QC: Gary / PKGaming / p2
GP: P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
* Thundurus's high offensive stats allow it to threaten a large part of the tier.
* It has access to Nasty Plot and an expansive offensive movepool with many coverage options.
* Thundurus's Speed allows it to outspeed Pokemon such as Mega Metagross, Latios, and Mega Pinsir.
* It is able to stop sweepers and faster threats such as Mega Charizard X and Mega Alakazam thanks to its access to Prankster Thunder Wave.
* Thundurus has limited opportunities to switch in due to its frailness and weakness to Stealth Rock.
* It faces competition from Tapu Koko, which is faster and has a stronger Thunderbolt.
* Thundurus's viability is hurt by the changes to Prankster, which no longer works against Dark-types, and by Psychic Terrain, which blocks priority completely.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb / Leftovers
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Nasty Plot boosts Thundurus's Special Attack, turning it into a powerful wallbreaker.
* Thunderbolt is a powerful and reliable STAB move, hitting most neutral targets for good damage and destroying Water- and Flying-types.
* Hidden Power Ice targets Ground-types, especially Landorus-T, Garchomp, and Zygarde, and also grants Thundurus near-perfect neutral coverage.
* Focus Blast hits Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, Excadrill, Kyurem-B, and Magnezone for super effective damage.
* Hidden Power Flying is an option to beat Grass-types such as Mega Venusaur and Tangrowth while also doing good damage against Alolan Marowak.
* Sludge Wave hits Fairy-types, such as Tapu Lele and Clefable.
* Grass Knot is another option to deal with Ground-types that don't mind Hidden Power Ice, such as Hippowdon and Gastrodon.
* Substitute is also an option to protect Thundurus from revenge killing and status, but having more coverage is usually preferred.
Set Details
========
* The EVs maximize Thundurus's wallbreaking power and speed, and a Timid nature allows it to outspeed base 110 Speed Pokemon.
* Life Orb boosts Thundurus's power, helping it secure OHKOs against the likes of Latios and Zygarde after a boost.
* Leftovers can be used to give it some longevity at the cost of power.
* On variants with Hidden Power Flying, Fightinium Z can be used for a perfectly accurate, but one-time use, 190-Base Power All-Out Pummeling. After a boost it is strong enough to always OHKO targets such as Hippowdon and Mega Metagross.
Usage Tips
========
* This set should be used to weaken the opposing team in the early- and mid-game, allowing a teammate to clean later.
* Thundurus should set up on Pokemon it forces out, such as Mantine and Skarmory. It can also use its Ground immunity to set up against Choice Scarf Garchomp and Landorus-T locked into Earthquake.
* VoltTurn support from Pokemon like Jirachi and Ash-Greninja or double switches are appreciated to get it in safely.
Team Options
========
* Offensive Pokemon that appreciate walls being weakened pair well with this set. Tapu Lele can nullify priority moves while enjoying the removal of Celesteela, Skarmory, and Ferrothorn.
* Tapu Koko can form a Electric-type spam core, helping Thundurus get in safely with U-turn and cleaning after Ground- and Grass-types are weakened.
* Other setup sweepers, such as Mega Charizard X, Magearna, and Mega Scizor, can sweep after Ground- and Water-types are removed.
* Thundurus benefits from partners that can pressure Alolan Marowak, such as Ash-Greninja, Manaphy, and Landorus-T.
* Hazard removers such as Excadrill and Latios are appreciated due to Thundurus's weakness to Stealth Rock.
[SET]
name: Mixed Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Knock Off
item: Life Orb
ability: Defiant
nature: Naive
evs: 68 Atk / 188 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Thunderbolt is Thundurus's main move and a reliable STAB attack.
* Hidden Power Ice hits Ground- and Grass-types, such as Zygarde and Tapu Bulu.
* Superpower surprises specially defensive walls, mainly Chansey. It also hits Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Tyranitar.
* Knock Off allows Thundurus to remove Leftovers and Eviolite from its switch-ins while also OHKOing Latios and dealing good damage to Jirachi and Alolan Marowak.
* Thundurus can also use other attacking options, such as Hidden Power Flying for Mega Venusaur or Grass Knot for Gastrodon and Hippowdon.
Set Details
========
* The Attack EVs allow Thundurus to OHKO Latios with Stealth Rock damage and also finish Chansey with Knock Off followed by Superpower.
* Maximum Speed allows Thundurus to make use of its good Speed tier.
* A Naive nature is preferred over Hasty to reduce damage taken from priority attacks, such as Bullet Punch.
* The rest of the EVs are placed in Special Attack to power up Thunderbolt.
* Life Orb is the only item this set should use, as otherwise it's too weak.
* Defiant allows Thundurus to get an Attack boost when switching into Defog from the likes of Skarmory.
Usage Tips
========
* Thundurus should attempt to lure its common checks and cripple or KO them with its physical moves. Avoid revealing too early that this is a mixed set.
* This set is used as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker to pave the way for a teammate to sweep.
* Switching in after a KO or with U-turn support is preferred over switching in directly.
Team Options
========
* This set pairs well with fast special attackers that appreciate Chansey being weakened, such as Ash-Greninja and Choice Scarf Tapu Lele. Ash-Greninja also enjoys the removal of Mantine and Tapu Fini, while it has U-turn to help Thundurus get in safely.
* Excadrill and Latios are appreciated to remove Stealth Rock.
* Bulky VoltTurn pivots, such as Landorus-T, Jirachi, and Rotom-W, can help Thundurus get in safely.
[SET]
name: Thunder Wave + 3 Attacks
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Focus Blast
item: Life Orb
ability: Prankster
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Thunder Wave allows Thundurus to cripple faster threats and sweepers with a Speed boost.
* Thunderbolt is a reliable and strong STAB attack.
* Hidden Power Ice hits Landorus-T, Zygarde, Garchomp, and some Grass-types such as Tapu Bulu.
* Focus Blast hits targets such as Ferrothorn, Excadrill, Kyurem-B, and Magnezone.
* Other moves such as Hidden Power Flying, Grass Knot, and Sludge Wave can be used depending on team needs.
Set Details
========
* Prankster grants priority to Thunder Wave, allowing Thundurus to use it against faster Pokemon.
* Life Orb is needed to boost its power.
* The given EVs and nature maximize Thundurus's power and speed.
Usage Tips
========
* This set can be used as a failsafe against some threats such as Volcarona, Mega Charizard X, and Magearna that would otherwise sweep.
* Prankster no longer works against Dark-types, so Thundurus can't stop Mega Gyarados, Mega Sharpedo, and Greninja.
* Preserve Thundurus if it's your only way to stop a certain sweeper; otherwise, this set should just be used as any other wallbreaker.
Team Options
========
* This set fits on offensive teams that need a way to stop dangerous setup sweepers.
* Jirachi can check Grass- and Dragon-types such as Latios and Mega Venusaur while also providing Stealth Rock and U-turn support.
* Water-types, such as Ash-Greninja and Manaphy, can remove Alolan Marowak and help pressure Grass-types.
* Pursuit users such as Weavile can help Thundurus by trapping Latios and Jirachi.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* A set with Bulk Up / Fly / Wild Charge / Superpower holding Flyinium Z is able to OHKO any Grass-type and weaken special walls.
* Volt Switch can be used as a STAB move to get momentum, but the power of Thunderbolt is usually preferred.
* Taunt can shut down defensive Pokemon, preventing them from healing or setting up hazards.
* Thundurus can use Toxic to cripple a lot of its common checks, such as Hippowdon, Gastrodon, Alolan Marowak, and Assault Vest Tangrowth, with a single moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ground-types**: Although the more common Ground-types are defeated by Hidden Power Ice, mixed defensive Hippowdon and Gastrodon can take anything except for the rare Grass Knot.
**Grass-types**: Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Assault Vest Tangrowth resist Thunderbolt and are bulky enough to take Hidden Power Ice, but they are defeated by sets with Hidden Power Flying or Fly.
**Special Walls**: Chansey is a full stop to special sets. Specially defensive Jirachi and Mew can be overwhelmed by Nasty Plot, but they can stall out sets without it.
**Faster Pokemon**: Tapu Koko, Weavile, and Greninja all outspeed and OHKO Thundurus while being immune to Prankster Thunder Wave. Choice Scarf users, such as Garchomp, also threaten it.
**Alolan Marowak**: With its typing and access to Lightning Rod, Alolan Marowak can check sets without Knock Off, but it's easily worn down.
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