[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Thundurus-T boasts one of the highest Special Attack stats in the metagame, making it an incredibly potent wallbreaker that also has the option to be a reliable wincon thanks to its deep movepool and setup options. It also has a serviceable Attack stat with strong coverage moves available that can be used to deal with specially defensive foes. Despite all that it has going for it, Thundurus-T has a hard time getting drafted due to the competition it has to face from faster and more flexible Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora as well as its weakness to Stealth Rock hampering its ability to pivot frequently.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With its incredible Special Attack stat and viable coverage options, Thundurus-T can be a devastating wallbreaker that's further boosted by damaging-boosting items and Z-Crystals.
**Setup Sweeper**: Thundurus-T can use Agility and Nasty Plot individually or together to potentially be a threatening wincon, being able to outspeed most offensive teams and breaking through most walls with the help of Z-Moves.
**Offensive Pivot**: The offensive pressure generated by Thundurus-T can be used as a way to gain initiative against slower foes by using pivoting moves such as U-turn and Volt Switch, and with a Choice Scarf, Thundurus-T can also be used as a cleaner as well.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, Discharge
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Defog, Knock Off, Brick Break, Taunt, Substitute, Protect
**Coverage**: Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Flash Cannon, Grass Knot, Hidden Power, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Fly**: Fly, in combination with Flyinium Z, can give Thundurus-T a strong option to hit Grass-types that are able to take multiple Thunderbolts.
**Superpower**: Thundurus-T can opt to use a strong move like Superpower as a way to hit some specially defensive foes that are weak to fighting.
Common Items
========
**Z-Crystal**: A Z-Crystal can help Thundurus-T by giving it the option to break through more specially defensive foes, be it with an Electric-type STAB move or one of its coverage options.
**Damage-boosting Items**: By using a Choice Specs, Expert Belt, or a Magnet, Thundurus-T can further boost its damage output without being a one-time use like a Z-Move.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf can be used in more offensive matchups to make Thundurus-T able to outspeed common faster foes and threaten them with its high Special Attack stat.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: Thanks to its typing and Volt Absorb ability, Thundurus-T can use Substitute sets reliably against most Electric-types, and Leftovers greatly helps with longevity in those matchups.
**Resistance Berries**: With its amazing Special Attack stat, Thundurus-T can act as a lure if needed with the help of Berries like Yache Berry and Charti Berry, so it can hit the foe back with a Hidden Power to exploit a weakness.
Draft Strategy
========
Thundurus-T is a very reliable option to cover the role of a wallbreaker, and it can also be a setup sweeper. However, it is not great at doing more than that, so it ends up being a very demanding Pokemon that needs several roles to be covered during a draft to perform well.
**Reliable Pivots**: Thundurus-T needs as many turns as possible so that it can make progress as a wallbreaker, so a reliable pivot like Uxie, Scizor, or Landorus-T can go a long way at supporting it.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Thundurus-T's weakness to Stealth Rock can prove to be quite the problem, limiting the number of turns it can make progress. Removal options like Tapu Fini, Mega Scizor and Latios can compliment it very well.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: As is the case with most strong attackers, entry hazards can make a huge difference at pressuring defensive plays from the opponent, and in the case of Thundurus-T, it is specially helpful at wearing down Electric-resistant foes. Hazard setters such as Garchomp, Nidoqueen, and Skarmory can set them up reliably.
**Speed Control**: Although Thundurus-T has an above average Speed stat, it appreciates having fast allies like Greninja, Mega Lopunny, and Serperior. These let it freely act as a wallbreaker or a setup sweeper instead of being forced to be a offensive check with the help of a Choice Scarf.
Checks and Counters
========
**Electric Resistant Pokemon**: Despite its offensive capability, Thundurus-T lacks real options for Flying-Type STAB moves, which leaves it to depend on its Electric-type STAB moves to do most of its damage. Electric-resistant foes such as Nidoqueen, Zeraora and Kyurem-B can take hits safely, especially if it's holding a Choice item, while also being able to threaten It back.
**Faster Threats**: Faster foes like Garchomp, Tapu Koko and Mega Lopunny can limit its offensive capabilities quite a lot by keeping offensive pressure against it.
