[Overview]
Tapu Lele is an incredibly powerful wallbreaker thanks to the combination of its solid offensive stats and access to Psychic Surge, dominating bulkier teams and being very difficult to switch into. Its good coverage and access to boosting options further boost its power to wallbreak. It takes advantage of slow, bulky teams by switching in whenever possible and wallbreaking common defensive cores built of Pokemon such as Clefable, Toxapex, and Buzzwole. Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran trouble it, but they can be circumvented by chipping them down with its strong STABs and hitting them hard with its strong but unreliable coverage in Focus Blast. Low physical bulk and an average Speed tier hold it back as well, but its power can make up for these shortcomings in most cases as a wallbreaker. Tapu Lele also usually relies on Choice items, which can make it exploitable by Pokemon that can take some of its attacks with ease like Tyranitar, Slowking, and Heatran while also being heavily prediction reliant for wallbreaking. If predicted wrong, Tapu Lele can lose a lot of momentum for a team, but the strength from every move clicked makes up for it being forced out sometimes.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psyshock
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psychic / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Specs
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs Tapu Lele is one of the most threatening wallbreakers in OU, being able to 2HKO almost every Pokemon in the tier due to its incredibly powerful Psychic-type STAB under Psychic Terrain and its good coverage options to hit Pokemon that resist its STAB moves. Focus Blast is crucial for hitting Steel-types that resist both Tapu Lele's STAB moves like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Scizor. Psychic and Thunderbolt are interchangeable, both allowing Tapu Lele to pressure different checks. Psychic gives Tapu Lele its hardest hitting attack to have a strong midground option on many Pokemon, while Thunderbolt lets it 2HKO specially defensive Corviknight and Slowking. A Modest nature gives Tapu Lele a massive power boost, having a chance to even OHKO Heatran with Focus Blast. A Timid nature alternatively lets it speed tie with other Timid Tapu Lele or Kyurem and outrun their Modest nature variants, but there isn't much relevant that Timid nature outspeeds.
Tapu Lele typically fits on offensive teams that are looking for a strong wallbreaker to complement their pivots. Defensive pivots such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Corviknight provide Tapu Lele with opportunities to wallbreak with a free switch-in. It also can't take hits from faster threats like Dragapult and Choice Band Kartana, making partners that can switch into them like Clefable and Corviknight very helpful. Clefable and Corviknight can also provide cleric and pivoting options, respectively. Other strong wallbreakers such as Dragapult, Urshifu-R, and Weavile can help with pressuring Pokemon like Blissey, Heatran, and Corviknight, giving Tapu Lele an easier time wallbreaking. Tapu Lele can bait and force damage onto Steel-types, making Pokemon that struggle against them like Scizor especially enjoy its presence. Weavile baits in most Steel-types and can use Knock Off to remove their items and longevity, making Tapu Lele's job much easier. Magnezone trapping Steel-types is also appreciated making Tapu Lele less prediction reliant. Defensive answers to Heatran are also needed given how much pressure it can apply after forcing out Tapu Lele, making specially defensive Landorus-T and Dragonite helpful partners. As Heatran does switch into Tapu Lele very often, it is susceptible to being chipped meaning other Pokemon like Volcarona that are walled by it are great partners if Tapu Lele can wear down its best check.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Thunderbolt / Focus Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 8 Def / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind Tapu Lele is a dangerous sweeper and late-game cleaner able to muscle past many checks that otherwise rely on gradual damage and pivoting to check other Choice item variants of Tapu Lele, such as Slowking and Corviknight. It boosts its effectiveness as a cleaner with additional power due to Calm Mind and a freedom of move choice without being Choice-locked. Psyshock targets many common walls like Blissey and Galarian Slowking with weaker Defense than Special Defense, while Psychic hits things like Hippowdon better, but is generally inferior due to Psyshock breaking other Calm Mind users like Clefable and hitting specially defensive walls more effectively. Thunderbolt can easily break through other common checks after boosts, such as Slowking and Corviknight. Focus Blast is used to take out any dangerous Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran, which otherwise wall Tapu Lele. Leftovers gives Tapu Lele longevity, letting it set up against slower teams that rely on chipping it down with Pokemon such as Hippowdon. 8 Defense EVs allow Tapu Lele to survive a Leaf Blade from Choice Scarf Kartana.
