What is a good moveset for Thundurus (both forms)?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Thundurus, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Thundurus Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

The Yellow Flash!- Thundrus-T Moveset

Minato the Thundurus

Thundurus-T (M) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt /Thunder
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Nasty Plot
- Substitute

This set is simple, and does not require an explanation. But I will include one anyways. This set is designed to perform the Late-Game Sweeper/Special Sweeper roles. Themed after Naruto Shippuden's 4th Hokage, Minato the "Yellow Flash", this set offers Minato's strengths: Power and Speed. The staples of this set is it's Salac Berry Item, which grants Thundurs-T a rise in Speed at 25% of health. This set utilizes STAB Thunderbolt in combination of Hidden Power (Ice), which scores excellent coverage. Nasty Plot boost Thundurus-T's Special Attack to a sky-high 778 after a single use, allowing him to rip holes into the likes of dedicated Special Walls, even Blissey (with multiple boost). Substitute is a form of defense that Thundurus can hide behind while setting up and sweeping, so he cannot be revenged. Substitute also builds up momentum to the Salac Berry, which allows him to outpeed Pokemon that would otherwise revenge kill him. The EV spread is for sweeping potential: Maxed Special Attack to Sweep, Max Speed to hit first, and either 4 Def without Rapid Spin Support (which is really necessary) or the preferred 4 HP. This set runs Timid > Modest to make up for his mediocre Base 101 Spd, and because Nasty Plot boost it's Special Attack anyways.

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In my opinion, this is the best Thundurus-T moveset out there as it protects him from being revenged while giving him unrivaled sweeping/wall-breaking potential.

Hope I helped!

Comments

My thundurus is called Aries!

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If only he could learn ice beam...

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Discharge is better than Thunderbolt. It sacrifices 10 BP for 20% increase in Paralysis chance.

Answer 2

Thundurus-Therian @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Agility
- Thunder / Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Fighting] / Focus Blast

Everyone here posted Nasty Plot Movesets, but what's wrong with Agility? Agility doubles its Speed, added with its 145 Base SAtk, it's the superior booster for this monster. Thunder and Thunderbolt are STAB, as Thunder is to be used in Rain obviously. Grass Knot deals with Gastrodon, Hippowdon, and Terrakion hard. While the Fighting coverage covers the likes of Magnezone and Ferrothorn.

Answer 3

Role: Support and Cripple

Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature
- Torment
- Thunder Wave
- Substitute
- Volt Switch

Hit and Run. Sub yourself then go for torment. Thunder Wave then Volt Switch.
I use this guy for Ubers, allows me to boost Manaphy with T-Glow or Rayquaza's D-Dance.

Comments

Good set.  I don't see why you were downvoted.  +1

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why careful over calm?

Answer 4

Thundurus-Therian (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast

Choice Scarf can also be used. Go with Modest/Hasty, 4 Atk instead of 4 SDef (If using U-turn), and Nasty Plot should be swapped Volt Switch/U-turn.

Answer 5

Shock-Genie the Thundurus

Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers / Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Volt Switch
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Grass] / Hidden Power [Ice]

Thundurus's Role:
Thundurus is able to threaten Toxic Stallers and Crap with the use of Taunt while Thunder Wave helps cripple down your opponents speed. Volt Switch is your go to STAB move to Scout n' Switch on your opponent. Finally, depending on your choice, I have nothing needlessto say of both Hidden Power [Grass] & Hidden Power [Ice] to help take coverage on other mons.

Threats:
- Dark Type Pokemon are immune to both Taunt and Thunder Wave and can put an end to Thundurus's Prankster ability.
- Electric Types are immune to Thunder Wave but aren't much of a problem unless they pack a Super Effective move.

I think thats all I gotta mention. Feel free to mention anything about this set.

Answer 6

National Dex Monotype (Electric)

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

This is the Choice Band set that Thunderus-I uses on electric-type teams. Should you get a stat drop, your attack stat will be raised thanks to Defiant, making your attacks more powerful, especially since you also have a boost from Choice Band. Wild Charge is for electric STAB. Superpower provides coverage against Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Hydreigon, Zarude, Magnezone and Excadrill. Knock Off is for coverage and provides utility by being able to remove items. U-turn is used for pivoting out of bad matchups.

Answer 7

I love this set it drives my opponents mad

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Thundurus (M) Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 58 HP / 252 SpA / 200 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Grass Knot / Dark Pulse

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Thunder Wave: makes everything slow and goes first thanks to Prankster

Volt Switch: Bye bye STAB

Hidden Power [ice]: Covers T-wave immune ground type like Garchomp(who you have just enough evs to out-run)

Grass knot/Dark pulse: Either kill Hippowdon and other heavy grounds or coverage

Answer 8

Thundurus (M) Muscle Band / Leftovers
Ability: Defiant / Prankster
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up / Thunder Wave
- Wild Charge
- U-turn / Crunch
- Brick Break

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Bulk-up is boosting you should pair this one with Leftovers, Defiant, and Jolly while T-wave is status and it slows the opponent so you can use Adamant, Prankster, and Muscle-band. Wild-charge is STAB. U-turn is for damage-switching use this one if you are going with T-wave but if you use Bulk-up you do not want to lose your boosts so use Crunch for coverage in that case. Brick-break is coverage.

