Is Tapu Lele viable in Gen 8 OU?

Tapu Lele is ranked #12 in Gen 8 OU with 17.37% usage according to Smogon Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 data.

What beats Tapu Lele in Gen 8 OU?

The best counter for Tapu Lele in Gen 8 OU is Melmetal with a 69.0% win rate when they meet. Based on Smogon's Feb 2026 - Apr 2026 usage data, the top Pokémon that beat Tapu Lele include Melmetal, Kartana, Heatran, Ferrothorn, Slowking-Galar.

What is the best counter for Tapu Lele in Gen 8 OU?

Melmetal is the best counter for Tapu Lele in Gen 8 OU, KOing or forcing it out in 69.0% of their encounters.

Tapu Lele counters

Gen 8 OU · Sorted by reliability score · Smogon · Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

#0786 Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy

USAGE 17.4% #12

ABILITYPsychic Surge

BASE STATS

HP 70

ATK 85

DEF 75

SPA 130

SPD 115

SPE 95

BST570

TYPE MATCHUPS

2×

PoisonGhostSteel

½×

Psychic

¼×

Fighting

0×

Dragon

Moves

Moonblast 93.8% Psyshock 92.6% Focus Blast 70.3% Future Sight 58.2% Psychic 39.8% Thunderbolt 25.2% Calm Mind 8.0% Draining Kiss 6.2%

Items

Choice Scarf 59.3% Choice Specs 26.8% Twisted Spoon 5.0% Assault Vest 2.7% Life Orb 2.1% Salac Berry 1.4% Terrain Extender 1.4% Kasib Berry 0.6%

Abilities

Psychic Surge100.0%Telepathy0.0%

Common Teammates

Landorus-Therian73.7%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike46.0%

Checks & Counters

Ranked by reliability — blends KO rate with how often each Pokémon is matched up.

# Checker Encounters Reliability KO Rate

Melmetal

Steel DEFENSIVE COUNTER

68.543

69.0% dies 7.57%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Melmetal: 272-320 (57.3 - 67.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Melmetal counters → Teams with Melmetal →

Kartana

GrassSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

44.661

62.8% dies 10.18%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Kartana Smart Strike vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 410-486 (119.1 - 141.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Kartana counters → Teams with Kartana →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK

76.245

59.1% dies 7.74%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

0- Atk Heatran Heavy Slam (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 270-320 (78.4 - 93%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK

28.738

53.3% dies 9.31%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Ferrothorn Gyro Ball (61 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 222-264 (64.5 - 76.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Ferrothorn counters → Teams with Ferrothorn →

Slowking-Galar

PoisonPsychic SOFT CHECK

31.616

47.4% dies 8.88%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Slowking-Galar Sludge Bomb vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 188-224 (54.6 - 65.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Slowking-Galar counters → Teams with Slowking-Galar →

Weavile

DarkIce SOFT CHECK

63.704

43.5% dies 8.10%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Weavile Triple Axel (120 BP) (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 259-308 (75.2 - 89.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Weavile counters → Teams with Weavile →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK

29.496

42.0% dies 9.09%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Corviknight Brave Bird vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 208-246 (60.4 - 71.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy SOFT CHECK

23.591

40.9% dies 10.12%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele in Psychic Terrain: 118-140 (34.3 - 40.6%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Tapu Lele counters → Teams with Tapu Lele →

Clefable

Fairy SOFT CHECK

33.707

37.5% dies 8.34%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 91-108 (26.4 - 31.3%) -- guaranteed 4HKO

View Clefable counters → Teams with Clefable →

Rillaboom

Grass SOFT CHECK

34.775

36.3% dies 8.15%

DAMAGE CALCGrassy Terrain

252+ Atk Rillaboom Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele in Grassy Terrain: 345-406 (100.2 - 118%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Rillaboom counters → Teams with Rillaboom →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK

36.768

29.7% dies 7.54%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 228-268 (66.2 - 77.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Garchomp counters → Teams with Garchomp →

Dragapult

DragonGhost SOFT CHECK

54.536

29.5% dies 8.58%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

0- Atk Dragapult Phantom Force vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 258-306 (75 - 88.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragapult counters → Teams with Dragapult →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK

29.792

27.1% dies 8.14%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Choice Band Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele on a critical hit: 387-459 (112.5 - 133.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Urshifu-Rapid-Strike counters → Teams with Urshifu-Rapid-Strike →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK

53.307

23.3% dies 8.15%

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 246-291 (71.5 - 84.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Landorus-Therian counters → Teams with Landorus-Therian →