Quick facts
Species: Tapu Bulu (Legendary)
Types: Grass / Fairy
Primary weaknesses: Flying, Poison, Steel, Fire, Ice
Recommended lobby: 3–7 trainers
Introduction
Tapu Bulu is one of the four guardian deities of the Alola region in Pokémon GO, known for its Grass/Fairy typing. Its moveset includes powerful Grass and Fairy-type attacks, which can challenge unprepared teams.
Despite its strength, Tapu Bulu’s weaknesses to Fire, Poison, and Steel moves make it manageable for players with the right counters. This guide will provide detailed information on the best Pokémon to use, optimal raid strategies, and tips to maximize your rewards.
Related guides: Suicune | Tapu Fini
Weaknesses & resistances
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Flying •
 Poison •
 Steel •
 Fire •
 Ice
|
| Resists to |
 Ground •
 Grass •
 Fighting •
 Water •
 Electric •
 Dragon •
 Dark
|
Best Mega Tapu Bulu Counters
Poison-type Counters
- Toxicroak : (Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb)
- Scolipede : (Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb)
- Skuntank: (Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb)
Steel-type Counters
- Metagross: (Bullet Punch / Meteor Mash)
- Dusk Mane Necrozma: (Metal Claw / Sunsteel Strike)
- Zamazenta: (Metal Claw / Behemoth Bash)
Fire-type Counters
- Heatran: (Fire Spin / Magma Storm)
- Salamence: (Fire Fang)
- Blacephalon: (Incinerate / Mind Blown)
Best Mega Evolutions
Recommended Megas to use against Mega Sharpedo:
- Beedrill, Gengar – Poison boost
- Gengar – Ghost boost
- Rayquaza, Salamence – Flying boost
- Charizard Y, Blaziken, Salamence – Fire boost
- Metagross – Steel boost
Diffivculty
apu Bulu is a high-attack raid boss, capable of using moves like Dazzling Gleam and Play Rough. Its typing provides resistances to common moves, requiring trainers to plan counters and shields carefully. Soloing is extremely difficult; coordinated groups are recommended for safe victory.
Best Regular Counters
Regular pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Regular counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toxicroak | Counter / Poison Jab / Poison Sting / Mud Shot | Dynamic Punch / Drain Punch / Sludge Bomb / Mud Bomb / Shadow Ball | - | Counter / Poison Jab (13) and Shadow Ball (100) |
| Scolipede | Poison Jab / Poison Sting / Bug Bite | Sludge Bomb / Megahorn / X-Scissor / Gyro Ball | - | Poison Jab (13) and Megahorn (105) |
| Overqwil | Poison Jab / Poison Sting | Sludge Bomb / Shadow Ball / Aqua Tail / Ice Beam / Aqua Tail | - | Poison Jab (13) and Shadow Ball (100) |
| Revavroom | Poison Jab / Lick / Metal Sound | Acid Spray / Gunk Shot / Gyro Ball / Overheat | - | Poison Jab (13) and Overheat (160) |
| Roserade | Poison Jab / Poison Sting / Razor Leaf / Magical Leaf | Sludge Bomb / Solar Beam / Grass Knot / Leaf Storm | Bullet Seed / Weather Ball | Magical Leaf (17) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Dusk Mane Necrozma | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw / Psycho Cut | Dark Pulse / Iron Head / Future Sight / Outrage / Sunsteel Strike | - | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw (6) and Sunsteel Strike (230) |
| Zacian | Metal Claw / Air Slash | Play Rough / Close Combat / Giga Impact / Behemoth Blade | - | Air Slash (12) and Giga Impact / Behemoth Blade (200) |
| Zamazenta | Metal Claw / Ice Fang | Moon Blast / Close Combat / Giga Impact / Behemoth Bash | - | Ice Fang (12) and Giga Impact (200) |
| Eternatus | Poison Jab / Dragon Tail | Flamethrower / Dragon Pulse / Sludge Bomb | Dynamax Cannon | Dragon Tail (14) and Dynamax Cannon (215) |
| Nihilego | Pound / Acid / Poison Jab | Gunk Shot / Sludge Bomb / Power Gem / Rock Slide | - | Poison Jab (13) and Gunk Shot (130) |
| Naganadel | Air Slash / Poison Jab | Acrobatics / Sludge Bomb / Fell Stinger / Dragon Pulse / Dragon Claw | - | Poison Jab (13) and Acrobatics (100) |
| Blacephalon | Astonish / Incinerate | Shadow Ball / Mystical Fire / Overheat | Mind Blown | Incinerate (32) and Overheat (160) |
Best Shadow Counters
Shadow pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Shadow counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Overqwil | Poison Jab / Poison Sting | Sludge Bomb / Shadow Ball / Aqua Tail / Ice Beam / Aqua Tail | - | Poison Jab (13) and Shadow Ball (100) |
| Shadow Scolipede | Poison Jab / Poison Sting / Bug Bite | Sludge Bomb / Megahorn / X-Scissor / Gyro Ball | - | Poison Jab (13) and Megahorn (105) |
| Shadow Gengar | Hex / Shadow Claw / Sucker Punch | Focus Blast / Drain Punch / Sludge Bomb / Shadow Ball | Lick / Sludge Wave / Shadow Punch / Psychic / Dark Pulse | Hex (8) and Focus Blast (140) |
| Shadow Toxicroak | Counter / Poison Jab / Poison Sting / Mud Shot | Dynamic Punch / Drain Punch / Sludge Bomb / Mud Bomb / Shadow Ball | - | Counter / Poison Jab (13) and Shadow Ball (100) |
| Shadow Victreebel | Acid / Razor Leaf | Sludge Bomb / Acid Spray / Leaf Blade / Solar Beam / Leaf Tornado | Magical Leaf | Magical Leaf (17) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Shadow Vileplume | Acid / Razor Leaf | Sludge Bomb / Petal Blizzard / Moonblast / Solar Beam | - | Razor Leaf (13) and Solar Beam (180) |
| Shadow Metagross | Fury Cutter / Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt | Earthquake / Flash Cannon / Psychic | Shadow Claw / Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt (11) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Skuntank | Poison Jab / Bite | Sludge Bomb / Flamethrower / Trailblaze / Crunch | - | Poison Jab (13) and Sludge Bomb (85) |
| Shadow Muk | Poison Jab / Infestation | Gunk Shot / Sludge Wave / Acid Spray / Thunder Punch / Dark Pulse | Lick | Poison Jab (13) and Gunk Shot (130) |
| Shadow Alolan Muk | Poison Jab / Bite / Snarl | Gunk Shot / Sludge Wave / Acid Spray / Dark Pulse | - | Poison Jab (13) and Gunk Shot (130) |
| Shadow Heatran | Bug Bite / Fire Spin | Earth Power / Stone Edge / Iron Head / Fire Blast / Flamethrower | Magma Storm | Fire Spin (13) and Fire Blast (140) |
Best Mega Counters
Mega pokemon that amplify the right types give you a powerful edge. Below are top Mega counters with short notes on why they excel.
| Pokémon | Fast Moves | Charged Moves | Elite Moves | Best Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Beedrill | Poison Jab / Poison Sting / Infestation | Aerial Ace / Sludge Bomb / X-Scissor / Fell Stinger | Bug Bite / Drill Run | Poison Jab (13) and Sludge Bomb / Drill Run (85) |
| Mega Rayquaza | Air Slash / Dragon Tail | Aerial Ace / Dragon Ascent / Ancient Power / Outrage | Hurricane / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail (14) and Dragon Ascent (140) |
| Mega Salamence | Fire Fang / Dragon Tail / Bite | Fly / Fire Blast / Hydro Pump / Draco Meteor / Brutal Swing / Crunch | Outrage | Dragon Tail (14) and Draco Meteor (150) |
| Mega Metagross | Fury Cutter / Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt | Earthquake / Flash Cannon / Psychic | Shadow Claw / Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt (11) and Earthquake (140) |
| Mega Blaziken | Counter / Fire Spin / Ember | Focus Blast / Aura Sphere / Brave Bird / Overheat / Blaze Kick | Stone Edge / Blast Burn | Counter / Fire Spin (13) and Overheat (160) |
| Mega Charizard Y | Air Slash / Fire Spin | Dragon Claw / Fire Blast / Air Cutter / Overheat | Dragon Breath / Ember / Wing Attack / Flamethrower / Blast Burn | Fire Spin (13) and Overheat (160) |
| Mega Gengar | Hex / Shadow Claw / Sucker Punch | Focus Blast / Drain Punch / Sludge Bomb / Shadow Ball | Lick / Sludge Wave / Shadow Punch / Psychic / Dark Pulse | Hex (8) and Focus Blast (140) |
Moves & Threats
Tapu Bulu common fast moves are Rock Smash or Bullet Seed. Charged moves include Grass Knot or Dazzling Gleam or Solar Beam or Megahorn. Elite moves include Nature's Madness.
Tip: Watch out for Megahorn and Dazzling Gleam — these can deal heavy damage to many common counters.
Solar Beam hits extremely hard and should be dodged whenever possible.
Best Team Composition
A strong Tapu Bulu raid team should include:
- 2–3 Fire or Poison-type attackers
- 2 Steel or Flying-type attackers
- 1 backup Pokémon with high DPS
Using Mega Charizard Y, Mega Venusaur, Mega Gengar, or Mega Beedrill will greatly boost your team’s overall damage output.
Weather Boost
Tapu Bulu is boosted in Sunny and Cloudy weather, making it stronger and harder to defeat.
Your counters are boosted in:
- Sunny weather (Fire)
- Cloudy weather (Poison)
- Snowy weather (Ice)
- Windy weather (Flying)
A mix of Pokémon from these categories helps balance damage and durability in longer battles.
How Many Trainers Are Needed?
- 2 trainers: Possible with top counters and Mega boost
- 3 trainers: Comfortable win
- 4+ trainers: Very easy clear
Recommended Team Setups
Optimized Team
- Mega Beedrill
- Eternatus
- Mega Gengar
- Mega Rayquaza
- Mega Charizard Y
- Roserade
Balanced Team
- Roserade
- Shadow Victreebel
- Shadow Vileplume
- Salazzle
- Ho-Oh
Catch Tips
- Use Golden Razz Berries
- Go for curve Excellent throws
- Wait for Tapu Bulu’s attack animation to finish
- Aim carefully because it moves and jumps
Battle Tips
- Fire and Poison types are the best overall counters
- Steel and Flying types are great backups
- Dodge Solar Beam if your team is small
- Use Mega Pokémon to boost team damage
Is Tapu Bulu Worth Raiding?
Tapu Bulu is useful for Pokédex completion and PvP formats, but it is not a top-tier Grass-type attacker for raids.
Shiny Tapu Bulu
Yes, trainers can encounter a Shiny Tapu Bulu after defeating it in a raid. The shiny version has a slightly darker color palette compared to the normal form, making it highly sought after by collectors.
Shiny rate for Legendary Raids is higher than regular wild encounters, so completing multiple raids improves your chance of obtaining a shiny Tapu Bulu.
FAQ
Can Tapu Bulu be shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes, Tapu Bulu's shiny version is available during select events and raid rotations.
What moves does Tapu Bulu use in raids?
Tapu Bulu can use moves like Grass Knot, Dazzling Gleam, and Solar Beam, dealing strong Grass and Fairy-type damage during raids.
Is Tapu Bulu difficult to defeat?
Tapu Bulu has strong attack and decent bulk, making it a moderately challenging raid boss. Proper counters make the battle much easier.
What makes Tapu Bulu unique?
Its Grass/Fairy typing, guardian deity status in the Alola region, and powerful terrain abilities make Tapu Bulu a memorable Legendary Pokémon in raids.
Conclusion
Tapu Bulu is a strong and aggressive raid boss, but with the right Fire, Poison, Steel, and Flying-type counters, it can be defeated efficiently. Bring a Mega Pokémon, build a balanced team, and secure this Alolan Legendary Pokémon.
Summary
- Deploy Steel, Fire, and Poison Pokémon for maximum efficiency.
- Avoid Grass- or Fairy-type attackers unless powered up.
- Conserve shields for multi-bar charged moves.
- Rotate counters strategically to maintain sustained DPS.
- Adjust your team according to raid group size and weather conditions.