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Overview
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Honedge has certain qualities because of its unique typing. It does the job of taking both Normal- and Flying-type attacks while also being immune to Fighting-type attacks that others have issues with. To boost its defensive capabilities further, it has excellent physical Defense. Honedge's weaknesses are very clearly related to its Special Defense. It also has low speed Speed, however; it has Automize and Shadow Sneak which help mitigate that issue. On the offensive side, it has a pretty decent physical movepool though, unfortunately, nothing to use with No Guard. This means No Guard is actually a liability.
Swords Dance
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name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Sacred Sword
move 4: Shadow Sneak / Shadow Claw
ability: No Guard
item: Eviolite
evs: 196 Atk / 116 Def / 140 SpD / 52 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Swords Dance is required for sweeping late game and being a threat to defensive Pokemon. Iron Head is Honedge's main STAB move and Sacred Sword hits Pokemon such as Pawniard and other Steel-types that resist its STAB. Shadow Sneak lets Honedge pick off weakened foes and sweep late game when boosted by Swords Dance.
Set Details
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In terms of items, Eviolite is preferable to Berry Juice on Honedge because of the inevitability of it being hit by Knock Off. Its EV spread maxes Attack but has enough in Def to avoid KOes from common Earthquake and Knock Off users. It can even take a Carvanha Crunch most of the time. The rest is invested in SpD to avoid a KO from Misdreavus Shadow Balls most of the time.
Usage Tips
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Honedge is a pivot-set up sweeper. It checks Pokemon like Fletchling, Bunnelby, and Spritzee and uses that opportunity to set up Swords Dance or it hits counters with a moderately powerful Iron Head or Sacred Swords. It is best to save Swords Dance for a time when Honedge can sweep or take an opponent down to very low HP to KO and break a wall for another sweeper.
Team Options
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Honedge is very much a team player; it would have a very hard time getting past any bulky Fighting-type with Knock Off without a Pokemon such as Pawniard to weaken them and using Knock Off. Spritzee or Lickitung with Wish also make good teammates for Honedge because they lure in Poison, Steel, and Fighting-type attacks, which Honedge can easily take and heal back up from Wish. Pawniard can force Honedge out, meaning bulky Fighting-types like Timburr or Mienfoo also make good partners for Honedge. Paralaysis spreaders such as Ferroseed and Cottonee also make a good combo with Honedge because it not only helps with its low Speed, but gives the possibility for paralfinching. Similarly, Sticky Web can be used but Pawniard becomes incredibly dangerous at that point.
Autotomize Lure
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name: Autotomize
move 1: Autotomize
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Sacred Sword / Shadow Claw
move 4: Destiny Bond
ability: No Guard
item: Eviolite / Berry Juice
evs: 196 Atk / 116 Def / 60 SpD / 132 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Automize boosts Speed to outpace counters and slower Choice Scarf users. Iron Head is its main STAB. Sacred Sword is for coverage, namely Pawniard. Destiny Bond lets Honedge take out one of its counters when its done, and allows it to easily take out Pawniard with Sucker Punch.
Set Details
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Eviolite is preferable to Berry Juice on Honedge because of the inevitability of it being hit by Knock Off. Its EV spread maxes Attack but has enough in Def to avoid KOes from common Earthquake and Knock Off users. Its speed hits 11 to outpace 20 Speed Pokemon after an Automize.
Usage Tips
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This Honedge is a good early-mid game check, and a late-game cleaner. However, it has the option of taking out one of its counters, namely Fighting-types or other bulky Pokemon. After an Autotomize, it is important to decide which Pokemon Honedge wants to take out for your other Pokemon to sweep. For example, if you are relying on a Carvanha sweep, you should use Automize + Destiny Bond to take out Timburr or Mienfoo.
Team Options
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This Honedge is more offensive oriented. It removes Fighting-types most of the time, meaning Carvanha, Tirtouga, Pawniard, and Scraggy make great parters. With most of those, Spritzee is also a counter but Honedge can switch into Moonblast quite easily as well. It also does a good job of removing Sucker Punch users, such as Pawniard, so Pokemon such as Gastly and Abra greatly appreciate it.
Other Options
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Small movepool, so not much. Aerial Ace hits Larvesta. Gyro Ball is an option but does not make much sense since it only hits very fast Pokemon - where Iron Head would work fine. An Automize + Swords Dance set could work due to its relatively good two-move coverage. Life Orb can be used for more power, but it gains few KOes and gets KOed by much more. Restalk can be used for more longevity. Trick Room sets would work well, but it wastes a turn setting up Swords Dance.
Checks & Counters
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**Knock Off users**: These Pokemon are usually bulky enough to take a hit from Honedge and at the very least 2HKO in return.
**Bulky Fighting-types**: With Knock Off, bulky Fighting-types can stop Honedge and beat it one on one.
**Fire-types**: As long as the Fire-types can take a +2 Shadow Sneak or an unboosted Sacred Sword, they can easily switch in and OHKO Honedge with Fire Blast or burn it.
**Ground-types**: As long as the Ground-types can take a hit from Honedge, they can usually 1-2HKO with their STAB moves.
**Burn status** Bulky Water-types and Fire-types can burn with Scald or various Fire-type moves.
**Dark-types**: Pawniard and Carvanha can't switch in safely, but they can easily revenge kill Honedge.