Thundurus Raid Guide Pokémon GO 2026

Thundurus Pokemon Go raids represent one of the most engaging legendary encounters in the game, combining strategic team building with real-time battle mechanics. As part of the Forces of Nature trio alongside Tornadus and Landorus, Thundurus brings unique challenges that test both your preparation and execution skills. I've completed hundreds of Thundurus raids across both formes and various weather conditions, and I'm sharing everything I've learned to help you achieve consistent victory.

What makes Thundurus particularly interesting is its Electric/Flying typing, which creates a double weakness to Ice-type attacks while resisting several other types. This typing makes Thundurus vulnerable to well-prepared trainers but still dangerous to those who come unprepared. The key to success lies in understanding Thundurus's moveset, exploiting its weaknesses effectively, and coordinating with your raid team to maximize damage output while minimizing losses.

Understanding Thundurus: Raid Basics

Before diving into strategies, it's essential to understand what you're facing. Thundurus Pokemon Go appears as a 5-star legendary raid boss with two distinct formes: Incarnate Forme (CP 47,481 max) and Therian Forme (CP 42,727 max). The forme you encounter affects both the difficulty level and optimal strategies, so always check which forme is active before heading into battle. Both formes share the same Electric/Flying typing but have different stat distributions that impact their performance.

Thundurus's HP pool sits at approximately 18,000-20,000 HP depending on the forme and weather conditions, giving you a 180-second time window to deplete this health bar. With proper counters and coordination, most groups can defeat Thundurus with 60-90 seconds remaining on the clock. The raid battle phase is where you'll spend most of your effort, dealing damage with your Pokemon while dodging Thundurus's charged moves to keep your team alive and maintain DPS pressure.

Thundurus Moveset Analysis

Thundurus Pokemon Go can have several different movesets, and knowing which moves your specific raid boss has can influence your strategy. For fast attacks, Thundurus typically uses Volt Switch, an Electric-type move that deals moderate damage and generates energy quickly. Some variations may use Thunder Shock instead, though this is less common. Neither fast move should drastically alter your strategy since you'll be focusing on dodging charged moves anyway.

The charged moves are where things get interesting. Thundurus can have Thunderbolt, Thunder Punch, Wild Charge, or Focus Blast as charged attacks. Thunderbolt and Thunder Punch are pure Electric moves that deal heavy damage to non-resistant Pokemon. Wild Charge is even more powerful but causes recoil damage to Thundurus. Focus Blast is a Fighting-type move that can catch trainers off guard since it's not an Electric attack. Incarnate Forme may have Crunch (Dark-type) as an exclusive move, while Therian Forme might have Sludge Bomb (Poison-type). Always check Thundurus's charged moves during the battle and adjust your dodging accordingly.

Group Size Requirements: How Many Trainers Do You Need?

One of the most common questions about Thundurus Pokemon Go raids is how many trainers are needed to defeat it. The answer depends on several factors: trainer levels, Pokemon power, weather conditions, Thundurus's forme, and move optimization. Let me break down realistic requirements based on different scenarios, drawing from my extensive raid experience.

For average trainers with level 30-35 Pokemon using decent (but not optimal) counters, you'll typically need 4-5 trainers for Incarnate Forme and 3-4 for Therian Forme. These numbers assume you're using appropriate Ice-type counters and have reasonable dodging skills. If your Pokemon are under-leveled (below 30) or you're using non-optimal types, you may need 5-6 trainers regardless of forme. I always recommend having one extra trainer beyond the minimum to account for connection issues, pokemon fainting early, or imperfect dodging.

High-level trainers with level 40+ optimized counters can dramatically reduce these requirements. In my experience, a group of 3 experienced trainers with maxed-out Ice counters can defeat Incarnate Forme relatively easily, especially in snowy weather. Therian Forme becomes manageable with just 2 trainers under ideal conditions. However, attempting to duo Thundurus requires significant skill, perfect dodging, and substantial stardust investment in powering up counters - it's not recommended for casual players.

Weather boosts make a tremendous difference. Snowy weather boosts Ice-type attacks by 1.2x, which increases your damage output significantly. A 4-person group in snow can achieve what would require 5-6 trainers in clear weather. Conversely, rainy weather boosts Electric attacks, making Thundurus more dangerous and reducing your Electric-type counter effectiveness (though you shouldn't be using Electric types anyway due to Thundurus's resistance). Always check the weather forecast and prioritize Thundurus raids during snowy conditions when possible.

Optimal Raid Strategy: Step-by-Step Battle Guide

Success in Thundurus Pokemon Go raids comes from following a consistent strategy that maximizes damage while keeping your Pokemon alive. Here's my proven step-by-step approach that I've used across hundreds of successful Thundurus raids. This strategy works for both Incarnate and Therian formes, with minor adjustments mentioned where applicable.

Pre-Raid Preparation

Before the raid even starts, proper preparation sets the foundation for victory. First, ensure you have 6 Pokemon powered up to at least level 30, ideally level 35-40 for the best performance. All 6 should be Ice-type counters with optimal movesets - Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile, and similar Pokemon form the core of your team. Second, stock up on healing items - you'll need Max Revives and Max Potions, especially if you're new to raiding or if Thundurus has particularly powerful charged moves.

Third, coordinate with your raid group to ensure everyone has appropriate counters. I've seen too many raids fail because one or two trainers used non-optimal Pokemon, reducing overall group DPS. Don't be afraid to politely suggest better options to newer trainers - most people appreciate helpful advice. Fourth, check your device battery and internet connection. Nothing's more frustrating than losing connection mid-raid or having your phone die during the critical battle phase. Finally, decide on a relobby strategy with your group - experienced groups often coordinate relobbies to maximize damage output.

Battle Phase: Opening Moves

When the battle begins, immediately start tapping to use your fast attack and build energy. Don't wait or hesitate - every second of DPS matters in the 180-second time window. Your first Pokemon should be your strongest counter, typically a high-level Mamoswine or Glaceon. As you build energy with your fast attack, watch Thundurus's energy bar closely - when it starts getting close to a charged move, prepare to dodge.

The timing of charged moves varies depending on Thundurus's fast move and animation, but you'll typically see a "flash" animation and the charged move name appear when Thundurus is about to attack. This is your cue to dodge - swipe to the left or right to avoid the incoming damage. Different charged moves have different dodge windows: Thunderbolt and Thunder have longer animations that give you more time to react, while Thunder Punch is faster and requires quicker reflexes. Practice makes perfect, and after a few raids you'll start recognizing the patterns.

After dodging a charged move, immediately resume attacking. Don't waste time switching Pokemon unless your current Pokemon has very low health and risks fainting from the next charged move. Generally, you want to let each Pokemon stay in as long as possible to maximize their damage output. Only switch when necessary - frequent switching reduces DPS and wastes valuable seconds. When your Pokemon does faint, switch to your next strongest counter and repeat the cycle.

Managing Energy and Charged Moves

Energy management is crucial in Thundurus Pokemon Go raids. You want to use your charged moves as soon as they're available to maximize DPS, but timing matters. If Thundurus is about to use a charged move, consider holding your energy until after you dodge - using your charged move immediately followed by taking a charged move to the face can result in your Pokemon fainting before dealing damage.

Different charged moves have different energy costs and damage outputs. Avalanche (from Mamoswine and Glaceon) costs moderate energy and deals massive damage, especially with the 1.2x STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) for Ice-type Pokemon using Ice moves. Make sure your counters have Ice-type charged moves rather than non-STAB alternatives - the damage difference is significant. When you have enough energy for a charged move, use it immediately unless you're in the middle of dodging Thundurus's charged move.

One advanced technique is to "weave" charged moves between fast attacks. After using a charged move, immediately start tapping for your fast attack again. This maintains constant pressure on Thundurus's health bar and ensures you're always building toward the next charged move. Efficient energy usage can make the difference between victory and defeat when the timer is counting down and Thundurus has a sliver of health remaining.

Advanced Techniques: Relobby Strategy

Experienced raid groups use a technique called "relobbying" to maximize damage output beyond what's possible with a single team of 6 Pokemon. The basic concept is that when your Pokemon faint, instead of immediately switching to your next Pokemon, you exit the raid and re-enter to start fresh with a new team. This effectively gives you more than 6 Pokemon per raid, dramatically increasing total damage potential.

Here's how relobbying works in Thundurus Pokemon Go raids: When your first Pokemon faints, exit the raid battle and wait a few seconds before re-entering. You'll start back at the beginning with a fresh team of 6 Pokemon, allowing you to continue dealing damage without being limited to your original 6. The key is coordination - everyone in the raid group needs to relobby at approximately the same time to maximize effectiveness. Most groups coordinate relobby timing through Discord voice chat or in-person communication.

The optimal relobby timing depends on your group size and DPS. High-level groups might relobby once around the 60-90 second mark, while smaller groups might relobby twice or even three times to maximize damage. The general rule is to relobby when your Pokemon are mostly or entirely defeated, rather than after just one or two faints. This maximizes the damage you get from each "life" and minimizes wasted time sitting in the lobby. Practice with your regular raid group to find the timing that works best for your specific composition and power level.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced trainers make mistakes in Thundurus Pokemon Go raids. I've identified the most common errors I see repeatedly, along with how to avoid them. Learning from these mistakes will significantly improve your raid success rate and make battles much smoother for both you and your teammates.

Using non-optimal counters: This is the single biggest mistake trainers make. I've seen raids fail because half the group used Dragonite, Gyarados, or other Pokemon that either don't deal super-effective damage or actually resist Thundurus's attacks. Stick to Ice types almost exclusively, with Rock types as a backup if you're short on Ice options. Using Dragonite against Thundurus is particularly bad since it takes super-effective damage from Electric attacks and doesn't deal super-effective damage in return.

Panic switching: When a Pokemon takes damage or dodges poorly, many trainers immediately switch to their next Pokemon. This is almost always a mistake. Unless your Pokemon is at very low health and will faint from the next charged move, keep it in the battle. Every second you spend switching is a second of lost DPS, and over the course of a raid this adds up to significant damage loss. Trust your Pokemon's bulk and only switch when absolutely necessary.

Ignoring charged move animations: I've watched trainers tap furiously without paying attention to Thundurus's energy bar or attack animations, then get hit by every charged move. This results in Pokemon fainting much faster than necessary and overall reduced damage output. Make dodging a priority - a live Pokemon dealing 50% damage is better than a fainted Pokemon dealing 0% damage. Practice watching for the attack tells and reacting quickly.

Not healing between raids: If you're doing multiple Thundurus raids, take a moment to heal and revive your Pokemon between battles. Entering a raid with weakened Pokemon puts you at a significant disadvantage and forces you to rely more on teammates. Keep a stock of Max Potions and Max Revives, and use them liberally between raids. Your teammates will appreciate you coming to each raid with a full team of healthy Pokemon.

Checking IVs during battle: Some trainers get distracted by checking the raid boss's IVs or appraising their own Pokemon during the battle. Every second you spend doing this is a second of lost damage. Save the appraisal and IV checking for after the raid - focus exclusively on battling during the 180-second window. If you're curious about Thundurus's IVs, check after you've won and are in the catch phase.