U-Turn or Brave Bird for Decidueye (Gen 8 OU)?

Question

I really like Decidueye and want to use it on my competitive team (i know I know, it's not good in OU but I like it and want to make it work so whatever). I'm debating between having U-Turn or Brave Bird though. Both moves are excellent. U-Turn allows for really useful switching while Brave Bird is a ridiculously strong move to hit Fire and Dark types hard neutrally at the cost of some HP. Which one should I choose?
Also side question if it's ok: What item should it hold? I generally don't like the choice items because I prefer to use all 4 moves while a Pokemon is in. But if it's ABSOLUTELY necessary (as in NOTHING else would work), then I'll use it.

Comments

Why don't you play NU if you like Decidueye so much?

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Huh, that's actually not a bad idea. The Pokemon there actually aren't that bad and a lot of the ones I like are there. Thanks for the suggestion.

Answer 1

If you want to use an offensive Ghost type in OU, Dragapult is better, and as an offensive Grass type Kartana is better.

U-turn is better on Decideuye if it is, for some reason, still going to be used. It's much better to just predict the switch to Mandibuzz or Heatran and then switch to Tapu Koko or Garchomp than it is to use Brave Bird (which can easily be Roosted off by Mandibuzz and is resisted by Heatran).

As for items, it depends on the set. U-turn is better on Choiced sets, while something like Life Orb or Spell Tag can be used on Swords Dance sets and you can drop U-turn or Brave Bird entirely.

Decidueye @ Choice Specs
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm
- Shadow Ball
- U-turn
- Giga Drain

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

(please use Decidueye in NU and in NU only)

Comments

Thank you! One more question if it's fine (i don't know if i should make a new question for this): For a priority move, would Shadow Sneak be better or Sucker Punch?

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Shadow Sneak is much more consistent than Sucker Punch and is almost as strong, even stronger with Spell Tag.

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Ok, thank you so much.