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 AbilityCorrosion ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Xerneas View Salazzle builds →Flamethrower34-40% | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
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
How to Get Xerneas
No wild encounters for Xerneas in Legends: Z-A. It's available in X & Y or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
Xerneas is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Xerneas can't be caught in Sword & Shield. Bring it over from X & Y or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Xerneas is not available as a wild encounter in this game.
Also Obtainable In:
Pokemon transfers only go forward through generations, never backward. Direct cross-gen trades aren't supported.
Xerneas is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Ultra Space Wilds when your team is ready for the fight.
How to Get Xerneas in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Xerneas doesn't appear in Sun & Moon. Transfer it from X & Y or Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
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 Guide
Xerneas is a Legendary Pokemon rated S-Tier. At 680 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wallbreaker. That 131 base Attack does the heavy lifting.
Fairy Aura is the go-to ability for Xerneas. It strengthens fairy moves to 1.33× their power for all friendly and opposing Pokémon. It's Xerneas's only ability.
Xerneas is a mixed attacker with base 131 Attack and 131 Sp. Atk. Tanky enough to absorb a few hits, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 99 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Best way to handle Xerneas: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Physical attackers can break through.
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 7LGPE
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