Dragon moves don't affect Tapu Bulu at all — that's the advantage of Grass/Fairy typing. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped. Needs some investment to avoid getting outsped. Known as the Land Spirit Pokemon.
Attack and Defense carry most of Tapu Bulu's stat budget. HP's the obvious dump stat. Near-impossible to catch and yields 3 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Tapu Bulu Weakness
VulnerableTapu Bulu's Grass/Fairy typing leaves it vulnerable to Poison, Fire, Ice, Flying, and Steel moves. Poison hits land at 4x, so they're the biggest threat. It shrugs off Dragon-type attacks completely. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Tapu Bulu's overall bulk (70/115/95) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
You can't breed Tapu Bulu or evolve it into anything else. This Grass/Fairy legendary packs 570 stats and doesn't need a chain to be relevant.
How to Evolve
Horn Leech is the main STAB option after a Swords Dance boost. Heavy-Duty Boots gives Tapu Bulu hazard immunity on every switch-in to survive the setup turn, and max Attack and Speed EVs make the boosted hits count. The remaining moves catches resists.
Best Build
Best Tapu Bulu Moveset
- Horn Leech
- High Horsepower
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Tapu Bulu. TMs unlock coverage across 8 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Wood Hammer and Solar Beam into something with actual range.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Tapu Bulu. TMs unlock coverage across 8 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Wood Hammer and Solar Beam into something with actual range.
Level-up moves are just the starting point for Tapu Bulu. TMs unlock coverage across 7 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Wood Hammer and Solar Beam into something with actual range.
Tapu Bulu can't be caught in Sword & Shield. Bring it over from Sun or Ultra Sun instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
Tapu Bulu waits at a fixed spot in this game. Head to Ruins of Abundance for a one-time encounter. No random spawns or encounter rates involved — it's a set battle at a known location.
Best Locations
Tapu Bulu is a fixed encounter, not a random spawn. Walk up to it, interact, and the battle starts immediately. Head to Ruins of Abundance when your team is ready for the fight.
Best Locations
At 570 BST, Tapu Bulu is built different. We rank it B-Tier. As a Legendary Pokemon, the raw stats back up the reputation. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Watch for Nidoking (Poison), Blaziken (Fire), and Weavile (Ice) when using Tapu Bulu. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Nidoking is the most dangerous since Poison moves deal 4x damage. Flying and Steel-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Tapu Bulu doesn't evolve. As a Legendary Pokemon, it stands on its own without an evolutionary line. It's a Grass/Fairy type with 570 BST.
Grassy Surge when this Pokémon enters battle, it changes the terrain to Grassy Terrain — that's the one you want on Tapu Bulu. Telepathy is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.
Base 75 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Tapu Bulu is a physical attacker with base 130 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Tapu Bulu can be found in Sword & Shield, Sun & Moon, and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
First obtainable in Sun & Moon, Tapu Bulu has been featured in 3 titles across 3 generations. Legendary status means a single encounter per playthrough in most games.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISMDebut
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A