How to evolve
Honedge Best Moveset
Steel/Ghost typing provides 8 resistances and immunities to Normal and Fighting. 100 Defense at 80 Attack fires moves on long 28 Speed cooldowns. The moveset is a defensive physical presence building toward Aegislash's passive form-switching mechanic two evolutions ahead.
Honedge saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). This was Honedge's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Noguard with Focus Sash, favoring a Sassy nature.
Best Moves
Best Build
Honedge best EVs are Attack and Sp. Def
Physical Tank Moveset
- Night Slash
- Brick Break
- Iron Defense
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Honedge saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Honedge maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Noguard with Eviolite, favoring a Relaxed nature.
Bulky Support Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword
- Gyro Ball
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Honedge saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Honedge maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Noguard with Nothing, favoring a Adamant nature.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Destiny Bond
- Autotomize
- Iron Head
- Facade
Recommended Teammates
Honedge Weakness
Honedge's Steel/Ghost typing leaves it vulnerable to Fire, Ground, Ghost, and Dark. It shrugs off Normal, Fighting, and Poison-type attacks completely. With 9 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Honedge's physical bulk (base 100 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fire, Ground, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Grass, Ice, Flying, Psychic, Rock, Dragon, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Fighting, Poison |
What is Honedge Weak Against
FortressBest Pokemon Against Honedge
Excadrill's Earthquake hits Honedge for 62-72%. Chandelure's Flamethrower also KOs at 156-184%.
 Cinderace Fire | A | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Honedge View Cinderace builds →U Turn3-3% Sucker Punch 2x23-28% | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Honedge View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x62-72% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Honedge View Chandelure builds →Shadow Ball 2x139-163%KO Energy Ball26-31% Flamethrower 2x156-184%KO | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Honedge View Weavile builds →Knock Off 2x34-40% Ice Shard5-6% | ||
Evolution
Three stages ahead. Honedge grows into Doublade, then pushes on to Aegislash. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via one egg group. The evolved forms gain up to 175 total stats over Honedge. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Honedge easily with 84 breeding partners from the Mineral egg group.
Shiny Honedge
That blue blade goes blood red. Shiny Honedge looks cursed in the best possible way, like a sword that's actually tasted battle. The color swap is dramatic and thematically perfect for a possessed weapon.
Shiny Honedge Odds & Hunting Methods
6 of 6 VerifiedHow do we research these odds?
We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.
Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.
Read our full methodologyHow to Get Honedge
Honedge, the haunted Steel and Ghost blade, hangs in the open across Lumiose's Wild Zones over a huge climb, drawn out anywhere from level 10 up to level 58.
Where To Catch Honedge in LZA
Honedge is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 10-65 across 12 total spots in the chain.
Step 2Catch or Evolve into DoubladeHyperspace Lumiose - Steel 3-StarLv.35-37GrassLegends: Z-AHyperspace Lumiose - Steel 4-StarLv.41-43GrassLegends: Z-ALysandre LabsLv.49-50OverworldLegends: Z-ALysandre LabsLv.59-60OverworldLegends: Z-Aor evolve from Honedge (Step 1)
Step 3Catch or Evolve into Aegislashor evolve from Doublade (Step 2)
A few locations for Honedge with high spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Honedge in SwSh
Honedge is where the line starts, caught through walking encounters at Lv. 28-31. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Honedge ✓Hammerlocke HillsLv.29-31OverworldRate 44%Heavy FogHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 15%Snowstorm- Step 2Catch or Evolve into DoubladeLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassRate 25%Snowstormor evolve from Honedge (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into AegislashBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Honedge egg.
Not landing the catch? Calculate Honedge catch rates for Sword & Shield by ball, status, and HP.
On a Wednesday, running an Island Scan out on the Akala Outskirts calls up Honedge at level 24, the haunted blade lingering just that one day before it vanishes again.
Where To Catch Honedge in USUM
Not landing the catch? Calculate Honedge catch rates for Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon by ball, status, and HP.
A lone Honedge answers the Island Scan only on the Akala Outskirts, and only on Wednesdays, floating there at level 23 with its sheathed blade.
Where To Catch Honedge in SM
Step 1Honedge ✓- Step 3Evolve into Aegislash
Not landing the catch? Calculate Honedge catch rates for Sun & Moon by ball, status, and HP.
Base Stats
Defense and Attack carry most of Honedge's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 Defense EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Honedge’s soul once belonged to a person who was killed a long time ago by the sword that makes up Honedge’s body.
Honedge Guide
You can run Honedge through the first few routes without issues. 325 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Doublade as fast as you can.
Game Availability
Honedge joined the series in X & Y and has been available in 6 titles so far. With 4 generations of appearances, it's established itself despite the later start.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Honedge.
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