🥊 Personalized Xerneas Counters
📊Xerneas Raid Infographic
Xerneas– Life Pokémon
Xerneas is weak to the following types: 
x1 Poison, 
x1 Steel.
Generally speaking, the best counters for it are:Metagross, Dialga and Genesect.
Xerneas can be beaten by 2 players in optimal weather, with max friendship and perfect level 40 counters or by 4 unfriended players using level 20 counters from this guide. When caught, Xerneas will be between 2073 and 2160 cp without a weather boost. In Overcast weather, Xerneas will be between 2591 and 2701 when caught.
Raid – 
Zen Headbutt / 
Moonblast
There aren’t many Fairies, and with Xerneus’ base stats it’s going to be a tanky Fairy Type attacker. But lacking Charm hurts it a lot. It will likely get it’s signiture move Geomancy at some point.
There are a couple classes of unique pokemon that are more difficult to use than others, they have been filtered out here to not clog up the counters too much. These pokemon are much more resource expensive than other options.
• Shadow Metagross– Best in General simulations.
• Mega Gengar– Great in General simulations.
• Mega Beedrill– Great in General simulations.
• Shadow Mewtwo– Great in General simulations.
Less relavant Shadow and Mega Pokemon:Shadow Scizor, Shadow Victreebel, Shadow Vileplume, Shadow Muk, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pidgeot, Mega Venusaur, Shadow Skuntank, Shadow Dragonite, Shadow Nidoking, Shadow Venusaur, Shadow Moltres, Shadow Magnezone, Shadow Entei, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Raikou, Shadow Magneton, Mega Blastoise, Shadow Nidoqueen
• Shadow Metagross– Best in General simulations.
• Mega Gengar– Great in General simulations.
• Mega Beedrill– Great in General simulations.
• Shadow Mewtwo– Great in General simulations.
Less relavant Shadow and Mega Pokemon:Shadow Scizor, Shadow Victreebel, Shadow Vileplume, Shadow Muk, Mega Charizard Y, Mega Pidgeot, Mega Venusaur, Shadow Skuntank, Shadow Dragonite, Shadow Nidoking, Shadow Venusaur, Shadow Moltres, Shadow Magnezone, Shadow Entei, Shadow Machamp, Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Raikou, Shadow Magneton, Mega Blastoise, Shadow Nidoqueen
Sorted Hardest to Easiest.Tackle and Zen Headbutt both have about average DPS and EPS for the boss, But Zen Headbutt is super effective against Poison Type counters, while Steel resists both.
• Steel-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
• Steel-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
•Poison-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
• Steel-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
•Poison-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
•No Interaction
• Steel-Types are hit for 💥 Weakness
•Poison-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
Giga Impact:
• Steel-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
Megahorn:
• Steel-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance•
Poison-Types are hit for 🛡️ ResistanceMoonblast:
• Steel-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance•
Poison-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
Thunder:
•No Interaction
Close Combat:
• Steel-Types are hit for 💥 Weakness•
Poison-Types are hit for 🛡️ Resistance
Here is a list of Pokemon that can perform similar or better than the typical #1 option with weather bonuses:
| Pokemon | Name | Weather | Fast Move | Charge Move | Estimator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Shadow Metagross | ❄️Snow | Bullet Punch | Meteor Mash | 1.3 |
 | Mega Gengar | ☁️Overcast |  Lick | Sludge Bomb | 1.5 |
| Metagross | ❄️Snow | Bullet Punch | Meteor Mash | 1.6 |
 | Mega Beedrill | ☁️Overcast | Poison Jab | Sludge Bomb | 1.6 |
 | Dialga | ❄️Snow | Metal Claw | Iron Head | 1.8 |
 | Shadow Mewtwo | 🪁Windy | Confusion | Psystrike | 1.8 |
 | Shadow Scizor | ❄️Snow | Bullet Punch | Iron Head | 1.8 |
#1 Metagross
Bullet PunchMeteor Mash
its Legacy Moveset (Meteor Mash) was made very available during its community day in October 2018. Trading is the only way to acquire it right now. Non-Legacy Metagross can still be obtained however. Hopefully it will come back during a December Community Day event. With Level 35 Metagross you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Fairy,
Normal
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Fairy,
Normal#2 Dialga
Metal ClawIron Head
Dialga was first in raids March 2019, and hasn’t returned since. its a top tier Steel-Type Attacker who isn’t weak to Fire. With Level 35 Dialga you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Electric,
Normal
• 1× Weak:Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Electric,
Normal• 1× Weak:
Fighting#3 Genesect
Metal ClawMagnet Bomb
Genesect was first only available from a paid special research event. It was briefly in EX Raids, and has had only brief availability in raids. Genesect has Scizor’s fantastic typing, leaving it only weak to Fire-but doubly weak. With Level 35 Genesect you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy,
Normal
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy,
Normal#4 Genesect (Burn)
Metal ClawMagnet Bomb
With Level 35 Genesect (Burn) you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy,
Normal
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy,
Normal#5 Excadrill
Metal ClawIron Head
Excadrill is a new pokemon, but Drilbur are not rare, and it is boosted in sunny weather! It doesn’t look it, but Excadrill is a phenomental ground-Type attacker, and it’s Steel duel typing ussually help it more than it hurts. With Level 35 Excadrill you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:Electric
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy,
Normal
• 1× Weak:Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:
Electric• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy,
Normal• 1× Weak:
Fighting#6 Roserade
Poison JabSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Roserade you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Electric,
Fairy,
Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Electric,
Fairy,
Fighting#2 Gengar
LickSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Gengar you need 3 players.
Alternative Fast Moves: Shadow Claw, Hex
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Megahorn
Type Interactions:
• 3× Resists:Fighting
• 2× Resists:Bug,
Normal
• 1× Resists:Fairy
Alternative Fast Moves: Shadow Claw, Hex
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Megahorn
Type Interactions:
• 3× Resists:
Fighting• 2× Resists:
Bug,
Normal• 1× Resists:
Fairy#8 Jirachi
Charge BeamDoom Desire
Jirachi can be obtained from the “A Thousand-Year Slumber” Special Research. Among other things, this entails: catching 3 Whismur, evolving a Feebas, getting the Gold Hoenn Medal, catching 50 psychic/steel Pokemon, winning 5 raids, and spinning Pokestops 7 days in a row.
Jirachi is a top tier Steel-Type attacker, but NOTE, it is also fantastic in PVP. If you power up your one Jirachi above 1500 cp, it will become ineligible for Great League. With Level 35 Jirachi you need 3 players.
Alternative Fast Moves: Confusion
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Fairy,
Normal
Alternative Fast Moves: Confusion
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Fairy,
Normal#9 Regigigas
Hidden Power SteelGiga Impact
With Level 35 Regigigas you need 3 players.
Alternative Fast Moves: Hidden Power Poison
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Megahorn
Type Interactions:
• 1× Weak:Fighting
Alternative Fast Moves: Hidden Power Poison
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Megahorn
Type Interactions:
• 1× Weak:
Fighting#10 Scizor
Bullet PunchIron Head
Scyther and Scizor have been featured a couple of times reducing the difficulty to acquire one. You need a Metal Coat to evolve Scyther into Scizor, which can be acquired either: VERY rarely from spinning a pokestop, in a pool of other evolution items on your 7-day streak spinning Pokestop (guaranteed to get at least one item), or from the Celebi Special Research 4/8 rewards. Scyther nest and are a 5k hatch. With Level 35 Scizor you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy,
Normal
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy,
Normal#11 Mewtwo
ConfusionPsystrike
Psystrike was only available when it was a raid boss in September 2019, making it incredibly limited. Psychic is only a little bit below it however! With Level 35 Mewtwo you need 3 players.
Alternative Fast Moves: Psycho Cut
Alternative Charge Moves: Psychic
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Thunder
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Fighting
• 1× Weak:Bug
Alternative Fast Moves: Psycho Cut
Alternative Charge Moves: Psychic
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Thunder
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Fighting• 1× Weak:
Bug#12 Ho-Oh
Steel Wing
Brave Bird
With Level 35 Ho-Oh you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Megahorn
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:Bug
• 1× Resists:Fairy,
Fighting
• 1× Weak:Electric
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Megahorn
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:
Bug• 1× Resists:
Fairy,
Fighting• 1× Weak:
Electric#13 Victreebel
AcidSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Victreebel you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Electric,
Fairy,
Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Electric,
Fairy,
Fighting#14 Attack Deoxys
Poison JabZap Cannon
With Level 35 Attack Deoxys you need 3 players.
Alternative Charge Moves: Dark Pulse
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Fighting
• 1× Weak:Bug
Alternative Charge Moves: Dark Pulse
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Fighting• 1× Weak:
Bug#15 Vileplume
AcidSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Vileplume you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Electric,
Fairy,
Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Electric,
Fairy,
Fighting#16 Bisharp
Metal ClawIron Head
With Level 35 Bisharp you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Normal
• 2× Weak:Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Normal• 2× Weak:
Fighting#17 Heatran
Fire SpinIron Head
With Level 35 Heatran you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:Bug,
Fairy
• 1× Resists:Normal
• 1× Weak:Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy• 1× Resists:
Normal• 1× Weak:
Fighting#18 Toxicroak
Poison JabSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Toxicroak you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:Bug
• 1× Resists:Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:
Bug• 1× Resists:
Fighting#19 Scolipede
Poison JabSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Scolipede you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:Fighting
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:
Fighting• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy#20 Aggron
Iron TailHeavy Slam
With Level 35 Aggron you need 3 players.
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:Normal
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy
• 2× Weak:Fighting
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Close Combat
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 2× Resists:
Normal• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy• 2× Weak:
Fighting#21 Dragonite
Steel WingHurricane
With Level 35 Dragonite you need 4 players.
Alternative Charge Moves: Hyper Beam
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Thunder
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fighting
• 1× Weak:Fairy
Alternative Charge Moves: Hyper Beam
Best Estimator VS: Tackle / Moonblast
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Thunder
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fighting• 1× Weak:
Fairy#22 Durant
Metal ClawIron Head
With Level 35 Durant you need 4 players.
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:Bug,
Fairy,
Normal
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Thunder
Best Ranking VS: Zen Headbutt / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
• 1× Resists:
Bug,
Fairy,
Normal#23 Skuntank
Poison JabSludge Bomb
With Level 35 Skuntank you need 4 players.
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
Best Estimator VS: Zen Headbutt / Giga Impact
Best Ranking VS: Tackle / Giga Impact
Type Interactions:
For more high density information, here is a heatmap of how counters perform against Xerneas on average, as their levels increase:
If you just want to know the approximate level where a counter becomes viable to finish the raid with a certain # of players:
If you just want to know the approximate level where a counter becomes viable to finish the raid with a certain # of players:
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