Urshifu

Urshifu (Japanese: ウーラオス, Hepburn: Uuraosu) (UR-shee-foo^[1]) is a dual-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII, whose primary type is the Fighting type. It is the mascot of Isle of Armor.

It has two forms that the secondary type depends on: Single Strike Style Urshifu, whose secondary type is Dark type, and Rapid Strike Style Urshifu, whose secondary type is Water type.

It is the evolved form of Kubfu.

Biology

Physiology

Urshifu is a gray bear biped Pokémon with pastel yellow fingers, toes and mouth. It has two eyes with black pupils with fur extending from its kneecaps and running from its feet.

It wears a black and white headband with two loose strips which are flying upwards (Single Strike Style)/downwards (Rapid Strike Style). It also wears a black and white leotard.

When Gigantamaxing, they turn white completely and their leotard changes to either red or blue depending on the form. Their eyes' pupils have disappeared and have an extra slash mark on top.

Behavior

Urshifu's style and personality is determined by how it trained as a Kubfu.

Single Strike Style Urshifu prefers to battle without holding back its power. If enraged, it will attack the foe with full force with straight line directed fists.

Rapid Strike Style Urshifu prefers calmly observing the opponent and their strength while evading hits. It uses flowing movements to dodge an opponent's attack before overwhelming them with rapid strikes, like Mienshao.

Gigantamax Single Strike Style Urshifu has been called "the very embodiment of rage" and "a divine emissary that banishes evil spirits with its fury."

Rapid Strike Style Urshifu maintains a stance in a calm manner while in Gigantamax form. Opponents who face it may either feel greatly agitated or experience a sense of relief, as if freed from evil spirits.

Natural abilities

Their ability, Unseen Fist, allows them to bypass moves like Protect, allowing them to always strike their foe. Wicked Blow and Surging Strikes, their signature moves, have high crit ratios and ignore stat changes of the target.

When they Gigantamax, their G-Max moves, G-Max One Blow, and G-Max Rapid Flow, can bypass Max Guard and other protection moves.

Evolution

Urshifu evolves from Kubfu by finishing the trial at either one of Tower of Two Fists: Tower of Darkness or Tower of Waters.

Kubfu evolves into Single Strike Style Urshifu by finishing the trial at Tower of Darkness and being shown the Scroll of Darkness, and evolves into Rapid Strike Style Urshifu by finishing the trial at Tower of Waters and being shown the Scroll of Waters.

Game Info

Locations

It cannot be found in wild areas but can be received by Master Mustard and can be evolved into your preferred version.

Locations
Version(s)	Area(s)	Rarity
Sword and Shield	Evolve Kubfu	One

Pokédex Entries

Stats

Single Strike Style

Stats
HP	100
Attack	130
Defense	100
Sp. Atk	63
Sp. Def	60
Speed	97
Total	550

Rapid Strike Style

Stats
HP	100
Attack	130
Defense	100
Sp. Atk	63
Sp. Def	60
Speed	97
Total	550

Learnset

Leveling

Single Strike Style

Rapid Strike Style

TM

Single Strike Style

Rapid Strike Style

Breeding

Single Strike Style

Urshifu learns no moves via breeding.

Rapid Strike Style

Urshifu learns no moves via breeding.

Tutoring

Single Strike Style

Rapid Strike Style

Sprites

Trivia

• Urshifu is one of the few final evolved Pokémon to have multiple variant forms.
• Urshifu's English name is derived from the Latin word "Ursa" and the Chinese pronunciation of "师傅" (shifu). Ursa means bear in Latin, and shifu means master (of martial arts, combat, sports, etc.) in Chinese.
• Urshifu is the only Legendary Pokémon with a Gigantamax form, and the only one that can use a G-Max move.
• It is also the only Pokémon to have a Gigantamax form and G-Max move for each variant. Strangely, Toxtricity and Alcremie, who have variants as well, do not have this trait.
• Urshifu and Kubfu are the first legendary Pokémon since Heatran to be either male or female, but the only legendary Pokémon to have an 87.5x12.5 gender ratio.
• Urshifu's leotards resemble the Armour of Zamazenta.
• Urshifu's two forms are somewhat similar to the protagonists of Beyblade Burst Super King (Hyuga and Hikaru Asashi). One of the pair is red and hasty, while the other is blue and calmer. Furthermore, its fighting style is also similar to the Beyblades used (Single Strike is similar to Super Hyperion, an Attack type Beyblade, while King Helios corresponds to Rapid Strike, which parries opponents with attacks). a third similarity is that the Beyblade's avatars and Urshifu's forms are exact copies of each other, albeit with differences.
• Urshifu's Japanese name, ウーラオス (Ūraosu), is similar to the Japanese name of the Ancient Ulyaoth from the survival horror/action-adventure game Eternal Darkness (ウーリアス(Ūriasu)). Oddly though, the two have almost nothing similar save for the fact that both are godlike beings, both are from franchises partially owned by Nintendo, and both Ulyaoth and Rapid Strike Urshifu are associated with the color blue and water.
• A Single Strike Style Urshifu is heavily inspired by Akira Yuki from Sega's Virtua Fighter, just like its pre-evolved form Kubfu. Speaking of Akira Yuki, James' Japanese voice actor Shin-ichiro Miki also voices the said Sega fighting game character since Virtua Fighter 2. Another Akira Yuki reference is that Urshifu's evolution line debuted in a year 2020, befitting Akira's alternate famous victory catchphrase instead of the usual “ten years” catchphrase, which is ”You are twenty years too early!!” from a Dengeki Bunko and Sega crossover fighting game Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax (Ignition). Perhaps another parallel can be made to the Tekken series characters Kuma and Panda, who are literally fighting bears, and to the Fist of the North Star series, in where the protagonist Kenshiro, utilizing a fluid rapid striking and heavily technical martial art, ultimately faces off against Raoh, the antagonist who uses a powerful, deadly, and strength based version of Kenshiro's martial arts.

Origin

Urshifu draws upon the idea of tamed bears, specifically bears who were taken as cubs to be trained and raised in human society. Being a Fighting-type Pokémon and a "martial artist" draws upon a lot of lore of bears and the martial arts; high ranked martial artists sometimes fight bears as a means to test their skill in extreme situations, while the term kuma taiji, or "bear conquest", is sometimes used to also refer to demonic exorcism; this may explain Single Strike Style's Dark typing. It could also be based on the Short-Faced Bear, an extinct bear species known for its immense size and long limbs.

Within astronomy and astrology, the Big Dipper in the west is sometimes referred to as Ursa Major, as imagery sees the constellation as a great bear, while in the east, the Big Dipper was traditionally known as the celestial palace of the heavens, with its handle end star, Alkaid, known as Hagunsei, or the Military Breaking Star, or The Sword, as it was believed the armies of heaven and the gods of death quartered there, and was ominous for warriors to face the northwestern direction because of this. Into the Meiji Era, when western and eastern thought met in 19th Century Japan, the Big Dipper saw another interpretation by its English adopted wordplay, being a "dark corner" akin to a bear's den.

Each of Urshifu's style forms represents Yin and Yang, and into martial arts, the philosophy's application into the division of "hard styles" and "soft styles", as represented with Single Strike and Rapid Strike. Hard styles are said to focus on external focuses, that of raw strength and power, explosive speed, head on intercepting countering blows, and direct confrontation, while Soft styles are said to focus on internal focuses, including the control of the natural flow of the body with the mind, accuracy, mental acuity, concepts like using a foe's own movement and energy against them, and drawing out weaknesses; in short, as Rapid Strike Style Urshifu represents, the way of martial artist philosophy: "be like water". To Japanese martial arts philosophy, the concepts of satsujinken ("sword/fist that kills") and katsujinken ("sword/fist that gives life") also tie into these philosophies as well, respectively; satsujinken focuses on controlling a bout's tension to escalate to where a single blow is all that is needed for victory, while katsujinken focuses on cancelling out tension by meshing with a foe's energy and using it against them upon finding a weak point to disarm them. This would also presumably perhaps explain their dual typing; Dark coming from the intent to "kill" or instantaneously annihilate all opposition, Water also capable of "giving life" as much as it is able to overwhelm and overpower with many forms and rhythms.

Their Gigantamax forms may be based on Ungyou and Agyou, 2 Japanese deities/Nio who stand watch over temples. One always has its mouth open, the other closed. They may also be based on the trope Red Oni and Blue Oni where the red one is more aggressive, whilst the blue one is more calm. Gigantamax Urshifu's Single Strike style may be based on Agyou, who is often depicted with its mouth open to represent aggression, while Gigantamax Urshifu's Rapid Strike style may be based on Ungyou, who is often depicted with its mouth closed to represent concealed power.

Etymology

Urshifu is a combination of 'ursa', Latin for 'bear', and 'shifu' (Onyomi Japanese/Chinese adapted Japanese term for "master"), or Kung Fu.

Ūraosu is a portmanteau of wushu (Japanese has no native "wu" sound so "ū" is typically used), 老師 / 老师 (lǎoshī, Chinese for teacher), "ursa", "oorah", and 押忍 (osu, interjection used in Japanese martial arts).

Gallery

References

v · d · e List of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
Generation I	Articuno Zapdos Moltres Mewtwo Mew[a]
Generation II	Raikou Entei Suicune Lugia Ho-Oh Celebi[a]
Generation III	Regirock Regice Registeel Latias Latios Kyogre Groudon Rayquaza Jirachi[a] Deoxys[a]
Generation IV	Uxie Mesprit Azelf Dialga Palkia Heatran Regigigas Giratina Cresselia Phione[a] Manaphy[a] Darkrai[a] Shaymin[a] Arceus[a]
Generation V	Victini[a] Cobalion Terrakion Virizion Tornadus Thundurus Reshiram Zekrom Landorus Kyurem Keldeo[a] Meloetta[a] Genesect[a]
Generation VI	Xerneas Yveltal Zygarde Diancie[a] Hoopa[a] Volcanion[a]
Generation VII	Type: Null Silvally Tapu Koko Tapu Lele Tapu Bulu Tapu Fini Cosmog Cosmoem Solgaleo Lunala Necrozma Magearna[a] Marshadow[a] Zeraora[a] Meltan[a] Melmetal[a]
Generation VIII	Zacian Zamazenta Eternatus Kubfu Urshifu Zarude[a] Regieleki Regidrago Glastrier Spectrier Calyrex Enamorus
Generation IX	Wo-Chien Chien-Pao Ting-Lu Chi-Yu Koraidon Miraidon Okidogi Munkidori Fezandipiti Ogerpon Terapagos Pecharunt[a]
^ a: Mythical Pokémon

v · d · e List of Pokémon capable of Gigantamaxing
Generation I	Venusaur Charizard Blastoise Butterfree Pikachu Meowth Machamp Gengar Kingler Lapras Eevee Snorlax
Generation V	Garbodor
Generation VII	Melmetal
Generation VIII	Rillaboom Cinderace Inteleon Corviknight Orbeetle Drednaw Coalossal Flapple Appletun Sandaconda Toxtricity Centiskorch Hatterene Grimmsnarl Alcremie Copperajah Duraludon Urshifu
See also	Mega Evolution
Pokémon

v · d · e List of Generation VIII Pokémon
#001–025 (#810–834)	Grookey Thwackey Rillaboom Scorbunny Raboot Cinderace Sobble Drizzile Inteleon Skwovet Greedent Rookidee Corvisquire Corviknight Blipbug Dottler Orbeetle Nickit Thievul Gossifleur Eldegoss Wooloo Dubwool Chewtle Drednaw
#026–050 (#835–859)	Yamper Boltund Rolycoly Carkol Coalossal Applin Flapple Appletun Silicobra Sandaconda Cramorant Arrokuda Barraskewda Toxel Toxtricity Sizzlipede Centiskorch Clobbopus Grapploct Sinistea Polteageist Hatenna Hattrem Hatterene Impidimp
#051–075 (#860–884)	Morgrem Grimmsnarl Obstagoon Perrserker Cursola Sirfetch'd Mr. Rime Runerigus Milcery Alcremie Falinks Pincurchin Snom Frosmoth Stonjourner Eiscue Indeedee Morpeko Cufant Copperajah Dracozolt Arctozolt Dracovish Arctovish Duraludon
#076–096 (#885–905)	Dreepy Drakloak Dragapult Zacian Zamazenta Eternatus Kubfu Urshifu Zarude Regieleki Regidrago Glastrier Spectrier Calyrex Wyrdeer Kleavor Ursaluna Basculegion Sneasler Overqwil Enamorus
See also	Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation IX
Generation VIII

v · d · e Galar Pokédex
Characters · Locations
Mainland #001–025 Grookey Thwackey Rillaboom Scorbunny Raboot Cinderace Sobble Drizzile Inteleon Blipbug Dottler Orbeetle Caterpie Metapod Butterfree Grubbin Charjabug Vikavolt Hoothoot Noctowl Rookidee Corvisquire Corviknight Skwovet Greedent #026–050 Pidove Tranquill Unfezant Nickit Thievul Zigzagoon Linoone Obstagoon Wooloo Dubwool Lotad Lombre Ludicolo Seedot Nuzleaf Shiftry Chewtle Drednaw Purrloin Liepard Yamper Boltund Bunnelby Diggersby Minccino #051–075 Cinccino Bounsweet Steenee Tsareena Oddish Gloom Vileplume Bellossom Budew Roselia Roserade Wingull Pelipper Joltik Galvantula Electrike Manectric Vulpix Ninetales Growlithe Arcanine Vanillite Vanillish Vanilluxe Swinub #076–100 Piloswine Mamoswine Delibird Snorunt Glalie Froslass Baltoy Claydol Mudbray Mudsdale Dwebble Crustle Golett Golurk Munna Musharna Natu Xatu Stufful Bewear Snover Abomasnow Krabby Kingler Wooper #101–125 Quagsire Corphish Crawdaunt Nincada Ninjask Shedinja Tyrogue Hitmonlee Hitmonchan Hitmontop Pancham Pangoro Klink Klang Klinklang Combee Vespiquen Bronzor Bronzong Ralts Kirlia Gardevoir Gallade Drifloon Drifblim #126–150 Gossifleur Eldegoss Cherubi Cherrim Stunky Skuntank Tympole Palpitoad Seismitoad Duskull Dusclops Dusknoir Machop Machoke Machamp Gastly Haunter Gengar Magikarp Gyarados Goldeen Seaking Remoraid Octillery Shellder #151–175 Cloyster Feebas Milotic Basculin Wishiwashi Pyukumuku Trubbish Garbodor Sizzlipede Centiskorch Rolycoly Carkol Coalossal Diglett Dugtrio Drilbur Excadrill Roggenrola Boldore Gigalith Timburr Gurdurr Conkeldurr Woobat Swoobat #176–200 Noibat Noivern Onix Steelix Arrokuda Barraskewda Meowth Perrserker Persian Milcery Alcremie Cutiefly Ribombee Ferroseed Ferrothorn Pumpkaboo Gourgeist Pichu Pikachu Raichu Eevee Vaporeon Jolteon Flareon Espeon #201–225 Umbreon Leafeon Glaceon Sylveon Applin Flapple Appletun Espurr Meowstic Swirlix Slurpuff Spritzee Aromatisse Dewpider Araquanid Wynaut Wobbuffet Farfetch'd Sirfetch'd Chinchou Lanturn Croagunk Toxicroak Scraggy Scrafty #226–250 Stunfisk Shuckle Barboach Whiscash Shellos Gastrodon Wimpod Golisopod Binacle Barbaracle Corsola Cursola Impidimp Morgrem Grimmsnarl Hatenna Hattrem Hatterene Salandit Salazzle Pawniard Bisharp Throh Sawk Koffing #251–275 Weezing Bonsly Sudowoodo Cleffa Clefairy Clefable Togepi Togetic Togekiss Munchlax Snorlax Cottonee Whimsicott Rhyhorn Rhydon Rhyperior Gothita Gothorita Gothitelle Solosis Duosion Reuniclus Karrablast Escavalier Shelmet #276–300 Accelgor Elgyem Beheeyem Cubchoo Beartic Rufflet Braviary Vullaby Mandibuzz Skorupi Drapion Litwick Lampent Chandelure Inkay Malamar Sneasel Weavile Sableye Mawile Maractus Sigilyph Riolu Lucario Torkoal #301–325 Mimikyu Cufant Copperajah Qwilfish Frillish Jellicent Mareanie Toxapex Cramorant Toxel Toxtricity Silicobra Sandaconda Hippopotas Hippowdon Durant Heatmor Helioptile Heliolisk Hawlucha Trapinch Vibrava Flygon Axew Fraxure #326–350 Haxorus Yamask Runerigus Cofagrigus Honedge Doublade Aegislash Ponyta Rapidash Sinistea Polteageist Indeedee Phantump Trevenant Morelull Shiinotic Oranguru Passimian Morpeko Falinks Drampa Turtonator Togedemaru Snom Frosmoth #351–375 Clobbopus Grapploct Pincurchin Mantyke Mantine Wailmer Wailord Bergmite Avalugg Dhelmise Lapras Lunatone Solrock Mime Jr. Mr. Mime Mr. Rime Darumaka Darmanitan Stonjourner Eiscue Duraludon Rotom Ditto Dracozolt Arctozolt #376–400 Dracovish Arctovish Charmander Charmeleon Charizard Type: Null Silvally Larvitar Pupitar Tyranitar Deino Zweilous Hydreigon Goomy Sliggoo Goodra Jangmo-o Hakamo-o Kommo-o Dreepy Drakloak Dragapult Zacian Zamazenta Eternatus The Isle of Armor #001–025 Slowbro Slowking Buneary Lopunny Happiny Chansey Blissey Skwovet Greedent Igglybuff Jigglypuff Wigglytuff Blipbug Dottler Orbeetle Fomantis Lurantis Applin Flapple Appletun Fletchling Fletchinder Talonflame Shinx Luxio #026–050 Luxray Klefki Pawniard Bisharp Abra Kadabra Alakazam Ralts Kirlia Gardevoir Gallade Krabby Kingler Tentacool Tentacruel Magikarp Gyarados Remoraid Octillery Mantyke Mantine Wingull Pelipper Skorupi Drapion #051–075 Dunsparce Bouffalant Lickitung Lickilicky Chewtle Drednaw Wooper Quagsire Goomy Sliggoo Goodra Druddigon Shelmet Accelgor Karrablast Escavalier Bulbasaur Ivysaur Venusaur Squirtle Wartortle Blastoise Venipede Whirlipede Scolipede #076–100 Foongus Amoonguss Comfey Tangela Tangrowth Croagunk Toxicroak Pichu Pikachu Raichu Zorua Zoroark Oranguru Passimian Corphish Crawdaunt Cramorant Goldeen Seaking Arrokuda Barraskewda Staryu Starmie Kubfu Urshifu #101–125 Emolga Dedenne Morpeko Magnemite Magneton Magnezone Inkay Malamar Wishiwashi Carvanha Sharpedo Lillipup Herdier Stoutland Tauros Miltank Scyther Scizor Pinsir Heracross Dwebble Crustle Wimpod Golisopod Pincurchin #126–150 Mareanie Toxapex Clobbopus Grapploct Shellder Cloyster Sandygast Palossand Drifloon Drifblim Barboach Whiscash Azurill Marill Azumarill Poliwag Poliwhirl Poliwrath Politoed Psyduck Golduck Whismur Loudred Exploud Woobat #151–175 Swoobat Skarmory Roggenrola Boldore Gigalith Rockruff Lycanroc Salandit Salazzle Scraggy Scrafty Mienfoo Mienshao Jangmo-o Hakamo-o Kommo-o Sandshrew Sandslash Cubone Marowak Kangaskhan Torkoal Silicobra Sandaconda Sandile #176–200 Krokorok Krookodile Rufflet Braviary Vullaby Mandibuzz Rhyhorn Rhydon Rhyperior Larvesta Volcarona Chinchou Lanturn Wailmer Wailord Frillish Jellicent Skrelp Dragalge Clauncher Clawitzer Horsea Seadra Kingdra Petilil #201–210 Lilligant Combee Vespiquen Exeggcute Exeggutor Ditto Porygon Porygon2 Porygon-Z Zarude The Crown Tundra #001–025 Snom Frosmoth Wooloo Dubwool Skwovet Greedent Swinub Piloswine Mamoswine Mime Jr. Mr. Mime Mr. Rime Smoochum Jynx Elekid Electabuzz Electivire Magby Magmar Magmortar Audino Vanillite Vanillish Vanilluxe Snorunt #026–050 Glalie Froslass Sneasel Weavile Cryogonal Snover Abomasnow Phantump Trevenant Swablu Altaria Impidimp Morgrem Grimmsnarl Hatenna Hattrem Hatterene Cleffa Clefairy Clefable Mimikyu Spiritomb Litwick Lampent Chandelure #051–075 Gothita Gothorita Gothitelle Solosis Duosion Reuniclus Timburr Gurdurr Conkeldurr Barboach Whiscash Magikarp Gyarados Basculin Nidoran♀ Nidorina Nidoqueen Nidoran♂ Nidorino Nidoking Zigzagoon Linoone Obstagoon Eevee Vaporeon #076–100 Jolteon Flareon Umbreon Espeon Glaceon Leafeon Sylveon Tyrunt Tyrantrum Amaura Aurorus Bronzor Bronzong Stonjourner Eiscue Dewpider Araquanid Joltik Galvantula Karrablast Escavalier Shelmet Accelgor Sizzlipede Centiskorch #101–125 Durant Heatmor Darumaka Darmanitan Ponyta Rapidash Absol Cufant Copperajah Dreepy Drakloak Dragapult Bagon Shelgon Salamence Gible Gabite Garchomp Druddigon Delibird Cubchoo Beartic Omanyte Omastar Kabuto #126–150 Kabutops Aerodactyl Carbink Beldum Metang Metagross Sinistea Polteageist Riolu Lucario Deino Zweilous Hydreigon Larvitar Pupitar Tyranitar Bergmite Avalugg Zubat Golbat Crobat Tirtouga Carracosta Archen Archeops #151–175 Baltoy Claydol Golett Golurk Yamper Boltund Morpeko Pincurchin Spheal Sealeo Walrein Dhelmise Rookidee Corvisquire Corviknight Gossifleur Eldegoss Cottonee Whimsicott Shuckle Indeedee Munchlax Snorlax Sableye Mawile #176–200 Rolycoly Carkol Coalossal Ferroseed Ferrothorn Noibat Noivern Lileep Cradily Anorith Armaldo Relicanth Feebas Milotic Lapras Aron Lairon Aggron Dratini Dragonair Dragonite Regirock Regice Registeel Regieleki #201–210 Regidrago Articuno Zapdos Moltres Cobalion Terrakion Virizion Glastrier Spectrier Calyrex
See also	Kanto Johto Hoenn Sinnoh Hisui Unova Kalos Alola Paldea
Pokédex