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5 votes
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If you have a good competitive moveset for Decidueye, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Decidueye Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Sprite

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Poison-type moves are not very effective on Ghost-types, so that means it does neutral damage on Decidueye. Why does everyone claim this is a weakness?

28 Answers

7 votes

The moveset questions for the starters are FINALLY here! Let me be the second one to answer for Decidueye
Decidueye (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Leaf Blade
- Spirit Shackle / Sucker Punch
- U-Turn / Sucker Punch

Its a physical attacker with STAB Spirit Shackle and Leaf Blade. Spirit Shackle prevents Pokemon from trying to escape so I can land some hits on them. Assault Vest and 248 HP evs will allows it to survive hits against, pretty much, all of its weaknesses except dark, since most of its weaknesses are Special Attacks and as for Poison and Flying I rarely see anyone use those attacking moves. I didn't use Decidium Z because then I can save the Z-move slot for another Pokemon. and besides, I have also stated why I used assault vest. U-Turn to retreat.

This has been useful for me in many times on Showdown.

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Sucker Punch and Spirit Shackle both are only super-effective on ghost and psychic so i don't recommend putting both moves
Good  point.
It's not all about type coverage. Sucker Punch is run alongside Spirit Shackle as it provides priority and some speed control, which this set lacks. Just ... never, ever use it over Spirit Shackle. You'd want to turn down U-turn over Spirit Shackle. So change it to U-turn / Sucker Punch, rather than Spirit Shackle / Sucker Punch. Spirit Shackle is a NECESSITY on Decidueye. And it's FAR MORE IMPORTANT than U-turn, geez.
the HA starters from Pokemon bank event went live yesterday so I can finally use this set in sm/usum. :)
How did you get the long reach ability?
A bit late by 2 days reply, but you could get it in a Pokebank Event from before. Don't know about now.
Finally a moveset that doesn't involve TMs. This moveset looks OP!
I'd switch HP EVs for Speed and change the speed EVs originally for Sp.defence.
Y'know you can post your own answer rather than commenting on the top one right?
Isn't U-turn also 2x on Dark? Nice.
You could also do a Impish or Careful nature on this owl.
3 votes

LC Offensive Support

Rowlet @ Eviolite
Ability: Long Reach
Level: 5
EVs: 52 HP / 236 Atk / 156 Def / 36 SpD / 20 Spe
- Swords Dance
- Brave Bird
- Defog /Leaf Blade / Sucker Punch / Shadow Claw
- Roost

One of the few flying types that actually resists Fighting and can beat Chinchou lacking Ice Beam with Leaf Blade. It's decent defensive typing allows it to check Timburr, Slow Mienfoo, Chinchou and Diglett. Swords Dance + Brave Bird is extremely strong and can even beat weakened steel types like Bronzor. Defog allows Rowlet to support the team through more than synergy, whilst Leaf Blade is a solid secondary STAB. Sucker Punch, while weaker than last gen, is still good for taking out Psychic or Ghost types and picking off weakened opponents or choice locked Pokemon. Roost is for healing off BBird and Stealth Rock damage.

Stealth Rock is also a problem. Unlike it's fully evolved form, Rowlet is weak to the hazards it's removing. Hail teams propose a significant threat. Honestly so do most fast, strong Pokemon like Abra or Gastly, though both are susceptible to coverage and neither can switch in. Steel Types generally tend to wall it unless it boosts multiple times. Especially Magnemite and Defence-invested Bronzor, though Shadow Claw exists for the latter.

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Love this set! However, I don't think there's much point in running Swords Dance and Defog, though; it's compressing too many roles into one. You should have two sets for both roles, in my opinion. Great job though. :D

While Shadow Claw gives you nicer neutral coverage and hits Bronzor, the latter is very uncommon in LC, not to mention how weak the move is by default. I'm glad to see that someone is considering an LC set, though. :D
2 votes

Spin Blocker or Hazard Remover

Decidueye @ Leftovers
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Defog / Swords Dance / Baton Pass
- Roost
- Leaf Blade / Spirit Shackles
- Toxic / Spirit Shackles / Brave Bird

This Decidueye acts of your choice of Hazard Remover or Spinblocker. Defog if you want to remove hazards, or SD/Baton Pass if you want to keep them. Swords Dance helps Decidueye beat Exacadrill and break through walls and generally be less passive. Baton Pass keeps up the momentum and eases prediction. Roost is an obvious choice for longevity. Combined with it's solid special bulk, Deci acts as a blanket check to electric and watertypes, which run around quite a lot these days. Leaf Blade is it's chosen attack because it helps break through the also numerous water types, though Spirit Shackle is a solid choice for hitting fire types that might try to switch in. Toxic is to cripple special walls, though you could go for a second attack instead. Shackles for a STAB or BBird to punish fighting types that might try their luck with Knock Offs.

Speaking of which, keep it away from Knock Offs. Ghost/Grass offers some unique resistances, but a weakness to Dark and Poison aren't welcome. Deci appreciates Bisharp, not only to resist these two weaknesses but to punish defog users. Deci also doesn't like Pursuit trappers, do bring a fighting type and try not to double up on dark weaknesses.

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you cant have long reach yet
These are competitive movesets, so it doesn't really matter i think.
Poison-type moves are not very effective on Ghost-types, so that means it does neutral damage on Decidueye. Why does everyone claim this is a weakness?
2 votes

Decidueye @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpD / 8 Spe
Careful Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Spirit Shackle / Leaf Blade
- U-turn

Bulky pivot to offer Defog support. Roost allows this archer bird to remain healthy throughout the match. Spirit Shackle is a decent trapping move with an amazing offensive typing, but Leaf Blade can be used if your team already has Ghost attacks. U-Turn helps grabbing momentum and switching out of a bad tactical situation, all the while hitting Dark-, Psychic- and enemy Grass-type for supereffective damage.

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2 votes

Decidueye Tricky Moveset

(Note: This moveset can only be used in showdown as of right now)

Decidueye @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Overgrow / Long Reach
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spirit Shackle
- Curse
- Leaf Blade
- Roost

Sitrus Berry (Heals you when you curse)

  • Spirit Shackle (To trap the user so they can't escape).
  • Curse (Great combo with spirit shackle. Opponent is trapped while taking damage each turn).
  • Leaf Blade (STAB and extra damage)
  • Roost (To heal when you take some damage)
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Roost > Synthesis. Synthesis is unreliable as it is variable with the weather; Sandstorm and Rain shut it down. Not to mention Roost's superior PP and lack of drawback, what with Decidueye not being a Flying-type (Roost removes your Flying typing for a single turn). Also, run Careful over Impish; it gives you a higher boost stat-wise than Impish, as Decidueye has superior special bulk to its physical bulk. Nice set apart from that, though. :D
Decidueye's Attack stat is actually higher than it's Sp. Atk, actually.
1 vote

I don't think Decidueye will ever run an Assault Vest set, not gonna lie. Its physical bulk is far too low for that; most viable Assault Vest users have decent physical bulk, like Tangrowth and Conkeldurr, though there are some exceptions, like Tornadus-T, which has Speed in place thereof: Decidueye lacks both. I think its best set will be a Swords Dance set because it capitalises on Decidueye's nice special bulk to give it an easy time setting up. You seem to be misunderstanding the use of the Assault Vest; it's usually for slower Pokemon with low Special bulk, or faster Pokemon that enjoy the extra special bulk. With Decidueye's base 70 Speed bracket, it is neither. Its Special bulk is already so nice, anyway. Additionally, you have absolutely no longevity as you cannot run Roost, Synthesis, or Leftovers, and are locked out of the ever-important Sucker Punch and Decidium Z. With Brave Bird, you are worn down even faster, too. Don't run Assault Vest, it is incredibly counter-productive and an on the whole useless item.

Decidueye @ Decidium Z
Ability: Overgrow (or Long Reach when it's released)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Spirit Shackle
- Leaf Blade
- Sucker Punch

- Swords Dance allows you to double your Attack stat, allowing you to double your physical damage output.
- Spirit Shackle is one of the strongest (and arguably the most viable) physical Ghost-type moves in the game. Unlike Shadow Claw, it has a nice Base Power, and unlike Phantom Force, the opponent cannot switch out into a better matchup easily. Not to mention that it traps the opponent in, too. All in all a fantastic move, and is definitely among one of Decidueye's strong points. With a Decidium Z attached, Decidueye can reliably nuke many threats and, to a lesser extent, physical sponges, thinking they can take the hit with ease.
- Leaf Blade is reliable Grass-type STAB, with a fantastic high Critical Hit rate alongside a great Base Power of 95.
- Sucker Punch allows you to pick off faster, more frail threats, thinking they can revenge kill Decidueye. Even with 252 Speed and a Jolly nature, Decidueye only hits 262 Speed; this is very mediocre, and makes Decidueye lose to most faster attackers, giving it a weak matchup against most Hyper Offensive teams.

Conclusion: Decidueye is a great sweeper by virtue of its arsenal of the best physical Ghost-type move in the game, Spirit Shackle, which gains STAB with its Ghost typing. This, combined with the Decidium Z Crystal, gives Decidueye Sinister Arrow Raid, a 195 Base Power Ghost-type move that OHKOs pretty much everything in its path after a Swords Dance boost. Its access to Sucker Punch, the second strongest priority move in the game, means revenge killing it is difficult for most non-Dark resistant faster attackers. Defensively, it has a fantastic support movepool at its disposal, but finds it difficult to make use of it, what with its mediocre physical bulk, though its special bulk should not be overlooked; base 100 is great, especially for a largely-offensively inclined Pokemon. The Assault Vest set should not be considered by any means, as it locks Decidueye out of Roost, Defog, Haze, Toxic, and the like, meaning Decidueye has horrible longevity for a defensive Pokemon; all it does is give it nicer special bulk, which it doesn't need. It should only utilise an offensive set due to these traits.

Other options: Decidueye can reliable run a Choice Scarf set, hitting 393 Speed, which makes it fall just short of the 130 Speed mark, which hits 394. This is nice and all, what with Decidueye's great Attack, but it is still underpowered by comparison to other sets, makes Sucker Punch useless, and locks it out of Sinister Arrow Raid. Still something to consider if your team needs something reasonably fast, however.

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1 vote

Gen 8 NU
Decidueye
Decidueye
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Acrobatics
- Poltergeist / Shadow Sneak / Shadow Claw
- Leaf Blade
- Swords Dance

An itemless Decidueye set. Before you ask why this set doesn't use an item, let me explain. Itemless Decidueye allows it to become immune to Poltergeist, which is super-effective on it. It also becomes immune to Corrosive Gas, a move Vileplume could run. The set also has Acrobatics. Acrobatics has double power when Decidueye isn't holding an item. Poltergeist is a ghost type STAB move. You could run Shadow Claw or Shadow Sneak if you don't want to risk Poltergeist failing. Leaf Blade is grass STAB. Swords Dance boosts your attack.

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1 vote

Gen 8 NU

Decidueye @ Choice Band
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Poltergeist
- Shadow Sneak
- U-turn

Choice Band sets have been recently getting more usage in NU. The ability Long Reach allows you to not get affected by Rocky Helmet and Effect Spore. Leaf Blade is grass STAB. Poltergeist is strong ghost STAB that reveals items that opposing Pokemon are holding. Shadow Sneak is for priority STAB. U-Turn is for pivoting on ghost resists / immunities like Guzzlord, Drapion, and Braviary. Knock can be an option to target ghost resists, but it has really wierd synergy with Poltergeist and is better on a Choice Specs Decidueye than a Choice Band one.

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1 vote

Decidueye @ Leftovers / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Long Reach
EVS: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Spirit Shackle
- Roost
- Toxic / Defog

I use this set for my National Dex Mono Grass team. And as a physical setup sweeper, Zarude, Rillaboom, and even Breloom already do that much better for Grass teams. So instead of using Deci as a poor man's Zarude, why not focus on the traits that separate it?

Full HP and Special Defense investment makes Decidueye deceptively bulky on the special end. Long Reach is the ability of choice since this set doesn't utilize any Grass STAB and it protects Decidueye from things like Iron Barbs, Flame Body, Static, Rocky Helmet etc. Leftovers give Decidueye longevity with passive recovery which gives you more healing on top of Roost. However, a Sitrus Berry could also work to provide Decidueye with some immediate healing once it uses Curse.

Curse is what this set is based around. Pretty straightforward. You use this when you're healthy and you don't think you're at risk of dying, preferably use this after Spirit Shackle when the opponent can't escape.

Spirit Shackle is what makes this set work. Rather than using it to deal high damage, use it right away to trap a passive tank like Toxapex or Shuckle and follow it up with Curse or Toxic.

Roost heals you for the damage it took to use Curse. Great survivability move that doesn't rely on weather like Synthesis and is what can make Decidueye effective at stalling a passive Pokemon while it's getting melted by Curse.

Toxic is another tool to use if you're up against something that's at risk of killing you at half health. Not as effective at melting tanks as Curse, but it's a sort of backup tool if you need it. It can also be devastating when used alongside Curse since there's no out healing it in the long run.

Defog is another option to consider in place of Toxic if you're more concerned about removing hazards or screens. Many supportive Decidueye already revolve around its Defog sets, and for good reason, it's a useful support tool.

This set revolves around Curse, Spirit Shackle, and Roost. So keep these three moves no matter what with this build. The fourth move slot is flexible but I would recommend another support option like Toxic, or even Defog if you want to use Decidueye as a hazard remover. I wouldn't recommend another attack since this set is meant to make Decidueye a bulky Curse user, and giving up a moveslot for another attack could be detrimental.

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0 votes

Decidueye (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Impish Nature
- Curse / Defog
- Roost
- Leaf Blade
- Spirit Shackle

Spirit Shackle + Curse = torture! You could also pick Defog over Curse since Decidueye is a great choice for removing hazards.

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Be careful using the Spirit Shackle+Curse combo as it takes two turns to set and Ghost types can switch out no matter what. Against a Sableye or Spiritomb, just watch out, and maybe pack a Fairy sweeper alongside that Decidueye just in case.
0 votes

Role: Revenge Killer/ Fast Offense

Decidueye @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Overgrow / Long Reach (I prefer Long Reach)
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Spirit Shackle
- Brave Bird
- U-turn / Sucker Punch

  • Leaf Blade (High Power STAB)
  • Spirit Shackle (STAB and useful for trapping)
  • Brave Bird (Coverage)
  • U-turn / Sucker Punch (Scouting as a fast pivot or Priority)

Usage: This Decidueye is meant to be a fast offensive mon, as well as a revenge killer for your team. The Ev spread and item of choice is pretty self explanatory. The choice between adamant and a jolly nature is entirely up to you. Adamant is preferred to allow it to hit harder since scarf already makes him fast enough, but more speed can be useful.

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0 votes

Decidueye @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Energy Ball
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Rock]

Explanation: Physical sets are good so how about a Special Attacking Moveset? Nasty Plot raises Special Attack by 2 Stages. Energy Ball is STAB and it has a Chance to Lower the Foe's Special Defense. Shadow Ball is also STAB and it also has a Chance to Lower the Foe's Special Defense. Hp Rock is Fire, Ice, and Flying type coverage as well as Bug type coverage.

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Hidden Power Fighting could be nice, too, hitting the Normal-types Decidueye can switch in on, the Ice- and Dark-types that hit it super-effectively, and the Steel-types that resist its Energy Ball. Also, you should run 252 Speed with a Timid nature rather than 252 HP with a Modest nature; Decidueye needs the Speed more than the bulk, as the HP does not make up for its horrible physical bulk. It needs the Speed to be an actual sweeper, because if it isn't outspeeding much outside of slow walls, which it struggles to break through even boosted anyway, and lacks reliable recovery, it can be forced out easily and is forced to take hits, which it can't recover up due to its lack of Roost/Synthesis/Leftovers. The Life Orb further hurts this longevity. I would suggest something more like this:

Decidueye @ Ghostium Z  
Ability: Overgrow  
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Nasty Plot  
- Energy Ball  
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Fighting / Hidden Power Rock
0 votes

Roll: In 'n Outer
Decidueye @ Assault Vest / Ghostium Z
Ability: Overgrow / Long Reach
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- U-turn
- Spirit Shackle
- Leaf Blade
- Steel Wing / Brave Bird

Steel wing is for coverage even. Brave bird is for when it is low on Health as another coverage option. U-Turn To get damage and return Hence the name In 'n Outer. Leaf Blade is STAB. Spirit Shackle has 80 power and if you choose to go the Ghostium Z It can turn into a 180 power Hit!

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isn't decidueye ghost grass therefore lacks rock weakness?
You wouldn't run either Steel Wing or Brave Bird. Steel Wing hits no type in particular (Decidueye isn't Rock weak you know - and besides, it has Grass coverage to hit Rock-types anyway, which gain a STAB boost too, lol) and Brave Bird means you're worn down easily with the Assault Vest. Just no.
Actually Rock covers all but one of grasses weaknesses, that being poison.
0 votes

Decidueye

Decided (M) @ Decidium Z
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 Atk / 230 Spe / 26 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Steel Wing
- Brave Bird / U-Turn
- Leaf Blade
- Spirit Shackle

It's a physical attacker that makes use of moves that covers all of its weaknesses , as well as is present and previous types.
Although, I would rather see it with its HA, thus allowing it to go along with its Archer archetype, its present ability helps with powering up is Leaf Blade STAB move even more.
Having Steel Wing asked it to work on a more level playing field against Ice types while the possibly of U-Turn helps to round out against Dark types.

If you choose not to go the U-Turn route, try keeping it away from Dark types unless you have a leaf level-wise that would make Leaf Blade a 1-Hit K.O. (with or without a Crit).

Although, I focused my EVs in Attack, I chose to go the Speed route for more than one reason. One was the higher probability of evading moves (particularly Dark Type), while the other was the greater probability of critical strikes; and since most of the move pool that it is weak against are Special, I chose to place the rest of the EVs into Special Defense.

This move pool, and EV placement has created for me a Pokemon that had worked under the most trying of battles, and I have no doubt that it would work for anyone else.

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0 votes

Decidueye @ Leftovers / Lum Berry
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 108 HP / 252 Def / 148 SpD
Impish Nature
- Spirit Shackle
- Curse
- Roost
- Haze / Confuse Ray

This thing is gimmicky & evil, and I love it. Trap your opponent with Spirit Shackle, then use Curse. Having Roost lets you heal yourself when needed. Haze is used to prevent the opponent from raising their stats while trapped, while Confuse Ray makes things more difficult for the opponent. Leftovers is gives you constant recovery at the end of each turn, while Lum Berry removes an annoying status condition

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0 votes

Decidueye @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird / Sucker Punch / U-turn
- Leaf Blade
- U-turn / Sucker Punch / Brave Bird
- Spirit Shackle

This one is built to be a physical attacker that can out speed most Pokemon. choice scarf is used to out speed. long reach so it doesn't take damage from iron barbs, rocky helmet, rough skin, etc. adamant to get reliable ko's. jolly to make sure you out speed.

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0 votes

Decidueye @ Assault Vest
Ability: Long Reach
Adamant Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpD
- Leaf Blade
- Brave Bird
- Spirit Shackle / Sucker Punch
- U-turn

With its Sp. Defence boosted by its Assault Vest, Decidueye will be able to take hits. Leaf Blade is STAB, Brave Bird is for power and coverage againts Bug-types, and U-turn is for switching out. Spirit Shackle is STAB and coverage againts Ghost-types, and prevents the target from escaping.

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0 votes

Decidueye @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Brave Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Spirit Shackle
- Brave Bird
- Roost

Leaf Blade should be used for stab, as well as Spirit Shackle. Brave Bird can provide some solid damage if you can't do super effective damage. And Roost can be used to heal the recoil of Brave Bird or if you are low on HP.

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0 votes

Decidueye @ Decidium Z
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Adament Nature
-Spirit Shackle
-Leaf Blade
-Brave Bird
-Phantom Force
Decidueye is a physical attacker. Spirit Shackle makes the foe unable to escape, and used with Decidium Z, it has 180 base power. Leaf Blade is STAB, and it has a raised chance of critical hits. Brave Bird does massive damage (120 base power), screws grass, fighting and bug, although does recoil damage. For Phantom Force, hits Pokemon even if it uses Protect/Detect

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swap Phanton Force for Swords Dance. It's useless, considering since in theory it's weaker than spirit shackle, plus Decidueye isn't quite strong enough to be running an all-out attacker set
0 votes

Physical Attacker

Decidueye @ Decidium Z

Ability: Long Reach/Overgrow

EVs - 252 Atk / 4 Sp Def / 252 Speed

  • Spirit Shackle (STAB)
  • Leaf Blade (STAB)
  • Steel Wing (Coverage)
  • Swords Dance (To increase the power of your lovely physical moves)
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