How to beat Xerneas
Xerneas has 4 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 130 HP as a Psychic Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 130
- Weakness
- Metal
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 361
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Xerneas is weak to Metal, so those attacks do double damage. 66 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 0 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Giga Impact for 130 (3 Energy). 423 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 2 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Metal attacks do at least 130 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Xerneas | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 240 | 110 | 1 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 480 | 160 | 1 |
| Escavalier Black Bolt | Metal | Wild Lances M | 90 | 180 | 130 | 1 |
| Kingambit Ascended Heroes | Metal | Double-Edged Slash MM | 180 | 360 | 170 | 1 |
| Klinklang Stellar Crown | Metal | Hyper Ray CC | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Escavalier Journey Together | Metal | Iron Buster MC | 120 | 240 | 120 | 1 |
| Scizor ex Temporal Forces | Metal | Cross Breaker MM | 120× | 240 | 270 | 2 |
| Mega Excadrill ex Pitch Black | Metal | Undermine MM | 90 | 180 | 340 | 3 |
| Togedemaru ex Ascended Heroes | Metal | Spiky Rolling MC | 80+ | 160 | 190 | 2 |
| Mega Mawile ex Mega Evolution | Metal | Gobble Down MM | 80× | 160 | 270 | 3 |
| Ferrothorn Chaos Rising | Metal | Special Whip MM | 70+ | 140 | 130 | 1 |
| Steven's Metang Destined Rivals | Metal | Metal Slash MC | 70 | 140 | 100 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 130+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Xerneas | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| Medicham Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Seventh Kick F | 150 | 150 | 120 | 1 |
| Diggersby Perfect Order | Colorless | Earthquake C | 140 | 140 | 150 | 1 |
| Annihilape Surging Sparks | Fighting | Tantrum F | 130 | 130 | 140 | 1 |
| Centiskorch Surging Sparks | Fire | Billowing Heat Wave R | 130 | 130 | 130 | 1 |
| Lurantis Destined Rivals | Grass | Petal Blade Dance G | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
| Malamar Pitch Black | Darkness | Brain Crush D | 130 | 130 | 120 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 130 from Giga Impact and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Xerneas card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xerneas 42/86 | Chaos Rising J | 130 | Basic | Geo Storm PPP 30× | 2 | Metal ×2 |
| Xerneas 88/191 | Surging Sparks H | 130 | Basic | Aurora Gain PC 30 Giga Impact PPC 130 | 2 | Metal ×2 |
| Xerneas 76/128 | 30th Celebration J | 120 | Basic | Geonavigation C — Aurora Horns PPC 100 | 2 | Metal ×2 |
| Xerneas 64/132 | Mega Evolution I | 120 | Basic | Geo Gate P — Bright Horns PPC 120 | 1 | Metal ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Xerneas cards in Standard · how to knock out a 130 HP Pokémon · Metal vs Psychic · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Xerneas weak to?
Xerneas is weak to Metal, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Xerneas have?
Up to 130 HP in Standard (130 on the Chaos Rising version, 130 on the Surging Sparks version, 120 on the 30th Celebration version, 120 on the Mega Evolution version).
How many Prize cards does Xerneas give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Xerneas?
361 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 240 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 480 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage).
What is Xerneas's strongest attack?
Giga Impact, which prints 130 damage for 3 Energy.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.