Approved by Colonel M
QC: Finchinator / Gary / Colonel M
GP: Fireflame479 / P Squared
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Wood Hammer / Stone Edge
item: Grassium Z / Rockium Z
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Tapu Bulu to raise its Attack and threaten many defensive Pokemon that struggle to take its powerful STAB moves and coverage. Horn Leech is useful due to its decent power backed up by STAB, and it also lets Tapu Bulu regain health that it may have lost throughout the match from switching into its checks such as Zygarde. Superpower is necessary on this set in order to hit Steel-types that Tapu Bulu would otherwise have great difficulty breaking past such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Skarmory hard. Wood Hammer is an alternative STAB move that trades sustainability for raw power and is used with Grassium Z to turn into a 190-Base Power Bloom Doom, which can OHKO threats that resist Grass-type coverage such as Latios and bulky threats such as Mew. Mega Mawile, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Magearna are OHKOed at +2 with it; Wood Hammer also lets Tapu Bulu break past Unaware Clefable, which can handle Horn Leech Tapu Bulu with Defense investment. However, Stone Edge is an alternative coverage movethat, when utilized with Rockium Z, allows Tapu Bulu to throw out a powerful Continental Crush, which can take out many of Tapu Bulu's checks, such as Zapdos without any boosts, as well as Celesteela and Assault Vest Tangrowth at +2. It is also useful in taking out Tapu Bulu's Fire-type checks such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y on the switch. Zen Headbutt may be used with Fightinium Z in order to take out the likes of Mega Heracross, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss, which otherwise take this set on with ease.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Attack investment with an Adamant nature allows Tapu Bulu to outspeed slower threats that it checks such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Tyranitar, and Tapu Fini. A Jolly nature may be used instead to outspeed the likes of Modest Heatran, Adamant Mega Heracross, Jolly Bisharp, Timid Magearna, and Adamant Tapu Bulu, although this comes at the cost of noticeable wallbreaking power. Grassium Z is the primary item of choice for this set, as it allows Tapu Bulu to pull off such offensive feats as OHKOing Latios; if Grassium Z is used, Wood Hammer must be used in the last slot, as it allows Tapu Bulu to use a much stronger Bloom Doom in comparison to Horn Leech. If Rockium Z is used instead, it must be used with Stone Edge in order to take out a number of Tapu Bulu's checks such as Celesteela and Tangrowth at +2. Fightinium Z is an option that may be used with Superpower in order to net more damage against Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Magearna, Skarmory, and Heatran in one slot. Grassy Surge is Tapu Bulu's only ability, which gives it greater power to its Grass-type STAB moves while also providing passive recovery for itself and its teammates.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Tapu Bulu's good bulk and great defensive typing, it can be brought directly in on Pokemon it checks such as Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Garchomp. Once Tapu Bulu is in, it can use Swords Dance on a predicted switch into a slower threat that checks it without any boosts such as Ferrothorn, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Magearna, which struggle to take a +2 Superpower or Bloom Doom. Due to Bloom Doom's immense power, it may be used to deal great damage to a threat that needs to be taken out or worn down for a partner to take advantage of, such as Toxapex or Zygarde. It may also be used in a situation where Tapu Bulu wants to avoid recoil damage from Wood Hammer to continue taking on the threats that it checks. If Stone Edge is used in the last slot, it can be used to hit its Fire- and Flying-type checks such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Zapdos on the switch, preventing them from taking advantage of Tapu Bulu. Although Tapu Bulu has a fantastic matchup against defensive builds, it is important to note that Skarmory must be handled with care; when facing Skarmory, the best way to break past it is to use Swords Dance repeatedly, break its Sturdy using Horn Leech, and then break past it with Superpower so that Tapu Bulu does not get taken out with Counter.
Team Options
========
Tapu Bulu's partners for this set depend primarily on which Z-Move it is running. If running Grassium Z or Fightinium Z, Tapu Bulu will have great difficulty dealing with its Fire- and Flying-type checks such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T; switch-ins to these threats such as Zygarde, Nihilego, Garchomp, and Terrakion can take advantage of them and also appreciate Tapu Bulu assisting them in breaking past defensive builds. Tapu Koko is a good partner, as it can help break past Flying-type checks to Tapu Bulu while also being able to bring it in with U-turn or Volt Switch. Tapu Koko also likes Tapu Bulu breaking down its checks such as Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Zygarde. If running Grassium Z, Tapu Bulu will also have trouble in taking on bulkier Steel-types that are not easily taken out by Superpower without prior damage, such as Celesteela and Mega Scizor. Partners that can wear these threats down such as Latios and Tapu Lele, which can carry Thunderbolt for Celesteela and Hidden Power Fire for Mega Scizor, serve as good partners for Tapu Bulu. Another partner that can assist Tapu Bulu in taking out Steel-types is Magnezone, as eliminating Steel-type checks to it such as Celesteela gives Tapu Bulu a lot more freedom to wallbreak and use Wood Hammer more liberally.
Zygarde is a notable partner, as it does not have to worry about its main STAB move being weakened by Grassy Terrain, unlike Earthquake from the likes of Garchomp, and appreciates the passive recovery provided by Grassy Terrain; Zygarde can also check Fire-types for Tapu Bulu, while Tapu Bulu can help wear down Grass-types for Zygarde such as Tangrowth, which can be taken out with a +2 Bloom Doom. Due to Grassy Terrain weakening Earthquake damage, partners that normally have difficulty dealing with Ground-types such as Alolan Marowak, Alolan Muk, and Magearna have an easier time assisting Tapu Bulu in beating opposing teams while also enjoying the passive recovery provided by Grassy Terrain. Ash-Greninja pairs well with Grassium Z Tapu Bulu, as Tapu Bulu can lure in and take out many threats to it such as Toxapex and Assault Vest users like Magearna and Tangrowth. Heatran is a notable partner due to its ability to handle Steel- and Grass-types for Tapu Bulu while benefiting from Grassy Terrain, which makes its 4x weakness to Earthquake essentially a 2x weakness on top of the passive recovery.
QC: Finchinator / Gary / Colonel M
GP: Fireflame479 / P Squared
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Wood Hammer / Stone Edge
item: Grassium Z / Rockium Z
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Swords Dance allows Tapu Bulu to raise its Attack and threaten many defensive Pokemon that struggle to take its powerful STAB moves and coverage. Horn Leech is useful due to its decent power backed up by STAB, and it also lets Tapu Bulu regain health that it may have lost throughout the match from switching into its checks such as Zygarde. Superpower is necessary on this set in order to hit Steel-types that Tapu Bulu would otherwise have great difficulty breaking past such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Skarmory hard. Wood Hammer is an alternative STAB move that trades sustainability for raw power and is used with Grassium Z to turn into a 190-Base Power Bloom Doom, which can OHKO threats that resist Grass-type coverage such as Latios and bulky threats such as Mew. Mega Mawile, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Magearna are OHKOed at +2 with it; Wood Hammer also lets Tapu Bulu break past Unaware Clefable, which can handle Horn Leech Tapu Bulu with Defense investment. However, Stone Edge is an alternative coverage movethat, when utilized with Rockium Z, allows Tapu Bulu to throw out a powerful Continental Crush, which can take out many of Tapu Bulu's checks, such as Zapdos without any boosts, as well as Celesteela and Assault Vest Tangrowth at +2. It is also useful in taking out Tapu Bulu's Fire-type checks such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y on the switch. Zen Headbutt may be used with Fightinium Z in order to take out the likes of Mega Heracross, Mega Venusaur, and Amoonguss, which otherwise take this set on with ease.
