[overview]
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price range**: 13-14 points
**Overview**: Thundurus-T boasts both incredible Special Attack and strong setup options, making it a solid wallbreaker that can also be used as a wincon. However, its mediocre bulk, average Speed tier, lack of Flying-type STAB moves, and weakness to Stealth Rock keep it fairly inconsistent. Thankfully, Terastallization solves many of Thundurus-T's issues, heavily boosting its performance in battle. While Thundurus-T is still usable without Tera, it is very elevated by the mechanic and is usually drafted with the intention of it being a Tera Captain.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Offensive pivot**: Thundurus-T's sheer power can force many slower foes to switch out, and it can take advantage of this by gaining momentum with an incredibly strong STAB Volt Switch or U-turn when facing Electric-type immunities.
**Wallbreaker**: Thundurus-T's immense Special Attack, powerful Electric-type STAB moves, and decent coverage moves let it break through many defensive Pokemon. These sets will run damage-boosting items for optimal damage output and an offensive Tera type for additional coverage or a power boost to its existing coverage.
**Setup sweeper**: By using Nasty Plot and Agility—together or separately—Thundurus-T can boost its offenses and sweep games as a strong wincon. These sets will usually opt for a defensive Tera type to better create setup opportunities.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch, Thunder, Wildbolt Storm
**Setup moves**: Nasty Plot, Agility
**Utility moves**: U-turn, Knock Off, Taunt, Substitute, Brick Break, Thunder Wave
**Coverage**: Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Psychic, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Weather Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Sunny Day / Rain Dance**: Manual weather-setting moves can be paired with Weather Ball to give Thundurus-T access to a strong Fire-type or Water-type attack.
**Acrobatics**: Acrobatics is Thundurus-T's strongest Flying-type STAB move. It compromises Thundurus-T's item slot, but this can sometimes be worth it if Thundurus-T would like a Flying-type attack without committing to Tera Blast Flying. Acrobatics can also be combined with other physically-focused moves like Bulk Up and Supercell Slam.
**Foul Play**: Foul Play can be used on Choice Scarf sets to revenge kill Attack-boosting setup sweepers that Thundurus-T can't OHKO with its regular attacks.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots negates Thundurus-T's weakness to Stealth Rock, which protects it as it pivots in and out of the field during the battle.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs maximizes Thundurus-T's damage output, making it a potent wallbreaker.
**Choice Scarf**: Thundurus-T can remedy its mediocre Speed somewhat with a Choice Scarf, allowing it to outpace unboosted offensive threats. Notably, Choice Scarf lets Thundurus-T outspeed many of the common Speed-boosting and Choice Scarf members of the base 100 Speed tier at +1.
**Damage-boosting items**: Items like Life Orb or Expert Belt can be used to increase Thundurus-T's damage output without locking it into a move.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Thundurus-T may be frail, but its defensive typing combined with Volt Absorb is very solid, and it can patch up its special bulk with an Assault Vest to defensively check some special attackers like Zapdos and Tornadus-T.
**Resistance Berries**: While Thundurus-T does have low bulk, a resistance Berry can still help it survive a super effective attack, allowing it to either set up without fear or revenge kill a foe.
Tera
========
Thundurus-T benefits a lot from Tera, so it should mostly be drafted as a Tera Captain. While it is usable without Tera, it gains a lot from the mechanic both offensively and defensively. Offensively, Tera Electric powers up its strong Thunderbolt and Volt Switch even further, Tera Flying gives it access to strong special Flying-type STAB move, and it can use Tera types like Ground, Water, and Fairy to gain coverage it normally doesn't have. Alternatively, it can use a defensive Tera type like Poison or Steel to give wincon sets more opportunities to set up.
Draft Strategy
========
Thundurus-T is most effective as a Tera Captain, so it is typically drafted as one. It is relatively cheap compared to other good Tera Captains, so it can be paired with a second decent Tera Captain. With that being said, Thundurus-T is not strong enough to be the centerpiece of a draft and should only be taken if it fits a team's already established structure.
**Tera-banned high value Pokemon**: Thundurus-T really would like to be a Tera Captain, so it's most efficient to pair it with top-tier Pokemon that cannot Tera anyway, such as Iron Valiant, Palafin, and Darkrai.
**Entry hazard removal**: Thundurus-T would prefer not to use Heavy-Duty Boots all the time, so entry hazard removal support from Pokemon like Great Tusk, Donphan, and Excadrill is appreciated, as it alleviates its need for Heavy-Duty Boots.
**Speed control**: Thundurus-T leaves much to be desired in terms of Speed, so a high base Speed Pokemon like Meowscarada, Greninja, or Iron Bundle is appreciated to keep the fast offensive Pokemon that outspeed Thundurus-T in check.
**Strong physical offensive pivot**: Thundurus-T can form a powerful VoltTurn offensive core with a strong physical attacker like Urshifu-R, Cinderace, or Roaring Moon. This can help pressure the opposing team and wear down foes, allowing either Thundurus-T or its teammates to clean late-game.
Checks and Counters
========
**Electric-types**: Thundurus-T lacks Ground-type coverage, and Electric-types resist Thundurus-T's STAB moves. While Thundurus-T is immune to Electric-type attacks thanks to Volt Absorb, it cannot do much to Electric-types in return, so they will most often beat Thundurus-T head-to-head with their coverage moves. Some examples include Raging Bolt, Rotom-H, and Bellibolt, but opposing Tera Captains may use Tera Electric to deal with Thundurus-T as well.
**Faster offensive threats**: Thundurus-T's Speed tier is mediocre, leaving it outsped by a large portion of the metagame. Combined with its low bulk, this makes Thundurus-T struggle when dealing with offensive pressure.
**Stealth Rock**: Thundurus-T doesn't want to use Heavy-Duty Boots all the time, and Stealth Rock limits its effectiveness as an offensive pivot. It will need to rely on its teammates for entry hazard removal support.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
**Draft order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price range**: 13-14 points
**Overview**: Thundurus-T boasts both incredible Special Attack and strong setup options, making it a solid wallbreaker that can also be used as a wincon. However, its mediocre bulk, average Speed tier, lack of Flying-type STAB moves, and weakness to Stealth Rock keep it fairly inconsistent. Thankfully, Terastallization solves many of Thundurus-T's issues, heavily boosting its performance in battle. While Thundurus-T is still usable without Tera, it is very elevated by the mechanic and is usually drafted with the intention of it being a Tera Captain.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Offensive pivot**: Thundurus-T's sheer power can force many slower foes to switch out, and it can take advantage of this by gaining momentum with an incredibly strong STAB Volt Switch or U-turn when facing Electric-type immunities.
**Wallbreaker**: Thundurus-T's immense Special Attack, powerful Electric-type STAB moves, and decent coverage moves let it break through many defensive Pokemon. These sets will run damage-boosting items for optimal damage output and an offensive Tera type for additional coverage or a power boost to its existing coverage.
**Setup sweeper**: By using Nasty Plot and Agility—together or separately—Thundurus-T can boost its offenses and sweep games as a strong wincon. These sets will usually opt for a defensive Tera type to better create setup opportunities.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB moves**: Thunderbolt, Discharge, Volt Switch, Thunder, Wildbolt Storm
**Setup moves**: Nasty Plot, Agility
**Utility moves**: U-turn, Knock Off, Taunt, Substitute, Brick Break, Thunder Wave
**Coverage**: Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Focus Blast, Grass Knot, Psychic, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Weather Ball
Niche Moves
========
**Sunny Day / Rain Dance**: Manual weather-setting moves can be paired with Weather Ball to give Thundurus-T access to a strong Fire-type or Water-type attack.
**Acrobatics**: Acrobatics is Thundurus-T's strongest Flying-type STAB move. It compromises Thundurus-T's item slot, but this can sometimes be worth it if Thundurus-T would like a Flying-type attack without committing to Tera Blast Flying. Acrobatics can also be combined with other physically-focused moves like Bulk Up and Supercell Slam.
**Foul Play**: Foul Play can be used on Choice Scarf sets to revenge kill Attack-boosting setup sweepers that Thundurus-T can't OHKO with its regular attacks.
Common Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots negates Thundurus-T's weakness to Stealth Rock, which protects it as it pivots in and out of the field during the battle.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs maximizes Thundurus-T's damage output, making it a potent wallbreaker.
**Choice Scarf**: Thundurus-T can remedy its mediocre Speed somewhat with a Choice Scarf, allowing it to outpace unboosted offensive threats. Notably, Choice Scarf lets Thundurus-T outspeed many of the common Speed-boosting and Choice Scarf members of the base 100 Speed tier at +1.
**Damage-boosting items**: Items like Life Orb or Expert Belt can be used to increase Thundurus-T's damage output without locking it into a move.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Thundurus-T may be frail, but its defensive typing combined with Volt Absorb is very solid, and it can patch up its special bulk with an Assault Vest to defensively check some special attackers like Zapdos and Tornadus-T.
**Resistance Berries**: While Thundurus-T does have low bulk, a resistance Berry can still help it survive a super effective attack, allowing it to either set up without fear or revenge kill a foe.
Tera
========
Thundurus-T benefits a lot from Tera, so it should mostly be drafted as a Tera Captain. While it is usable without Tera, it gains a lot from the mechanic both offensively and defensively. Offensively, Tera Electric powers up its strong Thunderbolt and Volt Switch even further, Tera Flying gives it access to strong special Flying-type STAB move, and it can use Tera types like Ground, Water, and Fairy to gain coverage it normally doesn't have. Alternatively, it can use a defensive Tera type like Poison or Steel to give wincon sets more opportunities to set up.
Draft Strategy
========
Thundurus-T is most effective as a Tera Captain, so it is typically drafted as one. It is relatively cheap compared to other good Tera Captains, so it can be paired with a second decent Tera Captain. With that being said, Thundurus-T is not strong enough to be the centerpiece of a draft and should only be taken if it fits a team's already established structure.
**Tera-banned high value Pokemon**: Thundurus-T really would like to be a Tera Captain, so it's most efficient to pair it with top-tier Pokemon that cannot Tera anyway, such as Iron Valiant, Palafin, and Darkrai.
**Entry hazard removal**: Thundurus-T would prefer not to use Heavy-Duty Boots all the time, so entry hazard removal support from Pokemon like Great Tusk, Donphan, and Excadrill is appreciated, as it alleviates its need for Heavy-Duty Boots.
**Speed control**: Thundurus-T leaves much to be desired in terms of Speed, so a high base Speed Pokemon like Meowscarada, Greninja, or Iron Bundle is appreciated to keep the fast offensive Pokemon that outspeed Thundurus-T in check.
**Strong physical offensive pivot**: Thundurus-T can form a powerful VoltTurn offensive core with a strong physical attacker like Urshifu-R, Cinderace, or Roaring Moon. This can help pressure the opposing team and wear down foes, allowing either Thundurus-T or its teammates to clean late-game.
Checks and Counters
========
**Electric-types**: Thundurus-T lacks Ground-type coverage, and Electric-types resist Thundurus-T's STAB moves. While Thundurus-T is immune to Electric-type attacks thanks to Volt Absorb, it cannot do much to Electric-types in return, so they will most often beat Thundurus-T head-to-head with their coverage moves. Some examples include Raging Bolt, Rotom-H, and Bellibolt, but opposing Tera Captains may use Tera Electric to deal with Thundurus-T as well.
**Faster offensive threats**: Thundurus-T's Speed tier is mediocre, leaving it outsped by a large portion of the metagame. Combined with its low bulk, this makes Thundurus-T struggle when dealing with offensive pressure.
**Stealth Rock**: Thundurus-T doesn't want to use Heavy-Duty Boots all the time, and Stealth Rock limits its effectiveness as an offensive pivot. It will need to rely on its teammates for entry hazard removal support.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scribble.356084/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ken.594478/
Last edited:
