How to Beat Therian Thundurus Raid

Therian Forme Thundurus Pokemon Go represents a distinct challenge from its Incarnate counterpart, requiring adjusted strategies and different expectations. After battling both formes extensively across dozens of raids, I've developed a deep appreciation for the nuanced differences that make Therian Thundurus unique. This guide focuses specifically on overcoming Therian Forme's challenges with targeted strategies and optimized team compositions.

The most important thing to understand about Therian Thundurus is that while it shares the same Electric/Flying typing as Incarnate Forme, its stat distribution creates a different raid experience. Therian Forme has lower attack but higher defense compared to Incarnate, resulting in a less aggressive but more durable opponent. This means raids take slightly longer but are generally more forgiving of mistakes. I've found Therian Thundurus to be excellent practice for newer raiders while still providing a satisfying challenge for experienced trainers.

Therian vs Incarnate: Key Differences Explained

Before diving into specific strategies for Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go, it's crucial to understand how this forme differs from Incarnate Forme. These differences affect everything from group size requirements to optimal Pokemon selection, so let's break them down in detail.

Stat Distribution: Therian Forme has significantly different base stats than Incarnate Forme. While Incarnate Thundurus boasts higher attack (291 vs 245), Therian Forme compensates with higher defense (174 vs 161) and stamina (188 vs 172). This stat shift has important implications for raid strategy. The lower attack means Therian deals less damage with each attack, giving you more room for error with dodging. However, the higher defense and stamina mean Therian has more effective HP, requiring more total damage to defeat.

Raid Boss CP: Therian Thundurus appears as a lower CP raid boss (42,727 max CP vs 47,481 for Incarnate), which can help you identify which forme you're facing before joining the raid. This CP difference reflects the stat redistribution rather than overall power - both formes are approximately equal in difficulty, just requiring different approaches. When I see a lower CP Thundurus raid, I know to expect a longer but safer battle.

Group Size Requirements: Due to Therian's lower damage output, you can typically defeat it with one fewer trainer compared to Incarnate Forme. In my experience, average groups need 3-4 trainers for Therian vs 4-5 for Incarnate. High-level trainers with optimized counters can potentially duo Therian Forme, something that's extremely difficult with Incarnate. This reduced group requirement makes Therian Thundurus more accessible for smaller communities or times when finding a full raid group is challenging.

Battle Duration: Therian Forme raids typically last 20-30 seconds longer than Incarnate raids due to the higher effective HP. While this might seem like a disadvantage, the extended duration actually gives you more time to coordinate charged moves and execute your strategy. I've found the slower pace therapeutic compared to the frantic pace of Incarnate raids, especially when teaching newer trainers proper raid mechanics.

Exclusive Charged Move: Therian Forme has access to Sludge Bomb (Poison-type) instead of Incarnate's Crunch (Dark-type). This move change actually makes Therian slightly easier to handle since Poison moves deal neutral damage to your Ice-type counters. I always breathe a sigh of relief when I see Sludge Bomb in Therian's moveset, knowing the raid will be less dangerous than if it has powerful Electric charged moves.

Optimal Counters for Therian Thundurus

While the same Ice-type counters that work against Incarnate Thundurus are effective against Therian Forme, the stat differences make some Pokemon relatively better or worse. Let me share my top counter recommendations based on extensive Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go raid experience, ranked by effectiveness and accessibility.

1. Mamoswine (Powder Snow/Avalanche): Mamoswine remains the king of Thundurus counters for both formes, but it's even more valuable against Therian. The combination of high attack stat, Ice/Ground typing (with Ground being irrelevant due to Thundurus's Flying immunity), and the devastating Avalanche charged move makes Mamoswine indispensable. Therian's lower damage output means your Mamoswine survive longer, dealing more total damage over the course of the raid. If you only power up one counter for Therian Thundurus, make it Mamoswine.

2. Glaceon (Frost Breath/Avalanche): Glaceon is the second-best Ice counter and shines particularly bright against Therian Forme. Its pure Ice typing means it has no weaknesses that Thundurus can exploit, and its high attack stat (338) is devastating when multiplied by the 4x super-effective bonus. I've found that Glaceon often outperforms Mamoswine in pure DPS against Therian, though Mamoswine's bulk gives it more total damage output. Using both on the same team creates a devastating one-two punch.

3. Weavile (Ice Shard/Avalanche): Weavile offers the fastest energy generation of any Ice counter thanks to Ice Shard, allowing frequent Avalanche spam. While Weavile is frailer than Mamoswine or Glaceon, Therian's reduced damage output means Weavile survives longer than it would against Incarnate Forme. This makes Weavile particularly valuable against Therian, as you can get more Avalanches off before fainting. I recommend leading with Weavile to establish early pressure, then switching to bulkier Ice types as the battle progresses.

