Competitive Information for Xerneas [Sword/Shield]
Fairy
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Xerneas? 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.
Xerneas is a sensational Fairy-typed Pokemon. It's frequent to see Xerneas show up as a Sword/Shield opponent. Xerneas is considered strong enough to compete with Uber tiered Pokemon. Xerneas's only type-related weaknesses are Poison and Steel.
Item: Eject Pack / Choice Band
Ability: Fairy Aura
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Play Rough
- Outrage
- Close Combat
- Night Slash
Physical Sweeper Xerneas (Fairy Aura)
Xerneas is a legendary Physical Sweeper for single battles. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Xerneas's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Fairy Aura, while Xerneas is active a fairy move used by any pokemon has 1.33x power. With a Eject Pack equipped to it, if Xerneas's stat stages are lowered, it switches to a chosen ally then the Eject Pack gets consumed.
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Xerneas afterwards).
◆ Close Combat is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Xerneas's defense and special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Night Slash is a physical 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a2cc
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Fairy Aura
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Misty Explosion / Moonblast
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
Special Sweeper Xerneas (Fairy Aura)
Xerneas is a legendary Special Sweeper for single battles. The purpose of this moveset is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and raises Xerneas's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Xerneas's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Fairy Aura, while Xerneas is active a fairy move used by any pokemon has 1.33x power.
◆ Moonblast is a special STAB-boosted 95-base power Fairy-type move (30% chance to lower the target's special attack by 1 stage).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Psyshock is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (damages target based on defense, not special defense).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Xerneas cannot move next turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a2cc
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Xerneas? 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: Power Herb
Ability: Fairy Aura
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
EVs: 60 Hp / 4 Def / 180 SpA / 12 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Dazzling Gleam
- Protect
- Geomancy
- Hyper Beam
Doubles Special Sweeper Xerneas (Popular VGC)
Xerneas is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. This particular build was popular during previous competitions. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. With Fairy Aura, while Xerneas is active a fairy move used by any pokemon has 1.33x power. With a Power Herb equipped to it, Xerneas's two-turn moves complete in one turn (except sky drop) then the Power Herb gets consumed.
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Xerneas this turn).
◆ Geomancy is a status move (charges, then raises spa, spd, spe by 2 stages turn 2).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Xerneas cannot move next turn).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a2cc
Item: Eject Pack / Choice Band
Ability: Fairy Aura
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Rock Slide
- Play Rough
- Outrage
- Close Combat
Doubles Physical Sweeper Xerneas (Fairy Aura)
Xerneas is a legendary Physical Sweeper for double battles. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Xerneas's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Fairy Aura, while Xerneas is active a fairy move used by any pokemon has 1.33x power. With a Eject Pack equipped to it, if Xerneas's stat stages are lowered, it switches to a chosen ally then the Eject Pack gets consumed.
◆ Play Rough is a physical STAB-boosted 90-base power Fairy-type move (10% chance to lower the target's attack by 1 stage).
◆ Outrage is a physical 120-base power Dragon-type move (lasts 2-3 turns. Confuses your Xerneas afterwards).
◆ Close Combat is a physical 120-base power Fighting-type move (lowers your Xerneas's defense and special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a2cc
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Fairy Aura
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Dazzling Gleam / Misty Explosion
- Hyper Voice / Hyper Beam
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Thunderbolt
Doubles Special Sweeper Xerneas (Fairy Aura)
Xerneas is a legendary Special Sweeper for double battles. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Hyper Voice) and boosts Xerneas's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Xerneas's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Fairy Aura, while Xerneas is active a fairy move used by any pokemon has 1.33x power.
◆ Misty Explosion is a special STAB-boosted 100-base power Fairy-type move (Xerneas faints. Xerneas on misty terrain: 1.5x power).
◆ Hyper Voice is a special 90-base power Normal-type move (no additional effect. Hits adjacent foes).
◆ Hyper Beam is a special 150-base power Normal-type move (Xerneas cannot move next turn).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Psyshock is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (damages target based on defense, not special defense).
◆ Thunderbolt is a special 90-base power Electric-type move (10% chance to paralyze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id12a2cc
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Xerneas 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 Xerneas 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 Xerneas
- Moves: Rain dance + Thunder
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Geomancy + Item: Power Herb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that inflict status: Thunder Wave
Moves that boost Xerneas's stats
- Calm Mind
- Geomancy
Most notable and possible best moves for Xerneas
- Geomancy
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Reflect
- Rest
Common Effort Values for Xerneas in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Xerneas's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Xerneas. Top rated Xerneas Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Xerneas builds Sword/Shield. Xerneas movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Xerneas Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Xerneas in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution