[1v1] Tapu Bulu [QC 3/3] [GP 1/1]

OVERVIEW:

Tapu Bulu has decent bulk to go with its Grass / Fairy typing, a decent movepool, and, most importantly, an excellent ability in Grassy Surge, which boosts all the Grass-type moves of all the Pokemon present in the field. Its 70 / 115 / 95 bulk means that it is able to tank some super effective hits, like an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham or an Ice Beam from Primarina. Its Grass typing also matches it up very well against Mega Gyarados, a very formidable meta threat. It is also the slowest of all the Guardian Deities, which means that its ability activates the latest on the field and prevails for the first five turns of the battle. However, the absence of a good physical Fairy-type STAB move and a weakness to commonly used types like Fire, Flying, and Steel present major drawbacks to its usage. It also has a meager base 75 Speed stat and only decent defensive stats, so it commonly gets KOed before it gets the chance to land a hit on many Pokemon.

Grassium Z
Tapu Bulu @ Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Atk / 36 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Bulk Up / Taunt


SET COMMENTS

Moves

Wood Hammer is boosted by Grassy Terrain, and with a 190-Base Power Bloom Doom, Wood Hammer helps Tapu Bulu in defeating Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Primarina. Also, due to the sheer power of Bloom Doom, Tapu Bulu is able to OHKO bulky Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Sableye, and Porygon2. Leech Seed provides Tapu Bulu with a form of recovery and aids in damaging the foe, which cripples Counter Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan and Golem, as well as bulky Pokemon like Aegislash. Substitute complements Leech Seed because after using Leech Seed on the opposing Pokemon, the Substitute helps in tanking damage while Leech Seed and Grassy Terrain restore Tapu Bulu's HP constantly on top of wearing down opposing Pokemon. Bulk Up can be used to set up against Pokemon like Groundium Z Landorus-T and Mega Heracross, while Taunt can be used to prevent Pokemon like Crustle and Carracosta from setting up against Tapu Bulu.

Set Details

248 HP EVs increase Tapu Bulu's overall bulk, and 224 Attack EVs with an Adamant nature let it KO Pokemon like Snorlax, Blissey, and Mega Slowbro. 36 Special Defense EVs let Tapu Bulu survive Overheat from Mega Manectric as well as a 175-Base Power Shattered Psyche from Latios. Grassium Z is the item of choice because a Bloom Doom from Wood Hammer in Grassy Terrain can be used against Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Donphan, and Golem, and it also allows Tapu Bulu to take out neutrally effected foes like Mega Lopunny and Mega Sableye.

Usage Tips

Since Tapu Bulu is a Grass-type Pokemon with an ability that sets up Grassy Terrain to boost its Grass-type moves, it can be sent against most Water-, Ground-, and Rock-types, like Mega Gyarados, Groundium Z Landorus-T, Mega Swampert, and Mega Tyranitar. It's advisable to avoid sending Tapu Bulu out against Landorus-T because Landorus-T has a chance of holding Flyinium Z. Since it has the lowest Speed of the Guardian Deities, Tapu Bulu's Terrain activates last, so it can be sent out against other Guardian Deities like Tapu Koko and Tapu Fini. Avoid sending Tapu Bulu in against Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard X and Y, Magearna, and Mega Venusaur, since Grass-type moves are not very effective against them. Taunt can be used for slower Pokemon that tend to set up against Tapu Bulu, like Crustle and Carracosta, and once said Pokemon are Taunted, use Substitute followed by Leech Seed to restore HP from the foe and follow it up with Bloom Doom to KO them. In similar cases, Taunt followed by Bulk Up and Leech Seed can also be used to help tank the opposing Pokemon's attacks, restore HP from Grassy Terrain and Leech Seed, and hit the foe with Bloom Doom for maximum damage.

Team Options

Since Tapu Bulu is weak to Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-type moves, Ground-type Pokemon like Landorus-T and Golem can serve as good teammates. Tapu Bulu helps them in return by covering their Water-type weakness. Since Tapu Bulu cannot hit Flying-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y and Celesteela, Electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Thundurus-T are also good teammates for Tapu Bulu, and Tapu Bulu helps in return by covering their Ground-type and Rock-type weakness, respectively. Magnezone can serve as an excellent teammate for Tapu Bulu because in addition to it drawing in Ground-type Pokemon for Tapu Bulu, Magnezone also learns Mirror Coat, which can make up for Tapu Bulu's mediocre Special Defense when faced against Pokemon like Meloetta and Porygon-Z. Since Tapu Bulu has a disadvantage against Ice-types like Kyurem-B, Fighting- and Rock-type Pokemon like Terrakion and Mega Tyranitar can also serve as good teammates. Tapu Bulu also helps in covering any Rock-type teammate's weakness to Ground- and Water-type moves.

STRATEGY COMMENTS

Other Options

A Choice Band set with Stone Edge and Megahorn instead of Substitute and Leech Seed can be used, where Stone Edge can be used against slower Fire-type Pokemon like Alolan Marowak, and Megahorn helps against Psychic-types like Latios and Latias. Here, Superpower also KOes Choice Scarf Kyurem-B. A set with Grassy Seed, which increases the holder's Defense by one stage when Grassy Terrain is in effect, and Bulk Up can also be used against some other Pokemon like Crustle and Carracosta. A Choice Scarf set with moves ranging from Stone Edge, Superpower, Hidden Power Fire, Energy Ball, and Megahorn is also viable to take out some Pokemon in seemingly disadvantageous matchups against Kartana, Durant, Mega Charizard Y, Greninja, Counter users, and Mega Pinsir.

Checks and Counters

Grass-resistant Pokemon:
Fire-, Steel-, Flying-, and Poison-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard X and Y, Heatran, Celesteela, and Mega Venusaur can counter Tapu Bulu because of their type advantages.

Dragon-type Pokemon: Dragon-type Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Haxorus also pose a threat because Tapu Bulu is not able to 2HKO most Dragon-type Pokemon, and they get either Poison- or Steel-type coverage moves like Poison Jab and Iron Head to reliably 2HKO Tapu Bulu.

Setup Sweepers: Some Pokemon, like Crustle and Carracosta, can endure one hit from Tapu Bulu with Sturdy, set up, and defeat Tapu Bulu that lack Taunt.

Strong STAB Hitters: Some Pokemon like Choice Specs Greninja and Porygon-Z outspeed Tapu Bulu and KO it because of their high Special Attack stats.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

charizard8888

Catch The Wave
is a Forum Moderator Alumnus
OVERVIEW:

  • Tapu Bulu is a Pokemon which had has decent bulk to go with its Grass/Fairy type, a decent movepool, and most importantly, an excellent ability in Grassy Surge, which boosts all the Grass-type moves of all the Pokemon present in the field.
  • It has 70 HP/ 115 Def/ 95 SpDef , which means it is able to tank some hits like an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham on the physical side or an Ice Beam from Primarina on the special side.
  • Its grass typing also matches it up very well against Mega Gyarados, a very threatening meta threat. Replace the first threatening with something ( as it sounds weird
  • It is also the slowest of all the Guardian Deities, which means its ability activates the latest on the field and prevails for the first 5 turns of the battle.
  • However, the absence of a good physical Fairy STAB, and its typing which makes it weak to commonly used types like Fire(both Mega Charizard, Blaziken) , Flying( Celesteela, Mega Pinsir ) and Steel ( Mega Metagross, Magearna, Mega Lucario) presents major drawbacks to its usage.
SET: Name? Grassium Z? GrassoffensiveZ? Z Grassattacker?

Tapu Bulu @ Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 220 Atk / 36 SpD Minor thing but make it 248 HP since 252 would make the calculated HP even. The leftover 4 can be put into its Atk or SpD
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Superpower / Bulk Up (Spacing)


SET COMMENTS:
Moves:
  • Wood Hammer is the focal point in this set. Boosted by Grassy Terrain, and with a Z Move Power of 190, Wood Hammer helps Tapu Bulu in defeating Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Primarina. Also, due to the sheer power, it is able to OHKO tanking Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Sableye, and Porygon2.
  • Leech Seed is primarily put here to get back some HP from the opponent Pokemon which could alternate as a Counter-using Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan or Golem, or Pokemon like Aegislash.
  • Substitute is there in this set to supplement Leech Seed wherein, after Leech Seeding opposing Pokemon, the Substitute helps in tanking damage while Leech Seed+ Grassy Terrain restores Bulu's HP constantly, wearing down opposing Pokemon.
  • Bulk Up or Superpower can be used alternatively depending on coverage as opposed to set up. Superpower helps against match-ups like Mega Tyranitar, while Bulk Up helps in setting up against mons like Chansey or Snorlax.
All this is good

Set Details:
  • Most of the EVs have gone into the Attack stat and HP stat. I'd rather say that max HP investment increases its overall bulk and the remaining Atk investment with an Adamant nature lets it KO (One or two mons which are KOed only by max Atk)
  • The 36 Special Defense EVs in conjunction to the HP investment are for surviving Overheat from Mega Manectric. Is that it? If yes then also add in that it also lets it survive a combination of Fake Out and Genesis Supernova from Mew on a roll in favour of Tapu Bulu
  • Grassium Z is the item of choice because Wood Hammer in Grassy Terrain, coupled with a Z Move can be used against Water- , Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Donphan, and Golem.


Usage Tips:

  • Since Tapu Bulu is a Grass-type Pokemon, with an ability to boost its Grass-type moves, it can be sent against most of the Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon, like Mega Swampert, Mega Tyranitar and many others.
  • Since it has the least speed amongst the Guardian Deities, its terrain activates the last, and so it can be sent against other Guardian Deities like Tapu Koko, and Tapu Fini.
  • Avoid sending it against Fire-, Steel-, Flying- and Poison-type Pokemon like Mega Charizards, Magearna, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Venusaur, since Grass-type moves are not very effective against the mentioned types.

Team options:
  • Since Tapu Bulu is weak to Fire-, Steel-and Poison-type Pokemon, Ground-type Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Golem can serve as good teammates. Tapu Bulu also helps it back by covering its water-type weakness.
  • Also since Tapu Bulu cannot hit Flying-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y or Celesteela, electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko or Thundurus-Therian is also a good teammate to Tapu Bulu, where again, Tapu Bulu helps in covering its Ground-type and Rock-type weaknesses respectively.
  • Magnezone can serve as an excellent teammate for Tapu Bulu because in addition to drawing in Ground-type Pokemon, it also learns Mirror Coat, which can cover up for Tapu Bulu's mediocre special Defence against Pokemon like Meloetta and Porygon Z.
  • Checks to Kyurem-B such as? (MegaGross Mega Luke) are highly desirable because?
STRATEGY COMMENTS:
Other options:

  • A Choice Band set with Stone Edge and Megahorn instead of Substitute and Leech Seed can be used, where Stone Edge can be used against slower Fire-type Pokemon like Marowak-Alola and Megahorn helps in Psychic-type matchups like Latios and Latias.
  • A set with Grassy Seed, which increases Defense by one stage when Grassy Terrain takes effect, and Bulk Up can also be used against some other Pokemon like Crustle or Carracosta.
  • A Choice Scarf set equipped with Wood Hammer, Stone Edge, (What moves? I know Stone Edge is one of them) is also viable to surprise and KO some seemingly disadvantageous match-ups like Mega Charizard Y, Greninja and Mega Pinsir.
Checks and counters:
  • Type-disadvantageous Pokemon: Fire-, Steel-, Flying-, Poison- and Dragon-type Pokemon can counter Tapu Bulu because while all other types win because of sheer type disadvantage, Dragon-types, for which Bulu does not learn a STAB coverage move, can easily 2HKO. Give one example of each type (Make sure to do Kyub in Dragon as the analysis lacks its mention a bit)
  • Set-up sweeper: Some Pokemon, like Crustle and Carracosta, can endure one hit from Bulu, set up and defeat Bulu.
  • Strong STAB hitters: Some Pokemon like Greninja outspeed Tapu Bulu, and can defeat it with stab-boosted Ice Beam, because of Protean ability for Greninja. Also add in some of these Porygon-Z, Meloetta, Mega Lopunny, Mega Heracross
8/8 gr8 m8
QC 1/3
 
8/8 gr8 m8
QC 1/3
Implemented all changes. Just one rectification; Bulu has a very good match up against Mega Lopunny, because Fake Out+Giga Impact from Mega Lopunny fails to kill Tapu Bulu, while Bloom Doom does. Sorry for overseeing KyuB part, we were in the sustest when i wrote this analysis.
 

Nalei

strong, wild garbage
is a Tiering Contributor Alumnus
AMQC - Good stuff! :]
OVERVIEW:

  • Tapu Bulu is a Pokemon which has decent bulk to go with its Grass/Fairy type, a decent movepool, and most importantly, an excellent ability in Grassy Surge, which boosts all the Grass-type moves of all the Pokemon present in the field.
  • It has 70 HP/ 115 Def/ 95 SpDef , which means it is able to tank some hits like an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham on the physical side or an Ice Beam from Primarina on the special side.
  • Its Grass typing also matches it up very well against Mega Gyarados, a very formidable meta threat.
  • It is also the slowest of all the Guardian Deities, which means its ability activates the latest on the field and prevails for the first 5 turns of the battle.
  • However, the absence of a good physical Fairy STAB, and its typing which makes it weak to commonly used types like Fire(both Mega Charizards, Mega Blaziken) , Flying(Celesteela, Mega Pinsir) and Steel ( Mega Metagross, Magearna, Mega Lucario) presents major drawbacks to its usage.



SET[GrassiumZ]:

Tapu Bulu @ Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Atk / 36 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Superpower/ Bulk Up (Superpower is useless imo. If Magnezone has Flash Cannon, you lose regardless. If it doesn't, you win regardless. Can't think of any other situation in which it'd be remotely useful.)


SET COMMENTS:
Moves:
  • Wood Hammer is the focal point in this set. Boosted by Grassy Terrain, and with a Z Move Power of 190, Wood Hammer helps Tapu Bulu in defeating Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Primarina. Also, due to the sheer power, it is able to OHKO bulky Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Sableye, and Porygon2.
  • Leech Seedserves the purpose of getting back some HP from the opposing Pokemon which could alternate as a Counter-using Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan or Golem, or Pokemon like Aegislash.
  • Substitute is there in this set to supplement Leech Seed wherein, after Leech Seeding opposing Pokemon, the Substitute helps in tanking damage while Leech Seed+ Grassy Terrain restores Bulu's HP constantly, wearing down opposing Pokemon.
  • Either Bulk Up or Superpower can be used depending on coverage as opposed to set up to boost Tapu Bulu's Attack and Defense by 1 stage. Superpower helps against match-ups like Magnezone, while Bulk Up helps in setting up against mons like Chansey or Snorlax. (Bulk Up does not help against Chansey and Snorlax. As you mentioned, you just OHKO them. Give other examples, and if you can't think of any, find a better filler move. I think Taunt is cool for Shell Smashers and miscellaneous stall mons.)
Set Details:
  • Max HP investment increases its overall bulk and the remaining Attack investment with an Adamant nature lets it KO mons like...
  • The 36 Special Defense EVs are for surviving Overheat from Mega Manectric and a Z-Psychic from Latios.
  • Grassium Z is the item of choice because Wood Hammer in Grassy Terrain, coupled with a Z Move can be used against Water-, (spacing) Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Donphan, and Golem.


Usage Tips:

  • Since Tapu Bulu is a Grass-type Pokemon, with an ability to boost its Grass-type moves, it can be sent against most of the Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon, like Mega Swampert, Mega Tyranitar and many others.
  • Since it has the least speed amongst the Guardian Deities, its terrain activates the last, and so it can be sent against other Guardian Deities like Tapu Koko, and Tapu Fini.
  • Avoid sending it against Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-type Pokemon like Mega Charizards, Magearna and Mega Venusaur, since Grass-type moves are not very effective against the mentioned types.

Team options:
  • Since Tapu Bulu is weak to Fire-, Steel-and Poison-type Pokemon, Ground-type Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Golem can serve as good teammates. Tapu Bulu also helps it back by covering its water-type weakness.
  • Also since Tapu Bulu cannot hit Flying-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y or Celesteela, electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko or Thundurus-Therian is also a good teammate to Tapu Bulu, where again, Tapu Bulu helps in covering its Ground-type and Rock-type weaknesses respectively.
  • Magnezone can serve as an excellent teammate for Tapu Bulu because in addition to drawing in Ground-type Pokemon, it also learns Mirror Coat, which can cover up for Tapu Bulu's mediocre special Defence against Pokemon like Meloetta and Porygon Z.
  • Since Tapu Bulu has a disadvantage against Ice-type Pokemon like Kyurem-B, Rock-type Pokemon like Terrakion or Mega Tyranitar can also serve as teammates for the former. Here, Tapu Bulu also helps in covering Rock-type's Ground- and Water- type weaknesses.
STRATEGY COMMENTS:
Other options:

  • A Choice Band set with Stone Edge and Megahorn instead of Substitute and Leech Seed can be used, where Stone Edge can be used against slower Fire-type Pokemon like Marowak-Alola and Megahorn helps in Psychic-type matchups like Latios and Latias. Mention that Choice Band Superpower OHKOs Scafrf Kyurem.
  • A set with Grassy Seed, which increases Defense by one stage when Grassy Terrain takes effect, and Bulk Up can also be used against some other Pokemon like Crustle or Carracosta.
  • A Choice Scarf set with Stone Edge, Superpower and Megahorn for Fire-, Steel- and Psychic-types Rock Slide, Hidden Power Fire and Energy Ball for Mega Charizard Y, Durant and Kartana, and Counter users, respectively, is also viable to take out some seemingly disadvantageous match-ups like Mega Charizard Y, Greninja and Mega Pinsir.


Checks and counters:
  • Type-disadvantageous Pokemon: Fire-, Steel-, Flying-, Poison- and Dragon-type Pokemon can counter Tapu Bulu because while all other types win because of sheer type disadvantage, Dragon-types, for which Bulu does not learn a STAB coverage move, can easily 2HKO.
  • Set-up sweepers: Some Pokemon, like Crustle and Carracosta, can endure one hit from Bulu, set up and defeat Bulu.
  • Strong STAB hitters: Some Pokemon like Greninja and Porygon-Z outspeed Tapu Bulu, and can defeat it with stab-boosted Ice Beam, because of Protean ability for Greninja and Adaptability for Porygon-Z.
 

RNGIsFatal

Banned deucer.
Superpower + Bulk Up + Fightinium Z or Superpower + Swords Dance lets you beat Ferrothorn
140 Speed with Rock Tomb lets you outspeed curseKyu and win against it
I don't see the reason to carry Substitute and Taunt at the same time.

Let QC's decide this but this is what I think as formerly-avid-bulu user
 
Superpower + Bulk Up + Fightinium Z or Superpower + Swords Dance lets you beat Ferrothorn
140 Speed with Rock Tomb lets you outspeed curseKyu and win against it
I don't see the reason to carry Substitute and Taunt at the same time.

Let QC's decide this but this is what I think as formerly-avid-bulu user
-Too many curseKyus carry TWave, so I don't think Bulu should be used as a CurseKyu counter.
-SD+SPower kills nothing else other than Ferrothorn, TBH
-Taunt is for setup sweepers like Carracosta and Crustle, while Substitute is for like Aegislash, Chansey, Snorlax and Counter-Sturdy Pokemon, because while 252+Atk surely kills ChansLax, 220+Atk is rolls; also, Protect exists to cut off ZMove, so I think Sub and Taunt would be good
 

Nalei

strong, wild garbage
is a Tiering Contributor Alumnus
Implemented and included all your suggestions except Rock Slide in place of Stone Edge coz though higher chances of missing, Stone Edge comes with a higher critical hit ratio, and more Base Power! Thanks, pretty useful QC, MaceMaster
The only notable target of Rock coverage on Scarf Bulu is Charizard Y. Rock Slide beats it more consistently, and gives you a solid 1/4 chance of beating Charizard X too
e: Check the Scarf section again. You recommend using 5 moves at once
 
Last edited:

lost heros

Meme Master
OVERVIEW:

  • Tapu Bulu is a Pokemon which has decent bulk to go with its Grass/Fairy type, a decent movepool, and most importantly, an excellent ability in Grassy Surge, which boosts all the Grass-type moves of all the Pokemon present in the field.
  • It has 70 HP/ 115 Def/ 95 SpDef , which means it is able to tank some hits like an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham on the physical side or an Ice Beam from Primarina on the special side.
  • Its grass typing also matches it up very well against Mega Gyarados, a very formidable meta threat.
  • It is also the slowest of all the Guardian Deities, which means its ability activates the latest on the field and prevails for the first 5 turns of the battle.
  • However, the absence of a good physical Fairy STAB, and its typing which makes it weak to commonly used types like Fire(both Mega Charizards, Mega Blaziken) , Flying(Celesteela, Mega Pinsir) and Steel ( Mega Metagross, Magearna, Mega Lucario) presents major drawbacks to its usage.



SET[GrassiumZ]:

Tapu Bulu @ Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Atk / 36 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Bulk Up/Taunt


SET COMMENTS:
Moves:
  • Wood Hammer is the focal point in this set. Boosted by Grassy Terrain, and with a Z Move Power of 190, Wood Hammer helps Tapu Bulu in defeating Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Primarina. Also, due to the sheer power, it is able to OHKO bulky Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Sableye, and Porygon2.
  • Leech Seed restore some HP from the opposing Pokemon which could alternate as a Counter-using Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan or Golem, or Pokemon like Aegislash.
  • Substitute is there in this set to supplement Leech Seed wherein, after Leech Seeding opposing Pokemon, the Substitute helps in tanking damage while Leech Seed+ Grassy Terrain restores Bulu's HP constantly, wearing down opposing Pokemon.
  • Either Bulk Up or Taunt can be used on this set. Bulk Up can be used to set up against Pokemon like Groundium Landorus-T, while Taunt can be used to prevent Pokemon like Crustle and Carracosta to set up against Bulu.
Moves should be in the order that they appear in the set. In this case Wood Hammer > Sub > Leech Seed > Bulk up > Taunt
Set Details:
  • Max HP investment increases its overall bulk and the remaining Attack investment with an Adamant nature lets it KO mons like Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Slowbro. You don't have max HP investment. You have 248 HP which gives an odd number HP for substitutes
  • The 36 Special Defense EVs are for surviving Overheat from Mega Manectric and a Z-Psychic from Latios. Z-Psychic should be written as Shattered Psychic.
  • Grassium Z is the item of choice because Wood Hammer in Grassy Terrain, coupled with a Z Move can be used against Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Donphan, and Golem.


Usage Tips:

  • Since Tapu Bulu is a Grass-type Pokemon, with an ability to boost its Grass-type moves, it can be sent against most of the Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon, like Mega Swampert, Mega Tyranitar and many others.
  • Since it has the least speed amongst the Guardian Deities, its terrain activates the last, and so it can be sent against other Guardian Deities like Tapu Koko, and Tapu Fini.
  • Avoid sending it against Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-type Pokemon like Mega Charizards, Magearna and Mega Venusaur, since Grass-type moves are not very effective against the mentioned types.
  • Mention here what matchups should Leech Seed, Sub, Bulk Up, and Taunt be used over Bloom Doom.

Team options:
  • Since Tapu Bulu is weak to Fire-, Steel-and Poison-type Pokemon, Ground-type Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Golem can serve as good teammates. Tapu Bulu also helps it back by covering its water-type weakness.
  • Also since Tapu Bulu cannot hit Flying-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y or Celesteela, electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko or Thundurus-Therian is also a good teammate to Tapu Bulu, where again, Tapu Bulu helps in covering its Ground-type and Rock-type weaknesses respectively.
  • Magnezone can serve as an excellent teammate for Tapu Bulu because in addition to drawing in Ground-type Pokemon, it also learns Mirror Coat, which can cover up for Tapu Bulu's mediocre special Defence against Pokemon like Meloetta and Porygon Z.
  • Since Tapu Bulu has a disadvantage against Ice-type Pokemon like Kyurem-B, Rock-type Pokemon like Terrakion or Mega Tyranitar can also serve as teammates for the former. Here, Tapu Bulu also helps in covering Rock-type's Ground- and Water- type weaknesses.
STRATEGY COMMENTS:
Other options:

  • A Choice Band set with Stone Edge and Megahorn instead of Substitute and Leech Seed can be used, where Stone Edge can be used against slower Fire-type Pokemon like Marowak-Alola and Megahorn helps in Psychic-type matchups like Latios and Latias. Here, Superpower also KOes Choice Scarf Kyurem-B
  • A set with Grassy Seed, which increases Defense by one stage when Grassy Terrain takes effect, and Bulk Up can also be used against some other Pokemon like Crustle or Carracosta.
  • A Choice Scarf set with Stone Edge, Superpower, Hidden Power Fire, Energy Ball, and Megahorn is also viable to take out some seemingly disadvantageous match-ups like Kartana, Durant, Mega Charizard Y, Greninja, Counter-users and Mega Pinsir.


Checks and counters:
  • Type-disadvantageous Pokemon: Fire-, Steel-, Flying-, Poison- and Dragon-type Pokemon can counter Tapu Bulu because while all other types win because of sheer type disadvantage, Dragon-types, for which Bulu does not learn a STAB coverage move, can easily 2HKO. I'd consider making several bullet points about these and also give more examples.
  • Set-up sweeper: Some Pokemon, like Crustle and Carracosta, can endure one hit from Bulu, set up and defeat Bulu.
  • Strong STAB hitters: Some Pokemon like Greninja and Porygon-Z outspeed Tapu Bulu, and can defeat it with stab-boosted Ice Beam, because of Protean ability for Greninja and Adaptability for Porygon-Z. This is just awkward to read. You don't need to mention Protean or Adaptability, just mention that these Pokemon have high Special attacks and moves.
Good analysis, but I think it's a bit lacking in some areas. Make sure to write Bulu as Tapu Bulu.

Implement the changes first and then I'll give stamp.
 
Good analysis, but I think it's a bit lacking in some areas. Make sure to write Bulu as Tapu Bulu.

Implement the changes first and then I'll give stamp.
Implemented all corrections suggested, and changed all Bulu to Tapu Bulu. Thanks, and hoping to get your Seal Of Approval.....
 

