Stance Change shifts between offense and defense forms mid-battle — and that one ability is what makes Aegislash worth using. Without it, the stats don't hold up on their own. Been around since Gen 6. Relies on priority moves or Scarf to keep up.
Aegislash's all-in on Defense at the expense of Attack. The mixed lean is obvious from the bars. Yields 3 Defense and Sp. Def EVs and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
This stance is dedicated to offense. It can cleave any opponent with the strength and weight of its steel blade.
Once upon a time, a king with an Aegislash reigned over the land. His Pokémon eventually drained him of life, and his kingdom fell with him.
Aegislash Weakness
FortressFire, Ground, Ghost, and Dark-type moves hit Aegislash for super-effective damage. The upside? Normal, Fighting, and Poison-type moves can't touch it at all. 9 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. Aegislash's overall bulk (60/140/140) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
Aegislash doesn't evolve through normal leveling. You'll need an evolution item to get here from Honedge's line. Breed this form to get Honedge eggs (average hatch time). Evolving from Honedge gave Aegislash the biggest boost in Sp.Def (+103), bringing the total to 500 stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Aegislash to get Honedge eggs easily using 84 partners from the Mineral egg group.
This build takes hits and hits back. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Stancechange supports the gameplan, and max HP and Attack EVs mean Aegislash doesn't crumble to chip damage. Plus the remaining moves backing it up.
Best Build
Best Aegislash Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Kings Shield
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Without TMs, Aegislash's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get coverage across 8 types on top of Steel Beam and Iron Head for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Don't skip the egg moves. Aegislash picks up Block and Destiny Bond only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Iron Head and Flash Cannon while coverage across 8 types adds range.
Don't skip the egg moves. Aegislash picks up Destiny Bond and Metal Sound only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Iron Head and Flash Cannon while coverage across 7 types adds range.
Don't skip the egg moves. Aegislash picks up Destiny Bond and Metal Sound only through breeding, and both fill gaps the natural movepool can't. STAB runs through Iron Head and Flash Cannon while Flying and Bug coverage and more adds range.
Aegislash isn't available in the wild in Legends: Z-A. Start by transferring Honedge from X, Sun, or Sword. The evolution path from Honedge to Aegislash is covered in the steps below.
Can't catch Aegislash directly. Start with Honedge at solid rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Honedge to Aegislash is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Aegislash in Sword & Shield
To get Aegislash, start by catching Honedge through walking encounters at Lv. 28-52. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch HonedgeEFFORTLESSHammerlocke HillsShieldOverworldLv.29-3144%MidHeavy FogEFFORTLESSHammerlocke HillsSwordOverworldLv.29-3144%MidHeavy FogEASYHammerlocke HillsShieldGrassLv.28-3015%MidSnowstormEASYHammerlocke HillsSwordGrassLv.28-3015%MidSnowstorm
Step 2Catch or Evolve DoubladeEASYLake of OutrageShieldGrassLv.50-5225%PostWaterSnowstormEASYLake of OutrageSwordGrassLv.50-5225%PostWaterSnowstormor evolve from Honedge (Step 1)
Step 3Aegislash ✓
You're catching Honedge first, not Aegislash. Honedge appears at moderate rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
Can't catch Aegislash directly. Start with Honedge at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve through a special method. The 3-stage chain from Honedge to Aegislash is where the leveling time goes.
Don't let Aegislash's 500 base stat total fool you. Stance Change is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it A-Tier.
Watch for Arcanine (Fire), Excadrill (Ground), and Chandelure (Ghost) when using Aegislash. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Dark-type attackers are also a problem. Aegislash has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Run Stance Change on Aegislash. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche.
Aegislash fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 50 Attack). At base 60 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's tanky enough to absorb a few hits.
Aegislash appears in 6 games, including X & Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
Introduced in X & Y, Aegislash has appeared in 6 games across 4 generations. Later debuts mean fewer total appearances, but it's been a consistent presence since its introduction.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXYDebut
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A