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.
Fire, Ground, Ghost, and Dark 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.
| 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 |
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Aegislash View Carbink builds →Moonblast7-8% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityPure Power ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Aegislash View Medicham builds →Bullet Punch5-6% | ||
 Aromatisse Fairy | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityAromaveil ItemSitrus Berry NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Aegislash View Aromatisse builds →Dazzling Gleam10-12% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityCompoundeyes ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Aegislash View Vivillon builds →Hurricane18-21% | ||
 | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityHustle ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Aegislash View Delibird builds →Ice Shard5-6% | ||
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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
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
Aegislash best EVs are HP and Attack
Physical Tank Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Kings Shield
- Iron Head
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Physical Tank Moveset
- Shadow Sneak
- Shadow Ball
- Kings Shield
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Tank Moveset
- Kings Shield
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Ball
Recommended Teammates
Physical Tank Moveset
- Kings Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Sneak
Recommended Teammates
Physical Tank Moveset
- Kings Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Sneak
Recommended Teammates
Moves
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 HonedgeHammerlocke HillsShieldOverworld Lv.29-3144%MidHeavy FogHammerlocke HillsSwordOverworld Lv.29-3144%MidHeavy FogHammerlocke HillsShieldGrass Lv.28-3015%MidSnowstormHammerlocke HillsSwordGrass Lv.28-3015%MidSnowstorm
Step 2Catch or Evolve DoubladeLake of OutrageShieldGrass Lv.50-52 Water25%PostSnowstormLake of OutrageSwordGrass Lv.50-52 Water25%PostSnowstormor 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 has answers, but so do you. Super-effective STAB from faster Pokemon is the simplest answer. Fire, Ground, and Ghost-type attackers hit hardest.
Introduced in X & Y, Aegislash has appeared in 6 games across 5 generations. Later debuts mean fewer total appearances, but it's been a consistent presence since its introduction.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves