OVERVIEW]
Decidueye is an incredibly powerful physical attacker, using Swords Dance-boosted Spirit Shackle, Poltergeist, and Leaf Blade to do massive damage to opposing walls, such as Vileplume, Registeel, and Gligar, and revenge killing faster opponents like Munkidori and Chandelure with Shadow Sneak. It also serves as one of the few viable users of Defog in the tier, taking advantage of the fear its powerful physical sets create to find turns to clear hazards. Its typing allows it to switch in on common attackers like Paldean Tauros-W, Breloom, and Flygon, and can often find turns to set up in front of common defensive Water-types like Gastrodon, Vaporeon, and Milotic. It's ability to throw out powerful attacks is only enhanced by Long Reach, which allows it to avoid the threats of Vileplume's Effect Spore, Bellibolt's Static, and Rocky Helmet. Decidueye does struggle with its mediocre speed, particularly on offensive sets. Even boosted, Shadow Sneak does not often pick off neutral targets from full HP, leaving it open to being revenge killed by many faster and Ghost-immune opponents such as Flygon, Cinccino, and Porygon-Z. Decidueye's dual-STAB types of Ghost and Dark are also walled by several common Pokemon in the tier, namely Overqwil, Alolan Muk, and Incineroar. Defog sets must also be careful of the several Competitive and Defiant Pokemon in the tier, such as Kilowattrel, Galarian Articuno, Milotic, and Tornadus.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Spirit Shackle / Poltergeist
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Spell Tag
ability: Long Reach
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fairy / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Spirit Shackle lets Decidueye hit and trap foes without fear of missing, while +2 Poltergeist lets it OHKO checks like Vileplume after Stealth Rock damage. Shadow Sneak lets it pick off and revenge kill faster foes, particularly Ghost-weak ones like Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Munkidori. Tera Ghost allows Decidueye to boost its powerful STAB moves to even more terrifying heights, while Tera Fairy and Water act defensively to give Decidueye a change to set up in front of Dark-types like Alolan Muk and Fire-types like Incineroar, respectively.
Decidueye appreciates teammates like Munkidori and Chandelure who are also checked by Dark- and Fire-types, and can work together with these teammates to wear down shared checks. Particularly when using Spirit Shackle over Poltergeist, hazard support from teammates like Froslass, Diancie, and Bronzong can be helpful to wear down checks and guarantee KOs. Backup physical attackers can work to overwhelm solid physical walls like Vileplume and Bellibolt, so Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Flygon can support Decidueye well. Decidueye can occasionally find getting a turn to set up difficult, so teammates that facilitate opportunities can be very helpful, such as Encore Cinccino and Scream Tail and Memento Chandelure.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Poltergeist / Spirit Shackle
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band / Spell Tag
ability: Long Reach
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fairy / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Choice Band or Spell Tag-boosted Poltergeist provides the most immediate power, but can miss. Spirit Shackle provides a complete accurate Ghost-type STAB moves and allows its teammates to use Knock Off more freely. U-turn allows Decidueye to pivot out on potential checks like Overqwil and Incineroar. Tera Ghost further boosts its powerful Ghost-type STAB moves, giving it a chance to OHKO Vileplume after Stealth Rock chip damage. Tera Fairy and Tera Water work defensively to allow Decidueye to live attacks from powerful Dark- and Fire-types, respectively, such as Scrafty and Chandelure.
Decidueye requires teammates who can switch in on powerful Fire- and Dark-type attacks from foes like Chandelure and Incineroar, so Vaporeon, Milotic, and Diancie can be valuable. Further, other physical attackers like Mienshao, Flygon, and Paldean Tauros-W appreciate Decidueye's ability to weaken physically defensive foes and support it in turn with their own damage, together overwhelming opposing physical walls like Vileplume and Bellibolt. Special attackers, particularly ones that can pivot like Munkidori and Kilowattrel, can also combine with Decidueye to repeatedly pivot on checks and wear them down. Decidueye does not resist Stealth Rock and is not immune to Spikes, so hazard removal like Brambleghast or Altaria are appreciated to ensure Decidueye can repeatedly enter and threaten foes.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
move 4: U-turn / Shadow Ball
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Overgrow
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP/ 80 Def / 176 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Water / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Giga Drain, along with Roost, provid Decidueye with additional longevity, but Leaf Storm can provide immediate power to surprise opponents expecting physically offensive Decidueye sets. U-turn allows Decidueye to pivot on opposing Competitive Pokemon like Kilowattrel and Galarian Articuno who might otherwise take advantage of Defog, but it can also choose to run Shadow Ball and hit Grass-resistant Pokemon like Kilowattrel or Tornadus for neutral damage. The given EV spread allows Decidueye to outspeed Adamant Incineroar, which otherwise threatens it with Knock Off. Tera Fairy allows Decidueye to resist Dark-type attacks from foes like Incineroar, Mienshao, and Toxicroak, while Tera Water protects it from Fire-types like Chandelure and Infernape. Tera Poison is an all-around solid defensive option, removing all of Decidueye's original type weaknesses.
Decidueye requires teammates capable of checking Incineroar, as Defog allows it in for free. Vaporeon, Milotic, and Diancie resist Incineroar's STAB moves and can patch up Decidueye's weakness to Fire- and Ghost-types like Chandelure and Brambleghast. Hazard-weak teammates appreciate Decidueye's Defog, particularly Fire- and Flying-types like Choice Specs Chandelure and itemless Tornadus. Decidueye also acts as a check to Paldean Tauros-W, which Water- and Fighting-weak Pokemon like Diancie, Gligar, and Porygon-Z appreciate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Decidueye can run Low Kick instead of Leaf Blade or Shadow Sneak in order to hit Incineroar, other Dark-types, and Registeel for super effective damage, but loses either priority or its Grass-type STAB move in return. Decidueye can also run a special attacking set with Nasty Plot, Shadow Ball, and any of Giga Drain, Leaf Storm, and Energy Ball, but this set can be easily revenge killed as it lacks priority.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Common Dark-types like Alolan Muk, Overqwil, and Incineroar wall Decidueye's STAB moves, and the latter two weaken it further with Intimidate. Many other Pokemon in the tier threaten Decidueye with Knock Off as well, such as Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Cinccino.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types, such as the previously mentioned Incineroar, along with Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion, threaten to blow Decidueye away with powerful Fire-type attacks. However, the latter two can be threatened with Shadow Sneak. Speedy attackers like Scream Tail and Flygon can also run Fire Blast to threaten Decidueye.
**Competitive and Defiant Users**: Defog Decidueye must be wary of Pokemon using Competitive or Defiant, as using Defog at the wrong time will only strengthen these opponents. Kilowattrel, Galarian Articuno, and Milotic can threaten Decidueye with Flying- and Ice-type attacks, and Defiant Tornadus can be dangerous as well.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Decidueye is an incredibly powerful physical attacker, using Swords Dance-boosted Spirit Shackle, Poltergeist, and Leaf Blade to do massive damage to opposing walls, such as Vileplume, Registeel, and Gligar, and revenge killing faster opponents like Munkidori and Chandelure with Shadow Sneak. It also serves as one of the few viable users of Defog in the tier, taking advantage of the fear its powerful physical sets create to find turns to clear hazards. Its typing allows it to switch in on common attackers like Paldean Tauros-W, Breloom, and Flygon, and can often find turns to set up in front of common defensive Water-types like Gastrodon, Vaporeon, and Milotic. It's ability to throw out powerful attacks is only enhanced by Long Reach, which allows it to avoid the threats of Vileplume's Effect Spore, Bellibolt's Static, and Rocky Helmet. Decidueye does struggle with its mediocre speed, particularly on offensive sets. Even boosted, Shadow Sneak does not often pick off neutral targets from full HP, leaving it open to being revenge killed by many faster and Ghost-immune opponents such as Flygon, Cinccino, and Porygon-Z. Decidueye's dual-STAB types of Ghost and Dark are also walled by several common Pokemon in the tier, namely Overqwil, Alolan Muk, and Incineroar. Defog sets must also be careful of the several Competitive and Defiant Pokemon in the tier, such as Kilowattrel, Galarian Articuno, Milotic, and Tornadus.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Spirit Shackle / Poltergeist
move 3: Leaf Blade
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Spell Tag
ability: Long Reach
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fairy / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Spirit Shackle lets Decidueye hit and trap foes without fear of missing, while +2 Poltergeist lets it OHKO checks like Vileplume after Stealth Rock damage. Shadow Sneak lets it pick off and revenge kill faster foes, particularly Ghost-weak ones like Chandelure, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Munkidori. Tera Ghost allows Decidueye to boost its powerful STAB moves to even more terrifying heights, while Tera Fairy and Water act defensively to give Decidueye a change to set up in front of Dark-types like Alolan Muk and Fire-types like Incineroar, respectively.
Decidueye appreciates teammates like Munkidori and Chandelure who are also checked by Dark- and Fire-types, and can work together with these teammates to wear down shared checks. Particularly when using Spirit Shackle over Poltergeist, hazard support from teammates like Froslass, Diancie, and Bronzong can be helpful to wear down checks and guarantee KOs. Backup physical attackers can work to overwhelm solid physical walls like Vileplume and Bellibolt, so Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Flygon can support Decidueye well. Decidueye can occasionally find getting a turn to set up difficult, so teammates that facilitate opportunities can be very helpful, such as Encore Cinccino and Scream Tail and Memento Chandelure.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker
move 1: Poltergeist / Spirit Shackle
move 2: Leaf Blade
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: U-turn
item: Choice Band / Spell Tag
ability: Long Reach
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
tera type: Ghost / Fairy / Water
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Choice Band or Spell Tag-boosted Poltergeist provides the most immediate power, but can miss. Spirit Shackle provides a complete accurate Ghost-type STAB moves and allows its teammates to use Knock Off more freely. U-turn allows Decidueye to pivot out on potential checks like Overqwil and Incineroar. Tera Ghost further boosts its powerful Ghost-type STAB moves, giving it a chance to OHKO Vileplume after Stealth Rock chip damage. Tera Fairy and Tera Water work defensively to allow Decidueye to live attacks from powerful Dark- and Fire-types, respectively, such as Scrafty and Chandelure.
Decidueye requires teammates who can switch in on powerful Fire- and Dark-type attacks from foes like Chandelure and Incineroar, so Vaporeon, Milotic, and Diancie can be valuable. Further, other physical attackers like Mienshao, Flygon, and Paldean Tauros-W appreciate Decidueye's ability to weaken physically defensive foes and support it in turn with their own damage, together overwhelming opposing physical walls like Vileplume and Bellibolt. Special attackers, particularly ones that can pivot like Munkidori and Kilowattrel, can also combine with Decidueye to repeatedly pivot on checks and wear them down. Decidueye does not resist Stealth Rock and is not immune to Spikes, so hazard removal like Brambleghast or Altaria are appreciated to ensure Decidueye can repeatedly enter and threaten foes.
[SET]
name: Defog
move 1: Defog
move 2: Roost
move 3: Giga Drain / Leaf Storm
move 4: U-turn / Shadow Ball
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Overgrow
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP/ 80 Def / 176 Spe
tera type: Fairy / Water / Poison
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Giga Drain, along with Roost, provid Decidueye with additional longevity, but Leaf Storm can provide immediate power to surprise opponents expecting physically offensive Decidueye sets. U-turn allows Decidueye to pivot on opposing Competitive Pokemon like Kilowattrel and Galarian Articuno who might otherwise take advantage of Defog, but it can also choose to run Shadow Ball and hit Grass-resistant Pokemon like Kilowattrel or Tornadus for neutral damage. The given EV spread allows Decidueye to outspeed Adamant Incineroar, which otherwise threatens it with Knock Off. Tera Fairy allows Decidueye to resist Dark-type attacks from foes like Incineroar, Mienshao, and Toxicroak, while Tera Water protects it from Fire-types like Chandelure and Infernape. Tera Poison is an all-around solid defensive option, removing all of Decidueye's original type weaknesses.
Decidueye requires teammates capable of checking Incineroar, as Defog allows it in for free. Vaporeon, Milotic, and Diancie resist Incineroar's STAB moves and can patch up Decidueye's weakness to Fire- and Ghost-types like Chandelure and Brambleghast. Hazard-weak teammates appreciate Decidueye's Defog, particularly Fire- and Flying-types like Choice Specs Chandelure and itemless Tornadus. Decidueye also acts as a check to Paldean Tauros-W, which Water- and Fighting-weak Pokemon like Diancie, Gligar, and Porygon-Z appreciate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Decidueye can run Low Kick instead of Leaf Blade or Shadow Sneak in order to hit Incineroar, other Dark-types, and Registeel for super effective damage, but loses either priority or its Grass-type STAB move in return. Decidueye can also run a special attacking set with Nasty Plot, Shadow Ball, and any of Giga Drain, Leaf Storm, and Energy Ball, but this set can be easily revenge killed as it lacks priority.
Checks and Counters
====
**Dark-types**: Common Dark-types like Alolan Muk, Overqwil, and Incineroar wall Decidueye's STAB moves, and the latter two weaken it further with Intimidate. Many other Pokemon in the tier threaten Decidueye with Knock Off as well, such as Mienshao, Toxicroak, and Cinccino.
**Fire-types**: Fire-types, such as the previously mentioned Incineroar, along with Chandelure and Hisuian Typhlosion, threaten to blow Decidueye away with powerful Fire-type attacks. However, the latter two can be threatened with Shadow Sneak. Speedy attackers like Scream Tail and Flygon can also run Fire Blast to threaten Decidueye.
**Competitive and Defiant Users**: Defog Decidueye must be wary of Pokemon using Competitive or Defiant, as using Defog at the wrong time will only strengthen these opponents. Kilowattrel, Galarian Articuno, and Milotic can threaten Decidueye with Flying- and Ice-type attacks, and Defiant Tornadus can be dangerous as well.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/hammer798.641404/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited: