Pokémon of the Week #2: Tapu Bulu

[Sirfetch’d]

Welcome to Pokemon of the Week! This is a new series that I will be doing each and every week during the Sun and Moon meta. I will be selecting one Pokemon and list a few things about it such as what tier(s) it is viable in, what are some of the best movesets, and then open a discussion on the Pokemon. You can chat about your experiences using or facing the featured Pokémon. And with that, let's continue this week with: Tapu Bulu

Tapu Bulu #787

Tapu Bulu is one of the newest Pokémon to enter the OU metagame after being released with Sun and Moon. It is one of the four new Island Guardians and like it's counterparts has played a significant role so far in the OU tier. Tapu Bulu has excellent physical attack, solid mixed bulk, a solid movepool, and 4 possible methods of recovery in Leftovers, Grassy Surge, Leech Seed, and Horn Leech. This can make Tapu Bulu extremely hard to counter, kill, or even wear down if you do not prepare for it. All of that said, Tapu Bulu does have it's drawbacks. For one, you lack physical Fairy STAB. While Tapu Bulu does have enough good coverage moves to make up for this, not being able to make use of one of your typings is pretty detrimental. Secondly, Grassy Surge also helps the opposing team quite a bit by healing grounded Pokémon and weakening your own Earthquakes. Tapu Bulu is also fairy slow so it can easily be revenge killed by a lot of common Pokémon. Lastly, it is pretty well countered or checked by common Pokémon like Metagross, Skarmory, Celesteela, and Mega Venusaur.

However, if you are planning to use Tapu Bulu on your team it has a few good sets available that you might want to try. Here they are(credit once again to Smogon for these movesets):

Tapu Bulu @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Zen Headbutt

Tapu Bulu @ Choice Band
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Wood Hammer
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Stone Edge

Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Leech Seed
- Bulk Up
- Horn Leech
- Brick Break

A Choice Scarf set is also another option that lets you outspeed certain Pokémon that would otherwise threaten you, but the drop in power is noticeable.

What do you think about Tapu Bulu? Have you used it yet on your team? What playstyles do you think it fits in? Which set do you think is the best?
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[PlatinumDude]

Bulu is one of the trickiest Tapus to use, IMO, for the drawbacks you stated. It does pair well with Alolan Marowak, though, as it gives it Lefties recovery, weakens Earthquakes for it, and doesn't hamper Marowak's Ground coverage of choice, Bonemerang.

And there are times when I wished that Bulu got Play Rough to hit Garchomp/Zygarde without taking huge recoil from Wood Hammer.

 

[VoltYellow]

My 100th post here dedicated to your thread chase! forgimme pleaz
Ok Tapu Bulu is a great pokemon!
why? Becoz its a grass fairy countering many pokemon the dragon types especially the gible family and swampert
It has got pretty good stats but a low speed making it weak to flying types and some fire types along with flamethrower clefable (comon in randoms)
moreover it can be stabbed easily with revenge
the movepool is also good but woodhammer deals a large recoil causing it to faint quicky
Overall its good and plays an important role in ou tier

 

[gimmepie]

Bulu is by far the worst of the Tapus. It has an awful typing and no way to make use of its Fairy STAB. It's massive attack power is rendered pointless by a lack of priority and a slower Speed. It's fairly bulky admittedly but not bulky enough to survive good attacks from one of the many Pokemon it is weak to.

 

[Sirfetch’d]

And there are times when I wished that Bulu got Play Rough to hit Garchomp/Zygarde without taking huge recoil from Wood Hammer.

Even Moonblast would be nice to work off of it's acceptable 85 base Sp. Attack for those two mentioned due to perfect accuracy, no recoil, and no Rough Skin/Rocky Helmet damage from Garchomp, but it sadly doesn't even get that. Dazzling Gleam is just too weak to justify using too. Quite a shame really.