In thefollowing episode, Tapu Koko came across Ash and his classmates as they were enjoying lunch, and it stoleAsh's hat. It flew off to a nearby forest, where it waited for Ash to battle it. After a couple of attacks between it and Pikachu, Tapu Koko came up to Ash and activated his Electrium Z, leading Ash to command his Pikachu to use his firstZ-Move,Gigavolt Havoc, on Tapu Koko. Despite the attack creating a big explosion, Tapu Koko protected itself with its armor and did not receive any damage. The Electrium Z then shattered and Tapu Koko flew off, ending its battle with Ash.
InTo Top a Totem!,Hala informed Ash about Tapu Koko and revealed that the Z-Ring and Electrium Z Ash had been given by the Land Spirit Pokémon had been taken from him. Hala noted that this was the first time it had ever happened and that Tapu Koko appeared to have a strange interest in Ash. Later in the episode, it watched Ash's battle against aYungoos, aGumshoos, and aTotem Gumshoos inVerdant Cavern. In thefollowing episode, Tapu Koko took theFightinium Z that Hala was about to give Ash for defeating him in theisland challenge, and replaced it with an Electrium Z, much to Ash and Hala's surprise.
InA Guardian Rematch!, Tapu Koko had a rematch against Pikachu and was able to withstand Gigavolt Havoc. The match ended with no clear winner after Pikachu fell off a cliff, which Tapu Koko helped to save Ash and Pikachu from.
InRevealing the Stuff of Legend!, Tapu Koko and the other guardian deities revealed that they were the ones who took Nebby toMelemele Island, where Ash would eventually find and take care of it. At theAltar of the Sunne, the four guardian deities performed a ritual that allowed Nebby to evolve intoSolgaleo. When Ash received aSolganium Z from Nebby, he found that it was unable to fit in his regularZ-Ring. Tapu Koko then took the Z-Ring, and through a dance, it and the other guardian deities upgraded the Z-Ring into aZ-Power Ring so Ash could properly use Solgaleo's Z-Move,Searing Sunraze Smash. The four then dispersed after seeing Nebby carry Ash and his friends through theUltra Wormhole.
InSecuring the Future!, Tapu Koko attacked theMatori Matrix's aircraft in order to prevent them from going through an Ultra Wormhole to chase after Necrozma. Later, it, its fellow guardian deities, and the rest of Alola helped Necrozma regain itstrue form by giving it some of theirZ-Power.
InBattling the Beast Within!, Tapu Koko engaged Ash and Pikachu in a battle, only to transport them to another world with the assistance of aShiny Tapu Koko. Tapu Koko reappeared inthe next episode, where it flew off once Ash and Pikachu returned.
InZ-Move Showdown!, Tapu Koko and its fellow deities assisted theisland kahunas in dealing with aGuzzlord that was causing trouble during the closing ceremony of theManalo Conference. They did so by restraining it whilst the kahunas used their Z-Moves to send it back through its Ultra Wormhole.
Tapu Koko and Kukui
InA Full Battle Bounty!, Tapu Koko was seen watching theexhibition match between Ash and Professor Kukui. InFiery Surprises!, Tapu Koko stopped Professor Kukui from sending out his last Pokémon by slapping away thePoké Ball in his hand, indicating that it wanted to battle Ash as Kukui's final Pokémon. Kukui accepted this offer. The battle commenced inFrom Z to Shining Z!, where Tapu Koko facedAsh's Naganadel and won, before going up against Pikachu. Along with its fellow deities, Tapu Koko restored Z-Power to Ash and Kukui's Z-Rings. It then gave Kukui aTapunium Z, allowing it to performGuardian of Alola, while Ash and Pikachu countered with10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt. Pikachu's Z-Move managed to overpower Tapu Koko's Z-Move, leading to Tapu Koko fainting and making Ash the winner of the exhibition match. Afterwards, Tapu Koko was restored by Tapu Lele's scales and thanked by Kukui for battling well.
Tapu Koko appears to be a serious Pokémon, but despite this character trait, it didn't seem to mind Pikachu playing with its arm inRevealing the Stuff of Legend!. Tapu Koko is very interested in Ash and is often seen observing him. It has a strong desire to challenge Ash and test his skills, even stealingAsh's hat in order for him to follow and battle it. Tapu Koko also has enough faith in Ash to entrust with him aZ-Ring and anElectrium Z, as well as leavingNebby in his care.
Tapu Koko does not tolerate impulsive behavior from other people. For example, whenGladion arrogantly yelled at the guardian deities out of impatience, it gave him an angry stare, telling him to wait. It took an interest in theUltra Guardians' work at helpingUltra Beasts, as seen inRise and Shine, Starship! andTwirling with a Bang!.
Tapu Koko is featured in the TCG. The following is a list of cards featuring Tapu Koko.
Tapu Koko Cards listed with ablue background are only legal to use in the currentExpanded format. Cards listed with agreen background are legal to use in both the currentStandard andExpanded formats.
TheAsh vs Team Rocket Deck Kit (Japanese:30枚デッキ対戦セット「サトシVSロケット団」) is a Japanese-exclusive Deck Kit released alongside theFacing a New Trial subset, on April 21, 2017. The deck features Pokémon fromPokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, including Ash's Pikachu and Jessie's Mimikyu asPokémon-GX. The Deck Kit also includes a player's guide, damage and Status Condition markers, 2 GX markers, a coin, a playmat, and a How to Play instruction manual.
Tapu Lele debuted inPartner Promises!, whereAsh andPikachu noticed it onTreasure Island. It was seen floating over the ocean, and scattered its glowing scales all over Ash to heal the wounds inflicted on him while he was rescuing a trappedWimpod. Afterwards, it took off into the sky. After Ash returned toProfessor Kukui's house,Rotom Pokédex identified it as a Tapu Lele.
InRising from the Ruins!, Tapu Lele battled Ash'sRockruff and won easily. When Olivia andGladion'sLycanroc brought it to be healed by the guardian deity. When Tapu Lele seemed to be incapable of completely healing Rockruff, it attacked the two Lycanroc until Ash arrived and stepped in to protect them. It then usedDraining Kiss to drain energy from Ash and the two Lycanroc, allowing it to heal Rockruff. Tapu Lele also stayed to watch as Rockruff subsequently evolved into aDusk FormLycanroc in the light of the setting sun, smiling happily as it floated away afterwards.
InRevealing the Stuff of Legend!, Tapu Lele and the other guardian deities revealed that they were the ones who took Nebby toMelemele Island, where Ash would eventually find and take care of it. At theAltar of the Sunne, the four guardian deities performed a ritual that allowed Nebby to evolve intoSolgaleo. When Ash received aSolganium Z from Nebby, he found that it was unable to fit in his regularZ-Ring. Tapu Koko then took the Z-Ring, and through a dance, it and the other guardian deities upgraded the Z-Ring into aZ-Power Ring so Ash could properly use Solgaleo's Z-Move,Searing Sunraze Smash. The four then dispersed after seeing Nebby carry Ash and his friends through theUltra Wormhole.
InRun, Heroes, Run!, Kiawe was given the task of bringing back some of Tapu Lele's scales in order to rescue Ash, who had been held captive. After hearing of Kiawe's plight, Tapu Lele challenged him to a battle. Despite Tapu Lele's strength, Kiawe managed to land a hit on it with hisCharizard'sAerial Ace, impressing Tapu Lele enough to give him some of its scales.
InZ-Move Showdown!, Tapu Lele and its fellow deities assisted theisland kahunas in dealing with aGuzzlord that was causing trouble during the closing ceremony of theManalo Conference. They did so by restraining it whilst the kahunas used their Z-Moves to send it back through its Ultra Wormhole. Tapu Lele then left inExhibition Unmasked!.
InFrom Z to Shining Z!, Tapu Lele and its fellow deities restored Z-Power to Ash and Kukui's Z-Rings. Tapu Lele later used its scales to heal Tapu Koko following its defeat at the hands of Pikachu.
Personality and characteristics
As a guardian deity, Tapu Lele seems to be a kind and caring Pokémon, willingly using its scales to heal humans and Pokémon, such as Ash and a wildYungoos, even if it doesn't know them. It also greatly enjoys battling other Pokémon that catch its interest, but its cruel sense of innocence is shown when it seemingly fails to realize that its attacks seriously hurt opponents much weaker than itself. This was demonstrated inRising from the Ruins!, where it challenged Ash's Rockruff and defeated it easily, acting gleefully happy the whole time.
InRevealing the Stuff of Legend!, Tapu Bulu and the other guardian deities revealed that they were the ones who took Nebby toMelemele Island, where Ash would eventually find and take care of it. At theAltar of the Sunne, the four guardian deities performed a ritual to allow Nebby, now aCosmoem, to evolve intoSolgaleo. When Ash received aSolganium Z from Nebby, he found that it was unable to fit in his regularZ-Ring. Tapu Koko then took the Z-Ring, and through a dance, it and the other guardian deities upgraded the Z-Ring into aZ-Power Ring so Ash could properly use Solgaleo's Z-Move,Searing Sunraze Smash. The four then dispersed after seeing Nebby carry Ash and friends through theUltra Wormhole.
It made its first solo appearance inSome Kind of Laziness!, where Ash andAcerola visited it at theRuins of Abundance. Ash requested that Tapu Bulu help train his team so that he may face theisland kahunaNanu in a rematch. While it initially ignored Ash so it could continue sleeping, Tapu Bulu eventually agreed to help. By planting seeds and growing them into trees, Tapu Bulu helpedAsh's Rowlet learnRazor Leaf. Later, it deliberately dirtied Ash'sLycanroc's fur by pushing it into the water, angering Lycanroc into its berserk state until Ash calmed it down. After seeing the bond Ash and Lycanroc shared, Tapu Bulu agreed to battle with them. Though the battle ended without a victor, Tapu Bulu was impressed when Lycanroc proved to be a powerful opponent with its newly-learnedStone Edge.
Tapu Bulu battling Ash's Lycanroc
InGuiding an Awakening!, Tapu Bulu watched Ash's battle against Nanu. It assisted Ash by giving Lycanroc aSitrus Berry after it managed to defeat two of Nanu's Pokémon. After Ash won the battle, Tapu Bulu gave Lycanroc another Sitrus Berry to eat.
InZ-Move Showdown!, Tapu Bulu and its fellow deities assisted theisland kahunas in dealing with aGuzzlord that was causing trouble during the closing ceremony of theManalo Conference. They did so by restraining it whilst the kahunas used their Z-Moves to send it back through its Ultra Wormhole. Tapu Bulu then left inExhibition Unmasked! before returning to restore Z-Power to Ash and Kukui's Z-Rings inFrom Z to Shining Z!.
Personality and characteristics
Tapu Bulu appears to be more serious and subdued, compared to the more expressive Tapu Lele and Tapu Fini. InSome Kind of Laziness!, it was shown to be a fairly lazy Pokémon due to the fact that it constantly like to sleep on a rock in theRuins of Abundance. Despite this, once it saw how determined Ash was to help hisLycanroc, Tapu Bulu battled the Wolf Pokémon with everything it had. Tapu Bulu was also shown to be very happy for Lycanroc when it got over its aversion to having its fur become wet or dirty.
Tapu Bulu has been shown as being kind to Pokémon, as evident inGuiding an Awakening!, when it dropped some Sitrus Berries for Lycanroc to consume during its battle against Nanu following Lycanroc's defeat ofSableye.
InRevealing the Stuff of Legend!, Tapu Fini and the other guardian deities revealed that they were the ones who took Nebby toMelemele Island, whereAsh would eventually find and take care of it. At theAltar of the Sunne, the four guardian deities performed a ritual to allow Nebby, now aCosmoem, to evolve intoSolgaleo. When Ash received aSolganium Z from Nebby, he found that it was unable to fit in his regularZ-Ring. Tapu Koko then took the Z-Ring, and through a dance, it and the other guardian deities upgraded the Z-Ring into aZ-Power Ring so Ash could properly use Solgaleo's Z-Move,Searing Sunraze Smash. The four then dispersed after seeing Nebby carry Ash and friends through theUltra Wormhole.
InRun, Heroes, Run!, it became angered when Kiawe and Ash were battling at theRuins of Hope and trapped Ash,Rotom,Pikachu,Torracat,Turtonator andMarowak in a veil of water as punishment for their recklessness. In order for them to atone for their sinful actions, Tapu Fini gave Kiawe a task to retrieve scales from Tapu Lele within a certain time. When Kiawe returned with the scales, Tapu Fini used them to heal hisCharizard, who had been injured during the journey back. Afterwards, Tapu Fini forgave Ash and Kiawe for their reckless battling. But in return, it rewarded Kiawe with aFlyinium Z and watched as he and Charizard performedSupersonic Skystrike.
Tapu Fini and Hapu
InMemories in the Mist!, Tapu Fini overheardMallow talking abouther deceased mother. Later, it filled the area around Hapu's house with mist. The mist allowed Mallow and Torracat to reunite with her mother and its deceased mentor,Stoutland, respectively. Worried that her friends would be trapped in the mist forever, Hapu traveled to the Ruins of Hope to convince Tapu Fini to stop. The spirit ofSofu, Hapu's deceased grandfather, appeared, revealing that Tapu Fini had accepted Hapu as the nextisland kahuna of Poni Island.
InA Grand Debut!, Hapu performed a ritual at the Ruins of Hope with Tapu Fini, properly receiving the title of island kahuna. Later, Tapu Fini watched Ash and Hapu's grand trial battle.
InZ-Move Showdown!, Tapu Fini and its fellow deities assisted theisland kahunas in dealing with aGuzzlord that was causing trouble during the closing ceremony of theManalo Conference. They did so by restraining it whilst the kahunas used their Z-Moves to send it back through its Ultra Wormhole. Tapu Fini then left inExhibition Unmasked! before returning to restore Z-Power to Ash and Kukui's Z-Rings inFrom Z to Shining Z!.
Personality and characteristics
While little is known about Tapu Fini's personality, it appears to be a caring Pokémon, as it was shown holding a sleepingNebby before leaving it for Ash to find.
More of Tapu Fini's personality was seen inRun, Heroes, Run!, when it became angered by Kiawe and Ash battling at theRuins of Hope and trapped Ash, Pikachu, Rotom, Torracat, Turtonator and Marowak in a veil of water as punishment. It then set Kiawe a task that he must complete in a certain time. Despite that, Tapu Fini is also shown to be a forgiving Pokémon as it awarded Kiawe with the Flyinium Z upon his success and blessed Ash's later victory in the grand trial.
The ShinyTapu Koko first appeared inBattling the Beast Within!, where it assisted its regularly-colored counterpart in transporting Ash and Pikachu to theUltra Ruin during Ash's battle with the latter.Dia later revealed that, due to the damage caused byGuzzlord, Tapu Koko fled Alola, preventing the use ofZ-Moves.
InParallel Friendships!, it assisted Ash and Dia in their battle against Guzzlord by trapping the Junkivore Pokémon in a field of electricity. It then restored the ability to use Z-Moves, allowing Ash and Dia to use a doubleGigavolt Havoc that forced Guzzlord into a nearbyUltra Wormhole. Later, it watched Ash and Dia battle each other to recreate the event that transported Ash to Dia's world.
Personality and characteristics
While not much is known about its personality, this Tapu Koko seems to be somewhat kind, as it helped Ash defeat the rampagingGuzzlord. However, it could've just been defending the ruins.
