Take up arms and charge into battle with Aegislash, now available to join your team in Pokémon UNITE. This Pokémon is a Melee All-Rounder that can gracefully pivot between offensive and defensive stances to lead your team to victory. Aegislash begins each match as Honedge, but it will evolve into Doublade at Lv. 5 and Aegislash at Lv. 7.

Honedge and Doublade start out with the Ability No Guard, which increases both the damage they receive and the damage they dish out, making it a bold, strategic choice in battle. When Doublade evolves into Aegislash, No Guard becomes Stance Change, which allows Aegislash to switch between its Blade Forme and Shield Forme. When Aegislash uses a blade move, it changes its form to Blade Forme, increasing its movement speed, Attack, and basic attack speed. When Aegislash uses a shield move, it changes its form to Shield Forme, increasing its Defense and Sp. Def. On top of that, after Aegislash switches from Shield Forme to Blade Forme, Aegislash’s movement speed and basic attack speed are further increased for a short time.

Aegislash’s basic attacks make the most of the Pokémon’s swordlike appearance, slashing at opposing Pokémon in front of it and dealing damage. Aegislash’s moves also increase its boost count, allowing its basic attacks to become boosted attacks if it has a boost count of one or more, with each boosted attack also consuming one boost count. When Aegislash is in Blade Forme, its boosted attack swiftly pierces through opposing Pokémon, dealing damage. When Aegislash is in Shield Forme, its boosted attack allows Aegislash to ram opposing Pokémon, dealing damage and leaving them unable to act for a short time. Additionally, this boosted attack in Shield Forme restores some of Aegislash’s HP and reduces the cooldown of Sacred Sword and Shadow Claw.

Honedge, Doublade, and Aegislash’s Moves

At Lv. 1 and Lv. 2, Honedge can learn Shadow Sneak and Iron Defense. Shadow Sneak casts a shadow in a designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon caught in its murky path. After the shadow hits an opposing Pokémon or travels its maximum distance, Honedge warps to the shadow’s location, dealing damage to nearby opposing Pokémon and increasing its boost count. Meanwhile, Iron Defense envelops Honedge in a powerful protective force for a brief time. The protection disappears after blocking one attack and increases Honedge’s boost count by one at the same time.

At Lv. 5, Honedge evolves in Doublade, and Shadow Sneak can be upgraded into one of two moves. Sacred Sword drives Doublade’s blade into the ground to create a triangular zone. This zone erupts with a hidden power, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon in the area of effect and throwing them. It also increases Doublade’s boost count, with a greater increase if more opposing Pokémon were damaged. If Sacred Sword deals damage to wild Pokémon, Doublade’s boost count increases by a maximum of two. But if Sacred Sword deals damage to opposing Pokémon, Doublade’s boost count increases without limit. When the zone erupts, Doublade slashes forward, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits. For a short time afterward, Doublade’s damage partially ignores the Defense of all opposing Pokémon. Sacred Sword can be upgraded to also increase Doublade’s Attack for a short time if the triangular zone deals damage to opposing Pokémon.

Shadow Sneak’s second upgrade is the equally terrifying Shadow Claw. This attack has Doublade slash twice in a designated direction, dealing damage to any opposing Pokémon it hits. Doublade then delivers a final, rising slash that deals damage and throws any opposing Pokémon it hits. Doublade’s boost count increases by one if at least one of the three slashes hits. Shadow Claw can be upgraded to increase the critical-hit rate of the Doublade’s basic attacks, boosted attacks, and moves (except its Unite Move) for a short time after the final slash hits.

At Lv. 7, Doublade evolves in Aegislash, and Iron Defense can be upgraded into two distinct moves, and each has a powerful defensive component. When using Wide Guard, Aegislash remains in place and focuses for a short time to create a great shield on itself. When this great shield appears, Aegislash’s boost count increases by one, and Aegislash shoves opposing Pokémon in front of it and receives a shield effect. If an opposing Pokémon attacks Aegislash while the great shield is present, Aegislash’s boost count increases by one for each opponent that attacked it, up to a maximum boost count increase of two. If the HP that Aegislash gains from the shield effect is depleted before the great shield disappears, Aegislash performs a shoving motion that further increases the boost count by one unconditionally. Finally, Wide Guard can be upgraded to reduce its cooldown.

Iron Defense’s second upgrade, Iron Head, sends Aegislash barreling boldly in a designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon it hits along the way. This increases Aegislash’s boost count by one, and Aegislash protects itself with a special shield for a short time afterward. This shield does not protect Aegislash from hindrances, but it can nullify damage. When the shield blocks an attack, it disappears and Aegislash’s boost count is increased by one. When upgraded, this move also increases Aegislash’s attack for a short time after the special shield blocks an attack.

Aegislash’s Unite Move, Coup de Grace

Aegislash goes for the knockout with its Unite Move, the fittingly named Coup de Grace. Leveraging all its power as a warrior, Aegislash unleashes a ground-splitting slash in a designated direction, dealing damage to opposing Pokémon and dealing even greater damage to opponents with low remaining HP. Furthermore, if Coup de Grace does, in fact, deliver a coup de grace by knocking out an opposing Pokémon, Aegislash’s boost count increases.

Aegislash is unsheathed and ready to cut down the competition. Charge over to the Unite Battle Committee shop to get Aegislash’s Unite license now.