[SET]
name: Substitute + Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Horn Leech
move 4: Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Tapu Bulu's high Attack, allowing it to break through sturdy physical walls like Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Substitute serves a number of different purposes, ranging from dodging status moves and burns from Scald to taking advantage of Landorus-T's U-turn and anti-leading Trick Room leads like Uxie. It also acts as a buffer for Skarmory's Counter. Horn Leech is a reliable STAB move with decent Base Power that gives Tapu Bulu semi-reliable recovery, which, combined with the passive recovery from Grassy Terrain, makes up for the Life Orb recoil. Superpower is Tapu Bulu's best coverage option for its last slot, dealing with annoying Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Skarmory. Stone Edge can be used instead as the last move if Tapu Bulu is paired with Magnezone, which traps most Superpower targets, to hit Zapdos, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona upon switch in or in a one-on-one situation when behind a Substitute while maintaining coverage against Skarmory in case it can't be trapped by Magnezone because of Shed Shell.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature maximizes Tapu Bulu's damage output, with the remaining EVs dumped into Speed to outpace defensive threats like Landorus-T and specially defensive Heatran. Alternatively, a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed the likes of Timid Magearna and Jolly Bisharp, though the power loss makes it undesirable. Life Orb boosts the power of Horn Leech and Superpower, notably letting Tapu Bulu 2HKO Unaware Clefable, a big nuisance to Swords Dance sets due to its ability. Grassy Surge summons Grassy Terrain, which powers up grounded Pokemon's Grass-type moves and gives them passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Use Substitute against passive Pokemon like Toxapex, Mantine, and Skarmory as they try to burn Tapu Bulu with Scald, switch out, or set entry hazards. Against Uxie leads on Trick Room teams, Substitute lets Tapu Bulu take advantage of their lack of a damaging move to set up with Swords Dance and stall out Trick Room turns. Swords Dance is a pretty safe move when Tapu Bulu is behind a Substitute and punishes the switches it forces with boosted attacks; however, it can also throw out attacks behind a Substitute if it doesn't need a boost to KO an opposing Pokemon, for example if the opponent's team is weakened or they try to sacrifice a Pokemon to break the Substitute. Don't use Tapu Bulu as your primary switch-in to Pokemon it checks such as Ash-Greninja and Tapu Koko because the former only needs a bit of prior damage to 2HKO Tapu Bulu and the latter can Volt Switch out or 2HKO it with a Choice Specs-boosted Dazzling Gleam; however, it can be used as a switch-in to foes that can't threaten it at all like Zygarde. Tapu Bulu can get worn down pretty easily if entry hazards are on the field, so avoid switching it in when Stealth Rock and Spikes are up. Toxic Spikes are especially annoying for it because they cut its recovery drastically.
Team Options
========
Pivots that can switch into Fire-types like Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y such as Mantine and Toxapex make for great partners because Tapu Bulu invites those in if it lacks Stone Edge, and it is revenge killed by them if it doesn't have a Substitute up. Teammates that can deal with Grass- and Steel-types that annoy this set like Scizor, Celesteela, and Tangrowth complement Tapu Bulu's breaking potential. Heatran deals with these and benefits from the Grassy Terrain recovery, while Volcarona uses them as setup fodder for Quiver Dance or even Substitute. Magnezone is mandatory if Tapu Bulu is running Stone Edge to trap most Steel-types, though it's a fine partner in general, as it traps Scizor and Celesteela, two foes that pose a threat to this set. Entry hazard removal helps Tapu Bulu a lot because it needs as much HP as possible to set up Substitutes and fire off Life Orb-boosted attacks. Defoggers like Mew, Mantine, and Latios are good partners for this reason. Alternatively, Toxapex can be used as a Toxic Spikes absorber because that's the entry hazard that annoys Tapu Bulu the most.
name: Substitute + Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Horn Leech
move 4: Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance boosts Tapu Bulu's high Attack, allowing it to break through sturdy physical walls like Skarmory and Ferrothorn. Substitute serves a number of different purposes, ranging from dodging status moves and burns from Scald to taking advantage of Landorus-T's U-turn and anti-leading Trick Room leads like Uxie. It also acts as a buffer for Skarmory's Counter. Horn Leech is a reliable STAB move with decent Base Power that gives Tapu Bulu semi-reliable recovery, which, combined with the passive recovery from Grassy Terrain, makes up for the Life Orb recoil. Superpower is Tapu Bulu's best coverage option for its last slot, dealing with annoying Steel-types like Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Skarmory. Stone Edge can be used instead as the last move if Tapu Bulu is paired with Magnezone, which traps most Superpower targets, to hit Zapdos, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona upon switch in or in a one-on-one situation when behind a Substitute while maintaining coverage against Skarmory in case it can't be trapped by Magnezone because of Shed Shell.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature maximizes Tapu Bulu's damage output, with the remaining EVs dumped into Speed to outpace defensive threats like Landorus-T and specially defensive Heatran. Alternatively, a Jolly nature can be used to outspeed the likes of Timid Magearna and Jolly Bisharp, though the power loss makes it undesirable. Life Orb boosts the power of Horn Leech and Superpower, notably letting Tapu Bulu 2HKO Unaware Clefable, a big nuisance to Swords Dance sets due to its ability. Grassy Surge summons Grassy Terrain, which powers up grounded Pokemon's Grass-type moves and gives them passive recovery.
Usage Tips
========
Use Substitute against passive Pokemon like Toxapex, Mantine, and Skarmory as they try to burn Tapu Bulu with Scald, switch out, or set entry hazards. Against Uxie leads on Trick Room teams, Substitute lets Tapu Bulu take advantage of their lack of a damaging move to set up with Swords Dance and stall out Trick Room turns. Swords Dance is a pretty safe move when Tapu Bulu is behind a Substitute and punishes the switches it forces with boosted attacks; however, it can also throw out attacks behind a Substitute if it doesn't need a boost to KO an opposing Pokemon, for example if the opponent's team is weakened or they try to sacrifice a Pokemon to break the Substitute. Don't use Tapu Bulu as your primary switch-in to Pokemon it checks such as Ash-Greninja and Tapu Koko because the former only needs a bit of prior damage to 2HKO Tapu Bulu and the latter can Volt Switch out or 2HKO it with a Choice Specs-boosted Dazzling Gleam; however, it can be used as a switch-in to foes that can't threaten it at all like Zygarde. Tapu Bulu can get worn down pretty easily if entry hazards are on the field, so avoid switching it in when Stealth Rock and Spikes are up. Toxic Spikes are especially annoying for it because they cut its recovery drastically.
Team Options
========
Pivots that can switch into Fire-types like Volcarona and Mega Charizard Y such as Mantine and Toxapex make for great partners because Tapu Bulu invites those in if it lacks Stone Edge, and it is revenge killed by them if it doesn't have a Substitute up. Teammates that can deal with Grass- and Steel-types that annoy this set like Scizor, Celesteela, and Tangrowth complement Tapu Bulu's breaking potential. Heatran deals with these and benefits from the Grassy Terrain recovery, while Volcarona uses them as setup fodder for Quiver Dance or even Substitute. Magnezone is mandatory if Tapu Bulu is running Stone Edge to trap most Steel-types, though it's a fine partner in general, as it traps Scizor and Celesteela, two foes that pose a threat to this set. Entry hazard removal helps Tapu Bulu a lot because it needs as much HP as possible to set up Substitutes and fire off Life Orb-boosted attacks. Defoggers like Mew, Mantine, and Latios are good partners for this reason. Alternatively, Toxapex can be used as a Toxic Spikes absorber because that's the entry hazard that annoys Tapu Bulu the most.
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