Tapu Lele
Tapu Lele is a Psychic/Fairy-type Pokémon, the Land Spirit Pokémon, number 786 (#0786) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 7 and comes from the Alola region. It is 1.2 m tall and weighs 18.6 kg.
Tapu Lele is the guardian deity of Akala Island, a butterfly-like Psychic and Fairy type that scatters glowing scales said to heal anyone they touch. The Pokédex also calls it guilelessly cruel, which makes it a gentle healer and a danger in one body.
How to pronounce Tapu Lele
Tapu Lele is pronounced TAH-poo LEH-leh. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Tapu Lele said out loud:
In Japanese it is カプ・テテフ (Kapu-Tetefu).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Tapu Lele has a black body, long dark pink hair and thin arms with puffy pink bracelets. A pale pink shell like an insect's head, with markings that resemble compound eyes, fits over its head and lower body, and shut inside it the deity looks like a stylised butterfly. It is 1.2 m (3'11") tall and weighs 18.6 kg (41.0 lbs). The Pokédex says it gets its energy from the scent of flowers.
Behaviour
Tapu Lele flutters around, scattering strangely glowing scales; the Pokédex says touching them restores health on the spot, and that it treats the injuries of people and Pokémon by dusting them with its scales. The same entries call it guilelessly cruel and say it feels no guilt over its nature, which they describe as nature incarnate. In the anime, Ash's Rotom Pokédex describes it as playful.
Habitat
The Pokédex gives no habitat; it is the guardian deity of Akala Island, and in Sun and Moon it waits at the Ruins of Life. It can be met in Sword and Shield's Max Lair, but is unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet and in Legends: Z-A.
Powers
Its Ability Psychic Surge covers the field in Psychic Terrain on entry, and Telepathy is hidden. It attacks with Moonblast, Psyshock and Extrasensory, heals with Draining Kiss and Aromatherapy, and can use Skill Swap and Flatter. With 130 base Special Attack and 115 Special Defense it is a sturdy special attacker.
Name origin
Tapu is a Polynesian word for sacred or forbidden, and Lele may come from pulelehua, Hawaiian for butterfly. The Japanese name is Kapu-Tetefu (カプ・テテフ), which may combine kapu with tefutefu, an old way of writing the Japanese word for butterfly.
Design inspiration
Tapu Lele looks like a butterfly coming out of its chrysalis, and its overall look resembles a tiki statue. Bulbapedia suggests it may allude to Kane, a Hawaiian creator god, or to Psyche, a Greek goddess linked to the soul and often shown with butterfly wings. These are fan readings, not official statements.
In the games
In Sun and Moon, where it debuted, you can battle Tapu Lele at the Ruins of Life after becoming Champion. In Pokémon Rumble Rush it appears in the Rowlet Sea.
In the anime
Debuted in 'Partner Promises!', floating over the ocean and dusting Ash with its glowing scales to heal the injuries he suffered rescuing a trapped Wimpod. Rotom identified it back at Professor Kukui's house.
Fun facts
- Bulbapedia says Tapu Lele was the first Psychic and Fairy type to debut with that type combination, because Mr. Mime and the Ralts line were pure Psychic when they first appeared.
- In the Trading Card Game, Bulbapedia says a Tapu Lele promo is the sole Pokémon to have been a Fairy-type Prerelease card.
- In Pokémon Adventures it physically debuts flying above Lush Jungle, where a Xurkitree attacks it.
Base stats
- HP: 70
- Attack: 85
- Defense: 75
- Sp. Atk: 130
- Sp. Def: 115
- Speed: 95
Tapu Lele’s base stat total is 570. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.
Type matchups
What is Tapu Lele weak to?
Tapu Lele takes extra damage from Poison (2×), Ghost (2×), Steel (2×) moves.
It resists Fighting (¼×), Psychic (½×).
It is immune to Dragon moves.
Evolution
Tapu Lele does not evolve, and it does not evolve from any other Pokémon.
Abilities
- Psychic Surge: When this Pokémon enters battle, it changes the terrain to Psychic Terrain.
- Telepathy (hidden ability): Protects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves.
Moves
Moves Tapu Lele learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astonish | Ghost | Physical | 30 |
| 1 | Confusion | Psychic | Special | 50 |
| 5 | Withdraw | Water | Status | — |
| 10 | Aromatherapy | Grass | Status | — |
| 15 | Draining Kiss | Fairy | Special | 50 |
| 20 | Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 |
| 25 | Flatter | Dark | Status | — |
| 30 | Aromatic Mist | Fairy | Status | — |
| 35 | Sweet Scent | Normal | Status | — |
| 40 | Extrasensory | Psychic | Special | 80 |
| 45 | Psyshock | Psychic | Special | 80 |
| 50 | Mean Look | Normal | Status | — |
| 55 | Nature’s Madness | Fairy | Special | — |
| 60 | Moonblast | Fairy | Special | 95 |
| 65 | Tickle | Normal | Status | — |
| 70 | Skill Swap | Psychic | Status | — |
| 75 | Psychic Terrain | Psychic | Status | — |
TM moves (42)
Tapu Lele can learn 42 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Hyper Beam, Giga Impact, Light Screen, Reflect, Safeguard, Rest, Thief, Snore, Protect, Charm, Sunny Day, Facade, Fling, Power Swap, Guard Swap, Speed Swap, Psycho Cut, Wonder Room, Magic Room, Round, Draining Kiss, Psychic Terrain, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psychic, Substitute, Psyshock, Endure, Sleep Talk, Shadow Ball, Future Sight, Taunt, Skill Swap, Iron Defense, Calm Mind, Focus Blast, Energy Ball, Grass Knot, Stored Power, Ally Switch, Play Rough, Dazzling Gleam.
Breeding & training
- Gender: genderless.
- Egg groups: Undiscovered.
- Egg cycles: 15 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,920).
- Catch rate: 3 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 3 Sp. Atk effort values.
- Base experience yield: 257.
Pokédex entries
Although called a guardian deity, Tapu Lele is devoid of guilt about its cruel disposition and can be described as nature incarnate. (Ultra Moon)
It heals the wounds of people and Pokémon by sprinkling them with its sparkling scales. This guardian deity is worshiped on Akala. (Ultra Sun)
As it flutters about, it scatters its strangely glowing scales. Touching them is said to restore good health on the spot. (Moon)
This guardian deity of Akala is guilelessly cruel. The fragrant aroma of flowers is the source of its energy. (Sun)
Names around the world
| Japanese | カプ・テテフ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Kapu-Tetefu |
| French | Tokopiyon |
| German | Kapu-Fala |
| Spanish | Tapu Lele |
| Italian | Tapu Lele |
| Korean | 카푸나비나 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 卡璞・蝶蝶 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 卡璞・蝶蝶 |
Trivia
- Highest Sp. Atk among Fairy types in Gen 7: 130, shared with 1 other.
- Taller than 58% of all Pokémon (1.2 m).
- Heavier than 40% of all Pokémon (18.6 kg).
- Base stat total 570, ranked #93 of 1,025.
- Its best stat is Sp. Atk, ranked #34 of 1,025.
- One of 8 Pokémon that are both Psychic and Fairy.
- One of 60 pink Pokémon.
- Number 65 of 88 Pokémon introduced in Generation 7 (Alola).
- Can learn 55 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 3: about 0.4% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 4 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Tapu Lele (Pokémon), Serebii: Tapu Lele (Sword/Shield Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (TAH-poo LEH-leh): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Psychic-type Pokémon · Fairy-type Pokémon · Psychic/Fairy weaknesses and matchups · Tapu Lele vs Tapu Koko · Alola region guide · Psychic Surge ability · Telepathy ability · Compare Tapu Lele · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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