Here is my share for today:
For those who are not aware, Aegislash is a Pokemon that is in Ubers by tiering but has been unfortunately dwelling in the low ranks on VR for a long time. It stayed in D rank for a few months and it hasn't been so long since it got back on C-. According to outdated analyses and what I hear from people, it is mainly because of its general passivity and facing competition with other Steel-types like Necrozma-DM or Ferrothorn which we like to staple in teams.
My interest towards Aegislash grew as it reminded me that Aegislash has a good offensive typing and a unique defensive typing that leaves it with 12 resistances and immunities altogether (let's ignore how many of them are irrelevant...), being a good offensive / defensive checks to a myriad of Pokemon in Battle Spot formats. Common sets like Ghostium Z, Weakness Policy, or SubToxic unfortunately cannot pull off any good work in Ubers, but there were a number of sets I played around in BSS that actually worked in Ubers and I'd like to showcase two sets that I have discussed with other users in Discord and used many times in ladder. Now let's change the point of view on this Pokemon for a second...
150 Stats in both offenses and an offensive typing of Ghost / Steel means switching into Aegislash can be quite difficult. The first set that other QC members favor the most turned out to be Choice Specs, which generally looks like this:
Aegislash @ Choice Specs
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Shadow Ball
- Gyro Ball
- Toxic
- Shadow Sneak / Flash Cannon
Especially with many balanced teams with loose checks to Ghost-types around, I found this set quite attractive. With Choice Specs-boosted Shadow Ball 2HKOing neutral max HP support Arceus formes and any variant of Primal Groudon, this set can catch people off guard when they attempt to just switch in an offensive check. Some fat Steel-types like Ferrothorn or Magearna can avoid 2HKO from full, but they will sustain at least ~40% of the damage which can potentially limit their ability to consistently pivot and neither of them really have a way to significantly threaten Aegislash on Blade Forme (Magearna can do around 50% with Fleur Cannon but then your xern check takes a second Shadow ball and is left at about 30%). I personally like using Flash Cannon on the fourth move over Shadow Sneak because straight up nuking Mild Yveltal that has taken Life Orb + Stealth Rock damage, but Shadow Sneak can be a better choice because most 'mons that can switch into Shadow Ball barring blobs
and wishkiller Bisharp can be punished with Toxic. Hidden Power Rock is a way to troll Ho-Oh but getting locked into that is obviously not ideal.
Aegislash @ Macho Brace
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Gyro Ball
- Shadow Ball
- Toxic
- King's Shield
Regular SpDef Aegislash set except it holds Macho Brace. I used this set more often than Choice Specs because this set overall is a more reliable check to Xerneas. Gyro Ball doing upwards 52% to Arceus formes to force recovery means this set can justify investment on Special Defense and can switch into Moonblast twice and still take any +2 attack from geoxern later on. Straight up OHKOing +2 Speed Xerneas without chip damage and trolling Mega Salamence with King's Shield were another part of fun I had while using this set. As Ho-Oh posed a serious problem to this Aegislash (Choice Specs can at least OHKO offensive Ho-Oh with Shadow Ball after SR), I tried out pairing this with Mega Salamence that can pivot into Ho-Oh / Primal Groudon and such and used gimmicky Wish set to make up for this set's lack of recovery.
Even with these fun things possible with Aegislash's good typing / movepool / stats it is sadly a niche Steel-type that has to rely on hit and run even when it attempts to apply some offensive pressure and it generally isn't great against bulkier teams - but being an untrappable check to Xerneas that has a potency to mess with many common balance builds nowadays means Aegislash definitely can see a better use than just using a fat SpDef spread with Leftovers.