Competitive Information for Xatu [Sword/Shield]
Psychic / Flying
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Xatu? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Xatu is a spectacular Psychic and Flying-typed Pokemon. Xatu are common Pokemon to see in the SS metagame. This Pokemon deserves to see more play in the meta. Xatu is weak to Dark, Electric, Ghost, Ice, and Rock-typed attacks.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 76 Hp / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Psychic / Expanding Force
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
Special Sweeper Xatu (Synchronize)
Xatu is a fabulous Special Sweeper for single battles. It tries to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Xatu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Xatu's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Synchronize, if another pokemon burns/poisons/paralyzes Xatu it also gets that status.
◆ Expanding Force is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (Xatu on psychic terrain: 1.5x power, hits foes).
◆ 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/is10ab2
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
Xatu Double Wall (Magic Jammer)
Xatu is an outstanding Double Wall for single battles. It's designed 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/is11ab2
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Xatu? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 76 Hp / 252 SpA / 180 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic / Psyshock
Doubles Special Sweeper Xatu (Synchronize)
Xatu is a fabulous Special Sweeper for double battles. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Xatu from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Xatu's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Synchronize, if another pokemon burns/poisons/paralyzes Xatu it also gets that status.
◆ 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).
◆ Psychic is a special STAB-boosted 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Psyshock is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (damages target based on defense, not special defense).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10ab2
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Synchronize
Nature: Quiet (+SpA, -Spe)
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 Hp / 128 Def / 128 SpD
Moveset:
- Psychic / Expanding Force
- Air Cutter / Air Slash
- Heat Wave
- Trick Room
Defensive Trick Room Xatu (Synchronize)
Xatu is a stupendous Defensive Trick Room for 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.
◆ Expanding Force is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Psychic-type move (Xatu on psychic terrain: 1.5x power, hits foes).
◆ 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/id11ab2
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Xatu learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Xatu can perform in Sword/Shield. 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 SS Move and Ability Combos for Xatu
- Moves: Sunny day + Solar beam
- Moves: Mimic + Imprison
- 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
- Cosmic Power
- Curse
- Steel Wing
- Note:This Pokemon can also learn Stored Power.
Most notable and possible best moves for Xatu
- Baton Pass
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
- Roost
- Stored Power
- Teleport
- Toxic
- U-turn
Common Effort Values for Xatu in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Xatu's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Xatu. Top rated Xatu Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Xatu builds Sword/Shield. Xatu movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Xatu Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Xatu in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution