The Legendary Fairy-type Xerneas returns to Pokemon Go 5-Star Raids in August 2024, but you’ll need some strong counters if you want to take it down and catch it.
Known as the Life Pokemon, the stag-like Xerneas first appeared in Pokemon X & Y’s Kalos region on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2013. It then made its Pokemon Go debut in May 2021 during the Luminous Legends X event.
If you missed out on previous appearances or just want another chance at catching a Shiny, you’ll be glad to know that Xerneas is returning to 5-Star Raids from August 21 through September 3 and will be featured in Raid Hours on August 21 and 28.
Below, we’ve put together a guide for the best counters you should be taking into battle against Xerneas to capitalize on its weaknesses, as well as the movesets that will help lead you to victory.
Xerneas weaknesses in Pokemon Go
Xerneas is a pure Fairy-type Pokemon, which means its only weaknesses are Steel and Poison-type attacks. Focus on either of these when you head into battle.
When it comes to Xerneas’ resistances, you’ll want to avoid using Dark, Dragon, and Fighting-types, as they won’t do much damage and will be weak to the Life Pokemon’s attacks.
Xerneas counters in Pokemon Go
The absolute best counters to use against Xerneas in 5-Star Raids are Shadow Metagross and Mega Gengar, but many trainers won’t have access to these powered-up creatures.
We’ve listed the best non-Mega and non-Shadow counters to take into battle against Xerneas below:
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| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move | Sprite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metagross | Bullet Punch | Meteor Mash | |
| Dialga | Metal Claw | Iron Head | |
| Genesect | Metal Claw | Magnet Bomb | |
| Roserade | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb | |
| Gengar | Lick | Sludge Bomb | |
| Excadrill | Metal Claw | Iron Head | |
| Jirachi | Charge Beam | Doom Desire | |
| Victreebel | Acid | Sludge Bomb | |
| Aggron | Iron Tail | Heavy Slam | |
| Vileplume | Acid | Sludge Bomb |
There’s a good mix of rare Legendaries and more common finds in the table above, so there should be something for every trainer to take into battle against the powerful Xerneas.
If you don’t have any of those, though, don’t panic – simply focus on your most powerful Steel and Poison-type Pokemon, team up with at least five other trainers, and you should have a good shot at success.
Is Xerneas worth getting?
When Xerneas first made its Pokemon Go debut, many Trainers criticized Niantic for giving it a poor selection of Fast Moves, with only Tackle and Zen Headbutt at its disposal.
But now that it has the Fast Move Geomonacy in its movepool, Xerneas is actually looking like a great Pokemon for your collection. A quick look at PvPoke shows us that it ranks 5th in the Master League with key wins over Dragonite, Garchomp, and even Dialga.
Can Xerneas be Shiny in Pokemon Go?
The good news is that Shiny Xerneas is currently available to encounter in Pokemon Go. It made its debut in October 2022.
While Legendary Raid Bosses do have a much higher chance of being Shiny than regular wild spawns, it’s still going to require a mix of luck and persistence to find a Shiny Xerneas.
That’s everything you need to know about defeating Xerneas! Check out some more Pokemon Go guides including the Spotlight Hour schedule and event calendar.