[OVERVIEW]
Thundurus-T is a potent special attacker capable of breaking through multiple teams due to its incredible base 145 Special Attack stat coupled with its great coverage and access to boosting through Nasty Plot. Thundurus-T also boasts a good 101 base Speed stat, that lets it outspeed common threats such as Manaphy and Mega Medicham. In addition to this, Thundurus-T has a great ability in Volt Absorb that grants it an immunity to Electric-type moves,as well as provides a form of recovery. However, Thundurus-T finds its flaws in its Flying-typing that grants it a Fighting- and Bug-type resistance in exchange for a weakness to the ever present Stealth Rock, as well as the common Ice-type attacks in the tier such as Hidden Power Ice from a myriad of Pokemon such as Thundurus, Zapdos, etc. as well as STAB Icicle Crash from Weavile. This is further exacerbated by Thundurus-T's middling bulk that doesn't provide much in the way of staving off these attacks. Despite this, Thundurus-T still carves itself a solid niche in the tier due to its incredible offensive presence coupled with its situational defensive utility granted by its two immunities to Ground- and Electric-type moves granted by its Flying-type and ability, Volt Absorb, respectively.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Focus Blast / Substitute / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Nasty Plot lets Thundurus-T boost its high Special Attack to a point where the other three moves threaten almost the entire OU Metagame with at least a 2HKO. Thunderbolt is the STAB move of choice, letting Thundurus hit Water- and Flying-types such as Slowbro, Rotom-W, and Zapdos. Hidden Power Ice allows Thundurus-T to threaten a super effective hit on Ground-types like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor, who otherwise wall its Electric- STAB. Focus Blast is the staple last move allowing Thundurus-T to knock out key targets that are neutral to its main attacks such as Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Tyranitar. Substitute and Protect can be run on more fast-paced teams to take advantage of switches or gain more Leftovers recovery allowing Thundurus-T to stay around longer.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs maximise Thundurus-T's offensive output while 252 Speed EVs take advantage of Thundurus-T's key speed tier of 101, allowing it to outspeed common threats such as Manaphy, Mega Medicham and unboosted Volcarona. Leftovers provide it with recovery, which aids Thundurus-T by slightly negating the impact of Stealth Rock as well as chip damage accumulated when sweeping with Nasty Plot. Volt Absorb allows Thundurus-T to switch into Rotom-W and Zapdos, as well as pressure them into avoiding using Electric-type moves.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus-T fits best on more offensive teams as a wallbreaker providing immunities to Ground- an Electric-type moves at once. Hyper Offense teams especially appreciate its ability to take out bulkier Pokemon such as Manaphy. Thundurus should avoid coming in on attacks due to its lackluster bulk and subpar defensive typing leaving it vulnerable to common attacks such as Weavile's Icicle Crash and Tyranitar's Stone Edge. Furthermore, Thundurus-T should be mindful of making too many switches when Stealth Rock is on the field.
Team Options
========
Teammates such as Serperior and Latias who can set up screens to boost Thundurus-T's bulk are great fits on the more offensive teams that Thundurus-T finds itself on. Sweepers such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Metagross appreciate Thundurus-T's ability to take on bulky Electric-types like Zapdos and Rotom-W. Other teammates such as Volcarona, Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor greatly appreciate Thundurus-T's ability to take on bulky Water-type Pokemon and thus enable them to sweep once their common checks such as Keldeo and Slowbro are dealt with. These three Pokemon also resist Ice-type attacks like Weavile's Icicle Crash letting them either come in safely or capitalise on a revenge kill by setting up on the resisted hit.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thundurus-T can wield a Choice Scarf set with Volt Switch to act as both speed control as well as a pivot since it is able to come in on common Electric-type attacks such as Volt Switch from Rotom-W and Zapdos however this is inconsistent and somewhat gimmicky. Thundurus-T can also run a "dual dance" set with Agility and Nasty Plot to attempt to pull off an endgame sweep with boosts to both its Special Attack and Speed, however this is less reliable due to requiring more support because of the lesser coverage and the extra turn it needs to set up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Attackers**: Faster threats such as Weavile and Mega Metagross are able to offensively check Thundurus-T due to their higher speed and access to strong STAB moves in the form of Weavile's super effective Icicle Crash and Mega Metagross' Zen Headbutt and even super effective coverage in Ice Punch. Mega Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Alakazam are also able to easily revenge kill Thundurus-T due to their ability to Encore Thundurus-T into Nasty Plot leaving it vulnerable and unable to attack. Mega Alakazam is also able to Trace Thundurus-T's Volt Absorb thus making it immune to Thundurus-T's STAB.
**Special Walls**: Bulky Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Gastrodon, and Chansey completely wall Thundurus-T due to resistance to Thundurus-T's attacks as well as immense special bulk respectively and their access to recovery moves.
