Ursaring

Guts
Attack is increased by 50% when afflicted with status.
Quick Feet
Speed is increased by 50% when afflicted with status.
Unnerve
Prevents the foe from consuming its held Berry item.
Type Tier
Normal NU
Level 5 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
Min- Min Max Max+
HP
90
- 25 28 -
Atk
130
17 19 22 24
Def
75
12 14 17 18
SpA
75
12 14 17 18
SpD
75
12 14 17 18
Spe
55
10 12 15 16

Overview

Ursaring is, quite simply, a monster of a Pokemon, with a massive base 130 Attack stat and two ways to boost its power. Unlike most Pokemon, who can be combated with status moves, Ursaring has not one, but two abilities that punish an opponent for using such moves. Ursaring also sports reasonable 90 / 75 / 75 defensive stats, meaning it can take an attack or two without much duress. Unfortunately, Ursaring is most frequently let down by its unspectacular Normal typing, which leaves it with a lack of useful coverage on its STAB moves, something that offsets its useful coverage options. Furthermore, depending on the ability it chooses, Ursaring often finds itself as either being rather slow, or not quite strong enough to sweep. Despite these deficiencies, Ursaring is a grizzly of a Pokemon.

Name Item Ability Nature

Village Crusher (Guts)

Flame Orb Guts Adamant
Moveset EVs
~ Facade
~ Close Combat
~ Crunch
~ Swords Dance / Protect
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Ursaring becomes the consummate wallbreaker when Guts is activated, doubling its Attack and ensuring that no opponent leaves unscathed. Facade is the key to the set, doubling in power after the Flame Orb activates, reaching a whopping 210 Base Power after STAB. Crunch and Close Combat are the perfect coverage moves for Ursaring. Crunch hits the Ghost-type Pokemon that are immune to Facade super effectively, whereas Close Combat "combats" the Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon that resist Facade. After a Swords Dance, Ursaring's power is mind boggling, with very little able to survive an attack. However, Protect is useful to ensure that Flame Orb activates, and is also useful for scouting the opponent's move.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Name Item Ability Nature

Quick Feet

Toxic Orb Quick Feet Jolly
Moveset EVs
~ Facade
~ Close Combat
~ Crunch
~ Swords Dance / Protect
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Ursaring can also attempt to sweep through the opposing team after its Quick Feet ability is activated, which multiplies its Speed by a factor of 1.5. Facade is the preferred STAB option, being very powerful after Toxic Orb activates. Close Combat hits Ice- and Normal-types super effectively, as well as the aforementioned Rock- and Steel-types, as Ursaring can't power through them quite as easily with Facade alone. However, Crunch still only serves to hit Ghost-type Pokemon, as a neutral Facade hits harder than a super effective Crunch. Since Ursaring can often find itself somewhat lacking in power, Swords Dance is the move of choice in order to facilitate a sweep, although Protect is still a useful option to allow Ursaring to revenge kill opposing Pokemon.

Team Options & Additional Comments >>>

Other Options

Ursaring has a variety of useful attacking options outside its standard set that can be used to cover specific threats. Access to Fire Punch, Ice Punch, and ThunderPunch gives Ursaring excellent overall coverage, although their sub-par Base Powers are a let down. Conversely, Gunk Shot lacks any notable coverage, but provides raw power instead. Seed Bomb is an interesting option, but is generally outclassed by the combination of Close Combat and Facade. Ursaring also has a couple of other boosting moves. Belly Drum turns Ursaring into a deadly killing machine in tandem with Quick Feet, although Ursaring will rarely survive for long after using it. Bulk Up is also an option, boosting Ursaring's Attack and Defense, lessening its susceptibility to priority attacks. Finally, Ursaring can use the ultimate gimmick, Choice Specs-boosted Hyper Beam, which while being seemingly insane, actually hits harder than Altaria's Draco Meteor.

Checks and Counters

With Ursaring's immense power, concrete counters to it are difficult to find, although some Pokemon do better than others. Regirock is probably the best counter available, taking any attack except Guts-boosted Close Combat with ease and retaliating with Drain Punch in return. Similarly, Tangela can take one Guts-boosted Facade and can severely damage Ursaring with Giga Drain. Misdreavus is a solid check, beating Ursaring as long as Misdreavus carries an offensive move besides Shadow Ball. Choice Scarf Pokemon are good checks in general, easily outspeeding even Quick Feet Ursaring and OHKOing in return. Defensive Pokemon with recovery options are capable of stalling Ursaring out of its health, as they can wait for the burn or poison damage to KO Ursaring. Similarly, faster Pokemon with Substitute can also weaken Ursaring before hitting it for the KO.