XY OU Genesect Volt-Turn by Bloo & GaryTheGengar

[RMT Staff]

Genesect Volt-Turn by Bloo & GaryTheGengar

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Introduction
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Hello, and welcome to the first XY RMT Staff Archives team. Originally, the RMT Staff Archives concept was meant to patch up the holes in the spectrum of teams the archives were displaying. When ORAS kicked in, it was pretty clear that we lacked a Genesect team to show off. That is quite the pity, as Genesect totally shaped the first official XY tournaments such as SPL and OST.
We looked back at the replays from this era and then collected a bunch of teams in order to select which Genesect team would be best to archive. An overwhelming majority of raters voted for this VoltTurn Genesect team that had been used by Bloo in Week 3 of SPL5.
Besides the obvious presence of Genesect, this team has quite a few interesting things for itself. Mega Mawile was vastly underused back then, mainly because Mega Lucario and the Mega Charizard formes were very popular due to their ability to deal with Aegislash, in addition to their sheer brokeness. The defensive backbone of the team was present in a lot of balanced VoltTurn teams and still holds up fairly well today.
Anyway, it's time for the throwback, and for the younger audience, it's time to give you a taste of what early XY looked like when the armored bug was in two teams out of three!

In-Depth​

Genesect @ Life Orb
Ability: Download
EVs: 64 HP / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Modest Nature
- Rock Polish
- Flamethrower
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain​

Main Role:​

Genesect's main role is to act as the final strike once Latias, Mega Mawile, and Talonflame are done with tearing through the opposing team. It benefits from the removal of Heatran and can provide a good win condition in the late-game. Speed was the key of XY, and Rock Polish Genesect would give you an edge against the whole metagame after setting up thanks to it not being weak to any priority move.

Specific Traits:​

Genesect's main trait in XY was simply being overpowered. This thing is a pain to prepare for; between Choice Scarf sets, Choice Band sets, physical Shift Gear sets, special Life Orb sets, Hidden Power Ground sets, and many others, there was no way you could ever be really safe from this monster. In this specific team, Genesect's typing and coverage fit the team like a glove. Usually, back in XY, if Genesect seemed to fit, you would just go with it.

Moves and EVs:​

If you check the replay, you'll notice that the Genesect was actually Choice Scarf. We've learned that the original iteration of the team was running a Rock Polish set to provide a setup sweeper for the late-game. The three remaining coverage moves are always a bit tricky to choose for Genesect, as it has access to so many excellent options that you usually wish you could simply pick them all. Giga Drain has been chosen over Thunderbolt or Ice Beam for its ability to hit Water-type Pokemon, particularly Rotom-W, super effectively, while replenishing Genesect's health. This is a viable choice, as Pokemon such as Talonflame and Heatran are handled rather well by the other members of the team, and getting back some health comes handy in late-game scenarios when your opponent tries to stall out the Life Orb recoil to put Genesect in range of a foe's priority move.

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Whirlwind

Main Role:​

Hippowdon acts as a blanket check to a number of popular threats such as Mega Manectric, Mega Lucario, Aegislash, Talonflame, Bisharp, Mega Mawile, and Mega Charizard X while also providing the team with Stealth Rock and a weather inducing ability, which was useful to mess up the common rain teams.

Specific Traits:​

Hippowdon's natural bulk coupled with its typing allow it to stop VoltTurn teams in their tracks. It provides Stealth Rock support for the team, which enables Genesect, Mega Mawile, and Talonflame to net KOs more easily. It also acts as a defensive backbone for the team because of its ability to check a multitude of threats.

Moves and EVs:​

112 SpD EVs avoid the 2HKO from Life Orb Thundurus's and Mega Manectric's Hidden Power Ice, while 144 Def EVs help in avoiding the OHKO from +2 Life Orb Terrakion's Close Combat. Whirlwind allows Hippowdon to phaze setup sweepers such as Substitite + Swords Dance Mega Mawile, Dragon Dance Mega Charizard X, and Swords Dance Talonflame.

Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Sleep Talk

Main Role:​

Talonflame acts as a revenge killer for this team, being able to pick off threats such as Genesect, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Gyarados. It also forms a VoltTurn core with Rotom-W to pivot on common physical walls and Heatran for Genesect and Mega Mawile.

Specific Traits:​

Gale Wings allows Talonflame to fulfill the role of a scary revenge killer, as it gains priority on Brave Bird, making it nearly impossible to outspeed outside of Extreme Speed and faster Talonflame. This strong priority move had a huge impact on the metagame, as it was often the only way to check many of the fast powerhouses that dominated early XY.

Moves and EVs:​

Maximum Attack and Speed investment along with an Adamant nature allows Talonflame to hit as hard as possible while Speed tying with opposing Adamant Talonflame. Brave Bird and Flare Blitz are both STAB moves and hit very hard after a Choice Band boost, while Brave Bird has +1 priority. U-turn allows Talonflame to grab momentum against defensive switch-ins such as Tyranitar, Heatran, Rotom-W, and Landorus-T to allow its teammates to get in safely. Sleep Talk allows Talonflame to absorb Spore and Sleep Powder, stopping Breloom lacking Rock Tomb, Amoonguss, and uncommon Mega Venusaur variants. Tailwind is an interesting option over it, especially in tandem with Mega Mawile.

Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Focus Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Substitute​

Main Role:​

Mega Mawile's main role on the team is to break opposing stall and balance teams. It does not require much support, so the rest of the team can focus on roles such as pivoting into threats (Rotom, Hippowdon, and Latias) or pressuring offensive teams (Genesect and Talonflame). Mega Mawile can also function as a late-game cleaner thanks to its access to strong priority in the form of Sucker Punch.

Specific Traits:​

Mega Mawile's bulk and typing allow it many opportunities to switch in over the course of a match. Sucker Punch also affords it the ability to hurt offensive teams, a trait not many wallbreakers of Mega Mawile's power level share. Its Fairy typing also grants the team a Dragon check as well as a Knock Off absorber. Intimidate was chosen as a pre-Mega ability to help Mawile pivot into threats before it Mega Evolves and ease setting up.

Moves and EVs:​

The combination of Substitute and Focus Punch allows Mega Mawile to beat Will-O-Wisp Heatran, which was often considered a solid answer to Swords Dance Mega Mawile. The use of Substitute also allows Mawile to pressure offensive teams as they switch their Pokemon around. 84 Speed EVs make sure that Mega Mawile can outpace base 60 Speed threats, most notably Clefable and Aegislash. The Attack stat is maximized to hit as hard as possible while the remaining EVs are put into HP to take advantage of Mawile's natural bulk and typing. Sucker Punch provides good coverage alongside Play Rough and also allows Mega Mawile to work around its low Speed. Play Rough itself provides a strong physical STAB move with few Pokemon that resist it, making it the most spammable attack on this set.

Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Defog
- Roost
- Draco Meteor

Main Role:​

Latias is the team's main entry hazard remover. It also provides a strong check to dangerous threats such as Mega Charizard Y, Keldeo, and Thundurus. Consistent entry hazard removal is essential to a team using Talonflame, especially as the Talonflame on this team lacks Roost. This team also lacked reliable switch-ins to Water- and Fire-type moves to this point, and Latias helps fix that.

Specific Traits:​

Latias was chosen over Latios because Latias is more defenisve. This team didn't need Latios' wallbreaking prowess and power, so the choice to opt for Latias was clear. Outside of the Lati duo, Defoggers tend to be more defensive and slower in nature, which can lead to a loss in momentum. Latias brings a combination of Speed, Defog, and defensive ability that fits the team perfectly.

Moves and EVs:​

72 HP EVs turn Life Orb Thundurus's Hidden Power Ice into a 3HKO. Surf allows Latias to hit Landorus-T, Gliscor, Hippowdon, Tyranitar, and Heatran super effectively, which helps to open paths for Talonflame and Genesect. Roost over Healing Wish, another common choice on offensive Latias, provides it with recovery and, as a result of that, more staying power. Draco Meteor is standard STAB coverage and is still a good choice even with the introduction of Fairies.

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Main Role:​

Rotom-W is a physical pivot. It takes on several specific threats for the team, including the infamous Birdspam teams that were common early in the XY metagame's development. In addition, Rotom-W is also a hard check to Sand Rush Excadrill and most other physical Ground-types. It also generates momentum through the use of Volt Switch.

Specific Traits:​

Rotom-W is somewhat unique in that the combination of its Electric typing and Levitate allows it to beat Mega Pinsir, which was a huge threat in early XY. Other Electric-types have separate issues that make them less of a fit for a Birdspam check, with Zapdos having a Stealth Rock weakness and Raikou being weak to Earthquake. Rotom-W also has STAB Hydro Pump to hit most Ground-types super effectively, whereas most other Volt Switch users have to rely on non-STAB Hidden Power Ice to hit Ground-types which is far less threatening.

Moves and EVs:​

44 Speed EVs allow Rotom-W to outspeed Jolly Belly Drum Azumarill and burn it. This is important because Surf on Latias renders it incapable of beating Azumarill, and +6 Aqua Jet deals high amounts of damage to every other team member. Will-O-Wisp and Pain Split were decent tools most of the time to play around Aegislash by burning it and using Pain Split through King's Shield.

Importable

Show

Genesect @ Life Orb
Ability: Download
EVs: 64 HP / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Modest Nature
- Rock Polish
- Flamethrower
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain

Hippowdon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 144 Def / 112 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Whirlwind

Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Sleep Talk

Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 172 HP / 252 Atk / 84 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Focus Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Substitute

Latias @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 184 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Surf
- Defog
- Roost
- Draco Meteor

Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split

Credits

Created by: Bloo & GaryTheGengar
Written by: Analytic Celticpride fleggumfl Reymedy
GP check by : Snobalt
Art done by: boudouche​