Best Citra Settings for Pokemon X (60 FPS, No Lag) 2026

Pokemon X is one of the best games to play on Citra emulator. It is a Generation 6 Pokemon game and it runs much more smoothly than newer titles like Sun and Moon. With the right settings, most PCs and mid-range Android phones can run Pokemon X at a solid and stable frame rate with good graphics.

This guide gives you the exact Citra settings for Pokemon X in 2026. We cover both PC and Android separately so you can follow the right section for your device. We also explain what each setting does and why it matters so you understand what you are changing.

If you have not downloaded Citra yet, get it here first: Citra Download for Windows | Citra Download for Android

How Well Does Pokemon X Run on Citra?

Pokemon X runs very well on Citra compared to most other 3DS games. Because it is a Generation 6 title, it was released when the 3DS hardware was still relatively simple. This means the emulator does not have to work as hard to run it.

Most mid-range computers from the last five years can run Pokemon X at full speed without any major settings changes. On Android, phones with a Snapdragon 700 series chip or better should manage smooth gameplay at 2x resolution.

There is only one well-known issue with Pokemon X on Citra: a crash that can happen in Lumiose City. This is a long-standing bug that affects some users. The fix is simple. Save your game before entering Lumiose City and do not save while you are inside it. Exit the city first, then save. This avoids the crash entirely.

For a full breakdown of Pokemon X compatibility on Citra, see our guide: Pokemon X, Y, and ORAS on Citra.

Best Citra Settings for Pokemon X on PC

These settings work for Windows and Mac. They are tested for stability and performance on Pokemon X specifically.

Setting	Value	Why
CPU JIT	ON	Massive speed boost. Never turn this off.
Limit Speed	100%	Keeps game running at correct speed. Above 100% makes game too fast.
Custom CPU Clock	OFF	Only enable at 150-200% if you have lag on a weak PC.
Graphics API	OpenGL	Most stable for Pokemon X. Vulkan can cause visual bugs.
Internal Resolution	3x Native	Use 2x for low-end PC, 4x-5x for high-end GPU.
Hardware Shader	ON	Moves graphics to GPU. Always keep ON for better performance.
Accurate Multiplication	OFF	Only needed for Sun and Moon shadows. OFF gives better speed on X.
Disk Shader Cache	ON	Reduces stutter after first play session. Always keep ON.
VSync	ON	Prevents screen tearing during cutscenes and gameplay.
Post-Processing Shader	None	Adding filters reduces performance. Leave as None.
Audio Stretching	OFF	Not needed for Pokemon X. Turn ON only if audio stutters.
Output Device	Your device	Set to your actual speakers or headphones, not Auto.

General Settings Explained

CPU JIT is the most important setting in all of Citra. It is a technology that translates the 3DS processor instructions into instructions your computer can run much faster. Keeping it ON at all times is essential. Turning it off will make the game run at a fraction of normal speed.

Limit Speed controls how fast the emulator runs the game. Setting it to 100% means the game runs at the same speed as a real 3DS. If you set it higher, the game runs faster than normal, which makes battles and animations look wrong. Keep it at 100% for a normal gameplay experience.

Custom CPU Clock is a setting that lets you overclock the emulated 3DS processor. You should leave this off unless your game is running slowly. If you do need it, try 150% first. Only go to 200% if 150% is not enough. Using it when you do not need it can sometimes cause instability.

Graphics Settings Explained

Internal Resolution is one of the most noticeable settings. The real 3DS runs at a very low resolution by modern standards. By setting this to 3x Native in Citra, you get a much sharper image without any slowdown on a decent PC. If your PC is older or weaker, drop to 2x. If you have a good GPU like a GTX 1070 or better, try 4x or 5x for an even crisper look.

Graphics API controls which technology Citra uses to draw graphics on your screen. OpenGL is the most stable choice for Pokemon X. Vulkan is faster on some systems but can cause graphical glitches in this game. Start with OpenGL and only switch to Vulkan if you have specific performance problems.

Hardware Shader tells Citra to process the game’s shaders on your graphics card instead of your CPU. This is a major performance improvement. Always keep it ON. The only time you might turn it off is if you notice graphical corruption, but this is rare.

Accurate Multiplication is a setting that fixes shadow rendering bugs in Pokemon Sun and Moon. Pokemon X does not have this bug. Turning Accurate Multiplication ON for Pokemon X only slows down performance without any visible improvement. Always keep it OFF for this game.

Disk Shader Cache saves the compiled shaders to your hard drive so they do not have to be rebuilt every time you start the game. The first time you play, you may notice some small stutters as shaders are being built and saved. After that first session, performance will be noticeably smoother. Always keep this ON.

Audio Settings Explained

Audio Stretching is a feature that adjusts audio timing to match the game speed when frame rate is unstable. Pokemon X generally runs at a stable speed, so this feature is not needed. Keeping it OFF is slightly better for performance. If you do hear crackling or audio stuttering, try turning it ON as a test to see if it helps.

For the Output Device setting, always select your actual audio device from the list rather than leaving it on Auto. The Auto setting can sometimes cause audio glitches that switching to a specific device fixes immediately.

Best Citra Settings for Pokemon X on Android

Android settings require a different approach because phones have much less processing power than computers. These settings are designed for mid-range Android phones. If your phone is high-end, you can push some settings higher. If it is low-end, you may need to drop them lower.

Setting	Value	Why
CPU JIT	ON	Essential for performance on Android. Never turn off.
Internal Resolution	2x Native	Start here. Drop to 1x if lag. High-end phone can try 3x.
Hardware Shader	ON	Moves work to GPU. Very important for smooth Android gameplay.
Accurate Multiplication	OFF	Not needed for Pokemon X. Keeping OFF saves CPU.
New 3DS Model	ON	Enable if available. Gives noticeable speed improvement.
Audio Stretching	OFF	Not needed. Saves some CPU when turned off.

Android Performance Tips

The single most important setting on Android is Internal Resolution. Start at 2x Native. If the game lags or stutters, drop it to 1x Native. The difference in image quality between 1x and 2x is noticeable, but a stable frame rate at 1x is much better than a choppy one at 2x.

The New 3DS Model setting, when available, tells the emulator to simulate the New Nintendo 3DS XL hardware instead of the original 3DS. The New 3DS XL had a faster processor. Enabling this in Citra gives a meaningful performance improvement for games that support it. Always turn this ON if the option appears.

Hardware Shader is just as important on Android as it is on PC. It moves graphics processing from your phone’s CPU to its GPU. GPUs are much more efficient at this kind of work. Keeping it ON is one of the biggest performance improvements you can make on Android.

Low-End Android Tips (Citra MMJ)

If your phone cannot run Pokemon X smoothly even at 1x resolution, Citra MMJ has a useful feature called the resolution hack. While a game is running, open the side menu and find the resolution factor setting. Set it to 150 or 200. This can help with audio sync and reduce lag on weaker hardware.

One thing to be aware of: Citra MMJ resets the resolution hack setting every time you close the game. You will need to set it again each session. It is a small inconvenience but worth it if it makes the game playable on your device.

Download Citra MMJ here: Citra MMJ Download for Android.

How to Get 60 FPS in Pokemon X on Citra

This is one of the most common questions about Pokemon X on Citra. Here is the honest answer: Pokemon X was designed to run at 30 FPS on the real 3DS. Citra can run it faster than that, but simply increasing the emulation speed also speeds up the entire game. Battles play out faster, character movement speeds up, and the whole experience feels wrong.

To get a true 60 FPS experience without speeding up the game, you need a 60 FPS cheat code. This type of cheat unlocks the frame rate limiter in the game itself so it can run at double speed visually while the game logic stays at normal speed. You can find Pokemon X 60 FPS cheat codes on community sites like GBAtemp. Once you have the code, add it through the Citra cheats menu.

For most players, smooth 30 FPS with no lag is better than a choppy or incorrect 60 FPS. Focus on getting a stable experience first. For general FPS improvement tips, see our guide: How to Boost FPS in Citra.

Fixing Common Pokemon X Problems on Citra

Lumiose City Crash

The Lumiose City crash is the most well-known bug in Pokemon X on Citra. The game can freeze or crash when you try to save inside the city. The fix is straightforward: never save your game while you are inside Lumiose City. Before you enter, save your game at a Pokemon Center nearby. When you are done in Lumiose City, walk out of the city boundaries first, then save. Following this routine will prevent the crash completely.

Black Screen When Starting the Game

If Pokemon X shows a black screen when you try to launch it, the first thing to try is switching your Graphics API. Go to Emulation, then Configure, then Graphics, and change from OpenGL to Vulkan or from Vulkan to OpenGL. Also make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. An outdated GPU driver is a common cause of black screen issues. For a complete list of black screen fixes, see: Citra Black Screen Fix.

Audio Crackling or Popping

Crackling audio in Pokemon X usually happens for two reasons. The first is the Output Device being set to Auto. Change it to your actual headphones or speakers. The second is low performance causing the audio buffer to stutter. If your frame rate is below 30 FPS, audio will crackle. Fix the performance first using the settings in this guide and the audio should clear up. If you still have crackling at a solid frame rate, try enabling Audio Stretching.

Game Running Too Fast or Too Slow

If the game feels like it is running at double speed, check your Limit Speed setting. It should be at 100%. If someone else changed it or if it got reset, setting it back to 100% will fix the problem immediately. If the game is running too slowly, make sure CPU JIT is ON and Hardware Shader is ON. These two settings have the biggest impact on speed.

Recommended PC Specs for Pokemon X on Citra

Minimum (playable at 1x-2x resolution): Intel Core i3 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 3 1200, 4GB RAM, any GPU with OpenGL 3.3 support, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended (smooth at 3x resolution): Intel Core i5 8th generation or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 8GB RAM, GTX 1050 Ti or RX 580, Windows 10 or 11 64-bit.

High-end (sharp at 4x-5x resolution): Intel Core i7 or Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, GTX 1070 or RX 5700 or better, Windows 10 or 11 64-bit.

Conclusion

Pokemon X is one of the easiest 3DS games to run well on Citra. The key settings are simple: CPU JIT ON, Hardware Shader ON, Accurate Multiplication OFF, and OpenGL as your Graphics API. Start at 3x resolution on PC and 2x on Android, then adjust up or down based on how your device handles it.

The Lumiose City crash is the only real issue with this game on Citra and it is easy to avoid by not saving inside the city. Everything else should work smoothly with the settings in this guide.

If you still have performance problems after following this guide, visit our main lag fix guide for more options: Citra Emulator Lagging Fixes. For general settings that apply to all games, see: Best Citra Emulator Settings.