[SET]
name: Specially Defensive
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Synthesis
item: Leftovers
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Careful
evs: 252 HP / 64 Def / 48 SpD / 144 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Tapu Bulu is a niche defensive Grass-type that is capable of checking certain enormous threats in the metagame such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, and certain Garchomp, Hydreigon, and Landorus-T sets. Its main niche develops from its typing, which gives it a Dark-resistance and a Dragon-immunity, and its ability to summon Grassy Terrain, therefore giving it an effective 12% recovery when paired with Leftovers, weakening various Earthquakes, and supporting teammates with the extra recovery. Tapu Bulu is still a rather niche selection, however, as other defensive Grass-types, such as Ferrothorn, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth, have various extra benefits that set them apart from Tapu Bulu; Ferrothorn can set hazards and chip damage thanks to Iron Barbs, while Amoonguss and Tangrowth have access to Regenerator and can spread status conditions. Crucially, all three of these Grass-types can conceivably punish Flying- and Fire-types such as Zapdos, Corviknight, and Victini with either Knock Off or a Status Condition, whereas Tapu Bulu is forced out by these threats rather easily. Swords Dance allows Tapu Bulu to exert offensive pressure and actually threaten physically bulky neutral targets, such as Clefable, Gliscor, and Landorus-T. Horn Leech is the preferred STAB move, as it is reliable and gives Tapu Bulu extra recovery, therefore making it even more resilient and tough to wear down. Close Combat is the preferred coverage move, as it hits Steel-types such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and Magnezone super effectively while also hitting Corviknight and Mega Mawile neutrally. Synthesis, despite having only 8 PP and not working properly under Sand and Rain, gives Tapu Bulu added recovery and allows it to stay healthy with even greater efficiency. Leftovers is the preferred item, as its recovery stacks with Grassy Terrain to give Tapu Bulu 12% of its health back after every turn. Grassy Surge is required in order to summon Grassy Terrain. 64 Defense EVs avoids the OHKO from Mega Garchomp's Fire Fang after a Swords Dance, while 144 Speed EVs allows Tapu Bulu to outrun Adamant Tyranitar and everything slower. The rest is dumped into Special Defense to take on threats such as Ash-Greninja, Tapu Koko, and Hydreigon with greater efficiency.
Tapu Bulu is best suited for Balance and Bulky Offense teams that need a resilient check to Tapu Koko, Ash-Greninja, and Dragonium Z Garchomp that can also apply competent amounts of offensive pressure. Tapu Bulu tends to struggle against many of the tier's Flying-types; Corviknight, Zapdos, and Skarmory all come in on Tapu Bulu without much risk. Electric-type pivots, such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora, can apply quite a bit of pressure to these two, while Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y, Heatran, and Victini are capable of roasting Corviknight and Skarmory while also pressuring Zapdos. The Fire-types in particular also appreciate Tapu Bulu sponging Ash-Greninja and checking Tapu Fini. Flying-types, most notably Corviknight, can combine with Tapu Bulu to shut down most of the tier's Ground-types, as Corviknight helps Tapu Bulu out against Flyinium-Z Landorus-T and Mega Garchomp. Teammates that appreciate the extra recovery provided by Grassy Terrain, such as Heatran, Tyranitar, and Mega Lopunny are all good partners. Grassy Terrain also weakens various Earthquakes from the likes of Garchomp, Landorus-T, Excadrill, and Gliscor, so Pokemon that are otherwise hugely threatened by the move, such as Toxapex, Melmetal, and Aegislash, appreciate this support.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Bulk Up is an alternative option in the way of boosting that makes Tapu Bulu bulkier on the physical side as well; notably, this lets it beat non-Bulk Up and Iron Defense Corviknight if it switches in as Tapu Bulu uses Bulk Up. Fightinium Z can be considered if your team doesn't have a Z-move user, as it allows Tapu Bulu to pressure threats such as Heatran and Melmetal without boosting and delivering a significantly harder hit if boosted; +2 Fightinium Z is capable of doing well over half to Corviknight, for example. Losing the extra recovery of Leftovers can be a tough sell, however. High Horsepower can be used over Close Combat in order to hit Heatran, Magnezone, and Mega Mawile harder while also enabling Tapu Bulu to hit Aegislash, however it leaves Tapu Bulu completely incapable of pressuring Corviknight. Stone Edge can also be used, as it hits Zapdos, Mega Charizard Y, Volcarona, and Victini, but it leaves Tapu Bulu walled by most Steel-types. Offensive sets, such as Swords Dance+Three Attacks and Choice Band, are not bad in a vacuum. Unfortunately, they are generally outclassed by Rillaboom, who has access to important moves in Grassy Glide, Knock Off, and U-turn while also being significantly faster.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Flying-types**: Tapu Bulu struggles to pressure most of the tier's Flying-types. Corviknight, Skarmory, and Zapdos deal with Tapu Bulu fairly easily in general, although Corviknight can be threatened by Bulk Up and Fightinium Z variants, while Zapdos must watch out for Stone Edge. Other, offensive Flying-types, such as Hawlucha, Flyinium Z Landorus-T, and Mega Pinsir are capable of breaking through Tapu Bulu.
**Fire-types**: Mega Charizard Y only has to watch out for Stone Edge and can OHKO Tapu Bulu easily. Victini and Volcarona are both in similar situations. Heatran has to be cautious about switching in due to the threat of Close Combat, but offensive variants outrun and OHKO Tapu Bulu.
**Steel-types**: Many Steel-types threaten Tapu Bulu despite it usually running Close Combat. Aegislash walls standard Tapu Bulu completely and offensively threatens it, although it has to watch out for High Horsepower. Mega Mawile can take a hit and deal huge damage in return, especially those variants that carry Ice Punch or Fire Fang, but the 1v1 can be somewhat shakey for Swords Dance sets, and it takes a lot of damage from High Horsepower. Kartana can't really switch into Close Combat more than once, but Smart Strike variants, especially those carrying Choice Band, are very threatening to Tapu Bulu, and Swords Dance variants are capable of winning the 1v1 in a pinch due to Close Combat not usually OHKOing Kartana.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[username1, userid1]]
- Quality checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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