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The guardian deities (Japanese: 守り神 guardian deity) are Legendary Pokémon in the Alola region who protect the islands where they live. Each of the four main islands in Alola has a guardian deity: Tapu Koko on Melemele Island, Tapu Lele on Akala Island, Tapu Bulu on Ula'ula Island, and Tapu Fini on Poni Island. The Island Kahunas are each chosen by their island's guardian deity.
They are also referred to as the tapu (Japanese: カプ kapu), the guardians (Japanese: 守り神 guardian deity), the sacred guardians (Japanese: 守り神 guardian deity), the island guardians (Japanese: 島の守り神 island's guardian deity), the spirit guardians (Japanese: 守り神 guardian deity), the land spirits (Japanese: とちがみポケモン Land Spirit Pokémon), or the guardian tapu (Japanese: 島の守り神 カプ island's guardian deity kapu).
The guardian deities are known to take part in battles to decide who is the strongest of them all, and this inspired humans to create the Battle Royal format. They share the signature move Nature's Madness and its corresponding Z-Move Guardian of Alola.
Similar movesetsBase stat comparisonIn the games
Pokémon Sun and Moon
Among the guardian deities, Tapu Koko plays the largest role within the games' storyline, appearing before the player picks their starter Pokémon to save them after they fall from a broken bridge with Nebby in tow. Tapu Koko, in recognition of the player's bravery, gives the player a Sparkling Stone, which is later refined by Hala into a Z-Ring. Tapu Koko later appears to defend Melemele Island against the then-unidentified Ultra Beast BuzzwoleS/PheromosaM alongside Hala. After becoming Champion, the player and Lillie visit Tapu Koko at the Ruins of Conflict to give thanks to it, after which the player battles it.
Tapu Fini, while not physically seen, plays a small role in the story as well, granting Hapu the title of Island Kahuna after her grandfather, the previous Kahuna, passed away.
The player can battle and catch the other guardian deities after the credits roll.
Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon
The guardian deities play a near-identical role in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Moon as in Pokémon Sun and Moon. However, instead of defending against Buzzwole or Pheromosa, Tapu Koko comes to battle BlacephalonUS/StakatakaUM. Additionally, Tapu Koko is not battled during the credits sequence. All four guardian deities can be approached in their respective ruins after the credits.
In the animeIn the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
The guardian deities first appeared in the Sun & Moon arc. They were first seen in a fantasy in PASM02, where Hala, Olivia, and Nanu each discussed that all four deities were spotted by people on their respective island. As the guardian deities were normally reclusive, the Kahunas assumed that something must have angered the four Pokémon. In PASM07, Sun was given the task of delivering a special Mirage Berry to each guardian deity as a way of calming them down.
Tapu Koko first appeared in PASM02, attacking Sun and Moon. After a short battle, it escaped, leaving behind a Sparkling Stone for Sun. In PASM04, Tapu Koko appeared at Mahalo Trail, where it saved Moon and Nebby after the latter broke the Plank Bridge to escape from a group of Spearow that attacked it.
Tapu Lele first appeared in PASM09, where it fought against a Xurkitree that tried to escape from an Ultra Wormhole and lost. It was saved by Moon, who fired a Poké Ball-tipped arrow at Xurkitree, forcing it to retreat back to where it came from. Afterward, it returned to the Ruins of Life to recuperate, only for Gladion to arrive and try to capture it. After being defeated by Sun, Gladion gave up on Tapu Lele, claiming that it was too weak to fight against the Ultra Beasts. Once Gladion left, Sun successfully delivered the Mirage Berry to Tapu Lele. As thanks, Tapu Lele decided to test the abilities of Sun and his friends by battling them. Though it proved to be powerful, Tapu Lele left satisfied after Sun managed to land a hit on it with his newly-evolved Torracat, En.
Trivia
- The guardian deities are the only Pokémon to have an interpunct in their Japanese names.
In other languages
