Aegislash (QC - 2/3)

[Chleg]

Aegislash!

Overview

Aegislash has many different functions in Ghost from being a set up sweeper to a special wallbreaker to a stalling machine; making Aegislash unpredictable..  It's two stances with Stance Change gives Aegislash a mixture of insane of offense and defense. Aegislash also has a good coverage so that many Pokemon will struggle to switch into Aegislash. It's typing is excellent with being able to resist Fairy and Dragon, types that Ghost sometimes struggle with. It's typing also gives immunity to Toxic Spikes and resistance to Stealth Rocks. However, since Aegislash is slow, it normally has to rely on Shadow Sneak when facing fast wallbreakers or sweepers (if Aegislash can't take a hit). Overall, Aegislash has many different viable ways to make it's unique ability, typing and moves effective. 

 Physical Attacker / Swords Dance

Aegislash @ Leftovers / Weakness Policy

Ability: Stance Change

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD

Adamant Nature

- Shadow Sneak

- King's Shield

- Swords Dance

- Sacred Sword / Iron Head

Moves:

Shadow Sneak is mandatory with it being the only way to outspeed frail sweepers without being destroyed by them. Shadow Sneak has 40 Power + STAB which gives it a decent damage output with an insane 438 Attack. King's Shield is also mandatory to create mind games with your opponent. If your opponent makes contact, you are most likely to get a free Swords Dance up with minimal damage or forcing your opponent to switch out. Sacred Sword is to remove those Dark types, most likely Bisharp, while taking a hit. However, Iron Head is also viable with being able to possess more power and has a chance to take down max Def Hippowdon at +6 Atk. 

Set Details:

Leftovers is useful to recover chip damage, giving yourself a better chance to get Aegislash to +6 Atk. King's Shield helps with your leftovers HP build up. Weakóness Policy is simply if you want to instantly set up and sweep when you get hit by a super effective move while not having the need to Swords Dance or building up even more power. At that range, Shadow Sneak has a chance to take down frail Pokemon that resists Aegislash. It's EV's takes advantage of Aegislash's insane Atk while keeping Aegislash as healthy as possible with max HP. Aegislash can remove HP investment to Speed investment with Jolly to outspeed adamant Bisharp or have IV's to 0 in speed to always go second with your secondary attacking move or possibly go with 92 HP and 164 Speed to outspeed base 80's such as Venusaur and Goodra.

Mixed Attacker

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy / Life Orb

Ability: Stance Change

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA

Quiet Nature

- Shadow Ball

- Flash Cannon

- Shadow Sneak

- King's Shield

Moves:

This moveset takes advantage of Aegislash's insane SpAtk and Atk. Shadow Ball is your primary STAB due to being spammable most of the time with Flash Cannon being a backup STAB which eliminates most Pokemon that Ghost resists with an addition to remove those annoying fairies. Shadow Sneak is mandatory to remove sashes or low HP users. King's Shield is to simply create mind games with your opponent and go back into shield form. It creates pressure on your opponent and possibly has a chance to change the entire game.

Set Details: 

Weakness Policy is your main option in this moveset due to being a wallbreaker and gives Aegislash access to even more wallbreaking power when hit by a super effective move. However, Life Orb can also be generally useful to hit hard and kill without hassle of being hit by a super effective move. Make sure your last digit of your HP ends in 9 (232 EV's or 29 IV's + 0 EV's). It's EV's is to maximize Aegislash's main STAB's while taking a hit to activate Weakness Policy. This also gives Aegislash more firepower to Shadow Sneak due to not having access to max investment in Atk.

Substitute + Toxic (= Death unless your a steel type)

    Aegislash @ Leftovers

    Ability: Stance Change

    EVs: 252 HP / 220 Def / 32 SpD / 4 Spe

    Calm Nature

   - King's Shield

   - Substitute

   - Toxic

   - Shadow Ball

Moves:

King's Shield is the most important move in this set because it can lower contact super effective moves to such a low damage output that it can't take down Aegislash's substitute. Substitute is to tank as much hits as possible with the combination of King's Shield to recover as much HP as possible. Toxic is simply to rack up damage while you spam King's Shield and Substitute. Shadow Ball is simply to either damage the Poison and Steel types or have something to damage with if Substitute takes 3 hits to take down.  

Set Details:

Leftovers is your main choice because it's the only way to get decent recovery with the lack of a recovery move. It's EV's are pacific to tank a Foul Play under a Substitute while keeping reliable special bulk. The 4 EV's in speed are simply to get a free Substitute before other base 60 Pokemon. 

Team Options:

Sableye-Mega is a mandatory teammate. Sableye and Aegislash cover each others weaknesses perfectly while Sableye can cripple opponent with Will-O-Wisp for Aegislash to have an easier time sweeping. Sableye can put a lot of pressure on Pokemon that Aegislash can't defeat and vice versa. Trevenant is also a nice teammate with being able to Leech Seed, giving Aegislash more HP to set up easier. Trevenant also removes Aegislash's hateful Ground immunity and bite back with Will-O-Wisp. Gengar also likes Aegislash with Aegislash being able to wall break against threats that Gengar possibly might not be able to defeat, like Sableye for example. This also gives Gengar an easier time to sweep.

 

Other Options:

Head Smash might be a shock to users to be able to defeat most Fire types if Aegislash can take a hit.  Destiny Bond can defeat slow threats if Aegislash is at low health, this can gives room for other Pokemon to sweep.

Checks and counters:

(Jolly) Bisharp: This is the biggest threat to Aegislash. This is able to outspeed Aegislash with Sucker Punch and OHKO you with Knock Off. It also has Defiant so it can nullify King Shield's ability. Your only hope is that Aegislash went for Sacred Sword if your opponent tries to switch in. Otherwise, go into Sableye. If you run max Speed, you have a chance of defeating Adamant Bisharp with Sacred Sword judging that it didn't go for Sucker Punch.

Fire wallbreakers: (e.g Charizard-Y) : These can easily tear through Aegislash's good defenses with no hope. If Aegislash has set up, chances are that you will OHKO with Shadow Sneak. Otherwise switch into Jellicent or Chandelure.

Excadrill (and Ground wallbreakers in general): Same with Fire wallbreakers; only you switch into anything that resists or is immune to Ground. 

Mega Gyarados: You have to predict with King's Shield and and hope he went for Crunch and not Dragon Dance / Substitute. Your opponent can also make mind games with normal Gyarados and mega Gyarados with having a resistance to Sacred Sword and resistance to Shadow Sneak. If you want to be safer, go into Sableye or Gengar.

[scpinion]

Good job on the analysis! 

See below for my comments. Implement them (or tell me why I'm wrong) and you've got yourself the first QC check!

Make sure you edit the subject to show [QC 1/3].

Overview

Aegislash has many different functions in Ghost from being a set up sweeper to a special wallbreaker to a stalling machine; making Aegislash unpredictable..  It's two stances with Stance Change gives Aegislash a mixture of insane of offense and defense. Aegislash also has a good coverage so that many Pokemon will struggle to switch into Aegislash. It's typing is excellent with being able to resist Fairy and Dragon, types that Ghost sometimes struggle with. It's typing also gives immunity to Toxic Spikes and resistance to Stealth Rocks. However, since Aegislash is slow, it normally has to rely on Shadow Sneak when facing fast wallbreakers or sweepers (if Aegislash can't take a hit). Overall, Aegislash has many different viable ways to make it's unique ability, typing and moves effective. 

Physical Attacker/Swords Dance 

Aegislash @ Leftovers 

/ Weakness Policy

Ability: Stance Change

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD

Adamant Nature

- Swords Dance

- King's Shield

- Sacred Sword / Iron Head

- Shadow Sneak

Moves:

 Just a general comment: Make sure the moves are ordered from most important, to least important in the set. You mention shadow sneak first, so it should be listed first. etc.

 

Shadow Sneak is mandatory with it being the only way to outspeed frail sweepers without being destroyed by them. Shadow Sneak has 40 Power + STAB which gives it a decent damage output with an insane 438 Attack. King's Shield is also mandatory to create mind games with your opponent. If your opponent makes contact, you are most likely to get a free Swords Dance up with minimal damage or forcing your opponent to switch out. Sacred Sword is to remove those Dark types, most likely Bisharp, while taking a hit. However, Iron Head is also viable with being able to possess more power and has a chance to take down max Def Hippowdon at full Atk. 

Say +6 Atk, opposed to full Atk. "Full Atk" can be interpreted as "max investment", which this set has. 

Set Details:

Leftovers is useful to recover chip damage, giving yourself a better chance to get Aegislash to max Atk. King's Shield helps with your leftovers HP build up. Weakness Policy is simply if you want to instantly set up and sweep when you get hit by a super effective move while not having the need to Swords Dance or building up even more power. At that range, Shadow Sneak has a chance to take down frail Pokemon that resists Aegislash. It's EV's takes advantage of Aegislash's insane Atk while keeping Aegislash as healthy as possible with max HP.

There are certainly other viable EV spreads that need to be brought up here. Is there a speed creep that makes sense for Aegislash to run? If not, would it make sense to take a couple ivs out of speed so you always go 2nd in a mirror match? You also mention Bisharp as a problem. If you're running Sacred Sword then you can run a 252-Jolly set that will outspeed and OHKO Adamant Bisharp. 

Just make sure you discuss other ev spreads that may be possible, but not necessarily preferred.

 

 

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy

Ability: Stance Change

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA

Quiet Nature

- King's Shield

- Flash Cannon

- Shadow Ball

- Shadow Sneak

Moves:

Reorder the moves again. I'd say Shadow Ball, Flash Cannon, Shadow Sneak, King's Shield. Shadow ball is spamable in most matchups, Flash Cannon for backup and Fairies, Shadow Sneak to pick off weakened enemies and KS to take advantage of Aegi's unique ability. 

This moveset takes advantage of Aegislash's insane SpAtk and Atk. Shadow Sneak is mandatory to remove sashes or low HP users. Flash Cannon is your primary STAB to remove those annoying Fairy types with Shadow Ball being a backup STAB which eliminates most Pokemon that Steel resists. Kings Shield is to simply create mind games with your opponent and go back into shield form. It creates pressure on your opponent and possibly has a chance to change the entire game.

Set Details: 

Weakness Policy is your only option in this moveset due to being a wallbreaker and gives Aegislash access to even more wallbreaking power when hit by a super effective move. It's EV's is to maximize Aegislash's main STAB's while taking a hit to activate Weakness Policy. This also gives Aegislash more firepower to Shadow Sneak due to not having access to full EV's in Atk.

I disagree with WP being the only option. This would be an excellent set to run a LO on (slash it with WP). This Aegi set is there to break holes and die, so the recoil isn't that big of a deal. An extra 30% on every attack helps do that. 

Again, what other ev spreads should one consider (or not use). This is an offensive set; does it make sense to run some speed?

 

Team Options:

Sableye-Mega is a mandatory teammate. Sableye and Aegislash cover each others weaknesses perfectly while Sableye can cripple opponent with Will-O-Wisp for Aegislash to have an easier time sweeping. Sableye can put a lot of pressure on Pokemon that Aegislash can't defeat and vice versa. Trevenant is also a nice teammate with being able to Leech Seed, giving Aegislash more HP to set up easier. Trevenant also removes Aegislash's hateful Ground immunity and bite back with Will-O-Wisp. Gengar also likes Aegislash with Aegislash being able to wall break against threats that Gengar possibly might not be able to defeat, like Sableye for example. This also gives Gengar an easier time to sweep.

Other Options:

Aegislash has access to Substitute which can gives Aegislash free opportunity to attack with no hassle of Aegislash being defeated by slower threats. Substitute can also let Aegislash create the known "SubToxic" set. This set makes Aegislash spam Substitute, Toxic and King's Shield to rack up Toxic damage while recovering as much HP as possible via leftovers. Head Smash also might be a shock to users to be able to defeat most Fire types if Aegislash can take a hit. Finally, Destiny Bond can defeat slow threats if Aegislash is at low health, this can gives room for other Pokemon to sweep.

The sub-toxic set is incredibly effective and definitely needs to be added as a possible set. If you don't have experience with sub-toxic and need help writing that analysis, ask for some community help!

 

Checks and counters:

Bisharp: This is the biggest threat to Aegislash. This is able to outspeed Aegislash with Sucker Punch and OHKO you with Knock Off. It also has Defiant so it can nullify King Shield's ability. Your only hope is that Aegislash went for Sacred Sword if your opponent tries to switch in. Otherwise, go into Sableye.

Mention the 252-Jolly set here as well. 

[Anttya]

Great writeup! I'm going to have to agree with Scp with the order and the SubToxic set. Iirc it is Max HP + SpDef or something along those lines. (Sub, Toxic, KS, Shadow Ball / Flash Cannon) Once you do those, this is now QC 2/3. Good job! :)

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at 8:49:05 AM UTC-7, Chleg wrote:

Aegislash!

Overview

Aegislash has many different functions in Ghost from being a set up sweeper to a special wallbreaker to a stalling machine; making Aegislash unpredictable..  It's two stances with Stance Change gives Aegislash a mixture of insane of offense and defense. Aegislash also has a good coverage so that many Pokemon will struggle to switch into Aegislash. It's typing is excellent with being able to resist Fairy and Dragon, types that Ghost sometimes struggle with. It's typing also gives immunity to Toxic Spikes and resistance to Stealth Rocks. However, since Aegislash is slow, it normally has to rely on Shadow Sneak when facing fast wallbreakers or sweepers (if Aegislash can't take a hit). Overall, Aegislash has many different viable ways to make it's unique ability, typing and moves effective. 

Aegislash @ Leftovers 

/ Weakness Policy

Ability: Stance Change

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD

Adamant Nature

- Swords Dance

- King's Shield

- Sacred Sword / Iron Head

- Shadow Sneak

Moves:

Shadow Sneak is mandatory with it being the only way to outspeed frail sweepers without being destroyed by them. Shadow Sneak has 40 Power + STAB which gives it a decent damage output with an insane 438 Attack. King's Shield is also mandatory to create mind games with your opponent. If your opponent makes contact, you are most likely to get a free Swords Dance up with minimal damage or forcing your opponent to switch out. Sacred Sword is to remove those Dark types, most likely Bisharp, while taking a hit. However, Iron Head is also viable with being able to possess more power and has a chance to take down max Def Hippowdon at full Atk. 

Set Details:

Leftovers is useful to recover chip damage, giving yourself a better chance to get Aegislash to max Atk. King's Shield helps with your leftovers HP build up. Weakness Policy is simply if you want to instantly set up and sweep when you get hit by a super effective move while not having the need to Swords Dance or building up even more power. At that range, Shadow Sneak has a chance to take down frail Pokemon that resists Aegislash. It's EV's takes advantage of Aegislash's insane Atk while keeping Aegislash as healthy as possible with max HP. 

Aegislash @ Weakness Policy

Ability: Stance Change

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA

Quiet Nature

- King's Shield

- Flash Cannon

- Shadow Ball

- Shadow Sneak

Moves:

This moveset takes advantage of Aegislash's insane SpAtk and Atk. Shadow Sneak is mandatory to remove sashes or low HP users. Flash Cannon is your primary STAB to remove those annoying Fairy types with Shadow Ball being a backup STAB which eliminates most Pokemon that Steel resists. Kings Shield is to simply create mind games with your opponent and go back into shield form. It creates pressure on your opponent and possibly has a chance to change the entire game.

Set Details: 

Weakness Policy is your only option in this moveset due to being a wallbreaker and gives Aegislash access to even more wallbreaking power when hit by a super effective move. It's EV's is to maximize Aegislash's main STAB's while taking a hit to activate Weakness Policy. This also gives Aegislash more firepower to Shadow Sneak due to not having access to full EV's in Atk.

Team Options:

Sableye-Mega is a mandatory teammate. Sableye and Aegislash cover each others weaknesses perfectly while Sableye can cripple opponent with Will-O-Wisp for Aegislash to have an easier time sweeping. Sableye can put a lot of pressure on Pokemon that Aegislash can't defeat and vice versa. Trevenant is also a nice teammate with being able to Leech Seed, giving Aegislash more HP to set up easier. Trevenant also removes Aegislash's hateful Ground immunity and bite back with Will-O-Wisp. Gengar also likes Aegislash with Aegislash being able to wall break against threats that Gengar possibly might not be able to defeat, like Sableye for example. This also gives Gengar an easier time to sweep.

Other Options:

Aegislash has access to Substitute which can gives Aegislash free opportunity to attack with no hassle of Aegislash being defeated by slower threats. Substitute can also let Aegislash create the known "SubToxic" set. This set makes Aegislash spam Substitute, Toxic and King's Shield to rack up Toxic damage while recovering as much HP as possible via leftovers. Head Smash also might be a shock to users to be able to defeat most Fire types if Aegislash can take a hit. Finally, Destiny Bond can defeat slow threats if Aegislash is at low health, this can gives room for other Pokemon to sweep.

Checks and counters:

Bisharp: This is the biggest threat to Aegislash. This is able to outspeed Aegislash with Sucker Punch and OHKO you with Knock Off. It also has Defiant so it can nullify King Shield's ability. Your only hope is that Aegislash went for Sacred Sword if your opponent tries to switch in. Otherwise, go into Sableye.

[Chleg]

Thanks for the good compliments :) And I did the edits requested. Thanks.