EV
Banned deucer.
QC: unfixable / Ellipse / jeran
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / Snobalt
[OVERVIEW]
Thundurus boasts the high Speed and Special Attack necessary to make it one of the most defining special threats in STABmons. Its most common ability, Prankster, grants it incredible utility while still maintaining a strong offensive presence, as it can render stall helpless with a priority Taunt or cripple an opposing sweeper with priority Thunder Wave. The combination of Flying and Electric is weak only to Rock and Ice, is immune to Ground attacks, and resists common types such as Steel and Flying. Offensively, these types carry great all-around coverage, as Flying is highly spammable with few Pokemon resisting and none immune to it, and Electric hits Rock- and Steel-types that resist Flying for neutral damage, missing out on only Electric. With its solid STAB coverage, it is one of the best Nasty Plot users, and along with its access to Taunt, it distinguishes itself as a premier stallbreaker. It can even run mixed and fully physical sets incredibly well, which take advantage of its second ability, Defiant.
These strengths are impeded by a vulnerability to one of the most common revenge killing tactics in STABmons, Fake Out + Extreme Speed, which both can hit Thundurus before it can launch a single attack. It also struggles against bulky attackers that can tank a hit and retaliate with a super effective attack or a strong neutral one. This also means that Thundurus must be careful when switching in, as it doesn't invest in bulk and its base defenses are nothing stellar. On top of that, its reliance on Life Orb and a weakness to Stealth Rock wear it down throughout the match, meaning it relies on Oblivion Wing for recovery when stronger options exist. However, these drawbacks are compensated for when you recognize all the positive traits it carries, mainly its versatility and combination of offense and utility, which all make Thundurus a Pokemon that instantly improves nearly any team just by running it.
[SET]
name: Prankster Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Oblivion Wing
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot doubles Thundurus's Special Attack, meaning only the bulkiest of special walls will be able to check it reliably after a boost. Taunt is used to stop those walls, such as Chansey, from halting Thundurus's sweep with status ailments and prevents them from trying to phaze it or recovering off damage. It also shuts down Prankster Sableye before it can cripple Thundurus with a status condition or reverse its boosts with Topsy-Turvy. Oblivion Wing is Thundurus's best option for a Flying STAB move because it has a solid 80 Base Power and recovers 75% of the damage dealt to the target, which keeps Thundurus healthy after HP loss from Stealth Rock and Life Orb recoil. Thunderbolt is Thundurus's most reliable Electric STAB move and, together with Oblivion Wing gives great neutral coverage, hitting Steel- and Rock-types such as Heatran, Aegislash, and Tyranitar, which resist Flying, for high damage after a Nasty Plot boost.
Set Details
========
Prankster is integral to this set for using Taunt on Sableye before it can cripple Thundurus with a status ailment. Maximum Speed is run to outpace all Pokemon under base 111 Speed, and 252 EVs go into Special Attack to hit as hard as possible. The leftover 4 can go in either defensive stat. Life Orb powers up Thundurus's attacks while inflicting recoil, which is mitigated by Oblivion Wing's healing. However, Leftovers is a noteworthy choice for reducing residual damage, and it won't wear down Thundurus with recoil when attacking with Oblivion Wing isn't an option.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus should avoid switching into attackers that may have super effective coverage, such as Garchomp carrying Stone Edge, as it lacks the bulk to stomach those hits. However, be aggressive with switching into threats like defensive Landorus-T and Slowbro because they typically won't have an attack that does a lot of damage and any damage you may incur can be healed with Oblivion Wing. Setting up Nasty Plot puts immediate pressure on the opposing team, so you should use it to cause heavy damage to soft checks, such as Heatran, with Thunderbolt after it switches in. Moreover, setting up will draw in Fake Out + Extreme Speed users, so getting in your own check to those, such as Landorus-T or Ferrothorn, will preserve Thundurus and keep up your momentum. But be warned: common Fake Out + Extreme Speed users often have Belly Drum and can capitalize on Thundurus's switch by setting up, so outright attacking may prevent their sweep if you lack an Unaware partner. Generally, you want Thundurus to Taunt any walls that come in, such as Chansey, so that they can't impede its sweep and you can use them as setup bait while they struggle to do much in return. Faster threats may keep Thundurus from setting up early-game, so removing Aerodactyl and Weavile will ensure that you don't waste a turn setting up only to get forced out.
