Moves

Psychic deals an insane amount of damage to even the most semi-bulky of resistant targets; 252 HP Heatran, for instance, gets 2HKOed with one layer of Spikes or equivalent prior damage. Dark- and Psychic-types such as Mega Tyranitar and Mega Latias daring enough to try switching into Psychic are maimed by a STAB Moonblast instead, which also has great Base Power and general coverage. Though running two parallel Psychic-type attacks on the same set may seem redundant, Psyshock is an integral attack in the third slot for its ability to break physically frail Pokemon; for example, it beats Chansey and specially defensive Gastrodon while making dents in Assault Vest Magearna and defensive Celesteela. Hidden Power Fire cleanly OHKOes Ferrothorn and Mega Scizor, preventing either from responding with an attack or recovery move. It also picks off Skarmory, Mega Mawile, Excadrill, and Magnezone at higher percents while being a sufficient option against Jirachi. Alternatively, Focus Blast can be used to OHKO Heatran at the expense of losing out on a strong hit on Mega Scizor.

Set Details

A Modest nature is preferred for the extra power, with the terrain multiplier amplifying every extra bit of power more so than usual.

Usage Tips

Though this set sports terrifying nuking power that can let it potentially tear through threats early- or mid-game, it is important to ascertain its worth in a match depending on the opposing team structure. In particular, this set breaks balanced teams almost completely, as Tapu Lele is fast and powerful enough to overwhelm typical defensive Pokemon while limiting frailer offensive targets' opportunities to switch in. Still, this set should typically be played cautiously, as these archetypes can adapt to unfavorable situations with more bulky or resistant units. Against offensive teams with usually fast and defensively average Pokemon, Tapu Lele can typically exert pressure with Psychic and Moonblast all day until it eventually faints; in such cases, it has probably amassed more than enough damage for fellow cleaners to come in.

It is generally not advised to switch in Tapu Lele too aggressively because it is a fantastic offensive asset against nearly all team archetypes. Due to Choice Specs locking Tapu Lele in a single move, prediction should be exercised against opponents with multiple resistant or immune Pokemon. For instance, seeing a Dark-type or two in Team Preview means using Moonblast is the safer choice over Psychic early-game; especially if they are Pursuit trappers like Weavile or Mega Tyranitar, which can take advantage of a Choice-locked Tapu Lele and heavily damage it. Likewise, otherwise good switch-ins such as Celesteela and Jirachi can have a chunk of their health taken off with Hidden Power Fire.

Team Options

Though Tapu Lele can break through most threats with the correct coverage move and prediction, it would rather have the ease of choosing its STAB moves instead of its weaker and unreliable coverage attacks. Tapu Lele is also easy to check due to its only decent Speed and its being locked into one attack, so at least some support against Dark- and Steel-types makes things easier. For example, Magnezone traps and KOes most Steel-types that love switching into Tapu Lele, including Ferrothorn, Celesteela, Jirachi, and Mega Scizor.

In general, U-turn and Volt Switch users are good teammates to get Tapu Lele in the field safely—slower ones are especially valued because they are typically bulky enough to take hits and provide further ease in prediction. Defensive Landorus-T is exemplary of this, as it also blanket checks most physical attackers and Steel-types thanks to Intimidate while providing Stealth Rock support. Likewise, Mega Scizor and Rotom-W can also provide a slower U-turn or Volt Switch while keeping several of Tapu Lele's checks and counters in check, especially Celesteela in the case of Rotom-W. Tapu Koko is also worth consideration, as its fast offensive sets threaten a variety of checks and counters to Tapu Lele, including Celesteela and Greninja. Both Tapu Lele and Tapu Koko can also reset each other's Terrains to prevent each other's from expiring at inconvenient times. Since Tapu Lele applies a great deal of pressure and tends to force switches, entry hazard setters can further assist in breaking down switch-ins and defensive Pokemon. Ferrothorn is good in this respect, since it can run either Stealth Rock or Spikes while owning other pros, including fantastic defenses as well as Leech Seed and Iron Barbs to wear down the opposition. Greninja is a more offensive choice that can lay Spikes and be offensively tailored depending on team needs. For instance, a physically offensive Protean set can lure in Tapu Lele's checks, such as Low Kick to nearly 2HKO Celesteela or Dig alongside Groundium Z for Assault Vest Magearna, while Ash-Greninja has the option of utterly decimating offensive teams when Tapu Lele is through and done. Both appreciate Tapu Lele's ability to pressure Toxapex in return. Do note that Psychic Terrain stops Ash-Greninja's Water Shuriken from threatening grounded foes, however.

In terms of teammates that benefit from Psychic Terrain in particular, Mega Medicham and Mega Gallade enjoys the extra power for their Zen Headbutt as well as Tapu Lele's ability to break through defensive checks and counters, most notably Mega Sableye, allowing them to clean up when appropriate. Though Mega Alakazam is rather redundant with Tapu Lele because they run similar coverage moves, it benefits from Psychic Terrain's powering up its Psychic-type moves and preventing priority from hitting. Mega Alakazam also boasts high offensive stats as well as the ability to revenge kill Sand Rush Excadrill and other weather sweepers thanks to Trace. Other usually priority-weak sweepers such as Volcarona and the aforementioned Ash-Greninja also benefit from Psychic Terrain; however, in practice, they only have a couple of turns to make good use of the Terrain unless Tapu Lele faints the same turn one of them is sent in.

Moves

Psyshock is the best STAB option for non-Choice variants of Tapu Lele because it hits specially defensive walls like Magearna and Chansey harder, and the difference in power compared to Psychic is negligible. It can even be powered up by Psychium Z for a monstrously strong STAB attack that can OHKO neutral targets like Gliscor and Clefable and hit opposing Special Defense stats rather than Defense. Moonblast rounds out Tapu Lele's coverage, hitting Dark-types like Ash-Greninja and Mega Tyranitar. Focus Blast can be used in combination with Fightinium Z to dispatch Heatran and Mega Mawile and break through weakened Steel-types like Jirachi and Celesteela after a boost. Hidden Power Fire is especially lethal against Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn, OHKOing the former and KOing the latter after insignificant chip damage. Hidden Power Fire also doesn't require a Z-Crystal to be consistent, so it's the move of choice for Psychium Z and Twisted Spoon variants, with the added bonus of hitting Shedinja. Calm Mind allows Tapu Lele to boost All-Out Pummeling and Hidden Power Fire into KO ranges and hit harder without being prediction reliant. The Special Defense boost aids Tapu Lele in setting up against the likes of Rotom-W, Magearna lacking a Steel-type move, and Tapu Fini. Taunt can be used to invalidate passive checks to Tapu Lele like Chansey and especially Cresselia.

Set Details

A Modest nature is used to maximize Tapu Lele's wallbreaking power, but Timid can be used to outspeed Jolly Excadrill, Kommo-o, and offensive Landorus-T and Speed tie with opposing Timid Tapu Lele and Kyurem-B. Fightinium Z is used alongside Focus Blast, but if Focus Blast isn't present on the set, then Psychium Z or Twisted Spoon should be used instead, with Hidden Power Fire replacing Focus Blast. Psychium Z allows Tapu Lele to hit incredibly hard neutrally, and Twisted Spoon stacks with Psychic Terrain to make Psyshock consistently stronger without using up a Z-Crystal; some notable examples include a very likely 2HKO on Chansey and also Heatran if Tapu Lele used Calm Mind previously.

Usage Tips

Tapu Lele works great early-game, softening up defensive Pokemon like Assault Vest Magearna and Heatran; it has an impressive Special Defense stat, so it can do this incredibly aggressively by trading its own HP to accrue even more damage and set up a teammate like Mega Alakazam for later. It should aim to set up before using its Z-Move, as this lets All-Out Pummeling reach KO ranges and maximizes the efficiency of the one-time nuke, Shattered Psyche. Tapu Lele should be mindful of its HP, as at higher percentages, it can take advantage of weaker special attackers by setting up on them with Calm Mind, and Taunt variants can beat Chansey and Cresselia one-on-one without risking being KOed by repeated Seismic Tosses and Ice Beams. Tapu Lele should avoid status at all costs, as it won't have the longevity to break through bulky teams after being put on a timer, and it can't threaten defensive Pokemon as potently when slower than them due to paralysis. This set is great against stall teams, as it can set up a Calm Mind against lead Mega Sableye and cannot be handled via prediction. Hidden Power Fire is more specialized for the stall matchup, as Fightinium Z variants are blanked by Shedinja.

Team Options

This set works great on offense teams, which appreciate how Tapu Lele can break down defensive stopgaps like Landorus-T, Rotom-W, and Magearna so that its teammates can clean up. Mega Mawile and Ash-Greninja appreciate Tapu Lele's ability to threaten Toxapex and chip down Assault Vest Magearna, and they can threaten its checks, like Victini and Jirachi, in return; it's important to note that Psychic Terrain puts a stop to Mega Mawile and Greninja's Sucker Punch and Water Shuriken, respectively, against grounded foes. Mega Alakazam shares similar Steel-type checks with Tapu Lele, heavily appreciates how it can force its way through them over time, and loves the Psychic Terrain that it brings, as it prevents Mega Alakazam from being revenge killed by priority users like Ash-Greninja, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Mawile and boosts the power of its STAB Psychic. Offensive Magearna variants like Shift Gear and Trick Room sets appreciate Tapu Lele's ability to break past Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Mega Scizor, and they can clean up late-game. Pivoting support from the likes of Landorus-T, Rotom-W, Magearna, and Tornadus-T allows Tapu Lele to get in unscathed and threaten to set up. Fast Pokemon like Greninja and Choice Scarf users like Landorus-T and Kartana can help balance out Tapu Lele's middling Speed stat.

Moves

Psychic is Tapu Lele's strongest attack, capable of KOing many common fast, offensive Pokemon and doing a chunk to Pokemon that resist it. Moonblast is a strong alternative attack to fall back on in case the opposing team has Dark-types or healthy Psychic-types. Hidden Power Fire is a passably sufficient weapon against Steel-types such as Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Mega Mawile, which like to switch in otherwise thanks to this set's lack of boosted power. Thunderbolt is a good coverage attack, allowing this set to slay regular Gyarados in a single hit and Mantine in two (other moves can only 3HKO it while it stalls with Roost). Thunderbolt also pressures cores that rely on multiple Electric-weak Pokemon, such as Greninja + Toxapex or Celesteela + Tapu Fini. Nature's Madness can be run to punish Pokemon that switch into Tapu Lele for free otherwise, such as Assault Vest Magearna and Celesteela. As a quick note, Psyshock is not very useful on this set, as it barely scratches physically weaker targets such as Chansey without a boosting item. Thus, this set prefers the raw power of Psychic.

Set Details

Maximized Speed and Special Attack investment with a Timid nature is simply straightforward for a Choice Scarf set, enabling Tapu Lele to safely revenge kill Mega Alakazam, Choice Scarf Landorus-T, and anything slower.

Usage Tips

With the increased Speed provided by Choice Scarf as well as superb natural special offense, Tapu Lele can act as both a revenge killer and a cleaner. Depending on the opposing team, it may be wise to preserve Tapu Lele to do either later in the match. Be careful about simply using Psychic if the opponent has healthy Dark- and Steel-types active. In this case, use coverage moves to KO or wear such targets down on the switch. Even without a boosting item, Tapu Lele still has marginally enough power to wallbreak on rare occasions, in which case you can utilize it to weaken foes.

Team Options

Tapu Lele will be cleaning up and revenge killing, so teammates that can weaken Psychic- and Fairy-resistant or immune Pokemon make it much easier for Tapu Lele to spam Psychic and Moonblast without resorting to weaker or inaccurate coverage attacks. Heatran, for instance, instantly threatens and checks a majority of Steel-types with its offensive sets. A specialized solution is to use Magnezone, which traps pesky Steel-types that tend to switch into Tapu Lele's STAB moves. Toxapex can be a good partner on more balanced teams, as it typically handles some boosted and faster threats that Tapu Lele cannot revenge kill itself, such as Mega Charizard X, Volcarona, and Choice Scarf Greninja.

Tapu Lele tends to force switches, and since this set is rather lacking in power outside of Psychic, entry hazard support is necessary to pressure and wear down the opposition. The aforementioned Heatran, Ferrothorn, Greninja, and Landorus-T are examples of Pokemon that fit on a wide variety of offensive or balance teams and can set up either Stealth Rock or Spikes. Though Shuckle is rather specialized, it deserves mention for also setting Sticky Web, allowing Tapu Lele and its teammates to pressure and beat threats they could not trump before, such as Choice Scarf Greninja and +1 Volcarona. To further apply offensive pressure, wallbreakers are greatly helpful; Hoopa-U is a prime example due to benefiting from Psychic Terrain while sporting a colorful and unpredictable array of attacks to whittle down Tapu Lele's checks and counters. Mega Medicham is a terrifying wallbreaker under Psychic Terrain that can help pressure Tapu Lele's checks in Chansey and Steel-types.