Pokemon GO offers Trainers the chance to go up against Raid Bosses to earn XP and rewards, as well as obtain new powerful monsters for their collections and teams. However, these Raid Bosses are constantly rotating with every new in-game season and event across several different levels, including 1-Star, 3-Star, 5-Star, Shadow Raids, and Mega Raids.
Xerneas is a Legendary originating from the Kalos Region and is, therefore, a very significant Raid Boss and powerful foe for Trainers to encounter. For this reason, it is important that players evaluate the weaknesses and resistances of this monster and utilize the best counters to help take it down. Everything regarding Xerneas and how to overcome it in battle has been included in the guide below.
Updated by Grace Black on February 17, 2025: As Part of Pokemon GO’s Dual Destiny season, Xerneas has returned as a Raid Boss. For this reason, the guide below has been updated with all the latest information regarding stats, weaknesses/resistances, and counters.
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Pokemon GO: Xerneas Weaknesses and Resistance
Xerneas is a fearsome Fairy Type Raid Boss equipped with a maximum CP of 4275. Xerneas’ stats further enhance its potential, carrying a spread of 250 (ATK), 185 (DEF), and 246 (STA). Going into the battlefield, trainers should focus on taking advantage of Xerneas’ weaknesses.
The monster shows vulnerability when facing Poison and Steel Type moves in Pokemon GO. However, it can resist Dragon, Bug, Dark, and Fighting-type attacks. For this reason, players should avoid utilizing monsters and moves that share Types with their resistances and instead prioritize picking counters around Xerneas’ weaknesses.
Xerneas also receives a power boost in cloudy weather, so if Pokemon GO players do not want to put themselves at any disadvantage, they may wish to avoid Raids under such circumstances.
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Best Xerneas Raid Counters In Pokemon GO
Defeating a legendary Pokemon GO Raid boss requires strategic counter-selection. Since Xerneas is weak against Poison and Steel Type attacks, the smart move would be to select counters with such attack types.
Trainers can also look to tap into the Same Type of Attack Bonus (STAB) feature; this effect triggers when the monster’s attack type matches one of the two possible Types it holds and will result in bonus damage being applied to the opponent on a successful hit.
The best Xerneas counters involve utilizing powerful Pokemon of the Steel or Poison Type or, at the very least, monsters capable of using powerful moves of these Types. STAB comes into play to boost the effectiveness of many of these Pokemon when matched up against Xerneas.
However, if you do not have access to the exact specimens below, you may simply use them as an influence when it comes to building your own team.
Xerneas Counters in Pokemon GO
|
Pokemon |
Fast Attack |
Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Dusk Mane Necrozma |
Metal Claw |
Sunsteel Strike |
|
Dawn Wings Necrozma |
Metal Claw |
Moongeist Beam |
|
Mega Gengar |
Lick |
Sludge Bomb |
|
Shadow Metagross |
Bullet Punch |
Meteor Mash |
|
Nihilego |
Poison Jab |
Sludge Bomb |
|
Mega Beedrill |
Poison Jab |
Sludge Bomb |
|
Mega Aggron |
Iron Tail |
Heavy Slam |
|
Shadow Excadrill |
Metal Claw |
Iron Head |
|
Dialga |
Metal Claw |
Iron Head |
|
Melmetal |
Thunder Shock |
Double Iron Bash |
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How To Get Shiny Xerneas In Pokemon GO
Catching a legendary Pokemon is challenging, and getting a Shiny legendary is even harder. Luckily for Xerneas enthusiasts, shiny hunters, or anyone else with hopes of encountering this unique variant, it is possible for players to encounter a Shiny Xerneas after defeating the Raid boss.
After trainers take the Raid boss down, Shiny Xerneas may appear nearby; however, the Shiny encounter is not guaranteed. While some trainers might encounter the legendary Shiny, others might not due to Shiny rates.
The average rates for shiny Xerneas are one in 20, or around a 5% chance. The best way in which players can give themselves hopes of encountering one is by completing multiple raids to spawn more Xerneas, which gives more opportunities for one of them to be a lucky shiny.
