Update, October 12, 2026: the Xerneas 5-star raid rotation (and Mega Victreebel) ended on October 6, 2026. This guide is kept for reference, with a recap and next steps added at the end. For what is live now, see the October 2026 events calendar.
The Life Pokémon Xerneas was a 5-star raid boss from September 30 through October 6, 2026, with Shiny Xerneas available. This page keeps its weaknesses and counters for reference.
Xerneas Raid Availability
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Raid tier | 5-star |
| Availability | September 30, 2026, 6:00 a.m. — October 6, 2026, 10:00 p.m. local time |
| Raid Hour | September 30, 6:00 p.m. — 7:00 p.m. local time |
| Shiny available | Yes |
| Type | Fairy |
Xerneas Weaknesses
Xerneas is a pure Fairy type, so it takes extra damage from Poison and Steel moves (+60%), while resisting Dragon (-60.9%), and Bug, Dark, and Fighting attacks (-37.5%). Build your raid team around Steel or Poison attackers and leave Dragon-types at home. Check the Type Chart if you’re unsure which Pokémon in your box counter Fairy types.
Best Xerneas Counters
| Pokémon | Best Moveset |
|---|---|
| Crowned Sword Zacian | Metal Claw / Behemoth Blade |
| Crowned Shield Zamazenta | Metal Claw / Behemoth Bash |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | Metal Claw / Sunsteel Strike |
| Mega Metagross | Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash |
| Shadow Metagross | Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash |
If you don’t have any of the top five, any Steel-type attacker with Bullet Punch or Metal Claw will still chip away at Xerneas efficiently. Snowy weather boosts Steel-move damage, so check your local forecast before raiding.
Raid Group Size
Xerneas can be soloed by very strong, high-level accounts with a maxed counter roster, but realistically it’s a 2-5 trainer raid. Aim for at least two Trainers with strong Steel counters, or use Remote Raid Passes to group up if local Gyms are quiet.
Is Shiny Xerneas Worth Chasing?
Yes — Xerneas doesn’t come around often, and its shiny form, a deep blue-and-gold recolor, is a strong collection piece. Since raids guarantee an encounter after a win, every successful raid gives you a shiny check, so a shiny was possible after every win.
How to Prepare for a Future Xerneas Raid
- Keep your best Steel and Poison attackers powered up
- Save Remote Raid Passes in case your area lacks in-person raid groups
- Check the Type Chart for the full list of Fairy weaknesses and resistances
- On September 30 the Raid Hour ran from 6 to 7 p.m. local time, which is a good window to raid several times back-to-back
FAQ
What type is Xerneas?
Pure Fairy type, weak to Poison and Steel moves.
Can Xerneas be soloed?
Only by high-level Trainers with a maxed-out Steel-type counter roster. Most players should raid in a group of two or more.
Is Xerneas good in PvP?
Xerneas sees limited PvP play due to its stat spread, and we did not find a verified ranked use for it. It is mainly a raid and collection Pokémon.
Event Recap: What Happened
Xerneas headlined the 5-star raids from Wednesday, September 30, 2026 to Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (Leek Duck lists 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM local time; Pokémon GO Hub says the raid pool changed at 10:00 AM local time, so the start hour is approximate). A Xerneas Raid Hour ran on September 30 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM local time. Shiny Xerneas was available.
The same week, Mega Victreebel was the Mega Raid boss, also September 30 to October 6, 2026. Mega Victreebel is Grass/Poison, so it is weak to Flying, Fire, Ice and Psychic and resists Electric, Fairy, Grass, Fighting and Water. Its listed catch CP is 1,332 to 1,389 normally, or 1,666 to 1,736 with Sunny or Cloudy weather.
Xerneas at a glance
| Detail | Verified |
|---|---|
| Type | Fairy |
| Weak to | Poison and Steel (+60% damage) |
| Resists | Dragon (-60.9%); Bug, Dark, Fighting (-37.5%) |
| Max CP / stats | 4,275; Attack 250, Defense 185, HP 246 |
| Catch CP, level 20 | 2,073 to 2,160 |
| Catch CP, weather boosted (level 25) | 2,591 to 2,701 (Cloudy) |
| Best weather for counters | Snow for Steel, Cloudy for Poison |
Pokémon GO Hub’s simulator ranked Crowned Sword Zacian (Metal Claw / Behemoth Blade), Crowned Shield Zamazenta (Metal Claw / Behemoth Bash) and Dusk Mane Necrozma (Metal Claw / Sunsteel Strike) at the top, followed by Mega Metagross, Shadow Metagross, Mega Mewtwo Y, Mega Lucario, Mega Victreebel (Acid / Acid Spray) and Mega Gengar. Group size guidance varies by source: one lists a minimum of 2 trainers with 3 to 5 optimal, another suggests 5 to 7 for a safe run. For boss moves, Hub lists Geomancy (a legacy move) alongside Zen Headbutt and Tackle as fast moves, with Moonblast, Close Combat, Thunder, Megahorn and Giga Impact as charged moves.
Shiny Xerneas was confirmed as available, but we found no official shiny rate for this raid, so be wary of any page quoting a precise percentage.
What To Do Now That It Has Ended
- Judge your catches. Run each Xerneas through the IV calculator and read how IVs work before spending Stardust or Candy XL.
- Use it where it counts. Xerneas hits hard (Attack 250) but has modest bulk, so it is a Fairy attacker rather than a tank. Our best attackers by type guide shows where Fairy options sit. Compare it against your other Fairy picks with the raid counters tool.
- Consider an Elite TM carefully. Hub marks Geomancy as a legacy move obtained only through Elite TM. Read the Elite TM guide before using a scarce one.
- Keep the Steel and Poison attackers you built. They carry over to other raid bosses weak to those types.
- Shiny hunters: read the shiny guide to understand how odds work in general.
Will It Return?
Xerneas has been a 5-star raid boss before. Leek Duck documents these windows: May 4 to May 18, 2021 (its raid debut), August 27 to September 1, 2023 (alongside Yveltal), February 17 to February 24, 2025, and September 30 to October 6, 2026. Yveltal, not Xerneas, was the 5-star boss listed on Leek Duck’s raid page after this event. Niantic announces raid returns on its own schedule, and no future Xerneas date has been announced. Follow the event calendar.
Related Guides
- Pokémon GO events in October 2026
- Beginner’s guide to raids
- Raid counters tool
- Type effectiveness chart
- Weather boost guide
- Pokémon GO raids hub
Sources: Leek Duck: Xerneas in 5-star Raid Battles (Sept 2026); Leek Duck: Mega Victreebel in Mega Raids; Leek Duck: Xerneas Feb 2025; Leek Duck: Xerneas and Yveltal Aug 2023; Leek Duck: Xerneas debuts in raids; Leek Duck: current raid bosses; Pokémon GO Hub: Xerneas raid guide; Pokémon GO Hub Database: Xerneas counters; Pokémon GO Hub: Mega Victreebel raid guide; Pokémon GO Hub: This Week, Sept 28 to Oct 4.
