Physical
Wallbreaker
570High
75Moderate
BTier

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.

Base Stats
570Pseudo
HP70
C
Attack130
A
Defense115
B
Sp. Atk85
C
Sp. Def95
B
Speed75
C
Total570
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Tapu Bulu yields +3 Atk
HPAtk+3DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch3LegendarySlow1.25M XP1.9m / 6'03"45.5kg / 100.3 lbs257Base XP

Tapu Bulu Weakness

Vulnerable

Tapu 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.

4xCriticali
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
5Weak
6Resist
1Immune
Scorei-3
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
4x Poison — Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Toxic
Abilities
Grassy SurgeWhen this Pokémon enters battle, it changes the terrain to Grassy Terrain.
TelepathyHAProtects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves.

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

No Evolution
Tapu Bulu
#787Tapu Bulu
Does not evolve
Breeding
Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

Bulk and offense in one package. Tapu Bulu runs Assault Vest for a special bulk boost with no status moves allowed with a Adamant nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Superpower. Max HP and Attack EVs and Fighting coverage make it hard to safely switch into.

Best Build

Physical Tank
Ability
Grassy Surge
Item
Assault VestBULK
Nature
Adamant+ATK
EVs

Best Tapu Bulu Moveset

  • SuperpowerCoverage
  • Wood HammerSTAB
  • Horn LeechSTAB
  • Rock Slide

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

Lv 1
Disable
10020Normal
Lv 1
Grassy Terrain
10Grass
Lv 1
Leafage
4010040Grass
Lv 1
Mean Look
5Normal
Lv 1
Superpower
1201005Fighting
Lv 1
Whirlwind-6
20Normal
Lv 1
Withdraw
40Water
Lv 1
Wood Hammer
12010015Grass
Lv 8
Horn Attack
6510025Normal
Lv 14
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Lv 20
Scary Face
10010Normal
Lv 26
Leech Seed
9010Grass
Lv 32
Horn Leech
7510010Grass
Lv 38
Rototiller
10Ground
Lv 43
Nature's Madness
9010Fairy
Lv 48
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic
Lv 53
Megahorn
1208510Bug
Lv 58
Skull Bash
13010010Normal

TM Moves

Src
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM59
Brutal Swing
6010020Dark
TM08
Bulk Up
20Fighting
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM99
Dazzling Gleam
8010010Fairy
TM49
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
TM53
Energy Ball
9010010Grass
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM54
False Swipe
4010040Normal
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM96
Nature Power
20Normal
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM39
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM67
Smart Strike
7010Steel
TM95
Snarl
559515Dark
TM22
Solar Beam
20010010Grass
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
20Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM01
Work Up
30Normal

Egg Moves

Tapu Bulu doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Dual Chop
409015Dragon
Tutor
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
Tutor
Giga Drain
7510010Grass
Tutor
Iron Defense
15Steel
Tutor
Seed Bomb
8010015Grass
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Superpower
1201005Fighting
Tutor
Synthesis
5Grass
Tutor
Telekinesis
15Psychic
Tutor
Worry Seed
10010Grass
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

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

Ruins of Abundance
Ultra SunInteract with PokemonLv.60PostRuinsPost-Elite Four
Ruins of Abundance
Ultra MoonInteract with PokemonLv.60PostRuinsPost-Elite Four
  • 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 IYYellow box art
    Yellow
  • Gen IRB
    Red & Blue box artRed & Blue box art
    Red & Blue
  • Gen IIGS
    Gold & Silver box artGold & Silver box art
    Gold & Silver
  • Gen IICCrystal box art
    Crystal
  • Gen IIIRS
    Ruby & Sapphire box artRuby & Sapphire box art
    Ruby & Sapphire
  • Gen IIIFRLG
    FireRed & LeafGreen box artFireRed & LeafGreen box art
    FireRed & LeafGreen
  • Gen IIIEEmerald box art
    Emerald
  • Gen IVPtPlatinum box art
    Platinum
  • Gen IVHGSS
    HeartGold & SoulSilver box artHeartGold & SoulSilver box art
    HeartGold & SoulSilver
  • Gen IVDP
    Diamond & Pearl box artDiamond & Pearl box art
    Diamond & Pearl
  • Gen VBW
    Black & White box artBlack & White box art
    Black & White
  • Gen VB2W2
    Black 2 & White 2 box artBlack 2 & White 2 box art
    Black 2 & White 2
  • Gen VIXY
    X & Y box artX & Y box art
    X & Y
  • Gen VIORAS
    Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire box artOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire box art
    Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
  • Gen VIIUSUM
    Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon box artUltra Sun & Ultra Moon box art
    Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
  • Gen VIISM
    Debut
    Sun & Moon box artSun & Moon box art
    Sun & Moon
  • Gen VIILGPE
    Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee box artLet's Go Pikachu & Eevee box art
    Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
  • Gen VIIISwSh
    Sword & Shield box artSword & Shield box art
    Sword & Shield
  • Gen VIIIPLALegends: Arceus box art
    Legends: Arceus
  • Gen VIIIBDSP
    Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl box artBrilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl box art
    Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
  • Gen IXSV
    Scarlet & Violet box artScarlet & Violet box art
    Scarlet & Violet
  • Gen IXLZALegends: Z-A box art
    Legends: Z-A