[OVERVIEW]
Fairy
=======
* Tapu Bulu sports an excellent Attack stat, which makes it a great physical wallbreaker on Fairy teams.
* Its Grass typing allows it to take on Ground, Rock, and Water teams and relieve some of the pressure on Azumarill and Tapu Koko.
* Tapu Bulu's unique ability, Grassy Surge, provides immense support for Fairy teams, acting as a psudeo-Leftovers, reducing damage dealt by Earthquake, and increasing the power of Tapu Bulu's Grass-type attacks, which causes them to hit for a lot of damage.
* Access to decent coverage moves such as Superpower, Stone Edge, and Zen Headbutt allows it to check several types in the metagame.
* Grassy Surge also recovers the health of the opposing team, which can be disadvantageous.
* Despite being a great wallbreaker, Tapu Bulu still has trouble KOing certain physically defensive Pokemon such as Skarmory.
* Unfortunately, Tapu Bulu's typing sports a huge weakness to Poison-type attacks, meaning users of such attacks force Tapu Bulu to switch into Klefki or Magearna.
* Tapu Bulu's Speed stat is subpar, leaving it outsped by positive-natured base 80 Speed Pokemon and Choice Scarf users.
[SET]
name: Wallbreaker (Fairy)
move 1: Wood Hammer
move 2: Horn Leech
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Stone Edge / Zen Headbutt
item: Choice Band
ability: Grassy Surge
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Wood Hammer is Tapu Bulu's strongest STAB attack, dealing massive damage to Pokemon that doesn't resist it at the cost of significant recoil damage.
* Horn Leech provides Tapu Bulu with a reliable means of recovery while still hitting hard under Grassy Terrain.
* Superpower hits Steel-types such as Heatran and Ferrothorn, which would otherwise completely wall Tapu Bulu.
* Stone Edge hits Flying- and Fire-types such as Zapdos and Volcarona, which resist its Grass-type attacks.
* Zen Headbutt can be used instead of Stone Edge to let Tapu Bulu hit Poison-types such as Mega Venusaur.
Set Details
========
* Maximum Attack investment with an Adamant nature maximizes Tapu Bulu's damage output.
* 252 Speed EVs make Tapu Bulu as fast as possible, outpacing neutral-natured Seismitoad, which would otherwise outspeed and KO it with Sludge Wave.
* Choice Band makes Tapu Bulu a bigger threat by granting it more wallbreaking power.
* Grassy Surge sets up Grassy Terrain upon switching in, boosting Tapu Bulu's Grass-type moves, decreasing the power of Earthquake, and recovering health each turn.
Usage Tips
========
* Tapu Bulu can be brought in early-game to wallbreak as much as possible to weaken foes for its teammates.
* Tapu Bulu should take advantage of Wood Hammer and Horn Leech while Grassy Terrain is active.
* Wood Hammer serves as Tapu Bulu's go-to move in nearly any situation. While Grassy Terrain is active, it should use the move to weaken threats.
* If Tapu Bulu's health is low and you want to preserve it for later in the game, it should go for Horn Leech to recover its health.
* Tapu Bulu should set up Grassy Terrain as often as possible against Ground teams to reduce Earthquake's damage.
* Utilize Tapu Bulu's typing to switch into attacks that its teammates shouldn't, such as Garchomp's Earthquake, Xurkitree's Thunderbolt, and Azumarill's Aqua Jet.
* If Tapu Bulu is facing a Steel-type such as Heatran or Ferrothorn, it should always go for Superpower.
* Don't switch Tapu Bulu into entry hazards very much, as they wear it down much faster; Tapu Bulu can not afford to be significantly weakened if needed later in the game.
* Because Tapu Bulu's Speed isn't that good, make sure that revenge killers and faster threats are removed before switching it in.
* Make sure Tapu Bulu avoids getting burned, as the status ruins its wallbreaking capabilities by weakening its attacks.
* Tapu Bulu should be wary about switching into Tapu Fini because Grassy Terrain removes Misty Terrain, meaning Scald can potentially burn it.
Team Options
========
* Fairy-types appreciate Tapu Bulu's wallbreaking capabilities, ability to take on Ground-type teams, and Grassy Terrain support.
* Magearna's Steel tying allows it to switch into Poison- and Steel-type attacks. It can also bring Tapu Bulu in with a slow Volt Switch and apply offensive pressure to opposing teams with its impressive Special Attack and movepool. Magearna's wallbreaking capability can break through threats that check Tapu Bulu such as defensive Staraptor.
* Klefki is another Steel-type that's great for switching into incoming Poison-type moves. It can also provide support with dual screens, Thunder Wave, and Spikes, improving Tapu Bulu's longevity, Speed control, and ability to KO threats.
* Both Magearna and Klefki appreciate Grassy Terrain being active so that they can take an Earthquake from threats such as Excadrill.
* Tapu Koko can gain momentum for Tapu Bulu by letting it come in safely with a Volt Switch or U-turn. Also, it easily checks Celesteela and Skarmory as well as revenge killers such as Landorus.
* Tapu Bulu appreciates Tapu Fini and Togekiss's Defog support keeping entry hazards off the field. They're both also excellent stallbreakers, utilizing Taunt and Nasty Plot, respectively. The former can weaken walls with Nature's Madness, while the ladder can take on Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur.
* Togekiss can also utilize Choice Scarf to revenge kill targets such as Infernape that Tapu Bulu would struggle against.
* Clefable can provide Stealth Rock support to pressure opposing teams and help Tapu Bulu KO opposing threats.
* Clefable and Togekiss can also carry Babiri Berry as a way to take a hit from Mega Scizor, which Tapu Bulu struggles against, and KO it back with their Fire-type coverage.
* Belly Drum Azumarill partners well with Tapu Bulu, being able to threaten Fire-types such as Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame and sweep teams after setting up. Azumarill also appreciates Tapu Bulu wallbreaking its checks such as Rotom-W to give it an easier time sweeping.
* Gardevoir is great in providing Healing Wish support for Tapu Bulu while checking Poison-types thanks to its Psychic typing.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Fairy
--------
* Choice Scarf can allow Tapu Bulu to outspeed and revenge kill targets such as Tapu Koko and Greninja as well as catch Landorus by surprise, but it loses out on the extra power from Choice Band and relevant KOs such as on Chansey and Ferrothorn.
* Swords Dance could be used with Life Orb, which boosts Tapu Bulu's Attack stat by two stages and lets it avoid having to lock into a move at the cost of a bit of health each turn; unfortunately, Skarmory still walls Tapu Bulu even after a boost.
* Substitute + Leech Seed are used to stall out the opposing threat by slowly depleting its health with Leech Seed while avoiding damage with Substitute. Thanks to Tapu Bulu's average Speed, it can set up another Substitute if attacked and broken; however, this combination can be easily walled, and powerful attackers can pressure it.
Checks and Counters
===================
Fairy
--------
**Skarmory and Celesteela**: Skarmory and Celesteela completely wall Tapu Bulu because of their excellent defensive typing and bulk. The former can stall with Roost while KOing Tapu Bulu with Brave Bird or Iron Head, while the latter KOes it with Heavy Slam or Flamethrower.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur walls Tapu Bulu's Grass-type attacks, resists Superpower, and doesn't take much damage from Stone Edge. Tapu Bulu has to rely on Zen Headbutt to deal reasonable damage to it.
**Poison-types**: Poison-type Pokemon such as Nidoking and Gengar can threaten Tapu Bulu with their Poison-type attacks; however, they need to be wary of Tapu Bulu's Zen Headbutt.
**Steel-types**: Tapu Bulu has to rely on Superpower to beat most Steel-types such as Heatran, Magnezone, and Ferrothorn. Mega Scizor can tank all of its attacks and use it to set up Swords Dance.
**Fire-types**: Several Fire-types such as Mega Charizard X, Volcarona, and Talonflame resist Tapu Bulu's Grass-type attacks and can threaten it with their STAB moves. However, they should be wary of switching into a Stone Edge.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types wall Tapu Bulu easily, and many of them such as Serperior can take advantage of Grassy Terrain.
**Revenge Killers**: Revenge killers, especially Choice Scarf users such as Nihilego and Victini, can easily outspeed and KO Tapu Bulu.
**Status**: Tapu Bulu doesn't appreciate being inflicted with status, as burns and poison decrease its attacking power and shorten its longevity, while paralysis decreases its already lacking Speed stat.
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