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive foes such as Snorlax, Alolan Muk, and Reuniclus with a neutral matchup against Thundurus-T can prove to be quite annoying if their sets are built with the intent of dealing with it.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
**Draft Order**: Round 4 onwards
**Price Range**: 12-13 points
**Overview**: Thundurus-T boasts one of the highest Special Attack stats in the metagame, making it an incredibly potent wallbreaker that also has the option to be a reliable wincon thanks to its deep movepool and setup options. It also has a serviceable Attack stat with strong coverage moves available that can be used to deal with specially defensive foes. Despite all that it has going for it, Thundurus-T has a hard time getting drafted due to the competition it has to face from faster and more flexible Electric-types such as Tapu Koko and Zeraora as well as its weakness to Stealth Rock hampering its ability to pivot frequently.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With its incredible Special Attack stat and viable coverage options, Thundurus-T can be a devastating wallbreaker that's further boosted by damaging-boosting items and Z-Crystals.
**Setup Sweeper**: Thundurus-T can use Agility and Nasty Plot individually or together to potentially be a threatening wincon, being able to outspeed most offensive teams and breaking through most walls with the help of Z-Moves.
**Offensive Pivot**: The offensive pressure generated by Thundurus-T can be used as a way to gain initiative against slower foes by using pivoting moves such as U-turn and Volt Switch, and with a Choice Scarf, Thundurus-T can also be used as a cleaner as well.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderbolt, Volt Switch, Discharge
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Nasty Plot
**Utility Moves**: U-turn, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Defog, Knock Off, Brick Break, Taunt, Substitute, Protect
**Coverage**: Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Flash Cannon, Grass Knot, Hidden Power, Focus Blast, Dark Pulse, Psychic
Niche Moves
========
**Fly**: Fly, in combination with Flyinium Z, can give Thundurus-T a strong option to hit Grass-types that are able to take multiple Thunderbolts.
**Superpower**: Thundurus-T can opt to use a strong move like Superpower as a way to hit some specially defensive foes that are weak to fighting.
Common Items
========
**Z-Crystal**: A Z-Crystal can help Thundurus-T by giving it the option to break through more specially defensive foes, be it with an Electric-type STAB move or one of its coverage options.
**Damage-boosting Items**: By using a Choice Specs, Expert Belt, or a Magnet, Thundurus-T can further boost its damage output without being a one-time use like a Z-Move.
**Choice Scarf**: A Choice Scarf can be used in more offensive matchups to make Thundurus-T able to outspeed common faster foes and threaten them with its high Special Attack stat.
Niche Items
========
**Leftovers**: Thanks to its typing and Volt Absorb ability, Thundurus-T can use Substitute sets reliably against most Electric-types, and Leftovers greatly helps with longevity in those matchups.
**Resistance Berries**: With its amazing Special Attack stat, Thundurus-T can act as a lure if needed with the help of Berries like Yache Berry and Charti Berry, so it can hit the foe back with a Hidden Power to exploit a weakness.
Draft Strategy
========
Thundurus-T is a very reliable option to cover the role of a wallbreaker, and it can also be a setup sweeper. However, it is not great at doing more than that, so it ends up being a very demanding Pokemon that needs several roles to be covered during a draft to perform well.
**Reliable Pivots**: Thundurus-T needs as many turns as possible so that it can make progress as a wallbreaker, so a reliable pivot like Uxie, Scizor, or Landorus-T can go a long way at supporting it.
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Thundurus-T's weakness to Stealth Rock can prove to be quite the problem, limiting the number of turns it can make progress. Removal options like Tapu Fini, Mega Scizor and Latios can compliment it very well.
**Entry Hazard Setters**: As is the case with most strong attackers, entry hazards can make a huge difference at pressuring defensive plays from the opponent, and in the case of Thundurus-T, it is specially helpful at wearing down Electric-resistant foes. Hazard setters such as Garchomp, Nidoqueen, and Skarmory can set them up reliably.
**Speed Control**: Although Thundurus-T has an above average Speed stat, it appreciates having fast allies like Greninja, Mega Lopunny, and Serperior. These let it freely act as a wallbreaker or a setup sweeper instead of being forced to be a offensive check with the help of a Choice Scarf.
Checks and Counters
========
**Electric Resistant Pokemon**: Despite its offensive capability, Thundurus-T lacks real options for Flying-Type STAB moves, which leaves it to depend on its Electric-type STAB moves to do most of its damage. Electric-resistant foes such as Nidoqueen, Zeraora and Kyurem-B can take hits safely, especially if it's holding a Choice item, while also being able to threaten It back.
**Faster Threats**: Faster foes like Garchomp, Tapu Koko and Mega Lopunny can limit its offensive capabilities quite a lot by keeping offensive pressure against it.
**Special Walls**: Specially defensive foes such as Snorlax, Alolan Muk, and Reuniclus with a neutral matchup against Thundurus-T can prove to be quite annoying if their sets are built with the intent of dealing with it.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Last edited:
