Hello students! My name is Professor Geekbeak, and today, I wish to draw attention to Xerneas. Xerneas is not particularly great at raiding, but in the Master League, Xerneas excels as an option. So, if you show interest in the PvP leagues, defnitiely pick the Life Pokemon up. Grab your notebooks, class is in session. For those who wish to do their research independently, our raw data can be found here. And for those who wish for a simple visual guide, go ahead and take a look at the below visual guide by CaptGoldfish.

Course Schedule

This raid will take place from September 30th to October 6th. It will be preceded by Mega Malamar, Xurkitree, Pheromosa, and Buzzwole, coincide with Mega Victreebel, and be followed by Mega Blastoise and Yveltal.

Xerneas only has a couple weaknesses, but be careful of Megahorn, Thunder, and Close Combat, all of which are outside of Xerneas’ typing.

Effectiveness	Types
Double Resist (0.4x)	Dragon
Resist (0.6x)	Fighting Bug Dark
Neutral	Normal Flying Ground Rock Ghost Fire Water Grass Electric Psychic Ice Fairy
Super Effective (1.6x)	Poison Steel
Double Super Effective (2.6x)	—

Xerneas’s moveset includes the following charge moves:

• Megahorn
• Thunder
• Moonblast
• Close Combat
• Giga Impact

The Dean’s List consists of the top 5 counters to Xerneas. As always, the Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and the Third Ranked will have their best moveset alternatives in a table with their rankings and a table detailing their defensive prowess against the charge moves listed above.

Zamazenta - Crowned Shield A

Best Moveset: Metal Claw / Behemoth Bash

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Metal Claw	Behemoth Bash	100%
Ice Fang	Behemoth Bash	92%
Metal Claw	Giga Impact	49%
Metal Claw	Moonblast	43%
Metal Claw	Close Combat	42%
Ice Fang	Giga Impact	33%

Zacian - Crowned Sword A

Best Moveset: Metal Claw / Behemoth Blade

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★★☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Metal Claw	Behemoth Blade	100%
Air Slash	Behemoth Blade	73%
Metal Claw	Giga Impact	64%
Metal Claw	Play Rough	62%
Metal Claw	Close Combat	52%
Air Slash	Play Rough	46%

Necrozma - Dusk Mane A

Best Moveset: Metal Claw / Sunsteel Strike

DPS★★★★★

Tank★★★★★

Reliability★★★★★

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Quick Move	Charge Move	Efficacy
Metal Claw	Sunsteel Strike	100%
Psycho Cut	Sunsteel Strike	95%
Shadow Claw	Sunsteel Strike	74%
Metal Claw	Iron Head	66%
Metal Claw	Future Sight	58%
Psycho Cut	Iron Head	55%

Defensive Grades for Top 3

Boss Move
Giga Impact	🛡	🛡	🛡
Thunder	—	—	—
Close Combat	⚔	—	—
Moonblast	—	🛡	🛡
Megahorn	🛡🛡	🛡🛡	—

Mega Metagross A

Best Moveset: Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★★★☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Mewtwo Y A

Best Moveset: Psycho Cut / Future Sight+

DPS★★★★☆

Tank★★★★☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Also Noteworthy: A: Shadow Metagross

We here at Pokebattler Pokémon Research Institute can’t expect you to have the best counters every time. So, here are some of our other best options, most of which will be easier to find than the members of the Dean’s List.

Mega Victreebel A

Best Moveset: Acid / Acid Spray+

DPS★★★☆☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Lucario A

Best Moveset: Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash

DPS★★★☆☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Shadow Dialga A

Best Moveset: Metal Claw / Iron Head

DPS★★★☆☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★★☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Mega Gengar A

Best Moveset: Lick / Sludge Bomb

DPS★★★☆☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★☆☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Eternatus A

Best Moveset: Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb

DPS★★★☆☆

Tank★★★☆☆

Reliability★★☆☆☆

2

Trainers
(Lvl 40)

Of course, besides our 10 best counters, there are plenty of Pokémon that also work against Xerneas. Here are a few star choices, worthy of praise.

A	Shadow RegigigasMega SkarmoryMetagrossNecrozma - Dawn WingsMega RayquazaMega Mewtwo XShadow ExcadrillNihilegoMega BeedrillMega DelphoxDialga - OriginTinkatonDialgaWhite KyuremMega AggronShadow GengarMelmetalRegigigasMega Scizor

Sometimes, the weather can be your most powerful ally. In certain weather conditions, certain Pokémon on our list excel. The most transformative cases are noted below.

Cloudy

Mega Victreebel (1.6)

Snow

Shadow Metagross (1.5)Mega Lucario (1.6)Shadow Dialga (1.6)

Overall, Xerneas is a pretty simple raid. There are only a few weaknesses that Xerneas has, but as long as you pay attention to the charge move, you’ll be perfectly fine. Of course, if you wish to do more research on your box’s best Pokémon for the job, Pokebattler.com itself can be a great help!Speaking of, we have rolled out a new system that will give a discount to our subscriptions, and I have been graciously granted a code! So, for those lucky readers who make it all the way down here, the code is GEEKBEAK20. This code not only supports the owner of Pokebattler, but also me! And, to be honest, in real life, the presidigious Professor Geekbeak is a broke college student, so I would really appreciate the support. Thank you! Remember, the best counter is the one you have powered up and ready to go. I grant extra credit to those who use their best friend bonus and the weather to their advantage. Class dismissed!