[OVERVIEW]
Psychic
========
Tapu Lele is one of Psychic's most essential Pokemon due to its ability Psychic Surge, sky-high Special Attack, and excellent STAB combination that targets troublesome Dark- and Dragon-type Pokemon such as Mandibuzz, Dragonite, and Latios. Psychic Terrain boosts the power of Psychic-type STAB moves, especially teammates' Expanding Force, while invalidating priority moves like Sucker Punch, Shadow Sneak, and Aqua Jet from users such as Bisharp, Urshifu-S, Aegislash, Mimikyu, and Azumarill. This greatly benefits Tapu Lele's faster teammates and lets it beat Azumarill. Tapu Lele has a few great coverage options to deal with its typical checks, such as Thunderbolt for Celesteela and Corviknight, Focus Blast for Steel- and Dark-types such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and Tyranitar, and Shadow Ball for Ghost-types like Aegislash. However, even with Psychic Terrain's protection, Tapu Lele's average Speed tier leaves it vulnerable to being revenge killed by numerous naturally faster Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Volcarona, Gengar, and Nihilego that it would desire to outspeed. Tapu Lele's poor physical bulk also makes it difficult for it to consistently switch into attacks and set up Psychic Terrain for its teammates.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs (Psychic)
move 1: Psychic
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Thunderbolt / Shadow Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Psychic nukes physically defensive walls like Amoonguss, while Moonblast deals with a myriad of Dark- and Dragon-types such as Mandibuzz, Dragonite, Latios, and Latias. Focus Blast deals significant damage to Steel- and Dark-types such as Ferrothorn, Melmetal, Heatran, and Tyranitar, which are otherwise solid checks to Tapu Lele. Thunderbolt can break through bulky Water- and Flying-types such as Slowking, Slowbro, and Celesteela, letting this set wreck Water and Flying teams with the combination of Psychic and Thunderbolt. Shadow Ball can be used over Thunderbolt to help against Ghost-types like Aegislash as well as foes like Jirachi, attempting to switch in on Tapu Lele's other attacks. It also greatly helps in the Psychic mirror matchup. Avoid consistently switching into attacks so Tapu Lele can be kept healthy to wallbreak. If Psychic Terrain or a Fairy-type STAB move is mandatory for a battle, then Tapu Lele should always be kept alive. Maximum Speed investment with a Timid nature allows Tapu Lele to outspeed Nidoking and Duraludon, while Choice Specs makes it a fearsome wallbreaker.
All teammates appreciate Tapu Lele's wallbreaking capabilities and benefit from its Psychic Terrain. Victini is an excellent partner for Tapu Lele, as it can break through specially defensive foes such as Blissey as well as Steel-types like Celesteela, Aegislash, and Ferrothorn with V-create, while Tapu Lele has Focus Blast to deal with Heatran. Slowbro is a great physical wall that resists Fire-type attacks such as Cinderace's Pyro Ball and Victini's V-create for Tapu Lele while guaranteeing it safe entry with Teleport. Slowbro can also carry Thunder Wave, slowing down foes like Urshifu-S and Hydreigon for Tapu Lele. Jirachi provides Stealth Rock support, slows down foes like Urshifu-S and Hydreigon with Thunder Wave, has the combination of Serene Grace and Iron Head to slowly wear down foes, and brings Tapu Lele in safely with U-turn. Additionally, a Choice Scarf set lets Jirachi outspeed threats like Choice Scarf Galarian Darmanitan and non-Choice Scarf Dragapult, which are huge threats to Tapu Lele. Celebi is an alternative Stealth Rock setter over Jirachi thanks to its part-Grass typing, allowing it to force out Water- and Ground-types like Swampert, Seismitoad, Hippowdon, and Excadrill, the latter being a big threat for Psychic teams. Additionally, it can absorb status aliments with Natural Cure, provide U-turn and Healing Wish support, and use Recover for great longevity. Latias is able to remove problematic entry hazards such as Sticky Web, Toxic Spikes, and Stealth Rock for Tapu Lele with Defog while providing a natural immunity to Ground-type attacks like Sand Rush Excadrill's Earthquake, Nidoking's Earth Power, and Garchomp's Earthquake. It can also provide Healing Wish support. Alakazam is a dedicated revenge killer that can KO an abundance of threats such as Choice Scarf Weavile, Barraskewda, Scolipede, and Drapion with its high Speed tier, Counter, Focus Sash, and Magic Guard, which prevents any form of residual damage, making it more effective in this role.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic
--------
Psyshock is an option over Psychic to deal significant damage to Blissey attempting to switch in. Choice Scarf allows Tapu Lele to outspeed foes such as Urshifu-S, Garchomp, Hydreigon, and Gengar that would otherwise outspeed it; however, Tapu Lele loses a significant amount of damage output without Choice Specs, and other teammates like Latias and Jirachi already carry Choice Scarf.
Checks and Counters
===================
Psychic
--------
**Revenge Killers**: Tapu Lele is prone to being revenge killed and KOed by faster Pokemon such as Urshifu-S, Hydreigon, Gengar, Nihilego, and Volcarona. However, they cannot switch into either of Tapu Lele's STAB moves.
**Steel-types**: Tapu Lele relies on having the right coverage move to defeat Steel-types, so it can easily be defeated by Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal if it's not running Focus Blast, Aegislash if it's not running Shadow Ball, and Celesteela if it's not running Thunderbolt.
**Ghost-types**: Offensive Ghost-types such as Mimikyu, Dragapult, Gengar, Spectrier, and Blacephalon can all effectively revenge kill Tapu Lele with their STAB moves. Aegislash is also able to check any variant of Tapu Lele without Shadow Ball.
**Special Walls**: Tapu Lele has some difficulty breaking through specially defensive walls such as Blissey, Celesteela, Heatran, and Aegislash, since it will need the right coverage move in order to beat them. However, if if these walls do switch into a super effective move, then they will take lots of damage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Psychic analysis by: [[Rotten, 491896]]
- Quality checked by: [[Havens, 391540], [Harpp, 320110], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429], [Milak, 262594]
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