Answer 9

I have an amazing moveset that blow opponents away. This big flying human-like thunder dude has tons of potential in OU. I have used this set and it got 2-3 kills all 5 matches. So, here is my set. By the way, this is only for Thundurus-Therian forme.

The Moveset

Thundurus-Therian (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Grass Knot

• Nasty Plot for the sweep, end of story #2.

• Thunderbolt for STAB power.

• Focus Blast for coverage, it is as simple as that.

• Grass Knot is for coverage, and this dude is actually pretty skinny.

The Strategy

I just start off with the bad, bad plot and raise my sp. attack. Or if I feel lazy, I just use pure power to kill. Thunderbolt for STAB damage, Focus Blast for the Ice-type Pokemon, Grass knot for Rock-type Pokemon.

Hope I helped!!

Answer 10

Ubers offensive support Thundurus

Thundurus (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thunder/Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]/Focus Blast
- Taunt

Since Thundurus won't survive a light breeze in ubers, focus sash is required for it to have minimal staying power. This set is all about stopping walls and set up sweepers, allowing your own set up sweepers to sweep. Paralysis support is highly useful for slower Pokemon like Ho-oh and Zekrom, and extremely detrimental against Pokemon that rely on speed like scarf Kyogre and Mewtwo. Taunt stops walls like chansey and ferrothorn in their tracks while limiting set up sweepers like Xerneas and Arceus. Thunder is the power option while volt switch allow Thundy to escpae the many unfavorable matches it can have in Ubers while dealing damage. HP Ice nails Rayquaza, Groudon and Garchomp and deals reliable damage to most uberswhile Focus Blast can be used against Chansey, Ferrothorn, and Arceus Normal and Steel.

Answer 11

Thundurus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Volt Switch
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Discharge
- Sludge Wave
- Dark Pulse
- Extrasensory

-Discharge: STAB, good paralysis chance.
-Sludge Wave: Poisons, coverage.
-Dark Pulse: Can cause flinching, coverage.
-Extrasensory: Can cause flinching, coverage.
While Thundurus T could OHKO basically anything with Choice Specs, they're so unnecessary. Choice Scarf greatly increases its already pretty good speed, meaning it can outspeed a lot of opponents.

Answer 12

Rain Abuser
Gen 8 UU

Thundurus-Therian (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder
- Weather Ball
- Focus Blast
- Nasty Plot

This set is to be used in rain. Thunder is STAB and doesn't miss in rain. Weather Ball turns into a water type move in the rain, meaning Thunderus can deal with ground types trying to switch into Thunder. Focus Blast is for coverage. Nasty Plot boosts your Special Attack.

(too bad this thing doesn't get the move Hurricane. :P)

Answer 13

National Dex Monotype (Flying)

Thundurus-Therian (M) @ Electrium Z
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Agility
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Dual Dance set. Nasty Plot boosts your Special Attack. Agility boosts your speed. Thunderbolt is STAB, and can be used with Electrium A for a one time nuke. HP Ice is coverage and forms the BoltBeam combo.

Answer 14

Thundurus (M) @ Life Orb/Fightinum Z /Blunder Policy
Ability: Defiant
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Focus Blast
- Thunder/Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon/Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]

This set breaks through many walls while also having the coverage for garchomp (Hidden Power Ice) who may rock slide. As for flash cannon, most of the Tapu's except for electric terrain Tapu Koko will face mere punishment. This set works well and can most of the time set up with ease. Having the speed to take care of the field while being weak to some. As for volt switch, in case you are low, switching while mass damage occurs seems like a great option to me. That's all I need to say.

Teammates:
Preferred teammates are incineroar who can fake out possible threats, and Tapu Koko who can control the game while thundurus does it's thing.

Other Options:
You may prefer blunder policy for the low accuracy focus blast and thunder.
Another option could be swapping Tera Type Water for Fairy.

Answer 15

Incarnate Form: Gen 9 NU Nasty Plot

Thundurus @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Ice / Flying
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
- Tera Blast

Thundurus (Incarnate form) is now NU at the time of this post, so here is a Nasty Plot set it can use. Nasty Plot boosting Thundurus' already good Special Attack makes it a very scary sweeper. Thunderbolt is used for a consistent Electric STAB. Grass Knot is a nice coverage move to hit Ground-types such as Palossand and Mudsdale without having to use Tera. Grass Knot is also nice to guarantee an OHKO against Terrakion after having your Special Attack boosted. Tera Blast Ice lets Thundurs have BoltBeam coverage and a move to hit Pokemon such as Flygon, Tsareena, Brute Bonnet, Gligar, Dragalge, and Altaria super effectively. Tera Blast Flying can be used instead since Grass Knot can handle most Ground-types, with Tera Flying Tera Blast being able to break past Flygon and Gligar at +2. Plus, using Tera Blast Flying means Thundurs actually has a special Flying STAB. Heavy-Duty Boots is used to prevent Thundurs from being chipped by Stealth Rock.

