[OVERVIEW]
Electric
========
Thundurus is a staple on Electric teams thanks to its remarkable Speed tier, high Special Attack, good coverage, and access to Prankster Thunder Wave. Its Speed tier lets it outpace base 110 Speed foes such as Latios, Gengar, and Mega Gallade. Thundurus's Expert Belt-boosted Electric-, Ice-, and Grass-type coverage hits many Pokemon super effectively, including troublesome Water / Ground-types such as Gastrodon. However, because of its fragility and weakness to Stealth Rock, Thundurus is susceptible to revenge killing from faster threats like Deoxys-S, Choice Scarf Heracross, and Choice Scarf Victini.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker (Electric)
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Expert Belt
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hidden Power Ice hits Dragon-types such as Garchomp, Dragonite, and Latios and Flying-types like Landorus, Thundurus-T, and Gliscor. Grass Knot covers Terrakion and Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gastrodon, Swampert, and Seismitoad. Prankster Thunder Wave allows Thundurus to cripple faster threats such as +1 Volcarona, Kingdra in rain, and Choice Scarf Victini. Expert Belt complements Thundurus's good coverage, allowing it to OHKO Mega Garchomp with Hidden Power Ice and 2HKO Gastrodon with Grass Knot.
Thundurus's teammates rely on it to cripple faster threats like Kingdra in rain and deal with Ground-types like Gastrodon and Swampert. Zapdos is a specially defensive Defogger that can spread status with Discharge and Toxic. Air Balloon Magnezone with Hidden Power Fire traps and KOes problematic Steel-types like Excadrill and Ferrothorn. It also takes care of Rock-, Ice-, and Fairy-types like Mega Aerodactyl, Weavile, and bulky Mega Gardevoir. Rotom-W can deal with most of Thundurus's offensive answers, provide slow pivot support, and check Ground-types like Choice Band Excadrill and Mamoswine. Substitute + Calm Mind Raikou can dismantle Psychic teams and break through bulkier foes like Zapdos. Mega Manectric has similar offensive capabilities to Thundurus, meaning it can help wear down shared answers such as Heatran and Latios. It can also make use of Intimidate, its fantastic Speed tier, and Volt Switch to create momentum while annoying physical attackers.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
Magnet lets Thundurus deal more damage to Zapdos and Pokemon it cannot hit super effectively, such as Volcarona. Thundurus has plenty of other options that it can run over Thunder Wave, although being able to paralyze faster threats is one of its biggest niches. Focus Blast allows Thundurus to OHKO Hydreigon and offensive Mega Tyranitar and hit Steel-types such as Excadrill, Magnezone, and Ferrothorn. With Taunt, Thundurus can deter Stealth Rock setters such as Cobalion and Bronzong and prevent problematic Pokemon from recovering like Mega Latias, Zapdos, and Mega Venusaur. Nasty Plot hones Thundurus's sweeping prowess and allows it to break through specially defensive walls like Zapdos. Knock Off can be used with a Naive or Hasty nature to cripple Eviolite users like Chansey and Porygon2 and deal more damage to Ghost- and Psychic-types like Gengar and Latios. A Choice Band set with Knock Off, U-turn, and Superpower allows Thundurus to check Psychic-types like Latios and Celebi and deal significant damage to Chansey. Compared to the standard set, Choice Band variants contribute less in most matchups outside of Normal and Psychic.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Chansey**: Chansey can set Stealth Rock, tank attacks from Thundurus, and 3HKO it with Seismic Toss.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur switches into Thundurus and wears it down with Sludge Bomb or Leech Seed.
**Mega Latias**: Mega Latias can use Thundurus as setup bait; however, mono-attacking Stored Power sets should be wary of Taunt.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Zapdos avoids being 2HKOed by Thundurus after Stealth Rock and pressures it with Discharge. Other Pokemon with good special bulk like Heatran and Mega Gardevoir can survive two hits from Thundurus and threaten it with Lava Plume and Hyper Voice, respectively. Rindo Berry Swampert can also tank an Expert Belt-boosted Grass Knot from Thundurus and OHKO it with Mirror Coat.
**Electric-resistant Steel-types**: Steel-types resistant or immune to Electric like Magnezone, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill can wall Thundurus's coverage and threaten it in various ways. However, all of them need to watch out for uncommon Focus Blast variants.
**Revenge Killers**: Weavile, Choice Scarf Victini, and Choice Scarf Heracross outspeed and OHKO Thundurus while surviving at least one attack from it. The latter two Pokemon, however, need to be wary of paralysis. Priority users like Mamoswine and Bisharp can also KO Thundurus after prior chip damage.
**Residual Damage**: Thundurus gets worn down by Stealth Rock, Toxic poison, and burn.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Cell, 244276]]
- Electric analysis by: [[Cell, 244276]]
- Quality checked by: [[Izaya, 311872], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
Electric
========
Thundurus is a staple on Electric teams thanks to its remarkable Speed tier, high Special Attack, good coverage, and access to Prankster Thunder Wave. Its Speed tier lets it outpace base 110 Speed foes such as Latios, Gengar, and Mega Gallade. Thundurus's Expert Belt-boosted Electric-, Ice-, and Grass-type coverage hits many Pokemon super effectively, including troublesome Water / Ground-types such as Gastrodon. However, because of its fragility and weakness to Stealth Rock, Thundurus is susceptible to revenge killing from faster threats like Deoxys-S, Choice Scarf Heracross, and Choice Scarf Victini.
[SET]
name: Special Attacker (Electric)
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Expert Belt
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hidden Power Ice hits Dragon-types such as Garchomp, Dragonite, and Latios and Flying-types like Landorus, Thundurus-T, and Gliscor. Grass Knot covers Terrakion and Ground-types like Hippowdon, Gastrodon, Swampert, and Seismitoad. Prankster Thunder Wave allows Thundurus to cripple faster threats such as +1 Volcarona, Kingdra in rain, and Choice Scarf Victini. Expert Belt complements Thundurus's good coverage, allowing it to OHKO Mega Garchomp with Hidden Power Ice and 2HKO Gastrodon with Grass Knot.
Thundurus's teammates rely on it to cripple faster threats like Kingdra in rain and deal with Ground-types like Gastrodon and Swampert. Zapdos is a specially defensive Defogger that can spread status with Discharge and Toxic. Air Balloon Magnezone with Hidden Power Fire traps and KOes problematic Steel-types like Excadrill and Ferrothorn. It also takes care of Rock-, Ice-, and Fairy-types like Mega Aerodactyl, Weavile, and bulky Mega Gardevoir. Rotom-W can deal with most of Thundurus's offensive answers, provide slow pivot support, and check Ground-types like Choice Band Excadrill and Mamoswine. Substitute + Calm Mind Raikou can dismantle Psychic teams and break through bulkier foes like Zapdos. Mega Manectric has similar offensive capabilities to Thundurus, meaning it can help wear down shared answers such as Heatran and Latios. It can also make use of Intimidate, its fantastic Speed tier, and Volt Switch to create momentum while annoying physical attackers.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Electric
--------
Magnet lets Thundurus deal more damage to Zapdos and Pokemon it cannot hit super effectively, such as Volcarona. Thundurus has plenty of other options that it can run over Thunder Wave, although being able to paralyze faster threats is one of its biggest niches. Focus Blast allows Thundurus to OHKO Hydreigon and offensive Mega Tyranitar and hit Steel-types such as Excadrill, Magnezone, and Ferrothorn. With Taunt, Thundurus can deter Stealth Rock setters such as Cobalion and Bronzong and prevent problematic Pokemon from recovering like Mega Latias, Zapdos, and Mega Venusaur. Nasty Plot hones Thundurus's sweeping prowess and allows it to break through specially defensive walls like Zapdos. Knock Off can be used with a Naive or Hasty nature to cripple Eviolite users like Chansey and Porygon2 and deal more damage to Ghost- and Psychic-types like Gengar and Latios. A Choice Band set with Knock Off, U-turn, and Superpower allows Thundurus to check Psychic-types like Latios and Celebi and deal significant damage to Chansey. Compared to the standard set, Choice Band variants contribute less in most matchups outside of Normal and Psychic.
Checks and Counters
===================
Electric
--------
**Chansey**: Chansey can set Stealth Rock, tank attacks from Thundurus, and 3HKO it with Seismic Toss.
**Mega Venusaur**: Mega Venusaur switches into Thundurus and wears it down with Sludge Bomb or Leech Seed.
**Mega Latias**: Mega Latias can use Thundurus as setup bait; however, mono-attacking Stored Power sets should be wary of Taunt.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Zapdos avoids being 2HKOed by Thundurus after Stealth Rock and pressures it with Discharge. Other Pokemon with good special bulk like Heatran and Mega Gardevoir can survive two hits from Thundurus and threaten it with Lava Plume and Hyper Voice, respectively. Rindo Berry Swampert can also tank an Expert Belt-boosted Grass Knot from Thundurus and OHKO it with Mirror Coat.
**Electric-resistant Steel-types**: Steel-types resistant or immune to Electric like Magnezone, Ferrothorn, and Excadrill can wall Thundurus's coverage and threaten it in various ways. However, all of them need to watch out for uncommon Focus Blast variants.
**Revenge Killers**: Weavile, Choice Scarf Victini, and Choice Scarf Heracross outspeed and OHKO Thundurus while surviving at least one attack from it. The latter two Pokemon, however, need to be wary of paralysis. Priority users like Mamoswine and Bisharp can also KO Thundurus after prior chip damage.
**Residual Damage**: Thundurus gets worn down by Stealth Rock, Toxic poison, and burn.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Cell, 244276]]
- Electric analysis by: [[Cell, 244276]]
- Quality checked by: [[Izaya, 311872], [roxiee, 481576]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732]]
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