My Thoughts On the Aegislash Suspect Test · 6:55am Jul 16th, 2014
Aegislash
This blade is the face of X & Y OU. It has almost singlehandedly shaped the metagame, and is perhaps the most centralizing Pokemon in the tier. This is not an opinion. It is a fact. While initially, I believed that it should stay, my opinion has now changed after scrolling through the Suspect Test Thread.
I think that it shouldn't stay.
Why?
For starters, his stats and ability perfectly complement each other. He's slow, but it's a benefit that abuses Stance Change. He sponges the hit thrown at him with his 60/150/150 defenses and then hits back like a truck with 150/150 offenses. He technically has a base stat total equivalent to Arceus. That's saying a lot.
His most notable move?
King's Shield
This is essentially Protect with a twist. You can still be inflicted by status through it, but any Pokemon that makes contact will have their attack halved. Apart from Bisharp, Mandibuzz and EQ, this forces a lot of 50/50s with physical attackers. It's a frustrating move, perhaps up there with Scald and Steam Eruption when it gets released. Balloon Aegislash even means that you either have to catch him on the switch if you want to EQ him or pop his balloon, which usually punishes the Pokemon trying to do it.
And his variety in sets is pretty good. He at least has one of them with the potential to deal with his checks.
Mandibuzz was considered the Aegislash counter. Then Sub-Toxic happened. LO Head Smash kills it after SR.
Bisharp is murdered by Sacred Sword, and Max Speed Aegislash is becoming more popular, which outspeeds Adamant Bisharp by a trollish one. Adamant Bisharp is also needed to OHKO him with decent reliability.
Heatran can't OHKO, and gets hit hard back with an invested Sacred Sword or Weakness Policy set. Even only 4 attack EVs can 2HKO offensive Heatran. Defensive Heatran can't hit Aegi hard.
Chesnaught? Sub-Toxic.
Also, there are about only three common pokemon in the tier with the raw power to OHKO it.
-Life Orb + Sheer Force Landorus-Incarnate
(252 SpA Life Orb Sheer Force Landorus Earth Power vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Aegislash-Shield: 322-382 (99.3 - 117.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO)
-Max Attack Life Orb Bisharp
(252+ Atk Life Orb Bisharp Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 307-367 (94.7 - 113.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock)
-Mega Charizard X and Y, X is shaky because of King's Shield, and Y can't outside of sun, but generally, it's in the sun.
(252+ Atk Tough Claws Mega Charizard X Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Aegislash-Shield: 404-476 (124.6 - 146.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO)
(252 SpA Mega Charizard Y Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Aegislash-Shield in Sun: 440-522 (135.8 - 161.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO)
Which honestly, is not a lot. This allows him to abuse a Weakness Policy Set pretty well too. Everything else that can OHKO him isn't really viable. And only one of those pokemon can switch into his Shadow Ball, Bisharp, which is wrecked by Sacred Sword.
Many will say he keeps things stable, keeping powerful things like Close Combat Mega-Pinsir, Mega Medicham, Mega Gardevoir from shining.
Mega Pinsir is neutered by Stealth Rock, Mega Medicham by faster threats, and Mega Gardevoir by Scizor.
And while yes, those factors generally might not be enough, there's a flaming bird that puts a stop to the first two and ensures that the third can't come in.
Talonflame
252+ Atk Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Pinsir: 270-318 (99.6 - 117.3%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO
252+ Atk Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Mega Medicham: 360-426 (137.9 - 163.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Mega Gardevoir: 223-264 (80.2 - 94.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (OHKO with a Band)
And Bird Spam will be on the rise with Aegislash gone, with Staraptor becoming more viable, Hawlucha becoming more viable, and more stuff that could rise out of the shadows.
And don't even argue that it would just make Talonflame the next overcentralizing thing to get banned. He has counters. Rotom-Wash and Heatran, both of their type combinations tell Talonflame to run. Unlike Aegislash, with no hard, non-gimmicky counters.
While yes, one must ask how overcentralization will warrant a ban. I don't really have a solid answer to that. Disagree with me on my opinion, it's all cool.
TL:DR: I think this possessed blade should go.
Keep aegislash. Just because he's powerful doesn't mean he's too good 4 ou. I generally have no trouble with dealing with Aegislash. Heck Quagsire can easily wall counter him. It's just you gotta prepare for it. If it goes I'll be kinda sad to see it go
2290715
The decision for my side was a close one. I used to think,"If Aegislash ever gets suspected, I'm going to go for reqs just to vote to keep him." But the arguments stacked on top of each other in the thread won me over.
Also:
252+ SpA Aegislash-Blade Shadow Ball vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Quagsire: 228-268 (57.8 - 68%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Quagsire's are pretty much always physically defensive. Special Aegislash is common. Having to run Sp. Def EVs limits teambuilding. Mixed Aegi has a chance to get the 2HKO
Yes, it's not that hard to beat, but he's pretty damn unpredictable.
I usually don't have a problem with Aegislash either, but that might be because I've got Heatran to check him. And Banded D-Nite, the thing my team's built around can put a hefty dent with EQ.
And that will backfire when I hit Weakness Policy. My least favorite Aegislash Set to run into. Thank goodness it's not that common.
He keeps some pokemon in control but that kinda makes OU stale in my opinion. I would like to run Starmie instead of Excadrill as my spinner. Love the extra speed. Also love Staraptor.
I'm okay if you think that, but Quagsire doesn't hard wall Aegislash.
2292867 I personally think mega venusaur is ruining ou. Hate that son of a gun. Mega Pinsir is my favorite mega because of him. I just don't have as much problems with aegis as I do other things and I think his unpredictability is pretty fun since Pokemon competitive is all about prediction
2300595
Yeah, your entitled to your opinion. I'm okay if he doesn't go, but I think he probably should.
Mega Venusaur? Hate that unnecessarily bulky thing. It's so satisfying to catch it on the switch in before it mega evolves with a nice, Fire Blast.