Week 1 - AEGISLASH

AEGISLASH ( )



Type:Steel/ Ghost

Abilities:
Stance Change -
When Aegislash uses a damaging move (either Physical or Special), it will turn into its Blade Forme.
When Aegislash uses King's Shield, it will turn back into its Shield Forme.
(Aegislash is Shield Forme by default and will always enter the battle in its Shield Forme. It won't change into Blade Forme unless a damaging move is used.)
(Other non-damaging move does not activate Shield Forme. Only King's Shield does.)

Stats: (HP/ Atk/ Def/ SpA/ SpD/ Spe)

Shield Forme - 60 / 50 / 150 / 50 / 150 / 60
Blade Forme - 60 / 150 / 50 / 150 / 50 / 60

Introduction:

Being ranked #2 in January '14 and #5 in December '13 at the Smogon OU tier, Aegislash defines the current metagame. Stance Change, Aegislash's most unique Ability, solely contributes to the haunted sword's success, due to the fact that it can change from a bulky wall to an Uber-level attacker in just a change of a move. Capable of filling both the wall and attacker role, Aegislash has a reason to be in every team, and if not prepared for, will cause a deathly demise.

Positives:

• 60/ 150/ 150 bulk of the Shield Forme lets it survive powerful hits, and with proper EV investments, can even survive from super-effective attacks.
• Similarly, 150/ 150 offenses allow it to be a dangerous Physical/ Mixed Attacker.
• Ghost/ Steel is a great typing that is immune and resistant to a lot of other types.
• Fighting/ STAB Ghost gives it a completely unresisted coverage.
• King's Shield acts like a Protect + Charm on contact, making the Shield Forme a bane for most Physical Attackers if used correctly.
• STAB Shadow Sneak makes up for its lousy Speed.
• Its movepool perfectly suits its needs.

Negatives:

• Base 60 Speed means it will always be outsped by common attackers.
• 60/ 50/ 50 bulk at Blade Forme means that if Aegislash can't KO its foe, it will most probably be KO'd back by the opponent.
• It is weak to two very common attacking types: Fire and Ground. Earthquake is especially troubling for Aegislash because it is not a contact move and does not trigger the Charm effect of King's Shield.
• The new nerf to Steel means Aegislash is also weak to Dark and Ghost type moves.
• King's Shield can not stop status moves (such as Will-o-wisp and Sleep Powder) which can be easily be taken advantage of.

Set #1: Avalon

Aegislash @ Leftovers
Trait: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- King's Shield
- Swords Dance
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword

The standard set for Physical Aegislash, and the recommended set for beginners who are aiming to learn to use the cursed blade.

King's Shield stops contact Physical attackers, gives Leftovers recovery, and activates Shield Forme from Blade Forme. Not to mention, allows an otherwise frail attacker to tank multiple hits.
Swords Dance is the boosting move of choice. With the defenses of Shield Forme, Aegislash can set up at least 1 or even 2 Swords Dance and proceed to sweep from there.
Shadow Sneak is a must on this set. STAB Priority, especially with that horrible Speed, is the best thing a Physical Aegislash could have ever gotten.
Sacred Sword has more Base Power than STAB Shadow Sneak, and provides a completely unresisted offensive coverage with Shadow Sneak. Normal, Dark or bulky Steel-types that can shrug off Shadow Sneak are quickly taken down by super-effective Sacred Sword. Plus point, Sacred Sword ignores any Defense boosts, so Stockpile and Acid Armor strategies are rendered useless.

Set #2: Excalibur

Aegislash @ Spooky Plate
Trait: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword

Even though this set looks similar to Set #1, it is completely different in both role and usage. If you are tired of Prankster Sableye Wisping your Aegislash, then this is the set to use.
Best used an anti-lead, this set is capable of surprising Physical Walls and burners with Spooky Plate boosted STAB Shadow Ball coming from a fully invested Base 150 Special Attack, making it an effective mixed attacker.
King's Shield is present here for similar reasons. Tank hits, ruin contact attackers, scout for moves, turn into Shield Forme. Yup, King's Shield is awesome.
Shadow Sneak and Sacred Sword provides the coveted Ghost/ Fighting coverage that can ruin Special Walls or the likes wishing to tank Shadow Ball.

Set #3: Broken Blade

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy
Trait: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 128 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- King's Shield
- Shadow Ball
- Shadow Sneak
- Sacred Sword

Same moves, but different Natures, EVs and a completely different item creates this popular and effective Aegislash set.
King's Shield is an obvious must that allows Aegislash to scout for super-effective moves, and revert to the bulky Shield Forme.
From the Shield Forme, tank a SE hit and let Weakness Policy activate. Due to the added investment in bulk, the shield can survive from even powerful SE attacks and in return gets +2 Atk and +2 SpA to sweep the opponent's team.
STAB Shadow Ball provides a devastating blow to Physical walls and STAB priority Shadow Sneak and Sacred Sword takes care of Special walls. With +2 in both Atk and SpA, not much can wall these hits anyway.

Calculations for the Weakness Policy Set:

For Shield Forme:

Spoiler:

For Blade Forme:

Spoiler:

Other Options:

Automotize can be used in any Aegislash set, but it is not recommended as the +2 Speed won't outspeed much. For boosting, Swords Dance is far superior.

Flash Cannon/ Iron Head both provides powerful STAB and can take care of pesky Fairies.

Focus Sash, Air Balloon, Life Orb are all excellent items Aegislash can use instead of Leftovers for ease of setting up/ sweeping.

Counters/ Checks:

Aegislash's biggest threat, arguably, is the mama vulture Mandibuzz. She resists Ghost and has STAB Knock Off/ Foul Play to spell the sword's demise. Not to mention, she can Roost off damages and even Whirlwind away a boosting Swords Dancer.

Gliscor resists Fighting and can shrug off Physical hits with a huge Defense stat and steady Poison Heal recovery. STAB Earthquake bypasses the Attack stat drop of King's Shield and can KO Aegislash in its frail Blade Forme.

Defiant Bisharp can use the mechanics of King's Shield to raise its own Attack. With resistance to Ghost and STAB Sucker Punch, Bisharp can make quick work of Aegislash if the player is not careful. However, Bisharp is x4 weak to Sacred Sword.

Landorus Therian has Intimidate and good bulk to weaken Aegislash and threatens a KO with STAB Earthquake.

Diggersby, though uncommon in OU, is immune to Shadow Sneak and has Huge Power boosted STAB Earthquake.

Basically, Aegislash counters/ checks need to have these following qualities: 60+ Base Speed, STAB Dark/ Ghost/ Ground/ Fire attacks, resistance/ immunity to at least Ghost or Fighting attacks and enough bulk to take hits. However, Aegislash has its ways of going past its threats so caution must always be followed when using/ facing the Steel Ghost.

reading this after it got banned