Team Options
========
A physical wall that can check Fake Out + Extreme Speed thrown at Thundurus makes for a good partner. Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn are notable checks to Fake Out + Extreme Speed users. Landorus-T can lower their attack with Intimidate, and Ferrothorn punishes contact with Iron Barbs and sometimes Rocky Helmet. All three of those Pokemon can also set Stealth Rock, which helps break down Pokemon that Thundurus can't guarantee to 2HKO such as opposing defensive Landorus-T and physically defensive Unaware Clefable. Additionally, Thundurus's Taunt prevents Defoggers from removing the entry hazards. A Pokemon that resists Ice is also important because Weavile outspeeds Thundurus and threatens to OHKO it with Icicle Crash. Choice Band Scizor doesn't mind Ice-types and threatens them with its own Steel-type STAB moves. Scizor also can bring in Thundurus safely with a slow U-turn. Even though it recovers lost HP with Oblivion Wing, Thundurus still appreciates having Stealth Rock removed. An offensive spinner such as Excadrill has good synergy with Thundurus and can help remove Heatran and Tyranitar. Scrappy Rapid Spin Stoutland and Latios with Defog are also solid entry hazard removal options with an offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Utility Special Attacker
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Oblivion Wing
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Focus Blast / Volt Switch / Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunder Wave lets Thundurus paralyze faster threats such as Aerodactyl or setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Togekiss in case they're threatening to sweep your team. It also provides general speed control for your team, giving slower teammates the jump against their foes. Oblivion Wing is the Flying-type STAB move of choice for its ability to heal Thundurus while dealing good damage. Thunderbolt is its strongest Electric-type STAB with perfect accuracy. Together the two moves have good coverage, hitting most of the metagame for at least neutral damage. Focus Blast hits one of its common checks, Tyranitar, for 4x super effective damage, often OHKOing it, while also doing decent damage to Electric-types such as Magnezone and Raikou. Volt Switch can be added to keep up momentum without sacrificing the power Thunderbolt brings. Even with just its STAB attacks, Thundurus maintains a strong offensive presence, so Taunt adds another layer of utility without sacrificing too much coverage. Lastly, Defog is an option over Thunder Wave or the moves in the last slot if you have no room for another Defogger or spinner on your team. The choice comes down to whether checking faster threats or clearing entry hazards is more important to you.
Set Details
========
Special Thundurus prefers to maximize its Speed and place the rest of its EVs into Special Attack, so this set is no exception. Prankster is mandatory to use Thunder Wave or Taunt on faster threats. Life Orb is important for getting 2HKOs on targets such as Heatran and Ferrothorn, but Sharp Beak is useful to power up Oblivion Wing without adding recoil. Leftovers adds more longevity at the cost of dealing less damage. Leftovers generally works best when this set is running utility moves besides just Thunder Wave, such as Defog, as mitigating Stealth Rock damage then becomes more important.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus should use its main STAB attacks frequently because they get the most coverage in the metagame. Oblivion Wing is preferred to use over Thunderbolt if you don't know what is switching in because nothing is immune to it. Focus Blast is great to catch something off guard. However, once it's been revealed, the opponent will be much more cautious with its intended checks to Thundurus. If you're running Volt Switch, this should be used frequently to keep up momentum. Most Ground-types in STABmons already take a lot of damage from STAB Oblivion Wing or a coverage attack, so they are not likely to come in on Thundurus to absorb the attack. Spread paralysis when it's safe to, such as when you predict the foe is about to set up on you. Don't waste a perfectly healthy Thundurus just to Thunder Wave a faster threat and then faint, however. Use Thunder Wave only when you absolutely need to cripple a threat because your team will be vulnerable to it or when Thundurus is about to faint anyway. Similarly to Thunder Wave, try not to Defog if you know that Thundurus will get KOed that turn. Instead, try to clear entry hazards on a switch or against something that Thundurus can force out, such as Skarmory.
Team Options
========
Dedicated Knock Off support is helpful to weaken special walls such has Chansey and Heatran, which then can no longer rely on Eviolite or Leftovers, respectively. Tyranitar can do this well. A Pokemon that checks Electric-types such as Assault Vest Raikou and Magnezone helps because they tend to come in on Thundurus expecting to tank an Oblivion Wing or Thunderbolt. Excadrill fears little from them, threatens with Ground-type STAB moves, and has the added benefit of spinning away Stealth Rock if you don't run Defog on Thundurus. If Thundurus carries Volt Switch, a partner with U-turn can form a VoltTurn core to generate momentum. Scizor and Choice Scarf Landorus-T are great offensive U-turn users, and they can even soften up some of Thundurus's typical checks with their physical attacks. Thunder Wave's ability to cripple fast threats such as Aerodactyl and Shift Gear Mega Scizor can enable some slower Pokemon such as Heatran to revenge kill them more easily. Heatran can also take the Ice-type attacks aimed at Thundurus while Thundurus can take Fighting- and Ground-type moves for Heatran. Terrakion provides a dedicated answer to Tyranitar if Thundurus lacks Focus Blast. It also beats enemy Heatran and threatens Defiant users such as Braviary and Bisharp, which may try to absorb Thundurus's Defog.