Fast offensive Pokemon that can apply early pressure on Steel-types and pivots, such as Dragapult and Weavile, are greatly appreciated, chipping down mutual checks like Ferrothorn and Heatran to make it much easier for Tapu Lele to clean late-game. Magnezone traps Ferrothorn, which allows Tapu Lele to more reliably use Thunderbolt, letting it break Slowking more easily without worrying about having no coverage for Ferrothorn. Kartana and Dragonite pressure Corviknight and threaten out Heatran as well as Choice Band Rillaboom, breaking through common defensive cores, which Tapu Lele appreciates for wallbreaking. Tapu Lele's average Speed tier and Defense with weaknesses to common attacking types leave it susceptible to many revenge killers such as Kartana, Rillaboom, Dragapult, and Zeraora. On balance teams, this makes Pokemon like Landorus-T and Corviknight that can each deal with some of those Pokemon excellent partners, as they can also pivot with U-turn or Teleport to give Tapu Lele opportunities for wallbreaking while preventing it from being fodder for wallbreakers to come in on and getting a KO.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psyshock
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Future Sight / Psychic
item: Choice Specs
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Equipped with a Choice Scarf, Tapu Lele is a potent revenge killer that outruns almost all of the unboosted metagame and fires off strong hits in psychic terrain. Psyshock is the main attacking move and way to break checks to it like Galarian Slowking and Blissey, making it easier to fire off the other attacks if they're chipped. Moonblast helps revenge kill Dragapult and Dragonite while being a strong general attacking STAB move. Focus Blast chips down Steel-types that always can come in on its STAB moves and apply huge pressure like Heatran and Ferrothorn, but it can't OHKO either of those so it should be used sparingly as missing or hitting a resist can lead to a big punish. Future Sight support is incredible, as Tapu Lele's high Speed forces out a lot of Pokemon allowing it to take advantage of the switch with Future Sight to assist its teammates. Psychic alternatively is a stronger alternative to Psyshock, notably OHKO'ing Kartana with Stealth Rock while not having to risk the miss chance of Focus Blast, but its offensive presence doesn't match the team support Future Sight has for other breakers. Thunderbolt is a coverage option that also works to pressure Corviknight.
With Tapu Lele acting as speed control and providing Future Sight, powerful breakers love having it around to help force progress and revenge kill the fastest of threats like Dragapult. Choice Band Kartana and Urshifu-R are both checked by Toxapex and Buzzwole, so Future Sight makes it much safer to fire off attacks and break through walls with their strong STAB. Pokemon to bait in Steel-types are also appreciated, as Tapu Lele lacks immediate power with a Choice Scarf so its easier for Steel-types to wall it long term. Weavile, Nature's Madness Tapu Fini, and Dragapult can all bait in Steel-types that can live a few hits from them and chip them down for Tapu Lele to be a late game cleaner as well. Similarly, though, defensive pivots into Steel-types are needed, as with a wrong prediction Tapu Lele becomes helpless against them. Landorus-T and Garchomp can cover for Heatran, while Heatran itself can check others like Ferrothorn and Corviknight. Heatran also applies immense pressure with Future Sight from Tapu Lele, wearing down soft checks like Toxapex, Landorus-T, and Tapu Fini way faster to allow it to spam Magma Storm with freedom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tapu Lele can also run Heavy-Duty Boots as its item, removing the fear of entry hazard chip and letting it pivot while attempting to wallbreak more easily. Taunt with 3 attacks lets Tapu Lele stop Pokemon trying to recover to beat it one-on-one like Corviknight while also stopping Slowking from easily pivoting on it with Teleport. A set with Assault Vest takes advantage of Tapu Lele's decent Special Defense to improve its matchup against special attackers like Kyurem and Hydreigon, but many other offensive Pokemon can overwhelm it due to its low physical bulk. Offensive teams appreciate its solid special bulk and typing, but other dedicated defensive pivots usually outclass it.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: Most Steel-types resist all of Tapu Lele's STAB moves, leaving only certain coverage options as the way to hit them. Pokemon such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal can switch into its STAB moves with ease while also surviving one Focus Blast, and specially defensive Corviknight only falters to Choice Specs-boosted Thunderbolt. Specially defensive Scizor, Jirachi, and Aegislash also aren't 2HKOed by any common attacks and can threaten it back with their own hard-hitting moves, making them effective counters to Tapu Lele.
