Honestly after a while of seeing this poor bird, I start to feel like Gamefreak just hates Alolan Decidueye in the competitive scene and especially in VGC given how awkward it is in comparison to its other Alolan Cousins given how those two have taken the Saludictorian and Valedictorian of VGC. 

Firstly, the stats. Brother when you look at regular Decidueye’s stat line if it was just Alola than MAYBE there’s some merit to it but other than THAT it honestly sucks so much. It’s moves are okay with amazing sweeper potential, the ability has a very situational but useful niche but then there’s the stat distribution and it throws all of those goodies out the window because despite brother looking like a lanky and sleek bird, it only has a awkward base speed stat of base 70… this makes it way too fast for trick room and honestly kinda sluggish outside of trick room. And if you think slapping a choice scarf on it would help somewhat, be aware the birb wants to run stuff like swords dance.

And even with All of that low speed, its bulk doesn’t make up for it. I mean sure, Spirit Shackle is a good ghost move and you don’t see that many great physical ghost moves around nowadays but really it’s bulk is so mid and it’s typing doesn’t do it much favors offensively, the weird 100 special defense just doesn’t cut it. The Hisuian form doesn’t even do it any better favors because it only gets SLOWER and sure it gets better offense but brother ends up being weak to EVERY common gym bro in competitive scenery

And what makes this disrespect so much worse is that Gamefreak had removed everything unique about this bird. For one between every new game it’s featured in asides from legends Arceus and Sword and Shield its signature move has been chopped in terms of animation. Now brother just idk..  shoots the arrow from its midsection rather than like an actual archer in sun and moon/sword and shield. Which to me just feels really REALLY weird… especially given how the animations for the other 2 Alola starters were done right in champions… they even ruined it’s one good signature ability by turning it into a straight up HELD ITEM in Gen 9. While it’s now in Champions yet iy probably will be and will ruin the bird only more…

And I say all of this with pride because Decidueye is an actually cool starter pokemon. Literally the first time I’ve ever picked a grass type starter because of design and it actually has a unique concept. So why did the devs just feel the need to ruin the poor owl and robbed him of every chance of fame he could get.

My biggest opinion for buffing our pokemon variant of the Kakapo would be by idk swapping its special attack or special defense with its speed or literally anything that makes it faster. Because while Incineroar is having every good degree with Primarina compeleting her masters diploma, Decidueye Alola is just sitting out here flipping burgers in Burger Kingambit 🙏 

Rip for Decidueye in his dead life crisis

Decidueye’s Dead-Life Crisis