[OVERVIEW]
* Decidueye's niche lies in its access to Swords Dance and the best physical Ghost-type move in the game.
* Decent Special bulk ensures that Decidueye has setup opportunities against most teams.
* Access to the unique Z-Move Sinister Arrow Raid lets Decidueye punch through bulkier teams.
* Mediocre physical bulk and weaknesses to common attacking types combined with below average Speed mean it struggles against offensive teams.
* Scald's burn chance prevents it from setting up on many of the bulky Water-types it should otherwise beat.
* Weakness to common priority in Sucker Punch and difficulty in getting past common Pokemon such as Bisharp and Hydreigon hold it back.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Spirit Shackle
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Sucker Punch / Roost
item: Decidium Z
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Decidueye's Attack by two stages, giving it a much-needed offensive boost.
* Spirit Shackle is the best physical Ghost-type move in the game, sporting a decent Base Power and an excellent secondary effect. It is also is required to give Decidueye access to Sinister Arrow Raid.
* Leaf Blade is another strong STAB move that lets Decidueye beat many physical walls such as Suicune, Hippowdon, and Alomomola.
* Sucker Punch helps mitigate Decidueye's below-average Speed.
* Roost can help Decidueye get additional boosts against bulkier teams.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack and Speed investment lets Decidueye hit as hard and fast as possible.
* A Jolly nature allows Decidueye to outspeed most walls and Speed tie at worst with opposing base 70 Speed Pokemon such as Volcanion.
* Overgrow is Decidueye's only possible ability, and it gives a significant boost to Leaf Blade when Decidueye is weakened.
* Decidium Z is required for Decidueye to have access to Sinister Arrow Raid, a powerful Ghost-type nuke.
Usage Tips
========
* Decidueye is great at breaking down bulkier teams, thanks to the setup opportunities provided by Spirit Shackle and the raw power of Sinister Arrow Raid.
* Reserve Sinister Arrow Raid for when you need to break through a particularly strong wall, such as defensive Gliscor or Scizor.
* Do not try to sweep if the opponent still has a Bisharp, as its Sucker Punch is a huge threat.
* Watch out for Unaware Clefable, which is a common presence on stall teams and can try to play around Sinister Arrow Raid with Protect.
Team Options
========
* Fast cleaners such as Mega Sharpedo and Zygarde-10% appreciate Decidueye's ability to break down walls and bulkier teams, and they can clean up in the late-game.
* As Bisharp is the number one check to Decidueye, reliable answers such as Keldeo, Lucario, and Cobalion are a must.
* Checks to Dark-types such as Clefable, Keldeo, and Primarina are excellent choices. Clefable reliably switches in to Hydreigon and can provide Stealth Rock support and wear down opposing walls with Knock Off, while Primarina threatens most of the physical walls that might attempt to stop Decidueye.
* Poison-type Pokemon such as Nidoking and Tentacruel can absorb Toxic Spikes, which are often found on the balance and stall teams that Decidueye is meant to break down, while also pressuring Unaware Clefable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Life Orb set is an option over Decidium Z if you already have another Z-Move user on your team, but without Sinister Arrow Raid, Decidueye struggles to break through many walls.
* Defog is a possibility, but Decidueye's below average physical bulk makes it a poor Defog user that is heavily outclassed by Pokemon such as Scizor.
* Substitute can help Decidueye set up against stall teams that rely on status to beat it, but as Decidueye generally does well in these matchups regardless, it is often unnecessary.
* A specially defensive set may seem appealing, as Decidueye has above-average special bulk, but it faces heavy competition in this role from Pokemon such as Celebi and Amoongus.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bisharp**: Bisharp resists both of Decidueye's STAB moves and OHKOes it with Knock Off or Sucker Punch.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Faster Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Krookodile, and Mega Sharpedo resist Decidueye's Sucker Punch and can easily KO it with their STAB attacks.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: As Decidueye's physical bulk leaves much to be desired, it struggles against strong physical attackers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Band Scizor.
* Decidueye's niche lies in its access to Swords Dance and the best physical Ghost-type move in the game.
