qc: leo / colonel marquise / x
gp: x / x
[SET]
name: Z-Move
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Psyshock
move 3: Moonblast
move 4: Focus Blast / Hidden Power Fire
item: Psychium Z
ability: Psychic Surge
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Calm Mind allows Tapu Lele to boost its Special Attack and Special Defense, making it an extremely powerful Pokemon and threatening to bulky teams. Psyshock is Tapu Lele's main STAB move that hits any Pokemon that doesn't resist it very hard, especially under Psychic Terrain. Psyshock is used over Psychic to deal with Chansey and specially defensive walls alike. When used in conjunction with Psychium Z this becomes a very powerful Shattered Psyche that is capable of doing a great amount of damage to any Pokemon, even resists, especially when boosted by Calm Mind. Moonblast is Tapu Lele's secondary STAB move that allows it to deal with Dark-type Pokemon like Ash-Greninja and Hoopa-U, which are immune to Psyshock. Focus Blast, albeit inaccurate, allows Tapu Lele to deal with Steel-types such as Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela, which resist Tapu Lele's dual STAB combination. It also allows Tapu Lele to deal with Tyranitar and its mega forme, which are both capable of living a boosted Moonblast from full health. Hidden Power Fire provides useful coverage against Steel-types that Focus Blast is neutral against, like Mega Scizor. Taunt can be used instead of Calm Mind to prevent walls from recovering HP or crippling Tapu Lele and its teammates.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack investment in tandem with Maximum Speed investment maximizes Tapu Lele's offensive presence. A Timid nature allows it to Speed tie with Kyurem-B and outpace anything slower. Psychic Surge is Tapu Lele's only available ability and boosts the power of its Psychic-type moves to stupendous levels. Psychium Z grants Tapu Lele a very powerful nuke when under Psychic Terrain, it is capable of doing a great amount of damage to any Pokemon that doesn't resist it, it also hits physically defensive walls harder than Psyshock because it targets Special Defense, instead of Defense; when boosted by Calm Mind it can even do a great amount of damage to most Pokemon that resist it, such as Celesteela and Mega Scizor. Fightinium Z can be used if Tapu Lele's team tends to struggle against Steel-types like Ferrothorn and Heatran, this allows it to effectively lure in and KO most Steel-types, it should only be used with Taunt. Tapunium Z may be used to lure in Pokemon like Celesteela, Magearna, and Jirachi; it strips 75% of the foe's HP and allows Tapu Lele to effectively beat them, Nature's Madness must be used instead of Calm Mind.
Usage Tips
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Calm Mind Tapu Lele can be used as a wallbreaker. It can also be useful against bulkier oriented teams that are prepared for Choice Specs Tapu Lele, but can be lured by Calm Mind Tapu Lele. It's best to be patient with Tapu Lele, it should wait until its answers like Magearna or Celesteela are weakened and then try to sweep with Calm Mind. Sometimes it's useful to throw off the same attack, making your opponent think that Tapu Lele is equipped with a Choice Scarf, this can be very useful to set up a Calm Mind late-game and sweep. Tapu Lele can also come in on Pokemon that it's slower against after a teammate has been KOd, leading your opponent to believe that it's utilizing a Choice Scarf and switch out, this allows Tapu Lele to freely set up a Calm Mind and wallbreak or potentially sweep.
Team Options
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Fire-types like Heatran and Charizard X are excellent partners to Tapu Lele, as they're capable of breaking through Steel-types which Tapu Lele tends to struggle against. Similarly, Magnezone can be used to trap these Steel-type Pokemon and effectively remove them from the match. Fighting-types like Mega Lopunny, Keldeo, and Mega Medicham can pressure Steel-types, making Tapu Lele's job a lot easier. Pokemon that benefit from Psychic Terrain such as Mega Alakazam and Mega Medicham are good teammates with Tapu Lele, the former shares a lot of checks with Tapu Lele and together they can overwhelm these checks, while the latter is capable of heavily pressuring Steel-types. Tapu Lele appreciates the support of entry hazards because they allow it to net KOs, also, considering the fact that Tapu Lele forces in Steel-types like Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Celesteela, which lack reliable recovery makes them an extremely valuable asset, Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Clefable, Heatran, and Landorus-T are good teammates that can set up entry hazards. Pokemon like Ash-Greninja and Blacephalon like the pressure that Tapu Lele is able to put on Toxapex. Pivots like Magearna, Landorus-T, and Rotom-W can get in Tapu Lele safely, this is good considering that Tapu Lele is relatively frail and doesn't like having to take a hit. Late-game cleaners like Kartana, Magearna, and Keldeo appreciate Tapu Lele's ability to wallbreak, making it easier for them to clean up.
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