While it may not look like it at first, the dual bug/steel type mythical Pokemon Genesect is an incredibly ancient Pokemon. It comes from an era where bug Pokemon were massive, however after it was resurrected, Team Plasma made it into the form it takes today.
About Genesect
| First appearance in anime | In the Pokemon Black and White series episode ‘Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!’ |
| First appearance in game | Black and White |
| Region | Unova |
| Evolution | None |
| Pokedex Entry | This ancient bug Pokémon was altered by Team Plasma. They upgraded the cannon on its back. This Pokémon existed 300 million years ago. Team Plasma altered it and attached a cannon to its back. |
Genesect’s Base Stats
| HP | 71 |
| Attack | 120 |
| Defense | 95 |
| Sp. Attack | 120 |
| Sp. Defense | 95 |
| Speed | 99 |
Appearance of Genesect
Genesect is based on insects that existed 300 million years ago, during the Paleozoic era. Though its bug-based roots are all but small details now as it has largely been altered with metal and technology to be more of a mech. It closely resembles common imagery in anime known as an “artillery mech,” a walking tank with a massive cannon.
Behavior of Genesect
While there is little known about its behavior, Genesect does seem to act more like a robot than a living creature. Especially when under the influence of Team Plasma, Genesect acts without feeling and without thought outside of following orders given.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Genesect’s bug/steel typing makes it very resistant but with one major weakness. It takes quadruple damage from fire-type moves. However its resistances are far more numerous, as it takes half damage from normal, bug, steel, psychic, ice, dragon, and fairy type moves and quarter damage from grass type moves. It also is completely immune to poison-type moves.
Shiny Genesect
Shiny Genesect is the rare, recolored form of Genesect. Shiny Genesect is almost completely red as opposed to a normal Genesect’s purple coloring. Shiny Genesect appeared most prominently in the anime as the leader of the Genesect Army, a group of Genesects that work for Team Plasma. Though even after leaving the influence of Team Plasma, the Shiny Genesect, as well as its Army, wreaked havoc on New Tork City in the movie ‘Genesect and the Legend Awakened.’
Genesect forms
Genesect forms are different forms Genesect can take based on an item being held. Different Genesect forms can be achieved by giving Genesect a different drive item. The different Genesect forms come from a Shock Drive, Burn Drive, Chill Drive, or Douse Drive. These Genesect forms each change only one thing, the type of the signature move Techno Blast to electric, fire, ice, or water respectively.
Best Moveset for Genesect
Offensive: Genesect is a bit of a glass cannon. While its typing is good, its defensive stats are middling and it can be easily countered with one fire-type move. However when it gets the chance to attack it can do some massive damage with high power moves like Iron Head or Explosion. The latter epitomizes this attacker as one that gets in and out of the battle quickly while dealing incredible damage as it does.
| U-turn | Extreme Speed |
| Iron Head | Explosion |
How to Catch Genesect in Pokemon Go
Genesect is obtained through raid battles in Pokemon Go. However, it has only appeared in raids in limited times and cannot currently be obtained this way.
Video Guide
Trivia
Genesect has the highest base stat total of all bug Pokemon, tied with Mega Pinsir, Mega Scizor, and Mega Heracross.
Genesect is the only mythical Pokemon with the bug typing.
Genesect is almost like Team Plasma’s version of Mewtwo, with both Pokemon sharing details in their backstories as intentions in their creations.
Genesect’s signature move, Techno Blast, is never typed as bug or steel so it can never receive the Same Type of Attack Bonus from it.
FAQs
Q. Is Genesect legendary?
Genesect is considered a mythical Pokemon instead of a legendary one due to it being obtained only through special events.
Q. Is Genesect a Kabutops?
There is a popular theory that Genesect is an altered Kabutops, due to their similar body shapes and the fact that they are both ancient Pokemon resurrected from fossils. However, Kabuto and Kabutops are based on trilobites, which are not insects. Genesect is explicitly said to have been an insect Pokemon before its resurrection and alteration.
Q. Is Genesect a fossil Pokemon?
While Genesect is an ancient Pokemon, its current form is not natural and does not come from a fossil. Other fossil Pokemon are resurrected directly from fossils that happened to Genesect before it was altered by Team Plasma but cannot happen in-game which means it's ancient, but not a fossil Pokemon.
Conclusion
Genesect is definitely a strange Pokemon but it's inarguably good in battle. Its main strengths are its typings. Not only does it have a very strong dual typing but its Techno Blast move can cover a wide array of types which allows it to be super effective against many opponents.
