[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price Range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Thundurus is a versatile offensive threat that is effective as both a physical and special attacker. It also posses a great utility movepool along with Prankster, making it good at disrupting faster setup sweepers. Thundurus is not without flaws though; it can lack power without boosts or a Z-Crystal, and being weak to Stealth Rock means it is prone to getting worn down quickly.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With access to good physical and special setup and coverage options, Thundurus can be a threatening wallbreaker. Holding a Z-Crystal can further enhance its ability to break though foes.
**Utility Pivot**: With access to Prankster, Thundurus can be a versatile support Pokemon that is able to invest in bulk and pivot to teammates while spreading status and otherwise disrupting foes.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunder, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge, Thunder Punch, Volt Switch, Discharge
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot, Bulk Up, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Substitute, Defog, Toxic, Thunder Wave, Taunt, U-turn, Brick Break, Knock Off
**Coverage**: Psychic, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Crunch, Dark Pulse, Focus Blast, Hidden Power, Superpower, Grass Knot, Flash Cannon
Niche Moves
========
**Fly**: Thundurus lacks viable Flying-type STAB moves outside of Hidden Power, but Fly combined with a Z-Crystal or Power Herb can make for a useful one-time attack.
Common Items
========
**Z-Crystals**: Thundurus has many powerful attacking moves that are either inconsistent or have annoying downsides. Z-Crystals allow it to use these moves effectively and break through opposing walls with ease.
**Life Orb**: While the chip damage from Life Orb is annoying, especially with Thundurus's weakens to entry hazards, the boost in power is greatly appreciated and allows it to dish out damage highly effectively.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries give Thundurus the ability to survive a would-be fatal attack and either cripple a foe or get the setup necessary to break through opposing teams.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Usually Thundurus doesn't like being locked into moves, but in certain matchups, the boost in power from Choice Specs can be worth the tradeoff.
**Leftovers**: If it is using a utility set or if boosted damage output is less necessary, Leftovers can be beneficial in keeping Thundurus healthy.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Items like Magnet and Expert Belt can allow Thundurus to boost its damage without the extra chip from Life Orb, allowing it to stay healthier throughout a match.
Draft Strategy
========
Thundurus is a solid wallbreaker with good utility that can fit on many drafts. It needs solid entry hazard control and some help getting in safely to be its most effective, but it is great at enabling cleaners and breaking through foes.
**Slow Pivots**: Pokemon like Uxie and Scizor that can take hits and pivot out make good partners for Thundurus, giving it safe opportunities to switch in.
**Entry Hazard Control**: Stealth Rock is quite annoying for Thundurus, so hazard removers like Tapu Fini and Excadrill are helpful in keeping it healthy.
**Cleaners**: Thundurus is good at breaking walls and crippling foes with status, making it a great partner for cleaners like Kartana and Greninja.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Ground-types**: Pokemon like Zygarde and Nidoqueen can be difficult for Thundurus to break through, often walling it even with Hidden Power or Grass Knot.
**Faster Foes**: While Thundurus has a solid Speed tier and priority Thunder Wave, faster foes can be tricky to play around, and foes holding a Choice Scarf are always a looming threat. Dark-types that are immune to Prankster like Greninja and foes that are immune to paralysis like Tapu Koko can be especially annoying.
**Electric-resistant Foes**: While Thundurus is a good wallbreaker, Pokemon like Latias and Ferrothorn that resist its STAB attacks and can even potentially survive a Z-Move can be difficult for it to muscle through without help. Other Electric-resistant or -immune like Zeraora can also take advantage of Thundurus, even if they are not very defensive.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/termnal.404799/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 2 onwards
**Price Range**: 15-16 points
**Overview**: Thundurus is a versatile offensive threat that is effective as both a physical and special attacker. It also posses a great utility movepool along with Prankster, making it good at disrupting faster setup sweepers. Thundurus is not without flaws though; it can lack power without boosts or a Z-Crystal, and being weak to Stealth Rock means it is prone to getting worn down quickly.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Wallbreaker**: With access to good physical and special setup and coverage options, Thundurus can be a threatening wallbreaker. Holding a Z-Crystal can further enhance its ability to break though foes.
**Utility Pivot**: With access to Prankster, Thundurus can be a versatile support Pokemon that is able to invest in bulk and pivot to teammates while spreading status and otherwise disrupting foes.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunder, Thunderbolt, Wild Charge, Thunder Punch, Volt Switch, Discharge
**Setup Moves**: Nasty Plot, Bulk Up, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Substitute, Defog, Toxic, Thunder Wave, Taunt, U-turn, Brick Break, Knock Off
**Coverage**: Psychic, Sludge Bomb, Sludge Wave, Crunch, Dark Pulse, Focus Blast, Hidden Power, Superpower, Grass Knot, Flash Cannon
Niche Moves
========
**Fly**: Thundurus lacks viable Flying-type STAB moves outside of Hidden Power, but Fly combined with a Z-Crystal or Power Herb can make for a useful one-time attack.
Common Items
========
**Z-Crystals**: Thundurus has many powerful attacking moves that are either inconsistent or have annoying downsides. Z-Crystals allow it to use these moves effectively and break through opposing walls with ease.
**Life Orb**: While the chip damage from Life Orb is annoying, especially with Thundurus's weakens to entry hazards, the boost in power is greatly appreciated and allows it to dish out damage highly effectively.
**Resistance Berries**: Resistance Berries give Thundurus the ability to survive a would-be fatal attack and either cripple a foe or get the setup necessary to break through opposing teams.
Niche Items
========
**Choice Specs**: Usually Thundurus doesn't like being locked into moves, but in certain matchups, the boost in power from Choice Specs can be worth the tradeoff.
**Leftovers**: If it is using a utility set or if boosted damage output is less necessary, Leftovers can be beneficial in keeping Thundurus healthy.
**Damage-boosting Items**: Items like Magnet and Expert Belt can allow Thundurus to boost its damage without the extra chip from Life Orb, allowing it to stay healthier throughout a match.
Draft Strategy
========
Thundurus is a solid wallbreaker with good utility that can fit on many drafts. It needs solid entry hazard control and some help getting in safely to be its most effective, but it is great at enabling cleaners and breaking through foes.
**Slow Pivots**: Pokemon like Uxie and Scizor that can take hits and pivot out make good partners for Thundurus, giving it safe opportunities to switch in.
**Entry Hazard Control**: Stealth Rock is quite annoying for Thundurus, so hazard removers like Tapu Fini and Excadrill are helpful in keeping it healthy.
**Cleaners**: Thundurus is good at breaking walls and crippling foes with status, making it a great partner for cleaners like Kartana and Greninja.
Checks and Counters
========
**Bulky Ground-types**: Pokemon like Zygarde and Nidoqueen can be difficult for Thundurus to break through, often walling it even with Hidden Power or Grass Knot.
**Faster Foes**: While Thundurus has a solid Speed tier and priority Thunder Wave, faster foes can be tricky to play around, and foes holding a Choice Scarf are always a looming threat. Dark-types that are immune to Prankster like Greninja and foes that are immune to paralysis like Tapu Koko can be especially annoying.
**Electric-resistant Foes**: While Thundurus is a good wallbreaker, Pokemon like Latias and Ferrothorn that resist its STAB attacks and can even potentially survive a Z-Move can be difficult for it to muscle through without help. Other Electric-resistant or -immune like Zeraora can also take advantage of Thundurus, even if they are not very defensive.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/termnal.404799/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/odinrm.613514/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