**Fast Stone Edge**: Pokemon such as Terrakion, Choice Scarf Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Landorus-T are able to easily revenge kill Thundurus-T with a fast OHKO from super effective Stone Edge.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mixnite.663475/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/paprikaflow.591583/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.104/
Thundurus-T is a potent special attacker capable of breaking through multiple teams due to its incredible base 145 Special Attack stat coupled with its great coverage and access to boosting through Nasty Plot. Thundurus-T also boasts a good 101 base Speed stat, that lets it outspeed common threats such as Manaphy and Mega Medicham. In addition to this, Thundurus-T has a great ability in Volt Absorb that grants it an immunity to Electric-type moves,as well as provides a form of recovery. However, Thundurus-T finds its flaws in its Flying-typing that grants it a Fighting- and Bug-type resistance in exchange for a weakness to the ever present Stealth Rock, as well as the common Ice-type attacks in the tier such as Hidden Power Ice from a myriad of Pokemon such as Thundurus, Zapdos, etc. as well as STAB Icicle Crash from Weavile. This is further exacerbated by Thundurus-T's middling bulk that doesn't provide much in the way of staving off these attacks. Despite this, Thundurus-T still carves itself a solid niche in the tier due to its incredible offensive presence coupled with its situational defensive utility granted by its two immunities to Ground- and Electric-type moves granted by its Flying-type and ability, Volt Absorb, respectively.
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Hidden Power Ice
move 4: Focus Blast / Substitute / Protect
item: Leftovers
ability: Volt Absorb
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Nasty Plot lets Thundurus-T boost its high Special Attack to a point where the other three moves threaten almost the entire OU Metagame with at least a 2HKO. Thunderbolt is the STAB move of choice, letting Thundurus hit Water- and Flying-types such as Slowbro, Rotom-W, and Zapdos. Hidden Power Ice allows Thundurus-T to threaten a super effective hit on Ground-types like Garchomp, Landorus-T, and Gliscor, who otherwise wall its Electric- STAB. Focus Blast is the staple last move allowing Thundurus-T to knock out key targets that are neutral to its main attacks such as Excadrill, Ferrothorn, and Tyranitar. Substitute and Protect can be run on more fast-paced teams to take advantage of switches or gain more Leftovers recovery allowing Thundurus-T to stay around longer.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack EVs maximise Thundurus-T's offensive output while 252 Speed EVs take advantage of Thundurus-T's key speed tier of 101, allowing it to outspeed common threats such as Manaphy, Mega Medicham and unboosted Volcarona. Leftovers provide it with recovery, which aids Thundurus-T by slightly negating the impact of Stealth Rock as well as chip damage accumulated when sweeping with Nasty Plot. Volt Absorb allows Thundurus-T to switch into Rotom-W and Zapdos, as well as pressure them into avoiding using Electric-type moves.
Usage Tips
========
Thundurus-T fits best on more offensive teams as a wallbreaker providing immunities to Ground- an Electric-type moves at once. Hyper Offense teams especially appreciate its ability to take out bulkier Pokemon such as Manaphy. Thundurus should avoid coming in on attacks due to its lackluster bulk and subpar defensive typing leaving it vulnerable to common attacks such as Weavile's Icicle Crash and Tyranitar's Stone Edge. Furthermore, Thundurus-T should be mindful of making too many switches when Stealth Rock is on the field.
Team Options
========
Teammates such as Serperior and Latias who can set up screens to boost Thundurus-T's bulk are great fits on the more offensive teams that Thundurus-T finds itself on. Sweepers such as Mega Pinsir and Mega Metagross appreciate Thundurus-T's ability to take on bulky Electric-types like Zapdos and Rotom-W. Other teammates such as Volcarona, Mega Metagross and Mega Scizor greatly appreciate Thundurus-T's ability to take on bulky Water-type Pokemon and thus enable them to sweep once their common checks such as Keldeo and Slowbro are dealt with. These three Pokemon also resist Ice-type attacks like Weavile's Icicle Crash letting them either come in safely or capitalise on a revenge kill by setting up on the resisted hit.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thundurus-T can wield a Choice Scarf set with Volt Switch to act as both speed control as well as a pivot since it is able to come in on common Electric-type attacks such as Volt Switch from Rotom-W and Zapdos however this is inconsistent and somewhat gimmicky. Thundurus-T can also run a "dual dance" set with Agility and Nasty Plot to attempt to pull off an endgame sweep with boosts to both its Special Attack and Speed, however this is less reliable due to requiring more support because of the lesser coverage and the extra turn it needs to set up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Faster Attackers**: Faster threats such as Weavile and Mega Metagross are able to offensively check Thundurus-T due to their higher speed and access to strong STAB moves in the form of Weavile's super effective Icicle Crash and Mega Metagross' Zen Headbutt and even super effective coverage in Ice Punch. Mega Pokemon such as Mega Lopunny and Mega Alakazam are also able to easily revenge kill Thundurus-T due to their ability to Encore Thundurus-T into Nasty Plot leaving it vulnerable and unable to attack. Mega Alakazam is also able to Trace Thundurus-T's Volt Absorb thus making it immune to Thundurus-T's STAB.
**Special Walls**: Bulky Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Gastrodon, and Chansey completely wall Thundurus-T due to resistance to Thundurus-T's attacks as well as immense special bulk respectively and their access to recovery moves.
**Fast Stone Edge**: Pokemon such as Terrakion, Choice Scarf Tyranitar and Choice Scarf Landorus-T are able to easily revenge kill Thundurus-T with a fast OHKO from super effective Stone Edge.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mixnite.663475/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/paprikaflow.591583/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/alpha1013.565035/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.104/
Last edited:
