Decidueye Guide: The Master Marksman Pokemon

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Ben is a certified Pokémon pro who has played from a early days on the GBC right up to the modern outings on the switch. When he isn't training his Pokémon party, he's usually taking on harder games like anything FromSoft makes, or playing a vast, open-world RPG.

My Bottom Line Up Front:

Decidueye is powerful Grass/Ghost-type Pokémon that is a fan favorite. Its unique design and a calm attitude are what make people love it. This Pokémon is not only popular but robust, too, if its use in the competitive sphere is anything to go by.

It has made appearances in other Pokémon titles, like Pokken Tournament DX. Decidueye also has another form in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which is a Fighting/Grass-type. Despite it being a relatively new addition to the franchise, Decidueye has a surprising amount of history and information about it:

General Info, Evolution, and Location
Stats & Useful Movesets
Moves
Appearances in Other Pokémon Titles

General Info

National Dex Number: 724

Local Pokedex Numbers:

003 (Pokémon Sun & Moon)
003 (Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon)
0003 (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)

Type: Ghost/Grass

Weight: 36.6kg (80.7 Ibs)

Height: 1.6m (5’03”)

Swooping into the franchise in Generation 7, Decidueye is known as the Arrow Quill Pokémon, which is very accurate, considering the Pokémon is covered in them, from head to toe. As its design suggests, Decidueye is an archer and excels at hiding its presence from humans and Pokémon.

Your life is already forfeit as soon as you’ve lost sight of this stealthy Pokémon. It can fire an arrow quill within a tenth of a second, with incredible marksmanship.

As far as appearances go, Decidueye is a bipedal, owl-like creature with two massive wings covered in brown arrow quills with small white circles peppered on it. The tips of Decidueye’s wings are also white, with a line of small orange triangles on the inner side of each wing.

Its body is slim and primarily white, with two large talons with three individual claws on each one. The upper section of this Pokémon’s face is dark green with sharp-looking eyes; this Pokémon also has an orange marking on its face that resembles a pair of oversized glasses.

Finally, Decidueye’s most iconic feature is the green leafy hood that covers its face and drapes over its shoulders; the hood has many uneven edges and a large white and orange feather that sticks out from the back. In its Shiny Form, all of Decidueye’s brown feathers turn a deep, dark green and all of the orange parts of its body turn a bright red.

Despite being such a calm and calculating character, Decidueye is weak to the element of surprise, but can you blame it? This Pokémon can erase its presence if it so chooses; any creature able to catch this Pokémon off-guard is few and far between.

Pokedex Entries

Pokémon Sun: It fires quills from its wings with such precision that they can pierce a pebble at over a hundred yards.
Pokémon Moon: Although calm and cautious, it’s seized by panic when caught by surprise.
Pokémon Ultra Sun: It nocks its arrow quills and shoots them at opponents. When it simply can’t afford to miss, it tugs the vines on its head to improve its focus.
Pokémon Ultra Moon: Decidueye can nock and fire an arrow at an enemy in a tenth of a second, deciding its battles in the blink of an eye.
Pokémon Sword: As if wielding a bow, it launches the arrow quills hidden among the feathers of its wings. Decidueye’s shots never miss.
Pokémon Shield: In a tenth of a second, it can nock and fire an arrow quill, piercing an opponent’s weak point before they notice what’s happening.

Depending on what language of the game you play, Decidueye’s name will change:

Spanish & Italian: Decidueye
German: Silvarro
Japanese: Junaiper
French: Archeduc

Decidueye’s name is derived from the following words:

Deciduous: A tree or shrub that sheds leaves
Eye: The organ that allows you to see

Evolution

Decidueye is the last stage of the Rowlet evolution line, so there are two other Pokémon that come before it:

Rowlet->Dartrix->Decidueye

Dartrix

National Dex Number: 723

Local Pokedex Numbers:

002 (Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon)
002 (Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon)
002 (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)

Type: Grass/Flying

Weight: 16.0kg (35.3 Ibs)

Height: 0.7m (2’04”)

Joining its fellow evolutions in Generation 7, Dartrix is the second pre-evolved form Decidueye, sits in the middle of the Rowlet evolution line, and is considerably less popular than its other forms, despite its intriguing design.

Dartrix is similar to prior evolution. It retains many owl-like features and Rowlet-like habits, like being primarily active at night and using its feathers as projectiles. However, one thing separates Dartrix from its other evolutions: its obsession with keeping itself clean and looking dandy. This Pokémon will refuse to battle if it spots even a speck of dirt on its pristine feathers!

Dartrix’s body is covered in primarily white feathers, following the owl aesthetic, but brown feathers cover its head, shoulders, and back. This Pokémon’s wings are white with two light brown spots on them; it stores two small orange blade quills under its wings.

Its talons are also orange. Dartrix has two large black eyes that it tends to keep closed and two tufts of green feathers that resemble a fancy-looking hairstyle. It has two leaves resembling a bowtie on its chest, like Rowlet’s.

Pokedex Entries

Pokémon Sun: It is a bit of a dandy and spends free time preening its wings. Its preoccupation with any dirt on its plumage can leave it unable to battle.

Pokémon Moon: It throws blade quills at enemies and prey. It seldom misses.

Pokémon Ultra Sun: This narcissistic Pokémon is a clean freak. If you don’t groom it diligently, it will stop listening to you.

Pokémon Ultra Moon: Supremely sensitive to the presence of others, it can detect opponents standing behind it, flinging its sharp feathers to take them out.

Pokémon Sword: It throws one knife-like feather at its enemies, and each one precisely strikes a weak point. These feathers are known as blade quills.

Pokémon Shield: It never slacks when cleaning its feathers. Thorough preening keeps it looking spiffy, and its blade quills nice and sharp.

Pokémon Legends: Regularly basks in sunlight to gather power-presumably due to the frigid climate. Nonetheless, the edges of the blade quills set into its wings are keen.

Depending on what language of the game you play, Dartrix’s name will change:

Spanish & Italian: Dartrix
German: Arboretoss
Japanese: Fukuthrow
French: Effleche

Dartrix’s name is derived from the following words:

Dart: a short, lighter arrow
Strix: A family of owls

Rowlet

National Dex Number: 722

Local Pokedex Numbers:

001 (Pokemon Sun & Pokemon Moon)
001 (Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon)
001 (Pokemon Legends: Arceus)

Type: Grass

Weight: 1.5kg (3.3 Ibs)

Height: 0.3m (1’00”)

The poster child of Generation 7, Rowlet, is very popular thanks to its round and cute design. It is also a powerful starter Pokémon with a balanced stat spread, with its only HP slightly higher than the others.

Rowlet is an owl, so it possesses many qualities, such as being more active during the night and being an excellent hunter, using its small yet effective talons to snatch up prey. It can also freely rotate its head 180 degrees. Rowlet can also use its sharp feathers like projectiles, hurling them at foes.

Rowlet is very rotund and sports a simple yet lovable design. Its body is round and covered with brown feathers, while its legs are white and stumpy. Its orange talons are relatively large compared to the rest of its body. This baby Pokemon also sports two large leaves around its chest, loosely resembling a bowtie; it also has a large white marking on its face that looks like a mask. In addition, Rowlet has a white, orange-tipped beak and two large, black eyes.

In its Shiny Form, Rowlet’s brown plumage turns light green, while the original green parts of its body turn a deep, dark green. Like Decidueye’s Shiny Form, the orange sections of Rowlet’s body will turn a bright red.

Pokedex Entries

Pokémon Sun: This wary Pokémon uses photosynthesis to store energy during the day while becoming active at night.
Pokémon Moon: Silently, it glides, drawing near its targets. Before they even notice it, it begins to pelt them with vicious kicks.
Pokémon Ultra Sun sends its feathers as sharp as blades, flying in the attack. Its legs are strong, so its kicks are formidable.
Pokémon Ultra Moon: It feels relaxed in tight, dark places and has been known to use its Trainer’s pocket or bag as a nest.
Pokémon Sword: It launches its sharp feathers while flying about at a distance. Rowlet switches tactics and delivers vicious kicks if the enemy gets too close.
Pokémon Shield: It builds up energy via photosynthesis during the day. It flies silently through the sky at night, on the prowl for prey.
Pokémon Legends: Flies noiselessly on delicate wings. It has mastered deftly launching dagger-sharp feathers from those same wings.

Depending on what language of the game you play, Rowlet’s name will change:

Spanish & Italian: Rowlet
German: Bauz
Japanese: Mokuroh
French: Brindibou

Rowlet’s name is derived from the following words:

Arrow: A thin projectile fired from a bow
Owlet: A baby owl

Stats

As is typical with the Generation 7 starter Pokémon, Decidueye has two abilities. One is a common ability, and the other is a Hidden Ability.

Decidueye’s Abilities

Overgrow: This ability drastically increases the power of the user’s Grass-type attacks once their HP becomes low.
Long Reach: This ability allows the user to move, not make physical contact with the target.

As a Grass/Ghost-type, Decidueye is weak against the following types:

Fire (Deals super effective damage)
Flying (Deals super effective damage)
Dark (Deals super effective damage)
Ghost (Deals super effective damage)
Ice (Deals super effective damage)

It resists the following types:

Water (Deals non-effective damage)
Electric (Deals non-effective damage)
Grass (Deals non-effective damage)
Ground (Deals non-effective damage)
Normal (Decidueye is unaffected by moves of this type)
Fighting (Decidueye is unaffected by moves of this type)

Stat-wise, Decidueye’s base stats are pretty closely-spread, letting it fulfill numerous different roles on several teams. Saying that its Attack, Special Attack & Special Defence are the only stats slightly higher than the others.

I utilize two variants of Decidueye, depending on what team I’m using:

Decidueye (All-Out Attacker)

Base Stats/IVs/EVs: HP, Attack, and a little Special Defence

Nature: Adamant (Lowers the Pokemon’s Special Attack stat while boosting their Attack stat)

Moves: Spirit Shackle, Leaf Blade, Brave Bird, Sucker Punch

Held Item: Assault Vest/Life Orb

As the name suggests, this variant of Decidueye prioritizes attacking over everything else, so I played into its slightly high Attack and Special Defence stats. In addition, I utilized HP because I wanted Decidueye to be able to take a few hits so that it could focus entirely on attacking.

As for its moves, Spirit Shackle is Decidueye’s signature move, and it causes good damage and prevents any targets from escaping the battle once they’ve been hit with the move. Leaf Blade is used as its decisive STAB move, letting Decidueye hit any mark with tremendous damage, alongside the chance to deal a critical hit.

Brave Bird is much the same; it is a mighty Flying-type move that causes recoil damage; this lets the Arrow Quill Pokémon deal super-effective with any Grass or Bug-types it encounters. Sucker Punch is a priority move that allows Decidueye to strike the target first if they used an attacking move; it helps finish weakened Pokémon or deal quick chip damage.

The Assault Vest returns here as it makes Decidueye more bulky and durable, letting it survive longer, thus allowing it to deal more damage. The Life Orb is riskier as it boosts the power of the holder’s moves but at the cost of draining a little of their HP every time they use an attack, turning Decidueye into a sort of glass cannon.

Decidueye (Bulky Staller)

Base Stats/IVs/EVs: HP, Special Defense, and a little Attack

Nature: Impish (Lowers Special Attack but boots the Pokémon’s Defense Stat)

Moves: Spirit Shackle, Toxic, Roost, U-Turn

Held Item: Leftovers

This variant of Decidueye plays around surviving onslaughts of attacks by healing itself and retreating. I invested primarily into the Arrow Quill Pokémon’s HP and Special Defense stat to make this set work.

The move set is a bit different from the previous variant, but Spirit Shackle remains as it allows Decidueye to trap a Pokémon and not let it escape; this allows to it slowly whittle away its HP with Toxic, which deals damage every turn; gradually increasing in potency as the battle goes on. Roost lets Decidueye recover a considerable amount of HP at no negative cost. U-Turn allows the Pokémon to switch out of an unfavorable situation while also dealing some damage.

The held item, Leftovers, restores a bit of the Holder’s HP at the end of each turn, making it perfect for this particular Decidueye set.

Moves

Move learned by leveling up

Levels 1-12

Growl: A Normal-type Status move. The user growls, lowering the target’s Attack stat by one stage. (Learned at Level 1)
Astonish: A Physical Ghost-type attack. It has a slight chance of making the target flinch if they haven’t made a move yet. (Learned at Level 1)
Leaf Storm: A Special Grass-type attack. The user sends a mighty storm of leaves at the target. This lowers the user’s Special Attack stat by two stages. (Learned at Level 1)
Leafage: A Physical Grass-type move. The user attacks the target using multiple leaves. (Learned at Level 1)
Phantom Force: A Physical Ghost-type attack. The user disappears into the void for one turn and reappears the next, dealing heavy damage. (Learned at Level 1)
Spirit Shackle: A Physical Ghost-type attack. The Pokémon damages the target, preventing them from switching out while the user is still in battle. (Learned at Level 1)
Spite: A Ghost-type Status Move. Once used, the target last used attack will lose between 2-5 Power Points. (Learned at Level 1)
Tackle: A Physical Normal-type attack. The user attacks the target using their entire body. (Learned at Level 1)
U-turn: A Physical Bug-type attack. The user quickly strikes the target and switches out within the same turn. (Learned at Level 1)
Peck: A Physical Flying-type move. The user attacks the target using their beak. (Learned at Level 9)
Shadow Sneak: A Physical Ghost-type attack. The user uses their shadow to strike before anybody else can react. (Learned at Level 12)

Levels 15-30

Razor Leaf: A Physical Grass-type move. The user attacks the target using a blast of leaves. (Learned at Level 15)
Synthesis: A Grass-type Status move. The user gathers energy from the sun and regains HP. This move restores more HP if the weather is sunny. (Learned at Level 20)
Pluck: A Physical Flying-type attack. The user strikes multiple times using its beak; it will also eat any berries the target holds. (Learned at Level 25)
Nasty Plot: A Status Dark-type move. The user schemes an evil plan, raising their Special Attack stat by two stages. (Learned at Level 30)

Levels 37-58

Sucker Punch: A Physical Dark-type attack. The user strikes first and without warning; this move will only work if the target chooses an attacking move. (Learned at Level 37)
Leaf Blade: A Physical Grass-type attack. The user materializes a blade out of leaves and slashes the target; this move has a relatively high chance of dealing a critical hit. (Learned at Level 44)
Featherdance: A Flying-type Status move. The user sends a barrage of soft feathers at the target, lowering their Attack stat by two stages. (Learned at Level 51)
Brave Bird: A Physical Flying-type attack. The user recklessly flies at the target, causing significant damage. However, this attack does cause recoil damage to the user. (Learned at Level 58)

Egg Moves

Knock Off: A Physical Dark-type attack. The user slaps the target’s held item out of their hands, forcing them to be unable to use it for the duration of the battle.
Confuse Ray: A Ghost-type Status move. The user shoots a mind-boggling ray at the target, confusing them for 2-5 turns.
Defog: A Flying-type Status move. The user flaps their wings, creating a whirlwind. This move lowers the target’s Evasion stat by one stage and blows away any entry hazards on the user’s side of the field.
Double Team: A Normal-type Status move. The user creates illusionary copies of itself, boosting its Evasion stat.

Move Tutor Moves

Grassy Glide: A Physical Grass-type attack. The user simply strikes the target after imbuing themselves with the power of nature. This attack will always go first if Grassy Terrain is active.
Dual Wingbeat: A Physical Flying-type attack. The user attacks the foe twice with their wings.
Skitter Smack: A Physical Bug-type attack. The user rushes behind the target to attack, lowering their Special Attack by one stage.
Poltergeist: A Physical Ghost-type move. The user controls the target’s held item and uses it to attack.

Moves Learnt Via TMs & TRs

Solar Beam: A Special Grass-type attack. The user absorbs power from the sun for one turn before unleashing a powerful blast of light on the next turn.
Solar Blade: A Physical Grass-type attack. The user absorbs power from the sun for one turn before unleashing a powerful slash of light on the next turn.
Substitute: A Normal-type Status move. The user sacrifices some of its HP to create a replacement. The substitute will take a specific amount of damage to the user until it breaks.
Sleep Talk: A Normal-type Status move. The user will use one of their moves at random. This move can only be used when sleeping.
Sunny Day: A Fire-type Status move. The user increases the strength of the sun’s rays, boosting all Fire-type attacks for five turns.
Swift: A Special Normal-type attack. The user fires star-shaped rays at the target; this move cannot miss.
Swords Dance: A Normal-type Status move. The user will raise their Attack stat by two stages.
Hyper Beam: A Normal-type special attack. The user fires a devastating beam of energy at the target. The user will be unable to attack for one turn.
Giga Impact: A Physical Normal-type attack. The user rams the target with incredible strength. In exchange, the user will miss one turn.
Safeguard: A Psychic-type Status move. The user coats itself and the entire part in a shimmering veil, protecting them from Status Conditions for five turns.
Light Screen: A Psychic Status move. The user erects a screen of light that boosts the Special Defence of all its party members for five turns.
Snore: A Special Normal-Type Attack. The user snores loudly, causing minor damage. This move also has a slight chance of making the target flinch.
Rest: A Psychic-type Status move. The user will simply fall asleep, recovering all of their health and recovering from any status effects. In exchange, the user will sleep for two turns.
Protect A Normal-type Status move. The user covers themselves with a barrier, making them impervious to all attacks for one turn.
Facade: A Physical Normal-type attack. This attack doubles in power if the user is burned, paralyzed, or poisoned.
Steel Wing: A Physical Steel-type attack. The user coats their wings in cold steel and slams the target with them.
Giga Drain: A Special Grass-type attack. The user gains a decent amount of HP and damage by draining the target’s energy.
Attract A Normal-type Status move. The user will make the target fall in love, preventing it from reliably performing any actions. This move won’t work if the user and the target are of the same gender.
Imprison: A Psychic-type Status move. The user seals any of the moves that target the shares with it.
U-Turn: A Physical Bug-type attack. The user strikes the target before rushing back to its Trainer, allowing another Pokémon to be brought out in its place.
Shadow Claw: A Physical Ghost-type attack. The user rakes the target with shadowy claws; this attack has a better chance of performing critical hits.
Low Sweep: A Physical Fighting-type move. The user sweeps the foe’s legs, lowering their Speed stat by one stage.
Psycho Cut: A Physical Psychic-type attack. The user slices the foe with a psychic blade. This attack has a high chance of dealing a critical hit.
Hex: A Special Ghost-type attack. The user casts a curse on the target. This attack doubles in power if the target suffers from a Status Condition.
Round: A Special Normal-type attack. The user will sing, causing minor damage. This move gets stronger if more Pokémon use Round at the same time.
Acrobatics: A Physical Flying-type attack. The user attacks the foe with incredible agility and speed; this attack does more damage if the target is not holding an item.
Phantom Force: A Physical Ghost-type attack. The user disappears into the void for one turn and reappears the next, dealing heavy damage.
Air Slash: A Special Flying-type attack. The user attacks the foe with a sharp blast of wind; this attack has a slight chance of making the target flinch.
False Swipe: A Physical Normal-type attack. The user slashes the target, always leaving it with at least one HP.
Baton Pass: A Normal-type Status move. The user switches places with another Pokémon in your party. Any Status Conditions or stat changes will be carried over to the new Pokémon.
Leaf Blade: A Physical Grass-type attack. The user materializes a blade out of leaves and slashes the target; this move has a relatively high chance of dealing a critical hit.
Shadow Ball: A Special Ghost-type attack. The user will summon a sphere of pure spectral energy and launch it at the target. This move has a high chance of lowering the target’s Special Defence by one stage.
Seed Bomb: A Physical Grass-type attack. The user sends a barrage of explosive seeds at the target, causing heavy damage.
Energy Ball: A Special Grass-type move. The user channels a sphere of natural energy and hurls it at the opponent. This attack also has a slight chance of lowering the target’s Special Defence by one stage.
Brave Bird: A Physical Flying-type attack. The user recklessly flies at the target causing significant damage; however, this attack does cause recoil damage to the user.
Leaf Storm: A Special Grass-type attack. The user sends a mighty storm of leaves at the target. This lowers the user’s Special Attack stat by two stages.
Nasty Plot: A Status Dark-type move. The user schemes an evil plan, raising their Special Attack stat by two stages.
Work Up: A Normal-type Status Move. The user rouses itself, raising its Attack and Special Attack stat by one stage.
Grass Knot: A Special Grass-type attack. The user creates a small grassy knot at the target’s feet, causing them to trip. This move does more damage to heavier Pokémon.
Hurricane: A Special Flying-type move. The user summons a tremendous hurricane that damages the target. It also has a high chance of confusing the target.

Appearances in Other Pokémon Titles

As I mentioned earlier, Decidueye has made appearances in other Pokémon games, such as Pokken Tournament DX and Pokémon Legends Arceus.

In Pokken Tournament DX, Decidueye is adept at using projectiles and performing aerial combos. It is a very balanced fighter and matches up quite well against the rest of the roster. In combat, the Pokémon has access to its signature Spirit Shackle technique and a few other attacks it can’t learn in the mainline games, such as Smack Down and Fury Attack.

It has also made minor appearances in other games, such as

Pokémon Rumble
Pokémon GO
Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Decidueye changes quite drastically from its Alolan Form:

Decidueye (Hisuian Form)

National Dex Number: 724

Local Pokedex Numbers:

002 (Pokémon Sun & Pokémon Moon)
002 (Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon)
002 (Pokémon Legends: Arceus)

Type: Grass/Fighting

Weight: 37.0kg (81.6 Ibs)

Height: 1.6m (5’03”)

This version of the Arrow Quill Pokémon is the polar opposite of its Alolan Form. To survive the harsh Hisuian wilderness, Decidueye realized it couldn’t be passive and stay in the shadows, and as a result, it became more stalwart and fierce. It relies on confronting all problems head-on and resolving them with conflict, although it won’t attack if it deems you non-hostile.

Due to its Fighting-typing, Decidueye’s kicks possess incredible power and can easily shatter boulders and fallen trees. It has also adopted a nomadic lifestyle and travels the region looking for food, never settling in one place for more than one night.

Appearance-wise, Hisuian Decidueye has short wings covered in brown and black feathers and much longer white legs than its Alolan cousin, its talons are jet-black, and it has white plumes at the bottom of its legs. In addition, this Pokémon’s head, neck, and shoulders are covered in orange and red leaves. These leaves resemble an Ayaigasa, a traditional conical Japanese hat.

Pokedex Entry

Pokémon Legends: The air stored inside the rachises of Decidueye’s feathers insulates the Pokémon against Hisui’s extreme cold. This is firm proof that the environment can influence evolution.

FAQs

Question: Should I use Roost or Synthesis on my Bulky Staller Decidueye set?

Answer: I’d use Roost personally. Although Synthesis does restore much more HP if it’s sunny, Roost restores a good amount of HP without needing to set up the hassle of using Sunny Day.

Question: Is it possible to get Hisuian Decidueye in the mainline games?

Answer: Unfortunately, Hisuian Decidueye is exclusive to Pokémon Legends: Arceus and can’t be obtained in any other title. Perhaps one day, we’ll see it in the mainline games.