Key Takeaways
- Kubfu evolution demands 200 candy (the highest candy cost in the game) plus 30 Dark- or Water-type raid defeats while it is your active buddy — a resource floor and a time investment combined.
- Single Strike Style (Fighting/Dark) is the #1 ranked Master League Pokemon; Rapid Strike Style (Fighting/Water) is the better raid attacker. You can only choose one per Kubfu.
- The 200-candy cost is so high that Rare Candy, not catching or walking, is the only practical path to evolve.
Every trainer who has stared at a Kubfu with 25 candy and no evolve button has felt the same frustration: what is the requirement? The answer is brutal. Kubfu must be your buddy, you must defeat 30 Dark- or Water-type raids, and you must pay a staggering 200 Kubfu Candy — far more than any other Pokemon in the game. No other evolution in Pokemon GO combines a resource cost, a participation barrier, and a form-lock choice. This is not an oversight; it is a deliberate design to make Urshifu an endgame exclusive.
Why 200 Candy Is the Highest Cost in the Game
At 200 candy, Kubfu's evolution threshold shatters the previous record holder. Pidgey to Pidgeot costs 125 candy, Tyranitar from Larvitar costs 100, and even Slaking from Vigoroth is only 100. Kubfu demands 200 — enough to evolve four fully-costed Pokemon into their final forms (GameSpot, 2025).
The math is stark:
- Catching a Kubfu grants 3 candy (6 with Pinap Berry).
- Transferring grants 1 candy.
- Walking 1 km as buddy grants 1 candy (Kubfu is a 20 km/buddy Pokemon).
- The ONLY practical path is Rare Candy: 200 Rare Candy converted to Kubfu Candy.
At 3–6 Rare Candy per five-star raid, you need 34–67 high-tier raids just for the candy alone. This is why Kubfu evolution is a post-max-level, endgame commitment, not a casual goal.
Why the 30-Raid Requirement Exists
The 30-raid requirement mirrors the main-series design, where Kubfu must train by defeating other Fighting-type Pokemon for 30 consecutive days before it is ready to evolve. Niantic translated this into a raid-counting system: you must defeat 30 Dark- or Water-type raids (of any star tier) while Kubfu is your active buddy.
This serves multiple design purposes:
- Pacing control: 30 raids is a 30-day commitment at minimum, which spaces the evolution across an entire season.
- Engagement lock: Players must show up to raids regularly, increasing daily active session length.
- Social gate: The raid requirement pushes players into groups, especially for 5-star Dark/Water raids that need multiple trainers.
- Resource sink: Each raid costs a pass, so the evolution path consumes both time and items (Reddit r/pokemongo, 2025).
Why Buddy Status Is Mandatory
Kubfu must be your active buddy when the 30 raids are defeated. The Pokemon does not need to participate in the raid battle — it can sit on the bench — but the game checks buddy status at the completion of each qualifying raid. If you swap to a different buddy before the 30th raid completes, your progress pauses.
This design mirrors the main-series requirement where Kubfu must physically travel with you. In Pokemon GO, the buddy system is the closest equivalent, and it forces players to manage their buddy slot carefully — you cannot run a candy-farming buddy (like a Legendary for trades) simultaneously while evolving Kubfu (The Silph Road, 2025).
Why You Can Only Choose One Form
Kubfu evolves into one of two distinct Urshifu forms, and you can only evolve each Kubfu once. The form is locked by which type of raid you defeat:
- 30 Dark-type raids → Single Strike Style (Fighting/Dark)
- 30 Water-type raids → Rapid Strike Style (Fighting/Water)
The form-lock decision is permanent. You cannot change it after evolution. This creates a strategic fork that mirrors the main-series version where Kubfu's diet and training style determined the form. Niantic uses this to make players invest in a specific battle role rather than getting the "best of both worlds" (Silph Arena, 2025).
Which Form Should You Choose?
The answer depends on your primary use case:
Single Strike Style — Choose This If You Do PvP:
- Ranked #1 overall in Master League (PvPoke, 2025)
- Fighting/Dark typing provides unique coverage against Psychic, Ghost, and Dragon
- Signature move: Wicked Blow (guaranteed critical hit)
- Weaknesses: Fighting, Flying, Fairy, Bug
Rapid Strike Style — Choose This If You Do Raids:
- Fighting/Water typing gives balanced coverage
- Signature move: Surging Strikes (multi-hit, guaranteed crits)
- Better for PvE content than Single Strike
- Only 2x weak to Grass and Fairy (more balanced)
For most players, Single Strike Style is the better choice — it dominates the Master League meta and has broader applicability. Rapid Strike is only worth it if you primarily do raids and never touch competitive PvP.
The Solo Grind Timeline
Without friends, remote passes, or raid apps, completing 30 raids alone is a 30-day process using only your free daily raid pass. With remote raiding apps like PokeRaid, PokeGenie, or Campfire, you can complete all 30 in a single day during a raid event that features Dark- or Water-type bosses.
The candy grind adds another 34–67 five-star raids for Rare Candy, making the total investment 64–97 raids for a single Kubfu evolution. For trainers without remote passes, this is a multi-month commitment.
What Urshifu Actually Does in Battle
Single Strike Style Urshifu sits at #1 in Master League thanks to its unique Fighting/Dark typing. The combination resists four types defensively while hitting hard with Counter + Close Combat + Wicked Blow. Its counters — Togekiss, Zacian, Groudon, Landorus — are common in the meta, but its offensive pressure is unmatched (Reddit r/SilphArena, 2025).
Rapid Strike Style Urshifu is a top-tier raid attacker, competing with Lucario and Conkeldurr for Fighting-type slots. Its ability to hit for super-effective damage against Rock, Fire, Steel, and Dark types makes it a flexible pick for many legendary raids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get both forms of Urshifu?
Yes, but you need two separate Kubfu — each one can only evolve into one form. If you want both, you must obtain a second Kubfu from another "Might and Mastery" Special Research opportunity or from a friend who can trade one.
Do I need to use Kubfu in the raids?
No. Kubfu just needs to be your active buddy when the qualifying raid completes. You can use your strongest counters for the raid itself — Kubfu does not need to deal damage or even be on the battle team.
Do 1-star raids count?
Yes. Any raid or Max Battle with a Dark- or Water-type Pokemon counts, regardless of star tier. 1-star raids are the most cost-effective way to complete the task since they cost only your free daily pass.
How do I get 200 Rare Candy fast?
Five-star raids are the most efficient source, yielding 3–6 Rare Candy each. GO Battle League rewards, Special Research completion, and weekly breakthroughs also contribute. During events with boosted Rare Candy drops, you can accumulate 200 in as few as 34 five-star raids.
Conclusion
The Kubfu evolution requirements are the most punishing in Pokemon GO because Niantic designed Urshifu as a late-game prize. The 200-candy cost filters out casual players, the 30-raid requirement ensures sustained engagement, and the form-lock choice forces a strategic decision. For competitive players, the payoff is real: Single Strike Style is the #1 Master League Pokemon. For casual players, Kubfu is best treated as a long-term project — one that can sit in your buddy slot for months while you accumulate candy and raid experience. The design succeeds at making evolution feel earned rather than given, and in a game where most evolutions are a tap and a cost, that is a rare achievement.
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