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 Guides
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.

Decidueye Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage	-
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
78	107	75	100	100	70

Best Nature for Decidueye

Best Natures
Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Decidueye

Expert Belt Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -SpAtk)
EV Spread	HP 96 / Atk. 252 / Def. 4 / Sp.Def. 4 / Spd. 152
Final Stat Values	HP 165 / Atk. 174 / Def. 96 / Sp.Def. 121 / Spd. 109
Ability	Overgrow
Held Item	Expert Belt Lum Berry
Moveset	・ Spirit Shackle ・ Brave Bird ・ Shadow Sneak ・ Leaf Blade

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

Swords Dance	Swords Dance and Shadow Sneak has a chance of taking out a Dragapult with EVs in HP.
Knock Off	Can throw off an opponent's pace and strategy.

Choice Band / Weakness Policy Set & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Atk 252 / Spd 4
Final Stat Values	HP 185 / Atk 174 / Def 95 / Sp.Def 120 / Spd 91
Ability	Overgrow
Held Item	Choice Band Weakness Policy
Moveset	・Spirit Shackle ・Brave Bird ・Shadow Sneak ・Leaf Blade

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

The recommended items, nature, and EV spread capitalize on Decidueye's base 107 Attack Stat to let him deal as much damage as possible. His signature move Spirit Shackle is a good way to prevent opponents from switching out.

Spirit Shackle can also come in handy if you want to trap a tanky opponent, such as Ferrothorn or Amoongus on the field before you switch to a Pokemon who can set up.

Other Viable Moves

Swords Dance	A set-up move that helps increase Decidueye's Physical Attack Stat by two levels. When Dynamaxed, also provides Decidueye access to Max Guard.
Poltergeist	Alternative Ghost Type move. Note that if the opponent doesn't have a held item, the move will fail.
Knock Off	Decent coverage move that can remove an opponent's Pokemon. Useful for knocking off recovery items on bulky Pokemon.

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

Weakness

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.

Pokemon	Description
Celesteela	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Celesteela's defensive stats, matched with it's advantageous Flying typing will leave Decidueye unable to deal significant damage. ・Can threaten Decidueye with STAB Flying-type moves Moveset & Best Build for 'Celesteela'
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

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

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	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle ## Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

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	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo