Kubfu Guide

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Arthur Monteclar

Arthur has been in the writing business for years now, and he loves writing about his hobbies, one of which is video games. He loves Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley and other relaxing games of this nature, namely the Pokémon series which is his biggest love within gaming. He is also a software programmer, so he understands the craft and effort invested in the gaming medium. He is also fond of manga and anime, being an avid follower of One Piece and Kaguya-Sama, to name a few.

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Everybody is kung fu fighting! As a kid growing up watching Kung Fu Panda, that song stuck in my head for years. Now, I would say it is a masterpiece similar to the Kung Fu Panda trilogy. My friends and I would pretend to be kung fu fighters like Po and the Furious Five, although we would often end up in bruises and scratches. I remember thinking to myself that I would not be cut for the job at all.

When the Pokémon Company revealed Pokémon Sword and Shield’s Expansion Pass, The Isle of Armor, all those childhood memories came flooding back at the sight of the box arts. There was a kung fu fighting bear cub! Although it is not based on a panda, Kubfu greatly reminded me of Kung Fu Panda. In a way, it also reminds me of The Karate Kid, although I am not much of a fan of those movies.

In the game, I realized that Kubfu was incredibly unique than I thought. It is a Legendary Pokémon, but it has a gender. Only eight other Legendary Pokémon (aside from Kubfu’s evolution, Urshifu) have genders. It can evolve, which is unusual for its calibre.

After learning so much about Kubfu and how it reminded me of my childhood dreams of kung fu fighting, I present to you more info about this cute bear cub.

Bottom Line Up Front

Kubfu is a Legendary Pokémon introduced in Generation VIII with the Fighting typing. It can evolve into Single Strike Style Urshifu after showing it the Scroll of Darkness found on the top floor of the Tower of Darkness. It can also evolve into Rapid Strike Style Urshifu after showing it the Scroll of Waters found on the top floor of the Tower of Waters. Below is some info about the Wushu Pokémon Kubfu.

• Kubfu (Wushu Pokémon)
• National Dex Number: 891
• Type: Fighting
• Ability: Inner Focus
• Hidden Ability: None
• Egg Groups: None
• Hatch Time: Unobtainable Egg
• Height: 2’ or 0.6 m
• Weight: 26.5 lbs. or 12 kg
• Base Experience Yield: 77
• Leveling Rate: Slow
• EV Yield: 1 Attack
• Gender Ratio: 87.5% Male, 12.5% Female
• Catch Rate: 3 (1.6%)

What are Kubfu’s Base Stats in Pokémon?

Kubfu is not a full-fledged Pokémon as it is yet to evolve into Urshifu, which explains why, for a Legendary Pokémon, it is quite weak.

Smogon categorizes Kubfu to be in the NFE tier, which is an abbreviation for “Not Fully Evolved.” However, if you want your Kubfu to experience the taste of the battlefield before becoming a master, then below are Kubfu’s base stats, with a total of 385.

What are Kubfu’s Best and Worst Stats?

Right off the bat, Kubfu’s Attack stat is the highest among all of them, which makes sense considering it is a bear cub full of kung fu fighting spirit.

Thankfully, all of its damaging moves by leveling up are physical attacks, making great utility on its high Attack stat. The next best stat is its Speed stat, which also makes sense considering kung fu fighters are as fast as a coursing river (wait, wrong movie).

As for Kubfu’s worst stats, I would say it’s Special Attack, and Special Defense stats are not looking good. Kubfu is a Fighting-type Pokémon, so naturally, its focus would be on the physical side. Thus, I would recommend avoiding teaching it special moves.

Having a bad Special Defense stat does not sit right with Kubfu either, as it is weak to Psychic-type attacks, which are commonly special moves.

What does Kubfu look like in Pokémon?

Kubfu is a small bear cub that can stand upright on its two legs. Its body is covered with gray fur, and its snout is yellow. It has patches of white fur on its forehead, slightly covering its eyes, as well as on its chest. Two ribbons of white fur dangle at the back of its head, and according to its Pokédex entry, its fighting spirit, and power boosts up if it pulls on them. Imagine pulling your hair and feeling motivated.

The concept of its white ribbons of fur takes inspiration from the martial artists’ tradition of having a headband wrapped around the head to symbolize courage. It has black eyebrows going downwards, giving Kubfu an angry appearance. It also has a tall frown below its black nose. Tufts of gray fur stick out on the sides and top of its head. Its eyes are black with white pupils.

The claws on its paws and toes on its legs are black, with the latter being triangular. According to the game’s lore, Kubfu lives in the mountains far from Galar, and it helps travelers in their journey, guarding them when danger creeps in. If I were a traveling merchant in the Pokémon world and I met a Kubfu, I would be more worried about the attackers than myself at that point.

Where to Find Kubfu in Pokémon Games

Kubfu may be a Legendary Pokémon, but it is not hard to get. Of course, you need to have the Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass, The Isle of Armor, to get Kubfu.

In the game’s story, Kubfu is the “secret armor” that Mustard, the Master Dojo’s owner, gives to his pupils upon completing their training. Kubfu only appears in Sword and Shield, but I hope we get to see more of it in Gen IX.

Where to Find Kubfu in Pokémon Gen VIII (Sword and Shield)

First, you need to have the Isle of Armor Expansion Pass for the Pokémon Sword and Shield games. Then, head on over to the island through the Wedgehurst Station and find the Master Dojo. You will find Mustard there, who will accept you as his student. He will then start a Pokémon battle against you. After you win his easy fight, he puts you through three trials.

The first trial has you catching fast Slowpokes running in the wild, while the second trial has you mushroom harvesting to make the Max Soup.

During the second trial, a Pokémon trainer you met before named Klara will start a Pokémon battle against you to try and win over the mushrooms you find. Beat her Pokémon up, and she will run away. Do not feel bad, though, as she is quite of a mean girl.

The third and final trial forces you to battle against Klara. Again, beat her up, and Mustard will finally give you the “secret armor” of the dojo, which is Kubfu. Congratulations! You now have a Kubfu in your hands, and it only took a few minutes to bully a girl who is trying way too hard. Sadly, Kubfu is not in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, or Legends: Arceus.

Kubfu in the Pokémon anime

Kubfu is still relatively new in the games, so, understandably, it has not appeared yet in any episodes of the Pokémon anime series.

However, it has made an appearance twice now. Its first appearance was in Pokémon Journeys’ 71st episode, “Leaping Toward the Dream!” Here, we get a glance at Kubfu’s image in Ash’s Rotom Phone. Ash probably did a Google search for it to appear.

Its second appearance was in the Pokémon: Twilight Wings anime miniseries, specifically in the 8th episode, “The Gathering of Stars.” Here, we can see Kubfu on the hilltops, staring down at Leon and Mustard having a conversation. This scene makes sense lore-wise because Leon used to be one of Mustard’s students at the Master Dojo. Other than these two spotlights, I expect more to come for Kubfu.

What is Kubfu’s ability in Pokémon?

Kubfu only has one ability, which is Inner Focus. Weirdly, when it evolves into Urshifu, it gets a unique ability, Unseen Fist. Only Urshifu can have Unseen Fist, but many other Pokémon can have Inner Focus. Yes, it fits the overall aesthetic and theme of kung fu fighting (I remember inner peace being a central concept of Kung Fu Panda 2). It is still weird nonetheless.

Inner Focus prevents other Pokémon from making Kubfu flinch. In the games, and even in the anime series, some moves can stop a Pokémon from moving on the turn. This status condition is called “flinching.” However, one can prevent flinching by simply moving first.

For Kubfu, it can prevent it by its ability, but it is a speedy bear cub in the first place. I think Inner Focus is not a great ability for Kubfu.

Firstly, other Pokémon with Mold Breaker can easily bypass this ability, so Kubfu is not entirely immune to flinching. Secondly, Kubfu is a fast Pokémon, judging by its stats, so if it faces an enemy with similar total base stats, it will go first, preventing flinching in the first place. Finally, there are only a few worthwhile moves that can cause flinching! I doubt many players’ strategies revolve around flinching.

What Are the Best Natures for Kubfu in Pokémon?

Kubfu is a kung fu fighting bear, so naturally, I think its best natures would be Adamant or Jolly. This Pokémon is as fast as lightning and can be a little bit frightening because of the sheer physical power it can bring to its opponents.

• Adamant (Increased Attack, Decreased Special Attack): You can make Kubfu’s punches and kicks a little more powerful by boosting its Attack stat and decreasing its Special Attack stat, as it rarely has any utility for those types. With the Adamant nature, Kubfu can be a physical sweeper, sweeping every enemy like mere dust.
• Jolly (Increased Speed, Decreased Special Attack): Kubfu’s Speed stat is incredibly good, but you can make it even better thanks to the Jolly nature. With its Speed stat boosted up, it can wipe out enemies before they can even take a hit. Although its Inner Focus ability gains little spotlight if it out-speeds everyone, it can still be a good nature for when it evolves into Urshifu.

Kubfu’s Moves Per Level (Generation VIII)

Kubfu’s Moves From TM (Generation VIII)

Kubfu’s Moves From Breeding (Generation VIII)

Kubfu is a Legendary Pokémon, so it cannot breed. Even though it can have gender, which is unusual for Legendary Pokémon, they cannot breed. So, it cannot learn any egg moves.

What is Kubfu Strong Against in Pokémon?

Kubfu is purely a Fighting-type Pokémon, although its evolution, Urshifu, can have a secondary typing depending on its fighting style. Being a pure Fighting-type Pokémon, it can resist Rock, Bug, and Dark-type attacks, which means it receives half the damage the attacks would normally do.

What is Kubfu Weak to in Pokémon?

Kubfu is incredibly weak to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type damaging moves, which means it receives twice the damage the attacks would normally do.

What is the Best Build for Kubfu in Pokémon?

This stern yet adorable Pokémon is weak, as it is still a baby that is yet to evolve. Even though it is a Legendary Pokémon, it will not reach its full potential until it evolves into Urshifu.

However, if you are dedicated to putting your Kubfu up in arms, then I would recommend the following build. This guide will make your furry little cub into a kung fu fighting master in no time (until it faces stronger Pokémon).

• Item: Leftovers (Kubfu heals at the end of every turn by 1/16 of its maximum HP)
• Ability: Inner Focus
• Nature: Adamant; Jolly
• EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Defense, 4 Speed
• Moves
  • Bulk Up
  • Superpower
  • Ice Punch; Thunder Punch; Iron Head
  • U-turn; Substitute

Let us first start with the Fighting-type move, Superpower. This move is incredibly powerful, dealing 120 power. Plus, it is a STAB move for Kubfu, making it even deadlier when handed to the kung fu cub. However, the catch for this move is that Kubfu’s Attack and Defense stats go down by one stage each. With repeated usage, this move can cripple Kubfu until it becomes ineffective.

Thus, to support Superpower, you can have your Kubfu learn Bulk Up. Bulk Up is a status move that boosts Kubfu’s Attack and Defense stats by one stage each. So, you can use Superpower and then follow it up with Bulk Up. That way, your stats would go down at all. Bulk Up is especially effective during a turn where you would expect your opponent to not attack you.

Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Iron Head are good moves to counter Kubfu’s weaknesses. Since Kubfu is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon, it is weak to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type moves. If you face off against these types of Pokémon, you can deliver a devastating blow to them by using their weakness.

Flying-type Pokémon are weak to Ice and Electric-type moves, hence the Ice Punch and Thunder Punch. Meanwhile, Fairy-type Pokémon are weak to Steel-type moves, hence the Steel Head. Finally, Psychic-type Pokémon are weak to Bug-type moves, hence U-turn. I would suggest having Ice Punch or Steel Head.

Ice Punch is a good move to have because it can counter a lot more types other than Flying-type Pokémon. For example, Dragon-type Pokémon are incredibly weak to Ice, so Kubfu can have a chance of defeating one with an Ice Punch. Electric is only strong against two types, namely Water and Flying, which is not good for offensive purposes.

Finally, I would recommend either Substitute or U-turn. With Substitute, you can hide beneath a plushie while you try to use Bulk Up. It can also be incredibly useful against Pokémon, to which Kubfu is weak. By using Substitute, a Flying-type move would not be devastating, and you can counter it with a Thunder Punch or Ice Punch.

Meanwhile, U-turn is also a good pick. Firstly, it is a good counter for Psychic-type Pokémon, one of Kubfu’s weaknesses. Secondly, you can use it to switch out Kubfu to a greater pick or probably a Pokémon more well-suited for battle. Hey! I warned you that Kubfu is too young to handle the harsh reality of war.

FAQs

Kubfu Guide: Conclusion: Is Kubfu a good Pokémon?

Kubfu is a cute Pokémon, but it is not great competitively. However, it is understandable as it is yet to evolve. Its evolution, Urshifu, is pretty damn good with impressive stats and painful signature moves. Kubfu, on the other hand, does not get this special treatment.

You can get your worth on the Pokémon after getting it. If you are a sucker for the design, then sure, you can commit to having Kubfu at war.

Design-wise, Kubfu is iconic. It reminds me of both Kung Fu Panda and The Karate Kid. Its martial art pose is incredibly endearing. It looks like a kid trying way too hard and serious about being taken seriously by its elders. In good hands, Kubfu can become a demon as strong as Po and the Furious Five. It has great Attack and Speed stats, and the move pool is not too bad. Overall, Kubfu triggers my nostalgia.