Is Tapu Lele viable in Gen 9 National Dex?

Tapu Lele is ranked #17 in Gen 9 National Dex with 9.94% usage according to Smogon May 2026 - Jul 2026 data.

What beats Tapu Lele in Gen 9 National Dex?

Gholdengo has the strongest conservative score in this observed May 2026 - Jul 2026 sample. The target was knocked out or switched out in 69.3% of 340.1252830454516 relevant encounters. Standard error is 4.2 points. Sets and switch conditions can change the result.

How are Tapu Lele matchup checks ranked in Gen 9 National Dex?

They are ranked by p minus four standard errors. Here, p is the observed fraction of relevant encounters where Tapu Lele was knocked out or switched out. This is not a set-specific battle guarantee.

Tapu Lele counters

Gen 9 National Dex · Sorted by p − 4 standard errors · Smogon source period May 2026 - Jul 2026 · Generated 2026-08-05

#0786 Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy

USAGE 9.9% #17

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 97.5% Psychic 70.0% Psyshock 69.9% Focus Blast 57.5% Hidden Power Fire 48.7% Future Sight 19.7% Calm Mind 12.3% Taunt 5.6%

Items

Choice Scarf 41.6% Choice Specs 26.3% Psychium Z 11.0% Terrain Extender 8.4% Fightinium Z 5.1% Assault Vest 3.9% Life Orb 1.5% Heavy-Duty Boots 0.7%

Abilities

Psychic Surge100.0%Telepathy0.0%

Common Teammates

Gholdengo24.7%

Landorus-Therian23.7%

Ogerpon-Wellspring22.5%

Zapdos22.0%

Alomomola21.6%

Terapagos20.2%

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike18.2%

Garchomp17.1%

Browse Gen 9 National Dex teams using Tapu Lele →

Explore Tapu Lele + Gholdengo teams 52 score Explore Tapu Lele + Volcarona teams 38 score Explore Tapu Lele + Ogerpon-Wellspring teams 36 score Explore Tapu Lele + Ceruledge teams 32 score

Leading observed checks

Open a matchup for a separate set-based damage estimate, or browse uploaded teams with both Pokémon.

Team core to explore

Tapu Lele + Gholdengo 24.7% teammate usage Explore teams →

Checks & Counters

Observed target KO or switch rate is upstream p: the fraction of relevant encounters where the target was knocked out or switched out. Standard error is upstream d. The conservative score is p − 4d. These ladder observations do not prove a set-specific counter.

How to read this table

Use encounter count and standard error to judge the sample. Damage estimates below use inferred sets and remain separate from the observed ladder metric.

# Checker Encounters Conservative score Target KO or switch rate

Gholdengo

SteelGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

340.125

52.4

69.3% Standard error 4.22 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 288-338 (83.7 - 98.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gholdengo counters → Teams with Gholdengo →

Volcarona

BugFire OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

118.275

37.8

67.2% Standard error 7.35 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Volcarona Bug Buzz vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 109-129 (31.6 - 37.5%) -- 85.4% chance to 3HKO

View Volcarona counters → Teams with Volcarona →

Melmetal

Steel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

151.415

37.1

63.5% Standard error 6.62 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

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

View Melmetal counters →

Ogerpon-Wellspring

GrassWater OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

173.227

36.3

61.3% Standard error 6.27 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Power Whip vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 309-364 (89.8 - 105.8%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO

View Ogerpon-Wellspring counters → Teams with Ogerpon-Wellspring →

Charizard-Mega-X

FireDragon OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

67.003

32.9

65.7% Standard error 8.19 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Tough Claws Charizard-Mega-X Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 355-418 (103.1 - 121.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Charizard-Mega-X counters →

Ceruledge

FireGhost OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

27.312

31.7

67.5% Standard error 8.96 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Ceruledge Poltergeist vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 488-576 (141.8 - 167.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Ceruledge counters → Teams with Ceruledge →

Gliscor

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

280.469

28.9

49.4% Standard error 5.12 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Gliscor Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 184-217 (53.4 - 63%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Gliscor counters → Teams with Gliscor →

Heatran

FireSteel OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

112.49

28.1

59.6% Standard error 7.86 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Heatran Eruption (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 177-208 (51.4 - 60.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Heatran counters → Teams with Heatran →

Iron Treads

GroundSteel DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

161.216

28.1

55.0% Standard error 6.73 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Iron Treads: 260-306 (67.7 - 79.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

View Iron Treads counters → Teams with Iron Treads →

Chansey

Normal DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

83.899

26.0

56.2% Standard error 7.55 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Chansey in Psychic Terrain: 637-750 (90.4 - 106.5%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO

View Chansey counters → Teams with Chansey →

Kingambit

DarkSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

345.134

25.9

44.0% Standard error 4.52 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Kingambit Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 374-444 (108.7 - 129%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Kingambit counters → Teams with Kingambit →

Charizard-Mega-Y

FireFlying OFFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

111.065

25.4

57.6% Standard error 8.05 points

DAMAGE CALCSun

252+ SpA Charizard-Mega-Y Overheat vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele in Sun: 267-315 (77.6 - 91.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Charizard-Mega-Y counters →

Terapagos

Normal SOFT CHECK View matchup

178.365

21.2

46.6% Standard error 6.34 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Terapagos Rapid Spin vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 73-87 (21.2 - 25.2%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO

View Terapagos counters → Teams with Terapagos →

Tapu Lele

PsychicFairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

128.656

18.2

48.1% Standard error 7.46 points

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 →

Scizor-Mega

BugSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

246.666

16.7

37.4% Standard error 5.18 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Scizor-Mega U-turn vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 178-210 (51.7 - 61%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Scizor-Mega counters →

Dragonite

DragonFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

212.636

15.6

38.4% Standard error 5.70 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Dragonite Fly vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 210-247 (61 - 71.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Dragonite counters → Teams with Dragonite →

Corviknight

FlyingSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

245.32

13.6

34.0% Standard error 5.09 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Corviknight Iron Head vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 278-330 (80.8 - 95.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Corviknight counters → Teams with Corviknight →

Mawile-Mega

SteelFairy DEFENSIVE CHECK View matchup

21.833

13.4

55.9% Standard error 10.63 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Tapu Lele Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Mawile-Mega: 108-128 (35.5 - 42.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

View Mawile-Mega counters →

Zamazenta

Fighting SOFT CHECK View matchup

349.214

13.4

30.0% Standard error 4.16 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Zamazenta Heavy Slam (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 344-406 (100 - 118%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Zamazenta counters → Teams with Zamazenta →

Ferrothorn

GrassSteel SOFT CHECK View matchup

121.597

12.5

43.2% Standard error 7.67 points

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 →

Alomomola

Water SOFT CHECK View matchup

561.664

10.2

22.1% Standard error 2.97 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Alomomola Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 102-121 (29.6 - 35.1%) -- 18% chance to 3HKO

View Alomomola counters → Teams with Alomomola →

Hatterene

PsychicFairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

81.852

9.0

37.8% Standard error 7.21 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Hatterene Draining Kiss vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 61-73 (17.7 - 21.2%) -- possible 5HKO

View Hatterene counters → Teams with Hatterene →

Garchomp

DragonGround SOFT CHECK View matchup

197.69

8.0

30.3% Standard error 5.59 points

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 →

Urshifu-Rapid-Strike

FightingWater SOFT CHECK View matchup

135.203

7.7

35.7% Standard error 7.00 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Urshifu-Rapid-Strike Surging Strikes (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele on a critical hit: 261-309 (75.8 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

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

Cresselia

Psychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

21.597

7.2

50.2% Standard error 10.76 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ SpA Cresselia Moonblast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Tapu Lele: 52-62 (15.1 - 18%) -- possible 6HKO

View Cresselia counters → Teams with Cresselia →

Rillaboom

Grass SOFT CHECK View matchup

26.089

6.6

45.6% Standard error 9.75 points

DAMAGE CALCGrassy Terrain

252+ Atk Choice Band Rillaboom Wood Hammer vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele in Grassy Terrain: 517-609 (150.2 - 177%) -- guaranteed OHKO

View Rillaboom counters →

Diancie-Mega

RockFairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

86.284

5.9

41.4% Standard error 8.89 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

0- Atk Diancie-Mega Diamond Storm vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 186-219 (54 - 63.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

View Diancie-Mega counters → Teams with Diancie-Mega →

Clefable

Fairy SOFT CHECK View matchup

57.213

3.3

39.5% Standard error 9.05 points

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 →

Landorus-Therian

GroundFlying SOFT CHECK View matchup

216.142

3.2

22.7% Standard error 4.86 points

DAMAGE CALCPsychic Terrain

252+ Atk Landorus-Therian Explosion vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Tapu Lele: 411-484 (119.4 - 140.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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

Slowking-Galar

PoisonPsychic SOFT CHECK View matchup

167.852

3.1

26.4% Standard error 5.83 points

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 →

Ranked #17 with 9.94% usage. Sorted by conservative score.