What is Urshifu the god of?
Urshifu has been referred to by fans and official sources as the "god" or divine embodiment of the hard-hitting Gigantamax Single Strike Style fighting technique. As a quick primer for those unfamiliar, Gigantamax is a phenomenon in the Galar region that allows certain Pokemon to temporarily access a massive, empowered form. Single Strike Style specifically focuses on dealing overwhelming physical damage in a single, decisive blow.
Urshifu – A Legendary Fighting Prodigy
As a Mythical Pokemon, Urshifu has quite the intriguing backstory. It begins life as Kubfu, a lonely orphan rescued by the master of the Tower of Two Fists. Through rigorous training, Kubfu evolves into either Single Strike or Rapid Strike Urshifu depending on the player‘s choice of tower.
Stat-wise, both Urshifu formes share the same high 131 Attack and reliable bulk with decent HP, Defense and Special Defense. The key differences lie in their movesets and abilities:
| Version | Type | Ability | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Strike | Fighting/Dark | Unseen Fist | Focus on high power physical attacks like Wicked Blow and Surging Strikes |
| Rapid Strike | Fighting/Water | Unseen Fist | Priority moves like Aqua Jet and Triple Axel |
In competitive play, Single Strike Urshifu currently sees far more usage as a wallbreaking Dynamax threat capable of steamrolling unprepared teams. Its partnership with Calyrex forms one of the most dominant restricted pairings across multiple tiers:
- #2 most used Pokemon in Ubers format (16.8%)
- S+ rank in UU tier with 21.8% usage
- A+ rank in RU tier with 12.3% usage
Clearly, Urshifu‘s legend as a peerless fighter is well-deserved!
The Lore Behind the Rage
Official descriptions of Urshifu depict it as the "very embodiment of rage" and an "emissary that banishes evil spirits with its fury." This connects neatly with certain Buddhist/Taoist warrior deities known to channel divinely righteous anger to overcome adversaries.
For instance, the Wisdom King Fudo Myo-o fends off evil spirits and temptation through severe, unwavering discipline – reflected in Urshifu‘s intensely focused fighting style. Nezha‘s uncontrollable temper until mentorship also mirrors Urshifu‘s own journey to maturity. The imagery synchronizes with Galar‘s medieval European fantasy influences as well.
Expanding deeper, my personal theory is that the Single Strike form represents the unrestrained yang side of this wrath. Its menacing Dark subtype and savage moves like Wicked Blow correlate to sheer devastation. Meanwhile, Rapid Strike better embodies the calmer yin aspect by channeling the rage into strategy with priority and flanking maneuvers.
Let‘s analyze how this divinely furious fighting spirit manifests in Urshifu‘s signature Gigantamax move.
Gigantamax Single Strike Master
Gigantamax Urshifu adopts an enlarged, almost feral appearance reflecting that boundless bestial power. As expected, the max move differs between formes:
- G-Max One Blow (Single Strike) – Dark-type physical attack that also hurts opponents on the next turn
- G-Max Rapid Flow (Rapid Strike) – Water-type special attack that lowers opponent Speed
The former obviously suits Single Strike‘s heavy hitting approach. Our recommended set utilizes Choice Band to stack with Unseen Fist and Dynamax boosts:
Urshifu @ Choice Band
Ability: Unseen Fist
- Wicked Blow
- Close Combat
- Surf
- Iron Head
Calcs show G-Max One Blow deals a spectacular 84-99% damage to 252 HP/252 Def Toxapex after Stealth Rock:
(-1) 0 SpA Urshifu-Single-Strike G-Max One Blow (150 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 84-99 (27.6 – 32.5%) — approx. 3HKO after Stealth Rock
With entry hazard support from Ferrothorn and U-turn momentum into Calyrex, Urshifu can demolish tanks and enable a potent late game sweep. Checks like Tapu Fini fare poorly if their Shields are broken. Even with Intimidate support, Incineroar risks being 2HKOed without Assault Vest:
+1 0 SpA Urshifu-Single-Strike Max Darkness vs. 252 HP / 100 SpD Incineroar: 169-199 (83.9 – 98.9%) — guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
Through Unseen Fist and savage force, Single Strike G-Max Urshifu undoubtedly lives up to its title as divine god of overwhelming physical destruction!
Urshifu‘s Impact – Card Price Analysis
Beyond competitive viability, Urshifu‘s popularity can be measured by demand for its TCG card. The Single Strike version‘s regular Holo Rare currently holds a $10 median market price – very solid for a modern set card. The Rapid Strike variant trails at around $4 median.
For comparison, fellow legendaries from the same expansion like Ice Rider Calyrex VMAX ($8) and Shadow Rider Calyrex VMAX ($6) are valued similarly or lower despite strong competitive standing. This helps verify Urshifu‘s enduring star power.
The bear deity also plays a recurring role in the Pokemon Journeys anime as a powerhouse fighter. Its prominence across gaming and multimedia cements legendary status among fans on par with veteran franchise icons.
In Closing
Through extensive analysis of Official lore, competitive movesets, and real-world cultural/religious symbolism, Single Strike Urshifu undoubtedly personifies fury and destruction akin to traditional warrior gods. Its impact on the franchise also elevates the Mythical Pokemon as one of the modern era‘s most popular and iconic legends. Hopefully this piece provided fellow fans and gamers plenty of interesting insights on "the embodiment of rage"!
What are your thoughts on Urshifu in the games, anime, or TCG? Which forme do you prefer using competitively? I‘m always happy to discuss this powerful Mythical bear deity being!