* Decent Special bulk ensures that Decidueye has setup opportunities against most teams.
* Access to the unique Z-Move Sinister Arrow Raid lets Decidueye punch through bulkier teams.
* Mediocre physical bulk and weaknesses to common attacking types combined with below average Speed mean it struggles against offensive teams.
* Scald's burn chance prevents it from setting up on many of the bulky Water-types it should otherwise beat.
* Weakness to common priority in Sucker Punch and difficulty in getting past common Pokemon such as Bisharp and Hydreigon hold it back.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Spirit Shackle
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Sucker Punch / Roost
item: Decidium Z
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Decidueye's Attack by two stages, giving it a much-needed offensive boost.
* Spirit Shackle is the best physical Ghost-type move in the game, sporting a decent Base Power and an excellent secondary effect. It is also is required to give Decidueye access to Sinister Arrow Raid.
* Leaf Blade is another strong STAB move that lets Decidueye beat many physical walls such as Suicune, Hippowdon, and Alomomola.
* Sucker Punch helps mitigate Decidueye's below-average Speed.
* Roost can help Decidueye get additional boosts against bulkier teams.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack and Speed investment lets Decidueye hit as hard and fast as possible.
* A Jolly nature allows Decidueye to outspeed most walls and Speed tie at worst with opposing base 70 Speed Pokemon such as Volcanion.
* Overgrow is Decidueye's only possible ability, and it gives a significant boost to Leaf Blade when Decidueye is weakened.
* Decidium Z is required for Decidueye to have access to Sinister Arrow Raid, a powerful Ghost-type nuke.
Usage Tips
========
* Decidueye is great at breaking down bulkier teams, thanks to the setup opportunities provided by Spirit Shackle and the raw power of Sinister Arrow Raid.
* Reserve Sinister Arrow Raid for when you need to break through a particularly strong wall, such as defensive Gliscor or Scizor.
* Do not try to sweep if the opponent still has a Bisharp, as its Sucker Punch is a huge threat.
* Watch out for Unaware Clefable, which is a common presence on stall teams and can try to play around Sinister Arrow Raid with Protect.
Team Options
========
* Fast cleaners such as Mega Sharpedo and Zygarde-10% appreciate Decidueye's ability to break down walls and bulkier teams, and they can clean up in the late-game.
* As Bisharp is the number one check to Decidueye, reliable answers such as Keldeo, Lucario, and Cobalion are a must.
* Checks to Dark-types such as Clefable, Keldeo, and Primarina are excellent choices. Clefable reliably switches in to Hydreigon and can provide Stealth Rock support and wear down opposing walls with Knock Off, while Primarina threatens most of the physical walls that might attempt to stop Decidueye.
* Poison-type Pokemon such as Nidoking and Tentacruel can absorb Toxic Spikes, which are often found on the balance and stall teams that Decidueye is meant to break down, while also pressuring Unaware Clefable.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A Life Orb set is an option over Decidium Z if you already have another Z-Move user on your team, but without Sinister Arrow Raid, Decidueye struggles to break through many walls.
* Defog is a possibility, but Decidueye's below average physical bulk makes it a poor Defog user that is heavily outclassed by Pokemon such as Scizor.
* Substitute can help Decidueye set up against stall teams that rely on status to beat it, but as Decidueye generally does well in these matchups regardless, it is often unnecessary.
* A specially defensive set may seem appealing, as Decidueye has above-average special bulk, but it faces heavy competition in this role from Pokemon such as Celebi and Amoongus.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bisharp**: Bisharp resists both of Decidueye's STAB moves and OHKOes it with Knock Off or Sucker Punch.
**Dark-type Pokemon**: Faster Dark-type Pokemon such as Hydreigon, Krookodile, and Mega Sharpedo resist Decidueye's Sucker Punch and can easily KO it with their STAB attacks.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: As Decidueye's physical bulk leaves much to be desired, it struggles against strong physical attackers such as Mega Aerodactyl and Choice Band Scizor.
Last edited:
