Genesect Pokémon GO Raid Battle Tips: What Genesect’s Drives do, which Pokémon to use in a Genesect Raid, how to make the most of Premier Balls and Berries, and what to do with Genesect (Shock Drive) once you’ve caught it

Genesect is a Bug- and Steel-type Mythical Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. This ancient bug Pokémon existed 300 million years ago—Team Plasma altered it and attached a cannon to its back. Learn which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Genesect, how to catch Genesect after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Paleozoic Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

The Genesect available in January’s raids will have the Shock Drive. There are four different drives for Genesect: the Burn Drive, the Douse Drive, the Shock Drive, and the Chill Drive. These drives determine Genesect’s form and the type of its Techno Blast Charged Attack. When Genesect has a Burn Drive, the light on Genesect’s back is red, and its Techno Blast is a Fire-type move. A Douse Drive turns the light on the cannon blue and makes Techno Blast a Water-type move. With the Shock Drive, the cannon’s light is yellow, and Techno Blast is an Electric-type move.

As a Bug- and Steel-type Pokémon, Genesect is extremely vulnerable to Fire-type attacks. When choosing six Pokémon for your Genesect Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Fire-type Fast Attack and Charged Attack if you want to deal as much damage as possible. It’s not necessary to choose only Fire-type Pokémon, but a Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage.

Remember that the faster you defeat Genesect, the more Premier Balls you’ll receive to catch it, so be sure to bring your strongest Pokémon team and battle with as many other Trainers as you can to defeat Genesect as quickly as possible.

• Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Ember (Fire), Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Blast Burn (Fire), Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Ember (Fire), Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Blast Burn (Fire), Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Arcanine / Shadow Arcanine (Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Fang (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire)

• Moltres / Shadow Moltres (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Heat Wave (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Mega Houndoom (Dark/Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Fang (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire)

• Entei / Shadow Entei (Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Fang (Fire), Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Flame Charge (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Ho-Oh / Shadow Ho-Oh (Fire/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Incinerate (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire)

• Blaziken (Fire/Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Blast Burn (Fire), Blaze Kick (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Magmortar / Shadow Magmortar (Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Fire Punch (Fire)

• Heatran (Fire/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire)

• Darmanitan (Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Fang (Fire), Incinerate (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Overheat (Fire)

• Chandelure (Ghost/Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire), Incinerate (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Flame Charge (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Reshiram (Dragon/Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Fang (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Overheat (Fire)

After a successful Genesect raid, you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Genesect, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Genesect more quickly.

In an encounter with Genesect, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don’t think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Genesect isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing while it’s moving around. Watch Genesect to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between the cycles. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to grow smaller to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Genesect. A Razz Berry will make Genesect easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Genesect, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Genesect Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Genesect easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon—even a Legendary Pokémon—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Like all Mythical Pokémon, Genesect is tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

As a Bug- and Steel-type Pokémon, Genesect has a type advantage against Grass-, Ice-, Psychic-, Dark-, and Fairy-type Pokémon. These multiple type advantages make Genesect particularly powerful against many Raid Bosses, including Mewtwo, Deoxys, Mega Abomasnow, and Zacian.

With a moderately high maximum CP and ample type advantages, Genesect could be the addition your Master League lineup needs. Fairy-type Pokémon often dominate the Master League, and Genesect’s Steel-type attacks serve as a solid counter. To take full advantage of this Mythical Pokémon’s strengths, teach Genesect a second Charged Attack. This will require a significant amount of Genesect Candy and Stardust, so try to catch as many Genesect as possible to get you there faster.

Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check back to Pokemon.com/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.