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For Robin's attack of the same name, see Thunder (Robin)

Thunder (かみなり Kaminari?, lit. "Lightning") is Pikachu and Pichu's Down Special Move. When used, the Pokémon yells as a bolt of lightning drops from the sky, striking the user if its horizontal momentum has not carried it out of the way (and if there is no platform in the way). Upon hitting the user, a large shockwave is created with stronger knockback than the lightning itself. The user can act quicker if they are not stuck.

Overview[]

In Super Smash Bros., this move has infinite vertical range and thus can be used to score KO's when an opponent is near the upper Blast line. This is called thunderspiking, and can lead to much lower damage kills. Though the move is powerful, it has considerable ending lag, especially in Melee.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Pikachu/Pichu call out and a cloud appears high above them, a lightning bolt then strikes down from it, hitting either the first platform or Pikachu/Pichu themselves. If Pikachu/Pichu are hit an extra explosion of electrical energy is created that can do extra damage. Pichu incurs 3% damage if the bolt strikes it, making it the only special Pichu has that might not damage it.

It may seem that this move does not have a thundercloud, it does, but it is not very apparent unless on stages such as Hyrule Temple.

Pichu's Thunder deals more hits and has slightly more vertical knockback than Melee Pikachu's Thunder.

In Brawl and Melee, the thunder portion of the attack is considered a projectile and can be reflected back at Pikachu or absorbed for health. The explosion can not however. Also, in Brawl, Thunder can pass through platforms that are close enough to the cloud. This is best seen in Hyrule Temple if Pikachu uses Thunder on the bottom portion of the stage. The off screen cloud portion of the thunder attack can be used as a KO hit if the player being hit is high enough in the air. Pikachu is helpless while initiating Thunder.

An interesting property of this move is that if this attack connects with Pikachu in mid-air, Pikachu will bounce upwards a bit. Due to its startup time, it won't aid much in recovery, but is useful to Guard Break, especially against spikers. If used near the edge of a stage, the Thunder can create a wall of electricity to prevent a recovering opponent (especially if Thunder Jolts are sent out beforehand), best if they try to go for the ledge.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the thundercloud now has a Meteor Smash effect.

Pikachu's Special Moves
64 Melee Brawl 3DS/Wii U Ultimate
Standard Special Thunder Jolt
Side Special Skull Bash
Up Special Quick Attack
Down Special Thunder
Final Smash Volt Tackle

Pichu's Special Moves
Melee Ultimate
Standard Special Thunder Jolt
Side Special Skull Bash
Up Special Agility
Down Special Thunder
Final Smash Volt Tackle

Custom Variations[]

Thunder Burst[]

Thunder Burst consists in Pikachu discharging energy from its own body, striking opponents around itself, after hitting consecutively, it can launch the opponents very far.

Strengths

  • Comes out faster
  • Hits multiple times
  • More knockback

Weaknesses

  • More endlag

Distant Thunder[]

Distant Thunder is a higher range version of the original Thunder, however, it gives more damage when used in the start of the move.

Strengths

  • Has more vertical range
  • Send opponent upward

Weaknesses

  • Opponent has to be higher up to get maximum damage
  • Takes longer to reach the ground

Pikachu's Custom Special Moves
Custom 1 Custom 2
Standard Special Thunder Wave Thunder Shock
Side Special Shocking Skull Bash Heavy Skull Bash
Up Special Meteor Quick Attack Quick Feet
Down Special Thunder Burst Distant Thunder

Origin[]

In the main series Pokémon games, Thunder is a very powerful Electric-Type attack with a base power of

Thunder IV

Kyogre uses Thunder under rainy weather.

110 but with a poor accuracy of 70%. However, Thunder will have 100% accuracy in the rain but 50% accuracy in harsh sunlight. Thunder also has an added chance of paralyzing the opponent 30% of the time. Unlike in Super Smash Bros., Thunder will not damage the user whereas Pichu could damage itself when using Thunder in Melee.

Trivia[]

  • Strangely enough, in Brawl, Thunder will go from the top to the bottom of the Temple stage if Pikachu is standing on the floating platform at the bottom.
  • In Brawl, if Pikachu performs this move while under the effects of a Timer, Pikachu will not emit a shockwave when it connects with the lightning.
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