[OVERVIEW]
Water
========
Urshifu-R is a great wallbreaker for Water teams thanks to its excellent Attack as well as Surging Strikes and Close Combat. Surging Strikes in particular allows Urshifu-R to hit through Defense boosts from Magnezone and Mimikyu's Disguise. Unseen Fist allows Urshifu-R to prevent opposing Pokemon from scouting what move it will use. This allows it to break through types like Steel, where Aegislash and Ferrothorn cannot use Protect and see whether Urshifu-R will use Close Combat or Surging Strikes. It also has moves like U-turn to pivot and Thunder Punch to hit Pokemon that resist both of its STAB moves, like Mantine and Pelipper. However, Urshifu-R has an average Speed tier and is unable to outspeed threats like Zapdos and Zarude. This means Urshifu-R sees competition from Keldeo, which is able to outspeed and dent these Pokemon. Its mediocre Speed doesn't hinder its wallbreaking power, though. Pokemon like Rocky Helmet Skarmory and Iron Barbs Ferrothorn can also punish Urshifu-R for using Surging Strikes.
[SET]
name: Choice Band (Water)
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Surging Strikes
move 3: Aqua Jet / Thunder Punch
move 4: U-turn / Thunder Punch
item: Choice Band
ability: Unseen Fist
nature: Jolly Nature
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Close Combat allows Urshifu-R to fend off Pokemon like Kyurem, Ferrothorn, Galarian Moltres, and Rotom-W. Surging Strikes hits Pokemon Close Combat can't dent, like Landorus-T, Aegislash, and Galarian Slowking. It also allows Urshifu-R to break Pokemon that can boost their Defense, like Iron Defense Corviknight, and break Shuckle's Sturdy, which lets Urshifu-R KO it before it sets any entry hazards. Aqua Jet allows Urshifu-R to pick off weakened foes or revenge kill faster Pokemon like Volcarona and Alolan Raichu. U-turn is nice for keeping momentum against foes like Celebi and Slowbro, which tank Urshifu-R's other moves. Thunder Punch hits Mantine, Pelipper, and other Water-types. Maximum Speed investment with a Jolly nature allows Urshifu-R to outspeed Pokemon like Mimikyu, Tapu Lele, and Kyurem.
Urshifu-R greatly appreciates defensive pivots to absorb hits for it and bring it in safely. Slowking in particular is a great pivot, with Teleport and Future Sight to assist Urshifu-R. Teleport allows Slowking to bring Urshifu-R in safely, and Future Sight allows Urshifu-R to force progress in the Poison and Water matchups. Urshifu-R helps Slowking by checking threats like Kyurem and Weavile. Pelipper sets rain for Urshifu-R, allowing Surging Strikes to OHKO Pokemon like Aegislash and Clefable. Pelipper can also provide Defog and clear entry hazards like Spikes and Sticky Web, which limit Urshifu-R's chances to come in. Swampert and Gastrodon provide switch-ins to attacks from foes like Tapu Koko and Alolan Raichu with their Electric immunities; Swampert also sets Stealth Rock. Tapu Fini sets Misty Terrain for Urshifu-R, preventing it from getting statused, and also revenge kills Pokemon like Hydreigon and Garchomp with Choice Scarf. Rotom-W deserves a special mention as a Choice Scarf user, being able to check threats like Thundurus-T and Zapdos. Wallbreakers like Crawdaunt pressure checks to Urshifu-R like Slowbro and Toxapex. Crawdaunt especially can help in the Psychic matchup with its Psychic immunity. Other Knock Off users like Toxapex are incredibly helpful to remove opposing Leftovers and Rocky Helmet. On a weatherless team, it is a good idea to use another wallbreaker like Volcanion that can beat Steel-types, since Urshifu-R has a lot more trouble OHKOing Pokemon like Aegislash without rain.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Water
--------
Choice Scarf can be used over Choice Band, allowing Urshifu-R to be a solid revenge killer and outspeed Pokemon like Tapu Koko and Zarude, but it takes away Urshifu-R's damage output. Urshifu-R can also run coverage moves like Ice Punch, which hits Dragon-types like Dragonite and Dragalge, and Poison Jab, which hits Fairy-types such as Tapu Bulu. However, this usually comes at the cost of Urshifu-R dropping a more important move like U-turn or Aqua Jet. Bulk Up can be used to prevent Urshifu-R from being Choice-locked, but it forces Urshifu-R to use up a turn and drop Aqua Jet or Thunder Punch.
Checks and Counters
===================
Water
--------
**Status**: Burn reduces Urshifu-R's power, paralysis lowers its speed and lets more threats outspeed and KO it, and Toxic decreases Urshifu-R's wallbreaking turns.
**Physically Defensive Walls**: Pokemon like Slowbro, Galarian Corsola, Amoonguss, and Toxapex take very little from Urshifu-R's STAB moves and can punish it in return with status.
**Revenge Killers**: Faster Pokemon like Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, Tapu Koko, and Thundurus-T outspeed and OHKO Urshifu-R with a super effective move.
**Contact Damage**: Pokemon that punish contact moves like Skarmory and Ferrothorn are annoying for Urshifu-R to deal with, as Surging Strikes forces it to take a lot of chip damage when hitting these targets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Hyperspace12, 469369]]
- Water analysis by: [[Hyperspace12, 469369]]
- Quality checked by: [[mushamu, 362454], [maroon, 305839]]
- Grammar checked by: [[DC, 449990], [Estronic, 240732]]
Last edited:
