Pok�mon of the Week

Genesect, The Paleozoic Pok�mon. This Pok�mon existed 300 million years ago. Team Plasma altered it and attached a cannon to its back.Over 300 million years ago, it was feared as the strongest of hunters. It has the ability to fly by folding in on itself

When Genesect was finally released, it almost instantly became one of the most commonly used Pokemon. And looking at its different attributes, it is easy to see why. Not only does it has base 120 in both offenses, but also has a good Speed stat as well as decent defenses. These offenses allow Genesect to basically run whatever set it feels like running, whether it be physical, mixed, or specially based. But stats alone aren't what make Genesect such a monster. As well as having a pretty good typing, Genesect also has an immense movepool, and its ability Download strengthening its moves. Overall, Genesect is a force to be reckoned with, and although it was banned to the Ubers tier it still effective does whatever you need it to do.

Download: Either Genesect's Attack or Special Attack stat get a boost depending on the opponent's stats. This is an amazing ability, as it often turns Genesect into a powerful attacking force even before it sets up anything else or depends on its item.

-U-turn
-Ice Beam
-Flamethrower / Thunder
-Bug Buzz / Flamethrower / Thunder
Item Attached: Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature (+Spe, -SDef) or Hasty Nature (+Spe, -Def)

This set focuses mainly upon the special aspects of Genesect. U-turn is useful, scouting easily and wearing down many threats as well as having a STAB boost. With a download attack boost, Genesect can do major damage to a bulky Pokemon like Latias, even though U-turn is significantly weakened by the lack of physical attack investment. Bug Buzz is generally used as main STAB for good damage. Ice Beam, Flamethrower and Thunder are all used as coverage against various threats like Rayquaza, other Genesect or Kyogre. The best part about this set is the opportunity to sweep through Bug Buzz, a Scarf and a +1 Special Attack Download boost. With speed from the Scarf and the additional power Genesect can plow through teams.

-U-turn
-Thunder
-Ice Beam
-Flamethrower / Hidden Power [Fighting]
Item Attached: Expert Belt
Ability: Download
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature (+Spe, -SDef) or Hasty Nature (+Spe, -Def)

This set allows Genesect to become a great revenge killer and even better, allows it to bluff its way out of a sticky situation. As Choiced Genesects are popular, it�s not surprising for your opponent to expect you are Choiced. This allows you to surprise them when you switch up moves, as Expert Belt will give no telltale signs of it being otherwise. Ice Beam is used for coverage against Dragon threats, while Thunder is used for threats like Kyogre, Ho-Oh, or Skarmory. Flamethrower can also be used against Skarmory but there�s a good chance rain would be up and Thunder is a better choice, though Flamethrower helps to deal with other threats like Ferrothorn, Arceus-Steel, and Dialga. HP Fighting is used for coverage against rain supported pokes like Dialga or Ferrothorn as well, while Flamethrower�s damage is halved. U-turn is Genesect�s main STAB as well as its scouting move. As with no investment in Attack, U-turn won�t do too much but it will wear down its opponents.

-Rock Polish
-Ice Beam
-Thunder / Bug Buzz / Giga Drain
-Flamethrower / Hidden Power [Fighting] / Hidden Power [Ground]
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Download
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 84 HP / 252 SAtk / 172 Spe or 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk) or Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This set allows Genesect to become an extremely dangerous special sweeper, as can be seen from this set probably being the main reason Genesect was banned from the OverUsed tier. Rock Polish is the key to this set. Once Genesect gets to +2 speed, it becomes very hard to kill, because Genesect is provided with the coverage and the power to take out its opponent first. Bug Buzz is used as Genesect�s main STAB, while Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Thunder and Giga Drain are all used as coverage moves, hitting different threats you believe you will see or that you need Genesect to deal with. With Download and Life Orb, chances are Genesect will heavily dent if not OHKO its opponent. HP Fighting and HP Ground can also be used as coverage, especially for the rare but potentially very annoying Heatran. The main priority in this set is to get up a Rock Polish,allowing Genesect to become the bane of its opponent�s existence.

-U-turn
-Explosion / Flamethrower
-Iron Head / Flamethrower
-Ice Beam / Flamethrower
Item Attached: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
Ability: Download
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature (+Spe, -SDef) or Hasty Nature (+Spe, -Def)

In this set, the physical prowess of Genesect is relied upon much more heavily than any of the other sets. U-turn is Genesect�s trump card, as it does major damage due to the Attack investment, and provides an easy escape route. With a Scarf, Genesect becomes an extremely powerful scout able of dealing massive damage to threats like Mewtwo and Darkrai even without the Download boost. With the boost, Genesect is able to OHKO Mewtwo easily. Iron Head is used as main STAB, while Ice Beam is used as coverage against dragon threats like Rayquaza or Garchomp. Scarfed Explosion works as long as it�s not resisted. However, Banded Explosion would be a better option because since Genesect is going to die that very same turn, it won�t matter if Genesect is faster but the extra damage will be greatly appreciated. If Explosion or Ice Beam doesn�t fit, Flamethrower can also be used for coverage against Ferrothorns in the sun, Skarmorys or other Genesects.

-U-turn
-Ice Beam
-Flamethrower
-Thunder / Giga Drain
Item Attached: Focus Sash
Ability: Download
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Naive Nature (+Spe, -SDef) or Hasty Nature (+Spe, -Def)

This set is similar to the Expert Belt set, but this set offers greater survivability than greater power, as well as the ability to beat other Genesects and many lead Pokemon. Genesect�s defenses are not that great and a Focus Sash helps it stay alive. Giga Drain helps here as it is recovery to keep Genesect at full health. Thunder, Ice Beam and Flamethrower are all used as coverage against many threats. U-turn acts as Genesect�s main STAB as well as its scouting move. U-turn also helps to maintain the illusion that Genesect has a Choice item, as many of the non-Choice sets do not use U-turn in favor of a boosting move.

Blaze Kick, Blizzard, Dark Pulse, Extremespeed, Flash Cannon, Hidden Power, Psychic, Shadow Claw, Shift Gear, Techno Blast, Thunderbolt, X-Scissor, Zen Headbutt
Blaze Kick is Genesect's gimmicky but decent option for a physical Fire coverage move, doing what Flamethrower would do but without having to worry as much about conflicting with its item.
Blizzard is a more powerful option for Ice coverage if 1) you're running hail or 2) have some personal vendetta against Ice Beam.
Dark Pulse is decent coverage on the Special sets, although what you'd be giving up would probably give you some regrets later.
Extremespeed is a neat tool that Genesect was given that works well on the physical sets, giving Genesect its only form of priority move.
Flash Cannon is a STAB special move which can be used if you want, but other moves generally work better.
Hidden Power is on here as the "this is why you shouldn't ever use Techno Blast" as HP Water with Expert Belt or Life Orb does more than Douse Drive Techno Blast (the only reason Genesect might have to use Techno Blast), so if you ever consider using it, don't.
Psychic is good neutral coverage as well, but once again what slot you'd be replacing would probably not be worth losing just for Psychic.
Shadow Claw makes for good coverage on the physical sets, as it hits quite a few things neutrally and does decent damage (plus Genesect's physical movepool is far more variable than its special one).
Shift Gear can easily be used over Rock Polish on a physical set, as it not only boosts Speed but also boosts Attack, making Genesect quite formidable if it got an Attack boost from Download in addition.
Techno Blast is on here so I can tell you that it isn't worth, it never has been worth it, and it never will be worth it, except for the novelty of using the worst signature move ever given to a legendary. It is outclassed both power and PP wise by any of Genesect's common moves (other than HP Water, which isn't common but still outclasses it), so please, spare yourself the trouble and use a decent item and moveslot.
Thunderbolt is an option over Thunder on any of the sets if you decide you aren't going to run Kyogre, in essentials.
X-Scissor is stronger physical STAB than U-turn, but without the switching out, so it can be used but the power generally doesn't make enough of a difference.
Zen Headbutt is also decent physical coverage, though the shaky accuracy may be a deterrent.

Genesect serves the same purpose in Doubles and Triples as it does in Singles, just an all purpose fill in this slot in my team sort of Pokemon.

Kyogre makes a great partner for Genesect as not only does it scare out most of Genesect's common switch ins, but also dampens the damage from very dangerous Fire moves thanks to Drizzle. Deoxys-A and Kyurem-W are also good partners as Genesect can U-turn out to them, and they can often demolish whatever Genesect switched out of.

There isn't too much that can directly counter Genesect, even in Ubers. Some of the best ways to slow it down, however, are hazards. Thanks to most sets running U-turn, the constant switching in and out that it does will eventually wear it down via Stealth Rock and Spikes. Probably the best Pokemon check for Genesect is Arceus-Ghost, as it resists U-turn as well as being able to Calm Mind on any of Genesect's other common moves. Arceus-Steel and Dialga also do well, but have to watch out for boosted Flamethrowers or HP Fighting. Genesect not running a Choice item is much harder to deal with unfortunately, as it can depend on any of its moves. The only real way to defeat it is either to wear it down or KO it before it sets up with a faster Pokemon (anything Scarfed, Mewtwo, etc).

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Not in game

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Not in game

Colosseum/XD:
Not in game

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Not in game

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Not in game

Black/White:
Event Only

Black 2/White 2:
Event Only