[SET]
name: Specially Based Mixed Attacker
move 1: Oblivion Wing
move 2: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast / Superpower
move 4: Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Defiant
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Oblivion Wing is the preferred Flying-type STAB move with its reliable damage output and benefit of leeching 75% of the damage dealt as HP recovery. Volt Switch is generally preferred over Thunderbolt to keep up momentum against the foe, and most Ground-types in STABmons take heavy damage from Thundurus's other attacks anyway, so there's little worry about them halting your momentum. Thunderbolt is still an option to deal consistent damage, however. Focus Blast hits off Thundurus's higher Special Attack stat but comes with the drawback of poor accuracy. Superpower trades power for better accuracy but also lowers Thundurus's Attack and Defense by one stage each. It is Thundurus's most reliable attack against Tyranitar, however, whereas Focus Blast risks a miss and then a game of Pursuit / Sucker Punch afterward. Knock Off allows Thundurus to remove Eviolites, Assault Vests, and Leftovers, letting it follow up with a strong attack the next turn for a possible 2HKO. 4 HP / 252 Def Bold Chansey, for example, is 2HKOed 99% of the time with the combination of Knock Off and Superpower. Aeroblast may be used over Oblivion Wing for stronger Flying-type STAB move with a greater critical hit rate, but Thundurus then loses out on HP recovery, and the constant Life Orb recoil and Stealth Rock damage will wear it down. Taunt is also an option to stop walls that Thundurus can't KO from recovering off damage and stalling it out.
Set Details
========
Defiant is chosen over Prankster because Thundurus has no status moves on this set, and Defiant can score an Attack boost on Defog or Parting Shot to make its physical attacks stronger. If you do carry Taunt, however, Prankster is acceptable to outprioritize Sableye. A Naive nature is chosen so as not to compromise either offensive stat. Lowering Thundurus's weaker Special Defense is preferred in this case because the metagame is more physically oriented with priority. Life Orb is the preferred item to grant power with the freedom to switch between attacks. Oblivion Wing's HP replenishment helps to mitigate the recoil. Expert Belt, however, is feasible to boost power on super effective hits without any recoil. Lum Berry can also work to absorb a Dark Void once from Sableye, but Thundurus will need Taunt and Prankster in order to prevent it from using Dark Void again the following turn.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus is a great cleaner once faster and bulkier threats have been removed, so don't be too overeager with it, especially if the foe has strong priority or could possibly survive a hit and retaliate for the KO. Use Volt Switch often to keep up momentum while wearing down the foe. If a Ground-type switches in, Thundurus's secondary STAB move will hit most of them for lots of damage anyway. Use Oblivion Wing on weak or neutral targets as much as possible to recover HP and when pivoting out with Volt Switch isn't needed. Try to predict Tyranitar switching in and use Focus Blast or Superpower to KO it. Otherwise, it can KO Thundurus back with Sucker Punch or Pursuit depending on whether Thundurus attacks or switches, respectively. Use Knock Off on walls to weaken them by removing their item. This is also Thundurus's strongest attack versus Latias and Latios initially, unless the former is holding Latiasite. Defiant ignores King Shield's Attack drop, so you don't need to fear it when using Knock Off or Superpower on a Steel-type such as Heatran. You can also use Thundurus as a Parting Shot sponge, as most Sableye will use it to switch after putting one of your Pokemon to sleep with Dark Void.
Team Options
========
Without any priority, this set is bait for other priority users to come in and inflict status or attack. A Magic Bounce Pokemon to take on Sableye is preferred, and your own Mega Sableye can accomplish this while not fearing Knock Off. Plus, if the enemy Sableye uses Parting Shot, you can switch into Thundurus to get the Defiant boost. Fake Out + Extreme Speed, the most common form of attacking priority, can be tanked by Slowbro, which also checks Choice Scarf Terrakion for Thundurus. Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Landorus-T can KO Thundurus with Rock-type attacks, so a bulky Ground-type such as Hippowdon or Garchomp is recommended to sponge their moves. Garchomp can also punish them if they attack with a contact move thanks to Rough Skin. Both Hippowdon and Garchomp can set entry hazards for Thundurus, which helps soften up switch-ins and pressures Defog users, which must be wary of Defiant. A Pokemon to absorb Ice-type moves from the faster Weavile is also helpful. Heatran does this very well and can use either of its own Fire or Steel attacks to scare it out. With Volt Switch, Thundurus will often switch before it can heal, so removing Stealth Rock for it is important. Chansey or Stoutland can spin and also Baton Pass into Thundurus as needed. A U-turn user is also a good idea to partner with Thundurus for keeping up your team's momentum. Choice Band Scizor works and doesn't stack weaknesses with the other teammate recommendations above.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Bolt Strike
move 2: Dragon Ascent
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Defiant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bolt Strike is Thundurus's strongest STAB attack, and it comes with no drawbacks other than somewhat shaky accuracy. It also carries a decent chance to paralyze the target. Dragon Ascent is also very strong but carries the downside of dropping Thundurus's Defense and Special Defense by one stage each afterward. It is preferred over Brave Bird so that Thundurus doesn't stack recoil with Life Orb and Stealth Rock damage, and the drops to its defenses aren't too bad considering that it's already frail. Knock Off grants power and utility in one move and removes items such as Eviolite on Chansey or Porygon2, allowing Thundurus to follow up with a KO in some instances. Superpower hits the Steel-types that are able to sponge its STAB attacks, such as Magnezone, while also hitting Normal-types the hardest. Fusion Bolt is a weaker but perfectly accurate option over Bolt Strike. U-turn grants momentum but isn't very strong and contradicts the set's purpose, which focuses on grabbing Attack boosts and sweeping.
Set Details
========
Defiant is required because it boosts Thundurus's Attack by two stages any time a stat is lowered by the foe. Defog, Parting Shot, Intimidate, and King's Shield all activate it. Maximum Speed is preferred to beat a lot of the metagame that sits under base 111 Speed. 252 EVs go into Attack because Thundurus wants to hit hard without worrying about bulk. The remaining 4 EVs can go in either defensive stat. Life Orb grants power but will wear down Thundurus over time, so Leftovers is a viable alternative to slowly recover HP while mitigating Stealth Rock and other residual damage.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus's STAB moves can put immense pressure on the opponent's team and do heavy damage most of the time, but they carry a few risks. Bolt Strike might let in a threat for free, and Dragon Ascent might leave Thundurus open to revenge killing or Pursuit trapping. Knock Off is a great option to use when you don't know what's coming in and you want to remove its item. Superpower will lower Thundurus's Attack and Defense stats, so don't use it unless you need to catch a Steel- or Normal-type, because it leaves Thundurus vulnerable afterward. Defiant negates King's Shield's Attack drops, so don't fear that move when attacking, but it will not negate self-inflicted drops from Superpower. Try to switch into predicated Defogs, Intimidates, and Parting Shots to get the boost from Defiant.
Team Options
========
Without Leftovers, this set has no HP recovery and will lose 25% of its HP upon switching in with Stealth Rock on your side of the field, so bring a Defogger or spinner such as Chansey or Stoutland. Chansey can also pass Wishes and heal Thundurus of any status ailments with Heal Bell. A teammate that can break bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Quagsire is appreciated. A Grass-type can take on Hippowdon and Quagsire with ease, so bring Ferrothorn, which is immune to Toxic, or Tangrowth to remove them. An offensive Grass-type such as Serperior works as well and can put a lot of pressure on the opposing team with Spore and Contrary Leaf Storm. Rotom-W can also handle Gliscor and Hippowdon thanks to Levitate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain Dance sets with Hurricane and Thunder are usable with a Damp Rock and do well on rain teams with Swift Swim Pokemon. Aeroblast hits harder than Oblivion Wing and carries a higher critical hit rate. The HP recovery is missed greatly, however. Grass Knot is highly situational but deals consistent damage to Tyranitar if Focus Blast's accuracy is a turn-off. Some Prankster sets can run Feather Dance or Eerie Impulse to lower the target's Attack and Special Attack, respectively, but besides being a nuisance, they don't do much else. Roost is also an option to use with Prankster to recover HP quickly, but using it leaves Thundurus vulnerable to Ground attacks, so it should be used carefully. Mirror Move can turn the foe's attacks back on itself, but it's often too situational to work in the long term. Lastly, Tailwind grants your team double Speed for three turns and can be used to give your slower teammates a strong offensive presence.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Assault Vest Thundurus-T is one of the best checks to Thundurus because it's immune to Electric-type attacks due to Volt Absorb and resists Thundurus's Flying-type STAB moves, as well as its common coverage moves such as Superpower, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot. It can use its own strong Thunderbolts to 2HKO Thundurus back. Assault Vest Raikou takes minimal damage from any non-Nasty Plot special sets and can also 2HKO with Thunderbolt. Magnezone 4x resists Flying and resists Electric but must be wary of any Fighting-type attacks.
**Rock-types**: If Thundurus lacks a Fighting-type attack or Grass Knot, strong Rock-types are able to beat it one-on-one. Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Rhyperior can tank a hit and retaliate with their STAB moves. Tyranitar bypasses Thundurus's high Speed with Sucker Punch, and Choice Scarf Terrakion also outspeeds Thundurus and KOes it with Diamond Storm. Aerodactyl outspeeds Thundurus and KOes it with Head Smash, though it must watch out for Thunder Wave, which will cripple it for the rest of the match.
**Ice-types**: Weavile outspeeds Thundurus and KOes it with Icicle Crash. Mamoswine can survive anything bar a Fighting attack or Grass Knot and KO back with Icicle Crash or use Ice Shard to pick off a weakened Thundurus. Mamoswine also has the benefit of an Electric immunity and can use that to switch in with careful prediction. Kyurem functions similarly to Mamoswine but without the Electric immunity.
**Priority**: Other forms of priority such as Fake Out + Extreme Speed and Sableye's Dark Void or Will-O-Wisp threaten to knock out Thundurus or halt its sweep, respectively.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Chansey checks special sets lacking Taunt and Nasty Plot. She can Toxic stall and attack with Seismic Toss. Assault Vest Meloetta tanks any special attack even at +2 and always OHKOes back with Boomburst with 252 Special Attack EVs. Even Assault Vest Slowking can tank a Thunderbolt and OHKO back with Mirror Coat.
**Bulky Offensive Pokemon**: Garchomp, Latios, and Choice Scarf Heatran aren't weak to either Electric or Flying, and all three of them resist at least one of those. They work as soft checks that can tank a few hits and retaliate with a strong Stone Edge, Psystrike or Draco Meteor, or Blue Flare, respectively. Knock Off reduces the effectiveness of the latter two as checks, however.
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / Snobalt
[OVERVIEW]
Thundurus boasts the high Speed and Special Attack necessary to make it one of the most defining special threats in STABmons. Its most common ability, Prankster, grants it incredible utility while still maintaining a strong offensive presence, as it can render stall helpless with a priority Taunt or cripple an opposing sweeper with priority Thunder Wave. The combination of Flying and Electric is weak only to Rock and Ice, is immune to Ground attacks, and resists common types such as Steel and Flying. Offensively, these types carry great all-around coverage, as Flying is highly spammable with few Pokemon resisting and none immune to it, and Electric hits Rock- and Steel-types that resist Flying for neutral damage, missing out on only Electric. With its solid STAB coverage, it is one of the best Nasty Plot users, and along with its access to Taunt, it distinguishes itself as a premier stallbreaker. It can even run mixed and fully physical sets incredibly well, which take advantage of its second ability, Defiant.
These strengths are impeded by a vulnerability to one of the most common revenge killing tactics in STABmons, Fake Out + Extreme Speed, which both can hit Thundurus before it can launch a single attack. It also struggles against bulky attackers that can tank a hit and retaliate with a super effective attack or a strong neutral one. This also means that Thundurus must be careful when switching in, as it doesn't invest in bulk and its base defenses are nothing stellar. On top of that, its reliance on Life Orb and a weakness to Stealth Rock wear it down throughout the match, meaning it relies on Oblivion Wing for recovery when stronger options exist. However, these drawbacks are compensated for when you recognize all the positive traits it carries, mainly its versatility and combination of offense and utility, which all make Thundurus a Pokemon that instantly improves nearly any team just by running it.
[SET]
name: Prankster Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Oblivion Wing
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Nasty Plot doubles Thundurus's Special Attack, meaning only the bulkiest of special walls will be able to check it reliably after a boost. Taunt is used to stop those walls, such as Chansey, from halting Thundurus's sweep with status ailments and prevents them from trying to phaze it or recovering off damage. It also shuts down Prankster Sableye before it can cripple Thundurus with a status condition or reverse its boosts with Topsy-Turvy. Oblivion Wing is Thundurus's best option for a Flying STAB move because it has a solid 80 Base Power and recovers 75% of the damage dealt to the target, which keeps Thundurus healthy after HP loss from Stealth Rock and Life Orb recoil. Thunderbolt is Thundurus's most reliable Electric STAB move and, together with Oblivion Wing gives great neutral coverage, hitting Steel- and Rock-types such as Heatran, Aegislash, and Tyranitar, which resist Flying, for high damage after a Nasty Plot boost.
Set Details
========
Prankster is integral to this set for using Taunt on Sableye before it can cripple Thundurus with a status ailment. Maximum Speed is run to outpace all Pokemon under base 111 Speed, and 252 EVs go into Special Attack to hit as hard as possible. The leftover 4 can go in either defensive stat. Life Orb powers up Thundurus's attacks while inflicting recoil, which is mitigated by Oblivion Wing's healing. However, Leftovers is a noteworthy choice for reducing residual damage, and it won't wear down Thundurus with recoil when attacking with Oblivion Wing isn't an option.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus should avoid switching into attackers that may have super effective coverage, such as Garchomp carrying Stone Edge, as it lacks the bulk to stomach those hits. However, be aggressive with switching into threats like defensive Landorus-T and Slowbro because they typically won't have an attack that does a lot of damage and any damage you may incur can be healed with Oblivion Wing. Setting up Nasty Plot puts immediate pressure on the opposing team, so you should use it to cause heavy damage to soft checks, such as Heatran, with Thunderbolt after it switches in. Moreover, setting up will draw in Fake Out + Extreme Speed users, so getting in your own check to those, such as Landorus-T or Ferrothorn, will preserve Thundurus and keep up your momentum. But be warned: common Fake Out + Extreme Speed users often have Belly Drum and can capitalize on Thundurus's switch by setting up, so outright attacking may prevent their sweep if you lack an Unaware partner. Generally, you want Thundurus to Taunt any walls that come in, such as Chansey, so that they can't impede its sweep and you can use them as setup bait while they struggle to do much in return. Faster threats may keep Thundurus from setting up early-game, so removing Aerodactyl and Weavile will ensure that you don't waste a turn setting up only to get forced out.
Team Options
========
A physical wall that can check Fake Out + Extreme Speed thrown at Thundurus makes for a good partner. Landorus-T, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn are notable checks to Fake Out + Extreme Speed users. Landorus-T can lower their attack with Intimidate, and Ferrothorn punishes contact with Iron Barbs and sometimes Rocky Helmet. All three of those Pokemon can also set Stealth Rock, which helps break down Pokemon that Thundurus can't guarantee to 2HKO such as opposing defensive Landorus-T and physically defensive Unaware Clefable. Additionally, Thundurus's Taunt prevents Defoggers from removing the entry hazards. A Pokemon that resists Ice is also important because Weavile outspeeds Thundurus and threatens to OHKO it with Icicle Crash. Choice Band Scizor doesn't mind Ice-types and threatens them with its own Steel-type STAB moves. Scizor also can bring in Thundurus safely with a slow U-turn. Even though it recovers lost HP with Oblivion Wing, Thundurus still appreciates having Stealth Rock removed. An offensive spinner such as Excadrill has good synergy with Thundurus and can help remove Heatran and Tyranitar. Scrappy Rapid Spin Stoutland and Latios with Defog are also solid entry hazard removal options with an offensive presence.
[SET]
name: Utility Special Attacker
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Oblivion Wing
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Focus Blast / Volt Switch / Taunt
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunder Wave lets Thundurus paralyze faster threats such as Aerodactyl or setup sweepers such as Mega Scizor and Togekiss in case they're threatening to sweep your team. It also provides general speed control for your team, giving slower teammates the jump against their foes. Oblivion Wing is the Flying-type STAB move of choice for its ability to heal Thundurus while dealing good damage. Thunderbolt is its strongest Electric-type STAB with perfect accuracy. Together the two moves have good coverage, hitting most of the metagame for at least neutral damage. Focus Blast hits one of its common checks, Tyranitar, for 4x super effective damage, often OHKOing it, while also doing decent damage to Electric-types such as Magnezone and Raikou. Volt Switch can be added to keep up momentum without sacrificing the power Thunderbolt brings. Even with just its STAB attacks, Thundurus maintains a strong offensive presence, so Taunt adds another layer of utility without sacrificing too much coverage. Lastly, Defog is an option over Thunder Wave or the moves in the last slot if you have no room for another Defogger or spinner on your team. The choice comes down to whether checking faster threats or clearing entry hazards is more important to you.
Set Details
========
Special Thundurus prefers to maximize its Speed and place the rest of its EVs into Special Attack, so this set is no exception. Prankster is mandatory to use Thunder Wave or Taunt on faster threats. Life Orb is important for getting 2HKOs on targets such as Heatran and Ferrothorn, but Sharp Beak is useful to power up Oblivion Wing without adding recoil. Leftovers adds more longevity at the cost of dealing less damage. Leftovers generally works best when this set is running utility moves besides just Thunder Wave, such as Defog, as mitigating Stealth Rock damage then becomes more important.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus should use its main STAB attacks frequently because they get the most coverage in the metagame. Oblivion Wing is preferred to use over Thunderbolt if you don't know what is switching in because nothing is immune to it. Focus Blast is great to catch something off guard. However, once it's been revealed, the opponent will be much more cautious with its intended checks to Thundurus. If you're running Volt Switch, this should be used frequently to keep up momentum. Most Ground-types in STABmons already take a lot of damage from STAB Oblivion Wing or a coverage attack, so they are not likely to come in on Thundurus to absorb the attack. Spread paralysis when it's safe to, such as when you predict the foe is about to set up on you. Don't waste a perfectly healthy Thundurus just to Thunder Wave a faster threat and then faint, however. Use Thunder Wave only when you absolutely need to cripple a threat because your team will be vulnerable to it or when Thundurus is about to faint anyway. Similarly to Thunder Wave, try not to Defog if you know that Thundurus will get KOed that turn. Instead, try to clear entry hazards on a switch or against something that Thundurus can force out, such as Skarmory.
Team Options
========
Dedicated Knock Off support is helpful to weaken special walls such has Chansey and Heatran, which then can no longer rely on Eviolite or Leftovers, respectively. Tyranitar can do this well. A Pokemon that checks Electric-types such as Assault Vest Raikou and Magnezone helps because they tend to come in on Thundurus expecting to tank an Oblivion Wing or Thunderbolt. Excadrill fears little from them, threatens with Ground-type STAB moves, and has the added benefit of spinning away Stealth Rock if you don't run Defog on Thundurus. If Thundurus carries Volt Switch, a partner with U-turn can form a VoltTurn core to generate momentum. Scizor and Choice Scarf Landorus-T are great offensive U-turn users, and they can even soften up some of Thundurus's typical checks with their physical attacks. Thunder Wave's ability to cripple fast threats such as Aerodactyl and Shift Gear Mega Scizor can enable some slower Pokemon such as Heatran to revenge kill them more easily. Heatran can also take the Ice-type attacks aimed at Thundurus while Thundurus can take Fighting- and Ground-type moves for Heatran. Terrakion provides a dedicated answer to Tyranitar if Thundurus lacks Focus Blast. It also beats enemy Heatran and threatens Defiant users such as Braviary and Bisharp, which may try to absorb Thundurus's Defog.
[SET]
name: Specially Based Mixed Attacker
move 1: Oblivion Wing
move 2: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast / Superpower
move 4: Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Defiant
nature: Naive
evs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Oblivion Wing is the preferred Flying-type STAB move with its reliable damage output and benefit of leeching 75% of the damage dealt as HP recovery. Volt Switch is generally preferred over Thunderbolt to keep up momentum against the foe, and most Ground-types in STABmons take heavy damage from Thundurus's other attacks anyway, so there's little worry about them halting your momentum. Thunderbolt is still an option to deal consistent damage, however. Focus Blast hits off Thundurus's higher Special Attack stat but comes with the drawback of poor accuracy. Superpower trades power for better accuracy but also lowers Thundurus's Attack and Defense by one stage each. It is Thundurus's most reliable attack against Tyranitar, however, whereas Focus Blast risks a miss and then a game of Pursuit / Sucker Punch afterward. Knock Off allows Thundurus to remove Eviolites, Assault Vests, and Leftovers, letting it follow up with a strong attack the next turn for a possible 2HKO. 4 HP / 252 Def Bold Chansey, for example, is 2HKOed 99% of the time with the combination of Knock Off and Superpower. Aeroblast may be used over Oblivion Wing for stronger Flying-type STAB move with a greater critical hit rate, but Thundurus then loses out on HP recovery, and the constant Life Orb recoil and Stealth Rock damage will wear it down. Taunt is also an option to stop walls that Thundurus can't KO from recovering off damage and stalling it out.
