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In X and Y, there is a Pokemon named Agislash. He has a signature ability called Stance Change. It has a description that says: "The Pokemon changes form depending on how it battles." What exactly does that mean? Does it swap Offensive Capabilities with Defensive?

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    As a future heads up, simply googling, or going to Smogon and searching up "Stance Change" clarifies everything.
    – childe
    Feb 18, 2014 at 18:31

2 Answers 2

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Aegislash changes form dependant upon the moves it uses.

If Aegislash uses the move King's Shield, or enters the battle, it goes to Shield Forme. Shield Forme has higher defense and lower attack.

If Aegislash uses a damaging move, it goes to Blade Forme, swapping its base Attack with it's Defense, causing it to have a higher Attack and lower defense.

From Serebii:

Aegislash's forms are the first set of forms to actually showcase the concept in Kalos. This Pokémon will change its form depending upon what moves it makes. The Formes are unique in that they completely swap their base stats with a focus on Attack in Blade Forme and Defence in Shield Forme If it makes any attacking moves, it switches to Blade Forme, whereas if uses the move King's Shield, it will be in its Shield Forme. Whenever it is sent out into battle, it is in its Shield Forme allowing for switching in without damage.

It's also note-worthy that moves that call other moves do not change Aegislash's form, even if they call a damaging move.

From Bulbapedia:

Stance Change allows Aegislash to switch between Shield Forme (high defensive stats, low offensive stats) and Blade Forme (high offensive stats, low defensive stats). Aegislash is always in Shield Forme if it is not battling, and as such, switching out reverts it to Shield Forme. It changes to Blade Forme when using a damaging move, and reverts to Shield Forme when using King's Shield. Status moves other than King's Shield will not change its form. Moves that call other moves, such as Sleep Talk, will not change Aegislash's Forme, even if they call a damaging move or King's Shield.

Stance Change is activated independently of sleep or confusion, and will therefore cause a change in stance even if Aegislash is affected by either status. It can also not be traced, copied with Role Play, suppressed with Gastro Acid, or replaced with Simple Beam, Worry Seed, Entrainment, or Skill Swap. Obtaining Stance Change through Imposter will not allow the other Pokemon to transform.

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  • Status move pretty much means all non-attacking attacks like Toxic/Protect/Swords Dance?
    – The Man
    Feb 15, 2014 at 23:06
  • So if I want him to have the best attack during combat, I should Super Train his defense?
    – The Man
    Feb 16, 2014 at 0:02
  • As far as i know, it only switches to shield Form when it uses King's shield and remains in its current form if it uses any non-damaging move. Where did you get the info about switching with status moves?
    – scenia
    Feb 16, 2014 at 0:12
  • It says it in the answer that was posted.
    – The Man
    Feb 16, 2014 at 0:19
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    I would recommend super training his attack Stat as much as possible. Because once he changes to blade form his defense is almost ridiculously low, so ifar you super train his attack Stat as much as possible he is less vulnerable to OHKO.
    – user163362
    Aug 17, 2016 at 20:54
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When Aegislash swaps he is in shield forme. When he uses a damaging move it switches to blade forme. He basically switches his defense and his attack stats.

King's Shield makes him revert back to shield forme.

Sword Dance, Iron Defense and the likes do not change his forme.

Also as an aside. DO NOT include sword dance in his moveset. Because when he switches forme it basically increases his defense instead. So use iron defense, when he switches forme it actually improves his attack.

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  • As to that last answer it switches base stats so using swords dance and iron defence will only buff the attack and defence respectively. So if you use iron defence it will not buff the attack when the stats are swapped with its ability because using iron defence does not change the Pokemon’s base stats. It’s called an added stat.
    – Ollie Wilkinson
    Apr 24, 2020 at 2:37

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