How to counter sashed-Urshifu in VGC 2021?

Question

What are strategies, mons or ways to counter sashed Urshifu? Please try and list rational and viable mons and make sure you list calcs.

For example, the first thing one of us might think of is Talonflame w/ Dual Wingbeat. However, you need choice band and adamant nature in order to K.O Urshifu:
252+ Atk Choice Band Talonflame Dual Wingbeat (2 hits) vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Urshifu: 168-204 (96 - 116.5%) -- approx. 87.5% chance to OHKO

Talonflame would almost be useless aside from being able to counter Urshifu.

In other words, how can you defeat sashed Urshifu in a 1v1 situation but still take into consideration that it is a doubles match where your Pokemon still have purposes aside from being able to K.O Urshifu?

e.g. Fini has a good matchup against both Ursifus, allowing it to tank both of their hits nicely.

We'll use the following Sashed Urshifu set to answer the question which is probably most common in the current Meta:

Urshifu-Single/Rapid @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unseen Fist
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Detect
- Wicked Blow/Surging Strikes
- Close Combat
- Sucker Punch/Aqua Jet

Comments

How about hold the rocky helmet item to break sashes and then finish it up with any move. I think you can apply that with Tapu Fini.
252 Atk Choice Band Urshifu Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 32+ Def Tapu Fini: 192-228 (55.8 - 66.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
224 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Urshifu: 744-876 (218.1 - 256.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Answer 1

Thundurus-I and Togekiss could counter it well. Get the Togekiss to use Follow Me, and it will take any Wicked Blows aimed at Thundurus-I. Thundurus-I then uses Max Airstream on Urshifu, boosting your speed. The Togekiss Topekass then outspeeds Urshifu and goes for Dazzling Gleam. Although I do know that Togekiss is meh in the format due to Regieleki, Glastrier, Metagross and Thundurus-I, it can reliably check non-Poison Jab Urshifu.

Using a sand team with special Salamence can really help. I've used a team with Tyranitar and Salamence and they go together well. Protect on Tyranitar and Air Slash from Salamence on Urshifu. It'll take it down to the sash, and then be KOed by the sand.

Hope I helped!

Comments

seems like hail/sandstorm/rocky helmet damage could potentially be a way to counter Urshifu. Although like you mentioned, Togekiss' viability could be questioned in this format, great response nonetheless. One drawback from the former answer is that you're too focused on Urshifu its teammate, say Nihilego, enjoyed getting the +2 special attack boost from Meteor Beam + Beast boost into Togekiss.

Side Note: Big oof for Tyranitar if Urshifu is close combatting t-tar. Urshifu bypasses protect which is why it's so annoying!

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Alright, Thundurus can do a lot of damage to Nihilego though, you might wanna give it Iron Tail over Protect to deal with it, maybe?

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Oh man, I forgot about Urshifu bypassing Protect. In the team You could try switching to a Pokemon like Clefairy that resists CC and WB.

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If you run Iron Tail over protect, Urshifu can still deal massive amounts of damage with Wicked Blow as well. Not to mention how a lot of Nihilego teams also have Rotom-H in the back for this exact match-up against steel type mons. Your strategy definitely prevents Urshifu from functioning well. However, you're too focused on KOing the Urshifu - you need to consider whether it's late game Urshifu and not a lead Urshifu - you need to consider its teammate which could also redirect or what if it's Amoongus? I was mainly looking for mons who could deal with Urshifu by themselves without the requirement of the aid of their teammates, something like Tapu Fini which is still extremely viable outside of countering Urshifu.

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I thought Urshifu with Sash wasn't popular.. but looking at usage stats at >1760 ELO Urshifu has 76% Focus Sash. You can check them here: https://www.smogon.com/stats/2020-12-H1/moveset/gen8vgc2021-1760.txt
So preparing for the most common Pokemon isn't bad :P