Choice Scarf Tapu Lele functions as a great speed control option while still retaining its devastating STAB combination and good wallbreaking power. Its STAB moves threaten a myriad of foes such as Zamazenta, Great Tusk, and unboosted Garchomp that would otherwise outspeed Tapu Lele, while Focus Blast nails Steel-types like Melmetal, Ferrothorn, and Kingambit. Hidden Power Fire allows Tapu Lele to hit Mega Scizor and Gholdengo super effectively, while Psyshock lets Tapu Lele break through specially defensive walls, 2HKOing Galarian Slowking as an example. Future Sight allows Tapu Lele to set up its teammates that otherwise struggle with Poison-types and physical walls, like Zamazenta or Mega Lopunny, to pose an even larger threat considering their best checks like Toxapex and Alomomola are reticent to switch in lest they get blasted.

Tapu Lele fits well on balance teams looking for a way to solve their speed control problems while retaining good power. Fighting-types like the aforementioned pair as well as Urshifu-R make natural partners for Tapu Lele, as both break one another's checks; the Fighting-types break through troublesome Steel-types like Ferrothorn and specially defensive Heatran so that Tapu Lele does not have to risk Focus Blast's accuracy woes while Tapu Lele scares out Poison-types like Toxapex to let the trio of Fighting-types break through. Said Fighting-types also help wonders against Pursuit trappers such as Mega Tyranitar and Kingambit attempting to trap and remove Tapu Lele. Mega Tyranitar is another great partner for Tapu Lele, as it removes a pair of Tapu Lele's biggest checks in Gholdengo and Galarian Slowking thanks to Pursuit while dealing major damage to specially defensive stopgaps such as Heatran. Hazard setters like Gliscor and Ferrothorn also pair well with Tapu Lele, as they weaken Tapu Lele's checks like offensive Gholdengo and Ferrothorn into range of being KOed by one of Tapu Lele's STAB options or Hidden Power Fire, lessening its burden of prediction.

Tapu Lele is a fearsome wallbreaker, attributing its success to its Psychic Terrain-boosted attacks, ability to threaten metagame staples such as Gliscor, Toxapex, Raging Bolt, and Great Tusk, and lack of prediction mandated by a Choice item. Focus Blast allows Tapu Lele to hit the Steel-types that would plague it, such as Melmetal, Kingambit, Ferrothorn, and Heatran. Psyshock is an option over Psychic to hit Pokemon like Volcarona, Galarian Slowking, and Blissey; however, Psychic is usually preferred due to its higher damage against targets like Moltres and Gliscor. Hidden Power Fire and Future Sight are other options over Calm Mind; the former is a consistent way of hitting Ferrothorn, Mega Scizor, and Gholdengo, whereas the latter pairs well with wallbreakers like Zamazenta and Ogerpon-W while also being Tapu Lele’s strongest form of Shattered Psyche. Psychium Z gives Tapu Lele a burst of power that guarantees the OHKO on Pokemon like Clefable, Tornadus-T, and Gliscor. With Fightinium Z, Tapu Lele OHKOes Melmetal lacking Assault Vest and Assault Vest Kingambit while also having a favorable roll to OHKO Ferrothorn after Stealth Rock.

Tapu Lele is a good option on offense and bulky offense teams that appreciate it punching holes in fat and balance teams, which have limited ways of pivoting around it. Pokemon like Kingambit, Zamazenta, and Ogerpon-W like Tapu Lele breaking through their checks such as Toxapex, Raging Bolt, and Great Tusk. These Pokemon also appreciate the potential Future Sight support Tapu Lele can give. Tapu Lele likes Pursuit from Weavile, Mega Tyranitar, and Kingambit, as they help remove checks such as Gholdengo, Iron Crown, and Assault Vest Tornadus-T. Tapu Lele has a middling Speed tier that allows threats like Ogerpon-W and Mega Charizard Y to easily outpace and revenge kill it. Therefore, teammates like Garchomp, Ferrothorn, and Kingambit are appreciated. However, it should be noted that Psychic Terrain blocks Kingambit’s Sucker Punch.

This set aims to bolster Tapu Lele's special bulk, allowing it to soft-check Pokemon like Raging Bolt and opposing Tapu Lele while still breaking through physically defensive foes such as Landorus-T and Great Tusk. Psychic is good at chunking physical walls like Garganacl and Gliscor, while Psyshock works well against Galarian Slowking, Blissey, and Clodsire. Focus Blast lets Tapu Lele beat out most Steel-types like Kingambit and Iron Treads along with Mega Tyranitar, while Hidden Power Fire enables Tapu Lele to incinerate Mega Scizor, Ferrothorn, and Gholdengo. 176 Speed EVs on Tapu Lele allow it to outrun Adamant maximum Speed Rillaboom and Hisuian Samurott.

Assault Vest Tapu Lele fits well on offensive teams that need it to sponge special attacks while also threatening foes like Great Tusk and Raging Bolt. It also has the ability to block priority moves, which is appreciated by Gholdengo and Iron Valiant, since they're protected against Kingambit and Mega Scizor, respectively, among others. Steel-type teammates like Melmetal and Heatran pair nicely with Tapu Lele, due to it threatening out Fighting-types like Great Tusk and Iron Valiant that these Pokemon would otherwise lose to; in return, they beat foes like Roaring Moon and Gholdengo for it. Tapu Lele is weak to physical attacks, so physical walls like Landorus-T and Great Tusk are a good fit with it to cover for physical threats like Heavy Slam Zamazenta and Garchomp, while Tapu Lele takes special attacks from the likes of Kyurem and Raging Bolt. Pivoting moves like U-turn from the aforementioned Landorus-T and Moltres are also appreciated for safely bringing in Tapu Lele. Hawlucha is good to consider with Psychic Seed, allowing it to activate Unburden and clean Steel-types like Melmental and Kingambit, while Tapu Lele helps it deal with Poison-types like Toxapex and Clodsire with its Psychic-type STAB moves.