Xerneas Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Xerneas in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Xerneas
Xerneas is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Fairy typing. The best counter is Shadow Metagross (Shadow) with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash, dealing 32.800 DPS.
Xerneas can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Xerneas is weak to Poison, Steel -type attacks. Avoid using Dragon, Bug, Dark-type moves as Xerneas resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Xerneas is Shadow Metagross (32.800 DPS), Mega Lucario (32.800 DPS), and Mega Metagross (31.467 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Xerneas: After defeating Xerneas, the catch encounter will have a CP between 2125 and 2214 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2643-2755 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Xerneas from raids will have exactly 2214 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Xerneas?
The best counter for Xerneas is Shadow Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash, dealing 32.800 DPS. Other top options include Mega Lucario (32.800 DPS) and Mega Metagross (31.467 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Xerneas?
Xerneas can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Xerneas weak to?
Xerneas is weak to Poison, Steel-type attacks. It resists Dragon, Bug, Dark, Fighting-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Xerneas be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Xerneas's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Xerneas from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Xerneas from raids will have 2214 CP at level 20, or 2755 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 2125. If you see 2214 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Xerneas worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Xerneas is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Xerneas?
For the best moveset for Xerneas itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Xerneas stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Xerneas without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Xerneas can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Deoxys (Attack) (28.710 DPS) and Eternatus (27.882 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Xerneas in raids?
Weather boost information for Xerneas is not currently available. Fairy-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.