[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Stone Edge
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Grassy Surge
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Tapu Bulu's Attack to frightening levels, allowing it to break through a large sum of bulkier Pokemon.
* Horn Leech sports great power while under Grassy Terrain and provides Tapu Bulu great sustain.
* Superpower lets Tapu Bulu deal with Ferrothorn and Heatran; combined with Fightinium Z, however, it becomes an extremely strong All-Out Pummeling, making Tapu Bulu capable of feats such as OHKOing Pphysically Ddefensive Skarmory after Stealth Rock and some additional chip damage, as well as outright OHKOing Mega Scizor and Celesteela.
* Zen Headbutt is the preferred coverage move in the last slot to break past Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur.
* Stone Edge can also be used to hit Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona on the switch.
Set Details
========
* Fightinium Z is the main draw to this set, letting Tapu Bulu muscle past otherwise solid responses in Skarmory, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Tangrowth.
* The given EV spread maximizes Tapu Bulu's offensive potential, allowing it to outspeed as many threats as possible while still hitting hard, even when unboosted.
* A Jolly nature in particular is crucial, as it lets Tapu Bulu outspeed Timid Magearna and Jolly Bisharp.
* An Adamant nature is also an option for additional power should those aforementioned Pokemon already be checked by Tapu Bulu's teammates.
Usage Tips
========
* The key to this set is recognizing team matchup and what actions to take against specific archetypes. For example, against more offensive teams, Tapu Bulu won't be as effective; thus, it is typically better off attacking rather than attempting to set up. On the other hand, if the opponent has a Pokemon such as Celesteela, Mega Scizor, or Skarmory, then it's best to anticipate their switch in and use Swords Dance.
* Be sure to use All-Out Pummeling wisely, as it only gives Tapu Bulu one shot at breaking through its checks when they're healthy and this can be scouted by the opponent by pivoting into a Pokemon that can take the hit. This is especially crucial when matched up against stall.
* While Tapu Bulu makes for an effective check to bulky Water-types, note that Tapu Bulu may get neutered by Scald burns and shouldn't hard switch into them unless absolutely necessary or if the opponent is likely going for another move, such as when Tapu Fini uses Defog to clear hazards.
Team Options
========
* Fast offensive Pokemon such as Greninja and Pheromosa work well due to Tapu Bulu being able to break down bulkier Pokemon that the two struggle with, such as Keldeo for the former and Tapu Fini for the latter. Greninja also provides Spikes support, making it much more terrifying for the opponent to pivot around Tapu Bulu.
* Fast Flying- or Fire-types such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T are very threatening for Tapu Bulu, especially if it lacks Stone Edge, as it is setup fodder for the former two. Choice Scarf Nihilego and Garchomp make for fine teammates, as both of them can effectively revenge kill all of the Pokemon previously mentioned.
* Mega Metagross is a fantastic teammate, as Tapu Bulu can do severe damage to, if not KO, the likes of Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Celesteela, while Mega Metagross is capable of pivoting into checks such as Mega Venusaur, Tornadus-T, and Nihilego.
* Mega Scizor is a decent teammate, as it switches into Mega Metagross with impunity and also appreciates Pokemon such as Skarmory or Celesteela being weakened or outright eliminated.
* Heatran has great synergy with Tapu Bulu, particularly aiding Stone Edge variants by threatening Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth; in return, Tapu Bulu takes down bulky Water-types that Heatran may struggle with.
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Stone Edge
item: Fightinium Z
ability: Grassy Surge
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
nature: Jolly / Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Swords Dance boosts Tapu Bulu's Attack to frightening levels, allowing it to break through a large sum of bulkier Pokemon.
* Horn Leech sports great power while under Grassy Terrain and provides Tapu Bulu great sustain.
* Superpower lets Tapu Bulu deal with Ferrothorn and Heatran; combined with Fightinium Z, however, it becomes an extremely strong All-Out Pummeling, making Tapu Bulu capable of feats such as OHKOing Pphysically Ddefensive Skarmory after Stealth Rock and some additional chip damage, as well as outright OHKOing Mega Scizor and Celesteela.
* Zen Headbutt is the preferred coverage move in the last slot to break past Amoonguss and Mega Venusaur.
* Stone Edge can also be used to hit Tornadus-T, Mega Charizard Y, and Volcarona on the switch.
Set Details
========
* Fightinium Z is the main draw to this set, letting Tapu Bulu muscle past otherwise solid responses in Skarmory, Celesteela, Mega Scizor, and Tangrowth.
* The given EV spread maximizes Tapu Bulu's offensive potential, allowing it to outspeed as many threats as possible while still hitting hard, even when unboosted.
* A Jolly nature in particular is crucial, as it lets Tapu Bulu outspeed Timid Magearna and Jolly Bisharp.
* An Adamant nature is also an option for additional power should those aforementioned Pokemon already be checked by Tapu Bulu's teammates.
Usage Tips
========
* The key to this set is recognizing team matchup and what actions to take against specific archetypes. For example, against more offensive teams, Tapu Bulu won't be as effective; thus, it is typically better off attacking rather than attempting to set up. On the other hand, if the opponent has a Pokemon such as Celesteela, Mega Scizor, or Skarmory, then it's best to anticipate their switch in and use Swords Dance.
* Be sure to use All-Out Pummeling wisely, as it only gives Tapu Bulu one shot at breaking through its checks when they're healthy and this can be scouted by the opponent by pivoting into a Pokemon that can take the hit. This is especially crucial when matched up against stall.
* While Tapu Bulu makes for an effective check to bulky Water-types, note that Tapu Bulu may get neutered by Scald burns and shouldn't hard switch into them unless absolutely necessary or if the opponent is likely going for another move, such as when Tapu Fini uses Defog to clear hazards.
Team Options
========
* Fast offensive Pokemon such as Greninja and Pheromosa work well due to Tapu Bulu being able to break down bulkier Pokemon that the two struggle with, such as Keldeo for the former and Tapu Fini for the latter. Greninja also provides Spikes support, making it much more terrifying for the opponent to pivot around Tapu Bulu.
* Fast Flying- or Fire-types such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y, and Tornadus-T are very threatening for Tapu Bulu, especially if it lacks Stone Edge, as it is setup fodder for the former two. Choice Scarf Nihilego and Garchomp make for fine teammates, as both of them can effectively revenge kill all of the Pokemon previously mentioned.
* Mega Metagross is a fantastic teammate, as Tapu Bulu can do severe damage to, if not KO, the likes of Mega Scizor, Skarmory, and Celesteela, while Mega Metagross is capable of pivoting into checks such as Mega Venusaur, Tornadus-T, and Nihilego.
* Mega Scizor is a decent teammate, as it switches into Mega Metagross with impunity and also appreciates Pokemon such as Skarmory or Celesteela being weakened or outright eliminated.
* Heatran has great synergy with Tapu Bulu, particularly aiding Stone Edge variants by threatening Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth; in return, Tapu Bulu takes down bulky Water-types that Heatran may struggle with.
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