Set Details
========
Maximum Speed and Attack investment with an Adamant nature allows Tapu Bulu to outspeed slower threats that it checks such as Rotom-W, Landorus-T, Tyranitar, and Tapu Fini. A Jolly nature may be used instead to outspeed the likes of Modest Heatran, Adamant Mega Heracross, Jolly Bisharp, Timid Magearna, and Adamant Tapu Bulu, although this comes at the cost of noticeable wallbreaking power. Grassium Z is the primary item of choice for this set, as it allows Tapu Bulu to pull off such offensive feats as OHKOing Latios; if Grassium Z is used, Wood Hammer must be used in the last slot, as it allows Tapu Bulu to use a much stronger Bloom Doom in comparison to Horn Leech. If Rockium Z is used instead, it must be used with Stone Edge in order to take out a number of Tapu Bulu's checks such as Celesteela and Tangrowth at +2. Fightinium Z is an option that may be used with Superpower in order to net more damage against Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Magearna, Skarmory, and Heatran in one slot. Grassy Surge is Tapu Bulu's only ability, which gives it greater power to its Grass-type STAB moves while also providing passive recovery for itself and its teammates.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Tapu Bulu's good bulk and great defensive typing, it can be brought directly in on Pokemon it checks such as Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Garchomp. Once Tapu Bulu is in, it can use Swords Dance on a predicted switch into a slower threat that checks it without any boosts such as Ferrothorn, Assault Vest Tangrowth, and Magearna, which struggle to take a +2 Superpower or Bloom Doom. Due to Bloom Doom's immense power, it may be used to deal great damage to a threat that needs to be taken out or worn down for a partner to take advantage of, such as Toxapex or Zygarde. It may also be used in a situation where Tapu Bulu wants to avoid recoil damage from Wood Hammer to continue taking on the threats that it checks. If Stone Edge is used in the last slot, it can be used to hit its Fire- and Flying-type checks such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, and Zapdos on the switch, preventing them from taking advantage of Tapu Bulu. Although Tapu Bulu has a fantastic matchup against defensive builds, it is important to note that Skarmory must be handled with care; when facing Skarmory, the best way to break past it is to use Swords Dance repeatedly, break its Sturdy using Horn Leech, and then break past it with Superpower so that Tapu Bulu does not get taken out with Counter.
Team Options
========
Tapu Bulu's partners for this set depend primarily on which Z-Move it is running. If running Grassium Z or Fightinium Z, Tapu Bulu will have great difficulty dealing with its Fire- and Flying-type checks such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard Y, Zapdos, and Tornadus-T; switch-ins to these threats such as Zygarde, Nihilego, Garchomp, and Terrakion can take advantage of them and also appreciate Tapu Bulu assisting them in breaking past defensive builds. Tapu Koko is a good partner, as it can help break past Flying-type checks to Tapu Bulu while also being able to bring it in with U-turn or Volt Switch. Tapu Koko also likes Tapu Bulu breaking down its checks such as Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Zygarde. If running Grassium Z, Tapu Bulu will also have trouble in taking on bulkier Steel-types that are not easily taken out by Superpower without prior damage, such as Celesteela and Mega Scizor. Partners that can wear these threats down such as Latios and Tapu Lele, which can carry Thunderbolt for Celesteela and Hidden Power Fire for Mega Scizor, serve as good partners for Tapu Bulu. Another partner that can assist Tapu Bulu in taking out Steel-types is Magnezone, as eliminating Steel-type checks to it such as Celesteela gives Tapu Bulu a lot more freedom to wallbreak and use Wood Hammer more liberally.
Zygarde is a notable partner, as it does not have to worry about its main STAB move being weakened by Grassy Terrain, unlike Earthquake from the likes of Garchomp, and appreciates the passive recovery provided by Grassy Terrain; Zygarde can also check Fire-types for Tapu Bulu, while Tapu Bulu can help wear down Grass-types for Zygarde such as Tangrowth, which can be taken out with a +2 Bloom Doom. Due to Grassy Terrain weakening Earthquake damage, partners that normally have difficulty dealing with Ground-types such as Alolan Marowak, Alolan Muk, and Magearna have an easier time assisting Tapu Bulu in beating opposing teams while also enjoying the passive recovery provided by Grassy Terrain. Ash-Greninja pairs well with Grassium Z Tapu Bulu, as Tapu Bulu can lure in and take out many threats to it such as Toxapex and Assault Vest users like Magearna and Tangrowth. Heatran is a notable partner due to its ability to handle Steel- and Grass-types for Tapu Bulu while benefiting from Grassy Terrain, which makes its 4x weakness to Earthquake essentially a 2x weakness on top of the passive recovery.
Last edited:
