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Whenever I build teams and I go up against Thundurus, I always have a very tough time beating it, having to resort to Toxic stalling it out by sacrificing the rest of my team. I need a reliable check to Thundurus, and if it can check other prominent Pokemon in OU as well, that would be great. Thanks!

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Ground types and Electric types I guess...? Almost all Ground types get access to Rock moves so I guess that covers Thundurus pretty well. Especially stuff like Excadrill that isn't weak to HP Ice either (I dunno maybe it's Uber now, I'm not a singles player xP). Fast ones like Scarf Lando/Garchomp could also work as far as I know...
Oml, you felt the pain I had to endure back in the XY days, Mixed Thundurus was such a pain in the ass. These answers are both good though :)

2 Answers

4 votes
 
Best answer

So to counter or check Thundurus we need a Pokemon that:
- Resist Electric, Flying, Grass, Fighting and Ice attack (to avoid its STABs and main coverage).
- It must also be able to deal with both physical and Special moves (as Thundurus can run both)
- Isn't reliant on status moves (to avoid Prankster Taunt).
- Immune to Electric moves (to avoid Prankster Thunder Wave).

These are Thundusrus main selling points, and I thus present the following the Pokemon as checks/counters these particular points:

(not that nothing counter all sets Thundurus can run, these are merely the best in a poor situation)


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Mamoswine @ Focus Sash/Choice Band/Leftovers/Assault Vest
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge/ Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard
- Earthquake
- Knock Off

First of we have Mamoswine. It's raw bulk and great attack make it a clear threat to Thundurus, but it can be killed back. Stone Edge/ Icicle Spear can kill Thundy, but its Focus Blast/Grass Knot can kill it back. Overall though Mamoswine will force it out or scare it away.


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Conkeldurr @ Assault Vest
Ability: Guts
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Ice Punch
If its a special Thundurus, Conk will kill it, no question. If it is physical one with no item using Acrobatics it is Conkeldurr will die. Overall though, that is relatively rare set so this thing should do its job often enough.


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Thundurus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Grass Knot
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Sludge Bomb
Fight Fire with Fire right? Thundy-Ts great SpAtk, Ability and Typing means it can easily check its Incarnate counterpart. It is however vulnerable to being worn down by Hidden Power Ice.


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Ampharos-Mega @ Ampharosite
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt
Lastly we have Mega Ampharos. Its bulk and typing allow it to check Thundy quite well, but only hit back decently well as well. Its not great but its a decent check.


These four Pokemon are some viable checks to Thundurus, and are able to hold their own in almost any team.

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Hey there cutie
This is the moment when you say
"Hey there ye lil brat" ;-;
I say what I want when I want it you rapscallios scoundrel.
You break my non-existent heart
Get rekt  imo :)
Grimuk, why you gotta be this wayyyy
>Grimuk Lolol

It's true, Flaf slaughtered you!
I dunno whose answer is better at this point. I'll try all of them, and whichever works best will get BA. It might take a while tho.
4 votes

Thundurus can indeed be a very troublesome Pokemon to deal with once it gets its time to wreck havoc, however there are enough Pokemon in OU that can reliable check it while retaining their viability in this tier.


Hippowdon

Hippowdon is a great check for Thundurus-I on Sand teams, most notably the mixed wall and specially defensive variants, as they avoid the 2HKO from HP Ice and take like 0 damage from all of its other attacks. With great bulk and access to recovery and Stealth Rock, Hippowdon will commonly find itself acting as a very useful asset on sand teams.
Besides checking Thundurus, Hippowdon is a great check to the likes of Grass Knot-less Mega Metagross, Mega Lopunny, Mega Gallade, Tyranitar(Mega), Excadrill etc.

  • Requires a spread of at least 252 HP / 112 SDef to avoid the 2HKO from LO Thundurus-I's HP Ice and Mega Manectric's HP Ice

Conkeldurr

AV Conkeldurr is a decent check to Thundurus-I, but cannot switch into it as often as Hippowdon can due that thing's great offensive prowess. I believe we all know that AV Conkeldurr is perhaps most known for its great ability to check Rotom-W and is generally a great status absorber as well as a good check to Bisharp and the pink blobs. Furthermore, it has the ability to strike Thundurus-I extremely hard with Ice Punch


Raikou

Like, do you even bop. Raikou is arguably one of the best offensive checks to Thundurus-I, while taking very little damage from its Thunderbolts, it strikes it down with its own. It also does a fantastic job at swallowing up them Thunder Waves and other then that, is a questionable check to Talonflame and overall great asset on fast offensive teams


Amoonguss / Mega Venusaur

Thundurus hates to go up against Amoonguss, mainly due to the simple fact that its attacks do very limited damage to it and it risks getting spored and crippled by Amoonguss in return. After it has been spored, Amoonguss can then commence with depleting Thundurus' health with its attacks, or have a teammate deal with the crippled threat. Other then that, Azumarill, Keldeo, Clefable etc... do not appreciate facing Amoonguss either, due to its ability to undo their boosts with Clear Smog


Celebi

Celebi acts in a very similar way to Amoonguss, just that it doesn't have access to spore, can set up on it or can simply fire off stronger attacks at once


Latias

However you must take note that not all Latias can deal with every type of Thundurus, as a mixed Thundurus with Knock Off will bop Latias into oblivion, however, bulkier variants of Latias are an honourable mention. Latias only requires 72 EVs in HP to avoid the 2HKO from Hidden power Ice and 104 to avoid the KO from a possible LO Knock off from 76 Atk Mixed Thundurus-I after Stealth Rock damage and can then proceed to roost of the damage and then annihilate Thundurus with any of its great attacks. Latias is also a very great check to a plethora of Pokemon in OU, such as Amoonguss, mega Venusaur, Keldeo. Rotom-W etc.


Landorus-T (Scarfed)

Despite it not being able to switch in on Thundurus' HP Ices, Scarfed Landorus-T can easily revenge kill it or with great prediction switch into its electric type attacks or Thunder Waves and proceed to kill it off with Stone Edge.
Landorus-T is overall a great Pokemon and can usually do well on pretty much any playstyle.


Weavile

All Weavile needs is for Stealth Rock to be up and it will be able to KO Thundurus-I with Ice Shard while not having to fear being Thunder Waved as well


Generally, having stealth rock up usually makes life easier when dealing with Thundurus as it will gradually wear it down

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I dunno whose answer is better at this point. I'll try all of them, and whichever works best will get BA. It might take a while tho.