Tapu Lele Best Moveset
AbilityPsychic Surge sets Psychic Terrain on entry, blocking all priority moves and boosting Psychic damage by 30%. 130 Sp. Atk behind Psychic/Fairy TermStab hits devastatingly hard with the terrain boost active. The moveset shuts down priority users while dealing massive damage. S-tier because terrain plus raw power overwhelms everything.
Psychic Surge set Psychic Terrain on entry in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). Boosted Psychic moves by 30% and blocked priority. 130 Sp. Atk with no Mach Punch or Sucker Punch coming back.
Best Moves
Best Build
Tapu Lele best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power Fire
- Psychic
Recommended Teammates
Two gens at the top in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield). Priority blocking protected teammates, and Choice Specs Psychic in terrain hit harder than most Pokemon could survive.
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
Recommended Teammates
Tapu Lele Weakness
Type-wise, Tapu Lele takes extra damage from Poison, Ghost, and Steel. Dragon moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Tapu Lele's special bulk (base 115 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Poison, Ghost, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Psychic |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Dragon |
What is Tapu Lele Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Tapu Lele
Yveltal's Sucker Punch hits Tapu Lele for 38-44%.
S | ||
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Yveltal builds →Dark Pulse36-42% Sucker Punch38-44% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Alomomola builds →Flip Turn16-19% Scald9-11% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Cyclizar builds →Rapid Spin20-24% U Turn28-33% Knock Off26-31% | ||
B | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Clodsire builds →Earthquake26-31% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
B | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse31-36% Ice Beam35-41% Surf35-41% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Pelipper builds →Hurricane24-28% U Turn13-16% | ||
C | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Palafin builds →Flip Turn30-35% Flip Turn30-35% | ||
Evolution
No breeding, no evolution. Tapu Lele is a Psychic/Fairy legendary with 570 base stat total that you obtain once and build around. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Shiny Tapu Lele
Slightly different pink on Tapu Lele. That's about it. You'd need both versions side by side to tell, which stings when Tapu Koko got a full black shell. The butterfly guardian deserved better.
Shiny Tapu Lele Evolution
Does Not EvolveShiny Tapu Lele Odds & Hunting Methods
3 of 3 VerifiedHow do we research these odds?
We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.
Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.
Read our full methodologyTapu Lele Locations
A few locations for Tapu Lele across endgame routes. The list below shows no spawn rates for these spots, so pick the one that fits where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Tapu Lele in Sword & Shield
The psychic guardian Tapu Lele lingers at the Ruins of Life, roused only when a new Champion touches the altar statue, then meeting that trainer at level 60.
How to Get Tapu Lele in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
The pink guardian of Akala only wakes for a Champion; make your way to the Ruins of Life, lay a hand on the shrine, and Tapu Lele battles at level 60.
How to Get Tapu Lele in Sun & Moon
Base Stats
Tapu Lele's built around special offense. Sp. Atk leads the charge, HP pays for it. Near-impossible to catch, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Although called a guardian deity, Tapu Lele is devoid of guilt about its cruel disposition and can be described as nature incarnate.
Tapu Lele Event Distributions
Tapu Lele reaches players through one Mystery Gift distribution rather than a recurring giveaway.
Shiny Tapu Lele giftUltra SunUltra MoonAlways shiny
Tapu Lele Guide
Tapu Lele plays as a wallbreaker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Moonblast is the primary attack.
Tapu Lele's hidden ability is Telepathy. It protects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves. Situational compared to Psychic Surge.
Tapu Lele pairs best with Deoxys Attack and Necrozma Dusk Mane. Deoxys Attack has Decent synergy and covers what Tapu Lele can't handle on its own.
Timid is the go-to nature for Tapu Lele. That's +Speed / -Attack. Pair it with 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Game Availability
Tapu Lele has appeared in 3 games since Sun & Moon, spanning 3 generations. As a Legendary, it's typically a one-per-save encounter tied to the story or post-game content.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SMDebut
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Tapu Lele.
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