Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Xerneas Movesets and Best Builds

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: November 21, 2025 12:04 AM

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This is a complete guide on how to build your Xerneas for Competitive and Ranked Matches in Pokemon Legends: Z-A! Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Xerneas, as well as its strengths and weaknesses.

Xerneas
Pokedex

Xerneas
Build

List of Contents

Base Stats, Type and Weaknesses
Best Builds
How to Use Effectively
Best Teams
Counters for Xerneas
Related Guides

Xerneas Base Stats, Type, and Weaknesses

Xerneas Battle Information

Dex #228		Base Stats
Xerneas
		Stat	Value
		HP	126
		Atk	131
		Def	95
		Sp. Atk	131
		Sp. Def	98
		Speed	99
		Total	680
Type Effectiveness
Weak to:
Weak to:	(2x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Resists:
Immune to:	(0x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Best Nature for Xerneas

Best Natures
Adamant （+Atk, -Sp.Atk）	Modest （+Sp.Atk, -Atk）

What are Natures?

Best Builds for Xerneas

Build Name	Strengths and Weaknesses
Special Xerneas Build ★★★★★	Strengths: • Powerful long-range attacker. • If difficult to counter once you get a screen and Geomancy up. • Can function even without a Mega, you can give up your slot to another Pokemon like Chandelure. Weaknesses: • Okay movepool but pretty predictable. • Needs a Ground or Fire-type teammate to work in the Steel dominated meta.
Physical Xerneas Build ★★★★☆	Strengths: • Amazing Physical movepool. • Losing Geomancy isn't as bad here due to its high wind-up time Weaknesses: • Your only STAB option is Play Rough. • Needs a Ground or Fire-type teammate to work in the Steel dominated meta.

Special Xerneas Build

Xerneas

Held Item

Nature

Life Orb

EV Spread

252 HP / 252 Sp. Atk / 4 Spe

Moveset

Summary

Functions the same as Mega Gardevoir, giving you a Mega slot to use on another Pokemon.

You can also slot-in other defensive moves like Reflect or Light Screen.

Does require some finesse due to Geomancy's long wind-up and animations.

This build focuses on providing AoE crowd control and damage using Psychic and Moonblast from afar. Use Geomancy when you're a good distance away from enemies.

Held Item

Item	Effect / Location
Life Orb	Effect: An item to be held by a Pokemon. It boosts the power of the holder's moves, but the holder also loses a small amount of HP upon landing an attack. Location(s): • Purchased at Racine Construction (₽ 4980) • Reward from Side Mission 85

The item chosen for Xerneas for this build is the Life Orb. This will allow Xerneas to go deal extra damage at the cost of your HP.

Life Orb: How to Get and How to Use

Moves Breakdown

Moonblast	Main damager against the overwhelming presence of Dragon-types in the current meta.
Psychic	An attacking move that will home onto enemies when cast.
Thunderbolt	An attacking move that will home onto enemies when cast. Great for dealing against Skarmory.
Geomancy	Used to further your damage, but do keep your eyes peeled when using it as its animation is pretty long.

This set focuses on having Xerneas deal as much damage as possible. Geomancy is great to use but keep in mind the other players around you.

Other Viable Moves

Hyper Voice	Great AoE damage but not that great due to the high presence of Metagross.
Focus Blast	Gives you another option against Steel-types.

EV Spread and Nature

A full 252 EVs are put into Xerneas' Special Attack and HP to make it hit as hard as possible and take a few hits. The extra 4 EVs are placed into Speed for quicker move cooldowns, but its negligible.

A Modest nature is preferred to help further increase Xerneas' Special Attack stat.

Pokemon Natures Guide

Key Damage Calculations

Damage Dealt by Xerneas
252 HP｜0 Def No Defensive EV Investment: 252 HP Item: Gyaradosite	Thunderbolt 296-354 (146.5 - 175.2%) Guaranteed OHKO
252 HP｜252 Sp. Atk Defensive EV Investment: 252 HP Item: Assault Vest	Moonblast 211-250 (90.5 - 107.2%) 43.8% chance to OHKO
Damage Received by Xerneas
252 Atk Offensive EV Investment: 252 Atk (Adamant) Item: Metagrossite	Heavy Slam 122-146 (60.6 - 72.6%) Guaranteed 2HKO

Physical Xerneas Build

Xerneas

Held Item

Nature

Life Orb

EV Spread

252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe

Moveset

Summary

Losing Geomancy isn't that big of a deal due to how long its animation can run.

You can also slot-in other moves for coverage depending on what your team needs.

Built more for taking down specific enemies rather than scoring a ton of points due to a lack of AoE attacks.

This build focuses on having Xerneas be a physical Fairy-type attacker, a niche not a lot of Pokemon in the Z-A Dex can fulfill. Due not having a Mega Evolution, you have the freedom to hold other items.