Xerneas is a Fairy-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VI. It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon. Along with Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie, and Yveltal, it was the first Generation VI Pokémon to be revealed to the public on January 8, 2013 as part of the Pokémon Direct broadcast.

Xerneas is the game mascot of Pokémon X, appearing on the boxart. It is a member of the aura trio with Yveltal and Zygarde. Take a look below for 30 fun and interesting facts about Xerneas.

1. Xerneas is a quadruped, stag like Pokemon with four pairs of antlers.

2. Its coloration varies slightly depending on which mode it is in: Active Mode or Neutral Mode.

3. Regardless of mode, its main body is always black with a blue stripe down its back and a short, bushy tail.

4. Starting at its knees there is a blade-like trim around each leg, which forms a point under each hoof. 

5. There is an upside-down, V-shaped marking on its chest in the same color as the trim on its legs.

6. Its head and neck are blue, and there are two large, tufts that extend onto its chest and curve upward.

7. Its first pair of antlers extends onto its head and curves around the underside of its eyes.

8. The eyes are black with X-shaped pupils.

9. 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.

10. In Active Mode, its markings, antlers, and the trim on its legs is pale gold.

11. Its antlers have branches and bumps in many colors and there are multicolored spots on its back.

12. In Neutral Mode, its marking and antlers are instead pale blue and the embellishments on its antlers and spots on its back are a darker blue.

13. Xerneas has the power to share eternal life.

14. This occurs when the horns on its head shine in seven colors.

15. As seen in the anime, if it expends too much life energy it transforms into a tree and sleeps for 1,000 years.

16. Xerneas is the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Geomancy.

17. Xerneas has the same stat distribution as Yveltal.

18. Xerneas, along with Yveltal, was designed by Ken Sugimori and Yusuke Ohmura. Initial design for the two Legendary Pokémon was 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.

19. Xerneas is the only game mascot whose signature move is a status move.

20. Xerneas’s Neutral Mode has no special animations that play in the Hoenn Pokédex, but it plays Active Mode’s attack animations if tapped on in the Pokémon summary screen.

21. 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.

22. Xerneas is tied with Galarian Weezing as the tallest Fairy-type Pokémon.

23. Xerneas’s appearance is based on a cervid (more specifically the extinct species Eucladoceros) in the shape of the letter X (known as a saltire in heraldry) or an X mark.

24. Additionally, Xerneas may 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.

25. Alternately, Xerneas may be based on Cernunnos of Celtic mythology, a life-giving deity known as the horned god and associated with antlers.

26. Xerneas comes from the letter X. It may be derived from cervus (Latin for deer), Cernunnos (a horned Celtic god), and Ceryneian Hind.

27. 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.

28. Xerneas made its main series debut as a silhouette in Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!. However, its antlers could clearly be seen. It reappeared in a flashback in Battling into the Hall of Fame!.

29. 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.

30. Xerneas appears in the manga adaptation of the first Pokémon the Series: XY movie, Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.