[OVERVIEW]
Genesect excels as a strong offensive pivot that can switch in-and-out to gain the upper hand in the positioning game thanks to the combination of STAB U-turn, 120 / 120 offenses, a wide variety of powerful coverage moves, and an excellent ability in Download. It can immediately threaten a wide variety of the tier for super effective damage, such as Kyurem-B, Rillaboom, and Zygarde, and its knack to generate momentum by bringing in set up threats or Pokemon with a more favorable matchup is appreciated on many structures. Specific partners include Urshifu-R and Volcanion, which threaten Fire-types such as Heatran and Incineroar, while in return, Genesect can OHKO Zygarde and Landorus-T, as well as do major damage to Rillaboom. Shift Gear Genesect can also be used as a potent win condition, often able to completely dismantle teams that lack study counterplay such as Heatran, Volcanion, Zapdos, or Urshifu-R. The set specifically appreciates redirection from the likes of Volcarona as well as Fake Out from partners such as Rillaboom and Zeraora, which both also handle Urshifu-R. Additionally, Dragon Dance Zygarde is an excellent partner to both sets, as both sets handle Kyurem-B and the Choice Scarf set can bring it onto the field safely via U-turn. In return, Zygarde matches up well into Fire-types that both variants struggle into. Genesect also often baits in Fire-types, which gives Zygarde a free turn to set up while unthreatened. Unfortunately, not only does Genesect have no way to hit most Fire-types themselves, but its effectiveness plummets when momentum isn't on its side, either due to Fake Out or opposing forms of Speed Control, which leaves it susceptible to being knocked out as well as unable to revenge kill. Lastly, once Genesect is locked into a move, it becomes a lot easier for the opponent to play around its coverage.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Flamethrower / Thunderbolt
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 clickable move that allows 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 Indeedee-F, for super effective damage.
* Ice Beam is important coverage for the likes of Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Dragapult. It is also your best option to damage Zapdos, which otherwise threatens Genesect with Heat Wave.
* Flamethrower OHKOs opposing Genesect, and dents other Steel-types such as Metagross, while Thunderbolt knocks out Urshifu-R with the Special Attack boost, as well as hits other Water-types such as Volcanion.
* Choice Scarf allows Genesect to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and put on immediate pressure with its wide array of coverage, as well as function as a revenge killer against speed boosted threats such as Kyurem-B and Zygarde. It also allows it to pivot out before potentially getting KOed. However, Choice Scarf is a double-edged sword, as it restricts Genesect to not being able to switch moves and puts the pressure on to click the right attacks at the right time.
* Download is an incredible offensive ability that powers up Genesect and can flip some matchups in its favor. Notably, with the Special Attack boost, it can now OHKO Dragapult with Ice Beam and OHKO Urshifu-R if running Thunderbolt.
* A Naive Nature is chosen to let Genesect 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 allows Genesect to OHKO Zygarde and Landorus-T without relying on a Download boost. Maximum Speed investment is important to outrun Kyurem-B and Zygarde after they Dragon Dance. The rest of EVs are dumped into Attack to boost U-turn and Iron Head. Alternatively, full Attack and Speed investment can be used to maximize its physical attacks' power, since those are the moves it uses the most.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Leech Life
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Download
nature: Adamant
evs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Shift Gear is a useful boosting move used to boost your speed and attack. The speed boost lets you outspeed the entire unboosted metagame while the attack boost paired with a potential download boost makes Genesect a huge offensive threat 2HKOing or every OHKOing most of the metagame.
* Iron Head is the best physical Steel type STAB move Genesect has allowing it to hit common threats like Diancie and Kyurem-B for super effective damage. It is also useful for trying to get a timely flinch on the opponent when it's needed to help you win the game.
* Leech Life is Genesect's main STAB move that lets it regain health while being just as powerful as Iron Head. It also OHKOes opposing Rillaboom with no attack boosts at all while providing immediate pressure and super effective damage on Psychic-type Pokemon like Mew and Necrozma, being able to OHKO the former with just a Download boost.
* Protect is used to shield Genesect from threatening attacks, and can also be used to bring in a support partner or stall out field conditions such as Trick Room or opposing Tailwind.
* Life Orb is used to maximize your damage output as much as possible without restricting you to a choice item. The recoil lost can also be negated by Leech Life recovery.
* An Adamant nature lets Genesect hit as hard as possible, while 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 to not weaken the stat that's being boosted. Other items that allow Genesect to switch moves include Life Orb and Expert Belt, with the latter giving less and only situational power compared to Life Orb, but also no recoil and not revealing that Genesect is not Choice Scarf. However, all three items result in being slower than threats such as Zapdos, Naganadel, and Dragapult, which makes Genesect's life as a pivot much harder. Flash Cannon is an option over Iron Head to be better suited against Diancie after some Defense boosts, but does significantly less damage to Assault Vest Kyurem-B, Nihilego, and Tapu Fini. Energy Ball is another way to hit Water-types that's boosted by the everpresent Grassy Terrain, but misses out on Volcanion compared to Thunderbolt and is worse overall without the Terrain boost active. Extreme Speed lets Genesect pick off weakened threats around redirection, but is generally not as consistently useful over a fourth coverage option.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[emma, 294304], [Z Strats, 327195]]
- Quality checked by: [[zeefable, 501951], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
Genesect excels as a strong offensive pivot that can switch in-and-out to gain the upper hand in the positioning game thanks to the combination of STAB U-turn, 120 / 120 offenses, a wide variety of powerful coverage moves, and an excellent ability in Download. It can immediately threaten a wide variety of the tier for super effective damage, such as Kyurem-B, Rillaboom, and Zygarde, and its knack to generate momentum by bringing in set up threats or Pokemon with a more favorable matchup is appreciated on many structures. Specific partners include Urshifu-R and Volcanion, which threaten Fire-types such as Heatran and Incineroar, while in return, Genesect can OHKO Zygarde and Landorus-T, as well as do major damage to Rillaboom. Shift Gear Genesect can also be used as a potent win condition, often able to completely dismantle teams that lack study counterplay such as Heatran, Volcanion, Zapdos, or Urshifu-R. The set specifically appreciates redirection from the likes of Volcarona as well as Fake Out from partners such as Rillaboom and Zeraora, which both also handle Urshifu-R. Additionally, Dragon Dance Zygarde is an excellent partner to both sets, as both sets handle Kyurem-B and the Choice Scarf set can bring it onto the field safely via U-turn. In return, Zygarde matches up well into Fire-types that both variants struggle into. Genesect also often baits in Fire-types, which gives Zygarde a free turn to set up while unthreatened. Unfortunately, not only does Genesect have no way to hit most Fire-types themselves, but its effectiveness plummets when momentum isn't on its side, either due to Fake Out or opposing forms of Speed Control, which leaves it susceptible to being knocked out as well as unable to revenge kill. Lastly, once Genesect is locked into a move, it becomes a lot easier for the opponent to play around its coverage.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Flamethrower / Thunderbolt
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 clickable move that allows 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 Indeedee-F, for super effective damage.
* Ice Beam is important coverage for the likes of Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Dragapult. It is also your best option to damage Zapdos, which otherwise threatens Genesect with Heat Wave.
* Flamethrower OHKOs opposing Genesect, and dents other Steel-types such as Metagross, while Thunderbolt knocks out Urshifu-R with the Special Attack boost, as well as hits other Water-types such as Volcanion.
* Choice Scarf allows Genesect to outspeed the entire unboosted metagame and put on immediate pressure with its wide array of coverage, as well as function as a revenge killer against speed boosted threats such as Kyurem-B and Zygarde. It also allows it to pivot out before potentially getting KOed. However, Choice Scarf is a double-edged sword, as it restricts Genesect to not being able to switch moves and puts the pressure on to click the right attacks at the right time.
* Download is an incredible offensive ability that powers up Genesect and can flip some matchups in its favor. Notably, with the Special Attack boost, it can now OHKO Dragapult with Ice Beam and OHKO Urshifu-R if running Thunderbolt.
* A Naive Nature is chosen to let Genesect 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 allows Genesect to OHKO Zygarde and Landorus-T without relying on a Download boost. Maximum Speed investment is important to outrun Kyurem-B and Zygarde after they Dragon Dance. The rest of EVs are dumped into Attack to boost U-turn and Iron Head. Alternatively, full Attack and Speed investment can be used to maximize its physical attacks' power, since those are the moves it uses the most.
[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Shift Gear
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Leech Life
move 4: Protect
item: Life Orb
ability: Download
nature: Adamant
evs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
* Shift Gear is a useful boosting move used to boost your speed and attack. The speed boost lets you outspeed the entire unboosted metagame while the attack boost paired with a potential download boost makes Genesect a huge offensive threat 2HKOing or every OHKOing most of the metagame.
* Iron Head is the best physical Steel type STAB move Genesect has allowing it to hit common threats like Diancie and Kyurem-B for super effective damage. It is also useful for trying to get a timely flinch on the opponent when it's needed to help you win the game.
* Leech Life is Genesect's main STAB move that lets it regain health while being just as powerful as Iron Head. It also OHKOes opposing Rillaboom with no attack boosts at all while providing immediate pressure and super effective damage on Psychic-type Pokemon like Mew and Necrozma, being able to OHKO the former with just a Download boost.
* Protect is used to shield Genesect from threatening attacks, and can also be used to bring in a support partner or stall out field conditions such as Trick Room or opposing Tailwind.
* Life Orb is used to maximize your damage output as much as possible without restricting you to a choice item. The recoil lost can also be negated by Leech Life recovery.
* An Adamant nature lets Genesect hit as hard as possible, while 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 to not weaken the stat that's being boosted. Other items that allow Genesect to switch moves include Life Orb and Expert Belt, with the latter giving less and only situational power compared to Life Orb, but also no recoil and not revealing that Genesect is not Choice Scarf. However, all three items result in being slower than threats such as Zapdos, Naganadel, and Dragapult, which makes Genesect's life as a pivot much harder. Flash Cannon is an option over Iron Head to be better suited against Diancie after some Defense boosts, but does significantly less damage to Assault Vest Kyurem-B, Nihilego, and Tapu Fini. Energy Ball is another way to hit Water-types that's boosted by the everpresent Grassy Terrain, but misses out on Volcanion compared to Thunderbolt and is worse overall without the Terrain boost active. Extreme Speed lets Genesect pick off weakened threats around redirection, but is generally not as consistently useful over a fourth coverage option.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[emma, 294304], [Z Strats, 327195]]
- Quality checked by: [[zeefable, 501951], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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