- Tapu Lele holds a distinct niche in Mix and Mega thanks to its ability Psychic Surge, which allows it to set up Psychic Terrain before Mega Evolving.
- Thanks to Psychic Terrain, Tapu Lele is able to launch off powerful Psychic-type attacks while protecting itself from common priority such as an Refrigerate Extreme Speed from Genesect.
- Furthermore, Tapu Lele's coverage options allow it to muscle through any Pokemon which resists Psychic-type moves, bar the uncommon Aegislash.
- However, Tapu Lele struggles to find any switch-in opportunities whatsoever due to having such poor bulk and how strong offensive threats are.
- Having only five turns of Psychic Terrain is really detrimental as well, since you can only Mega Tapu Lele once or it becomes significantly weaker.
- Finally, Tapu Lele has a very huge dilemma in selecting either Psyshock or Psychic to muscle through walls such as Blissey, or through Primal Groudon / Zapdos.
Tapu Lele @ Absolite / Lucarionite
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
Set Comments
Moves
- Calm Mind boosts Tapu Lele's Special Attack and Special Defense, enabling it to launch off insanely powerful Psychics under Psychic Terrain, capable of OHKOing Primal Groudon.
- Psychic is the main STAB move of choice thanks to its naturally high power and ability to break through Primal Groudon easier, alongside Zapdos, too.
- However, Psyshock has the neat ability of 2HKOing Sablenite Blissey after Stealth Rock damage, alongside effectively winning against it in the long run.
- Moonblast offers a secondary STAB option which becomes more useful should Psychic Terrain wear off; it also enable Tapu Lele to break through the Dark-types which are immune to Psychic-type attacks, such as Weavile or Hoopa-U.
- Focus Blast rounds off Tapu Lele's coverage by hitting everything in between, such as Cobalion, Skarmory, and other various Steel-types.
- If your team is severely weak to Water-type Pokemon, Golispod in particular, then Thunder could be ran since it has 100% accuracy in Heavy Rain; however, Tapu Lele suffers from not having Focus Blast if you go this route.
- Absolite is the key item of choice for Tapu Lele as it provides a large boost into Speed and Special Attack while also giving it access to Magic Bounce in order to more easily set up Calm Mind.
- If Absolite isn't your cup of tea, Lucarionite can be run to further power your Psychic-type moves, with the addition of powering up Fairy-type moves as well.
- Simple 252 SpA, 252 Spe, and a Timid nature gives Tapu Lele the maximum offensive presence.
- Psychic Surge pre-Mega sets Psychic Terrain for more powerful Psychic-type moves and a block to opposing priority.
- Calm Mind should be saved as either an emergency button or a late-game sweep option.
- Should you be in need of breaking something which prevents a teammate from sweeping, then use Calm Mind to break through.
- Alternatively, save Tapu Lele instead as the cleaner after the opposing team has been weakened.
- Tapu Lele should save its Mega Evolution for as long as it need be, since it only gets Psychic Terrain for four turns once it Megas.
- After Mega Evolving, don't be afraid to pressure the opponent since Magic Bounce will pressure anything trying to set up entry hazards or status.
- Primal Groudon shares good type synergy with Tapu Lele and takes on its #1 enemy: Steel-type attacks.
- Genesect can provide momentum through U-turn and pressure out Cresselia, a roadblock to Tapu Lele; however, it must be careful, as it cannot use Extreme Speed versus any grounded Pokemon if Tapu Lele sets Psychic Terrain.
- Hoopa-U really appreciates Tapu Lele's ability to break things down and also benefits from Psychic Terrain; they share similar checks, so they can break through them together.
- Arceus or Arceus-Ghost can be used as partners because they appreciate the opposition being worn down.
- Xerneas loves Psychic Terrain support so it can set up without fear of Extreme Speed.
- Primarily, other Psychic-types can be used alongside Tapu Lele to break the opponent down with their Psychic-type attacks so that Tapu Lele can come in later in the game and finish it off, and they love having Psychic Terrain up in return.
Other Options
- Shadow Ball can be used to hit Lunala and Cresselia.
- Taunt is a neat option to force out many defensive threats such as Blissey, but Magic Bounce does that naturally so it's not really worth it.
- Tapu Lele could potentially run manual Psychic Terrain just for after it has Mega Evolved, but it's a very subpar option when Calm Mind could be run.
- Finally, Substitute can be run to give Tapu Lele more room to launch off attacks but it doesn't have room for Calm Mind, then.
Cresselia: Cresselia shrugs off everything that Tapu Lele can throw at it and only fears being set up on.
Ghost-types: Mimikyu can stomach a hit thanks to Disguise, then proceed to OHKO in return. Lunala shrugs off Moonblast and either sets up or OHKOes right back.
[*note: still need to work on Checks and Counters, so pardon that!]
Last edited by a moderator:
