QC checks: Gary / p2 / Colonel M
GP checks: P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
* Tapu Lele's claim to fame is Psychic Surge, which gives it access to boosted Psychic-type attacks and grants an immunity to priority for grounded Pokemon.
* Complementary STAB types and a wide enough coverage movepool allow it to threaten Psychic switch-ins and make for a threatening offensive presence.
* It can use Choice Scarf to become an incredibly effective cleaner and revenge killer, or it can take advantage of items such as Choice Specs and Life Orb to become a terrifying balance breaker.
* Psychic Terrain helps out fast and frail attackers that are vulnerable to being revenge killed by priority users, including Tapu Lele itself.
* Low physical bulk and average speed leave it vulnerable against faster team compositions.
* Outside of its Psychic-type STAB attacks, Tapu Lele's power is good but nothing incredible, which makes it prone to being walled by Steel-types.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Hidden Power Fire
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Psychic is Tapu Lele's main STAB, hitting the hardest out of everything else in its movepool.
* Psyshock is a little bit less powerful, but it can provide a stronger hit against specially bulky checks, such as Chansey and Tornadus-T.
* Moonblast hits Dark-types and provides a secondary STAB move if Psychic is too risky.
* Focus Blast snipes Steel- and Dark-types looking to switch into Tapu Lele's STAB moves, such as Heatran and Tyranitar.
* Hidden Power Fire can catch Scizor and Ferrothorn looking to switch in.
* Shadow Ball allows Tapu Lele to 2HKO Mega Metagross and deal a solid amount of damage to Jirachi.
Set Details
========
* Maximizing Special Attack provides as much power as possible behind its moves.
* Maximum Speed, a Timid Nature, and a Choice Scarf allow Tapu Lele to outrun and revenge kill threats including Pheromosa, Weavile, and Greninja.
Usage Tips
========
* This set functions as a revenge killer and late-game cleaner.
* Clear out checks and counters through other wallbreakers and by catching them with coverage moves on the switch.
* Avoid locking into Psychic if the opponent has a Pursuit trapper, as this makes Tapu Lele easy to pick off.
* Keep an eye on how much time is left in Psychic Terrain. Once it's worn out, priority users such as Mega Scizor will be able to cut a sweep short, and the power behind Tapu Lele's Psychic-type STAB move will be reduced back to normal.
Team Options
========
* Generally, Tapu Lele will be looking to sweep by using its Psychic-type STAB attack, so removing Dark- and Steel-types is essential. Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Heatran are very good at this, as they are able to switch into and beat common checks. Magnezone is a huge help at removing Steel-types, as it is able to trap and remove annoyances such as Skarmory, Celesteela, and Ferrothorn.
* Pokemon that can take advantage of Psychic Terrain make for good teammates. Mega Metagross and Mega Alakazam can take advantage of the additional power of Psychic-type attacks to beat down their checks and secure 0HKOs or 2HKOs, while frail Pokemon such as Greninja and Pheromosa can use the immunity to priority attacks to great effect.
[SET]
name: Stallbreaker
move 1: Psyshock / Psychic
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Taunt / Calm Mind
item: Twisted Spoon
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Psyshock hits special walls harder.
* Psychic is the most powerful move available.
* Moonblast provides a secondary STAB move.
* Hidden Power Fire hits Scizor and Ferrothorn.
* Taunt prevents healing moves and status, allowing Tapu Lele to function as a stallbreaker.
* Calm Mind boosts its power and allows it to break walls after a boost.
Set Details
========
* Maximized Special Attack and Speed provide as much power as possible while letting Tapu Lele outrun most defensive Pokemon.
* Twisted Spoon provides power to Tapu Lele's Psychic-type STAB move while not cutting into its HP.
* Shed Shell allows Tapu Lele to escape from Dugtrio, which gives it the ability to deal massive damage to common stall archetypes.
Usage Tips
========
* This set trades the brute power of Choice Specs for the flexibility of being able to change moves on the fly. This allows Tapu Lele to be more flexible and less prediction reliant while taking down defensive cores.
* Sets using Taunt should attempt to shut down common switch-ins and prevent them from healing themselves or supporting their team. Using Taunt in conjunction with entry hazards and chip damage can allow Tapu Lele to push through checks like Chansey.
* Calm Mind sets should look to set up after their checks have been appropriately weakened.
Team Options
========
* The reduced power compared to Choice Specs sets means that Tapu Lele may need additional damage in order to secure KOs. Entry hazard support from Ferrothorn or Heatran can make up for this deficiency.
* This set's goal is to break apart defensive cores, so an offensive counterpart makes for a good teammate. Ash-Greninja, Shift Gear Magearna, Pheromosa, Choice Band Zygarde-10%, and Choice Scarf Landorus-T all appreciate the immense pressure that Tapu Lele puts upon their checks and counters.
* Other Pokemon that can help Tapu Lele break down defensive cores are appreciated. Magnezone can remove Steel-types that wall Tapu Lele, while other wallbreakers such as Swords Dance Landorus-T can put incredible pressure on mutual checks, such as Skarmory.
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Psychic / Psyshock
move 2: Moonblast
move 3: Focus Blast / Psyshock
move 4: Hidden Power Fire / Shadow Ball
item: Choice Specs
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Psychic is the strongest STAB move available.
* Psyshock is slightly weaker, but it hits special walls and Assault Vest users harder thanks to its ability to hit on the physical defense.
* Moonblast is a secondary STAB move that hits Dark-types types such as Tyranitar and Greninja.
* Focus Blast hits Steel-types such as Heatran and Excadrill.
* Hidden Power Fire is useful for Ferrothorn and Scizor.
* Shadow Ball hits Mega Metagross and Jirachi.
* Thunderbolt gives Tapu Lele a way of hitting Celesteela and specially defensive Skarmory.
Set Details
========
* Choice Specs boosts Tapu Lele's offensive power through the roof, at the cost of being able to switch moves.
* Maximized Special Attack and Speed give Tapu Lele as much power as possible while letting it outrun as much as possible.
* Timid allows Tapu Lele to Speed tie with other Tapu Lele, Zygarde, and Kyurem-B while outrunning Timid Porygon-Z and Jolly Landorus-T.
* Modest offers more power in exchange for speed.
Usage Tips
========
* Switch Lele in on free turns or resistanced hits and then fire off appropriate attacks
* Avoid locking yourself into Psychic STAB against Pursuit trappers such as Weavile and Tyranitar.
* If a teammate needs protection against priority attacks, switching Tapu Lele in to be KOed can give them a chance to clean.
Team Options
========
* As a wallbreaker, Tapu Lele can help break through defensive cores for a teammate to clean up. Fast cleaners such as Pheromosa, Excadrill, and Greninja can take advantage of this nicely, as their high speed and offenses allow them to make short work of a damaged team.
* Other Psychic-types can take advantage of Psychic Terrain to power up their STAB attacks. Partnering Tapu Lele with Mega Alakazam or Mega Metagross can allow them to muscle past their usual checks.
* Since Steel-types resist both of Tapu Lele's STAB types, Dugtrio and Magnezone make for good partners. Dugtrio is able to trap Heatran and Mega Metagross, while Magnezone can take on Mega Scizor and Celesteela.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* The all-out attacker set can use various Z-Crystals in order to break past common checks. These include Psychium-Z (for a powerful STAB hit on a switch-in) and Fightium-Z (in order to push past Steel-type checks).
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-Types**: Mega Metagross, Jirachi, Magearna, and Celesteela are solid defensive answers to Tapu Lele, as their typing and bulk allow them to take most hits and retaliate appropriately. Mega Scizor can switch in and tank anything but Hidden Power Fire, although Psychic Terrain prevents it from accessing Bullet Punch.
**Revenge Killers**: Although Tapu Lele is immune to priority, its low physical defense leaves it vulnerable to faster attackers. This makes Choice Scarf and Specs sets prone to being Pursuit trapped by Pokemon such as Tyranitar and Weavile if locked into a Psychic move, as well as Mega Scizor if locked into Moonblast. If it isn't running a Choice Scarf, it can be picked off by Pheromosa, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, offensive Garchomp, and Mega Pinsir. If it is running Scarf, it is still vulnerable to faster Choice Scarf users, such as Garchomp and Nihilego.
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