Swords Dance turns Aegislash into a potent wallbreaker and sweeper, using its fantastic neutral coverage and bulk in Shield forme to set up against and break through defensive cores. Close Combat is Aegislash's strongest move overall, and it threatens the many Dark-types that would otherwise resist its Ghost-type STAB moves, like Tyranitar Hydreigon. Iron Head is an alternative option that still OHKOes the former two after a boost while also 2HKOing Unaware Clefable. Shadow Sneak is a crucial priority move which at +2 can finish off weakened offensive Pokemon that would normally outspeed and take it out, such as Mienshao and Keldeo, while also being usable to pick off Alakazam without a boost. An Adamant nature is preferred to maximize Aegislash's power, while a Jolly nature can be used instead to get the jump on Pokemon such as Adamant Tyranitar and Bisharp as well as slower variants of Rotom-Wash. However, this results in Aegislash missing out on certain damage thresholds, such as being unable to OHKO Mega Venusaur at +2 with the combination of Shadow Claw into Shadow Sneak. Ghostium Z is usually preferred to power up STAB Shadow Claw, which, when turned into Never Ending Nightmare, threatens to KO physically defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory and Amoonguss after Swords Dance. However, Air Balloon can be run instead if the team already has a different Z-Move user, and this also allows Aegislash to find free setup opportunities against Ground-types such as Excadrill and Hippowdon, potentially spinblocking the former. Aegislash fits best on more offensive teams that appreciate its defensive utility and ability to break open holes for its teammates early-game. Aegislash also suffers from having terrible bulk in Blade forme, so it is easily revenge killed after attacking, making entry hazard support from the likes of Mew, Swampert, and Tyranitar helpful at chipping down offensive threats like Excadrill into Shadow Sneak range while also pressuring other walls such as Rotom-Wash.

Aegislash's excellent offenses and deep coverage allow it to function as an effective mixed attacker, slicing through a huge portion of the metagame, including defensive staples such as Mega Latias, Slowbro, and Blissey. Additionally, Aegislash's superb defensive traits mean it takes relatively little from their attacks in return, allowing it to find repeated entry against them, as well as soft-check dangerous offensive threats such as Mega Gardevoir, Mega Aerodactyl, and Alakazam. Close Combat forms perfect neutral coverage with Shadow Ball, ensuring Aegislash can consistently threaten the likes of Tyranitar, Bisharp, and Hydreigon. King's Shield provides Aegislash with defensive security against potential revenge killers such as Tyranitar and Hydreigon while scouting Choice item Pokemon such as Keldeo and Iron Boulder. Shadow Sneak gives Aegislash a valuable priority move that can pick off faster threats such as Blacephalon, Iron Boulder, and Mega Gallade. Alternatively, Toxic allows Aegislash to cripple specially defensive Pokemon such as Galarian Moltres and Hippowdon which would otherwise be able to check it, letting Aegislash wear them down effectively in conjunction with King's Shield. Flash Cannon provides a secondary STAB move that consistently threatens Clefable while OHKOing Mega Aerodactyl and Tapu Bulu, something which Shadow Ball into Shadow Sneak cannot do; however, it has little use outside of this. Even with this set's offensively oriented nature, Leftovers is crucial to provide Aegislash with passive recovery, allowing it to leverage its defensive traits and find more opportunities to attack. If longevity isn't a concern, Ghostium Z and Spell Tag are options that can be used on more aggressive teams to boost Shadow Ball's power, letting Aegislash muscle through defensive checks such as Mega Venusaur, Scizor, and Celesteela with greater ease. The given EVs, besides maximizing its Special Attack, ensure Aegislash can 2HKO Chansey with Close Combat after Stealth Rock and outspeed defensive Celesteela, with 240 EVs in HP allowing Aegislash to survive absurdly strong attacks such as Excadrill's Earthquake after Stealth Rock and Tyranitar's Knock Off. Alternatively, Aegislash can opt to run more Speed EVs over HP to outpace various targets, including Scizor, defensive Buzzwole, and Azumarill. However, this comes at the significant cost of cutting into Aegislash's bulk, often compounded by the need to run a Defense-lowering nature. Mixed Aegislash fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that appreciate its incredible combination of traits, from breaking down defensive cores with its immediate power to checking faster offensive threats such as Alakazam. Defensive Pokemon such as Buzzwole and Clefable synergize well with Aegislash's ability to deal with the likes of Mega Gardevoir and Enamorus. In return, they can help manage threats such as Hydrapple and Tyranitar, which otherwise force Aegislash out, and set entry hazards to help it break through checks such as Celesteela and Hippowdon. Similarly, other wallbreakers such as Iron Boulder, Serperior, and Keldeo greatly benefit from Aegislash's ability to pivot into faster revenge killers such as Choice Scarf Mienshao and Mega Aerodactyl as well as its ability to capitalize on defensive Pokemon that they may struggle to break through in Skarmory and Blissey. Finally, Aegislash greatly appreciates teammates which can help cripple its few defensive checks; Serperior can lure in Mega Venusaur and Hisuian Goodra and paralyze them with Glare, making it easier for Aegislash to overwhelm them. Offensive pivots like Zeraora and Scizor can use Knock Off to cripple checks reliant on their item, such as Celesteela and Assault Vest Tangrowth; these two can also use Volt Switch and U-turn to ensure Aegislash can find safe entry into potential targets such as Buzzwole and Rotom-Wash.

Bulky Swords Dance Aegislash serves as a terrifying approach to its traditional role as a wallbreaker and setup sweeper, giving up immediate threat potential for incredible resilience. Notably, Aegislash's bulk and passive healing allow it to take repeated hits from Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Mega Gardevoir, giving it extra turns to set up and break through them late-game. Shadow Sneak, especially once boosted by Swords Dance, gives Aegislash a priority move to clean up weakened teams with; it notably OHKOes Iron Boulder and Mega Gallade at +2 and can OHKO offensive Excadrill at +4. Close Combat is Aegislash's strongest move overall and serves as important coverage against common Ghost-type checks such as Tyranitar and Hydreigon OHKOing the latter at +2. King's Shield reverts Aegislash to its Shield forme, preventing it from being reliably revenge killed by faster threats such as Tyranitar, Hydreigon, and Rillaboom and maximizes the amount of recovery gained from Leftovers. Alternatively, Shadow Claw provides Aegislash with a stronger STAB move that can tear through several weakened Fighting-resistant targets at +2, such as Amoonguss, Clefable, and Buzzwole. This Aegislash variant only fits on bulkier teams due to its lack of immediate offensive output and methodical playstyle. Entry hazards from defensive Pokemon, such as Clefable, Gastrodon, and Skarmory, are critical to its gameplan, weakening common Pokemon such as Excadrill, Mega Venusaur, and Hydrapple to where Aegislash is able to pick them off. In return, Aegislash can use its defensive profile to threaten out offensive Pokemon that may take advantage of their passivity, such as Mega Gardevoir, Reuniclus, and Alakazam. Additionally, as Aegislash is very weak to status conditions such as Will-O-Wisp from Rotom-Wash and Knock Off from Mega Venusaur and Tangrowth, which can also negate its Leftovers recovery, it appreciates partnering with other defensive teammates that can absorb these effects for it, notably Amoonguss, Slowbro, and Blissey. Slowbro and Blissey also provide Aegislash with slow pivoting in Teleport, allowing it to preserve its HP more effectively when trying to set up. By extension, offensive pivots such as Zeraora, Victini, and Mienshao are also valuable teammates, as they can help weaken or deal with several of Aegislash's checks early in the game, like Hippowdon, Foul Play Amoonguss, and Buzzwole.