clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Pokémon Sword/Shield Isle of Armor guide: How to evolve Kubfu into Urshifu

Choose the form you prefer wisely, as you can’t switch after Kubfu evolves

If you buy something from a Polygon link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Two Pokémon trainers in dojo uniforms pose while large Urshifu pose behind them for the Isle of Armor Pokémon expansion Image: The Pokémon Company/Gamefreak, Nintendo
Julia Lee (she/her) is a guides producer, writing guides for games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Genshin Impact. She helped launch the Rift Herald in 2016.

Kubfu is an adorable little bear Pokémon you get in Pokémon Sword and ShieldsIsle of Armor expansion.

It evolves into Urshifu, but which form you get depends on which of the two towers you clear. Single Strike Style Urshifu is a fighting- and dark-type Pokémon, and Kubfu will take on this form if you clear the Tower of Darkness. Rapid Strike Style Urshifu is a fighting- and water-type Pokémon, and Kubfu will evolve into this form if you clear the Tower of Waters.

To obtain Kubfu and unlock the towers, you have to do the following:

  1. Purchase and start the Isle of Armor expansion
  2. Hunt down the fast Galarian Slowpoke
  3. Find the Max Mushrooms
  4. Defeat Klara or Avery (depending on your version) in a third battle
  5. Talk to Mustard in the dojo
  6. Take Kubfu to three of the marked exclamation points on your map to sightsee
  7. Bring Kubfu back to Mustard

After doing this, Mustard will open up the two towers to you. You can only pick one to scale with the Kubfu you get, so pick wisely. You cannot switch forms once Kubfu evolves.

The trainers outside of both towers recommend that Kubfu is at least level 70 before you start the challenges, as you won’t be able to use any other Pokémon. To level up your Kubfu quickly, use XP Candy or grind using wild Chansey.



a yellow Nintendo Switch Lite with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe homescreen on it

Switch Lite

  • $200

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Nintendo Switch consoles are often sold out, but you can still pick up the handheld-only Switch Lite, which is perfect for portable gaming.

  • $200 at Best Buy

Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for Patch Notes

A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon
newsnewsseoseogamesmedicalgamesgamesnewsnewsnewsnewsnewshealthnewsgamesnewsseogameshealthgameshealthnewsgamesgamesnewsseohealthnewsnewsnewsnewsgamesgamesgamesseogamesgamesseogamesgamesgamesseohealthgamesgamesgamesgamesmoviegamesgamesgames