The competitive landscape of Pokemon Legends: Z-A has been thrown into chaos with the arrival of Season 2, and at the center of this storm stands Xerneas, the most iconic Gen 6 Pokemon. What was supposed to be an exciting addition to the ranked battle scene has instead become a source of frustration for countless players, with many claiming that Xerneas is single-handedly ruining the competitive experience. But is this legendary Pokemon truly as broken as everyone claims, or is there more to the story? Let’s dive deep into why Xerneas is dominating Pokemon Legends: Z-A battles and what it means for the future of competitive play.
The Xerneas Problem: Why Everyone’s Talking
Pokemon Legends: Z-A was already revolutionary in how it approached battles, giving players unprecedented agency and changing the fundamental mechanics of Pokemon combat. However, the introduction of Xerneas and Yveltal in Season 2 has disrupted what little balance existed, creating a meta that many players describe as “disgusting” and “ridiculous.”
Xerneas, as the mascot of Pokemon X (which notably outsold Pokemon Y), brings an impressive Base Stat Total of 680 to the table. With 126 HP, 131 Attack, 95 Defense, 131 Special Attack, 98 Special Defense, and 99 Speed, it outclasses most non-legendary Pokemon and even gives some Mega Evolutions a run for their money. But raw stats alone don’t explain why Xerneas has become such a polarizing force in the competitive scene.
Geomancy: The Game-Changing Move That Breaks the Meta
What truly sets Xerneas apart in Pokemon Legends: Z-A is how its signature move, Geomancy, functions in this new battle system. Unlike traditional turn-based Pokemon games where Geomancy requires a full turn to charge, in Legends: Z-A, it works completely differently:
- Geomancy provides a 1-stage buff to Special Attack and Special Defense (instead of 2 stages)
- It significantly increases movement speed, allowing Xerneas to dodge non-homing attacks
- The move doesn’t require a full turn commitment, making it much more spammable
- The combination of offensive and defensive buffs, plus mobility, creates a nearly unstoppable setup sweeper
This unique implementation means that once Xerneas gets a Geomancy off, it becomes incredibly difficult to counter. The increased movement speed allows it to dodge attacks that would normally hit it, while the boosted Special Defense makes it resilient even against super-effective moves.
The Perfect Storm: Why Xerneas Dominates Z-A’s Meta
Several factors have converged to make Xerneas the most problematic Pokemon in Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s ranked battles:
1. The Dragon-Type Meta Backfire
Season 1 of Pokemon Legends: Z-A was dominated by Dragon-type Pokemon, with almost every team featuring either Dragonite or Gyarados. Players naturally adapted by including Fairy-types and Ice-types to counter these threats. Now, with Xerneas entering the scene, those same Fairy-type counters have become liabilities, while Xerneas itself thrives in an environment filled with Dragon-types it can easily dispatch.
2. Unmatched Coverage and Versatility
Xerneas isn’t just a one-trick pony. Its optimal moveset typically includes:
- Moonblast: Its primary STAB move that devastates Dragon-types
- Thunderbolt: Excellent coverage against Flying and Water-types, particularly effective against Skarmory
- Focus Blast: Provides crucial coverage against Steel-types that would otherwise wall it
- Geomancy: The setup move that makes it nearly unstoppable
This combination means Xerneas can handle almost any threat thrown at it, making team building a nightmare for opponents.
3. The Mega Evolution Advantage
Perhaps most frustratingly, Xerneas achieves this level of power without requiring a Mega Evolution. This means teams running Xerneas can still use their Mega slot on another powerful Pokemon like Metagross or Gyarados, creating an even greater power disparity between Xerneas teams and non-Xerneas teams.
The Community Divide: Is Xerneas Really That Bad?
Interestingly, the Pokemon Legends: Z-A community is split on just how problematic Xerneas really is. While many players express frustration and claim it’s “ruining” ranked battles, others argue that the issue is overstated.
The “Broken” Camp
Players who believe Xerneas is overpowered point to several factors:
- Its ability to sweep entire teams after a single Geomancy boost
- The lack of reliable counters that don’t require specific team compositions
- How it centralizes the meta around either using Xerneas or countering it
- The frustration of facing the same Pokemon in nearly every ranked match
As one Reddit user put it: “Let’s be real, ranked already kinda sucks in Z-A, because it’s kinda just everyone spamming attacks. So, I don’t know who in their right mind decided to allow Yveltal and Xerneas in too… and it’s just ridiculous.”
The “Manageable” Camp
On the other side, some players argue that Xerneas isn’t as unbeatable as people claim. They point out:
- Xerneas has predictable movesets and strategies
- Several viable counters exist if you’re willing to adapt your team
- Its presence has actually diversified the meta away from pure Dragon-type dominance
- Many players are simply refusing to adapt to the new meta
One player noted: “Xerneas is definitely strong, but I wouldn’t call them overpowered. They only have 6 more special attack than base Gardevoir and 34 less than Mega Gardevoir.”
The Best Xerneas Counters in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
If you’re struggling against Xerneas in ranked battles, don’t despair. Several Pokemon and strategies can effectively counter this legendary threat. Here are the most reliable options:
Steel-Type Counters
Steel-types are your best bet against Xerneas, thanks to their resistance to Fairy-type moves and super-effective attacks:
Mega Metagross: Perhaps the most consistent Xerneas counter currently available. With its massive Attack stat and access to Bullet Punch (a priority move that also moves the user quickly toward the target), Mega Metagross can deal significant damage to Xerneas. However, be aware that many Metagross sets run Heavy Slam, which does reduced damage to Xerneas due to weight mechanics.
