A great defensive typing and solid all-around stats let Aegislash work as a switch-in to many top threats, such as Tapu Lele, Mega Kangaskhan, and Kyurem-B. Nearly unresisted STAB coverage and a huge Special Attack stat give it a strong offensive presence as well, making it capable of KOing prominent Fairy- and Psychic-types such as Tapu Bulu and Jirachi. Access to Wide Guard further cements its role as a solid utility Pokemon. Aegislash's exclusive ability Stance Change grants it the ability to shift between being an offensive powerhouse and a formidable tank. A low Speed stat is useful in ensuring that Aegislash takes hits in its bulkier Shield forme, but it leaves Aegislash easily whittled down over the course of a match when combined with its role as a pivot. Aegislash is also especially vulnerable to status due to King's Shield failing to block non-attacking moves.
[SET]
name: Wide Guard Attacker
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Flash Cannon
move 3: Wide Guard
move 4: King's Shield
item: Ghostium Z / Weakness Policy
ability: Stance Change
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is Aegislash's primary STAB attack, useful for taking on Psychic-types like Necrozma and Mega Metagross. Flash Cannon serves as the secondary method of attack, hitting Fairy- and Rock-types for super effective damage and granting Aegislash a way to damage Mega Kangaskhan. Wide Guard stops spread attacks such as Earthquake, Heat Wave, and Rock Slide, the former two of which can severely damage Aegislash and the latter of which could hurt its ally. King's Shield is necessary to change formes; it also stalls out field conditions, protects Aegislash while its partner attacks a threat, and scouts for attacks while potentially crippling any foes that try to make contact with Aegislash.
Set Details
========
Ghostium Z powers up Shadow Ball into the doubly strong Never-Ending Nightmare, which is useful for the extra damage whenever Aegislash really needs it; holding Ghostium Z also has the benefit of helping Aegislash survive Knock Off. Weakness Policy has the ability to turn Aegislash into a fearsome attacker, and with Aegislash's high defenses and fairly common weaknesses, it will often be activated. However, it necessitates that Aegislash be hit by a super effective attack, making it difficult to predict when it will activate and only usable if Aegislash has enough health to survive the hit. A Quiet nature and maximum Special Attack EVs give Aegislash power, while maximum HP investment improves general bulk. A negative Speed nature and 0 Speed IVs ensure that Aegislash will take most hits in Shield forme. 172 Speed EVs and a Modest nature are also an option if Aegislash has Tailwind support, as they allow it to outrun Mega Gengar and Tapu Koko under Tailwind as well as uninvested Milotic outside of Tailwind.
Usage Tips
========
Pivot in on foes that can't really damage Aegislash and force them out, hopefully dealing a fair amount of damage to the switch-in. Use Wide Guard whenever a predicted spread attack threatens Aegislash or its ally. As Ghostium Z is a one-use item, it should be saved for when Aegislash needs the extra power to remove a particularly large threat to the team or to guarantee a hit, even through Protect, to take out a weakened foe. If using Weakness Policy as the item, keep Aegislash at high health so that it can survive a super effective hit and retaliate. Be cautious of slower attackers, as Aegislash should avoid taking hits in Blade forme. This set is typically most effective early- or mid-game, while it still has enough health to serve as an effective pivot, but it can be saved if Aegislash is being used to check a particular threat on the opponent's team.
Team Options
========
Almost any team can use Aegislash's support, as this set will rarely be dead weight in battle. Any Pokemon threatened by common spread attacks, such as Mega Charizard Y, Kyurem-B, or Shaymin-S, pairs well with this set. A Fairy-type like Tapu Bulu or a Fighting-type like Terrakion helps Aegislash by threatening the Dark-types that scare it out. Checks to Fire- and Ground-types pair especially well with Aegislash, so Water-types such as Milotic and Azumarill or Ground-types such as Landorus are solid options.
