[OVERVIEW]
Urshifu-R is a metagame-defining wallbreaker and cleaner thanks to its amazing Attack stat and synergistic, high base power STAB combo. Its ability to constantly force switches, break through would-be checks with just the slightest bit of chip damage, and bring in other partners via U-turn makes it a huge boon to offensive teams, while its good item flexibility allows it to tailor its set depending on the team's needs. Urshifu-R isn't without its issues though; for one, the number of Pokemon that can threaten it or wall it are notable. Urshifu-R has a mediocre 97 Speed stat, meaning Pokemon like Garchomp and Kartana out speed it and, as such, leaving it vulnerable to revenge killing attempts constantly. Its STAB combo is also resisted by some of the best Water-type walls in the metagame, namely Tapu Fini, Toxapex, and Slowbro, while its reliance on is exploitable with Static, Flame Body, Rocky Helmet, Iron Barbs, and Rough Skin. Despite these issues, Urshifu-R remains one of the strongest Pokemon in the metagame, pairing phenomenally with other staples like Weavile, Tapu Koko and Blacephalon.
[SET]
Protective Pads (Urshifu-Rapid-Strike) @ Protective Pads
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Taunt / Aqua Jet
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Protective Pads Urshifu-R is one of the tier's an incredibly scary pivot thanks to its great Attack, good bulk, and incredible STABs that still hit hard even without a Choice Band boost. Surging Strikes threatens Water-weak Pokemon like Landorus-T and Victini, while Close Combat can threaten a myriad of Pokemon in the tier, such as Steel-types like Melmetal, Ferrothorn, and Kartana, Dark-types like Weavile and Tyranitar, and less bulky neutral targets like Volcanion and Gastrodon. U-turn allows Urshifu-R to bring in a teammate while scouting what the opponent does while chipping walls like Slowbro and Rotom-W. Taunt is typically preferred in the final moveslot, as it allows Urshifu-R to shut down healing moves from Clefable, Buzzwole, and Corviknight, Stealth Rock and Spikes from Ferrothorn, and status moves like Toxic from Garchomp and Skarmory and Thunder Wave from Ferrothorn and Clefable. However, Aqua Jet gives Urshifu-R a much-beloved priority move that allows it to remove weakened threats like Blacephalon, Volcarona, and Blaziken who could otherwise potentially snowball out of control. Protective Pads prevents Urshifu-R from taking chip damage from Garchomp's Rough Skin, Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs, and Rocky Helmet users like Corviknight, Slowbro and Buzzwole along with completely avoiding Flame Body burns from Volcarona and Heatran and Static paralysis from Zapdos, allowing it to more freely use attacks versus these Pokemon. Protective Pads Urshifu-R can be extremely effective when playing as if it is another set, so bluffing in the early game versus Pokemon that cannot outright OHKO it or handle these other sets like Weavile and slightly chipped Corviknight can go a long way; however, Urshifu-R's sheer power means this isn't required.
Team Options
========
Urshifu-R fits best on bulky offense and balance teams that can make the most of its strengths, so wallbreakers like Weavile, Dragapult, and Tapu Lele can go a long way to help wallbreak while also threatening Pokemon that would otherwise give Urshifu-R trouble, such as Slowbro, Corviknight, Tapu Fini, and Toxapex; in return, Urshifu-R can help deal with the Fire- and Steel-types that give these two trouble, such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Volcarona. Tapu Koko in particular is a phenomenal partner due to it threatening Buzzwole and the Water-types that wall Urshifu-R like Toxapex, Tapu Fini, and Slowbro, while Urshifu-R answers Ferrothorn and Ground-types like Landorus-T and Hippowdon for Tapu Koko. Urshifu-R compliments well with Spikes users like Ferrothorn and Skarmory since they can help chip checks to Urshifu-R like Tapu Fini and Buzzwole. Similarly, Knock Off users like Landorus-T and Weavile can remove important items like Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers from defensive targets like Tornarus-T, Buzzwole, and Tapu Fini to help Urshifu-R in combination with hazard support from the aforementioned Spikes setters and Stealth Rock users like Garchomp and Landorus-T. Future Sight users like Slowbro, Tapu Lele, and Galarian Slowking can help Urshifu-R wallbreak, as many of the Pokemon that wall it like Toxapex, Tapu Fini, Buzzwole despise Future Sight while many teams simply lack the resources to use another Pokemon to answer the combination of the two. Trappers like Heatran and Whirlpool Tapu Fini compound well with Urshifu-R, targetting the Water-types that Urshifu-R despises like Toxapex and Slowbro; Tapu Fini can also threaten Dragonite with both Whirlpool and Moonblast. Dragapult in particular can cause Urshifu-R issues due to its Dragon/Ghost type resisting all of its moves while threatening an OHKO with Draco Meteor and Thunderbolt; henceforth, teammates that can reduce its pressure like Ferrothorn, Assault Vest Tornadus-T, and Melmetal can decrease its potency. In a similar vein, Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zapdos can give Urshifu-R immense trouble, so answers to these threats like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon are essential.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Punch on Choice Band sets can allow Urshifu-R to threaten Dragonite. However, this doesn't achieve much else, as Urshifu-R's STABs are already incredibly strong and sacrificing one of its key moves often does more harm than good. A Bulk Up set with Protective Pads and either Thunder Punch or Taunt can allow Urshifu-R to turn into a threatening stallbreaker if given the chance; however, the lack of U-turn means that Urshifu-R sacrifices its ability as an offensive pivot with this set and is vulnerable to the sheer number of faster threats and Choice Scarf users in the metagame even if it successfully sets up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types like Toxapex, Slowbro, Rotom-W, and Tapu Fini can consistently switch into and force out Urshifu-R, with the latter three threatening heavy damage or OHKOes on it with their STAB moves. Rotom-W does have to be mindful of Close Combat while the others have to be wary of Choice Band-boosted Thunder Punch, especially Tapu Fini since it lacks reliable recovery, though.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Rillaboom, Kartana, and Ferrothorn all threaten Urshifu-R and resist its Surging Strikes, although Close Combat and U-turn heavily dent them if they so choose to directly switch in. Rillaboom and Kartana also have the added benefit of outspeeding Urshifu-R with Grassy Glide and natural speed respectively, while Ferrothorn can punish Urshifu-R if it makes an incorrect move thanks to its Ability Iron Barbs. Other bulky Grass-types like Tangrowth and Amoonguss can directly consistently switch into Urshifu-R consistently and punish it with Rocky Helmet, although they are much more niche.
**Contact Effects**: Contact effects from Rocky Helmet users like Buzzwole, Corviknight, Clefable, and Slowbro, Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs and Garchomp's Rough Skin, and status-inflicting abilities from Zapdos, Heatran, and Volcarona can cripple Urshifu-R if not careful, limiting its output considerably. Protective Pads can circumvent this issue entirely, though.
**Faster Threats**: Despite Urshifu-R's power, its Speed is incredibly middling without a Choice Scarf and leaves it vulnerable against faster Pokemon like Tornadus-T, Dragapult, Tapu Koko, and Zeraora.
[SET CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/clas.545372/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/slowpoke-fan.617219/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
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