Overview
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Thundurus is a nightmare for offensive teams to play against for one reason: Prankster. Prankster allows Thundurus to cripple almost any opponent with Thunder Wave, making it capable of stopping a sweep cold or simply incapacitating a Speed-reliant Pokemon. The ability also turns Thundurus into an effective anti-lead, as a Prankster Taunt can stop leads such as the Deoxys formes regardless of how fast they are. Thundurus's great offensive movepool, which includes gems such as Volt Switch and Grass Knot, complements its good base 125 Special Attack and 111 Speed well and grants it acceptable coverage with just two moves. Unfortunately, Thundurus is incredibly frail by Ubers standards and will be OHKOed by most strong STAB moves. More importantly, it suffers from a weakness to Stealth Rock, which is potentially devastating in conjunction with Life Orb recoil and the constant use of Volt Switch. Thundurus can still be an incredibly useful asset to a team, but its level of utility is heavily matchup-based.
Prankster Attacker
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name: Prankster Attacker
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 4: Grass Knot / Hidden Power Ice
ability: Prankster
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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Thunder Wave is the main reason to use Thundurus. Thanks to the priority boost it receives from Prankster, the move allows Thundurus to shut down countless offensive threats, including Xerneas and Mewtwo, even if they are statistically faster. Taunt also benefits from Prankster and stops moves such as Defog and Stealth Rock. It's notably useful against Deoxys-S lacking Magic Coat as well. Volt Switch is deceptively powerful with a Life Orb boost and can create momentum for Thundurus's team, though Thunderbolt can be used instead if its greater power and lack of a forced switch effect are preferred. Grass Knot is the optimal choice in the final slot, hitting Ground-types such as Groudon and Hippowdon for large amounts of damage. However, Hidden Power Ice can be used instead to OHKO Landorus-T and deal a solid amount of damage to Zekrom. Superpower is also an option to hit foes such as Dialga, Excadrill, and Tyranitar harder than any of the previously mentioned moves can.
Set Details
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Maximum EV investment in Special Attack and Speed lets Thundurus hit as hard and fast as possible, as it is extremely fragile. A Timid nature is necessary in order for Thundurus to outspeed Palkia and slower Arceus formes. Prankster is the obvious ability choice, while a Life Orb is used to make Thundurus's attacks moderately stronger. If Superpower is used, Thundurus's nature should be changed to Naive and the Defense EVs should be moved into Attack.
Usage Tips
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The main draw of using Thundurus is its Prankster Thunder Wave, which can stop a Speed-boosting sweeper or otherwise fast threat in its tracks. Aside from this, Thundurus can easily switch in against and threaten many Ground-types; it won't get many other opportunities to switch in, so make use of this fact. Additionally, Thundurus is a great choice to lead with, particularly because of its ability to stop entry hazard users with Taunt. Finally, Volt Switch is a great tool to have that can often bail Thundurus out of an unfavorable matchup.
Team Options
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Thundurus is best suited on offensive teams, where ideal teammates for it begin with U-turn users such as Genesect that can help form a VoltTurn core. Ground-types also work well with Thundurus—Excadrill is a fantastic teammate as it can check Zekrom, Electric Arceus, and Dialga, while Thundurus handles Ground- and Fighting-type moves and can use Volt Switch to bring it in safely. Dialga itself is also a great partner, checking Electric- and Grass-types while Thundurus covers its two weaknesses. Fairy-types such as Xerneas are good teammates for dealing with Dragon-types, preferably alongside a Ground-type in order to safely check Zekrom. Ferrothorn handles Electric-types and most Grass Arceus effectively. Lastly, Shadow Tag users, namely Mega Gengar, appreciate being sent in via Volt Switch, making them excellent teammates as well.
Other Options
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Thundurus has many other options. Toxic is a nice surprise that cripples most support Arceus formes and various other threats that aren't terribly bothered by paralysis. Nasty Plot is an excellent boosting move, but the inability to outspeed Arceus coupled with low defenses means Thundurus will have trouble sweeping. Thunder is a strong STAB move, but the lack of permanent rain makes it unreliable. Focus Blast hits a few Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn, harder than Superpower, but it is generally inferior due to its awful accuracy. Sludge Wave hits Fairy-types and Grass Arceus super effectively but is significantly less useful than Thundurus's other coverage options. Knock Off can be used for its item-removing effect, though Thundurus will have difficulty finding room for it.
