Pokemon Go Tapu Lele Raid guide counters and best movesets

Pokemon Go Tapu Lele Raid Guide
(Image credit: Niantic)

These Pokemon Go Tapu Lele Raid guide counters will help you catch a powerful addition to any team. Plus now its Shiny form is arriving in the popular mobile game.

Shiny Tapu Lele in Pokemon Go coincides with the start of this year’s Valentine’s Day event that also features the debut of Mega Gardevoir. However, this is a guide on everything Tapu Lele: how to find/catch the Legendary, how to catch a Shiny Tapu Lele and its best movesets.

Trainers will need to be swift as Tapu Lele will begin appearing in Five-Star Raids from Feb. 8-15. 

To help trainers catch as many Shiny Tapu Lele in Pokemon Go as possible, here’s a handy guide on counters and best practices.

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Pokemon Go Tapu Lele Counters

Pokemon Go Tapu Lele Raid Guide

(Image credit: Niantic)

Tapu Lele is a Fairy and Psychic-type Legendary that is weak to Steel, Poison and Ghost-type attacks. There are some Mega Pokemon that were recently added that can help trainers take down this Legendary.

First off, Steel types are the best because they resist all of Tapu Lele’s Fairy and Psychic moves. Mega Steelix can be used as an anchor on any Steel-type team, but it may not be the most powerful option.

That distinction goes to Mega Aggron. Mega Aggron’s pure Steel typing makes it weak to just Fire, Ground and Fighting-type moves, and Tapu Lele has access to just one of those types of moves.

Pair either Mega Steelix or Aggron with other powerful Steel types like Metagross and Excadrill to round out a formidable team.

Poison types are weak to Psychic attacks, which Tapu Lele has plenty of so they may not be the best option to go into battle with. However, if you’re unable to get a powerful Steel or Ghost team going, Mega Venusaur and Mega Beedrill are the Pokemon to choose from.

Ghost-type teams need either Mega Gengar or Bannette on their team. While Mega Gengar’s Poison typing makes it weak to Psychic moves, it’s the more powerful of the two. Mega Bannette has better bulk to take moves better so it’s up to the trainer to choose their preference.

Here is a list of options that can counter Tapu Lele.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Tapu Lele Counters
PokemonMoveset
Mega SteelixIron Tail and Heavy Slam
Mega AggronIron Tail and Heavy Slam
Mega GengarShadow Claw and Shadow Punch/Sludge Bomb
Mega Bannette Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
MetagrossBullet Punch and Meteor Mash
ExcadrillMetal Claw and Iron Head
ChandelureHex and Shadow Ball
GolurkAstonish and Shadow Punch
GiratinaShadow Claw and Shadow Sneak/Shadow Ball
HeatranFire Spin and Flash Cannon

Can Tapu Lele be Shiny in Pokemon Go?

The short answer is yes. As of Feb. 8, Tapu Lele in Pokemon Go from now on will have a chance to appear as a Shiny.

Now, to have more chances at finding a Shiny Tapu Lele, trainers should attempt as many Raids featuring the Legendary as possible. Pick up a Raid Pass at least once a day and trainers can purchase more passes in the in-game store for 100 PokeCoins for one pass or 300 PokeCoins for three.

Tapu Lele best moveset

Tapu Lele’s moveset takes advantage of its Psychic and Fairy-typing. Confusion and Astonish are its Fast Attack options giving it a Psychic and Ghost-type move. Steel types will resist Confusion, but Astonish will deal damage against Ghost types and even Metagross so trainers will have to be wary.

Psychock and Future Sight are both Psychic moves that will deal super effective damage to Poison types like Mega Beedrill and Mega Gengar. Moonblast is Tapu Lele’s only Fairy-type attack and will deal super effective damage against any Dragon types like Giratina

Focus Blast is a Fighting-type attack that will deal super effective damage against Steel types like Mega Steelix, Mega Aggron and Excadrill. However, Metagross’ Psychic secondary typing will neutralize this attack so be sure to find a powerful one to add to your team

Here are all of Tapu Lele’s attacks in Pokemon Go.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Pokemon Go Tapu Lele Moveset
Fast AttackCharged Attack
ConfusionPsyshock
AstonishMoonblast
Row 2 - Cell 0 Focus Blast
Row 3 - Cell 0 Future Sight

As for the best movesets trainers should have when using Tapu Lele in battle, Confusion is the superior Fast Attack as it takes advantage of STAB while Psyshock and Moonblast are the perfect combinations for its Charged Attacks. Just be careful of any Steel types you may come across. 

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Phillip Martinez

I'm currently a GamesRadar guide contributor with a specialty in everything Pokemon GO. If you've wanted to know the best way to take down a Rayquaza, there's a good chance you read one of my guides. I previously have written for IBT Media, Newsweek and Screen Rant. I'm a huge fighting game fan and everything Pokemon, but I've grown to love RPGs.