Thundurus
Electric/Flying
Ability 1: Prankster - Non-attacking moves have priority
Ability 2 (Dream World): Defiant - As stats are decreased, attack is raised
79/115/70/125/80/111
Lv1: Uproar, Lv1: Astonish, Lv1: ThunderShock, Lv7: Swagger, Lv13: Bite, Lv19: Revenge, Lv25: Shock Wave, Lv31: Heal Block, Lv37: Agility, Lv43: Discharge, Lv49: Crunch, Lv55: Charge, Lv61: Nasty Plot, Lv67: Thunder, Lv73: Dark Pulse, Lv79: Hammer Arm, Lv85: Thrash
TM06 - Toxic, TM08 - Bulk Up, TM10 - Hidden Power, TM12 - Taunt, TM15 - Hyper Beam, TM17 - Protect, TM18 - Rain Dance, TM21 - Frustration, TM23 - Knock Down, TM24 - Thunderbolt, TM25 - Thunder, TM27 - Return, TM29 - Psychic, TM31 - Brick Break, TM32 - Double Team, TM34 - Sludge Wave, TM36 - Sludge Bomb, TM41 - Torment, TM42 - Facade, TM44 - Rest, TM45 - Attract, TM46 - Thief, TM48 - Troll, TM52 - Focus Blast, TM56 - Fling, TM57 - Charge Beam, TM58 - Free Fall, TM59 - Complete Burn, TM63 - Embargo, TM66 - Payback, TM68 - Giga Impact, TM72 - Volt Switch, TM73 - Thunder Wave, TM86 - Grass Knot, TM87 - Swagger, TM89 - U-Turn, TM90 - Substitute, TM91 - Flash Cannon, TM93 - Wild Bolt, TM94 - Rock Smash, HM02 - Fly, HM04 - Strength
The Good:
- Electric/Flying Typing - We've seen it with Zapdos, only two weaknesses alongside six solid resists
- 115/125/111 Offensive Stats - 111 Speed allows Thundurus to outspeed 110's and below, and 115 Atk/125 SpAtk means Thundurus can use either attacking stat, or both.
- Nasty Plot - A deadly set up move for a quick special sweeper.
- STAB Volt Change - A 70 BP Electric Special U-turn, meaning it hits off of Thundurus' stronger attacking stat. Combined with great speed and handy resistances can make Boru a great scout.
- Prankster - This ability gives priority to all non-attacking moves. For Thundurus this includes: Substitute, Taunt, Bulk Up, Nasty Plot, Rain Dance, Toxic, Thunder Wave, and a few others. This could allow Thundurus to:
- Taunt faster Pokemon like Azelf or Agirudaa (the Base 145 Speed Bug with spikes)
- set up Subs on faster Pokemon
- use Bulk Up against faster, physical opponents, decreasing damage received
- Nasty Plot up before being taunted
- Cripple faster sweepers (Dragon Dancers, Rain Sweepers, Scarfers, etc) with Thunder Wave before being KOd
And finally, my personal favourite:
- Set up Rain Dance with ease. This could be very helpful for halting a Sun/Sand sweep, or for setting up Rain Dance once your Drizzler has fainted.
The Bad:
- Frailty - Though it has the same typing as Zapdos, its 79/70/80 defenses are inferior.
- Coverage - Thundurus lacks special Flying-type STAB apart from Hidden Power, and has no great physical Flying STAB. However, it does have Thunder(bolt) and Wild Bolt for Electric STAB, and a number of coverage moves, including Grass Knot and Focus Blast.
Possible Sets:
Nasty Plot @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpAtk/ 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt/Thunder
- HP Ice
- Focus Blast
Simple Nasty Plot sweeper. With fantastic offensive stats and great coverage (though unfortunately reliant on Focus Blast) this will blow through unprepared teams.
Mixed Thundurus @ Life Orb/Expert Belt
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Atk/252 SpAtk/252 Spe
Nature: Naive (+Spe, -SpD)
- Thunderbolt/Thunder
- HP Ice
- Hammer Arm
- Thunder Wave/Taunt
Great mixed attacking stats alongside fantastic coverage and priority Thunder Wave / Taunt can mess with a lot of pokemon. Hammer Arm provides a reliable way to hit Tyranitar and Chansey/Blissey
Thundurus @ Choice Specs/Scarf
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4HP/252 SpAtk/ 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
- Volt Change
- Thunderbolt/Thunder
- HP Ice/Focus Blast
- Focus Blast/U-turn
Volt Change is the point of the set, a powerful scouting attack, but be extra careful of Ground-type and other electric-immune switch-ins. Thunderbolt is for STAB, HP Ice for BoltBeam coverage, and Grass Knot for Swampert. Focus Blast and Dark Pulse can also be run for coverage coverage.
Could also go mixed with a Naive or Hasty nature and run Brick Break, or U-turn for predicted Ground switch-ins.
Competitive Heart can be useful for mixed sets or for bluffing mixed sets.
Bulk-Up @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Nature: Jolly (+Spe, -SpAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Wild Volt
- Brick Break
- Crunch/Taunt/Substitute
Pure surprise value. Priority Bulk Up helps to set up on Physical attackers, and Taunt or Substitute can also be used to provide set-up opportunities. Wild Volt is for STAB and Brick Break and Crunch provide solid type coverage.
Rain Dance Supporter @ Damp Rock
Ability: Prankster
8 HP/252 SpAtk/248 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -SpAtk)
- Rain Dance
- Thunder
- HP Ice/Focus Blast
- Thunder Wave/Focus Blast
Prankster allows Thundurus to set up Rain at any point, as long as he is switched in safely. STAB Thunder hits extremely hard off base 125 SpA, HP Ice and Grass Knot provide coverage. This set could be very useful for weather match-ups after your Drizzler faints, as at this point the opponent will most likely feel free to sacrifice their own permanent weather starter, allowing Thundurus to set up undisputed rain.
This set could also see great utility as a Sun/Sand counter. Prankster will allow Thundurus to set up Rain even on Chlorophyll and Sand Throw abusers, and HP Water hits Fire- and Ground-types while Sludge Wave hits Grass-types.
Any thoughts on this interesting Pokemon?