Approved by ausma
Abilities: Unseen Fist
Notable Moves:
+ Fighting/Water is excellent offensively - hitting most of the tier for at least neutral coverage
+ It has an insanely strong attack stat of 130, backed by nuclear STABs in Surging Strikes and Close Combat
+ It gained Swords Dance as a new addition, which makes it stronger than ever. Coupled with Taunt, it can demolish almost anything slower than it (including Dondozo), even some checks to its STAB combo like Toxapex, Dragonite (with Tera for latter) if they don't hit it hard enough
+ It has a decent speed tier that lets it outspeed not only all the defensive Pokemon that it seeks to break, but some very relevant metagame staples like Great Tusk, Landorus-Therian, Gholdengo, Baxcalibur, Heatran, Magearna, Kingambit, Ursaluna, etc..
+ Fighting/Water is solid defensively and this lets it resists STABs from dangerous sweepers and wall breakers like Kingambit, Chien Pao, Hisuian-Arcanine.
+ Its good bulk (especially on the physical side) lets it switch into weaker attacks from Dondozo as well as survive hits like +1 Adamant Tera Normal Extremespeed from Dragonite and +2 Tera Dark Sucker Punch Kingambit from full HP
+ It has some decent utility moves like U-Turn, Aqua Jet additionally
+ It makes great use of Protective Pads as it boosts the power of Surging Strikes while preventing contact punishment which is typically a risk with a multi-hit move like Surging Strikes
+ Surging Strikes further lets it ignore defense boosts and Reflect, letting it damage Zamazenta formes hard
+ Due to its ability Unseen fist, Protection moves are a dangerous waste of turn vs it
Cons
- While its speed is good enough to outspeed most bulkier walls as well as some meta-relevant pokemon, it's also slower than a lot of Pokemon that hit it super effectively like Iron Valiant, Enamorus-I, Zapdos, Roaring Moon, Tornadus-Therian, Mewoscarada.
- Its special bulk is average, which means that it can't take Special attacks well. Even weaker or resisted special attacks from stuff like Slowking-Galar, Heatran, Volcanion etc. wear it down very quickly
- Hates status of all kinds - Burn makes its moves weaker, paralysis makes it slower than stuff like Magerana, and poison/toxic means it can't be setup effectively.
- It hates Knock off, despite its typing and bulk - since it has a lot of dependency on its item, be it Punching Gloves, Choice Band, or Choice Scarf.
- It is worn down easily by Hazards, Spikes in Particular.
- While Water/Fighting is a great offensive type, it also lets in stuff like Amoongus, Slowking, Azumarill, Dragapult. The first 2 wall it and hit it with a super effective move, the next 2 can either set up on it or outright OHKO it
- It faces heavy competition from various strong fighting types in the tier like Zamazenta formes, Sneasler, Iron Valiant, Lilligant-Hisui, Great Tusk. The latter provides much more utility, while the rest are faster and have a better matchup vs Offense. However, none of them break bulkier teams quite like Urshifu-R
Tera Potential
Sets
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Punching Glove
Jolly Nature
Tera Type: Water/Fighting
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
- Taunt
This is likely to be the go-to Urshifu-R set, as it is a dangerous wall breaker and stall breaker in one, thanks to Swords Dance and Taunt. It can literally beat almost anything slower (including the sturdiest physical walls like Dondozo), barring some niche and otherwise subpar options like Tera Ghost Storm Drain Gastrodon.
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Choice Band
Jolly Nature
Tera Type: Fighting/Water
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
- U-turn
On the other hand, Urshifu-R can trade its stall-breaking capabilities for more immediate power and some additional utility like Aqua Jet to revenge kill non-Tera Volcarona and U-turn to retain momentum vs its checks like Toxapex, Amoongus and Dragonite. While both STAB teras can work, Tera Fighting is better on Choice Band sets to 2HKO all variants of non-Tera Dondozo.
Other Options
Choice Scarf can be used to revenge kill offensive checks like Enamorus, Roaring Moon, while offering fast pivoting. However, it lacks the power of Choice Band, as well as the stall-breaking ability of Swords Dance Taunt sets. It needs heavy chip on a lot of its offensive checks like Iron Valiant, Dragapult. etc.. An Annihilape/Palafin-like Specially Defensive set with Bulk Up, Taunt, Drain Punch and Surging Strikes/Aqua Jet can be tried, but it lacks the typing and power of Palafin, as well as a busted move like Rage Fist.
Verdict
I think Urshifu-Rapid-Strike will be one of the best offensive Pokemon in the metagame, as with either SD or Band, its breaking ability is almost unparalleled (probably only bettered by Ursaluna, but Ursaluna wished that it had Urshifu-R's speed) as it can beat even a blanket physical wall like Dondozo, as well as its old counters like Toxapex. While it needs speed control and appreciates Hazard removal, those are really easy to fit on the offensive teams that Urshifu-R fits on.
| Base Stats | HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Attack | Sp. Defense | Speed |
| Total: 550 | 100 | 130 | 100 | 63 | 60 | 97 |
Abilities: Unseen Fist
Notable Moves:
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- U-Turn
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch
- Zen Headbutt
- Fire Punch
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
+ Fighting/Water is excellent offensively - hitting most of the tier for at least neutral coverage
+ It has an insanely strong attack stat of 130, backed by nuclear STABs in Surging Strikes and Close Combat
+ It gained Swords Dance as a new addition, which makes it stronger than ever. Coupled with Taunt, it can demolish almost anything slower than it (including Dondozo), even some checks to its STAB combo like Toxapex, Dragonite (with Tera for latter) if they don't hit it hard enough
+ It has a decent speed tier that lets it outspeed not only all the defensive Pokemon that it seeks to break, but some very relevant metagame staples like Great Tusk, Landorus-Therian, Gholdengo, Baxcalibur, Heatran, Magearna, Kingambit, Ursaluna, etc..
+ Fighting/Water is solid defensively and this lets it resists STABs from dangerous sweepers and wall breakers like Kingambit, Chien Pao, Hisuian-Arcanine.
+ Its good bulk (especially on the physical side) lets it switch into weaker attacks from Dondozo as well as survive hits like +1 Adamant Tera Normal Extremespeed from Dragonite and +2 Tera Dark Sucker Punch Kingambit from full HP
+ It has some decent utility moves like U-Turn, Aqua Jet additionally
+ It makes great use of Protective Pads as it boosts the power of Surging Strikes while preventing contact punishment which is typically a risk with a multi-hit move like Surging Strikes
+ Surging Strikes further lets it ignore defense boosts and Reflect, letting it damage Zamazenta formes hard
+ Due to its ability Unseen fist, Protection moves are a dangerous waste of turn vs it
Cons
- While its speed is good enough to outspeed most bulkier walls as well as some meta-relevant pokemon, it's also slower than a lot of Pokemon that hit it super effectively like Iron Valiant, Enamorus-I, Zapdos, Roaring Moon, Tornadus-Therian, Mewoscarada.
- Its special bulk is average, which means that it can't take Special attacks well. Even weaker or resisted special attacks from stuff like Slowking-Galar, Heatran, Volcanion etc. wear it down very quickly
- Hates status of all kinds - Burn makes its moves weaker, paralysis makes it slower than stuff like Magerana, and poison/toxic means it can't be setup effectively.
- It hates Knock off, despite its typing and bulk - since it has a lot of dependency on its item, be it Punching Gloves, Choice Band, or Choice Scarf.
- It is worn down easily by Hazards, Spikes in Particular.
- While Water/Fighting is a great offensive type, it also lets in stuff like Amoongus, Slowking, Azumarill, Dragapult. The first 2 wall it and hit it with a super effective move, the next 2 can either set up on it or outright OHKO it
- It faces heavy competition from various strong fighting types in the tier like Zamazenta formes, Sneasler, Iron Valiant, Lilligant-Hisui, Great Tusk. The latter provides much more utility, while the rest are faster and have a better matchup vs Offense. However, none of them break bulkier teams quite like Urshifu-R
Tera Potential
- After 1 Swords Dance (boost of +2), Reliably 2HKO resists like Dragonite, Toxapex (Physically Defensive), and OHKOes Azumarill after Stealth Rock.
- Also, removes its Fairy, Psychic and Flying weakness, letting it survive a hit from Azumarill, Slowking, Tornadus-Therian
- Removes Grass and Electric weakness, letting it take on and beat Amoongus with SD and Taunt, as well surprise and beat Meowscarada and Rotom-W
- Still 2HKOes Physically Defensive Toxapex at +2, but after a layer of Stealth Rock
- 2HKOes specially defensive Dondozo if Swords Dance set, and can 2HKO physically defensive Dondozo with Choice Band
Sets
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Punching Glove
Jolly Nature
Tera Type: Water/Fighting
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
- Taunt
This is likely to be the go-to Urshifu-R set, as it is a dangerous wall breaker and stall breaker in one, thanks to Swords Dance and Taunt. It can literally beat almost anything slower (including the sturdiest physical walls like Dondozo), barring some niche and otherwise subpar options like Tera Ghost Storm Drain Gastrodon.
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Choice Band
Jolly Nature
Tera Type: Fighting/Water
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Aqua Jet
- U-turn
On the other hand, Urshifu-R can trade its stall-breaking capabilities for more immediate power and some additional utility like Aqua Jet to revenge kill non-Tera Volcarona and U-turn to retain momentum vs its checks like Toxapex, Amoongus and Dragonite. While both STAB teras can work, Tera Fighting is better on Choice Band sets to 2HKO all variants of non-Tera Dondozo.
Other Options
Choice Scarf can be used to revenge kill offensive checks like Enamorus, Roaring Moon, while offering fast pivoting. However, it lacks the power of Choice Band, as well as the stall-breaking ability of Swords Dance Taunt sets. It needs heavy chip on a lot of its offensive checks like Iron Valiant, Dragapult. etc.. An Annihilape/Palafin-like Specially Defensive set with Bulk Up, Taunt, Drain Punch and Surging Strikes/Aqua Jet can be tried, but it lacks the typing and power of Palafin, as well as a busted move like Rage Fist.
Verdict
I think Urshifu-Rapid-Strike will be one of the best offensive Pokemon in the metagame, as with either SD or Band, its breaking ability is almost unparalleled (probably only bettered by Ursaluna, but Ursaluna wished that it had Urshifu-R's speed) as it can beat even a blanket physical wall like Dondozo, as well as its old counters like Toxapex. While it needs speed control and appreciates Hazard removal, those are really easy to fit on the offensive teams that Urshifu-R fits on.
