[OVERVIEW]
Grass
========
Decidueye's access to Swords Dance along with its decent Attack and Ghost-type STAB moves allows it to serve as a setup sweeper on Grass teams. Its STAB Spirit Shackle allows it to turn the tide against Psychic teams, a normally hard matchup for Grass teams to handle. Spirit Shackle is also extremely useful for trapping, which helps Decidueye reliably pick Pokemon off with its Z-Move or set up with Swords Dance. Its powerful Z-Move in Sinister Arrow Raid allows it to KO bulky targets such as Toxapex, Celesteela, Zapdos, and Ferrothorn when boosted and further supports its sweep. Grass teams also appreciate Decidueye's ability to keep up entry hazards by acting as a spinblocker through its Ghost typing. However, Decidueye's limited bulk thins the number of setup opportunities it gets and forces it to set up against weaker Pokemon or late-game. Decidueye's underwhelming Speed stat also leaves it outsped by common offensive threats such as Heatran and forces it to rely on priority attacks such as Shadow Sneak to pick off faster threats.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance (Grass)
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Spirit Shackle
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Leaf Blade
item: Decidium Z
ability: Overgrow
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance turns Decidueye into a threatening sweeper by boosting its Attack. Spirit Shackle is used to hit Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon such as Mew and Alolan Marowak super effectively while hitting the vast majority of the metagame, along with Pokemon such as Zapdos, for neutral damage. It also has the side effect of trapping the foe. Shadow Sneak is Decidueye's priority attack and is used to pick off faster Pokemon such as Blacephalon, Victini, and Latios when boosted. Leaf Blade is Decidueye's other STAB attack and prevents it from being walled by Normal-type Pokemon such as Chansey.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment allows Decidueye to serve as an efficient cleaner by allowing it to hit as hard as possible. Maximum Speed investment along with a Jolly nature allows Decidueye to be as fast as possible, outspeeding Pokemon such as Adamant Diggersby and Dragonite. Decidium Z lets Decidueye use Sinister Arrow Raid, a move that is capable of breaking through extremely bulky foes such as Toxapex and Celesteela when boosted. Overgrow boosts Leaf Blade's power when Decidueye's health is low. An alternative EV spread of 84 HP / 252 Attack / 172 Speed along with an Adamant nature can be used for more power and bulk while still outspeeding Jolly Azumarill and -1 Choice Band Victini, but this leaves Decidueye outsped by Adamant Diggersby and Dragonite.
Usage Tips
========
Try to preserve Decidueye so it can set up and sweep effectively. The ideal time to try to set up Decidueye is late-game when its checks and counters have been weakened. This is especially important in the Psychic matchup, where Decidueye can check a huge threat to Grass teams in Victini after Stealth Rock damage with a Swords Dance boost. However, in matchups such as Dragon, Dark, and Normal, where it may have trouble sweeping, try to use Decidueye mid-game to weaken the opposing team as much as possible for its other offensive teammates to sweep. Decidueye can also utilize its Spirit Shackle in order to trap passive Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and set up safely using Swords Dance. Wear down offensive checks such as Mega Charizard Y into boosted Shadow Sneak's range before setting up. Avoid taking unnecessary damage before Decidueye is ready to come in and sweep, as taking unnecessary damage will hinder its ability to set up with its already limited bulk. For the same reason, Decidueye should be brought in after a teammate has fainted or through an aggressive switch. Try to lay down entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes from teammates such as Cradily and Ferrothorn, as they help chip down the opposing team for Decidueye's sweep. This is especially important in the Psychic matchup, as Stealth Rock chip damage is needed for Decidueye to knock Victini out with a boosted Shadow Sneak. Similarly, try to switch Decidueye in on a predicted Rapid Spin to keep said hazards on the field. Status conditions, namely burn and paralysis, will hinder Decidueye's ability to set up and sweep by cutting down its Attack and Speed. Therefore, it should avoid setting up on status users such as Will-O-Wisp Mew and Thunder Wave Slowbro, as well as unnecessarily switching in on Scald. Sinister Arrow Raid should be preserved for bulkier targets such as Toxapex, Celesteela, and Zapdos. Therefore, Decidueye should try to trap and isolate said Pokemon with Spirit Shackle in order to get a guaranteed hit on them. Decidueye should also be wary of Protect users such as Toxapex and Celesteela that can try to block Sinister Arrow Raid and play around them accordingly.
Team Options
========
Mega Venusaur is a great partner for Decidueye because of its natural bulk, defensive typing, and Thick Fat, which allows it to take a variety of attacks such as Greninja's Ice Beam, Alolan Muk's Knock Off, and Celesteela's Flamethrower. It can also support Decidueye using Leech Seed and remove Toxic Spikes, increasing its longevity. Ferrothorn's good defensive typing and bulk allow it to switch in and take a plethora of attacks, while its Gyro Ball is able to knock out Ice-type Pokemon such as Kyurem-B and its Spikes are helpful for wearing down the opposing team for Decidueye's sweep. Its Leech Seed also gives Decidueye a form of recovery and helps it set up. With its good special bulk and Rock typing, Cradily is able to take on special Fire- and Flying-type Pokemon such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T for Decidueye, while its Stealth Rock chips down Decidueye's checks and counters such as Victini and Skarmory for its sweep. In return, Decidueye is able to keep up Ferrothorn and Cradily's entry hazards by blocking Rapid Spin users such as Armaldo from removing them. Decidueye is also able to switch into Fighting-type moves such as Terrakion's Close Combat and Keldeo's Secret Sword for Ferrothorn and Cradily. Choice Scarf Tapu Bulu can outspeed faster Pokemon that threaten Decidueye such as Mega Charizard Y and Volcarona and knock them out with Stone Edge, while its Grassy Terrain boosts the power of Decidueye's Leaf Blade and provides it with passive recovery, allowing it to set up more easily. Breloom can threaten Dark-type Pokemon such as Bisharp and Hydreigon using Mach Punch and create setup opportunities for Decidueye with Spore. In return, Decidueye can threaten faster Psychic-type Pokemon for Breloom such as Latios and Alolan Raichu with its boosted Shadow Sneak. Whimsicott can support Decidueye by using Stun Spore to slow down faster Pokemon and Encore to create setup opportunities for Decidueye. It can also threaten Dark- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Mandibuzz, Hydreigon, and Kyurem-B using its Moonblast.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Grass
--------
Roost can be used over Leaf Blade along with Long Reach in order to prevent Decidueye from getting worn down, but this leaves it walled by Normal-type Pokemon. Sucker Punch can be used over Shadow Sneak as a stronger form of priority, but this is much more reliant on the opponent attacking and is worse against Mega Gallade. Pluck can be used in order to take advantage of Alolan Muk by consuming its Iapapa Berry but has no other use. If there is another Z-Move user on the team, Leftovers along with Roost can be used in order to provide Decidueye with recovery, which makes it easier to preserve its health and set up.
Checks and Counters
===================
Grass
--------
**Dark-types**: Dark-type Pokemon such as Bisharp and Hydreigon threaten to knock Decidueye out with their STAB Dark-type attacks, while Decidueye can't do much back, as they resist its Ghost-type STAB moves.
**Fire- and Ice-types**: Fire- and Ice-type Pokemon such as Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, Kyurem-B, and Mamoswine outspeed Decidueye and knock it out with their super effective STAB attacks.
**Physically Defensive Pokemon**: Certain physically defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Mandibuzz are able to take all of Decidueye's unboosted attacks and pressure it from setting up effectively.
**Faster Pokemon**: Decidueye's low Speed leaves it easily revenge killed by faster offensive Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny, Kommo-o, and Garchomp.
**Status Conditions**: Status conditions, namely burn and paralysis, hinder Decidueye's ability to set up and sweep by cutting down on its power or speed.
**Residual Damage**: Damage caused by entry hazards such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, as well as unnecessary chip damage, hinders Decidueye's ability to set up and sweep due to its limited bulk.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Grass analysis by: [[Decem, 362454]]
- Quality checked by: [[maroon, 305839], [Havens, 391540], [Kev, 314540]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Fireflame479, 231476]]
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