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.

Choice Specs Tapu Lele functions as a potent wallbreaker, being able to muscle through common defensive cores with its STAB move combination and coverage. Moonblast and Psychic largely cover each other's weaknesses, making it difficult for defensive pieces such as Ting-Lu and Toxapex to switch in. Psyshock hits Pokemon with high Special Defense, such as Blissey and Galarian Slowking. Focus Blast targets Steel-types such as Kingambit, Heatran, and Melmetal, while Hidden Power Fire threatens Mega Scizor, Gholdengo, and Ferrothorn more reliably. Focus Blast is generally preferred to avoid getting fully walled by Heatran, which can otherwise switch in reliably.

Fighting-types such as Urshifu-R and Zamazenta appreciate Tapu Lele's ability to punch through checks such as Toxapex and Mega Venusaur. In return, both teammates break through Steel-types, and Urshifu-R beats Moltres, enabling Tapu Lele to use its STAB moves more freely; they also beat Pursuit trappers that can sometimes be problematic for Tapu Lele. Tapu Lele also appreciates Pursuit users such as Mega Tyranitar and Kingambit trapping Ghost-types such as Gholdengo. Tapu Lele often finds itself vulnerable to faster threats such as Ogerpon-W and Weavile, meaning fast teammates such as Speed Booster Energy Iron Valiant are appreciated. Tapu Lele also appreciates Spikes setters such as Ting-Lu and Ferrothorn, with Ting-Lu providing a good switch-in to Gholdengo, which Tapu Lele struggles with. Tapu Lele values Spikes, as it chips common checks such as Heatran, allowing Tapu Lele to clean up games more easily. In general, setup sweepers benefit from Psychic Terrain support, notably including Dragonite, Scale Shot Garchomp, and Volcarona, as it gives them an immunity to powerful priority moves from Pokemon such as Kingambit and Mega Lopunny. Tapu Lele also breaks Pokemon such as Ting-Lu for these teammates.

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.