Xerneas Best Moveset
Legendary stats at 131/131 balanced offenses with 126 HP and 95/98 defenses. Fairy TermStab fires at 99 Speed cooldowns with elite power from either offensive side. The moveset doesn't need Mega access. These base stats outclass most Mega forms on sheer numbers.
Geomancy doubled Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, and Speed in one turn in Gen VI (X & Y). Power Herb skipped the charge turn. One free turn and Xerneas swept the restricted format.
Best Moves
Best Build
Xerneas best EVs are Sp. Atk and HP
Special Attacker Moveset
- Moonblast
- Geomancy
- Focus Blast
- Aromatherapy
Two gens dominating the restricted format in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Every restricted team was built to either use Xerneas or stop it. The format revolved around Geomancy.
Special Tank Moveset
- Moonblast
- Geomancy
- Focus Blast
- Thunder
Three gens in the restricted format in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Dynamax Max Starfall set Misty Terrain while dealing Fairy damage. Geomancy was still the win condition.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Moonblast
- Geomancy
- Thunder
- Focus Blast
Recommended Teammates
Xerneas Weakness
Xerneas is weak to Poison and Steel. On the flip side, it's immune to Dragon-type moves entirely. Xerneas's overall bulk (126/95/98) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Poison, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Bug, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Dragon |
What is Xerneas Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Xerneas
Salazzle's Flamethrower hits Xerneas for 34-40%.
 Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Xerneas View Salazzle builds →Flamethrower34-40% | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | B | |
Evolution
Xerneas is a powerhouse with 680 total stats as a Fairy legendary. Can't breed it, so you're locked to whatever you catch or receive. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Shiny Xerneas
Xerneas gets a pale white-blue body with lighter antlers, and the life deer takes on an ethereal, almost ghostly appearance. Worth noting that Xerneas is shiny-locked in X and Y, so you're hunting this in later games. The Neutral Mode (standing still) has a slightly different feel than Active Mode.
Shiny Xerneas Evolution
Does Not EvolveShiny Xerneas Odds & Hunting Methods
6 of 6 VerifiedHow do we research these odds?
We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.
Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.
Read our full methodologyHow to Get Xerneas
You'll find Xerneas at Wild Zone 11 as a set encounter. It's always there at that location, so come prepared for the battle. The location details below cover exact positioning.
How to Get Xerneas in Legends: Z-A
1 location for Xerneas in endgame routes. Scroll the list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route.
Best Locations to Catch Xerneas in Sword & Shield
Xerneas belongs to Ultra Sun alone, the radiant life-giver of Kalos found through an Ultra Wormhole in Ultra Space, an encounter waiting at level 60 late in the story.
How to Get Xerneas in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Xerneas can't be caught in Sun & Moon. Transfer one in from X & Y or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
Xerneas cannot be caught in the wild in Sun & Moon, but you can still get it via these paths:
Obtain and trade from these games:
Then trade to Sun & Moon.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Base Stats
The stat line revolves around Attack. Percentage recovery gets extra mileage here. Sp. Atk backs it up, though Defense doesn't pull its weight. Worth 3 HP EVs on a slow 1.25M XP grind to max out.
When the horns on its head shine in seven colors, it is said to be sharing everlasting life.
Xerneas Event Distributions
Xerneas is available through a handful of Mystery Gift event distributions rather than as a regular giveaway.
Wow! It’s a Shiny Xerneas!XYOmega RubyAlpha SapphireAlways shiny
Anime XY&Z XerneasXYOmega RubyAlpha SapphireAlways shiny
Xerneas GiftOmega RubyAlpha SapphireAlways shiny
Brilliant Xerneas!MoonNot shiny
Game Availability
Since X & Y, Xerneas has appeared in 6 games. Legendary Pokemon like Xerneas are usually found through story events or special post-game areas rather than random encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Xerneas.
Next stepPokedexBrowse the full Pokedex for every gameSee Pokedex