Unlocking Zacian‘s Full Power: What Happens When You Give It The Rusted Shield

As an avid Pokémon battler and content creator, few things get me more excited than the lore and mechanics around legendary Pokémon. And in Generation VIII, the box legends Zacian and Zamazenta immediately grabbed my attention. Not just for their regal, sword-and-shield designs, but for the intriguing form change mechanic involving the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield held items.

So what exactly happens when you give the Legendary Pokémon Zacian that iconic Rusted Shield? You transform it into its stronger Crowned Sword form, gaining all the benefits of increased stats, a dual Steel/Fairy typing, and a fiercely competitive movepool.

In this comprehensive guide, join me as we unsheathe the Crowned Sword form, from lore origins to battle viability. I‘ve been analyzing usage stats and strategies across Sword & Shield since launch, so I can‘t wait to share my insights with fellow experts! This is the true power of Zacian unleashed.

The Lore Behind the Living Sword and Shield

Before we get to the competitive side, it‘s important to understand the mythos around these legendary Pokémon. According to in-game lore, Zacian and Zamazenta were initially a single being who helped found the Galar region alongside a hero.

In a time of crisis, their sword and shield split to become Zacian, who "cuts through everything", and Zamazenta, whose shield-like mane "repelled all attacks". Their rusty weapons, the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, were laid to rest in monuments.

Curiously, equipping those ancient armaments once more causes Zacian and Zamazenta to shift back towards their original glory. Almost like possessed weapons!

This is the true legend behind the Rusted Shield item and Zacian‘s transformation…now let‘s analyze just how powerful that Crowned Sword form becomes in battle!

Zacian‘s Core Stats and Attributes

First, a refresher on Zacian‘s base Hero of Many Battles form. As a pure Fairy type, Zacian sports excellent Attack and Speed to strike quickly and hit hard right out of the gate:

HP: 92 
Attack: 130  
Defense: 115
Special Attack: 80
Special Defense: 115  
Speed: 138

With 130 base Attack, Zacian instantly threatens crucial KOs. Its Speed tier also enables it to outpace most unboosted opponents. Defenses are quite solid on both sides as well, bolstering longevity.

Zacian also comes equipped with Intrepid Sword as its unique Ability. This raises its Attack stat by 1 stage when it enters battle, amplifying its already formidable attacking power.

So in its Hero form alone, Zacian is shaping up as an offensive powerhouse. But the Crowned Sword takes it even further.

Rusted Shield Form Changes: Typing and Stats

Equipping Zacian with the Rusted Shield held item triggers more than just a visual transformation. Crucially, this shifts Zacian to a Fairy/Steel type combination. And its stats see a considerable increase:

HP: 92  
Attack: 170  ⬆️+40
Defense: 115   
Special Attack: 80
Special Defense: 115
Speed: 148 ⬆️+10 

With the Steel typing bolstering its defenses and a 40 point Attack boost, Crowned Sword Zacian becomes an absolute monster of a wallbreaker. 170 base Attack puts it among the highest in franchise history!

For comparison, here are some other notable physical attackers across generations:

And with almost 150 base Speed after the boost, Zacian still outpaces the entire unboosted metagame. It can even run Adamant without losing the edge. This combination of power and speed is simply terrifying.

But the typing and stats only tell half the story…next let‘s analyze Crowned Sword Zacian‘s overall movepool and coverage options.

Wielding Destruction: Crowned Sword Zacian‘s Movepool

With raw power secured, having the right offensive moves makes sweeps almost inevitable. Fortunately, the Crowned Sword form also expands Zacian‘s already deadly learnset.

Swords Dance immediately stands out as an ideal setup option – with just one Dance boost, almost nothing survives Zacian‘s assault. Even neutral hits like Wild Charge and Crunch annihilate after a boost.

And STAB moves now have added devastation:

• Behemoth Blade – Fighting move boosted by Intrepid Sword
• Iron Head – Perfect accuracy with STAB after Crowned Sword
• Play Rough – High-power Fairy STAB

Defensive utility arrives through:

• Sacred Sword – Bypasses opponent boosts
• Close Combat – Drastically lowers target Defense
• Substitute – Protects from status

With almost flawless dual STAB coverage and set-up potential, Crowned Sword Zacian can overwhelm teams and sweep unprepared squads. And that‘s before we analyze potential teammates and competitive viability…

Competitive Viability: Just How Centralizing is Zacian?

While stats and moves can appear strong on paper, usage rates and actual performance reveal real competitive worth. So just how viable has Zacian proven to be?

In a word: centralizing.

Since launch, Zacian‘s Crowned Sword form has consistently rated among the top 3 most used Pokémon in nearly every Sword & Shield format. Be it Battle Stadium Singles, VGC 2020 teams, or even Smogon Ubers tier, this fiery fairy simply cannot be ignored.

And for good reason – with flexibility as lead sweeper or late game cleaner, Zacian‘s immediate power projection breaks stall, pressures balance, and forces disadvantage states against hyper offense.

Data sourced from Pikalytics and Smogon usage statistics.

Don‘t take just my word on Zacian‘s metagame distortion. High level players including World Champions Wolfe Glick and Paul Ruiz openly acknowledge Zacian needing a suspect test or ban at times.

Sample quotes:

"Zacian is the best Pokémon in the game. Arguably the best Pokémon ever created." – Aaron Traylor, Top 4 Players Cup Finalist

"When team preview came up, I said out loud ‘Well, I lose’. My strategy revolved around beating everything else." – Justin Burns, Player‘s Cup Finalist on facing Zacian

When all-time great players call your dominance into question, that cements legendary status!

Trading For The Crowned Sword: Rusted Shield Importance

Given Zacian‘s sheer battling dominance, you might be wondering…how do I get my hands on this power?

Remember, the Crowned Sword form change requires that crucial Rusted Shield item. So while Zacian itself remains exclusive to Pokémon Sword, you need to trade from Shield version to get the Shield.

And with only one per save file, that can be easier said than done! When seeking out your Rusted Shield-equipped Zacian, keep these tips in mind:

Competitively Viable Nature/Stats

• Adamant or Jolly work well (-SpA/+Spe)
• Check for perfect IVs if aiming for Ranked
• Max Attack and Speed investment

Legitimacy

• No website nicknames or OT/ID combos
• Default Poke Ball rather than Master/Beast Ball

Fair Value

• Packaged deal for both Zacian and Rusted Shield
• Shiny variant does NOT add real value
• Negotiate multiple competitive mons if needed

I advise exercising patience rather than rushing into an uneven trade. And with distribution events, getting both sword and shield could become easier down the line.

Form Change Mechanics: Recall and Revert

Before closing our guide, one key battle mechanic around the Rusted Shield bears mentioning: form change recall and revert.

Like certain Mega Evolutions, Zacian shifts back from its Crowned Sword form in certain situations:

• At the end of battle, Zacian reverts to its Hero form
• If Rusted Shield is destroyed/used up mid-battle, Crowned Sword is lost
• Only one Zacian per team can hold Rusted Shield
• Rusted Shield cannot be copied or stolen by opponents

So while the power boost looks permanent, you do need to exercise some caution around the form trigger. Losing that precious item neuters Zacian‘s enhancements – so protect the crown jewel!

Unleashing The Crowned Fairy Sword

After analyzing lore, stats, moves, and viability – one thing remains crystal clear. Equipping the Rusted Shield to unlock Zacian‘s Crowned Sword form unleashes incredible new power for sheer in-game domination and competitive elevation.

Its unparalleled attacking strength, blazing speed, and formidable coverage options make Zacian a threat like few others. Training one to its full potential takes dedication – but the payoff pushes your team over the top.

I hope this guide brought some clarity (and excitement) around using Zacian to its utmost capabilities. That wraps up our deep dive on the Crowned Sword form and the Rusted Shield‘s pivotal role. Time to hunt down those lunar legendary dogs!

Let me know if this information helps fuel your own Zacian dreams in the comments below! What other Sword & Shield mechanics would you like to see covered? I‘m always eager to discuss competitive strats with fellow experts and trainers alike.