[VGC 2017] Tapu Bulu - Physical / Setup Attacker
![[Image: tapu_bulu___forest_guardian_by_lightdrag...aohlvl.jpg]](http://img01.deviantart.net/ff02/i/2016/319/1/7/tapu_bulu___forest_guardian_by_lightdragon87-daohlvl.jpg)
Deviant Art by LightDragon87
Alright today we'll be looking into one of the strongest Pokemon in the format who can hit like a freight train: Tapu Bulu. Now what makes Tapu Bulu threatening in this format? Looking at base stat totals, Tapu Bulu is rather bulky Grass/Fairy-type with a sizable 70 HP / 115 Def / 95 SpDef defensive stats paired with a high base 130 attack. Grass/Fairy-type is has its advantages in having key resistances to Dark-, Electric-, Fighting-, Grass-, Ground-, Water- and an immunity to Dragon-type. In terms of coverage options, Tapu Bulu struggles to maintain a decent movepool with only notable attack like STAB Wood Hammer, STAB Horn Leech, Rock Slide, Superpower, Sword Dance, Bulk Up, Leech Seed, and even its Signature move Nature's Madness. Guess Tapu Bulu has the coverage options to give itself a notable support roles like a SubSeed user or a setup Sword Dance / Bulk Up user in the format. So that's what Tapu Bulu does for VGC 17? Well not quite...
As one of the Tapu legends, Tapu Bulu's ability Grassy Surge allows it to activate the Grassy Terrain field conditions which has some interesting effects overall. First off, Tapu Bulu and all "grounded" Pokemon receive a 50% boost to all its Grass-type attacks. So basically we a Tapu who has a relatively strong STAB in Wood Hammer, potential setup moves, item choice, and now a 50% boost. Not only that, all grounded Pokemon on the field receive a 1/16th of their HP so Tapu Bulu has some passive recovery for up to 5 turns. As a final note, Grassy Terrain halves the damage of three Ground-type moves in Bulldoze, Magnitude, and yes the ever popular Earthquake. Essentially this makes Tapu Bulu's terrain effects one of the most interesting as it a serves both for offensive purposes, but also defensive by passive recovery of teammates and reducing the Ground-type weakness somewhat.
Not all is great for Tapu Bulu. Note the Grass/Fairy type which is has both great amount of weaknesses such as Fire-, Ice-, Steel-, Flying-, and even the quad weakness in Poison-type. Unless Tapu Bulu is invested, just about any Poison-type hit will be able to knock out the Grass legend. Note that Tapu Bulu has a moderately speed stat of base 75, meaning most targets can be able outspeed Tapu Bulu before it can get off. The lack of Fairy STAB really hurts Tapu Bulu's coverage options and note its limited movepool of just Grass, Rock, and Fighting coverage isn't enough.
Despite these flaws, Tapu Bulu has potential in due part of some key resistances and the ability to setup Grassy Terrain. Don't underestimate this Pokemon's power as Wood Hammer in Grassy Terrain can certainly hit like a truck.
![[Image: tapubulu.png]](http://pokemonforever.com/images/pokeimages/gen7/tapubulu.png)
TAPU BULU
Type:
Base Stats: 75 HP / 130 Attack / 115 Defense / 85 Special Attack / 95 Special Defense / 75 Speed
Weaknesses:
x4 
x2 
x2 
x2 
x2 Resistances:
x0.5 
x0.5 
x0.5 x0.5 
x0.5 
x0.5Immunities:
Abilities: Grassy Surge - Summons Grassy Terrrain which in turn is active for 5 turns. Grassy Terrain increases the power of all Grass-type moves, gives 16th recovery, and halves the damage of select Ground-type moves.
Physical Attacker
Tapu Bulu @ Miracle Seed / Grassium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Atk / 116 Def / 4 SpD / 60 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Swords Dance / Horn Leech
- Rock Slide / Superpower
- Protect
Milestones:
- OHKOs 4 HP Garchomp with Grassy Terrain Miracle Seed Wood Hammer.
- Survives Garchomp's Poison Jab by 100% of the time.
-Outspeed base 80s without investment.
The following set is kinda of a standard Tapu Bulu set with some notable achievements here and there. To note, STAB Wood Hammer from Tapu Bulu is going to hurt any target who isn't resisted by this move. With the Miracle Seed, Tapu Bulu is strong enough to OHKO the likes of Garchomp with this attack and can deal massive damage to even Porygon2. Sword Dance is listed here as an option in case anyone wants to further augment Tapu Bulu's offensive pressure and do serious damage, if not OHKO even resisted frail targets. Horn Leech is a decent STAB move of choice to allow Tapu Bulu with further recovery along side Grassy Terrain. If the recoil damage from Wood Hammer is unappealing, Horn Leech can be a decent substitute for it, especially if using any form of setup like Sword Dance.
For other other coverage options, there's not much for Tapu Bulu to abuse from. Rock Slide is listed here to allow Tapu Bulu some coverage option against Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-type Pokemon. Do note that this will severely make Tapu Bulu checked easier by Steel-type Pokemon. If Steel- and Normal-type Pokemon are a concern for your team, Superpower can be used as a powerful Fighting-type coverage, but do note that Tapu Bulu's Attack and Defense will drop. As a final option, Grassium Z is listed here since pair this from Wood Hammer itself and the Grassy Terrain boost, well something's gonna get Bloom Doom.
For the EV spread, note the defensive EV's allows for Tapu Bulu to take at least one Poison Jab and retaliate with a Miracle Seed Boosted Wood Hammer. If the team has Intimidate support, the Defense investment can be allocated into either speed or attack for more offensive pressure. For anyone to get a sense of how hard Tapu Bulu can hit with it coverage moves, look at the following:
Offensive Calcs:
Defensive Calcs
Bulk Up Attacker
Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 76 Atk / 4 Def / 180 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Bulk Up
- Rock Slide / Substitute
- Protect
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 76 Atk / 4 Def / 180 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Horn Leech
- Bulk Up
- Rock Slide / Substitute
- Protect
Another weird set for Tapu Bulu is this Bulk Up variant. The goal here is to setup on certain targets who either fear the potential of Tapu Bulu's STAB Grass-type attacks, or mons who can't deal too much notable damage back. Note the status move Bulk Up raises the user's Attack and Defense stats by one stage, allowing for Tapu Bulu to become a formidable physical tank. With the Grassy Terrain and Leftovers, essentially Tapu Bulu gets about 1/8th recovery for about 5 turns before the terrain expires or another Tapu switches in. Once setup, Tapu Bulu can deal damage with STAB Horn Leech to inflict replenish about 50% damage it deal from the opposing side. Note that Bulu has extensive amount of recovery options for allow for a Bulk Up set to work from the passive recovery of Grassy Terrain to the damage from Horn Leech. Even so, STAB Horn Leech is rather strong enough to deal some major damage after a +1 boost, especially if Grassy Terrain remains on the field. In terms of the last moves, Rock Slide can be opted to hit Fire-, Ice-, and Flying-type Pokemon Substitute is slashed to allow Tapu Bulu to setup Substitutes and take advantage of its newfound physical bulk.
Offensive Calcs
Defensive Calcs
Potential Teammates include, but aren't limited to:
- Steel Types - Covers Tapu Bulu's weaknesses to Poison-, Ice-, and Flying-type. (Ex Magnezone, Metagross, Celesteela, Kartana, etc)
- Fire Types - Covers Tapu Bulu's Steel- and Ice weaknesses + reduces EQ damage from Grassy Terrain ( EX Arcanine, Torkoal, Incineroar, Alolan Marowak)
- Water Types - Give Tapu Bulu Partners to resist Fire-, an Ice-types. (Ex Milotic, Gyarados, Politoed, Aranaquid, etc )
- Ground Weak Mons - Grassy Terrain can cover for Earthquake spread damage.
Threats include, but aren't limited to:
- Steel-types- Metagross, Celesteela, Kartana, Magnezone, etc
- Poison-types - Salazzle, Gengar, Nihilego, Alolan Muk, etc
- Fire-types - Arcanine, Salazzle, Torkoal, etc
- Ice-types - Alolan Ninetales, Weavile, Alolan Sandslash, Vanilluxe etc.
- Flying-types - Pelipper, Salamence, Talonflame, etc.
- Intimidate Users.
- Opposing Terrains - Tapus (Koko, Lele, Bulu) to remove Grassy Terrain, but aren't checks/counters at all.
Other Notable Options
- Choice Scarf Set with Jolly 228 Speed EVs to outspeed base 130s.
- Type-Reducing Berries to help Tapu Bulu take a Super Effective hit.
- Choice Band set allows Tapu Bulu to start hitting stuff hard with Grass STABs.
Well that took awhile to make. Will be off with another set analysis later this week.
