While it is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon, Xerneas has two forms, which change depending on its status. When Xerneas is in a battle or a Pokémon Contest, it is in Active Mode and its horns are multicolor; otherwise, it is in Neutral Mode and its horns are cyan.
Xerneas is a quadrupedal, stag-like Pokémon with four pairs of antlers. Its coloration varies slightly depending on whether it is in Active Mode or Neutral Mode. Regardless of mode, its main body is always black with a blue stripe down its back and a short, bushy tail. Starting at its knees there is a blade-like trim around each leg, which forms a point under each hoof. There is an upside-down, V-shaped marking on its chest in the same color as the trim on its legs. Its head and neck are blue, and there are two large, tufts that extend onto its chest and curve upward. Its first pair of antlers extends onto its head and curves around the underside of its eyes. The eyes are black with X-shaped pupils. There is a short marking on top of its snout and an upward curving horn on each side of its head in place of ears.
In Active Mode, its markings, antlers, and trim on its legs are pale gold. Its antlers have branches and bumps in many colors and there are multicolored spots on its back. Xerneas assumes this Mode during battle or when using its power. Xerneas is at full power when in Active Mode.
In Neutral Mode, its markings and antlers are instead pale blue and the embellishments on its antlers and spots on its back are a darker blue. Xerneas assumes Netural Mode when not battling and traveling. This remains until it needs to use Active Mode.
Xerneas has the power to share eternal life. This occurs when the horns on its head shine in seven colors. Xerneas can use its life energy to create vast forests and restore life to them. It can infuse both humans and Pokémon with energy and vitality. Because of this, Xerneas is highly respected by the ancient people of Kalos for its role in giving life. Xerneas is also known to be able to speak through telepathy. According to legend, Xerneas is known to have rescued wounded Pokémon during an ancient war. Xerneas and Yveltal have the power to transform Evolution stones into Mega Stones as seen with the ultimate weapon's blast shot by AZ 3000 years ago. Both are in charge of taking care of the land in a delicate balance between life and death. Xerneas is capable of calming Yveltal should it get enraged, as seen in the anime. Xerneas's power can also be used to power up machines such as the ultimate weapon.
As seen in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, if it expends too much life energy, it transforms into a tree and sleeps for 1,000 years. Xerneas has the power to revive those who have been petrified by Yveltal. However, as seen in The Legend of X, Y, and Z!, Xerneas cannot always undo it.
A special Xerneas is worshipped in Lental for being one of the seven guardian Illumina Pokémon, in particular for saving the region from a meteorite 2000 years ago. It is also believed to be the originator of the Illumina phenomenon. It resides in the Aurus Island Illumina Spot.
Forms
Xerneas has two forms: Active Mode and Neutral Mode.
Neutral Mode
Active Mode
Game data
NPC appearances
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon: Xerneas is the embodiment of the Tree of Life, first appearing after Dark Matter has been stopped near the end of the main game. After the epilogue story has been completed, the player can visit Xerneas at the Tree of Life to evolve a Pokémon of their choosing.
Spoilers end here.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
I believe the Xerneas we saw in the ruins was the very first Illumina Pokémon. It’s been about 2,000 years since it went to sleep after protecting Lental. Do you think it will ever fully reawaken?
Xerneas's horns and some highlights in its fur are light blue in Neutral Mode and light gold in Active Mode. In Active Mode, the protrusions on its horns and the spots on its back light up in several different colors.
Xerneas debuted in Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction. It granted Diancie its Fairy Aura, which Diancie spent the entire movie looking for. Later, it calmed down the awakened Yveltal and restored everything that Yveltal petrified. As a result, Xerneas transformed into a tree.
A Xerneas appeared in The Legend of X, Y, and Z! during a flashback, where Jan asked for its help after Yveltal caused trouble upon his kingdom, including turning Aila to stone. Though it restored much of the damage Yveltal inflicted, it could not revive Aila, and thus left.
Xerneas debuted in An X-cuse to Come Out and Play, alongside Yveltal. The two faced each other in a battle, which caused chaos and destruction in Vaniville Town. The two eventually stopped fighting and returned to their dormant tree and cocoon states, which were sought after by Team Flare to power the ultimate weapon. Later Xerneas awakened and took back most of the energy that had been absorbed from it. Afterwards, it was befriended and caught by Y, who nicknamed it Xerxer. When Malva arrived and revealed that she had captured Yveltal, the two nearly clashed again before Xerosic stopped them, stating that Lysandre ordered a ceasefire, as the powers of the two would cause an endless war. Xerxer agreed with this and escaped carrying Y and her friends. During the final battle against Team Flare, Xerxer and Yveltal clashed again, and eventually chose to return to their dormant states in order to prevent Lysandre from using Zygarde to his own deeds.
Xerneas appears as a Poké Ball Pokémon. In the 3DS version, it is unlocked after playing Target Blast at least once, while in the Wii U version, it is unlocked by breaking at least 200 blocks in a solo game of Trophy Rush as Pikachu. When released, it uses Geomancy to energize nearby fighters, giving their attacks stronger knockback for a time or giving them stronger defenses.
Xerneas also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
NA:The horns on Xerneas's head give this Fairy-type Pokémon the power to bestow eternal life. It emanates energy with a move called Geomancy that causes all the fighters to glow. As pretty as it is, this makes everyone more easily launchable. Know when to take advantage and when to lay low.
PAL: The horns on Xerneas's head give this Pokémon the power to bestow eternal life. When summoned in a match, energy will emanate from it and make all fighters glow. Pretty it may be, but this Geomancy move makes everyone much easier to launch. Knowing that, will you take advantage of the situation, or try to stay out of the way?
Xerneas returns as a Poké Ball summon, but it seems to only affect the summoner, who is turned golden. It also appears as a Spirit.
Trivia
Xerneas has the same stat distribution as Yveltal.
Xerneas is the only single-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VI (not counting PrimalKyogre).
Xerneas, along with Yveltal, was designed by Ken Sugimori and Yusuke Ohmura. The initial designs for the two Legendary Pokémon were started by Sugimori, but he encountered "artist's block". For the first time, he handed the work over to another designer, Ohmura, who furthered the designs, after which Sugimori returned to finish them.[1]
When a Shiny Xerneas is obtained by event, its model on the Mystery Gift screen is incomplete. It appears in its Active Mode, except the multicolored additions to its horns are either missing or the same blue color as on its neck.
Xerneas's Neutral Mode has no special animations that play in the Hoenn Pokédex; however, it plays Active Mode's attack animations if tapped in the summary screen.
In Pokémon Camp, Xerneas will not play with the Poké Toy when the player shakes it and will react negatively to it instead. Xerneas is the only Pokémon with this trait.
Xerneas was designed so that its silhouette resembles the letter X,[2] and by extension possibly the saltire symbol in heraldry or the X mark. Appearance-wise, Xerneas resembles a cervid, more specifically the extinct species Eucladoceros.
Xerneas may also be based on Eikþyrnir and the four stags Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór of Norse mythology. Eikþyrnir resides in Valhalla eating the foliage of Læraðr with glowing horns that drip with dew. According to the Poetic Edda, the four stags resided in the trunk of the World Tree, Yggdrasil, and ate its branches and fresh shoots. Alternatively, Xerneas may be based on Cernunnos of Celtic mythology, a life-giving deity known as the "horned god" and associated with antlers.
Name origin
Xerneas begins with the letter X. It may be derived from cervus (Latin for deer), Cernunnos (a horned Celtic god), Ceryneian Hind, and アース āsu (earth).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.