Pokémon Thundurus

[WMAR]

Thundurus Incarnate

Typing
Base Stats - 79 HP / 115 Atk / 70 Def / 125 SpA / 80 SpD / 111 Spe
Abilities: Prankster HA: Defiant

Newly Obtainable Moves
Weatherball
Rising Voltage - If the current terrain is Electric Terrain and the target is grounded, this move's power is doubled.

Notable Moves
Thunderbolt
Thunder
Weatherball
Crunch
Focus Blast
Grass Knot
Knock Off
Nasty Plot
Sludge Wave
Superpower
Thunder Wave
U-turn
Volt Switch
Wild Charge
Defog
Rising Voltage


Pros- Blazing Speed and amazing mixed offenses let Thundurus become customizable with its moveset
-Thundurus can be an asset to Rain teams with its newly added Weatherball and can be used over Zapdos thanks to Thundurus's higher speed and Nasty Plot
-Defiant is amazing of webs offense and 115 Atk is an amazing attack stat than can absorb Defog
-Prankster lets Thundurus use priority Thunder Wave to annoy Offense and Taunt to annoy bulkier builds. Also can Defog

Cons - The lack of Z Moves and Hidden Power really hinder its power and coverage, with Z moves Thundurus had access to Z-Fly as a flying STAB and not having that -access is unfortunate
-Thundurus is outclassed by Zapdos in every other way other than Nasty Plot Sweeper, and Zapdos having Hurricane when Thundurus never got it also gives points in favor to Zapdos
-Thundurus also lacks recovery

Potential Sets

Nasty Plot Sweeper
Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Grass Knot

The tried and true Nasty Plot set, except no Hidden Power Ice to hit Pokemon like Landorus, but at least Thundurus has access to Grass Knot to hit Hippowdon and Swampert hard. Funny enough with 4 in defense lets Thundurus take two unboosted Leaf Blades from Kartana at full HP which is interesting

Thunder Wave + 3 Attacks
Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid / Naive Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot / Knock Off
- Focus Blast

This set can annoy offense, mainly paralyzing Naganadel and Genesect, two mons who are definitely broken but Thundurus can slow them down for the team, Knock Off provides great utility by removing crucial items, especially when theres no risk of using Knock Off which can remove Heavy Duty Boots from Blissey ETC

Mix Attacker
Thundurus @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 68 Atk / 188 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Knock Off
- Superpower
- Grass Knot

Mixed attacker can abuse Intimidate while still hitting hard on the special side. Superpower knocks Heatran and dents Kartana. Grass Knot is for the ground types.

Rain Sweeper
Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder
- Weather Ball
- Sludge Wave
- Nasty Plot

same set but used in Rain. Sludge Wave is for the grass types

Choice Band
Thundurus (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Wild Charge
- Knock Off
- Superpower
- U-turn

A physical set that isnt ruined by Intimidate neat

Any more sets is appreciated and thoughts too. Personally when the meta settles, Thundurus still wouldn't be OU, Likely UUBL, no way it stays UU. May be in UUBL Purgatory but its not completely unviable, just outclassed by Zapdos

 

[Martin]

Thundurus (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 120 HP / 108 SpA / 28 SpD / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off
- Thunderbolt
- U-turn

Access to Knock Off and Prank Wave potentially give Thundurus an interesting niche as a utility pick. Prankster means that Thundurus can act as consistent speed control when it is able to get in versus Dragapult, Naganadel, Pheromosa, Tornadus-T, and Cinderace, and its Speed stat puts it above Latios, meaning it can force it out fairly consistently with the threat of Knock Off. The listed EVs always OHKO Galarian Zapdos regardless of whether it puts its spare 4 EVs into HP or SpD while guaranteeing Thundurus will survive +2 Heat Wave from Life Orb Tornadus-T at full health. A more offensive spread or more bulk (physical or special) could also work. Will need to experiment with different EVs to see what clicks.

 

[GBeast]

I believe it would be remiss to not mention in the pro/con section that Thundurus has coverage options that allows it to easily get past checks/counters that would otherwise potentially give Zapdos a lot of trouble or even shut it down entirely. bulky grounds and Swampert in particular come to mind, among others.