Decidueye - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle | Pokemon Sword and Shield

This is a strategy guide for using Decidueye in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Decidueye, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Decidueye - Related Articles
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Decidueye

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Decidueye
Abilities
Overgrow	Powers up Grass-type moves in a pinch.
Long Reach (Hidden)	The Pokémon uses its moves without making contact with the target.

Type Defenses

	Type
Deals 4x damage
Deals 2x damage
Deals 0.5x damage
Deals 1/4x damage
Deals 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Decidueye

What are Natures?

Strategies for Decidueye

Expert Belt Attacker Moveset & Best Build

These values are from base stats and ideal EVs, excluding external factors.

This build for Decidueye is made for precisely hitting opponents' weak points and laying on pressure. It's recommended to Dynamax first when using this build.

Use against popular Ghost types

Pokemon	Damage Calculation
Mimikyu	・Jolly w/ 252 Spd. EVs: Max Airstream → Max Phantasm has 100% chance to KO
Dragapult	・252 HP EVs: Max Phantasm has 100% chance to KO
Galarian Corsola	・Bold with HP+Defense EVs: Max Phantasm has a 73~87.4% chance to KO

With Jolly Nature and max Speed EVs, Decidueye can move faster than Mimikyu after one Max Airstream. Max Phantasm can be used not only on Mimikyu, but also on a host of other popular Ghost-types. Even against the defensive Bold Galarian Corsola, Max Phantasm has a high chance of scoring a 1HKO.

Can also KO Tyranitar and Wash Rotom

Pokemon	Damage Calculation
Tyranitar	・252 HP EVs: Leaf Blade has a 94.8~112.5% chance to KO ・252 HP EVs: Max Overgrowth will definitely KO
Wash Rotom	・Modest w/ 252 HP EVs: Max Overgrowth has a 100% chance to KO ・Bold w/ HP+Defense EVs: Max Overgrowth has a 100% chance to KO ・Modest w/ 252 HP EVs: Max Overgrowth has a 100% chance to KO ・Bold w/ HP+Defense EVs: Max Overgrowth has a 100% chance to KO

When it's holding Expert Belt, it can definitely KO a Modest Wash Rotom w/ 252 HP EVs even with normal Leaf Blade, and has a 94.8~112.5% chance to KO Tyranitar with 252 HP EVs.
On top of that, when Dynamaxed, it can even defeat a Wash Rotom with EVs in both HP and Defense in one hit with Max Overgrowth.

Alternate Move Choices

How to Use Decidueye Effectively

Spirit Shackle can stop switch-heavy opponents

Decidueye's exclusive move Spirit Shackle prevents the opponent from switching out as long as Decidueye is still out. Up against opponents who utilize strategies like the defensive loop (using multiple tanks and switching repeatedly between them), Spirit Shackle can stop them in their tracks and throw off their mojo.

Counters for Decidueye

Handle it with a type-advantaged defender

Decidueye doesn't have much in the way of a wide movepool. Up against Steel-types, it runs out of tricks up its sleeve, so sending out an advantageous Pokemon can leave it unable to act.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Ferrothorn	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can take most of its attacks with reduced damage ・Can leave Decidueye with no means of attack Moveset & Best Build for Ferrothorn
Corviknight	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Can take most of its attacks with reduced damage ・Can use recovery moves Moveset & Best Build for Corviknight

Use a fast attacker to prevent it from acting

Decidueye has a paltry base Speed of 60, and against faster Pokemon it can fall flat. As its stats are a bit offensively focused, with a low HP and Defense, a fast Physical attacker can make quick work of it.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Charizard	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Faster than Decidueye ・Has a type advantage Moveset & Best Build for Charizard
Hydreigon	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Faster than Decidueye ・Has a type advantage Moveset & Best Build for Hydreigon

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Movesets & Best Builds for New Pokemon
Dragapult	Galarian Corsola	Toxtricity
Galarian Darmanitan	Corviknight	Dracovish
Grimmsnarl	Rillaboom	Duraludon
Cinderace	Alcremie	Dracozolt
Hatterene	Eiscue	Inteleon
Pincurchin	Frosmoth	Zacian
Sirfetch'd

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales

List Of Battle Articles
Tier List	Best Builds	Best Teams