If you want to defeat and catch Xerneas in a Pokemon GO Raid, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know to beat Xerneas, as well as the best Pokemon to counter it!
Pokemon GO Raids can be very challenging, but you’ll have to do them if you want to catch rare Pokemon.
The only way to catch Xerneas in Pokemon GO is by defeating it in a Raid battle. Therefore, if you want to add this Legendary to your Pokedex, you’ll need to beat it first.
Here’s a full rundown of Xerneas’ type, weaknesses, resistances, and the best Pokemon to beat it. This will make battling it a breeze!
Pokemon GO Xerneas Raid Guide
Xerneas Type
Xerneas is a pure Fairy-type Pokemon. This means it has 2 weaknesses and 4 resistances you need to consider when fighting it.
Before you jump into a Raid, find out the top tips for winning Raids in Pokemon GO!
Xerneas Weaknesses
- Poison
- Steel
Both Poison and Steel-type attacks deal 160% damage to Xerneas! Therefore, you’ll want to fill your battle team with Poison and Steel-type Pokemon.
Xerneas Resistances
- Dragon (Double Resistant)
- Bug
- Dark
- Fighting
Bug, Dark, and Fighting-type attacks deal 63% damage to Xerneas. Meanwhile, its double resistance to Dragon means that attacks of that type only deal 39% damage.
Read More: How to Get Raid Passes in Pokemon GO
Best Pokemon to Counter Xerneas in Raids
The best Pokemon to counter Xerneas in Raids are Mega Gengar, Mega Beedrill, and Metagross. Therefore, you’ll want to know how to Mega Evolve Pokemon in Pokemon GO before you go into battle.
There are other great Pokemon to use in Xerneas Raids too. Here are the top 10 picks:
| Pokemon | Image | Fast Attack | Charged Attack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Gengar |  | Lick | Sludge Bomb |
| Metagross |  | Bullet Punch | Meteor Mash |
| Mega Beedrill |  | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb |
| Nihilego |  | Acid | Sludge Bomb |
| Mega Scizor |  | Bullet Punch | Iron Head |
| Dialga |  | Metal Claw | Iron Head |
| Excadrill |  | Metal Claw | Iron Head |
| Roserade |  | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb |
| Genesect |  | Metal Claw | Magnet Bomb |
| Overqwil |  | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb |
To make sure your Pokemon have the best attacks, find out how to get Elite Fast and Charged TMs in Pokemon GO.
Also, you’ll want to boost how much Candy you earn in Pokemon GO. More Candy means you can power up your Pokemon more.
Is There a Shiny Xerneas in Pokemon GO?
There is a shiny form of Xerneas in Pokemon GO that has a white body instead of a black body.
After you defeat it in a Raid, there is a chance that the Xerneas you encounter will be shiny.
Find out the exact chances of catching shiny Legendaries in Pokemon GO here.
If you come across a shiny Xerneas, you definitely won’t want it to escape. Check out our Pokemon GO Berries guide to find out the exact boosts for each Berry!