DEG

The night belongs to you
is a Community Contributoris a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
I'm saucin' on youuu

OVERVIEW:

Tapu Bulu is a Pokemon which has decent bulk to go with its Grass/Fairy type, a decent movepool, and most importantly, an excellent ability in Grassy Surge, which boosts all the Grass-type moves of all the Pokemon present in the field. It has 70 HP/ 115 Def/ 95 SpDef , which means it is able to tank some hits like an Ice Punch from Mega Medicham on the physical side or an Ice Beam from Primarina on the special side. Its grass typing also matches it up very well against Mega Gyarados, a very formidable meta threat. It is also the slowest of all the Guardian Deities, which means its ability activates the latest on the field and prevails for the first 5 turns of the battle. However, the absence of a good physical Fairy STAB, and its typing which makes it weak to commonly used types like Fire(both Mega Charizards, Mega Blaziken) , Flying(Celesteela, Mega Pinsir) and Steel ( Mega Metagross, Magearna, Mega Lucario) presents major drawbacks to its usage.



SET[GrassiumZ]:

Tapu Bulu @ Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 224 Atk / 36 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Bulk Up/Taunt


SET COMMENTS:
Moves:
Wood Hammer is the focal point in this set. Boosted by Grassy Terrain, and with a Z Move Power of 190, Wood Hammer helps Tapu Bulu in defeating Water-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados and Primarina. Also, due to the sheer power, it is able to OHKO bulky Pokemon like Mega Slowbro, Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Sableye, and Porygon2. Leech Seed restores some HP from the opposing Pokemon which could alternate as a Counter-using Sturdy Pokemon like Donphan or Golem, or Pokemon like Aegislash. Substitute is there in this set to supplement Leech Seed wherein, after Leech Seeding opposing Pokemon, the Substitute helps in tanking damage while Leech Seed+ Grassy Terrain restores Tapu Bulu's HP constantly, wearing down opposing Pokemon. Either Bulk Up or Taunt can be used on this set. Bulk Up can be used to set up against Pokemon like Groundium Landorus-T, while Taunt can be used to prevent Pokemon like Crustle and Carracosta to set up against Tapu Bulu.
Set Details:
248 HP investment increases its overall bulk and the remaining Attack investment with an Adamant nature lets it KO mons like Snorlax, Blissey, Mega Slowbro. The 36 Special Defense EVs are for surviving Overheat from Mega Manectric and a 175 Base Power Shattered Psyche from Latios. Grassium Z is the item of choice because Wood Hammer in Grassy Terrain, coupled with a Z Move can be used against Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon like Mega Gyarados, Donphan, and Golem.


Usage Tips:

Since Tapu Bulu is a Grass-type Pokemon, with an ability to boost its Grass-type moves, it can be sent against most of the Water-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokemon, like Mega Swampert, Mega Tyranitar and many others.
Since it has the least speed amongst the Guardian Deities, its terrain activates the last, and so it can be sent against other Guardian Deities like Tapu Koko, and Tapu Fini. Avoid sending it against Fire-, Steel-, and Poison-type Pokemon like Mega Charizards, Magearna and Mega Venusaur, since Grass-type moves are not very effective against the mentioned types. Taunt can be used for slower Pokemon which tend to set up against Tapu Bulu, like Crustle and Carracosta, and once such Pokemon are Taunted, use Substitute followed by Leech Seed to restore HP from the opponent and follow it up with Bloom Doom to KO these Pokemon In similar cases, Taunt followed by Bulk Up and Leech Seed can also be used to help tank opposing Pokemon's attacks, restore HP both from Grassy Terrain and Leech Seed, and follow it up with Bloom Doom for maximum damage.

Team options:
Since Tapu Bulu is weak to Fire-, Steel-and Poison-type Pokemon, Ground-type Pokemon like Landorus-Therian and Golem can serve as good teammates. Tapu Bulu also helps it back by covering its water-type weakness.
Also since Tapu Bulu cannot hit Flying-type Pokemon like Mega Charizard Y or Celesteela, electric-type Pokemon like Tapu Koko or Thundurus-Therian is also a good teammate to Tapu Bulu, where again, Tapu Bulu helps in covering its Ground-type and Rock-type weaknesses respectively. Magnezone can serve as an excellent teammate for Tapu Bulu because in addition to drawing in Ground-type Pokemon, it also learns Mirror Coat, which can cover up for Tapu Bulu's mediocre special Defence against Pokemon like Meloetta and Porygon Z. Since Tapu Bulu has a disadvantage against Ice-type Pokemon like Kyurem-B, Rock-type Pokemon like Terrakion or Mega Tyranitar can also serve as teammates for the former. Here, Tapu Bulu also helps in covering Rock-type's Ground- and Water-type weaknesses.
STRATEGY COMMENTS:
Other options:

A Choice Band set with Stone Edge and Megahorn instead of Substitute and Leech Seed can be used, where Stone Edge can be used against slower Fire-type Pokemon like Marowak-Alola and Megahorn helps in Psychic-type matchups like Latios and Latias. Here, Superpower also KOes Choice Scarf Kyurem-B. A set with Grassy Seed, which increases Defense by one stage when Grassy Terrain takes effect, and Bulk Up can also be used against some other Pokemon like Crustle or Carracosta. A Choice Scarf set with Stone Edge, Superpower, Hidden Power Fire, Energy Ball, and Megahorn is also viable to take out some seemingly disadvantageous match-ups like Kartana, Durant, Mega Charizard Y, Greninja, Counter-users and Mega Pinsir.


Checks and counters:
  • Type-disadvantageous Pokemon: Fire-, Steel-, Flying-, and Poison-type Pokemon like Charizards, Heatran, Celesteela, and Mega Venusaur can counter Tapu Bulu because of sheer type disadvantage.
  • Dragon-type Pokemon: Dragon-type Pokemon like Kyurem-B and Haxorus also pose a threat because while Tapu Bulu is not able to 2HKO most Dragon-type Pokemon, they get Poison-type or Steel-type move coverage like Poison Jab and Iron Head to reliably 2HKO Tapu Bulu.
  • Set-up sweeper: Some Pokemon, like Crustle and Carracosta, can endure one hit from Bulu, set up and defeat Tapu Bulu.
  • Strong STAB hitters: Some Pokemon like Choice Specs Greninja and Porygon-Z outspeed Tapu Bulu and KO it because of its high Special Attack.
OVERVIEW
I'd rather use the examples in phrases and not in parenthesis.
Mention Tapu Bulu poor Speed
Mention that Grass-type STAB isn't effective against the common Steel-type Pokemon and the relevant Fire-type Pokemon.


Moves:
You mentioned Aegislash in Leech Seed but does it even live and beat it?
I'd mention another example of Bulk Up just as physical attackers that fail to OHKO Bulu AND bulkier threats that do not lose to the Z-move.

Set Details:
What do you even do against a Mega Latias? Also is Mega Manectric even relevant to be an example. I mean it's okay I guess since Bulu isn't also a higher tier Pokemon so also adding a low tier Pokemon won't hurt.
Mention that Grassium not only beat these Pokemon but definitely hurts most Pokemon that do no resist it.

Usage Tips:
More relevant examples of Ground/Rock/Water please, Gyarados, Golem, Ground-Z Lando...

Team options:
You can also add Fighting-types to beat Ice-type Pokemon.

Checks and counters
Your whole analysis focus on you being able to beat Crustle and Carracosta then you put them in Checks and Counters?


QC 3/3
 
I'm saucin' on youuu



OVERVIEW
I'd rather use the examples in phrases and not in parenthesis.
Mention Tapu Bulu poor Speed
Mention that Grass-type STAB isn't effective against the common Steel-type Pokemon and the relevant Fire-type Pokemon.


Moves:
You mentioned Aegislash in Leech Seed but does it even live and beat it?
I'd mention another example of Bulk Up just as physical attackers that fail to OHKO Bulu AND bulkier threats that do not lose to the Z-move.

Set Details:
What do you even do against a Mega Latias? Also is Mega Manectric even relevant to be an example. I mean it's okay I guess since Bulu isn't also a higher tier Pokemon so also adding a low tier Pokemon won't hurt.
Mention that Grassium not only beat these Pokemon but definitely hurts most Pokemon that do no resist it.

Usage Tips:
More relevant examples of Ground/Rock/Water please, Gyarados, Golem, Ground-Z Lando...

Team options:
You can also add Fighting-types to beat Ice-type Pokemon.

Checks and counters
Your whole analysis focus on you being able to beat Crustle and Carracosta then you put them in Checks and Counters?


QC 3/3
220+ Atk Tapu Bulu Bloom Doom (190 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios in Grassy Terrain: 301-355 (100 - 117.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

I wasn't going on about Mega Latias, it was about Latios( not mega ), so I'll let that stay here.

Implemented all other changes! :)Thank you guys for your QC's.
 

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