tapu-bulu #787
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tapu-bulu
LegendaryGeneration VII · #0787 — Land Spirit Pokémon
Tapu Bulu is a dual-type Grass/Fairy Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VII, bearing the National Pokédex number #787. As one of the four guardian deities of the Alola region, Tapu Bulu presides over Ula'ula Island alongside its counterparts Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, and Tapu Fini. This genderless Legendary Pokémon cannot be obtained through breeding and stands as a non-mythical legendary with a base stat total of 570, heavily favoring physical offense with an exceptional base Attack stat of 130. With a capture rate of only 3—making it exceptionally rare—Tapu Bulu embodies the mysterious power of nature itself, capable of manipulating vegetation and drawing energy from plant growth.
Base Stats
Height
1.9m
Weight
45.5kg
Category
Land Spirit Pokémon
Gender
Genderless
Color
red
Shape
arms
Abilities
When this Pokémon enters battle, it changes the terrain to Grassy Terrain.
Protects against friendly Pokémon's damaging moves.
Tapu-bulu Biology & Physical Characteristics
Tapu Bulu is a vaguely bull-like Pokémon with a bulky, predominantly black body supported by thick, powerful arms and notably absent legs. Its most striking features include a golden nose resembling a bull's snout with a distinctive white ring through the nostrils, bright blue eyes marked by orange irises and red segmented lines beneath them, and a pair of curved black horns each adorned with thick yellow markings near the tips. The creature's tail is almost entirely encased in a golden bell, complete with thin black rings and a wavy black line, from which a tuft of fur emerges. Perhaps most remarkably, the top of Tapu Bulu's head features two wooden shell attachments affixed to its horns that resemble flower petals or plant leaves when open, shifting to a bull-like appearance when closed—a physical manifestation of its control over vegetation. These shell-horns are composed of wood and can be manipulated and enlarged through the Pokémon's innate plant-control abilities, making them formidable weapons in combat. Standing at 1.9 meters tall and weighing 45.5 kilograms, Tapu Bulu presents an imposing yet somewhat stoic appearance, with golden cloven hooves completing its bovine aesthetic.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Tapu-bulu Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Tapu Bulu is a genderless Pokémon classified within the Undiscovered egg group, making it impossible to breed in any Pokémon game. This genderless classification is consistent with its legendary status and divine nature as a guardian deity—transcending biological sex and reproduction. With a base friendship value of 70, Tapu Bulu begins encounters with a moderate but not exceptional affinity toward trainers, requiring effort and care to develop stronger bonds. The impossibility of breeding Tapu Bulu means that each individual encountered represents a unique entity that cannot be duplicated through egg production, further reinforcing its legendary singularity and the special nature of encountering such a divine being.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm00
sword shield
tm01
yellow
tm01
red blue
tm01
platinum
tm01
emerald
tm01
diamond pearl
tm01
firered leafgreen
tm01
ruby sapphire
tm01
xd
tm01
colosseum
tm01
heartgold soulsilver
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
sun moon
tm01
blue japan
tm01
red green japan
tm02
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm03
yellow
tm03
red blue
tm04
yellow
tm03
blue japan
+689 more TMs/HMs
Tapu-bulu Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Tapu Bulu does not evolve into or from any other Pokémon, representing a complete and singular form. As a Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VII, it occupies a unique place in Alola's ecosystem with no evolutionary predecessors or successors. The absence of an evolution chain underscores Tapu Bulu's status as a deity-level entity—a being already perfected and complete in its natural state. Unlike many Legendary Pokémon that may receive Mega Evolutions in later generations, Tapu Bulu has not been granted this enhancement across any subsequent game releases, maintaining its original form as the definitive representation of the Ula'ula guardian deity.
Where to Find
ruins of abundance
alola
+5 more
Tapu-bulu Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Despite bearing the title of guardian deity, Tapu Bulu exhibits a remarkably lazy disposition, preferring minimal movement and action despite its devastating combat potential. According to Pokédex entries, this indolent nature sparks debate among observers as to whether it is genuinely docile or simply too lethargic to concern itself with activity. However, this apparent passivity masks a dangerous temperament—the Ultra Sun entry reveals that Tapu Bulu is violent enough to crush those it perceives as enemies, suggesting that its guardian duty manifests as swift, brutal retribution when threatened. Conversely, the Ultra Moon entry indicates a more contemplative side, where Tapu Bulu makes ringing sounds with its tail to communicate its location to others, thereby avoiding unnecessary conflicts. The guardian deity of Ula'ula Island maintains and controls the plant life of its domain, actively drawing energy from vegetation it causes to grow. In battle, Tapu Bulu demonstrates tactical intelligence, commanding plants to immobilize opponents before delivering savage blows with its wooden horns, showcasing a preference for strategic plant manipulation over relentless aggression.
Pokedex Entries
Generation VII
It pulls large trees up by the roots and swings them around. It causes vegetation to grow, and then it absorbs energy from the growth.
Although it’s called a guardian deity, it’s violent enough to crush anyone it sees as an enemy.
The guardian deity of Ula’ula is a lazy Pokémon. It commands plants to immobilize its foes and then deals them a savage blow with its horns.
It makes ringing sounds with its tail to let others know where it is, avoiding unneeded conflicts. This guardian deity of Ula’ula controls plants.
Tapu-bulu Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Tapu Bulu is derived from the Polynesian word 'tapu,' meaning sacred or forbidden, which fits its role as a guardian deity of Hawaiian-inspired Alola. The 'Bulu' portion likely references 'bull,' reflecting the Pokémon's bovine characteristics including its snout, horns, and overall bulky build. In Japanese, it is known as カプ・ブルル (Kapu-Bulul), maintaining the sacred 'Kapu' prefix shared by all four island deities while the doubled 'Bulu' emphasizes its bull-like nature. The design itself draws heavy inspiration from Hawaiian tiki culture and Polynesian mythology, with the flower-like wooden shells on its horns representing both the botanical mastery it commands and the spiritual, plant-based essence of a nature deity. The golden bell-like tail echoes traditional bell imagery found in various Polynesian and Asian cultures, symbolizing communication and spiritual presence. Its title as the 'Land Spirit Pokémon' emphasizes its terrestrial dominion and connection to earth-bound plant life, distinguishing it from other elemental guardian deities while highlighting its role as a protector of the natural world.
Learnable Moves
Tapu-bulu can learn 81 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| brick break | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| brutal swing | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| bulk up | fighting | Status | — | — | 20 |
| bullet seed | grass | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| calm mind | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| close combat | fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | 5 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| darkest lariat | dark | Physical | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| dazzling gleam | fairy | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| disable | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| dual chop | dragon | Physical | 40 | 90 | 15 |
| echoed voice | normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| energy ball | grass | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| false swipe | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus blast | fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| focus punch | fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| grass knot | grass | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| grassy terrain | grass | Status | — | — | 10 |
| guard swap | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| high horsepower | ground | Physical | 95 | 95 | 10 |
| horn attack | normal | Physical | 65 | 100 | 25 |
| horn leech | grass | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| leafage | grass | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| leech seed | grass | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| light screen | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| mean look | normal | Status | — | — | 5 |
| mega drain | grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| mega punch | normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 |
| megahorn | bug | Physical | 120 | 85 | 10 |
| nature power | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| nature’s madness | fairy | Special | — | 90 | 10 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| power swap | psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| psych up | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| reflect | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| revenge | fighting | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| roar | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock smash | fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| rototiller | ground | Status | — | — | 10 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| safeguard | normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| seed bomb | grass | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| skull bash | normal | Physical | 130 | 100 | 10 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| smart strike | steel | Physical | 70 | — | 10 |
| snarl | dark | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| solar beam | grass | Special | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| stone edge | rock | Physical | 100 | 80 | 5 |
| stored power | psychic | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| superpower | fighting | Physical | 120 | 100 | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| synthesis | grass | Status | — | — | 5 |
| taunt | dark | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| telekinesis | psychic | Status | — | — | 15 |
| torment | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| whirlwind | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| withdraw | water | Status | — | — | 40 |
| wood hammer | grass | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| worry seed | grass | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| zen headbutt | psychic | Physical | 80 | 90 | 15 |
Tapu-bulu Competitive Battle Guide
Tapu Bulu stands as a formidable competitive threat due to its exceptional base Attack stat of 130, which surpasses many offensive Pokémon and provides the foundation for devastating physical coverage moves. Its Grassy Surge ability automatically establishes Grassy Terrain upon entry, providing significant strategic utility by boosting Grass-type moves by 50%, granting residual recovery to grounded Pokémon, and reducing priority move damage—benefits that extend to both allied Pokémon and opponents. With a solid Defense stat of 115 and Special Defense of 95, Tapu Bulu can absorb moderate punishment while executing its offensive strategy. The combination of 70 HP and 75 Speed represents notable weaknesses, as Tapu Bulu becomes vulnerable to faster opponents and lacks the HP to repeatedly tank hits despite decent defenses. Its movepool includes powerful physical options like Wood Hammer, Horn Leech, Close Combat, and Stone Edge, enabling effective coverage against most competitive threats. The hidden ability Telepathy provides niche defensive value by preventing damage from allied Pokémon's moves in double battles, useful for specific team compositions. However, Tapu Bulu's four-fold weakness to Poison-type moves and vulnerability to Flying and Steel attacks somewhat limit its operational scope in competitive environments where these coverage moves are commonplace.
Commonly Asked Questions About Tapu-bulu
What type is Tapu-bulu?
Tapu-bulu is a grass and fairy type Pokemon.
What does Tapu-bulu evolve from?
Tapu-bulu does not evolve.
What are Tapu-bulu's weaknesses?
Tapu-bulu is weak to flying, poison, steel, fire and ice type moves.
Where can I find Tapu-bulu?
Tapu-bulu can be found in ruins of abundance (alola).
Tapu-bulu Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Tapu Bulu holds significant cultural importance as one of the quartet of guardian deities that forms the spiritual backbone of the Alola region's mythology and design philosophy. Its introduction in Generation VII marked a deliberate effort by Game Freak to incorporate authentic Polynesian and Hawaiian cultural elements into Pokémon's world-building, with Tapu Bulu specifically representing the reverence for nature and plant-based spirituality found in these traditions. The four Tapu deities became iconic symbols of Pokémon Sun and Moon, appearing prominently in the games' narrative and endgame encounters, making them instantly recognizable to fans of that generation. In the competitive Pokémon community, Tapu Bulu gained respect as a viable offensive threat and strategic terrain setter, influencing metagame development across subsequent competitive seasons. The Pokémon's unique mechanical combination of Grassy Terrain setup and raw physical attacking power created new team-building possibilities and strategic frameworks. Furthermore, Tapu Bulu's aesthetic blend of bovine characteristics with plant-deity symbolism proved visually striking and memorable, making it a fan-favorite among players who appreciated the cultural depth and design sophistication brought to Alola's legendary roster.
Where to Find Tapu-bulu in Every Pokémon Game
Tapu Bulu is encountered as a legendary encounter during the endgame of Pokémon Sun and Moon, specifically on Ula'ula Island where it serves as the final guardian deity battle for players progressing through the island challenge. In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Tapu Bulu's encounter and availability remain similarly gated to the story's climax, maintaining its legendary exclusivity. The Pokémon has not been made available through standard gameplay in newer generations such as Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet, though it may be obtainable through specific events, Pokémon Bank transfers, or Home connectivity features depending on the generation. Its extremely low capture rate of 3 makes securing one during the initial encounter exceptionally challenging without proper preparation, optimal Poké Balls, and status condition application. For players seeking Tapu Bulu outside of its native Generation VII games, participation in official Pokémon distributions or events becomes necessary, as its legendary status and Undiscovered egg group classification prevent alternative acquisition methods such as breeding or normal wild encounters in post-Alola titles.