Ubers Aegislash

Fireflame

Silksong when
is a Top Contributoris a Smogon Media Contributoris a Social Media Contributor Alumnus

QC:
Nayrz / CKW / Cynara
GP: P Squared / A Cake Wearing A Hat

[OVERVIEW]

* A Steel / Ghost typing makes Aegislash an excellent Xerneas and Mega Lucario check, and it cannot get trapped by Mega Gengar, Gothitelle, and Dugtrio.
* It can also check other powerful attackers like Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and non-Fire Blast Mewtwo.
* Aegislash isn't 2HKOed by any of Xerneas's coverage moves due to its good bulk, setting it apart from other Steel-type Xerneas answers.
* King's Shield allows Aegislash to punish physical attackers and play mind games with the opponent.
* It can punish its switch-ins like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Ho-Oh with Toxic.
* Aegislash also has decent damage output due to Blade forme's good attacking stats.
* However, many powerful and prominent physical attackers overwhelm Aegislash, including Primal Groudon, Marshadow, offensive Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ground, physical Primal Kyogre, and physical Ultra Necrozma. The prevalence of these threats cuts into Aegislash's viability.
* It is also threatened by Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Darkrai.
* Having no reliable recovery outside of Leftovers means that Aegislash can be worn down over the course of the match.
* Transforming into Blade forme and attacking at a bad time makes Aegislash open and vulnerable to attacks or setup. This causes it to have to switch or use King's Shield, which forfeits all momentum and gives the advantage to the opponent.
* Aegislash can be passive at times and become predictable with repeated use of King's Shield.
* Aegislash faces extreme competition from many other Steel-type Xerneas checks like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, and Magearna; the former four have better recovery options, and the latter two have more damage output.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: King's Shield
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Leftovers
ability: Stance Change
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* King's Shield is necessary on Aegislash, allowing it to go back into Shield forme, regain its defensive stats, gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery, and scout for moves.
* Toxic punishes Aegislash's switch-ins like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Ho-Oh as well as support Arceus formes like Arceus-Water and Arceus-Fairy.
* Gyro Ball allows Aegislash to threaten Xerneas, dealing decent damage to it and other offensive Pokemon.
* Shadow Ball is used to effectively check Mega Lucario, 2HKOing it. It also chips at Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, hits other Psychic-types for decent damage, OHKOes Lunala without Shadow Shield, and OHKOes Marshadow after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment is used to consistently check Xerneas.
* 4 Special Attack EVs allow Aegislash to 2HKO standard Double Dance Necrozma-DM after Stealth Rock damage, provided Necrozma-DM has no Weakness Policy and Aegislash outplays Necrozma-DM in a one-on-one scenario with proper use of King's Shield and Shadow Ball.
* A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs are used so Gyro Ball does maximum damage.
* Leftovers gives Aegislash a reliable form of recovery, improving its longevity.
* Iron Ball could be used, allowing Aegislash to 2HKO Extreme Killer Arceus, Geomancy Xerneas, boosted Z-Geomancy Xerneas, and offensive Yveltal with Gyro Ball. But, forgoing Leftovers means that Aegislash will no longer have any form of recovery, which makes it much more vulnerable to Xerneas's attacks.

Usage Tips
========

* Switch Aegislash in on Pokemon it checks, such as Xerneas, Mega Lucario, Tapu Lele, and support Arceus formes like Arceus-Water.
* With Leftovers, Aegislash is able to gradually make up the damage it takes from unboosted Xerneas, so Aegislash can be switched into Xerneas often and without risk.
* Avoid taking hits in Blade forme because its defenses are very low.
* Repeated and predictable use of King's Shield should be avoided; if the opponent reads it, then Aegislash is vulnerable and they receive a free turn.
* Note that using Toxic does not make Aegislash go into Blade forme; it will stay in Shield Forme.
* Also note that King's Shield fails against Shadow Force; it won't block the move nor drop the user's Attack.
* Aegislash should avoid status effects, particularly burns, as they hinder its ability to check Xerneas.
* Use Toxic liberally when punishing switch-ins like Primal Groudon and support Arceus formes, as its other moves don't do much damage.
* Shadow Ball can be used to chip away at Aegislash's switch-ins that are immune to Toxic or have already been poisoned by it. It should also be used against Mega Lucario to discourage it from setting up.

Team Options
========

* Aegislash is a specialized utility Pokemon that fits the demands of your team, so it shouldn't be built around.
* It should be used on teams that require a reliable defensive check to Xerneas. Pokemon that appreciate a Xerneas check include Yveltal, Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, Zygarde-C, Arceus-Dark, and Darkrai.
* A good Primal Groudon check is nigh mandatory because Aegislash's best way of dealing with it is Toxic. Zygarde-C, Arceus-Ground, Lugia, Primal Kyogre, and Mega Salamence can all deal with Primal Groudon.
* Arceus-Water is an excellent partner, as it can remove entry hazards and check Primal Groudon and other Ground- and Fire-types. In return, Aegislash is able to deal with Xerneas and powerful Psychic-type special attackers like Deoxys-A and non-Fire Blast Mewtwo.
* A secondary Xerneas check such as Primal Groudon or Ho-Oh is useful in order to relieve pressure off of Aegislash.
* Extreme Killer Arceus, Dialga, and many Dark-types appreciate Aegislash's ability to check Fighting-types .
* Pokemon weak to special attacking Psychic-types like some support Arceus formes, Naganadel, and Toxapex also value Aegislash.
* Cleric and Wish support from Xerneas, Blissey, and Clefable can keep Aegislash healthy to continue to check Xerneas.
* Mega Salamence, Yveltal, Giratina-O, and Rayquaza can switch into and threaten Ground-types.
* Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Primal Kyogre, and Tyranitar threaten Fire-types like Ho-Oh.
* Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Alolan Muk are able to deal with Ghost-types like Marshadow. Aegislash checks Mega Lucario for them in return.
* Xerneas, Marshadow, and Mega Lucario check Dark-types.
* Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy also deal with Dark-types and appreciate Aegislash's ability to check Mega Lucario.
* Entry hazard removal from Lugia, Giratina-O, Yveltal, or a support Arceus forme is nice for allowing Aegislash to switch in more freely and often.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Pursuit can trap threats like Mega Gengar, Mewtwo, Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and Choice-locked Lunala. However, running Pursuit leaves Aegislash vulnerable to Mega Lucario, something it is supposed to beat, and Alolan Muk, Deoxys-A, and Tyranitar are better Pursuit trappers.
* Shadow Sneak can pick off weakened Psychic-types, Lunala, and Marshadow. However, Shadow Sneak lacks damage output, and if it fails to KO the foe, Aegislash will be in Blade forme and thus is extremely vulnerable.
* A Choice Specs set with Shadow Ball + Flash Cannon has decent damage output and can surprise the opponent, but Aegislash is very slow, and there are just better and more reliable special attackers like Deoxys-A, Xerneas, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Yveltal.
* Sacred Sword hits Ferrothorn and other Steel-types.
* Head Smash OHKOes Ho-Oh and dents Primal Groudon.
* Hidden Power Ice surprises Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence, but forgoing Shadow Ball makes Aegislash lose out on its ability to check Mega Lucario, which is one of its major selling points.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Primal Groudon hates switching into Toxic but can tank Aegislash's other attacks easily and threaten it out with Precipice Blades and Fire-type coverage or use it as setup bait. Ho-Oh also hates getting hit with Toxic, but it has Recover and Regenerator to mitigate the damage, and it can come in on Aegislash easily and OHKO it with Sacred Fire.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon that Aegislash would normally beat carry super effective Fire-type coverage to hit it, such as Fire Blast Mewtwo, Heat Wave Ultra Necrozma, Naganadel, V-create Rayquaza, and various Fire Blast support Arceus formes.

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Primal Groudon, Landorus-T, and Arceus-Ground threaten Aegislash with their super effective STAB moves. They are crippled by Toxic, however. Aegislash also succumbs to super effective Ground-type coverage, such as Earthquake from Extreme Killer Arceus, Necrozma-DM, physical Ultra Necrozma, and Mega Mewtwo X and Earth Power from Arceus-Fairy.

**Zygarde-C**: Zygarde-C is able to switch into Aegislash extremely easily and can threaten it with Thousand Arrows or use it as setup fodder. Also, Zygarde-C doesn't care about Toxic because it can use Rest to get rid of it. However, it must be wary of a potential Hidden Power Ice.

**Dark-types**: Yveltal threatens Aegislash with a super effective Dark Pulse, has Oblivion Wing to recover HP, and can Taunt Aegislash to prevent it from using King's Shield. Arceus-Dark can use Refresh to get rid of Toxic poison, use Aegislash as setup bait, and force it out with Judgment. Alolan Muk walls Aegislash completely, as it's immune to Toxic, and it can threaten Aegislash with Knock Off. Mega Sableye can switch into Aegislash easily, as Magic Bounce prevents Aegislash from using Toxic, and can threaten it with Foul Play and Will-O-Wisp. Darkrai 2HKOes Aegislash with Dark Pulse, but it is 2HKOed by Gyro Ball. However, all of these Dark-types do not like switching into Toxic, with the exception of Alolan Muk and Mega Sableye. Mega Sableye is also hit neutrally by Shadow Ball.

**Steel- and Poison-types**: Steel- and Poison-types such as Dialga, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Alolan Muk, and Toxapex are immune to Toxic and are able to switch into Aegislash extremely easily, barring Necrozma-DM. Ferrothorn and Celesteela can wear Aegislash down with Leech Seed. Ferrothorn and Toxapex can use it as fodder to set up entry hazards. Alolan Muk walls Aegislash and can threaten it with Knock Off, and Dialga can come in easily and threatens Aegislash with Fire Blast.

**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM's offensive sets can take one Shadow Ball, set up on Aegislash, and beat it with Earthquake, especially Weakness Policy variants. However, Necrozma-DM takes a decent chunk of damage from Shadow Ball, making switching in risky unless it has Weakness Policy. Aegislash can also survive an unboosted Earthquake, so if the one-on-one is played badly, Aegislash can 2HKO it with Shadow Ball. Aegislash also beats defensive Necrozma-DM variants, since it is hit decently hard with Shadow Ball and cannot threaten Aegislash in return other than setting up Stealth Rock.

**Offensive Ghost-types**: Most offensive Ghost-types such as Giratina-O, Lunala, Necrozma-DW, Marshadow, and Arceus-Ghost threaten Aegislash. Giratina-O and Arceus-Ghost both have access to Shadow Force, which Aegislash is unable to block with King's Shield. Lunala and Necrozma-DW can come in on Aegislash and threaten it with Moongeist Beam. Marshadow is able to heavily damage Aegislash with Spectral Thief. However, all of these Ghost-types are crippled by Toxic and dented by Shadow Ball on the switch. Furthermore, Necrozma-DW is outsped by Aegislash under Trick Room, so Aegislash can KO it with Shadow Ball if it is weakened enough.

**Primal Kyogre**: Offensive and physical Primal Kyogre variants can switch into Aegislash rather easily, only fearing Toxic, and can 2HKO Aegislash with Origin Pulse, Liquidation, or Earthquake or use it as setup fodder. Defensive Primal Kyogre sets don't care about Toxic, as most carry Rest to get rid of it, and they can dent Aegislash with Scald and potentially burn it.
 
Last edited:
* Can check other powerful attackers like Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, non-Fire Blast Mewtwo, and Ultra Necrozma lacking Heat Wave.
SD Ultra (Dusk) will be carrying EQ (as does SD Solganium Dusk) and it will destroy Aegislash. Ultra can also run Moongeist Beam with Dawn as the base so thats not very safe either. I think most if not all Necrozma types can deal with an Aegislash in some way - it just isn't a good idea to take one on unless absolutely necessary.

IVs can be specified in set formatting now - should add 0 ivs there for Gyro damage.

This is pretty good otherwise.

QC 1/3
 

P Squared

a great unrecorded history
is a Site Content Manageris a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Senior Staff Member Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
thank god for analysis writers who are also gpers

GP 1/2
add remove comment

[OVERVIEW]

* A Steel / Ghost typing makes Aegislash an excellent Xerneas and Mega Lucario check, and it cannot get trapped by Mega Gengar, Gothitelle, and Dugtrio.
* It can also check other powerful attackers like Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and non-Fire Blast Mewtwo.
* Aegislash isn't 2HKOed by any of Xerneas's coverage moves due to its good bulk, setting it apart from other Steel-type Xerneas answers.
* King's Shield allows Aegislash to punish physical attackers and play mind games with the opponent.
* It can punish its switch-ins like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Ho-Oh with Toxic.
* Aegislash also has decent damage output due to Blade forme's good attacking stats.
* However, many powerful and prominent physical attackers overwhelm Aegislash, including Primal Groudon, Marshadow, offensive Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ground, physical Primal Kyogre, and physical Ultra Necrozma. This cuts into Aegislash's viability due to the prevalence of such threats.
* It is also threatened by Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Darkrai.
* Having no reliable recovery outside of Leftovers means that Aegislash can be worn down over the course of the match.
* Attacking with Aegislash's Blade forme can hurt it at times; attacking at a bad time makes Aegislash open and vulnerable to attacks or setup, which causes it to have to switch or use King's Shield and thus lose all momentum and give the advantage to the opponent.
* Aegislash can be passive at times and become predictable with repeated use of King's Shield.
* Thus, Aegislash faces extreme competition from many other Steel-type Xerneas checks like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, and Magearna; the former four have better recovery options, and the latter two have more damage output.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: King's Shield
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Leftovers
ability: Stance Change
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* King's Shield is necessary on Aegislash, allowing it to go back into Shield forme, regain its defensive stats, gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery, and scout for moves.
* Toxic punishes Aegislash's switch-ins like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Ho-Oh as well as support Arceus formes like Arceus-Water and Arceus-Fairy.
* Gyro Ball allows Aegislash to threaten Xerneas, dealing decent damage to it and other offensive Pokemon.
* Shadow Ball is used to effectively check Mega Lucario, 2HKOing it. It also chips at Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, hits other Psychic-types for decent damage, OHKOes Lunala without Shadow Shield, and OHKOes Marshadow after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment is used to consistently check Xerneas.
* 4 Special Attack EVs allow Aegislash to 2HKO standard Double Dance Necrozma-DM after Stealth Rock damage, provided Necrozma-DM has no Weakness Policy and Aegislash outplays Necrozma-DM in a one-on-one scenario with proper use of King's Shield and Shadow Ball.
* A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs are used so Gyro Ball does maximum damage.
* Leftovers gives Aegislash a reliable form of recovery, improving its longevity.
* Iron Ball could be used, allowing Aegislash to 2HKO Extreme Killer Arceus, Geomancy Xerneas, boosted Z-Geomancy Xerneas, and offensive Yveltal with Gyro Ball. But, forgoing Leftovers means that Aegislash will no longer have any form of recovery, which makes it much more vulnerable to Xerneas's attacks.

Usage Tips
========

* Switch Aegislash in on Pokemon it checks, such as Xerneas, Mega Lucario, Tapu Lele, and support Arceus formes like Arceus-Water.
* With Leftovers, Aegislash is able to gradually make up the damage it takes from unboosted Xerneas, so Aegislash can be switched into Xerneas often and without risk.
* Avoid taking hits in Blade forme because its defenses are very low.
* Repeated and predictable use of King's Shield should be avoided; if the opponent reads it, then Aegislash is vulnerable and they receive a free turn.
* Note that using Toxic does not make Aegislash go into Blade forme; it will stay in Shield Forme.
* Also note that King's Shield fails against Shadow Force; it won't block the move nor drop the user's Attack.
* Aegislash should avoid status effects, particularly burns, as they hinder its ability to check Xerneas.
* Use Toxic liberally when punishing switch-ins like Primal Groudon and support Arceus formes, as its other moves don't do much damage.
* Shadow Ball can be used to chip away at Aegislash's switch-ins that are immune to Toxic or have already been poisoned by it. It should also be used against Mega Lucario to discourage it from setting up.

Team Options
========

* Aegislash is a specialized utility Pokemon that fits the demands of your team, so it shouldn't be built around.
* It should be used on teams that require a reliable defensive check to Xerneas. Pokemon that appreciate a Xerneas check include Yveltal, Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, Zygarde-C, Arceus-Dark, and Darkrai.
* A good Primal Groudon check is nigh mandatory because Aegislash's best way of dealing with it is Toxic. Zygarde-C, Arceus-Ground, Lugia, Primal Kyogre, and Mega Salamence can all deal with Primal Groudon.
* Arceus-Water is an excellent partner, as it can remove entry hazards and check Primal Groudon and other Ground- and Fire-types. In return, Aegislash is able to deal with Xerneas and powerful Psychic-type special attackers like Deoxys-A and non-Fire Blast Mewtwo.
* A secondary Xerneas check such as Primal Groudon or Ho-Oh is useful in order to relieve pressure off of Aegislash.
* Extreme Killer Arceus, Dialga, and many Dark-types appreciate Aegislash's ability to check Fighting-types .
* Pokemon weak to special attacking Psychic-types like some support Arceus formes, Naganadel, and Toxapex also value Aegislash.
* Cleric and Wish support from Xerneas, Blissey, and Clefable can keep Aegislash healthy to continue to check Xerneas.
* Mega Salamence, Yveltal, Giratina-O, and Rayquaza can switch into and threaten Ground-types.
* Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Primal Kyogre, and Tyranitar threaten Fire-types like Ho-Oh.
* Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Alolan Muk are able to deal with Ghost-types like Marshadow. Aegislash checks Mega Lucario for them in return.
* Xerneas, Marshadow, and Mega Lucario check Dark-types.
* Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy also deal with Dark-types and appreciate Aegislash's ability to check Mega Lucario.
* Entry hazard removal from Lugia, Giratina-O, Yveltal, or a support Arceus forme is nice for allowing Aegislash to switch in more freely and often.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Pursuit can trap threats like Mega Gengar, Mewtwo, Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and Choice-locked Lunala. However, running Pursuit leaves Aegislash vulnerable to Mega Lucario, something it is supposed to beat, and Alolan Muk, Deoxys-A, and Tyranitar are better Pursuit trappers.
* Shadow Sneak can pick off weakened Psychic-types, Lunala, and Marshadow. However, Shadow Sneak lacks damage output, and if it fails to KO the foe, Aegislash will be in Blade forme and thus is extremely vulnerable.
* A Choice Specs set with Shadow Ball + Flash Cannon has decent damage output and can surprise the opponent, but Aegislash is very slow, and there are just better and more reliable special attackers like Deoxys-A, Xerneas, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Yveltal.
* Sacred Sword hits Ferrothorn and other Steel-types.
* Head Smash OHKOes Ho-Oh and dents Primal Groudon.
* Hidden Power Ice surprises Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence, but forgoing Shadow Ball makes Aegislash lose out on its ability to check Mega Lucario, which is one of its major selling points.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Primal Groudon hates switching into Toxic but can tank Aegislash's other attacks easily and threaten it out with Precipice Blades and Fire-type coverage or use it as setup bait. Ho-Oh also hates getting hit with Toxic, but it has Recover and Regenerator to mitigate the damage, and it can come in on Aegislash easily and OHKO it with Sacred Fire.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon that Aegislash would normally beat carry super effective Fire-type coverage to hit it, such as Fire Blast Mewtwo, Heat Wave Ultra Necrozma, Naganadel, V-create Rayquaza, and various Fire Blast support Arceus formes.

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Primal Groudon, Landorus-T, and Arceus-Ground threaten Aegislash with their super effective STAB moves. They are crippled by Toxic, however. Aegislash also succumbs to super effective Ground-type coverage, such as Earthquake from Extreme Killer Arceus, Necrozma-DM, physical Ultra Necrozma, and Mega Mewtwo X and Earth Power from Arceus-Fairy.

**Zygarde-C**: Zygarde-C is able to switch into Aegislash extremely easily and can threaten it with Thousand Arrows or use it as setup fodder. Also, Zygarde-C doesn't care about Toxic because it can use Rest to get rid of it. However, it must be wary of a potential Hidden Power Ice.

**Dark-types**: Yveltal threatens Aegislash with a super effective Dark Pulse, has Oblivion Wing to recover HP, and can Taunt Aegislash to prevent it from using King's Shield. Arceus-Dark can use Refresh to get rid of Toxic poison, use Aegislash as setup bait, and force it out with Judgment. Alolan Muk walls Aegislash completely, as it's immune to Toxic, and it can threaten Aegislash with Knock Off. Mega Sableye can switch into Aegislash easily, as Magic Bounce prevents Aegislash from using Toxic, and can threaten it with Foul Play and Will-O-Wisp. Darkrai 2HKOes Aegislash with Dark Pulse, but it is 2HKOed by Gyro Ball. However, all of these Dark-types do not like switching into Toxic, with the exception of Alolan Muk and Mega Sableye. Mega Sableye is also hit neutrally by Shadow Ball.

**Steel- and Poison-types**: Steel- and Poison-types such as Dialga, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Alolan Muk, and Toxapex are immune to Toxic and are able to switch into Aegislash extremely easily, barring Necrozma-DM. Ferrothorn and Celesteela can wear Aegislash down with Leech Seed. Ferrothorn and Toxapex can use it as fodder to set up entry hazards. Alolan Muk walls Aegislash and can threaten it with Knock Off, and Dialga can come in easily and threatens Aegislash with Fire Blast.

**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM's offensive sets can take one Shadow Ball, set up on Aegislash, and beat it with Earthquake, especially Weakness Policy variants. However, Necrozma-DM takes a decent chunk of damage from Shadow Ball, making switching in risky unless it has Weakness Policy. Aegislash can also survive an unboosted Earthquake, so if the one-on-one is played badly, Aegislash can 2HKO it with Shadow Ball. Aegislash also beats defensive Necrozma-DM variants, since it is hit decently hard with Shadow Ball and cannot threaten Aegislash in return other than setting up Stealth Rock.

**Offensive Ghost-types**: Most offensive Ghost-types such as Giratina-O, Lunala, Necrozma-DW, Marshadow, and Arceus-Ghost threaten Aegislash. Giratina-O and Arceus-Ghost both have access to Shadow Force, which Aegislash is unable to block with King's Shield. Lunala and Necrozma-DW can come in on Aegislash and threaten it with Moongeist Beam. Marshadow is able to heavily damage Aegislash with Spectral Thief. However, all of these Ghost-types are crippled by Toxic and dented by Shadow Ball on the switch. Furthermore, Necrozma-DW is outsped by Aegislash under Trick Room, so Aegislash can KO it with Shadow Ball if it is weakened enough.

**Primal Kyogre**: Offensive and physical Primal Kyogre variants can switch into Aegislash rather easily, only fearing Toxic, and can 2HKO Aegislash with Origin Pulse, Liquidation, or Earthquake or use it as setup fodder. Defensive Primal Kyogre sets don't care about Toxic, as most carry Rest to get rid of it, and it can dent Aegislash with Scald and potentially burn it.
 
Last edited:

A Cake Wearing A Hat

moist and crusty
is a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Hostis a Battle Simulator Moderatoris a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Top Social Media Contributor Alumnus
Community Leader
Add Remove Comments
[OVERVIEW]

* A Steel / Ghost typing makes Aegislash an excellent Xerneas and Mega Lucario check, and it cannot get trapped by Mega Gengar, Gothitelle, and Dugtrio.
* It can also check other powerful attackers like Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and non-Fire Blast Mewtwo.
* Aegislash isn't 2HKOed by any of Xerneas's coverage moves due to its good bulk, setting it apart from other Steel-type Xerneas answers.
* King's Shield allows Aegislash to punish physical attackers and play mind games with the opponent.
* It can punish its switch-ins like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Ho-Oh with Toxic.
* Aegislash also has decent damage output due to Blade forme's good attacking stats.
* However, many powerful and prominent physical attackers overwhelm Aegislash, including Primal Groudon, Marshadow, offensive Necrozma-DM, Arceus-Ground, physical Primal Kyogre, and physical Ultra Necrozma. This cuts into Aegislash's viability due to the prevalence of such threats. The prevalence of these threats cuts into Aegislash's viability.
* It is also threatened by Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Darkrai.
* Having no reliable recovery outside of Leftovers means that Aegislash can be worn down over the course of the match.
* Attacking with Aegislash's Blade forme can hurt it at times; Transforming into Blade forme and attacking at a bad time makes Aegislash open and vulnerable to attacks or setup, (RC) which. (AP) This causes it to have to switch or use King's Shield and thus lose, (AC) which forfeits all momentum and give gives the advantage to the opponent.
* Aegislash can be passive at times and become predictable with repeated use of King's Shield.
* Thus, (I don't see how this links to its predictability.) Aegislash faces extreme competition from many other Steel-type Xerneas checks like Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Necrozma-DM, and Magearna; the former four have better recovery options, and the latter two have more damage output.

[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: King's Shield
move 2: Toxic
move 3: Gyro Ball
move 4: Shadow Ball
item: Leftovers
ability: Stance Change
nature: Sassy
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========

* King's Shield is necessary on Aegislash, allowing it to go back into Shield forme, regain its defensive stats, gain an extra turn of Leftovers recovery, and scout for moves.
* Toxic punishes Aegislash's switch-ins like Primal Groudon, Yveltal, and Ho-Oh as well as support Arceus formes like Arceus-Water and Arceus-Fairy.
* Gyro Ball allows Aegislash to threaten Xerneas, dealing decent damage to it and other offensive Pokemon.
* Shadow Ball is used to effectively check Mega Lucario, 2HKOing it. It also chips at Primal Groudon and Necrozma-DM, hits other Psychic-types for decent damage, OHKOes Lunala without Shadow Shield, and OHKOes Marshadow after Stealth Rock damage.

Set Details
========

* Maximum HP and Special Defense investment is used to consistently check Xerneas.
* 4 Special Attack EVs allow Aegislash to 2HKO standard Double Dance Necrozma-DM after Stealth Rock damage, provided Necrozma-DM has no Weakness Policy and Aegislash outplays Necrozma-DM in a one-on-one scenario with proper use of King's Shield and Shadow Ball.
* A Sassy nature and 0 Speed IVs are used so Gyro Ball does maximum damage.
* Leftovers gives Aegislash a reliable form of recovery, improving its longevity.
* Iron Ball could be used, allowing Aegislash to 2HKO Extreme Killer Arceus, Geomancy Xerneas, boosted Z-Geomancy Xerneas, and offensive Yveltal with Gyro Ball. But, forgoing Leftovers means that Aegislash will no longer have any form of recovery, which makes it much more vulnerable to Xerneas's attacks.

Usage Tips
========

* Switch Aegislash in on Pokemon it checks, such as Xerneas, Mega Lucario, Tapu Lele, and support Arceus formes like Arceus-Water.
* With Leftovers, Aegislash is able to gradually make up the damage it takes from unboosted Xerneas, so Aegislash can be switched into Xerneas often and without risk.
* Avoid taking hits in Blade forme because its defenses are very low.
* Repeated and predictable use of King's Shield should be avoided; if the opponent reads it, then Aegislash is vulnerable and they receive a free turn.
* Note that using Toxic does not make Aegislash go into Blade forme; it will stay in Shield Forme.
* Also note that King's Shield fails against Shadow Force; it won't block the move nor drop the user's Attack.
* Aegislash should avoid status effects, particularly burns, as they hinder its ability to check Xerneas.
* Use Toxic liberally when punishing switch-ins like Primal Groudon and support Arceus formes, as its other moves don't do much damage.
* Shadow Ball can be used to chip away at Aegislash's switch-ins that are immune to Toxic or have already been poisoned by it. It should also be used against Mega Lucario to discourage it from setting up.

Team Options
========

* Aegislash is a specialized utility Pokemon that fits the demands of your team, so it shouldn't be built around.
* It should be used on teams that require a reliable defensive check to Xerneas. Pokemon that appreciate a Xerneas check include Yveltal, Mega Salamence, Rayquaza, Zygarde-C, Arceus-Dark, and Darkrai.
* A good Primal Groudon check is nigh mandatory because Aegislash's best way of dealing with it is Toxic. Zygarde-C, Arceus-Ground, Lugia, Primal Kyogre, and Mega Salamence can all deal with Primal Groudon.
* Arceus-Water is an excellent partner, as it can remove entry hazards and check Primal Groudon and other Ground- and Fire-types. In return, Aegislash is able to deal with Xerneas and powerful Psychic-type special attackers like Deoxys-A and non-Fire Blast Mewtwo.
* A secondary Xerneas check such as Primal Groudon or Ho-Oh is useful in order to relieve pressure off of Aegislash.
* Extreme Killer Arceus, Dialga, and many Dark-types appreciate Aegislash's ability to check Fighting-types .
* Pokemon weak to special attacking Psychic-types like some support Arceus formes, Naganadel, and Toxapex also value Aegislash.
* Cleric and Wish support from Xerneas, Blissey, and Clefable can keep Aegislash healthy to continue to check Xerneas.
* Mega Salamence, Yveltal, Giratina-O, and Rayquaza can switch into and threaten Ground-types.
* Primal Groudon, Arceus-Ground, Primal Kyogre, and Tyranitar threaten Fire-types like Ho-Oh.
* Dark-types like Yveltal, Arceus-Dark, and Alolan Muk are able to deal with Ghost-types like Marshadow. Aegislash checks Mega Lucario for them in return.
* Xerneas, Marshadow, and Mega Lucario check Dark-types.
* Fairy-types like Xerneas and Arceus-Fairy also deal with Dark-types and appreciate Aegislash's ability to check Mega Lucario.
* Entry hazard removal from Lugia, Giratina-O, Yveltal, or a support Arceus forme is nice for allowing Aegislash to switch in more freely and often.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============

* Pursuit can trap threats like Mega Gengar, Mewtwo, Deoxys-A, Tapu Lele, and Choice-locked Lunala. However, running Pursuit leaves Aegislash vulnerable to Mega Lucario, something it is supposed to beat, and Alolan Muk, Deoxys-A, and Tyranitar are better Pursuit trappers.
* Shadow Sneak can pick off weakened Psychic-types, Lunala, and Marshadow. However, Shadow Sneak lacks damage output, and if it fails to KO the foe, Aegislash will be in Blade forme and thus is extremely vulnerable.
* A Choice Specs set with Shadow Ball + Flash Cannon has decent damage output and can surprise the opponent, but Aegislash is very slow, and there are just better and more reliable special attackers like Deoxys-A, Xerneas, Mega Mewtwo Y, and Yveltal.
* Sacred Sword hits Ferrothorn and other Steel-types.
* Head Smash OHKOes Ho-Oh and dents Primal Groudon.
* Hidden Power Ice surprises Zygarde-C and Mega Salamence, but forgoing Shadow Ball makes Aegislash lose out on its ability to check Mega Lucario, which is one of its major selling points.

Checks and Counters
===================

**Fire-types**: Primal Groudon hates switching into Toxic but can tank Aegislash's other attacks easily and threaten it out with Precipice Blades and Fire-type coverage or use it as setup bait. Ho-Oh also hates getting hit with Toxic, but it has Recover and Regenerator to mitigate the damage, and it can come in on Aegislash easily and OHKO it with Sacred Fire.

**Fire-type Coverage**: Many Pokemon that Aegislash would normally beat carry super effective Fire-type coverage to hit it, such as Fire Blast Mewtwo, Heat Wave Ultra Necrozma, Naganadel, V-create Rayquaza, and various Fire Blast support Arceus formes.

**Ground-types**: Ground-types like Primal Groudon, Landorus-T, and Arceus-Ground threaten Aegislash with their super effective STAB moves. They are crippled by Toxic, however. Aegislash also succumbs to super effective Ground-type coverage, such as Earthquake from Extreme Killer Arceus, Necrozma-DM, physical Ultra Necrozma, and Mega Mewtwo X and Earth Power from Arceus-Fairy.

**Zygarde-C**: Zygarde-C is able to switch into Aegislash extremely easily and can threaten it with Thousand Arrows or use it as setup fodder. Also, Zygarde-C doesn't care about Toxic because it can use Rest to get rid of it. However, it must be wary of a potential Hidden Power Ice.

**Dark-types**: Yveltal threatens Aegislash with a super effective Dark Pulse, has Oblivion Wing to recover HP, and can Taunt Aegislash to prevent it from using King's Shield. Arceus-Dark can use Refresh to get rid of Toxic poison, use Aegislash as setup bait, and force it out with Judgment. Alolan Muk walls Aegislash completely, as it's immune to Toxic, and it can threaten Aegislash with Knock Off. Mega Sableye can switch into Aegislash easily, as Magic Bounce prevents Aegislash from using Toxic, and can threaten it with Foul Play and Will-O-Wisp. Darkrai 2HKOes Aegislash with Dark Pulse, but it is 2HKOed by Gyro Ball. However, all of these Dark-types do not like switching into Toxic, with the exception of Alolan Muk and Mega Sableye. Mega Sableye is also hit neutrally by Shadow Ball.

**Steel- and Poison-types**: Steel- and Poison-types such as Dialga, Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Alolan Muk, and Toxapex are immune to Toxic and are able to switch into Aegislash extremely easily, barring Necrozma-DM. Ferrothorn and Celesteela can wear Aegislash down with Leech Seed. Ferrothorn and Toxapex can use it as fodder to set up entry hazards. Alolan Muk walls Aegislash and can threaten it with Knock Off, and Dialga can come in easily and threatens Aegislash with Fire Blast.

**Necrozma-DM**: Necrozma-DM's offensive sets can take one Shadow Ball, set up on Aegislash, and beat it with Earthquake, especially Weakness Policy variants. However, Necrozma-DM takes a decent chunk of damage from Shadow Ball, making switching in risky unless it has Weakness Policy. Aegislash can also survive an unboosted Earthquake, so if the one-on-one is played badly, Aegislash can 2HKO it with Shadow Ball. Aegislash also beats defensive Necrozma-DM variants, since it is hit decently hard with Shadow Ball and cannot threaten Aegislash in return other than setting up Stealth Rock.

**Offensive Ghost-types**: Most offensive Ghost-types such as Giratina-O, Lunala, Necrozma-DW, Marshadow, and Arceus-Ghost threaten Aegislash. Giratina-O and Arceus-Ghost both have access to Shadow Force, which Aegislash is unable to block with King's Shield. Lunala and Necrozma-DW can come in on Aegislash and threaten it with Moongeist Beam. Marshadow is able to heavily damage Aegislash with Spectral Thief. However, all of these Ghost-types are crippled by Toxic and dented by Shadow Ball on the switch. Furthermore, Necrozma-DW is outsped by Aegislash under Trick Room, so Aegislash can KO it with Shadow Ball if it is weakened enough.

**Primal Kyogre**: Offensive and physical Primal Kyogre variants can switch into Aegislash rather easily, only fearing Toxic, and can 2HKO Aegislash with Origin Pulse, Liquidation, or Earthquake or use it as setup fodder. Defensive Primal Kyogre sets don't care about Toxic, as most carry Rest to get rid of it, and it they can dent Aegislash with Scald and potentially burn it.

2/2
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 1)

Top