[SET]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Zap Cannon / Thunderbolt
move 2: Blizzard / Ice Beam
move 3: Shift Gear
move 4: Leech Life
item: Life Orb
ability: No Guard / Sheer Force
nature: Hasty
evs: 32 Atk / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Already one of the tier's strongest wallbreakers and most versatile Pokemon, Genesect is also a terrifying sweeper thanks to Shift Gear, which lets it outspeed virtually the entire metagame, including Choice Scarf users, after a boost. After one setup turn, it can sweep or clean with its BoltBeam coverage and recover HP with Leech Life. No Guard is the most powerful ability, as it allows Genesect to run higher Base Power moves like Zap Cannon and Blizzard. Additionally, the paralysis from Zap Cannon allows Genesect to beat its checks more easily and help other teammates sweep as well. Alternatively, Sheer Force with Ice Beam and Thunderbolt gives Genesect surprise factor, as those moves aren't exclusive to Shift Gear sets. A Hasty nature coupled with 32 Attack EVs allows Genesect to 2HKO Dauntless Shield Mew with Leech Life after a Shift Gear, while the Speed EVs outspeed Modest Lele before boosting.
Pokemon that can take advantage of Genesect paralyzing Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Blissey are very good partners. Primarina is a good example that can beat almost all of Genesect's checks, overwhelming Ferrothorn and threatening Heatran and Volcarona. Genesect appreciates being brought in safely to preserve HP for setting up, so fast pivots such as Choice Scarf Azelf and Landorus-T are good partners. Entry hazard support is also useful to weaken switch-ins, such as Ferrothorn, and put them in range of Genesect’s attacks.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its great typing and respectable bulk, Genesect can soft check many threats while also serving as a solid revenge killer with Choice Scarf. Its Steel type allows it to come in on Psychic- and Dragon-types such as Tapu Lele and Latios, and its decent bulk lets it come switch into weak neutral attacks, such as Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt. With Choice Scarf, Genesect is only outsped by Unburden users like Kommo-o and faster Choice Scarf users such as Azelf; this allows it to frequently pivot safely and maximize Regenerator's recovery. Thanks to its great movepool, Genesect can threaten almost the entire metagame; Iron Head hits Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele, Ice Beam threatens Dragon-, Ground-, and Flying-types such as Zapdos and Garchomp, and Flamethrower hits Steel-types that don't mind the other attacks, such as Genesect and Ferrothorn. Full Special Attack investment ensures Flamethrower and Ice Beam get key KOs such as Ferrothorn and Garchomp. The EV spread is highly customizable based on team needs; 104 Attack EVs secures the OHKO on Tapu Lele with Iron Head, while maximum HP investment can allow Genesect to switch into stronger attacks like Tapu Lele's Focus Blast. Genesect is shiny to not reveal that it's lacking Shift Gear.
Genesect's coverage regularly forces offensive Pokemon to switch out; Tapu Fini and Blissey are common answers to this set, making wallbreakers that exploit them like Terrakion, Tapu Koko, and Zarude good partners. The last two are particularly good with Genesect, as they too can pivot quite easily to maintain pressure on the opposite team. Defensively, Pokemon such as Kommo-o and Toxapex appreciate its ability to come on Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Latios, especially with bulk investment, and in return they check Fire- and Fighting-types that threaten Genesect.
[SET]
name: Magic Guard
move 1: Steel Beam
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Flamethrower / Thunderbolt
move 4: Energy Ball / Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Genesect is able to use the powerful STAB Steel Beam and Life Orb without recoil. Because Steel-resistant Pokemon rarely switch into Genesect due to its wide coverage, this set reduces predictions and secures massive damage on neutral targets. Thanks to Magic Guard, Genesect is also immune to entry hazards, which allows it to easily come on the field and use U-turn to keep the momentum. Genesect's coverage moves lack any damage amplification from an ability, but they're generally strong enough to power through Pokemon that resist Steel Beam such as Toxapex and Swampert. Genesect is shiny to not reveal that it's lacking Shift Gear. Genesect's coverage moves hit Pokemon that resist Steel Beam; Flamethrower notably OHKOes Ferrothorn, Thunderbolt targets Toxapex, and Energy Ball is its best option to hit Swampert. A mixed Steel Beam + Magic Guard set with Shift Gear could be considered, but is generally inferior to No Guard or Sheer Force sets.
Genesect appreciates being brought in on Pokemon it can threaten such as Tapu Lele, Corviknight, and Swampert with pivots such as Zarude and Tapu Koko. Powerful wallbreakers such as Primarina and Terrakion use Genesect's U-turn to freely come in on and threaten foes like Blissey and Heatran. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Swampert and Garchomp helps chip answers while pivoting, which is the main point of running Genesect over other Magic Guard users such as Volcarona. Defensively, Genesect needs a solid switch-in to Fire-types, especially Heatran due to its 4x resistance to Steel Beam, so partners like Primordial Sea Zapdos are appreciated.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Flamethrower / Energy Ball
move 4: Energy Ball / Iron Head
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Due to Genesect's immense movepool with a multitude of Sheer Force boosted attacks, it is an extremely powerful wallbreaker able to hit many Pokemon super effectively, even if it struggles with four-moveslot syndrome. BoltBeam with Sheer Force and a very good Special Attack allows Genesect to threaten many of the metagame's ubiquitous defensive Pokemon, such as Tapu Fini, Corviknight, and Kommo-o. The variety of options available on the two last moveslots makes Genesect very difficult to check until all of its attacks have been revealed. Flamethrower allows it to defeat Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Energy Ball OHKOes Swampert, and Iron Head can pass through the sturdiest special walls such as Blissey. Genesect can theoretically defeat almost the entire metagame with these three moves, but it can't run them all at once. With Iron Head, investing EVs in Attack is an option for better odds to 2HKO Blissey. Genesect is shiny to not reveal that it's lacking Shift Gear.
Genesect has very few switch-ins, and it's in competition with Tapu Lele as the best Sheer Force wallbreaker. Even though Genesect has decent bulk and a solid defensive typing, safe entry from Pokemon like Zarude, Tapu Koko, Blissey, and Corviknight is excellent for any wallbreaker. This set's unpredictability means opponents might end up sacking an important Pokemon to it, which strong teammates like Terrakion can take advantage of. However, the main weakness of this set is its difficulty in defeating Fire-types, such as Volcarona and Heatran. Thus, solid answers to those Pokemon such as Primordial Sea Zapdos are necessary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Since Genesect is one of the most versatile Pokemon in the metagame, numerous niche sets can be used to surprise your opponent or pass through specific Pokemon for teammates. A Tinted Lens set can use Choice Band for a super powerful U-turn or Shift Gear to break through Corviknight and virutally guarantee a KO with boosted Explosion. In order to beat Heatran, its biggest check, Genesect can opt for Flash Fire and a fully physical set, but this set lacks damage overall to beat other checks and still loses against Mold Breaker Heatran. Extreme Speed sets with Refrigerate, Galvanize, or Tough Claws can be considered, but they are often outclassed by other Genesect sets and other Extreme Speed users such as Lucario. A set using Serene Grace and Iron Head can muscle through would-be checks, but this set is very luck reliant, needing incredible luck to beat Heatran. Lastly, a physical sweeper set with Guts, Flame Orb, and Facade can be considered to pass through walls with more ease, but this set usually shares the same counters as the others and ends up a very niche pick.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Genesect struggles against Fire-types since they resist its STAB combination and are not weak to any of its coverage moves. Heatran especially takes almost nothing from Genesect and can take advantage of it.
**Walls**: Once Genesect has revealed its set, it becomes easier to deal with, as each set loses to one or more walls like Swampert and Blissey.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Osake, 524664]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523886], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [UT, 523886]]
name: Shift Gear
move 1: Zap Cannon / Thunderbolt
move 2: Blizzard / Ice Beam
move 3: Shift Gear
move 4: Leech Life
item: Life Orb
ability: No Guard / Sheer Force
nature: Hasty
evs: 32 Atk / 252 SpA / 224 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Already one of the tier's strongest wallbreakers and most versatile Pokemon, Genesect is also a terrifying sweeper thanks to Shift Gear, which lets it outspeed virtually the entire metagame, including Choice Scarf users, after a boost. After one setup turn, it can sweep or clean with its BoltBeam coverage and recover HP with Leech Life. No Guard is the most powerful ability, as it allows Genesect to run higher Base Power moves like Zap Cannon and Blizzard. Additionally, the paralysis from Zap Cannon allows Genesect to beat its checks more easily and help other teammates sweep as well. Alternatively, Sheer Force with Ice Beam and Thunderbolt gives Genesect surprise factor, as those moves aren't exclusive to Shift Gear sets. A Hasty nature coupled with 32 Attack EVs allows Genesect to 2HKO Dauntless Shield Mew with Leech Life after a Shift Gear, while the Speed EVs outspeed Modest Lele before boosting.
Pokemon that can take advantage of Genesect paralyzing Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Blissey are very good partners. Primarina is a good example that can beat almost all of Genesect's checks, overwhelming Ferrothorn and threatening Heatran and Volcarona. Genesect appreciates being brought in safely to preserve HP for setting up, so fast pivots such as Choice Scarf Azelf and Landorus-T are good partners. Entry hazard support is also useful to weaken switch-ins, such as Ferrothorn, and put them in range of Genesect’s attacks.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: U-turn
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Flamethrower
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Regenerator
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its great typing and respectable bulk, Genesect can soft check many threats while also serving as a solid revenge killer with Choice Scarf. Its Steel type allows it to come in on Psychic- and Dragon-types such as Tapu Lele and Latios, and its decent bulk lets it come switch into weak neutral attacks, such as Tapu Koko's Thunderbolt. With Choice Scarf, Genesect is only outsped by Unburden users like Kommo-o and faster Choice Scarf users such as Azelf; this allows it to frequently pivot safely and maximize Regenerator's recovery. Thanks to its great movepool, Genesect can threaten almost the entire metagame; Iron Head hits Fairy-types such as Tapu Lele, Ice Beam threatens Dragon-, Ground-, and Flying-types such as Zapdos and Garchomp, and Flamethrower hits Steel-types that don't mind the other attacks, such as Genesect and Ferrothorn. Full Special Attack investment ensures Flamethrower and Ice Beam get key KOs such as Ferrothorn and Garchomp. The EV spread is highly customizable based on team needs; 104 Attack EVs secures the OHKO on Tapu Lele with Iron Head, while maximum HP investment can allow Genesect to switch into stronger attacks like Tapu Lele's Focus Blast. Genesect is shiny to not reveal that it's lacking Shift Gear.
Genesect's coverage regularly forces offensive Pokemon to switch out; Tapu Fini and Blissey are common answers to this set, making wallbreakers that exploit them like Terrakion, Tapu Koko, and Zarude good partners. The last two are particularly good with Genesect, as they too can pivot quite easily to maintain pressure on the opposite team. Defensively, Pokemon such as Kommo-o and Toxapex appreciate its ability to come on Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Latios, especially with bulk investment, and in return they check Fire- and Fighting-types that threaten Genesect.
[SET]
name: Magic Guard
move 1: Steel Beam
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Flamethrower / Thunderbolt
move 4: Energy Ball / Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Magic Guard
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Magic Guard Genesect is able to use the powerful STAB Steel Beam and Life Orb without recoil. Because Steel-resistant Pokemon rarely switch into Genesect due to its wide coverage, this set reduces predictions and secures massive damage on neutral targets. Thanks to Magic Guard, Genesect is also immune to entry hazards, which allows it to easily come on the field and use U-turn to keep the momentum. Genesect's coverage moves lack any damage amplification from an ability, but they're generally strong enough to power through Pokemon that resist Steel Beam such as Toxapex and Swampert. Genesect is shiny to not reveal that it's lacking Shift Gear. Genesect's coverage moves hit Pokemon that resist Steel Beam; Flamethrower notably OHKOes Ferrothorn, Thunderbolt targets Toxapex, and Energy Ball is its best option to hit Swampert. A mixed Steel Beam + Magic Guard set with Shift Gear could be considered, but is generally inferior to No Guard or Sheer Force sets.
Genesect appreciates being brought in on Pokemon it can threaten such as Tapu Lele, Corviknight, and Swampert with pivots such as Zarude and Tapu Koko. Powerful wallbreakers such as Primarina and Terrakion use Genesect's U-turn to freely come in on and threaten foes like Blissey and Heatran. Entry hazard support from Pokemon like Swampert and Garchomp helps chip answers while pivoting, which is the main point of running Genesect over other Magic Guard users such as Volcarona. Defensively, Genesect needs a solid switch-in to Fire-types, especially Heatran due to its 4x resistance to Steel Beam, so partners like Primordial Sea Zapdos are appreciated.
[SET]
name: All-out Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Flamethrower / Energy Ball
move 4: Energy Ball / Iron Head
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Hasty
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
shiny: true
[SET COMMENTS]
Due to Genesect's immense movepool with a multitude of Sheer Force boosted attacks, it is an extremely powerful wallbreaker able to hit many Pokemon super effectively, even if it struggles with four-moveslot syndrome. BoltBeam with Sheer Force and a very good Special Attack allows Genesect to threaten many of the metagame's ubiquitous defensive Pokemon, such as Tapu Fini, Corviknight, and Kommo-o. The variety of options available on the two last moveslots makes Genesect very difficult to check until all of its attacks have been revealed. Flamethrower allows it to defeat Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Energy Ball OHKOes Swampert, and Iron Head can pass through the sturdiest special walls such as Blissey. Genesect can theoretically defeat almost the entire metagame with these three moves, but it can't run them all at once. With Iron Head, investing EVs in Attack is an option for better odds to 2HKO Blissey. Genesect is shiny to not reveal that it's lacking Shift Gear.
Genesect has very few switch-ins, and it's in competition with Tapu Lele as the best Sheer Force wallbreaker. Even though Genesect has decent bulk and a solid defensive typing, safe entry from Pokemon like Zarude, Tapu Koko, Blissey, and Corviknight is excellent for any wallbreaker. This set's unpredictability means opponents might end up sacking an important Pokemon to it, which strong teammates like Terrakion can take advantage of. However, the main weakness of this set is its difficulty in defeating Fire-types, such as Volcarona and Heatran. Thus, solid answers to those Pokemon such as Primordial Sea Zapdos are necessary.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Since Genesect is one of the most versatile Pokemon in the metagame, numerous niche sets can be used to surprise your opponent or pass through specific Pokemon for teammates. A Tinted Lens set can use Choice Band for a super powerful U-turn or Shift Gear to break through Corviknight and virutally guarantee a KO with boosted Explosion. In order to beat Heatran, its biggest check, Genesect can opt for Flash Fire and a fully physical set, but this set lacks damage overall to beat other checks and still loses against Mold Breaker Heatran. Extreme Speed sets with Refrigerate, Galvanize, or Tough Claws can be considered, but they are often outclassed by other Genesect sets and other Extreme Speed users such as Lucario. A set using Serene Grace and Iron Head can muscle through would-be checks, but this set is very luck reliant, needing incredible luck to beat Heatran. Lastly, a physical sweeper set with Guts, Flame Orb, and Facade can be considered to pass through walls with more ease, but this set usually shares the same counters as the others and ends up a very niche pick.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage**: Genesect struggles against Fire-types since they resist its STAB combination and are not weak to any of its coverage moves. Heatran especially takes almost nothing from Genesect and can take advantage of it.
**Walls**: Once Genesect has revealed its set, it becomes easier to deal with, as each set loses to one or more walls like Swampert and Blissey.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Osake, 524664]]
- Quality checked by: [[UT, 523886], [Isaiah, 375662]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [UT, 523886]]
Last edited: