)
- Charge Move: Sludge Bomb (Poison)
- Why: Mega Beedrill’s Poison-type attacks are highly effective against Xerneas, though it’s a bit more fragile than other options.
- Excadrill (Shadow)
- Fast Move: Metal Claw (Steel)
- Charge Move: Iron Head (Steel)
- Why: Shadow Excadrill delivers powerful Steel-type attacks and can handle Xerneas’ charge moves reasonably well.
- Nihilego
- Fast Move: Poison Jab (Poison)
- Charge Move: Sludge Bomb (Poison)
- Why: Nihilego is another strong Poison-type attacker, excellent for exploiting Xerneas’ weakness.
- Gengar (Shadow)
- Fast Move: Lick (Ghost)
- Charge Move: Sludge Bomb (Poison)
- Why: Shadow Gengar, like its Mega form, is a top-tier Poison-type counter, though it’s a bit glassy in battle.
- Necrozma (Dawn Wings)
- Fast Move: Metal Claw (Steel)
- Charge Move: Moongeist Beam (Ghost)
- Why: Necrozma’s Dawn Wings form provides a strong mix of Steel and Ghost-type moves, making it a versatile option.
Xerneas Moveset Analysis
Xerneas can learn a variety of moves in Pokémon GO, making it a versatile opponent. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Fast Moves:
- Tackle (Normal): Not super-effective against any type, easily resisted by Steel types.
- Zen Headbutt (Psychic): Deals super-effective damage to Poison types like Mega Gengar, but isn’t particularly strong overall.
- Charge Moves:
- Geomancy (Fairy): A powerful Fairy-type move, significantly boosts Xerneas as a Fairy-type attacker.
- Moonblast (Fairy): Gains STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) and hits extremely hard.
- Close Combat (Fighting): Watch out, this can take a chunk out of your Steel-type counters.
- Thunder (Electric): Difficult to dodge and can deal substantial damage.
- Megahorn (Bug): A decent move, but not a major threat to most counters.
- Giga Impact (Normal): Heavy damage but can be dodged; Steel types can handle it well.
With the addition of Geomancy, Xerneas has finally become a viable Fairy-type attacker. Its combination of bulk and powerful moves means it will take a while to bring down, so patience and coordination are key.
Xerneas Stats and Max CP
- Max CP at Level 40: 3781
- Max CP at Level 50: 4275
- Attack: 250
- Defense: 185
- HP: 246
- Weak To: Steel, Poison
- Resistant To: Dark, Dragon, Fighting
Conclusion
With its newly added Fairy-type fast move, Xerneas has become a top-tier Pokémon in the Master League. If you missed out on getting a strong Xerneas in the past, now is the perfect opportunity to catch a powerful one—and maybe even its Shiny variant. Remember, having the right counters, along with strength in numbers, will make defeating Xerneas much easier.
Good luck with your raids and happy shiny hunting!
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