Set Details
========
Defiant is chosen over Prankster because Thundurus has no status moves on this set, and Defiant can score an Attack boost on Defog or Parting Shot to make its physical attacks stronger. If you do carry Taunt, however, Prankster is acceptable to outprioritize Sableye. A Naive nature is chosen so as not to compromise either offensive stat. Lowering Thundurus's weaker Special Defense is preferred in this case because the metagame is more physically oriented with priority. Life Orb is the preferred item to grant power with the freedom to switch between attacks. Oblivion Wing's HP replenishment helps to mitigate the recoil. Expert Belt, however, is feasible to boost power on super effective hits without any recoil. Lum Berry can also work to absorb a Dark Void once from Sableye, but Thundurus will need Taunt and Prankster in order to prevent it from using Dark Void again the following turn.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus is a great cleaner once faster and bulkier threats have been removed, so don't be too overeager with it, especially if the foe has strong priority or could possibly survive a hit and retaliate for the KO. Use Volt Switch often to keep up momentum while wearing down the foe. If a Ground-type switches in, Thundurus's secondary STAB move will hit most of them for lots of damage anyway. Use Oblivion Wing on weak or neutral targets as much as possible to recover HP and when pivoting out with Volt Switch isn't needed. Try to predict Tyranitar switching in and use Focus Blast or Superpower to KO it. Otherwise, it can KO Thundurus back with Sucker Punch or Pursuit depending on whether Thundurus attacks or switches, respectively. Use Knock Off on walls to weaken them by removing their item. This is also Thundurus's strongest attack versus Latias and Latios initially, unless the former is holding Latiasite. Defiant ignores King Shield's Attack drop, so you don't need to fear it when using Knock Off or Superpower on a Steel-type such as Heatran. You can also use Thundurus as a Parting Shot sponge, as most Sableye will use it to switch after putting one of your Pokemon to sleep with Dark Void.
Team Options
========
Without any priority, this set is bait for other priority users to come in and inflict status or attack. A Magic Bounce Pokemon to take on Sableye is preferred, and your own Mega Sableye can accomplish this while not fearing Knock Off. Plus, if the enemy Sableye uses Parting Shot, you can switch into Thundurus to get the Defiant boost. Fake Out + Extreme Speed, the most common form of attacking priority, can be tanked by Slowbro, which also checks Choice Scarf Terrakion for Thundurus. Aerodactyl and Choice Scarf Landorus-T can KO Thundurus with Rock-type attacks, so a bulky Ground-type such as Hippowdon or Garchomp is recommended to sponge their moves. Garchomp can also punish them if they attack with a contact move thanks to Rough Skin. Both Hippowdon and Garchomp can set entry hazards for Thundurus, which helps soften up switch-ins and pressures Defog users, which must be wary of Defiant. A Pokemon to absorb Ice-type moves from the faster Weavile is also helpful. Heatran does this very well and can use either of its own Fire or Steel attacks to scare it out. With Volt Switch, Thundurus will often switch before it can heal, so removing Stealth Rock for it is important. Chansey or Stoutland can spin and also Baton Pass into Thundurus as needed. A U-turn user is also a good idea to partner with Thundurus for keeping up your team's momentum. Choice Band Scizor works and doesn't stack weaknesses with the other teammate recommendations above.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Bolt Strike
move 2: Dragon Ascent
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Superpower
item: Life Orb
ability: Defiant
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Bolt Strike is Thundurus's strongest STAB attack, and it comes with no drawbacks other than somewhat shaky accuracy. It also carries a decent chance to paralyze the target. Dragon Ascent is also very strong but carries the downside of dropping Thundurus's Defense and Special Defense by one stage each afterward. It is preferred over Brave Bird so that Thundurus doesn't stack recoil with Life Orb and Stealth Rock damage, and the drops to its defenses aren't too bad considering that it's already frail. Knock Off grants power and utility in one move and removes items such as Eviolite on Chansey or Porygon2, allowing Thundurus to follow up with a KO in some instances. Superpower hits the Steel-types that are able to sponge its STAB attacks, such as Magnezone, while also hitting Normal-types the hardest. Fusion Bolt is a weaker but perfectly accurate option over Bolt Strike. U-turn grants momentum but isn't very strong and contradicts the set's purpose, which focuses on grabbing Attack boosts and sweeping.