[SET]
name: Substitute Tank
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Flash Cannon / Wide Guard
move 3: Substitute
move 4: King's Shield
item: Leftovers
ability: Stance Change
nature: Quiet
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball is Aegislash's primary STAB attack, used for its excellent neutral coverage. Flash Cannon works as a secondary STAB attack, mostly for Dark- and Normal-types. If the extra coverage is not needed, Wide Guard can be used in its place, allowing Aegislash to support teammates weak to spread attacks. Substitute takes advantage of Aegislash's great defenses and lets it pressure less offensive builds. King's Shield drops foes' Attack, changes forme, and stalls for Leftovers recovery to regain health after using Substitute.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is the optimal item for this set, as it provides passive healing. There are no relevant bulk benchmarks for Aegislash to hit, so a simple spread of maximum HP and Special Attack is most effective. Minimizing Speed with 0 Speed IVs keeps Aegislash in Shield forme for most attacks and helps its Substitute survive them while also improving Aegislash's Trick Room matchup. If using Aegislash with Tailwind support, 172 Speed and a Modest nature allow it to outspeed 0 Spe Milotic while also outspeeding Mega Gengar and Tapu Koko with Tailwind active. Using fast Substitute Aegislash also helps against other Aegislash.
Usage Tips
========
Most of the time, this set plays similarly to non-Substitute variants as a solid offensive pivot; Aegislash switches in on weak or resisted attacks and forces its foes out. Use Substitute on a predicted switch or in otherwise favorable matchups. From behind the safety of its Substitute, Aegislash can work on breaking down its checks for later on in the game. King's Shield is useful to stall for Leftovers recovery when Aegislash is low on health or when you predict that the opponent may try to double target Aegislash. This set works best if used late-game as a cleaner, but it also functions well as a passive redirector of sorts, as an Aegislash with a Substitute up is a threat that opponents cannot ignore. Substitute Aegislash fits best on teams that have plentiful ways to break down its checks and need a wincon, but even without such support, Substitute may be an effective filler move for Aegislash.
Team Options
========
Even more so than other sets, Substitute Aegislash is dependent on its teammates being able to remove its checks and clear the path to victory. Water-, Fairy-, and Fighting-types have clear typing advantages over the threats most commonly used to check Aegislash, such as Hoopa-U, Heatran, and Landorus. Fake Out users, including Mega Kangaskhan and Scrafty, and redirectors, such as Amoonguss, make it easier for Aegislash to set up its Substitute.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Shadow Sneak grants Aegislash a priority attack and the ability to pick off weakened threats, but oftentimes Wide Guard or Substitute helps Aegislash more. Using Shadow Sneak also leaves Aegislash vulnerable in its Blade forme for the remainder of the turn, and Psychic Terrain can prevent it from hitting grounded foes. Life Orb boosts all of Aegislash's moves without having to be hit by a super effective attack first, though it forces Aegislash to lose health and makes it more difficult for Aegislash to reliably check what it needs to. Safety Goggles shields Aegislash from Spore and Rage Powder, but other items are typically more useful, and Amoonguss is the only common user of such moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Dark-types such as Hydreigon, Alolan Muk, and Scrafty have the bulk to stomach a hit from Aegislash, and they severely damage it with their Dark-type STAB attacks. Scrafty and Alolan Muk also have the advantage of a lower Speed stat to hit Aegislash in its Blade forme. With Hyperspace Fury, Hoopa-U has the distinction of being the only Dark-type that can OHKO an Aegislash that is behind its Substitute.
**Fire-type Pokemon**: Heatran, Volcanion, and Mega Charizard Y all nail Aegislash with Heat Wave and have ways to circumvent Wide Guard should the situation call for it.
**Ground-type Pokemon**: Landorus is one of the few Pokemon capable of OHKOing a Shield forme Aegislash, accomplished by using Earth Power. Landorus-T can also be threatening, but Wide Guard stops it cold unless it carries Knock Off or Earth Power. Gastrodon has the bulk and movepool to take any hit Aegislash can deal and heal it off, and it has a low Speed stat and STAB Earth Power to OHKO Aegislash in its frail Blade forme.
**Taunt and Encore**: Any move that messes with Aegislash's ability to change formes severely hurts its ability to function, so Taunt and Encore users such as Thundurus and Togekiss can give it pause.
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