What it does
Air Slash is a Flying-type Special move, 95% accuracy, with a flinch chance on hit. Flinch only works if you land the move before the target acts — the user needs to be faster or to somehow move first that turn. If the target already moved, flinch does nothing.
Flying-type coverage hits Fighting, Bug, and Grass for double damage — all categories with common doubles representatives. No terrain immunity exists for Flying moves the way it does for Ground, so this coverage is consistently available.
95% accuracy isn't 100. A miss in a key turn is possible and worth factoring in.
Who runs it
Charizard at 43% uses it as Flying STAB on a Special set. High Special Attack makes Air Slash hit meaningfully against Fighting and Bug targets. In Champions Mega environments, the Special-oriented Mega form keeps Air Slash in the moveset.
Emolga at 54% is the highest rate in this batch. Electric/Flying with solid Speed — Emolga usually moves first, which means every Air Slash that hits has a real chance to flinch before the target acts. Lock one target down, let the partner work freely.
Noivern at 37% has extreme Speed and Dragon/Flying typing. Air Slash provides Flying STAB coverage with flinch threat on top.
How to use it
In doubles, use Air Slash on a target your user outpaces. Flinch before they move = free turn for your partner. This functions somewhat like Fake Out but without the first-turn restriction — you can attempt it every round.
Don't plan around the flinch proc. The Flying super-effective coverage against Fighting and Bug types delivers real damage whether or not flinch triggers. Treat flinch as a bonus, not the primary reason to click the move.
Fighting-type opponents are prime targets — they typically have high physical Attack, so a flinch or even just the double-damage hit under pressure is extremely valuable.
Tips & strategy
Flinch value scales directly with the user's Speed. Emolga and Noivern act first against most of the field, making flinch a realistic outcome rather than a rare event. A slower user's Air Slash flinch potential is mostly theoretical.
Against opponents looking to set up Trick Room, click Air Slash on the Trick Room setter. If the flinch triggers, Trick Room fails that turn — turn order disruption with a single fast move.
Air Slash hits one target. When you need to spread damage across both opponents, look at your other options. This move's strength is precise single-target pressure plus flinch threat, not field-wide presence.