Stats & Training
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.
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 |
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Magnezone builds →Flash Cannon 2x72-85% Mirror Shot 2x58-68% Magnet Bomb 2x47-56% | ||
Klefki SteelFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Klefki builds →Mirror Shot 2x40-48% Astonish 2x17-21% | ||
Probopass RockSteel | C | |
Klinklang Steel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Klinklang builds →Mirror Shot 2x37-43% Gear Grind 2x50-60% | ||
Bastiodon RockSteel | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Shieldon (Route 8 Gift) | ||
In Sun & Moon, Zapdos's Thunderbolt hits Tapu Lele for 42-49%. Pelipper deals 50-59% with Hurricane.
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave29-35% Thunderbolt42-49% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Toxapex builds →Scald17-20% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Pelipper builds →Hurricane50-59% Scald37-43% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityOvercoat ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves View Mandibuzz builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Tapu Lele View Seismitoad builds →Scald22-26% Earthquake47-56% | ||
Sun & Moon 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
Sun & Moon Tapu Lele Best Moveset
You commit to a move every time Tapu Lele comes in. Choice Specs gives boosted special damage with move lock, and Psychic Surge adds to that. Max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs make sure the locked move actually hurts. Double STAB covers the rest.
Best Build
Tapu Lele best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power Fire
- Psychic
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Dazzling Gleam
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Tapu Lele develops a solid moveset just through leveling. Moonblast and Energy Ball show up naturally, and the progression handles both STAB and utility without leaning on TMs for the core attacks.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Tapu Lele in Sun & Moon
Tapu Lele waits at a fixed spot in this game. Head to Ruins of Life for a one-time encounter. No random spawns or encounter rates involved — it's a set battle at a known location.
Best Locations to Catch Tapu Lele in Sun & Moon
Tapu Lele Guide
In Sun & Moon, Tapu Lele is a Legendary Pokemon rated A-Tier. At 570 BST, it hits hard. It excels as a wallbreaker. Moonblast with Choice Specs is the standard set.
Psychic Surge is the go-to ability for Tapu Lele. It when this Pokémon enters battle, it changes the terrain to Psychic Terrain. Its hidden ability Telepathy can work in specific setups.
In Sun & Moon, Tapu Lele fills the wallbreaker role. It's a special attacker with base 130 Sp. Atk. Base 95 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In Sun & Moon, the best way to handle Tapu Lele: Status moves (Toxic, Will-O-Wisp) wear it down. Setup sweepers can use it as a boost opportunity. Physical attackers can break through.
Game Availability
Tapu Lele has appeared in 3 games since Sun & Moon, spanning 4 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 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB

Red & Blue - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SMDebut

Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves
