Competitive Information for Xatu [Sun/Moon]
Psychic / Flying
Abilities:
This Pokemon's sleep counter drops by 2 instead of 1.
This Pokemon blocks certain Status moves and bounces them back to the user.
If another Pokemon burns/poisons/paralyzes this Pokemon, it also gets that status.

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Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Xatu? These builds are optimized for Sun/Moon Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sun/Moon metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
BlisseyFerrothornLopunny-MegaTogedemaruReuniclusQuagsireTapu%20BuluBisharpTogekissKlefki
Unleash the power of Xatu, a cool Pokémon with Psychic and Flying typing. Xatu is a common Pokémon to see in the SM metagame. It's an underrated pick that could surprise many in the meta. It is weak to Dark, Electric, Ghost, Ice, and Rock-typed attacks. Ready to elevate your game with Xatu's movesets? They're right below!
Item: Leftovers / Grassy Seed
Ability: Magic Bounce
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Heat Wave
- Psychic / Stored Power
- Roost / Air Slash
- Trick
Xatu proves to be a sensational Special Sweeper for single battles. It's goal is to crush rivals using overwhelming special attacks. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Xatu last longer regaining it's healthiness every turn. With Magic Bounce, Xatu blocks certain status moves and bounces them back to the user. With a Grassy Seed equipped to it, if the terrain is grassy terrain, raises holder's defense by 1 stage then the Grassy Seed gets consumed.
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Stored Power is a special STAB-boosted 20-base power Psychic-type move (+ 20 power for each of your Xatu's stat boosts).
◆ Roost is a status move (heals 50% hp. Flying-type removed until turn ends).
◆ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Trick is a status move (Xatu switches its held item with the target's).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/kaab2
Item: Psychium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 76 Hp / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Synchronoise / Psychic
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
Prepare for single battles with Xatu as a pretty decent Special Sweeper. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with potent special moves. Focus Sash helps protect Xatu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Synchronize, if another pokemon burns/poisons/paralyzes Xatu it also gets that status. With a Psychium Z equipped to it, if Xatu has a psychic move, this item allows it to use a psychic z-move.
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
◆ Dazzling Gleam is a special 80-base power Fairy-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/kbab2
Item: Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EVs: 248 Hp / 104 Def / 156 SpD
Moveset:
- Roost
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Night Shade / Psychic
When it comes to single battles, Xatu shines as a phenomenal Double Wall. This setup is intended to have enough defenses and bulk to take both physical and special hits. With Magic Bounce, Xatu blocks certain status moves and bounces them back to the user. With a Light Clay equipped to it, Xatu's use of aurora veil, light screen, or reflect lasts 8 turns instead of 5.
◆ Reflect is a status move (for 5 turns, physical damage to allies is halved).
◆ Light Screen is a status move (for 5 turns, special damage to allies is halved).
◆ Night Shade is a special 0-base power Ghost-type move (does damage equal to your Xatu's level).
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/kcab2
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Xatu? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sun/Moon Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sun/Moon metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
BlisseyFerrothornLopunny-MegaTogedemaruReuniclusQuagsireTapu%20BuluBisharpTogekissKlefki
Item: Psychium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 76 Hp / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Synchronoise / Psychic
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
Xatu thrives as a phenomenal Special Sweeper perfect for double battles. It's goal is to crush rivals using destructive special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Xatu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Synchronize, if another pokemon burns/poisons/paralyzes Xatu it also gets that status. With a Psychium Z equipped to it, if Xatu has a psychic move, this item allows it to use a psychic z-move.
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
◆ Dazzling Gleam is a special 80-base power Fairy-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/laab2
Item: Psychium Z / Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spe)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Moveset:
- Synchronoise / Psychic
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Trick Room
Xatu excels as a superior Defensive Trick Roomer during single battles. Focus Sash helps protect Xatu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. With Synchronize, if another pokemon burns/poisons/paralyzes Xatu it also gets that status. With a Psychium Z equipped to it, if Xatu has a psychic move, this item allows it to use a psychic z-move.
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Air Cutter is a special STAB-boosted 60-base power Flying-type move (high critical hit ratio. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Air Slash is a special STAB-boosted 75-base power Flying-type move (30% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Heat Wave is a special 95-base power Fire-type move (10% chance to burn the foes).
◆ Trick Room is a status move (goes last. For 5 turns, turn order is reversed).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/lbab2
Movepool
Want to know what moves Xatu can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sun/Moon generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Xatu.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Xatu can perform in Sun/Moon. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SM Move and Ability Combos for Xatu
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Wish + Baton pass
- Moves: Swagger + Foul play
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Psych up + Haze
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Pain split + Toxic
- Moves: Stored power + Psych up
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Ally Switch, Detect, Endure, Magic Coat, Protect, Quick Attack, Sucker Punch
- Moves that Break Screens: Defog
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave, Toxic
Moves that boost Xatu's stats
- Calm Mind
- Curse
- Ominous Wind
- Silver Wind
- Steel Wing
- Note:This Pokemon can also learn Stored Power.
Most notable and possible best moves for Xatu
- Air Slash
- Baton Pass
- Calm Mind
- Dazzling Gleam
- Defog
- Future Sight
- Heat Wave
- Light Screen
- Night Shade
- Protect
- Protect
- Psychic
- Reflect
- Rest
- Roost
- Stored Power
- Teleport
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Trick
- Trick Room
- U-turn
- U-turn
- Wish
Common Effort Values for Xatu in Sun and Moon
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/4/252/ )
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/4/0/0/ )
- Optimize Xatu's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sun and Moon
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.

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Here are the best movesets for Xatu. Top rated Xatu Sun/Moon movesets. You can find Xatu builds Sun/Moon. Xatu movesets Sun/Moon are listed here. VGC Xatu Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Xatu in Sun/Moon along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution