Base Stats
Abilities
Type Matchups
View full type chart →Damage multipliers vs. grass / fairy typing. Ability-based immunities (e.g. Levitate) are not included.
Battle & Lore Hub
Battle Strategy
Tapu Bulu serves as a powerful physical wallbreaker and terrain setter that utilizes Grassy Terrain to boost its STAB Wood Hammer while providing passive recovery. It excels at breaking through bulky Water, Ground, and Rock-types while using its natural bulk and Horn Leech to maintain longevity throughout a match.
Best Used In
Gen 7 and Gen 8 National Dex OU as a physical wallbreaker. It is also effective in VGC formats that permit restricted Alolan deities for terrain control and Earth Power mitigation.
Strengths
- ›High base 130 Attack stat for severe damage output
- ›Grassy Surge ability provides team-wide recovery and weakens Earthquake
- ›Solid defensive typing with key resistances to Ground, Fighting, and Dark
- ›Self-sustaining through Horn Leech and terrain recovery
Weaknesses
- ›Extreme 4x weakness to Poison-type attacks
- ›Mediocre base 75 Speed tier makes it easily revenge killed
- ›Lack of reliable physical Fairy-type STAB moves (Play Rough is limited)
- ›Significant competition from Rillaboom as a Grassy Terrain setter
Competitive Tips
- ›Equip a Choice Band to maximize the wallbreaking power of Grassy Terrain-boosted Wood Hammer.
- ›Utilize Swords Dance alongside Horn Leech and Superpower to dismantle defensive cores like Porygon2 or Ferrothorn.
- ›Run High Horsepower to hit Steel-types like Heatran and Magnezone that resist its STAB combination.
- ›Consider a defensive set with Leftovers and Bulk Up to capitalize on the passive recovery of Grassy Terrain and its natural bulk.
Recommended Teammates
Heatran
Resists Poison, Steel, and Fire-type moves for Bulu while benefiting from Grassy Terrain's Earthquake weakening effect.
Toxapex
Forms a strong defensive core that can handle the Fire and Ice-types that threaten Bulu.
Slowbro
Provides Future Sight support to pressure Poison-types and handles physical Fire and Steel attackers.
Magician
Can trap and remove Steel-types like Skarmory and Corviknight that wall Bulu's Grass moves.
Landorus-Therian
Provides U-turn support to bring Bulu in safely and checks the Poison and Steel-types that threaten it.
Game History
Introduced in Generation 7 as the guardian deity of Ula'ula Island in the Alola region. It was a staple in SM OU for checking Ash-Greninja and Zygarde, but saw a decline in Generation 8 due to the introduction of Rillaboom's Grassy Glide.
Trivia
- ◆Its design is inspired by Lono, the Hawaiian god of agriculture and peace, often associated with bulls.
- ◆Despite its fierce appearance, its Pokedex entry describes it as lazy and capable of making trees grow and fruit ripen.
- ◆It is the only Tapu that does not naturally learn a physical Fairy-type move through leveling up.
- ◆Its wooden bells serve as both hands and a tail, which it rings to alert others of its presence.
- ◆It shares a unique base stat total of 570 with the other three Alolan Guardians.
- ◆In the anime, it was responsible for training Ash’s Lycanroc to master its temper and new form.
Moves · 81 total
Level-Up
14 movesTM / HM
62 movesMove Tutor
5 movesWhere to find· 4 games
Sun
1 spot- •Ruins Of Abundance
Moon
1 spot- •Ruins Of Abundance
Ultra Sun
1 spot- •Ruins Of Abundance
Ultra Moon
1 spot- •Ruins Of Abundance