A few other items are viable as well. Zap Plate and Leftovers reduce the residual damage that Thundurus takes, but it needs all the power it can get. Focus Sash is an interesting option that turns Thundurus into an even more effective anti-lead.
Checks & Counters
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**Electric-types**: Zekrom and Electric Arceus are by far the best counters to Thundurus. They cannot be paralyzed, resist Electric-type moves, and take little from Thundurus's coverage moves. Electric Arceus needs to watch out for the uncommon Toxic, however.
**Dragon-types**: Most Dragon-types that lack a 4x weakness to Hidden Power Ice can deal with Thundurus with their STAB moves, though none of them will enjoy being paralyzed. These include Dialga, the Giratina formes, Kyurem-W, Reshiram, Mega Charizard X, and Dragon Arceus.
**Grass-types**: Ferrothorn and Grass Arceus resist Thundurus's STAB moves and aren't bothered by most of its potential coverage moves. Both can easily KO Thundurus due to its frailty.
**Ground-types**: Excadrill does not take much damage from Grass Knot or Hidden Power Ice, meaning it fears only Fighting-type coverage from Thundurus. Landorus-T handles any Thundurus lacking Hidden Power Ice. Ground Arceus outspeeds and OHKOes Thundurus with Stone Edge after one instance of Life Orb recoil.
**Specially Bulky Pokemon**: Blissey and Heatran must be careful of Superpower and Focus Blast, but they do an exceptional job of walling Thundurus otherwise.
Overview
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- Prankster allows it to pester offensive teams with fast thunder wave
- Also allows Thundurus to anti-lead suicide spikes setters like Deoxys-S with Taunt (watch out for Magic Coat)
- Fairly high spatk and access to Taunt allows it to pester more defensive pokemon as well
- Naturally high speed and STAB Volt Switch helps in maintaining momentum while Grass Knot nails the ground types immune to Volt Switch
- Very frail
- Weak to Stealth Rock and reliant on LO so passive damage racks up quickly
Prankster
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name: Prankster
move 1: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Grass Knot / Hidden Power [Ice]
ability: Prankster
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
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- STAB Volt Switch hits hard and keeps momentum. Thunderbolt can be used if you want to hit harder and not be forced to switch out.
- Taunt stops the enemy from setting up their own hazards, statusing you, or Defogging
- Thunder Wave cripples offensive threats like Xerneas or Mewtwo and cuts off their sweeps and leave them vulnerable to slower attacks
- Grass Knot nails ground types like Groudon and Ground Arceus but HP Ice OHKOs Landorus-T and Gliscor and does actual damage to Zekrom
- Focus Blast can be used to hit Excadrill and Dialga
Set Details
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- Max spatk and speed is needed to hit as hard and fast as possible as Thundurus is very fragile
- Timid nature is a must to outspeed slower defensive Arceus formes as well as Palkia
Usage Tips
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- Bring it in on predicted EQs and scare out the ground type with Grass Knot
- Can often lead thanks to Prankster Twave and Taunt being very threatening early game and cutting off any potential early advantage
- Volt Switch can easily get Thundurus out of a unfavorable matchup
- Overall, thundy can't switch in on much but you can take advantage of it's prankster options to stop your opponent's momentum and start your own
Team Options
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- Other U-turn users can help keep momentum and get Thundurus in more often
- A ground-type and fairy-type can help keep Zekrom in line as the dragon can switch into Thundurus very easily
- Ground-types also help with KOing Dialga while Fairy-types can switch in on Dialga's Draco Meteors and force it to use one of it's coverage options
- Volt Switching into Shadow Tag is very good
fat Fireburn said:
Excadrill is a very good partner for this, it spins SR and checks Dialga/Zekrom/Eleceus in one mon which are Thundy's biggest checks. It can also set up SR if you want. Thundy packs Fight/Ground resists and can OHKO Groudon/scare Kyogre away so the two have very good synergy + VSwitch buys Drill chances to come in
Other Options
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- Toxic can cripple more defensive pokemon like bulkky arceus
- Nasty Plot can boost spatk but thundurus is too slow and fragile to sweep
- Knock Off can pester switch-ins by getting rid of their items
- Superpower hits blissey and it doesn't miss but overall inferior to Focus Blast which is already an unorthodox coverage choice
- Thunder's power drop and the lack of permanent makes it a very inconsistent, albeit, strong STAB move
- Zap Plate, Focus Sash, or Leftovers can be used to reduce the passive damage Thundurus suffers but it doesn't like taking even resisted attacks while Stealth Rock will put it on a very limited timer anyways. The drop in power is pretty significant as well making it far less threatening in general.
-Sludge Wave nails Fairies and Grass-types
Checks & Counters
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**Zekrom**: By far the biggest drawback to using Thundurus. Zekrom comes in extremely easily as it resists Thundurus's attacks and can't be paralyzed. It also applies massive pressure on whatever attempts to switch in thanks to its powerful STABs.
**Electric Arceus**: Immune to paralysis and resists Volt Switch. Grass Knot can hurt some but overall Thundurus can't really stick around to fight this Arceus forme.
**Dialga**: Resists Thundurus's attacks and can easily KO it with Draco Meteor and setup Stealth Rock to limit Thundurus's switches, doesn't mind being paralyzed much
**Ferrothorn**: Resists Electric- and Grass-type attacks and giggles at Hidden Power Ice. Thundurus may resist Ferrothorn's STABs and can stop hazards and status with Taunt but it is far too fragile to actually come close to winning.
**Excadrill**: Immune to Thundurus's Electric-type STAB and isn't weak to his main coverage options
**Stealth Rock**: Greatly limits the number of times Thundurus can switch in
**Blissey**: Can easily sponge just about any special attack and natural cure means paralysis isn't a problem at all. It doesn't like Taunt much and it's a Pokemon that is very easy to take advantage of so Volt Switch can lead to pretty strong punishes.
**Grass Arceus**: Like Electric Arceus except prone to paralysis and generally mediocre
**Ground / Flying-types**: Gliscor and Landorus are immune to Volt Switch and Thunderbolt while not being weak to Grass Knot, although their low special defense still means they take a decent chunk.
**Kyurem-W**: Dislikes Thunder Wave and having to switch out right from Volt Switch right after taking heavy damage from Stealth Rock but, otherwise, Kyurem-W doesn't fear much from Thundurus and can easily OHKO it with any of its attacks.
**Reshiram**: Very similar to Kyurem-W in that it takes Thundurus's attacks well but has to deal with a crippling Stealth Rock weakness and being paralyzed.
**Mega Charizard X**: Has no difficult in switching in and KOing Thundurus. Although, does not like being paralyzed by Thunder Wave. Charizard's weakness to Stealth Rock is also bothersome as it will often have to switch out right after coming in on Volt Switch. Also needs to be already mega evolved.
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- Prankster allows it to pester offensive teams with fast thunder wave
- Also allows Thundurus to anti-lead suicide spikes setters like Deoxys-S with Taunt (watch out for Magic Coat)
- Fairly high spatk and access to Taunt allows it to pester more defensive pokemon as well
- Naturally high speed and STAB Volt Switch helps in maintaining momentum while Grass Knot nails the ground types immune to Volt Switch
- Very frail
- Weak to Stealth Rock and reliant on LO so passive damage racks up quickly
Prankster
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name: Prankster
move 1: Volt Switch / Thunderbolt
move 2: Taunt
move 3: Thunder Wave
move 4: Grass Knot / Hidden Power [Ice]
ability: Prankster
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
- STAB Volt Switch hits hard and keeps momentum. Thunderbolt can be used if you want to hit harder and not be forced to switch out.
- Taunt stops the enemy from setting up their own hazards, statusing you, or Defogging
- Thunder Wave cripples offensive threats like Xerneas or Mewtwo and cuts off their sweeps and leave them vulnerable to slower attacks
- Grass Knot nails ground types like Groudon and Ground Arceus but HP Ice OHKOs Landorus-T and Gliscor and does actual damage to Zekrom
- Focus Blast can be used to hit Excadrill and Dialga
Set Details
========
- Max spatk and speed is needed to hit as hard and fast as possible as Thundurus is very fragile
- Timid nature is a must to outspeed slower defensive Arceus formes as well as Palkia
Usage Tips
========
- Bring it in on predicted EQs and scare out the ground type with Grass Knot
- Can often lead thanks to Prankster Twave and Taunt being very threatening early game and cutting off any potential early advantage
- Volt Switch can easily get Thundurus out of a unfavorable matchup
- Overall, thundy can't switch in on much but you can take advantage of it's prankster options to stop your opponent's momentum and start your own
Team Options
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- Other U-turn users can help keep momentum and get Thundurus in more often
- A ground-type and fairy-type can help keep Zekrom in line as the dragon can switch into Thundurus very easily
- Ground-types also help with KOing Dialga while Fairy-types can switch in on Dialga's Draco Meteors and force it to use one of it's coverage options
- Volt Switching into Shadow Tag is very good
fat Fireburn said:
Excadrill is a very good partner for this, it spins SR and checks Dialga/Zekrom/Eleceus in one mon which are Thundy's biggest checks. It can also set up SR if you want. Thundy packs Fight/Ground resists and can OHKO Groudon/scare Kyogre away so the two have very good synergy + VSwitch buys Drill chances to come in
Other Options
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- Toxic can cripple more defensive pokemon like bulkky arceus
- Nasty Plot can boost spatk but thundurus is too slow and fragile to sweep
- Knock Off can pester switch-ins by getting rid of their items
- Superpower hits blissey and it doesn't miss but overall inferior to Focus Blast which is already an unorthodox coverage choice
- Thunder's power drop and the lack of permanent makes it a very inconsistent, albeit, strong STAB move
- Zap Plate, Focus Sash, or Leftovers can be used to reduce the passive damage Thundurus suffers but it doesn't like taking even resisted attacks while Stealth Rock will put it on a very limited timer anyways. The drop in power is pretty significant as well making it far less threatening in general.
-Sludge Wave nails Fairies and Grass-types
Checks & Counters
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**Zekrom**: By far the biggest drawback to using Thundurus. Zekrom comes in extremely easily as it resists Thundurus's attacks and can't be paralyzed. It also applies massive pressure on whatever attempts to switch in thanks to its powerful STABs.
**Electric Arceus**: Immune to paralysis and resists Volt Switch. Grass Knot can hurt some but overall Thundurus can't really stick around to fight this Arceus forme.
**Dialga**: Resists Thundurus's attacks and can easily KO it with Draco Meteor and setup Stealth Rock to limit Thundurus's switches, doesn't mind being paralyzed much
**Ferrothorn**: Resists Electric- and Grass-type attacks and giggles at Hidden Power Ice. Thundurus may resist Ferrothorn's STABs and can stop hazards and status with Taunt but it is far too fragile to actually come close to winning.
**Excadrill**: Immune to Thundurus's Electric-type STAB and isn't weak to his main coverage options
**Stealth Rock**: Greatly limits the number of times Thundurus can switch in
**Blissey**: Can easily sponge just about any special attack and natural cure means paralysis isn't a problem at all. It doesn't like Taunt much and it's a Pokemon that is very easy to take advantage of so Volt Switch can lead to pretty strong punishes.
**Grass Arceus**: Like Electric Arceus except prone to paralysis and generally mediocre
**Ground / Flying-types**: Gliscor and Landorus are immune to Volt Switch and Thunderbolt while not being weak to Grass Knot, although their low special defense still means they take a decent chunk.
**Kyurem-W**: Dislikes Thunder Wave and having to switch out right from Volt Switch right after taking heavy damage from Stealth Rock but, otherwise, Kyurem-W doesn't fear much from Thundurus and can easily OHKO it with any of its attacks.
**Reshiram**: Very similar to Kyurem-W in that it takes Thundurus's attacks well but has to deal with a crippling Stealth Rock weakness and being paralyzed.
**Mega Charizard X**: Has no difficult in switching in and KOing Thundurus. Although, does not like being paralyzed by Thunder Wave. Charizard's weakness to Stealth Rock is also bothersome as it will often have to switch out right after coming in on Volt Switch. Also needs to be already mega evolved.
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