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.

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.