Quick facts
Species: Tapu Lele (Legendary)
Types: Psychic / Fairy
Primary weaknesses: Poison, Ghost, Steel
Recommended lobby: 3–7 trainers
Introduction
Tapu Lele is one of the most strategic Legendary Raid bosses in Pokémon GO. Being a Psychic/Fairy type, it can deal significant damage to common counters like Fighting-type Pokémon, making careful planning essential.
Its high attack and versatile moveset can challenge unprepared trainers. However, by exploiting its weaknesses to Poison, Ghost, and Steel-type moves, players can assemble effective counters to defeat it quickly.
This guide covers Tapu Lele’s weaknesses, recommended counters, optimal movesets, CP ranges, weather boost effects, and shiny availability. Trainers of all experience levels will benefit from this comprehensive guide.
Related guides: Tapu Koko | Uxie
Weaknesses & resistances
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weak to |
 Poison •
 Ghost •
 Steel
|
| Resists to |
 Fighting •
 Psychic •
 Dragon
|
Best Tapu Lele Counters
Steel-type Counters
- Genesect : (Metal Claw / Magnet Bomb)
- Origin Dialga : (Metal Claw / Iron Head)
- Excadrill: (Metal Claw / Iron Head)
Ghost-type Counters
- Gardevoir: (Shadow Ball)
- Hoopa Confined: (Astonish / Shadow Ball)
- Chandelure: (Hex / Shadow Ball)
Difficulty
Tapu Lele possesses high attack and charged moves like Moonblast, making it a formidable opponent in raids. Soloing is extremely challenging, and even groups must manage shields and counter rotation carefully to maintain consistent DPS.
Best Mega Evolutions
Recommended Megas to use against Tapu Lele:
- Alakazam – Psychic boost
- Beedrill – Poison boost
- Gardevoir – Electric boost
- Rayquaza – Flying boost
- Gengar, Banette, Alakazam, Gardevoir – Ghost boost
- Metagross, Lucario – Steel boost
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| Dawn Wings Necrozma | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw / Psycho Cut | Dark Pulse / Iron Head / Future Sight / Outrage / Moongeist Beam | - | Shadow Claw / Metal Claw (6) and Moongeist Beam (230) |
| 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) |
| Eternatus | Poison Jab / Dragon Tail | Flamethrower / Dragon Pulse / Sludge Bomb | Dynamax Cannon | Dragon Tail (14) and Dynamax Cannon (215) |
| Metagross | Fury Cutter / Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt | Earthquake / Flash Cannon / Psychic | Shadow Claw / Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt (11) and Earthquake (140) |
| Lunala | Air Slash / Shadow Claw / Confusion | Shadow Ball / Psychic / Future Sight / Moonblast | - | Confusion (19) and Moonblast (130) |
| Gholdengo | Astonish / Hex | Power Gem / Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam / Focus Blast | - | Hex (8) and Focus Blast (140) |
| Blacephalon | Astonish / Incinerate | Shadow Ball / Mystical Fire / Overheat | Mind Blown | Incinerate (32) and Overheat (160) |
| Nihilego | Pound / Acid / Poison Jab | Gunk Shot / Sludge Bomb / Power Gem / Rock Slide | - | Poison Jab (13) and Gunk Shot (130) |
| Chandelure | Hex / Fire Spin / Incinerate | Shadow Ball / Overheat / Flame Charge / Energy Ball | Poltergeist | Incinerate (32) and Overheat (160) |
| Dialga | Metal Claw / Dragon Breath | Iron Head / Thunder / Draco Meteor | - | Metal Claw / Dragon Breath (6) and Draco Meteor (150) |
| Origin Dialga | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw | Iron Head / Thunder / Draco Meteor | Roar of Time | Dragon Breath / Metal Claw (6) and Roar of Time (160) |
| Genesect | Fury Cutter / Metal Claw | Hyper Beam / X-Scissor / Magnet Bomb | Techno Blast | Metal Claw (6) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Hoopa | Astonish / Confusion | Psybeam / Shadow Ball / Psychic | - | Confusion (19) and Shadow Ball (100) |
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 Metagross | Fury Cutter / Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt | Earthquake / Flash Cannon / Psychic | Shadow Claw / Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt (11) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Chandelure | Hex / Fire Spin / Incinerate | Shadow Ball / Overheat / Flame Charge / Energy Ball | Poltergeist | Incinerate (32) and Overheat (160) |
| Shadow Dialga | Metal Claw / Dragon Breath | Iron Head / Thunder / Draco Meteor | - | Metal Claw / Dragon Breath (6) and Draco Meteor (150) |
| Shadow Mewtwo | Psycho Cut / Confusion | Focus Blast / Flamethrower / Thunderbolt / Psychic / Ice Beam | Hyper Beam / Shadow Ball / Psystrike | Confusion (19) and Hyper Beam (150) |
| Shadow Excadrill | Mud Slap / Mud Shot / Metal Claw | Earthquake / Drill Run / Scorching Sands / Rock Slide / Iron Head | - | Mud Slap (19) and Earthquake (140) |
| Shadow Overqwil | Poison Jab / Poison Sting | Sludge Bomb / Shadow Ball / Aqua Tail / Ice Beam / Aqua Tail | - | Poison Jab (13) and Shadow Ball (100) |
| 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) |
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 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) |
| Mega Metagross | Fury Cutter / Bullet Punch / Zen Headbutt | Earthquake / Flash Cannon / Psychic | Shadow Claw / Meteor Mash | Zen Headbutt (11) and Earthquake (140) |
| Mega Banette | Hex / Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball / Thunder / Dazzling Gleam | - | Hex (8) and Shadow Ball / Thunder / Dazzling Gleam (100) |
| Mega Lucario | Counter / Bullet Punch | Close Combat / Power-Up Punch / Aura Sphere / Shadow Ball / Flash Cannon / Meteor Mash / Blaze Kick / Thunder Punch | Force Palm | Counter (13) and Close Combat (105) |
| Mega Rayquaza | Air Slash / Dragon Tail | Aerial Ace / Dragon Ascent / Ancient Power / Outrage | Hurricane / Breaking Swipe | Dragon Tail (14) and Dragon Ascent (140) |
| 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 Alakazam | Psycho Cut / Confusion | Focus Blast / Shadow Ball / Fire Punch / Future Sight | Counter / Psychic / Dazzling Gleam | Confusion (19) and Focus Blast (140) |
| Mega Gardevoir | Magical Leaf / Charge Beam / Confusion / Charm | Shadow Ball / Psychic / Triple Axel / Dazzling Gleam | Synchronoise | Charm (20) and Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam (180) |
Moves & Threats
Tapu Lele common fast moves are Astonish or Confusion. Charged moves include Focus Blast or Psyshock or Future Sight or Moonblast or Draining Kiss. Elite moves include Nature's Madness.
Dangerous Moves: Moonblast and Future Sight can hit extremely hard.
Moonblast and Future Sight deal massive damage and should be dodged when possible.
Best Team Composition
A strong Tapu Lele raid team should include:
- 2–3 Steel-type attackers
- 2 Ghost or Poison-type attackers
- 1 backup Pokémon with high DPS
Using Mega Metagross, Mega Gengar, or Mega Beedrill will greatly boost your team’s overall damage output.
Weather Boost
Tapu Lele is boosted in Windy and Cloudy weather, making it stronger and harder to defeat.
Your counters are boosted in:
- Snowy weather (Steel)
- Foggy weather (Ghost)
- Cloudy weather (Poison)
Recommended Teams
Optimized Team
- Mega Metagross
- Metagross
- Necrozma (Dusk Mane)
- Dialga
- Giratina (Origin)
- Nihilego
Budget Team
- Metagross
- Excadrill
- Chandelure
- Hydreigon
- Roserade
- Gengar
How Many Trainers Are Needed?
- 2 trainers: Possible with top counters and Mega boost
- 3 trainers: Comfortable win
- 4+ trainers: Very easy clear
Catch Tips
- Use Golden Razz Berries
- Throw curve Excellent throws
- Wait for Tapu Lele’s attack animation to finish
- Aim carefully because it moves and floats
Battle Tips
- Steel types are the safest and strongest counters
- Ghost and Poison are great for fast damage
- Dodge Moonblast if your team is small
- Use Mega Pokémon to boost team damage
Is Tapu Lele Worth Raiding?
Yes. Tapu Lele is a very strong Fairy-type attacker in Pokémon GO and is useful for both raids and PvP formats.
Can Tapu Lele Be Shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes! Trainers can encounter a Shiny Tapu Lele after defeating it in a Legendary Raid. Shiny Tapu Lele has a slightly different color palette with a deeper purple-pink tone compared to the standard form.
The shiny chance in Legendary Raids is higher than in wild encounters, so participating in multiple raids increases your odds of capturing this rare version.
FAQ
Can Tapu Lele be shiny in Pokémon GO?
Yes, shiny Tapu Lele is available during select events and raid rotations.
What moves does Tapu Lele use in raids?
Tapu Lele can use moves like Confusion, Psychic, Future Sight, and Dazzling Gleam, dealing strong Psychic and Fairy-type damage.
Is Tapu Lele difficult to defeat?
With extremely high special attack but moderate defenses, Tapu Lele can hit hard in raids. Using strong Steel or Ghost-type attackers makes the battle easier.
What makes Tapu Lele unique?
Its Psychic/Fairy typing, guardian deity role of Akala Island, and powerful Psychic attacks make Tapu Lele one of the most dangerous Legendary raid bosses.
Conclusion
Tapu Lele is a dangerous raid boss with strong Psychic and Fairy-type attacks, but with proper Steel, Ghost, and Poison-type counters, it can be defeated reliably. Bring a Mega Pokémon, build a balanced team, and secure this powerful Alolan Legendary Pokémon.
Summary
- Focus on Ghost, Steel, and Poison Pokémon for maximum efficiency.
- Avoid neutral Fairy or Psychic Pokémon unless their moves are super-effective.
- Conserve shields for multi-bar charged attacks.
- Rotate counters smartly to maintain sustained DPS.
- Adapt team composition based on raid size and available weather boosts.