Mega Scizor: An excellent choice because Xerneas lacks Fire moves (which would be 4x effective). Bullet Punch is devastating against Xerneas, and with Swords Dance setup, Mega Scizor can sweep through teams.
Doublade with Eviolite: This unexpected counter works surprisingly well. With Eviolite boosting its defenses, Swords Dance to boost its attack, and powerful physical Steel moves, Doublade can take hits from Xerneas and retaliate hard.
Mega Skarmory: Access to Fly allows it to use homing moves that Xerneas can’t easily dodge, and its Steel typing makes it resistant to Xerneas’s STAB moves.
Poison-Type Counters
Poison-types also fare well against Xerneas, though they’re less common in the current meta:
Mega Scolipede: With access to Swords Dance and powerful Poison moves, Mega Scolipede can threaten Xerneas while outspeeding it after setup.
Mega Dragalge: Its high Special Defense allows it to tank Xerneas’s attacks, and its Poison typing makes it resistant to Fairy moves.
Galarian Slowbro: With access to physical Poison moves and good bulk, Galarian Slowbro can be an effective counter if played correctly.
Strategic Counters
Beyond specific Pokemon types, certain strategies work well against Xerneas:
Physical Attackers with Dig/Fly: These homing moves follow Xerneas even when it tries to dodge with increased movement speed, making them reliable ways to deal damage.
Toxic Users: Pokemon that can inflict Toxic on Xerneas can wear it down over time, bypassing its boosted defenses.
Priority Move Users: Moves like Bullet Punch that strike first and have additional movement properties can catch Xerneas off guard before it can set up.
The Bigger Picture: Balance Issues in Pokemon Legends: Z-A
The Xerneas controversy highlights broader balance issues in Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s competitive scene. The game’s revolutionary battle system, while innovative, has created several challenges:
The Legendary Pokemon Dilemma
Xerneas and Yveltal are classified as “Uber” tier Pokemon in traditional competitive formats, meaning they’re typically banned from standard play due to their overwhelming power. Their inclusion in Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s ranked battles raises questions about whether legendary Pokemon should be allowed in standard competitive formats at all.
The Reward System Problem
Many players express frustration that ranked battles don’t offer sufficient rewards to justify dealing with the unbalanced meta. As one player stated, they just want to “do the bare minimum number of battles to get the most important rewards, and never open the ranked modes again.”
Technical Issues Compounding Balance Problems
The balance issues are exacerbated by technical problems, including bugs that prevent players from receiving Mega Stone rewards and connectivity issues that make competitive play frustrating regardless of the meta.
The Future of Competitive Pokemon Legends: Z-A
As Pokemon Legends: Z-A continues to evolve, several potential solutions could address the Xerneas problem:
Potential Balance Changes
Game Freak could implement several changes to rebalance Xerneas:
- Adjusting Geomancy’s effects in the Z-A battle system
- Introducing more reliable counters in future updates
- Restricting Xerneas to special ranked formats rather than standard play
Meta Evolution
The meta may naturally evolve as players discover new counters and strategies. We’re already seeing shifts toward Steel-type heavy teams and more diverse compositions designed specifically to handle Xerneas.
Community Adaptation
As with any competitive game, the community may eventually adapt to the Xerneas-dominated meta, developing new strategies and team compositions that can consistently handle this legendary threat.
Expert Tips for Battling Xerneas
If you’re determined to climb the ranked ladder despite the Xerneas dominance, here are some expert tips:
- Always include a Steel-type: Having at least one reliable Steel-type counter is non-negotiable in the current meta.
- Prioritize priority moves: Moves like Bullet Punch that strike first can prevent Xerneas from setting up with Geomancy.
- Use homing attacks: Dig and Fly are particularly effective because Xerneas can’t dodge them with its increased movement speed.
- Consider status effects: Toxic and other status conditions can wear down Xerneas over time, bypassing its boosted defenses.
- Team composition is key: Build teams that can handle Xerneas without sacrificing effectiveness against other common threats.
Conclusion: Is Xerneas Really Ruining Pokemon Legends: Z-A?
After thoroughly examining the evidence, it’s clear that Xerneas has significantly impacted Pokemon Legends: Z-A’s competitive scene, but whether it’s “ruining” the game depends on your perspective. For players who enjoy diverse, balanced competitive environments, Xerneas’s dominance is certainly problematic. However, for those who embrace the challenge of adapting to powerful threats and developing new counter-strategies, the Xerneas meta represents an interesting competitive puzzle.
The most iconic Gen 6 Pokemon has undoubtedly changed the landscape of Pokemon Legends: Z-A battles, forcing players to adapt and evolve their strategies. While the current meta may feel unbalanced to many, it also represents an opportunity for the community to come together and find creative solutions to this powerful legendary threat.
As Pokemon Legends: Z-A continues to receive updates and the meta continues to evolve, we may see the Xerneas problem addressed through balance changes or natural meta evolution. Until then, players will need to decide whether to embrace the challenge or wait for the competitive landscape to stabilize.