Answer 16

Gen 9 NU Offensive Pivot

Thundurus @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Defiant
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Grass Knot
- Knock Off
- U-turn

This is the offensive pivot set Thunudurs uses in Gen 9 NU. While this looks like a generic All-Out-Attacker set, it provides quite a bit of utility thanks to a couple of moves along with Thundurus' typing. This set is also similar to the offensive pivot set Tornadus used in NU before Thundurus dropped to NU and took over that role. Thunderbolt is used for the STAB move since it is consistent and decently powerful. Grass Knot allows Thundurus to deal super effective damage to Mudsdale and Palossand, as well as chipping other Ground-types such as Flygon and Gligar. Knock Off is a useful utility move since it allows Thundurus to remove items from opposing Pokemon to cripple them. U-turn is used for the move to switch out since it allows Thundurus to pivot against Ground-types. Heavy-Duty Boots is used so Thundurus avoids chip from Stealth Rock. Tera Steel is used to allow Thundurus to resist Ice moves and have an immunity to Toxic. Defiant is used since Prankster is rather useless on this set, and a potential stat drop means Knock Off and U-turn can get an Attack boost.

Answer 17

Gen 9 NU Nasty Plot

Thundurus @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Prankster
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Focus Blast

Another Nasty Plot set Thundurus can use in Gen 9 NU. Nasty Plot allows Thundurus to boost its Special Attack to make it a scary breaker than can break down teams easily. Thunderbolt is used for the Electric STAB since it is consistent. Flash Cannon isn't really used on Thundurus, so it may look strange at first. However, the reason Flash Cannon is here is because of the Tera Type on this set being Steel. Tera Steel lets Thundurus have good defensive utility and boost the power of Flash Cannon, making it useful coverage against Grass- and Ground-types such as Tsareena, Flygon, Brute Bonnet, Palossand, Mudsdale, and Gligar. Ground-types aren't going to use a Ground move when you Tera Steel unless your opponent happens to soul read your Tera. Also, Flash Cannon allows Thundurus to send Diancie flying out of the universe after getting a Nasty Plot off. Focus Blast is nice coverage to hit Steel-types such as Copperajah, Registeel, and Duraludon super effectively. Heavy-Duty is used to prevent Thundurus from being chipped by Stealth Rock.

There is quite a bit of uses Tera Steel does for Thundurus defensively. Tera Steel lets Thundurus resist Dragon moves, which is useful to prevent Scarf Flygon from coming in and revenge killing Thundurus with Outrage or Dragon Claw. Tera Steel also grants Thundurus an immunity from Toxic (unless you face Corrosion Salazzle), which is useful against Pokemon such as Umbreon and Gligar. Thundurus can also resist Ice moves, which is useful against Tsareena should it try to use Triple Axel against Thundurus.

Answer 18

Thundurus-Therian @ Assault Vest/Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Wildbolt Storm
- Flash Cannon
- Dark Pulse
- Psychic

assault vest is for bulk, which Thundurus is lacking, life orb can be used to deal more damage. thundurus fits in to any team

Answer 19

Gen 9 NU Swagger + Mirror Herb

Thundurus @ Mirror Herb
Ability: Defiant
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swagger
- Acrobatics
- Supercell Slam
- Knock Off

A Swagger + Mirror Herb set Thundurus can use in Gen 9 NU. Yes, the set is gimmicky (and probably stupid to some people), but this set is quite funny and effective. Swagger is used to give the opponent a +2 attack boost so you can copy the boost with your Mirror Herb while the opposing Pokemon gets confused. If you have bad luck with confused Pokemon hurting themselves in confusion, I recommend using Swagger against a defensive Pokemon, a Special wallbreaker who doesn't KO Thundurus, or on a predicted switch. If you can make really good reads, you can hard switch Thundurus against a setup sweeper such as Cloyster and Torterra if you predict them to use Shell Smash so you can copy the Shell Smash boosts. Once Thundurus consumes its Mirror Herb, Thundurs can use a powerful Acrobatics, which is Thundurus' spammable STAB move on this set. Supercell Slam is used for a powerful Physical Electric STAB that is useful against Pokemon such as Slowbro, Registeel, Copperajah, and Milotic. Knock Off allows Thundurus to remove items from opposing Pokemon to cripple them and is a nice midground move to use if you're unsure on what Pokemon your opponent will bring in.

This set should be used on Sticky Web teams so Thundurus won't be revenge killed as easily by Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Infernape and Mienshao. Defiant is used since it punishes Defoggers for removing the Sticky Web Galvantula sets up, and is nice to get potential attack boosts from things such as Intimidate and Parting Shot. Tera Steel allows Thundurus to resist Ice and Rock moves.