Set Details
========
Defiant is required because it boosts Thundurus's Attack by two stages any time a stat is lowered by the foe. Defog, Parting Shot, Intimidate, and King's Shield all activate it. Maximum Speed is preferred to beat a lot of the metagame that sits under base 111 Speed. 252 EVs go into Attack because Thundurus wants to hit hard without worrying about bulk. The remaining 4 EVs can go in either defensive stat. Life Orb grants power but will wear down Thundurus over time, so Leftovers is a viable alternative to slowly recover HP while mitigating Stealth Rock and other residual damage.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus's STAB moves can put immense pressure on the opponent's team and do heavy damage most of the time, but they carry a few risks. Bolt Strike might let in a threat for free, and Dragon Ascent might leave Thundurus open to revenge killing or Pursuit trapping. Knock Off is a great option to use when you don't know what's coming in and you want to remove its item. Superpower will lower Thundurus's Attack and Defense stats, so don't use it unless you need to catch a Steel- or Normal-type, because it leaves Thundurus vulnerable afterward. Defiant negates King's Shield's Attack drops, so don't fear that move when attacking, but it will not negate self-inflicted drops from Superpower. Try to switch into predicated Defogs, Intimidates, and Parting Shots to get the boost from Defiant.
Team Options
========
Without Leftovers, this set has no HP recovery and will lose 25% of its HP upon switching in with Stealth Rock on your side of the field, so bring a Defogger or spinner such as Chansey or Stoutland. Chansey can also pass Wishes and heal Thundurus of any status ailments with Heal Bell. A teammate that can break bulky Ground-types such as Hippowdon, Gliscor, and Quagsire is appreciated. A Grass-type can take on Hippowdon and Quagsire with ease, so bring Ferrothorn, which is immune to Toxic, or Tangrowth to remove them. An offensive Grass-type such as Serperior works as well and can put a lot of pressure on the opposing team with Spore and Contrary Leaf Storm. Rotom-W can also handle Gliscor and Hippowdon thanks to Levitate.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain Dance sets with Hurricane and Thunder are usable with a Damp Rock and do well on rain teams with Swift Swim Pokemon. Aeroblast hits harder than Oblivion Wing and carries a higher critical hit rate. The HP recovery is missed greatly, however. Grass Knot is highly situational but deals consistent damage to Tyranitar if Focus Blast's accuracy is a turn-off. Some Prankster sets can run Feather Dance or Eerie Impulse to lower the target's Attack and Special Attack, respectively, but besides being a nuisance, they don't do much else. Roost is also an option to use with Prankster to recover HP quickly, but using it leaves Thundurus vulnerable to Ground attacks, so it should be used carefully. Mirror Move can turn the foe's attacks back on itself, but it's often too situational to work in the long term. Lastly, Tailwind grants your team double Speed for three turns and can be used to give your slower teammates a strong offensive presence.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Assault Vest Thundurus-T is one of the best checks to Thundurus because it's immune to Electric-type attacks due to Volt Absorb and resists Thundurus's Flying-type STAB moves, as well as its common coverage moves such as Superpower, Focus Blast, and Grass Knot. It can use its own strong Thunderbolts to 2HKO Thundurus back. Assault Vest Raikou takes minimal damage from any non-Nasty Plot special sets and can also 2HKO with Thunderbolt. Magnezone 4x resists Flying and resists Electric but must be wary of any Fighting-type attacks.
**Rock-types**: If Thundurus lacks a Fighting-type attack or Grass Knot, strong Rock-types are able to beat it one-on-one. Tyranitar, Terrakion, and Rhyperior can tank a hit and retaliate with their STAB moves. Tyranitar bypasses Thundurus's high Speed with Sucker Punch, and Choice Scarf Terrakion also outspeeds Thundurus and KOes it with Diamond Storm. Aerodactyl outspeeds Thundurus and KOes it with Head Smash, though it must watch out for Thunder Wave, which will cripple it for the rest of the match.
**Ice-types**: Weavile outspeeds Thundurus and KOes it with Icicle Crash. Mamoswine can survive anything bar a Fighting attack or Grass Knot and KO back with Icicle Crash or use Ice Shard to pick off a weakened Thundurus. Mamoswine also has the benefit of an Electric immunity and can use that to switch in with careful prediction. Kyurem functions similarly to Mamoswine but without the Electric immunity.
**Priority**: Other forms of priority such as Fake Out + Extreme Speed and Sableye's Dark Void or Will-O-Wisp threaten to knock out Thundurus or halt its sweep, respectively.
**Dedicated Special Walls**: Chansey checks special sets lacking Taunt and Nasty Plot. She can Toxic stall and attack with Seismic Toss. Assault Vest Meloetta tanks any special attack even at +2 and always OHKOes back with Boomburst with 252 Special Attack EVs. Even Assault Vest Slowking can tank a Thunderbolt and OHKO back with Mirror Coat.
**Bulky Offensive Pokemon**: Garchomp, Latios, and Choice Scarf Heatran aren't weak to either Electric or Flying, and all three of them resist at least one of those. They work as soft checks that can tank a few hits and retaliate with a strong Stone Edge, Psystrike or Draco Meteor, or Blue Flare, respectively. Knock Off reduces the effectiveness of the latter two as checks, however.
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