A video decoder that implements a mutually exclusive grouping of coding modes is provided. The video decoder receives data for a block of pixels to be decoded as a current block of a current picture of a video. When a first coding mode for the current block is enabled, a second coding mode is disabled for the current block, wherein the first and second coding modes specify different methods for computing an inter-prediction for the current block. The current block is decoded by using an inter-prediction that is computed according to an enabled coding mode.