It is usually best to begin with the basics, and for many Pokemon trainers the best first step is catching Honedge. As Pokemon Sword and Shield players have likely already experienced, knowing where to look is truly half the battle.

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Updated January 24th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: Pokemon Legends: Arceus is just around the corner but there are still many players that are trying to make their way through Pokemon Sword & Shield thanks to its lengthy adventure time and additional DLC. Those attempting to fill their team with a wide array of typing coverage may want to consider the Ghost and Steel-type, Aegislash. But in order to gain access to this powerful Pokemon, players will either need to catch it, or evolve it from a Honedge in Pokemon Sword. To better showcase how trainers can get their hands on Honedge in Pokemon Sword, the following guide has been updated. It now includes even more information about the creature’s evolutionary line, as well as a build for players who finally grab an Aegislash.

Where To Find & How To Catch A Honedge

Luckily for Pokemon Sword and Shield fans that are eager to get their hands on Doublade, Honedge isn’t too difficult to find. Players should make their way over to the Hammerlocke Hills in the Wild Area, where they’ll experience a 44% chance of encountering Honedge.

But the weather conditions are the most important part. Pokemon Sword and Shield players need to make sure the conditions are foggy if they want to experience a 44% chance at encountering Honedge. Otherwise, they’ll have to wait out a snowstorm, where the likelihood of a Honedge encounter drops from 44% to a meager 15%.

Honedge’s Base Stats:

HP: 45 Attack: 80 Special Attack: 35 Defense: 100 Special Defense: 37 Speed: 28 Total: 325

Honedge’s Abilities:

No Guard - A Pokemon with this ability will always have its attacks at 100 percent accuracy but conversely gives all opponent moves 100 percent accuracy.

Where To Find & How To Catch A Doublade

The more ambitious Pokemon Sword and Shield trainers might want to catch a Doublade. This is significantly less likely for fans of the Pokemon franchise, as Doublade is much rarer to find in the wild. But for those willing to put the time in just to say they did it, Doublade can be found at the Lake of Outrage, Giant’s Cap, and a few other places that depend on which version of the game they’re playing.

For those who own Pokemon Sword, they’ll be able to find Doublade at the Watchtower Ruins, while those playing Pokemon Shield can find Doublade in the Stony Wilderness. If players are lucky enough to encounter the ghostly Doublade, the Pokemon will be somewhere in the range of levels 50 through 56. For those looking to maximize their chances at finding Doublade, they’ll want to head to the Lake of Outrage, where during a snowstorm they’ll be granted a 25% chance of finding it.

For those interested in going all the way, Aegislash can be found at Giant’s Cap and Watchtower Ruins. In both cases, however, Aegislash is a truly rare sight. Pokemon Sword and Shield players that are interested in obtaining Aegislash should really consider catching Honedge or Doublade and just evolving them.

Doublade’s Base Stats:

HP: 59 Attack: 110 Special Attack: 45 Defense: 150 Special Defense: 49 Speed: 35 Total: 448

Evolving Doublade Into Aegislash

Some trainers believe that Pokemon are meant to be evolved, and Honedge and Doublade certainly fit this bill as Aegislash is considered by many to be a must-have Pokemon. To evolve Honedge, players need only level the Pokemon to level 35 to commence the evolution into Doublade.

Doublade’s evolution on the other hand is a bit more challenging. Pokemon Sword and Shield players will first need to find a Dusk Stone, and apply it to Doublade to evolve it into Aegislash.

Aegislash’s Base Stats Shield Forme:

HP: 60 Attack: 50 Special Attack: 50 Defense: 140 Special Defense: 140 Speed: 60 Total: 500

Aegislash’s Base Stats Blade Forme:

HP: 60 Attack: 140 Special Attack: 140 Defense: 50 Special Defense: 50 Speed: 60 Total: 500

Aegislash’s Abilities:

Stance Change - Aegislash will morph into its Blade Forme when it uses an attack and can be forced into its Shield Forme by using the move King’s Shield.

The Best Build For Aegislash

Aegislash can make great use of Weakness Policy, thanks to its ability to stance change into a shielded form. Its additional defense will allow it to survive a wide array of moves (even Super Effective attacks), which will proc its Weakness Policy held item and cause its Attack and Special Attack to rise sharply, giving it more power when it swaps back into Blade Forme.

Held Item:

Weakness Policy

Nature:

Quiet

Moves:

King’s Shield Shadow Sneak Sacred Sword Shadow Ball

Where To Find A Dusk Stone In Pokemon Sword & Shield

Thankfully, finding a Dusk Stone is actually pretty easy in Pokemon Sword & Shield. In fact, players can easily pick one up for free in the town of Stow-on-Side by going behind the Pokemon Center. It’s also possible to snag one in the Lake of Outrage as it sometimes spawns behind one of the larger stones. Finally, players can get lucky by receiving one from the Digging Duo in the Wild Area. Unfortunately, players will need to give up their Watts for each attempt but those needing more Dusk Stones (past two) will need to use this method or simply wait them out in the Lake of Outrage.

Pokemon Sword and Shield are now out for the Nintendo Switch.

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