[OVERVIEW]
With its high Special Attack and Speed coupled with great coverage options, Thundurus is a threat to be reckoned with in RU that can pick and choose its answers. Additionally, it has decent defensive merit due to its typing, which gives it an immunity to Ground-type moves and allows it to pivot into common Flying-types in the tier, namely Crobat and Togekiss. However, it is generally pigeonholed into using Heavy-Duty Boots, as its weakness to Stealth Rock would otherwise hinder its ability to switch in multiple times. It is also vulnerable to faster threats such as Zygarde-10%, Noivern, and Raikou, along with common Choice Scarf users such as Heracross and Mienshao. The edges that it has over its fellow Electric-type Raikou, which can also run either a boosting set or a pivot set, are that it has stronger coverage options and Knock Off and can boost faster. The Nasty Plot set threatens a majority of the tier and has few answers; however, finding avenues to set up can be an issue, as Thundurus does not have the greatest bulk and can be crippled by Toxic when attempting to set up on defensive Pokemon. The pivot set focuses on leveraging Thundurus's threat level to find opportunities to bring in other wallbreakers or remove the items of traditional Nasty Plot Thundurus checks like Diancie, Celebi, and Raikou. However, it has no way to boost its power, which can limit its effectiveness against bulkier opposition.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Psychic / Grass Knot
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Defiant
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Focus Blast hits Steel- and Dark-types such as Steelix, Registeel, Incineroar, and Zarude, and it is also able to hit specially defensive Pokemon such as Porygon2 and Snorlax that are bulky enough to take one boosted hit from Thundurus otherwise. The last move on Thundurus is flexible. Psychic is intended for Poison-types, namely Roserade and Dragalge, which resist all of Thundurus's moves otherwise, and it also heavily damages Alolan Marowak. Grass Knot ensures OHKOs on Rhyperior and Seismitoad without a Nasty Plot boost and guarantees an OHKO on Gastrodon with a boost under its belt. +2 Grass Knot also does massive damage to Steelix, lowering Thundurus's reliance on the inaccurate Focus Blast. Sludge Wave is an alternative that can be considered to provide a more accurate option against Zarude, as well as hit the uncommon Celebi, which walls Thundurus otherwise, and do more damage to Sylveon. Additionally, Knock Off can help against switch-ins such as Diancie, Celebi, and Raikou, removing their important items such as Leftovers and Heavy-Duty Boots.
Faster threats such as Zygarde-10%, Noivern, and Raikou pose a huge issue for Thundurus. Therefore, bulky teammates such as Milotic, Porygon2, and Sylveon make for good partners. Milotic and Porygon2 can find avenues for Thundurus to set up by pivoting with Flip Turn and Teleport, respectively, while Sylveon is a catch-all answer to such threats. Spikes or Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon such as Golisopod, Roserade, and Dragalge complements Thundurus nicely, as either helps to soften bulky opposition for it to have a better time cleaning late-game. First Impression from Golisopod can help to check faster foes such as Zygarde-10% and Raikou, while the latter two can check Electric-types such as Raikou and Choice Scarf Xurkitree. Strong physical attackers such as Darmanitan, Choice Band Metagross, and Zygarde-10% also pair nicely with Thundurus, as they can wear down special walls such as Diancie, Gastrodon, and Registeel in exchange for Thundurus's ability to break through bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Suicune. Lastly, on hyper offense teams, dual screens support from Vanilluxe and Xatu facilitates Thundurus's setup opportunities and allows it to stay in against a greater number of foes if already boosted.
[SET]
name: Offensive Pivot
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Grass Knot
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: U-turn / Volt Switch
item: Heavy-Duty Boots
ability: Defiant
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Grass Knot allows Thundurus to OHKO Rhyperior and Seismitoad. Knock Off is a nice general utility move that can remove crucial items such as Heavy-Duty Boots and Leftovers, which can make entry hazard support more threatening. U-turn allows Thundurus to pivot freely, while Volt Switch has STAB damage but can be blocked by Ground-types. U-turn also allows it to punish Choice Scarf Zarude attempting to come in on a predicted Electric-type move or Nasty Plot. Focus Blast is an alternative to consider, as it hits Pokemon like Incineroar, Zarude, and Registeel that are bulky enough to take any other move from Thundurus, although they already dislike taking a Knock Off. Sludge Wave can be used to hit Sylveon harder while still hitting Zarude. Thunder Wave can also be used to patch up weaknesses against fast setup sweepers.
Thundurus pairs well with Spikes or Toxic Spikes support from Pokemon such as Golisopod, Roserade, and Dragalge. First Impression from Golisopod can help with checking faster Pokemon such as Zygarde-10% and Raikou, while the latter two can check Electric-types such as Raikou and Choice Scarf Xurkitree. Strong physical attackers such as Darmanitan, Choice Band Metagross, and Zygarde-10% also pair nicely with Thundurus, as they can help to wear down special walls such as Diancie, Gastrodon, and Registeel in exchange for Thundurus's ability to break bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Suicune. Thundurus complements setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Cobalion and Dragon Dance Regidrago well, as it can find avenues for them to set up and help deal with bulky Water-types such as Milotic and Suicune. Additionally, Knock Off support from Thundurus greatly benefits special attacking wallbreakers such as Indeedee-M and Volcanion, as it can cripple special walls such as Diancie, Registeel, and Gastrodon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Weather Ball can be used as a coverage option when paired with weather support. Thunder can also be used on rain teams. Taunt can also be considered to prevent common switch-ins such as Gastrodon, Registeel, and Porygon2 from using recovery or support moves. Life Orb is an option to boost Thundurus's overall damage output and make it even more threatening; however, this makes it vulnerable to Stealth Rock damage and can limit its effectiveness. Bulk Up sets can also be used, though they are not as reliable as Thundurus's special attacking sets. Additionally, Wild Charge has recoil and Superpower comes with Attack and Defense drops, which can make it weaker or prone to being revenge killed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Attackers**: Faster attackers such as Zygarde-10%, Raikou, Noivern, and Choice Scarf Xurkitree can thwart Thundurus's attempts at sweeping. Additionally, Raikou is able to come in on any unboosted hit from Thundurus and threaten a 2HKO with Thunderbolt or use Volt Switch to create momentum, although it does not like switching in on Knock Off.
**Bulky Special Walls**: Bulky special walls such as Diancie, Gastrodon, and Registeel can be a massive hindrance, as they can always take one hit from full and cripple Thundurus with Toxic, which affects its longevity and ability to sweep. It has to be noted that these walls generally dislike dealing with the pivot set, though, as Thundurus can cripple them with Knock Off or generate momentum with U-turn or Volt Switch when expecting them to come in.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[gorex, 244449]]
- Quality checked by: [[EonX, 91480], [GoldCat, 359771], [zizalith, 410251]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [Finland, 517429], [Eyan, 226777]]
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