diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoder.java
index 2acc2901..3eeaa10e 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -38,14 +38,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_ALP;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        if (!(dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p)) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        return p.ptype() == PType.F64 || p.ptype() == PType.F32;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpRdEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpRdEncodingDecoder.java
index fa3006e9..79312922 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpRdEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpRdEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -34,14 +34,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_ALPRD;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        if (!(dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p)) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        return p.ptype() == PType.F32 || p.ptype() == PType.F64;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ALPRDMetadata meta = parseMeta(ctx);
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BitpackedEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BitpackedEncodingDecoder.java
index 563a5350..b0b86791 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BitpackedEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BitpackedEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -31,17 +31,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.FASTLANES_BITPACKED;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        if (!(dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p)) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        return switch (p.ptype()) {
-            case I8, I16, I32, I64, U8, U16, U32, U64 -> true;
-            default -> false;
-        };
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BoolEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BoolEncodingDecoder.java
index 5aad4b5d..62ec3121 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BoolEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/BoolEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.decode;
 
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.encoding.EncodingId;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.Array;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.MaterializedBoolArray;
@@ -19,11 +18,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_BOOL;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Bool;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         return new MaterializedBoolArray(ctx.dtype(), ctx.rowCount(), ctx.buffer(0));
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ByteBoolEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ByteBoolEncodingDecoder.java
index b4331aef..a28a05f5 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ByteBoolEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ByteBoolEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.decode;
 
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.encoding.EncodingId;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.Array;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.MaterializedBoolArray;
@@ -21,11 +20,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_BYTEBOOL;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Bool;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         long n = ctx.rowCount();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ChunkedEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ChunkedEncodingDecoder.java
index 96f30a41..e41db0b4 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ChunkedEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ChunkedEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -35,13 +35,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_CHUNKED;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive
-                || dtype instanceof DType.Bool
-                || dtype instanceof DType.Struct;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         int nchildren = ctx.node().children().length;
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ConstantEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ConstantEncodingDecoder.java
index d5e13057..b247d3cc 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ConstantEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ConstantEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -35,11 +35,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_CONSTANT;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         MemorySegment scalarBuf = ctx.buffer(0);
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DateTimePartsEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DateTimePartsEncodingDecoder.java
index d6328a20..df064471 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DateTimePartsEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DateTimePartsEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_DATETIMEPARTS;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Extension;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer meta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalBytePartsEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalBytePartsEncodingDecoder.java
index 57b99c41..2893c8e5 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalBytePartsEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalBytePartsEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_DECIMAL_BYTE_PARTS;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Decimal;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer meta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoder.java
index 4d678492..baa8dee6 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.decode;
 
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.VortexException;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.Array;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.LazyDecimalArray;
@@ -23,11 +22,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_DECIMAL;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Decimal;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer meta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DeltaEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DeltaEncodingDecoder.java
index 491cfdca..6a01bc23 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DeltaEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DeltaEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -31,17 +31,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.FASTLANES_DELTA;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        if (!(dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p)) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        return switch (p.ptype()) {
-            case I8, I16, I32, I64, U8, U16, U32, U64 -> true;
-            default -> false;
-        };
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoder.java
index 3915d2b0..1c4030fe 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -43,11 +43,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_DICT;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive || dtype instanceof DType.Utf8;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer meta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/EncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/EncodingDecoder.java
index ab4f9783..dd1343c0 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/EncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/EncodingDecoder.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.decode;
 
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.Array;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.encoding.EncodingId;
 
@@ -16,12 +15,6 @@ public interface EncodingDecoder {
     /// @return the wire identifier
     EncodingId encodingId();
 
-    /// Returns whether this decoder handles the given dtype.
-    ///
-    /// @param dtype the dtype to test
-    /// @return `true` if this decoder can handle arrays of `dtype`
-    boolean accepts(DType dtype);
-
     /// Decodes an array node from the file using the provided context.
     ///
     /// @param ctx decoding context containing buffers, dtype, row count, and child registry
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ExtEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ExtEncodingDecoder.java
index 174e532e..3618c75c 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ExtEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ExtEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -17,11 +17,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_EXT;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Extension;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (!(ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.Extension ext)) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FixedSizeListEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FixedSizeListEncodingDecoder.java
index 5266613a..012edacd 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FixedSizeListEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FixedSizeListEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -18,11 +18,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_FIXED_SIZE_LIST;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.FixedSizeList;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (!(ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.FixedSizeList fsl)) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FrameOfReferenceEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FrameOfReferenceEncodingDecoder.java
index 73e592bd..0fbf186e 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FrameOfReferenceEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FrameOfReferenceEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -28,11 +28,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.FASTLANES_FOR;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p && !p.ptype().isFloating();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FsstEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FsstEncodingDecoder.java
index e4ad348e..d6064a7c 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FsstEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/FsstEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -28,11 +28,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_FSST;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Utf8 || dtype instanceof DType.Binary;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListEncodingDecoder.java
index 46eddc32..bc8ab41c 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -23,11 +23,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_LIST;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.List;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (!(ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.List listDtype)) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListViewEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListViewEncodingDecoder.java
index a94e1f10..5e3141c1 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListViewEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ListViewEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -23,11 +23,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_LISTVIEW;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.List;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (!(ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.List listDtype)) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/MaskedEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/MaskedEncodingDecoder.java
index 4f75fd4a..8f8522e1 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/MaskedEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/MaskedEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_MASKED;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (ctx.node().bufferIndices().length != 0) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/NullEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/NullEncodingDecoder.java
index ebc034ff..1db69b51 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/NullEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/NullEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.decode;
 
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.Array;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.NullArray;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.encoding.EncodingId;
@@ -17,11 +16,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_NULL;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Null;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         return new NullArray(ctx.dtype(), ctx.rowCount());
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PatchedEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PatchedEncodingDecoder.java
index 3c26a95e..62b4eb00 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PatchedEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PatchedEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -30,11 +30,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_PATCHED;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PcoEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PcoEncodingDecoder.java
index 3c3641e2..a089896e 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PcoEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PcoEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -43,11 +43,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_PCO;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         PcoMetadata meta = parseMeta(ctx);
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PrimitiveEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PrimitiveEncodingDecoder.java
index 9f405f3a..9c436fa3 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PrimitiveEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/PrimitiveEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -29,11 +29,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_PRIMITIVE;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         MemorySegment buf = ctx.buffer(0);
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RleEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RleEncodingDecoder.java
index 98caa8bc..7468b6e8 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RleEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RleEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -38,11 +38,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.FASTLANES_RLE;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p && !p.ptype().isFloating();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RunEndEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RunEndEncodingDecoder.java
index 689d4236..0d0e3aad 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RunEndEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/RunEndEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -38,11 +38,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_RUNEND;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p && !p.ptype().isFloating();
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SequenceEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SequenceEncodingDecoder.java
index 2a3e30fe..0ec996ab 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SequenceEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SequenceEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -34,11 +34,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_SEQUENCE;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer metaBuf = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SparseEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SparseEncodingDecoder.java
index cc7df618..9d152cac 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SparseEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/SparseEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -43,11 +43,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_SPARSE;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/StructEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/StructEncodingDecoder.java
index 7c47990b..1e32dba7 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/StructEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/StructEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -23,11 +23,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_STRUCT;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Struct;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         int numChildren = ctx.node().children().length;
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinEncodingDecoder.java
index bb08535d..154222ec 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -24,11 +24,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_VARBIN;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Utf8 || dtype instanceof DType.Binary;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoder.java
index 0b84f43d..ffe8c1ee 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -20,11 +20,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_VARBINVIEW;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Utf8 || dtype instanceof DType.Binary;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (!(ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.Utf8 || ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.Binary)) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VariantEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VariantEncodingDecoder.java
index 029c5f80..e64baaae 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VariantEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VariantEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -26,11 +26,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_VARIANT;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Variant;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         DType shreddedDtype = parseShreddedDtype(ctx.metadata());
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoder.java
index 9a295aa1..ed23daaa 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -30,15 +30,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_ZIGZAG;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        if (!(dtype instanceof DType.Primitive p)) {
-            return false;
-        }
-        PType pt = p.ptype();
-        return pt == PType.I8 || pt == PType.I16 || pt == PType.I32 || pt == PType.I64;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         if (!(ctx.dtype() instanceof DType.Primitive p)) {
diff --git a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZstdEncodingDecoder.java b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZstdEncodingDecoder.java
index c57094f1..00897a0b 100644
--- a/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZstdEncodingDecoder.java
+++ b/reader/src/main/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZstdEncodingDecoder.java
@@ -38,11 +38,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
         return EncodingId.VORTEX_ZSTD;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-        return dtype instanceof DType.Primitive || dtype instanceof DType.Utf8 || dtype instanceof DType.Binary;
-    }
-
     @Override
     public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
         ByteBuffer rawMeta = ctx.metadata();
diff --git a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/VortexReaderTest.java b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/VortexReaderTest.java
index 3fe11d78..e332cf34 100644
--- a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/VortexReaderTest.java
+++ b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/VortexReaderTest.java
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader;
 
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.VortexException;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.VortexFormat;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.Array;
@@ -37,11 +36,6 @@ public EncodingId encodingId() {
                     return encodingId;
                 }
 
-                @Override
-                public boolean accepts(DType dtype) {
-                    return false;
-                }
-
                 @Override
                 public Array decode(DecodeContext ctx) {
                     // Generic zero-length stand-in: scan chunk row count comes from the
diff --git a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoderTest.java b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoderTest.java
index f2778af2..31636673 100644
--- a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoderTest.java
+++ b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/AlpEncodingDecoderTest.java
@@ -54,15 +54,6 @@ private static MemorySegment leDoubles(double... vs) {
         return MemorySegment.ofArray(b);
     }
 
-    @Test
-    void accepts_floatsTrue_otherFalse() {
-        // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(F64)).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(F32)).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Primitive(PType.I64, false))).isFalse();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Utf8(false))).isFalse();
-    }
-
     @Test
     void decode_nonPrimitiveDtype_throws() {
         // Given a Utf8 dtype on an ALP node
diff --git a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoderTest.java b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoderTest.java
index 5a272486..f077a4b4 100644
--- a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoderTest.java
+++ b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DecimalEncodingDecoderTest.java
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.decode;
 
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.DType;
-import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.PType;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.VortexException;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.encoding.EncodingId;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.ReadRegistry;
@@ -39,13 +38,6 @@ private static Array decode(ByteBuffer meta, int rowCount, int bufferBytes) {
         return SUT.decode(ctx);
     }
 
-    @Test
-    void acceptsDecimalRejectsOthers() {
-        // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(DECIMAL)).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Primitive(PType.I32, false))).isFalse();
-    }
-
     @Test
     void encodingId() {
         assertThat(SUT.encodingId()).isEqualTo(EncodingId.VORTEX_DECIMAL);
diff --git a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoderTest.java b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoderTest.java
index 2dd7b8ea..83256506 100644
--- a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoderTest.java
+++ b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/DictEncodingDecoderTest.java
@@ -39,11 +39,9 @@ class DictEncodingDecoderTest {
             SUT, new PrimitiveEncodingDecoder(), new VarBinEncodingDecoder());
 
     @Test
-    void acceptsPrimitiveAndUtf8_rejectsOthers() {
+    void encodingId_isVortexDict() {
         // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Primitive(PType.I32, false))).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Utf8(false))).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Bool(false))).isFalse();
+        assertThat(SUT.encodingId()).isEqualTo(EncodingId.VORTEX_DICT);
     }
 
     @Nested
diff --git a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoderTest.java b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoderTest.java
index 941ad931..41ffb80d 100644
--- a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoderTest.java
+++ b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/VarBinViewEncodingDecoderTest.java
@@ -25,14 +25,6 @@ void encodingId_isVortexVarBinView() {
         assertThat(SUT.encodingId()).isEqualTo(EncodingId.VORTEX_VARBINVIEW);
     }
 
-    @Test
-    void accepts_utf8AndBinary_true_otherFalse() {
-        // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Utf8(false))).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Binary(false))).isTrue();
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Primitive(io.github.dfa1.vortex.core.PType.I32, false))).isFalse();
-    }
-
     @Test
     void decode_binaryDtype_inlineViews() {
         // Given two short (inline) values under a Binary dtype — exercises the
diff --git a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoderTest.java b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoderTest.java
index 78730eab..367f98d5 100644
--- a/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoderTest.java
+++ b/reader/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/reader/decode/ZigZagEncodingDecoderTest.java
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.LongArray;
 import io.github.dfa1.vortex.reader.array.ShortArray;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
-import org.junit.jupiter.params.ParameterizedTest;
-import org.junit.jupiter.params.provider.EnumSource;
 
 import java.lang.foreign.Arena;
 import java.lang.foreign.MemorySegment;
@@ -75,26 +73,6 @@ void encodingId_isZigzag() {
         assertThat(SUT.encodingId()).isEqualTo(EncodingId.VORTEX_ZIGZAG);
     }
 
-    @ParameterizedTest
-    @EnumSource(value = PType.class, names = {"I8", "I16", "I32", "I64"})
-    void accepts_signedIntegers(PType ptype) {
-        // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Primitive(ptype, false))).isTrue();
-    }
-
-    @ParameterizedTest
-    @EnumSource(value = PType.class, names = {"U8", "U16", "U32", "U64", "F16", "F32", "F64"})
-    void accepts_rejectsNonSigned(PType ptype) {
-        // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Primitive(ptype, false))).isFalse();
-    }
-
-    @Test
-    void accepts_rejectsNonPrimitive() {
-        // Given / When / Then
-        assertThat(SUT.accepts(new DType.Bool(false))).isFalse();
-    }
-
     @Test
     void decode_i8_roundTrip() {
         // Given
diff --git a/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/AlpRdEncodingEncoderTest.java b/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/AlpRdEncodingEncoderTest.java
index 23faff54..f6658199 100644
--- a/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/AlpRdEncodingEncoderTest.java
+++ b/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/AlpRdEncodingEncoderTest.java
@@ -132,14 +132,10 @@ void encodeDecode_randomF32_isBitExact(int n) {
     void accepts_floatPtypesOnly() {
         // Given / When / Then — only F32/F64 are encodable; integers and non-primitives are rejected
         var encoder = new AlpRdEncodingEncoder();
-        var decoder = new AlpRdEncodingDecoder();
         assertThat(encoder.accepts(DTypes.F32)).isTrue();
         assertThat(encoder.accepts(DTypes.F64)).isTrue();
-        assertThat(decoder.accepts(DTypes.F32)).isTrue();
-        assertThat(decoder.accepts(DTypes.F64)).isTrue();
         assertThat(encoder.accepts(DTypes.I64)).isFalse();
         assertThat(encoder.accepts(DTypes.UTF8)).isFalse();
-        assertThat(decoder.accepts(DTypes.I32)).isFalse();
     }
 
     private static Stream<Arguments> sizes() {
diff --git a/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/DeltaEncodingEncoderTest.java b/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/DeltaEncodingEncoderTest.java
index eed4307f..a5862c14 100644
--- a/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/DeltaEncodingEncoderTest.java
+++ b/writer/src/test/java/io/github/dfa1/vortex/writer/encode/DeltaEncodingEncoderTest.java
@@ -164,16 +164,13 @@ void encodeDecode_randomAcrossPtypesAndSizes_isLossless(String name, DType dtype
     void accepts_everyIntegerPtype_isTrue(String ptype) {
         // Given / When / Then
         assertThat(ENCODER.accepts(new DType.Primitive(PType.valueOf(ptype), false))).isTrue();
-        assertThat(DECODER.accepts(new DType.Primitive(PType.valueOf(ptype), false))).isTrue();
     }
 
     @Test
     void accepts_nonIntegerOrNonPrimitive_isFalse() {
-        // Given / When / Then — floats and non-primitive dtypes are rejected by both sides
+        // Given / When / Then — floats and non-primitive dtypes are rejected
         assertThat(ENCODER.accepts(DTypes.F64)).isFalse();
         assertThat(ENCODER.accepts(DTypes.UTF8)).isFalse();
-        assertThat(DECODER.accepts(DTypes.F32)).isFalse();
-        assertThat(DECODER.accepts(DTypes.BOOL)).isFalse();
     }
 
     @Test