What is a good moveset for Decidueye?

Question

This thread is for Alolan Decidueye. For Hisuian Decidueye, please go here.

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.

Comments

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?

Answer 1

Decidueye @ Salac Berry
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Spirit Shackle
- Leaf Blade
- Swords Dance
- Acrobatics

I love Decidueye but I think they kinda messed up his stats especially physical defense and speed, I tried a few times with this set, it works well if you set up sticky web hazard or dealing with low speed Pokémons otherwise you will get OHKO very easily, especially HA Cinderace is quite a hit now.

So we set up sword dance first of course, then spirit shackle and leaf blade is for Stab, if you happen to consume Salac Berry and boosted your speed, then Acrobatic deal 110 damage.

Comments

You’re a bit confused about the berry. A Salac Berry will raise your speed in a pinch, but a Kelpsy Berry reduces attack EVs and raises friendship.

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Haha sorry I was busy looking for Kelpsy berry recently so I got confused..

Answer 2

Gen 8 NU

Decidueye @ Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Leaf Storm
- Shadow Ball
- Hurricane / Giga Drain

Nasty Plot set. Nasty Plot is for boosting your special attack. Leaf Storm is strong grass STAB. Shadow Ball is for ghost STAB to hit Pokémon like Dhelmise, Bronzong, and Xatu super effectively. Hurricane is for coverage against Pokemon like Braviary, Araquanid, and Guzzlord. Giga Drain is an option for a grass STAB that's useful late game if you don't need the extra power from Leaf Storm.

Answer 3

Decidueye @ Life Orb
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Leaf Blade
- Shadow Claw / Spirit Shackle
- Psycho Cut

• Brave Bird (coverage against bug types and other grass types)
• Leaf Blade (Grass STAB)
• Shadow Claw / Spirit Shackle (Ghost STAB)
• Psycho Cut (Poison Coverage)

Answer 4

Gen 8 NU

Decidueye @ Spell Tag / Life Orb
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Poltergeist
- Shadow Sneak
- Swords Dance

Leaf Blade is STAB. Poltergeist is strong STAB. Shadow Sneak is prioirity STAB. Swords Dance is to boost your attack. I put Spell Tag as the first item, but went ahead and put Life Orb as another item option for those of you who may tell me "Spell Tag isn't very good in competitive". Let me explain. When Mienshao was in the tier, Life Orb was a must for a +2 Shadow Sneak to be able to revenge kill Mienshao. Now that Mienshao is banned from NU, Spell Tag is now basically SD Decidueye's go to item, as you would find yourself clicking your ghost STAB moves most of the time. You can still use Life Orb if you use this set on HO teams.

Answer 5

Decidueye @ Life Orb
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Jolly / Adamant Nature
- Spirit Shackle
- Knock Off
- Shadow Sneak / Roost
- Swords Dance

Physical Sweeper. Swords Dance, then Shadow Sneak or Poltergeist/Spirit Shackle. Knock Off does decent damage and removes items. EVs are for maximum sweeper stats. Life Orb is for more damage. Roost is if you want a long-term sweeper.

Comments

I personally wouldn't recommend Knock Off and Poltergeist on the same set. Poltergeist only works when the opponent is holding an item, and if you use Knock Off before using Poltergeist, Poltergeist will fail since Knock Off removes items.

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Oh yeah I forgot.

Answer 6

Now, let's think what this guy can do

GEN VIII
Decidueye @ Life Orb
Ability: Long Reach
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Spirit Shackle
- Leaf Blade
- Brave Bird
- Tailwind

Spirit Shackle is it's STAB, signature move and it can trap opponents
Leaf Blade is also STAB
Brave Bird is for coverage
This thing can get really fast under Tailwind, and even if it faints, the other pokémon on your party can also apreciate the doubled speed

Comments

Tailwind is a niche option and is outclassed by Swords Dance

Answer 7

The Word (Decidueye) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 248 HP / 184 Def / 76 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Ominous Wind
- Giga Drain
- Roost

• Nasty Plot (Use 3 times to raise Sp.A to 944)
• Ominous Wind (90 BP due to STAB and 10% chance to boost all stats. Decent damage at +4 Sp.A, good damage at +6 Sp.A)
• Giga Drain (107.5 BP due to STAB and recovers 50% of damage dealt)
• Roost (Recovery to spam Nasty Plot)

Fairly tanky at 359 HP and 255 Def and Sp.D.
This allows it to set up fairly easily.
Just spam Nasty Plot and clear the field.
Would suggest using this with Trick Room.

Comments

Ominous wind is completely outclassed by Shadow Ball

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@BottomlessSea not only that, but STAB also doesn't affect the move's base power, but rather its Final Damage.

Answer 8

Gen 9 NU Defog

Decidueye @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Long Reach
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD or 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Careful / Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

A Defog set Decidueye in Gen 9 NU. Decidueye has a cool utility movepool that allows it to make for a good defensive Pokemon in NU. Knock Off is a really nice utility move that forces progress against opposing Pokemon since it removes crucial items from them. Defog lets Decidueye clear away hazards, providing utility for its teammates. Roost gives Decidueye a form of reliable recovery so it can stay in longer. U-turn allows Decidueye to bring in teammates and can potentially bring them in safely if pivoting out against a faster Pokemon. Heavy-Duty Boots is used to prevent Decidueye from getting chipped by hazards. Long Reach is used to prevent Decidueye from dealing with effects from items/abilities as Rocky Helmet, Flame Body, and potential Poison Points. Tera Water is used to give Decideueye a nice defensive typing. The Nature and EV spread depends on if you want Decidueye to be physically or specially defensive. If you want a physically defensive spread, use Impish Nature with 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def. If you want a specially defensive EV spread, use Careful Nature with 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD.

Answer 9

My Favorite Starter of Alola Actually (formerly it was Primarina)

Gen 9 NU

Decidueye (M)
252 Atk, 252 HP (or 252 Spe If you Want Choice Scarf) and 4 Def
Item: Choice Band or Scarf or Lefttovers or Life Orb (or Focus Sash If you invest in Speed and/or are going with Swords Dance)
Nature: Adamant or Jolly
Ability: Long Reach (or Overgrow If you went with Focus Sash and it was activated for you to gain its bonus)

• Spirit Shackle or Poltergeist
• Leaf Blade
• Shadow Sneak or Grassy Glide (If You Running With Grassy Terrain)
• Trailblaze or Swords Dance or U-turn or Curse (To Sacrifice your Decidueye if it can do nothing else) or Knock Off or Roost or Sucker Punch or Haze or Grassy Terrain or anything of you Want (There is no shortage of options)

I have a Special Set too, but it's not as good as the physical one.

Decidueye (M)
252 SpA, 252 HP (Again, 252 Spe if you want to use Choice Scarf) And 4 Def
Item: Focus Sash or Choice Specs of Scarf or Lefttovers or Life Orb
Ability: Overgrow
IVs: 0 Atk

• Shadow Ball
• Energy Ball or Giga Drain or Leaf Storm (Because you can recover the lost special attack with Nasty Plot)
• Nasty Plot
• Hurricane or Air Slash or U-turn or Hidden Power (Rock) or Anything you want

I don't think it's worth carrying him mixed, after all his special Moveset is quite poor in variety, but if you want to for some reason...

I just wanted to make a Set for my little Alola owl :3