Set Description
Protective Pads Urshifu-R is an incredibly scary pivot thanks to its great Attack, good bulk, and incredible STAB moves that still hit hard without a Choice Band boost. Surging Strikes threaten Water-weak Pokemon like Landorus-T and Victini with the added benefit of bypassing Iron Defense boosts from Corviknight and Skarmory and Substitute users like Volcarona and Arctozolt. Close Combat can threaten a myriad of Pokemon in the tier, such as Steel- and Dark-types like Ferrothorn, Melmetal, and Weavile, 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 and 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 Toxapex; entry hazards from Ferrothorn; and status moves like Toxic and Thunder Wave from Garchomp and Clefable. However, Aqua Jet gives Urshifu-R a much-beloved priority move that removes weakened threats like Blacephalon, Volcarona, and Blaziken, which could otherwise 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 held by foes like Corviknight and Buzzwole. It also completely avoids Flame Body burns from Volcarona and Heatran and Static paralysis from Zapdos, allowing it to attack these Pokemon more freely. Protective Pads Urshifu-R can be highly effective when playing as if it is holding a Choice Scarf, so bluffing early-game versus Pokemon like Weavile and slightly chipped Corviknight that cannot outright OHKO it or handle its other sets, can go a long way; however, Urshifu-R's sheer power means that it is not necessary to bluff another item, and Ferrothorn, Garchomp, and Rocky Helmet users like Corviknight can reveal its Protective Pads on contact.
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 threaten 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 teammates trouble, such as Ferrothorn, Heatran, and Volcarona. Tapu Koko, in particular, is a phenomenal partner due to it threatening Buzzwole, Corviknight, Skarmory, and Water-types that wall Urshifu-R like Toxapex and Slowbro, while Urshifu-R can deal with Ferrothorn and Ground-types like Landorus-T and Hippowdon for Tapu Koko. Tapu Koko's access to U-turn and Volt Switch means that they also make a solid offensive VoltTurn core. Similarly, Dragapult threatens Dragonite, opposing Dragapult, and Kartana on top of other physical stalwarts like Buzzwole, Skarmory, and Slowbro. Spikes users like Ferrothorn and Skarmory help chip checks to Urshifu-R like Tapu Fini and Buzzwole. Similarly, Knock Off users like Weavile and Kartana 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. Future Sight users like Slowbro, Tapu Lele, and Galarian Slowking can help Urshifu-R wallbreak, as many of the Pokemon that wall it, like non-Light Screen Toxapex, Buzzwole, and Tapu Fini, despise Future Sight. Trappers like Heatran and Whirlpool Tapu Fini target 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 typing resisting all of its moves while threatening an OHKO with Draco Meteor and Thunderbolt; henceforth, teammates like Assault Vest Tornadus-T, Tyranitar, and Melmetal can decrease its potency. Similarly, Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zapdos can cause Urshifu-R immense trouble, so answers to these threats like Ferrothorn, Landorus-T, and Hippowdon are essential.