4. Aurorus (Frost Breath/Avalanche): Aurorus is an underrated counter that performs exceptionally well against Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go. While its defensive typing (Rock/Ice) gives it problematic weaknesses in other contexts, Therian's moveset doesn't exploit these weaknesses. Aurorus has high attack and excellent Ice-type moves, making it a powerhouse against Therian. The main drawback is Aurorus's weakness to Rock, but since Therian doesn't have Rock moves, this weakness is irrelevant. If you have a high-level Aurorus, definitely use it against Therian.

5. Articuno (Frost Breath/Icy Wind or Hurricane): While Articuno isn't as powerful as the non-legendary Ice counters, it's still a solid option against Therian Forme. The slower battle pace gives Articuno time to contribute meaningful damage with Icy Wind, and its Flying type doesn't hurt against Therian since there are no Rock moves to worry about. I wouldn't prioritize Articuno over the options above, but if you're short on Ice types and have a powered-up Articuno, it's worth using.

Team Composition Strategy for Therian Forme

Building the right team for Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go raids requires balancing DPS with sustainability. Because Therian battles last longer than Incarnate raids, you need Pokemon that can survive extended combat while maintaining consistent damage output. Let me share my proven team compositions based on different scenarios and resource levels.

Optimal Team (High-Level Players): For trainers with level 35-40 Ice types, I recommend a team of: Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile, Aurorus, Mamoswine (second), Glaceon (second). This six-Ice team maximizes the 4x super-effective damage while maintaining good coverage with different damage profiles. The dual Mamoswine and Glaceon ensure you always have your hardest hitters available, while Weavile provides early pressure and Aurorus offers consistent DPS. This team should defeat Therian with 60-90 seconds remaining in most 4-person groups.

Balanced Team (Mid-Level Players): For trainers with level 30-35 Pokemon, consider: Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile, Rampardos (Smack Rock/Rock Slide), Mamoswine, Glaceon. The inclusion of Rampardos gives you a Rock-type option that still deals super-effective damage while providing coverage if you're short an Ice type. Rock moves deal 1.6x damage against Therian, which isn't as good as Ice but still meaningful. This team should handle Therian comfortably with 4-5 trainers.

Budget Team (Newer Players): For trainers with level 20-30 Pokemon, don't worry - you can still contribute effectively. Use: Weavile (even low-level), Glaceon, Mamoswine (whatever level you have), any other Ice types, Rampardos if available, and a high-attack neutral attacker like Dragonite as a last resort. The key is to use what Ice types you have, even if they're underleveled. Some super-effective damage is better than no super-effective damage, and Therian's lower damage output gives you more margin for error.

Team Ordering Strategy: How you order your Pokemon matters in Therian raids. I recommend leading with your fastest energy generator (usually Weavile with Ice Shard) to establish early pressure and get the first charged move off quickly. Follow with your hardest hitters (Mamoswine and Glaceon) to maximize DPS during the middle phase. Save your second strongest Pokemon for cleanup when Therian is at low health and you want to secure victory. This ordering optimizes damage output across the full battle duration.

Therian Thundurus Battle Strategy: Step-by-Step

Now that we've covered team composition, let's dive into the actual battle strategy for Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go raids. The approach differs from Incarnate Forme due to Therian's stat profile, requiring adjustments to timing and energy management. Here's my proven step-by-step strategy.

Phase 1: Opening Assault (0-60 seconds): Start the battle aggressively with your lead Pokemon (ideally Weavile for fast energy). Immediately begin tapping for your fast attack to build energy, and don't be afraid to use your first charged move as soon as it's available. Therian's lower damage output means you can afford to be more aggressive early compared to Incarnate raids. I typically use my first charged move within the first 20 seconds to establish damage momentum.

During this opening phase, pay attention to which charged moves Therian has. If you see Sludge Bomb, breathe a sigh of relief - this is Therian's easiest charged move to handle. If you see Thunderbolt or Thunder, maintain standard dodging discipline. The key in Phase 1 is to build energy while using charged moves whenever available, trusting that Therian's reduced damage gives you room for imperfect dodges.

Phase 2: Sustained Pressure (60-120 seconds): As the battle progresses, Therian will start using charged moves more frequently. This is where Therian's higher defense becomes noticeable - you'll see the health bar dropping more slowly than it would against Incarnate Forme. Don't let this discourage you; consistent pressure will wear down Therian eventually. During this phase, focus on the rhythm of fast attacks, charged moves, and dodging.

One advantage of Therian's slower pace is that you have more time to react to charged moves. While Incarnate's high attack demands instant reflexes, Therian gives you slightly more leeway. Use this to your advantage by prioritizing perfect dodges over rushing charged moves. A successfully dodged charged move followed by your own charged move is more valuable than a failed dodge and a rushed charged move.

