Thunder (move)
From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
| Thunder かみなり Thunder | ||||||||||||
| A wicked thunderbolt is dropped on the foe to inflict damage. It may also leave the target paralyzed. | ||||||||||||
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Battles
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Target
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Availability
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Contests
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Super Contests
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Thunder (Japanese: かみなり Thunder) is a damage-dealing Electric-type move introduced in Generation I.
Contents |
Effect
Generation I
Thunder deals damage and has a 9.8% chance of paralyzing the target. It deals double the damage on a target using Fly.
Thunder can't paralyze a target that has a Substitute or already has a major status ailment.
Generation II
Thunder has an accuracy of 100% when used during heavy rain and 50% if used during bright sunlight. It also has a 30% chance of paralyzing the target.
Generation III
Same as previous generations, but also dealing double damage on a Pokémon using Bounce.
Generaion IV
Same as previous generations, but if used in heavy rain can penetrate through Protect or Detect.
Learnset
Generation I
By leveling up
| # | Pokémon | Type | Level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 025 | 
| Pikachu | Electric | 43RGB | |
| 025 |
| Pikachu | Electric | 41Y | |
| 125 | 
| Electabuzz | Electric | 54 | |
| 135 | 
| Jolteon | Electric | 54RGB | |
| 135 |
| Jolteon | Electric | 52Y | |
| 145 | 
| Zapdos | Electric | Flying | 51 |
| Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move. | |||||
By TM25
Generation II
By leveling up
| # | Pokémon | Type | Level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 025 |
| Pikachu | Electric | 41 | |
| 125 |
| Electabuzz | Electric | 58 | |
| 135 |
| Jolteon | Electric | 52 | |
| 145 |
| Zapdos | Electric | Flying | 73 |
| 179 | 
| Mareep | Electric | 37 | |
| 180 | 
| Flaaffy | Electric | 45 | |
| 181 | 
| Ampharos | Electric | 57 | |
| 239 | 
| Elekid | Electric | 49 | |
| 243 | 
| Raikou | Electric | 71 | |
| Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move. | |||||
By TM25
Generation III
By leveling up
| # | Pokémon | Type | Level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 025 |
| Pikachu | Electric | 41 | |
| 125 |
| Electabuzz | Electric | 58 | |
| 135 |
| Jolteon | Electric | 52 | |
| 145 |
| Zapdos | Electric | Flying | 85 |
| 179 |
| Mareep | Electric | 37 | |
| 180 |
| Flaaffy | Electric | 45 | |
| 181 |
| Ampharos | Electric | 57 | |
| 239 |
| Elekid | Electric | 49 | |
| 243 |
| Raikou | Electric | 71 | |
| 309 | 
| Electrike | Electric | 36 | |
| 310 | 
| Manectric | Electric | 45 | |
| 311 | 
| Plusle | Electric | 37 | |
| 312 | 
| Minun | Electric | 37 | |
| Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move. | |||||
By TM25
Generation IV
By leveling up
| # | Pokémon | Type | Level | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 025 |
| Pikachu | Electric | 45 | |
| 125 |
| Electabuzz | Electric | 58 | |
| 135 |
| Jolteon | Electric | 71 | |
| 145 |
| Zapdos | Electric | Flying | 78 |
| 179 |
| Mareep | Electric | 46 | |
| 180 |
| Flaaffy | Electric | 53 | |
| 181 |
| Ampharos | Electric | 68 | |
| 239 |
| Elekid | Electric | 46 | |
| 243 |
| Raikou | Electric | 71DP | |
| 243 |
| Raikou | Electric | 85Pt | |
| 309 |
| Electrike | Electric | 49 | |
| 310 |
| Manectric | Electric | 61 | |
| 311 |
| Plusle | Electric | 38 | |
| 312 |
| Minun | Electric | 38 | |
| 466 | 
| Electivire | Electric | 58 | |
| Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move. | |||||
By TM25
Other appearances
- Pikachu uses Thunder as its down B attack in the Super Smash Bros. series.
- Pichu uses Thunder as its down B attack in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
In the anime
| The picture used in this section is unsatisfactory. Please feel free to replace it so it conforms to Bulbapedia conventions. |
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| Raichu | Elekid | Electabuzz | |
| The opponent is hit by a masive lightning beam from the the user. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Episode Used In | Notes | |
| Pikachu
| Pikachu fire a masive beam of electricity. | ||
| Ash's Pikachu | Showdown at Dark City! | Debut | |
| Jolteon
| Jolteon fire a masive beam of electricity. | ||
| Pokémon League entrance exam instructor's Jolteon | The Ultimate Test | None | |
 Volbeat
| Same as above. | ||
| Volt's Volbeat | That's Just Swellow! | None | |
| Elekid
| Elekid swings its arms around at a high speed and electricity is gathered between the horns on the top of its head. A beam of electricity is then fired at the opponent. | ||
| Paul's Elekid | When Pokémon Worlds Collide! | None | |
| Electabuzz
| Electricity is gathered between the two horns on Electabuzz's head. A beam of electricity is then fired at the opponent. | ||
| Paul's Electabuzz | Smells Like Team Spirit! | None | |
 Raichu
| Same as the first. | ||
| Sho's Raichu | Pika and Goliath! | None | |
Trivia
- In some copies of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, using Thunder or Thunderbolt may cause the game to freeze during the moves' animation sequences. This can be remedied by turning off the battle animations in the options menu. Also, in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, the sound of Thunder or Thunderbolt may get stuck until the game resets.
- The TM for Thunder is the same number as Pikachu's National Dex number. Pikachu is also the first Pokémon by National Dex order to learn it via level up.
- Zapdos is the only Pokémon that learns Thunder by leveling up that isn't a pure Electric-type.
In other languages
- French: Fatal-foudre
- German: Donner
- Italian: Tuono
- Norwegian: Torden
- Spanish: Trueno
- Dutch: Donder
| Variations on the move Blizzard | |
|---|---|
| Gunk Shot |
| Blizzard | Thunder | Focus Blast |
| Generation I TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Generation I HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | |
| Generation II TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Generation II HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | |
| Generation III TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| Generation III HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | |
| Generation IV TMs | |
|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | |
| 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | |
| Generation IV HMs | |
| 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | |
| This move article is part of Project MoveDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each move. |
