Pokemon GO is bringing the legendary Xerneas as a raid boss, offering trainers a chance to catch the monster. The developers of Niantic feature multiple legendary fighters as raid bosses, but they are constantly rotating. This time, Xerneas is taking the stage as a 5-star raid boss.
Xerneas originates from the Kalos region (Gen 6) and has a whooping Pokemon GO CP of 4275. As a 5-star raid boss, its powers boost even further. Trainers should avoid fighting the boss solo and instead prepare a team with powerful counters. This guide goes in-depth about the Xerneas riad and everything one has to know before attempting it.
Pokemon GO: Xerneas Weaknesses and Resistance
Xerneas' stats are as impressive as its counterpart Yveltal; both have 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. So, players should avoid its resistance and focus on picking counters around its weaknesses.
The Fairy-type legendary's power boosts in cloudy weather, so Pokemon GO players should skip raid locations with such weather conditions. One can tap into the Same Type of Attack Bonus (STAB) feature; the effect triggers when the monster's attack type is similar to its attribute type.
Best Xerneas Raid Counters in Pokemon GO
Defeating a legendary Pokemon GO raid boss requires strategic counter-selection. One must have proper meta-knowledge and a team of players with powerful counters before participating in the raid. Since the raid boss is weak against poison and steel-type attacks, the smart move would be to select counters with such attack types.
Xerneas Counters | Fast Attack | Charge Attack |
|---|---|---|
Metagross | Bullet Punch | Bullet Punch |
Nihilego | Acid | Sludge Bomb |
Dialga | Metal Claw | Iron Head |
Melmetal | Thunder Shock | Double Iron Bash |
Roserade | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb |
Zacian | Metal Claw | Iron Head |
Burn Genesect | Metal Claw | Magnet Bomb |
Primal Groudon | Mudshot | Precipice Blades |
Gengar | Lick | Sludge Bomb |
Overqwil | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb |
How To Get Shiny Xerneas in Pokemon GO
Catching a legendary Pokemon is challenging, and getting a Shiny legendary is even harder. Shiny collectors always look for legendary Shiny variants, and Pokemon GO raids are great for encountering one. Players can 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. One must participate in multiple Xerneas raids to catch up to its Shiny spawn rate and encounter a Shiny Xerneas.
Pokemon GO is available for iOS and Android.