Honedge in depth
A sword with someone else’s soul
The design is based on a conscious, possessed sword accompanied by a scabbard, a blue cloth and an eye set in the hilt. The idea connects with the tsukumogami of Japanese folklore: abandoned objects that acquire life and a spirit over time. Swords fit that tradition particularly well because they are also tied to their owner, warfare and death.
The shape of the blade recalls historical weapons with European or Asian designs, but the cloth that wraps around the arm introduces an element unique to a supernatural creature. The symbol on the scabbard resembles a triquetra. The Japanese name Hitotsuki contains hitotsu, “one”, and tsuki, related to a thrust or spiritual possession. The English name Honedge alludes to “one”, “edge” and sharpening.
A debut boosted by the Fairy type
Honedge appeared in Generation VI, when Steel lost its resistances to Dark and Ghost. Even so, immunity to Fighting and Poison, together with its resistance to Fairy, gave it a useful position in the new environment. Its typing also let it switch into several priority attacks and threaten afterwards with Shadow Sneak or Iron Head.
In later generations, it kept that role in Little Cup, although the available movepool changed. In Sword and Shield, it retains Swords Dance, Shadow Sneak, Iron Head and Sacred Sword as its main tools. The species is available up to the games of Generation VIII, while it does not appear in Scarlet and Violet.
What it offers compared with other swords
Doublade offers a more developed version of the same idea, and Aegislash adds the ability to switch between its battle forms. Honedge falls below its evolutions in terms of stats, but it has a practical advantage in Little Cup: it competes in the format at its own size and level, where 100 Defense and access to Eviolite are enough to stop certain physical attackers.
Its role is not to switch in repeatedly without consequences. Its Special Defense of 37 is very low, and its 45 HP do not let it absorb many special attacks. Fire, Ground, Ghost and Dark are direct threats; Knock Off is especially troublesome because it removes the item supporting its bulk. It also becomes less effective if the opponent forces it out before it can use Swords Dance.
How to get the most out of it
The physical set takes advantage of Swords Dance alongside Shadow Sneak and Sacred Sword. Shadow Sneak makes up for its Speed of 28 and lets it finish off weakened opponents. Iron Head is useful against Fairy types and hits harder when priority is not needed. Iron Defense strengthens its physical side even further, although it leaves less room for attacking.
It is best brought in against opponents that cannot punish it with Fire, Ground, Ghost or Dark and use those turns to attack or raise its Attack. Its immunity to Fighting lets it cover teammates vulnerable to that type, while its resistance to Fairy makes specific switch-ins easier. No Guard demands caution: an opponent using moves with imperfect accuracy will not miss against Honedge, including attacks that would normally be risky.