Phase 3: Final Push (120-180 seconds): In the final minute, Therian should be at low health. This is when coordination with your team becomes crucial. Communicate with your raid group to time charged moves for maximum effectiveness. If you have experienced teammates who coordinate relobbies, Phase 3 is often when groups re-enter the raid with fresh Pokemon for maximum damage output.

If your group doesn't relobby, Phase 3 is about making every second count. Use charged moves as soon as they're available, but don't sacrifice dodging. The last thing you want is to have Therian at 5% health when time runs out. I've seen too many groups lose Therian raids by less than 10 seconds because they got greedy with damage in the final phase and lost Pokemon to failed dodges.

Handling Therian's Exclusive Moves

Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go has access to Sludge Bomb as its exclusive charged move, replacing Incarnate's Crunch. This move change has important implications for raid strategy and affects which Pokemon perform best. Let me break down how to handle Sludge Bomb and other moves you might encounter.

Sludge Bomb (Poison-type): This is Therian's signature charged move and one of the easier ones to handle. Poison moves deal neutral damage to almost all Pokemon, including your Ice-type counters. This means Sludge Bomb doesn't have any super-effective targets on your team, making it significantly less threatening than Electric charged moves. The animation shows Therian gathering toxic energy before launching a sludge bomb, giving you a clear telegraph for when to dodge.

When facing Sludge Bomb, I actually recommend being more aggressive with your own charged moves. Since the damage is manageable even if you fail to dodge, you can afford to use your charged moves more frequently without worrying about losing Pokemon. This aggressive approach can significantly speed up Therian raids, making up for its higher defensive stats. The key is to still attempt dodges, but don't panic if you miss one - Sludge Bomb won't one-shot your Ice types.

Electric Charged Moves: Even though Therian has Sludge Bomb as an exclusive, it can still have the same Electric charged moves as Incarnate: Thunderbolt, Thunder, Thunder Punch, and Wild Charge. When Therian has Electric moves, treat them with the same respect as you would against Incarnate Forme. While Therian's lower attack makes these moves less dangerous, they can still devastate your team if you fail to dodge consistently.

Focus Blast (Fighting-type): Therian can still have Focus Blast, just like Incarnate Forme. This Fighting-type charged move deals neutral damage to Ice types and is actually a favorable outcome compared to Electric moves. When I see Focus Blast in Therian's moveset, I know the raid will be relatively safe. Focus Blast has a distinctive charging animation that becomes easy to recognize with practice. Dodging Focus Blast is more forgiving than dodging Electric moves due to the neutral damage type.

Move Combinations: Therian typically has two charged moves, and the combination affects raid difficulty. The easiest combination is Sludge Bomb + Focus Blast, as neither move is super-effective against your Ice counters. The hardest combination is Wild Charge + Thunder, which can one-shot even bulky Ice types if you fail to dodge. Most combinations fall somewhere in between, requiring standard dodging discipline without being overly threatening.

Trainer Level Requirements for Therian Thundurus

One of the most common questions I get about Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go raids is what trainer levels and Pokemon power are needed to win. Because Therian has different stats than Incarnate, the requirements shift slightly. Let me break down realistic requirements based on hundreds of raids across all trainer levels.

Level 40+ Trainers (High-Level): For max-level trainers with fully optimized Ice counters (level 35-40 Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile), Therian Thundurus is duoable under ideal conditions (snowy weather, perfect dodging). In practice, I recommend 3 trainers for a comfortable win with 90+ seconds remaining. Your counters should be level 35-40 with optimal movesets. At this level, Therian raids become almost trivial if you have the right Pokemon, though the higher defensive stats mean battles last longer than Incarnate raids.

Level 30-35 Trainers (Mid-Level): This is where most active trainers fall, and the good news is that Therian is very accessible at this level. With level 30-35 Ice types, you'll typically need 3-4 trainers for a comfortable victory. The exact number depends on moveset and weather - Sludge Bomb + Focus Blast in snowy weather might be doable with 3, while Wild Charge + Thunder in clear weather might need 4. Focus on powering up 3-4 core Ice counters rather than spreading stardust across many Pokemon.

Level 20-30 Trainers (Developing): Newer trainers often worry they can't contribute to legendary raids, but Therian Forme is actually quite accommodating for lower levels. With level 20-30 Pokemon, you'll generally need 4-5 trainers, but you can still deal meaningful damage with proper Ice types. Even a level 20 Weavile with Ice Shard/Avalanche deals super-effective damage, contributing more than a level 40 Dragonite using neutral moves. Don't be afraid to join Therian raids as you're leveling up - you'll learn raid mechanics and earn valuable resources.

Under Level 20 Trainers (Beginners): While technically possible to participate in Therian raids at very low levels, you'll struggle to contribute significant damage. However, Therian's lower damage output makes it safer for beginners to participate compared to Incarnate. If you're under level 20, I recommend joining raids with 5-6 other trainers and using whatever Ice types you have, even if they're weak. The experience will help you learn, and you might get lucky with a good catch at the end.

Weather Impact on Therian Thundurus Raids

Weather conditions affect Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go raids just as they do Incarnate raids, but the stat differences make some weather conditions more or less impactful. Understanding weather effects helps you plan your raids and adjust expectations. Let me break down how each weather type affects Therian battles.

Snowy Weather (Ice Boost): This remains the ideal weather for Therian raids, just as it is for Incarnate. The 1.2x boost to Ice-type attacks dramatically increases your damage output, helping overcome Therian's higher defensive stats. In snowy weather, I've seen groups defeat Therian 20-30 seconds faster than in clear weather. The boost also means you can potentially reduce group size by one trainer - a 4-person group in snow achieves what would require 5 trainers in clear weather. Always prioritize Therian raids during snowy conditions.

Partly Cloudy Weather (Rock Boost): This weather boosts Rock-type attacks, benefiting Rock counters like Rampardos and Tyranitar. While not as ideal as the Ice boost from snowy weather, partly cloudy conditions are still beneficial if you're using Rock types as secondary attackers. The boost is less impactful since Rock is only 1.6x effective against Therian (compared to Ice's 2.56x), but it helps. If you're short on Ice types and relying on Rock options, partly cloudy weather makes that strategy more viable.

Rainy Weather (Electric Boost): Rainy conditions boost Electric-type attacks by 1.2x, which makes Therian's Electric charged moves more dangerous. While Therian's lower attack stat makes this less threatening than it would be against Incarnate, rainy weather still makes raids harder. The boost to Therian's offense means charged moves hurt more, reducing your margin for error with dodging. I avoid Therian raids during rain when possible, unless desperate for the encounter.

Clear/Sunny/Windy/Cloudy/Fog: These weather conditions don't provide relevant boosts for Therian raids. They don't boost Ice, Rock, or Electric attacks, so raids under these conditions are neutral. Plan your strategies assuming no weather bonuses, and treat any relevant boost (snowy or partly cloudy) as a bonus. Weather-boosted Therian (in rainy weather) will have higher CP and potentially better IVs, but this doesn't significantly affect raid difficulty.

My approach to weather with Therian raids is to prioritize snowy conditions above all else. The Ice boost helps overcome Therian's defensive stats and shortens the already extended battle duration. If snow isn't available, partly cloudy is acceptable if you're using Rock types. Avoid rainy weather entirely if possible - there's no benefit to raiding Therian in rain, and it only makes the battle slightly more dangerous.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Against Therian Forme

Even though Therian Thundurus Pokemon Go is generally more forgiving than Incarnate Forme, trainers still make mistakes that turn winnable raids into failures. Let me identify the most common errors I see in Therian raids and explain how to avoid them. Learning from these mistakes will dramatically improve your success rate.

Underestimating the Battle Duration: The biggest mistake trainers make against Therian is assuming it will be as quick as Incarnate raids. Therian's higher defense means battles last longer, and I've seen groups fail because they were too casual in the final 30 seconds, assuming victory was assured. Treat Therian raids with the same urgency as Incarnate raids - keep attacking and dodging until the health bar hits zero, even if it seems like you have plenty of time.

Bringing Incarnate-Optimized Teams: Some Pokemon that excel against Incarnate are less effective against Therian due to the extended battle duration. Fragile attackers like Weavile, while still good, faint faster in longer battles even with Therian's reduced damage. Balance your team with both high-DPS options (Weavile, Glaceon) and bulkier options (Mamoswine) to maintain consistent damage throughout the extended fight.

Panic Switching Too Early: Because Therian deals less damage than Incarnate, some trainers become overly aggressive and leave Pokemon in too long, while others panic and switch too early. Find the balance - keep your Pokemon in until they're at low health (below 30%), then switch. Therian's damage is low enough that your Pokemon can survive several charged moves if you dodge properly. Don't waste potential damage switching prematurely.

Ignoring Dodging Because of Lower Damage: I've watched trainers get hit by every charged move against Therian because "it doesn't hurt that much." This is a mistake. While individual hits may hurt less, the accumulated damage from failed dodges wears down your team and costs you DPS when Pokemon faint. Maintain proper dodging discipline even though Therian is less dangerous than Incarnate. Your future self will thank you when you have a full team alive in the final phase.

Wasting Time on IV Checks: Some trainers get distracted checking Therian's IVs or their own Pokemon's stats during battle. Every second you spend doing this is lost damage. With Therian's extended battle duration, those wasted seconds add up. Save the appraisal and IV checking for after you've won. Focus exclusively on battling during the 180-second window, and you'll find your success rate improving dramatically.