**Faster Pokemon**: Tapu Lele's mediocre defensive stats, especially Defense, and its average Speed leave it open to being revenge killed quite easily by common attackers. Kartana, Zeraora, Dragapult, and Rillaboom all pressure it with their Speed, priority attacks, or, in Rillaboom's case, Terrain changing ability.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fc, 511624]]
- Quality checked by: [[airfare, 513717], [curiosity, 443485], [Abhi, 526987]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [username2, userid2]]
Tapu Lele is an incredibly powerful wallbreaker thanks to the combination of its solid offensive stats and access to Psychic Surge, dominating bulkier teams and being very difficult to switch into. Its good coverage and access to boosting options further boost its power to wallbreak. It takes advantage of slow, bulky teams by switching in whenever possible and wallbreaking common defensive cores built of Pokemon such as Clefable, Toxapex, and Buzzwole. Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran trouble it, but they can be circumvented by chipping them down with its strong STABs and hitting them hard with its strong but unreliable coverage in Focus Blast. Low physical bulk and an average Speed tier hold it back as well, but its power can make up for these shortcomings in most cases as a wallbreaker. Tapu Lele also usually relies on Choice items, which can make it exploitable by Pokemon that can take some of its attacks with ease like Tyranitar, Slowking, and Heatran while also being heavily prediction reliant for wallbreaking. If predicted wrong, Tapu Lele can lose a lot of momentum for a team, but the strength from every move clicked makes up for it being forced out sometimes.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psyshock
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psychic / Thunderbolt
item: Choice Specs
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs Tapu Lele is one of the most threatening wallbreakers in OU, being able to 2HKO almost every Pokemon in the tier due to its incredibly powerful Psychic-type STAB under Psychic Terrain and its good coverage options to hit Pokemon that resist its STAB moves. Focus Blast is crucial for hitting Steel-types that resist both Tapu Lele's STAB moves like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Scizor. Psychic and Thunderbolt are interchangeable, both allowing Tapu Lele to pressure different checks. Psychic gives Tapu Lele its hardest hitting attack to have a strong midground option on many Pokemon, while Thunderbolt lets it 2HKO specially defensive Corviknight and Slowking. A Modest nature gives Tapu Lele a massive power boost, having a chance to even OHKO Heatran with Focus Blast. A Timid nature alternatively lets it speed tie with other Timid Tapu Lele or Kyurem and outrun their Modest nature variants, but there isn't much relevant that Timid nature outspeeds.
Tapu Lele typically fits on offensive teams that are looking for a strong wallbreaker to complement their pivots. Defensive pivots such as Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Corviknight provide Tapu Lele with opportunities to wallbreak with a free switch-in. It also can't take hits from faster threats like Dragapult and Choice Band Kartana, making partners that can switch into them like Clefable and Corviknight very helpful. Clefable and Corviknight can also provide cleric and pivoting options, respectively. Other strong wallbreakers such as Dragapult, Urshifu-R, and Weavile can help with pressuring Pokemon like Blissey, Heatran, and Corviknight, giving Tapu Lele an easier time wallbreaking. Tapu Lele can bait and force damage onto Steel-types, making Pokemon that struggle against them like Scizor especially enjoy its presence. Weavile baits in most Steel-types and can use Knock Off to remove their items and longevity, making Tapu Lele's job much easier. Magnezone trapping Steel-types is also appreciated making Tapu Lele less prediction reliant. Defensive answers to Heatran are also needed given how much pressure it can apply after forcing out Tapu Lele, making specially defensive Landorus-T and Dragonite helpful partners. As Heatran does switch into Tapu Lele very often, it is susceptible to being chipped meaning other Pokemon like Volcarona that are walled by it are great partners if Tapu Lele can wear down its best check.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psyshock / Psychic
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Thunderbolt / Focus Blast
item: Leftovers
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 8 Def / 248 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Calm Mind Tapu Lele is a dangerous sweeper and late-game cleaner able to muscle past many checks that otherwise rely on gradual damage and pivoting to check other Choice item variants of Tapu Lele, such as Slowking and Corviknight. It boosts its effectiveness as a cleaner with additional power due to Calm Mind and a freedom of move choice without being Choice-locked. Psyshock targets many common walls like Blissey and Galarian Slowking with weaker Defense than Special Defense, while Psychic hits things like Hippowdon better, but is generally inferior due to Psyshock breaking other Calm Mind users like Clefable and hitting specially defensive walls more effectively. Thunderbolt can easily break through other common checks after boosts, such as Slowking and Corviknight. Focus Blast is used to take out any dangerous Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran, which otherwise wall Tapu Lele. Leftovers gives Tapu Lele longevity, letting it set up against slower teams that rely on chipping it down with Pokemon such as Hippowdon. 8 Defense EVs allow Tapu Lele to survive a Leaf Blade from Choice Scarf Kartana.
Fast offensive Pokemon that can apply early pressure on Steel-types and pivots, such as Dragapult and Weavile, are greatly appreciated, chipping down mutual checks like Ferrothorn and Heatran to make it much easier for Tapu Lele to clean late-game. Magnezone traps Ferrothorn, which allows Tapu Lele to more reliably use Thunderbolt, letting it break Slowking more easily without worrying about having no coverage for Ferrothorn. Kartana and Dragonite pressure Corviknight and threaten out Heatran as well as Choice Band Rillaboom, breaking through common defensive cores, which Tapu Lele appreciates for wallbreaking. Tapu Lele's average Speed tier and Defense with weaknesses to common attacking types leave it susceptible to many revenge killers such as Kartana, Rillaboom, Dragapult, and Zeraora. On balance teams, this makes Pokemon like Landorus-T and Corviknight that can each deal with some of those Pokemon excellent partners, as they can also pivot with U-turn or Teleport to give Tapu Lele opportunities for wallbreaking while preventing it from being fodder for wallbreakers to come in on and getting a KO.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psyshock
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Future Sight / Psychic
item: Choice Specs
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Equipped with a Choice Scarf, Tapu Lele is a potent revenge killer that outruns almost all of the unboosted metagame and fires off strong hits in psychic terrain. Psyshock is the main attacking move and way to break checks to it like Galarian Slowking and Blissey, making it easier to fire off the other attacks if they're chipped. Moonblast helps revenge kill Dragapult and Dragonite while being a strong general attacking STAB move. Focus Blast chips down Steel-types that always can come in on its STAB moves and apply huge pressure like Heatran and Ferrothorn, but it can't OHKO either of those so it should be used sparingly as missing or hitting a resist can lead to a big punish. Future Sight support is incredible, as Tapu Lele's high Speed forces out a lot of Pokemon allowing it to take advantage of the switch with Future Sight to assist its teammates. Psychic alternatively is a stronger alternative to Psyshock, notably OHKO'ing Kartana with Stealth Rock while not having to risk the miss chance of Focus Blast, but its offensive presence doesn't match the team support Future Sight has for other breakers. Thunderbolt is a coverage option that also works to pressure Corviknight.
With Tapu Lele acting as speed control and providing Future Sight, powerful breakers love having it around to help force progress and revenge kill the fastest of threats like Dragapult. Choice Band Kartana and Urshifu-R are both checked by Toxapex and Buzzwole, so Future Sight makes it much safer to fire off attacks and break through walls with their strong STAB. Pokemon to bait in Steel-types are also appreciated, as Tapu Lele lacks immediate power with a Choice Scarf so its easier for Steel-types to wall it long term. Weavile, Nature's Madness Tapu Fini, and Dragapult can all bait in Steel-types that can live a few hits from them and chip them down for Tapu Lele to be a late game cleaner as well. Similarly, though, defensive pivots into Steel-types are needed, as with a wrong prediction Tapu Lele becomes helpless against them. Landorus-T and Garchomp can cover for Heatran, while Heatran itself can check others like Ferrothorn and Corviknight. Heatran also applies immense pressure with Future Sight from Tapu Lele, wearing down soft checks like Toxapex, Landorus-T, and Tapu Fini way faster to allow it to spam Magma Storm with freedom.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Tapu Lele can also run Heavy-Duty Boots as its item, removing the fear of entry hazard chip and letting it pivot while attempting to wallbreak more easily. Taunt with 3 attacks lets Tapu Lele stop Pokemon trying to recover to beat it one-on-one like Corviknight while also stopping Slowking from easily pivoting on it with Teleport. A set with Assault Vest takes advantage of Tapu Lele's decent Special Defense to improve its matchup against special attackers like Kyurem and Hydreigon, but many other offensive Pokemon can overwhelm it due to its low physical bulk. Offensive teams appreciate its solid special bulk and typing, but other dedicated defensive pivots usually outclass it.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel-types**: Most Steel-types resist all of Tapu Lele's STAB moves, leaving only certain coverage options as the way to hit them. Pokemon such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Melmetal can switch into its STAB moves with ease while also surviving one Focus Blast, and specially defensive Corviknight only falters to Choice Specs-boosted Thunderbolt. Specially defensive Scizor, Jirachi, and Aegislash also aren't 2HKOed by any common attacks and can threaten it back with their own hard-hitting moves, making them effective counters to Tapu Lele.
**Faster Pokemon**: Tapu Lele's mediocre defensive stats, especially Defense, and its average Speed leave it open to being revenge killed quite easily by common attackers. Kartana, Zeraora, Dragapult, and Rillaboom all pressure it with their Speed, priority attacks, or, in Rillaboom's case, Terrain changing ability.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Fc, 511624]]
- Quality checked by: [[airfare, 513717], [curiosity, 443485], [Abhi, 526987]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [username2, userid2]]
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