[OVERVIEW]
Genesect excels as a strong offensive pivot that can gain the upper hand in the positioning game thanks to its STAB U-turn, 120 / 120 offenses, wide variety of powerful coverage moves, and excellent ability in Download. It can immediately threaten a wide swathe of the tier for super effective damage, including Kyurem-B, Rillaboom, and Zygarde, and many teams appreciate it bringing in setup threats or Pokemon with favorable matchups. become a potent wincon with Shift Gear, completely dismantling teams that lack study counterplay options such as Heatran, Volcanion, Zapdos, and Urshifu-R. It also has the sustainability that other setup sweepers lack thanks to Leech Life. Unfortunately, not only does Genesect have no way to hit most Fire-types, but its effectiveness plummets when momentum isn't on its side, either due to Fake Out or opposing forms of speed control. This counterplay exposes its meager bulk and 4x Fire weakness while impeding its revenge killing. Lastly, once Choice Scarf Genesect is locked into a move, it becomes a lot easier to play around. Genesect appreciates teammates that threaten Fire-types like Volcanion, Urshifu-R, and Zygarde, while it threatens Kyurem-B, Rillaboom, and Landorus in return. Shift Gear Genesect in particular enjoys support from Pokemon with redirection, such as Volcarona, or Fake Out, like Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Flamethrower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Download
nature: Naive
evs: 104 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Iron Head is a reliable STAB move that punishes Fairy- and Rock-type Pokemon such as Diancie and Nihilego. It's used over Flash Cannon to pressure Assault Vest Kyurem-B more effectively.
* U-turn is Genesect's most spammable move, allowing it to gain momentum and bring in a Pokemon with a more favorable matchup. It also hits the omnipresent Rillaboom, as well as Psychic-types like Necrozma and Mew, for super effective damage.
* Ice Beam is important coverage for the likes of Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Dragapult. It is also the best option to damage Zapdos, which otherwise threatens Genesect with Heat Wave.
* Thunderbolt OHKOes Urshifu-R with a Download boost, while hitting Celesteela and Volcanion hard. Flamethrower hits other Genesect, along with Metagross, and still hits Celesteela hard.
* Choice Scarf allows Genesect to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and bring immediate pressure with its wide array of coverage, as well as revenge killing Speed-boosted threats such as Kyurem-B and Zygarde. It also allows it to pivot out before potentially getting KOed. However, Choice Scarf's lock-in effect does punish Genesect severely for choosing an incorrect move.
* Download is an incredible offensive ability that always boosts two of Genesect's moves and can flip some matchups in its favor. Notably, with the Special Attack boost, it can OHKO Dragapult with Ice Beam and OHKO Urshifu-R if running Thunderbolt.
* A Naive nature is chosen over Hasty to switch into physical threats such as Rillaboom, Zygarde, and Diancie better. Hasty is an option to take less damage against Necrozma, but the loss in physical bulk is generally not worth it.
* 152 Special Attack EVs allow Genesect to OHKO Zygarde and Landorus-T without relying on a Download boost. Maximum Speed investment is important to outrun Kyurem-B after a Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf Urshifu-R. Alternatively, full Attack and Speed investment can be used because U-turn and Iron Head are the moves it uses the most.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Leech Life
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Download
nature: Adamant
evs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Shift Gear lets Genesect outspeed the entire unboosted metagame while becoming a huge offensive threat with a potential Download Attack boost, 2HKOing or even 2HKOing or every OHKOing most of the metagame.
* Leech Life is Genesect's main STAB move, regaining health while being just as powerful as Iron Head. Notably, the recovery can negate Life Orb recoil. It also OHKOes opposing Rillaboom with no Attack boosts at all while providing immediate pressure on Psychic-type Pokemon like Mew and Necrozma, being able to OHKO the former with just a Download boost.
* Iron Head hits common threats like Diancie and Kyurem-B for super effective damage. It is also useful for trying to get a timely flinch to win the game.
* Protect shields Genesect from threatening attacks, and it can also be used to bring in a support partner or stall out field conditions such as Trick Room and opposing Tailwind.
* 52 Speed EVs let Genesect always outspeed Choice Scarf Landorus after a Shift Gear.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest lets Genesect switch moves and improve its special bulk, notably avoiding the 2HKO from both +1 Expanding Force in Psychic Terrain and Earth Power from Necrozma. If running it, be sure to run a Hasty nature instead of Naive. Other items that allow switching moves are Life Orb and Expert Belt, with Expert Belt being less directly effective but avoiding recoil and letting Genesect bluff Choice Scarf. However, all three items leave Genesect slower than threats such as Zapdos, Naganadel, and Dragapult, which makes its life as a pivot much harder. Flash Cannon is an option over Iron Head to for Diancie after it gets some Defense boosts, but does significantly less damage to Assault Vest Kyurem-B, Nihilego, and Tapu Fini. Explosion deals tremendous damage to both opposing Pokemon, especially with an Attack boost, but it both sacrifices Genesect and threatens its ally.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[emma, 294304], [Z Strats, 327195], [dnagerbdager, 531334]]
- Quality checked by: [[zeefable, 501951], [Memoric, 215000]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Genesect excels as a strong offensive pivot that can gain the upper hand in the positioning game thanks to its STAB U-turn, 120 / 120 offenses, wide variety of powerful coverage moves, and excellent ability in Download. It can immediately threaten a wide swathe of the tier for super effective damage, including Kyurem-B, Rillaboom, and Zygarde, and many teams appreciate it bringing in setup threats or Pokemon with favorable matchups. become a potent wincon with Shift Gear, completely dismantling teams that lack study counterplay options such as Heatran, Volcanion, Zapdos, and Urshifu-R. It also has the sustainability that other setup sweepers lack thanks to Leech Life. Unfortunately, not only does Genesect have no way to hit most Fire-types, but its effectiveness plummets when momentum isn't on its side, either due to Fake Out or opposing forms of speed control. This counterplay exposes its meager bulk and 4x Fire weakness while impeding its revenge killing. Lastly, once Choice Scarf Genesect is locked into a move, it becomes a lot easier to play around. Genesect appreciates teammates that threaten Fire-types like Volcanion, Urshifu-R, and Zygarde, while it threatens Kyurem-B, Rillaboom, and Landorus in return. Shift Gear Genesect in particular enjoys support from Pokemon with redirection, such as Volcarona, or Fake Out, like Zeraora.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Thunderbolt / Flamethrower
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Download
nature: Naive
evs: 104 Atk / 152 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Iron Head is a reliable STAB move that punishes Fairy- and Rock-type Pokemon such as Diancie and Nihilego. It's used over Flash Cannon to pressure Assault Vest Kyurem-B more effectively.
* U-turn is Genesect's most spammable move, allowing it to gain momentum and bring in a Pokemon with a more favorable matchup. It also hits the omnipresent Rillaboom, as well as Psychic-types like Necrozma and Mew, for super effective damage.
* Ice Beam is important coverage for the likes of Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Dragapult. It is also the best option to damage Zapdos, which otherwise threatens Genesect with Heat Wave.
* Thunderbolt OHKOes Urshifu-R with a Download boost, while hitting Celesteela and Volcanion hard. Flamethrower hits other Genesect, along with Metagross, and still hits Celesteela hard.
* Choice Scarf allows Genesect to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and bring immediate pressure with its wide array of coverage, as well as revenge killing Speed-boosted threats such as Kyurem-B and Zygarde. It also allows it to pivot out before potentially getting KOed. However, Choice Scarf's lock-in effect does punish Genesect severely for choosing an incorrect move.
* Download is an incredible offensive ability that always boosts two of Genesect's moves and can flip some matchups in its favor. Notably, with the Special Attack boost, it can OHKO Dragapult with Ice Beam and OHKO Urshifu-R if running Thunderbolt.
* A Naive nature is chosen over Hasty to switch into physical threats such as Rillaboom, Zygarde, and Diancie better. Hasty is an option to take less damage against Necrozma, but the loss in physical bulk is generally not worth it.
* 152 Special Attack EVs allow Genesect to OHKO Zygarde and Landorus-T without relying on a Download boost. Maximum Speed investment is important to outrun Kyurem-B after a Dragon Dance and Choice Scarf Urshifu-R. Alternatively, full Attack and Speed investment can be used because U-turn and Iron Head are the moves it uses the most.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Leech Life
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Download
nature: Adamant
evs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Shift Gear lets Genesect outspeed the entire unboosted metagame while becoming a huge offensive threat with a potential Download Attack boost, 2HKOing or even 2HKOing or every OHKOing most of the metagame.
* Leech Life is Genesect's main STAB move, regaining health while being just as powerful as Iron Head. Notably, the recovery can negate Life Orb recoil. It also OHKOes opposing Rillaboom with no Attack boosts at all while providing immediate pressure on Psychic-type Pokemon like Mew and Necrozma, being able to OHKO the former with just a Download boost.
* Iron Head hits common threats like Diancie and Kyurem-B for super effective damage. It is also useful for trying to get a timely flinch to win the game.
* Protect shields Genesect from threatening attacks, and it can also be used to bring in a support partner or stall out field conditions such as Trick Room and opposing Tailwind.
* 52 Speed EVs let Genesect always outspeed Choice Scarf Landorus after a Shift Gear.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Assault Vest lets Genesect switch moves and improve its special bulk, notably avoiding the 2HKO from both +1 Expanding Force in Psychic Terrain and Earth Power from Necrozma. If running it, be sure to run a Hasty nature instead of Naive. Other items that allow switching moves are Life Orb and Expert Belt, with Expert Belt being less directly effective but avoiding recoil and letting Genesect bluff Choice Scarf. However, all three items leave Genesect slower than threats such as Zapdos, Naganadel, and Dragapult, which makes its life as a pivot much harder. Flash Cannon is an option over Iron Head to for Diancie after it gets some Defense boosts, but does significantly less damage to Assault Vest Kyurem-B, Nihilego, and Tapu Fini. Explosion deals tremendous damage to both opposing Pokemon, especially with an Attack boost, but it both sacrifices Genesect and threatens its ally.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[emma, 294304], [Z Strats, 327195], [dnagerbdager, 531334]]
- Quality checked by: [[zeefable, 501951], [Memoric, 215000]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
Last edited:
