[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Shadow Claw
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Ghostium Z
ability: Stance Change
nature: Adamant
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Aegislash is a decent wallbreaker with unique defensive utility, utilising its amazing typing both defensively and offensively to break holes through teams. Due to its defensive properties, it takes advantage of common defensive staples like Corviknight, Clefable, and Tapu Fini to get setup opportunities. It’s typing is also lets it check Tapu Lele, Mega Latias, and Mega Medicham, and it can set up on various choiced attackers like Kartana and Tapu Fini. However, due to Aegislash's terrible bulk in its Sword forme, its low speed and lack of immediate power, as well as its susceptibility to Pursuit means it is not very consistent and often outshined by its competitors like Tapu Lele and Mega Mawile as they are much more immediately threatening and performing much more consistently. Victini also directly competes with it directly as they share a similiar defensive profile, while Victini offers more to teams due to its pivoting capabilities, higher Speed tier, and more immediete power. Shadow Claw is Aegislash's strongest physical STAB option, and in conjunction with Ghostium Z turns to a strong Never Ending Nightmare, breaking through the likes of Toxapex, Zapdos, and Mega Scizor with ease. Close Combat has perfect offensive coverage with Shadow Claw, and nails Normal- and Dark-type Pokemon that Shadow Claw is unable to hit, like Tyranitar, Weavile, Blissey, and Hydreigon. Shadow Sneak somewhat makes up for Aegislash's low Speed stat, allowing it to clean weakened teams. The given EV spread lets Aegislash outspeed Mega Mawile, while maximising its Attack.
Swords Dance Aegislash fits best on bulky offense teams to make use of its unique defensive capabilities and provide a strong wallbreaker. Aegislash works best with pivots such as Landorus-T, Mega Lopunny, and Slowking to bring it in safely. Due to Aegislash's Ground-type weakness, Ground-type immunities and resists such as Zapdos, Tangrowth, and Mega Latias work really well with it. Hydreigon is an exemplar partner due to it synergising extremely well defensively with Aegislash, being immune to Ground-type moves, and resisting Fire- and Dark-type attacks which threaten Aegislash out. In return, Aegislash checks the Ice-, Fighting- and Fairy-types that pressure Hydreigon out, like Kyurem, Mega Medicham, and Clefable. Pokemon that struggle to break past bulkier teams such as Mega Lopunny and Ash-Greninja work well with it, as they appreciate Aegislash punching holes in teams, and in return clean up weakened teams for it. Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Clefable and Tapu Fini are also solid alongside it as they can deal with Dark-types such as Weavile and Greninja who force it out. Furthermore, a solid defensive core alongside Aegislash can help it deal with the myriad of attackers that force it out, such as Heatran, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Charizard Y.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Specially Defensive set with Substitute and Toxic can be used utilising Aegislash's unique defensive utility, and can slowly wear down common checks to it such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Volcarona over time. However, this set is overall extremely passive and is unable to break through Toxic immune Pokemon such as Corviknight, Toxapex, and Gliscor. Iron Head may be used to pressure Calm Mind Clefable immedietely, although it is fairly redundant as Ghost- and Fighting-type coverage hit every Pokemon at least neutrally. A Choice Band set can be used alongside Pursuit to abuse Aegislash's defensive capabilites to check and remove the likes of Tapu Lele and Mega Latias, however this sets lack of overall wallbreaking capabilites makes it undesirable and extremely specific for most teams. A set utilising an Air Balloon with Hidden Power Ice could be used as a hard counter to Gliscor while still mantaining its defensive capabilities, however it is extremely weak offensively making it not worthwile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types and Ground-type coverage**: Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor can consistently force out Aegislash; however, they are unable to immediately KO it if it is still in its Shield forme. Ground-type coverage from Mega Diancie, Kommo-o, and Kyurem also prevent Aegislash from freely switching in.
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage **: The likes of Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, Heatran, and Victini can immediately threaten Aegislash out with their STAB moves. Similiarly, Tapu Lele, Serperior, and Clefable can all carry Fire-type coverage in order to pressure Aegislash.
**Dark-types**: Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar, Weavile, Hydreigon, and Greninja easily force out Aegislash with their Dark-type STAB moves; however, all of them must be wary of a Close Combat. The former two in particular can easily Pursuit trap Aegislash if they get in safely.
**Revenge Killers** Due to Aegislash's middling Speed tier and its vulnerability in its Sword forme, it is extremely prone to being revenge killed by faster threats. Prominent threats like Mega Lopunny, Greninja, Kartana, and Tapu Koko can all consistently pressure it out, however they struggle to consistently switch into it. The former two also resists or is immune to Shadow Sneak making them much more consistent revenge killers,
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Solaros & Lunaris, 471780], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Shadow Claw
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Ghostium Z
ability: Stance Change
nature: Adamant
evs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Swords Dance Aegislash is a decent wallbreaker with unique defensive utility, utilising its amazing typing both defensively and offensively to break holes through teams. Due to its defensive properties, it takes advantage of common defensive staples like Corviknight, Clefable, and Tapu Fini to get setup opportunities. It’s typing is also lets it check Tapu Lele, Mega Latias, and Mega Medicham, and it can set up on various choiced attackers like Kartana and Tapu Fini. However, due to Aegislash's terrible bulk in its Sword forme, its low speed and lack of immediate power, as well as its susceptibility to Pursuit means it is not very consistent and often outshined by its competitors like Tapu Lele and Mega Mawile as they are much more immediately threatening and performing much more consistently. Victini also directly competes with it directly as they share a similiar defensive profile, while Victini offers more to teams due to its pivoting capabilities, higher Speed tier, and more immediete power. Shadow Claw is Aegislash's strongest physical STAB option, and in conjunction with Ghostium Z turns to a strong Never Ending Nightmare, breaking through the likes of Toxapex, Zapdos, and Mega Scizor with ease. Close Combat has perfect offensive coverage with Shadow Claw, and nails Normal- and Dark-type Pokemon that Shadow Claw is unable to hit, like Tyranitar, Weavile, Blissey, and Hydreigon. Shadow Sneak somewhat makes up for Aegislash's low Speed stat, allowing it to clean weakened teams. The given EV spread lets Aegislash outspeed Mega Mawile, while maximising its Attack.
Swords Dance Aegislash fits best on bulky offense teams to make use of its unique defensive capabilities and provide a strong wallbreaker. Aegislash works best with pivots such as Landorus-T, Mega Lopunny, and Slowking to bring it in safely. Due to Aegislash's Ground-type weakness, Ground-type immunities and resists such as Zapdos, Tangrowth, and Mega Latias work really well with it. Hydreigon is an exemplar partner due to it synergising extremely well defensively with Aegislash, being immune to Ground-type moves, and resisting Fire- and Dark-type attacks which threaten Aegislash out. In return, Aegislash checks the Ice-, Fighting- and Fairy-types that pressure Hydreigon out, like Kyurem, Mega Medicham, and Clefable. Pokemon that struggle to break past bulkier teams such as Mega Lopunny and Ash-Greninja work well with it, as they appreciate Aegislash punching holes in teams, and in return clean up weakened teams for it. Dark-resistant Pokemon such as Clefable and Tapu Fini are also solid alongside it as they can deal with Dark-types such as Weavile and Greninja who force it out. Furthermore, a solid defensive core alongside Aegislash can help it deal with the myriad of attackers that force it out, such as Heatran, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Charizard Y.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Specially Defensive set with Substitute and Toxic can be used utilising Aegislash's unique defensive utility, and can slowly wear down common checks to it such as Landorus-T, Zapdos, and Volcarona over time. However, this set is overall extremely passive and is unable to break through Toxic immune Pokemon such as Corviknight, Toxapex, and Gliscor. Iron Head may be used to pressure Calm Mind Clefable immedietely, although it is fairly redundant as Ghost- and Fighting-type coverage hit every Pokemon at least neutrally. A Choice Band set can be used alongside Pursuit to abuse Aegislash's defensive capabilites to check and remove the likes of Tapu Lele and Mega Latias, however this sets lack of overall wallbreaking capabilites makes it undesirable and extremely specific for most teams. A set utilising an Air Balloon with Hidden Power Ice could be used as a hard counter to Gliscor while still mantaining its defensive capabilities, however it is extremely weak offensively making it not worthwile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types and Ground-type coverage**: Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor can consistently force out Aegislash; however, they are unable to immediately KO it if it is still in its Shield forme. Ground-type coverage from Mega Diancie, Kommo-o, and Kyurem also prevent Aegislash from freely switching in.
**Fire-types and Fire-type Coverage **: The likes of Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, Heatran, and Victini can immediately threaten Aegislash out with their STAB moves. Similiarly, Tapu Lele, Serperior, and Clefable can all carry Fire-type coverage in order to pressure Aegislash.
**Dark-types**: Pokemon like Mega Tyranitar, Weavile, Hydreigon, and Greninja easily force out Aegislash with their Dark-type STAB moves; however, all of them must be wary of a Close Combat. The former two in particular can easily Pursuit trap Aegislash if they get in safely.
**Revenge Killers** Due to Aegislash's middling Speed tier and its vulnerability in its Sword forme, it is extremely prone to being revenge killed by faster threats. Prominent threats like Mega Lopunny, Greninja, Kartana, and Tapu Koko can all consistently pressure it out, however they struggle to consistently switch into it. The former two also resists or is immune to Shadow Sneak making them much more consistent revenge killers,
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[adem, 529732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Solaros & Lunaris, 471780], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
Last edited:
