Killer Instinct (2013)/Thunder

Overview Strategy Matchups Resources

Introduction

Lore

To Do

Gameplay

Thunder is a hybrid grappler character with a large emphasis on brawling tools. Said tools allow him to bulldog his way in and begin his destructive offense. Once Thunder scores a hard knockdown the party really gets started, forcing his opponent to endure a series of brutal ambiguous 50/50s. Get in the opponent's face and tear through their defense with this walking blender of death.

Character

Strengths

Weaknesses

Chief of Mix: Able to cancel into a tick command throw off of every button on hit/ch/block, every single button that connects with the opponent is a potential 50/50 between throw and his Ankle Slicer low. Off of the majority of his knockdowns, Thunder gets to enforce the most ambiguous crossup setup in the game with his jHP. This setup can even safejump most reversals in the game if timed properly. Even if (and that's a big if) the jHP is blocked, Thunder is very plus and can mix between his standing overhead fHP, low, and command throw. Punishing Damage: Thunder's damage is well above average, making his vortex that much scarier to be in as he can feasibly kill off of very few hits with minimal interaction with the combo system. Reset Monster: Whether after a wallsplat or midscreen, Thunder's powerful mixup options can be used to either reset damage scaling with a chunky overhead, or put the opponent right back into his post-command grab okizeme. The constant threat of resets can overwhelm their mental stack and allow Thunder to get away with longer combos. Scary Burst Mobility: Powerful Instinct: Potent Kit of Shadow Moves: Best Stage Theme in the Game: People will never get tired of Hinnamatoom.

Painfully Slow: Thunder's normal movement leaves much to be desired: sluggish walk speed, hilariously floaty jump, and a very mediocre dash. Without the aid of his special moves or instinct, Thunder is not getting anywhere quickly. Unimpressive Neutral: Hates Getting Combo Broken: With his aforementioned subpar neutral, getting broken as Thunder can be especially painful. His combo options are nothing special, aside from his difficult to break back throw linker that does no damage and takes a chunk of KV, so he often has to look towards one-chances and resets in order to force early lockouts.

Character Data
Forward Walk Speed	85f to cross two large training mode squares
Backwards Walk Speed	124f to cross two large training mode squares
Forward Dash Duration	25f
Backdash Duration	25f
Pre-Jump Frames	5f
Jump Duration	47f
Landing Recovery	4f
Advantage Post Grounded Combo Breaker

Universal Mechanics

Instinct

Murder of Crows: Thunder can cancel attacks into and out of dashes. All dashes become invulnerable and pass through your opponent.

Combat Trait

Throw Linkers: Thunder can use his Back Throw as an Opener or Exchange Linker during combos.

Normal Moves

Far Normals

Standing Light Punch
Stand LP/5LP

File:To Do

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
10(2%)	14(3%)	--	1.6%	2.4%	Mid	5	2	13	19f	+5	+7	+2	Chain
To Do

Far Standing Medium Punch
Far Stand MP/5MP

File:To Do

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4%	4%	Mid	8	3	15	25f	-1	+3	-4	--
To Do

Far Standing Heavy Punch
Far Stand HP/5HP

File:To Do

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4%	4.5%	Mid	11	5	19	34f	-1	+3	-4	--
To Do

Standing Light Kick
Stand LK/5LK

File:To Do

Stanky Leg

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
10(2%)	14(3%)	--	1.6%	2.4%	Mid	6	3	10	18f	+5	+9	+2	Flipout
LMAO this button. Easily Thunder's overall most useful button. Fast startup, +2 on block so it frametraps into itself, almost no pushback and range that rivals medium buttons, can link into 5f buttons on hit/ch, and ticks into M CotE on hit/ch/block. Pressing this up close is never a bad idea.

Far Standing Medium Kick
Far Stand MK/5MK

File:To Do

Test Caption

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4%	4%	Mid	9	4	14	26f	+3	+6	0	--
To Do

Far Standing Heavy Kick
Far Stand HK/5HK

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
36(10%)	44(12%)	--	4%	4.5%	Mid	15	5	21	40f	+3	+6	+1	--

Close Normals

Close Standing Medium Punch
Close Stand MP/clMP

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Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4%	4%	Mid	8	2	13	22f	+1	+4	-2	--

Close Standing Heavy Punch
Close Stand HP/clHP

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4%	4.5%	Mid	10	4	16	29f	0	+4	-5	--

Close Standing Medium Kick
Close Stand MK/clMK

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4%	4%	Mid	7	3	13	22f	+4	+7	+1	--

Close Standing Heavy Kick
Close Stand HK/clHK

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4%	4.5%	Mid	9	4	15	27f	-1	+3	-5	--

Crouching Normals

Crouching Light Punch
Crouch LP/2LP

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Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
10(2%)	14(3%)	--	1.6%	2.4%	Mid	5	2	10	16f	+4	+6	+2	Chain

Crouching Medium Punch
Crouch MP/2MP

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4%	4%	Mid	9	2	15	25f	+3	+6	-3	--

Crouching Heavy Punch
Crouch HP/2HP

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
30(8%)	38(10%)	--	4%	4.5%	Mid	10	4	21	34f	-3	+1	-6	--

Crouching Light Kick
Crouch LK/2LK

File:To Do

Toe Tap

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
10(2%)	14(3%)	--	1.6%	2.4%	Low	5	2	8	15f	+4	+6	+1	Chain
Thunder's first and best low normal. Useful in frametraps and especially tick throws. Ticks into M CotE on hit/ch/block and its blistering fast total duration of 15f means a barely delayed cancel into M CotE will come out on whiff, OSing backdashes.

Crouching Medium Kick
Crouch MK/2MK

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Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
20(5%)	26(7%)	--	2.4%	4%	Low	9	3	14	27f	-2	+1	-4	--
Thunder's second and still decent low normal. Better range means you can check standers from farther than 2LK can reach. When used as a tick normal you have to be mindful about their mashing habits as it will tick properly with M CotE on hit and block but will whiff on ch. If worried about a counterhit, tick into H CotE instead.

Crouching Heavy Kick
Crouch HK/2HK

File:To Do

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
36(10%)	44(12%)	--	4%	4.5%	Low	12	3	25	39f	+48	+48	-6	Hard Knockdown
Thunder's final and by far his worst low normal. Slow and unsafe, pressing any other button is better in nearly every scenario.

Command Normals

Forward Heavy Punch "Horn Breaker"
Forward HP/6HP

File:To Do

"Bonk"

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
32.1(8%)	40.1(11%)	2.7(0.7%)	3.2%	4.8%	High	19	2[17]2	26	65f	-2	-2	-6	Overhead
Key component of Thunder's offense due to being a grounded overhead. Long animation means it can easily be confirmed into an optimal opener on hit as well as some additional mix on block. Ticks into any meterless version of CotE on block with an increasingly tight window depending on which version you choose. Despite being a fairly easy shadow counter, making the opponent remember that you can always clock them on the head will immediately make your mixup game even more terrifying.

PPP/Call of the Sky
3P/PPP

File:To Do

Dash up S CotE incoming

Damage	Counter-Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Total Duration	On Hit	On Counter-Hit	On Block	Special Properties
--	--	--	--	--	--	15	7	30	51f	--	--	--	Destroys projectiles during active frames. Next dash becomes an instinct crow dash.
While not an attack nor a very consistent anti-fireball tool, Call of the Sky remains a very important move in Thunder's arsenal. Access to an instinct mechanic outside of instinct is a feature unique to Thunder. Once CotS is up Thunder's neutral suddenly becomes much scarier as dash up special move and dash cancelling DP>HK both become possible. If already in his ideal range because CotS was used after DP Ender or S CotE his offense gains an additional layer with the threat of dash throughs/cancels. If your opponent allows it, there is essentially no reason to go without CotS.

Frame Data At A Glance

Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
LP		10(2%)	14(3%)	--	1.6%	2.4%	Mid	5	2	13	5	7
Close MP	Close	20	10	2.4%	M	sp/sh	6	2	13	1	-2	Does not into Ankle Cutter
Close HP	Close	30	5	4.0%	M	sp/sh	9	3	16	0	-5
LK		10	15	1.6%	M	sp/sh	5	3	10	5	2
Close MK	Close	20	10	2.4%	M	sp/sh	6	3	12	4	1
Close HK	Close	30	5	4.0%	M	sp/sh	9	4	15	-1	-5
Far MP	Far	20	10	2.4%	M	sp/sh	7	3	15	-1	-4
Far HP	Far	30	5	4.0%	M	sp/sh	10	5	19	-1	-4
Far MK	Far	20	10	2.4%	M	sp/sh	8	4	14	3	0
Far HK	Far	36	5	4.0%	M	sp/sh	15	5	21	3	1
Crouch LP		10	15	1.6%	M	sp/sh	4	2	10	4	2	Does not into Ankle Cutter
Crouch MP		20	10	2.4%	M	sp/sh	8	2	15	3	-3
Crouch HP		30	5	4.0%	M	sp/sh	9	4	20	-3	-6	Does not into Ankle Cutter
Crouch LK		10	15	1.6%	L	sp/sh	4	2	8	4	1	Does not into Ankle Cutter
Crouch MK		20	10	2.4%	L	sp/sh	8	3	14	-2	-4	Does not into Ankle Cutter
Crouch HK		36	-	4.0%	L	-	11	3	25	67	-6	Hard Knockdown
Jump LP	Jumping	20	15	?	H	sp/sh	7	7	4	15	8	Opener
Jump MP	Jumping	24	10	?	H	sp/sh	8	4	4	16	12	Opener
Jump HP	Jumping	30	5	?	H	sp/sh	10	4	4	19	16	Opener, Crossup
Jump LK	Jumping	20	15	1.6%	H	sp/sh	7	7	4	15	8	Opener
Jump MK	Jumping	24	10	2.4%	H	sp/sh	9	10	4	15	11	Opener, Crossup
Jump HK	Jumping	30	5	4.0%	H	sp/sh	10	12	4	20	17	Opener
Horn Breaker		24,8.1	-	?	H	sp/sh	18	2	26	-2	-6	Overhead
Call of Sky	x3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	Gives next dash Instinct properties, lasts 9 seconds real time
Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
Forward Throw		30,10	-	?	TH	-	4	2	29	64	-	Hard Knockdown
Backward Throw		-	50	?	TH	-	4	2	29	14	-	Opener
Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
Triplax		14,5.4	10	?	M	sh	8	1	27	4	21	Opener
		16,6.1	10	?	M	sh	10	1	26	2	-2	Opener
		20,6.8,6.1	10	?	M	sh	12	2	26	1	-3	Opener
Call of the Earth		20,18,16.2	40	?	TH	-	10	3	47	70	-	Throw Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown, least reach
		20,18,16.2	40	?	TH	-	13	3	48	70	-	Throw Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown
		20,18,16.2	40	?	TH	-	17	3	48	70	-	Throw Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown, most reach
Ankle Slicer		24	10	?	M	sh	15	1	20	5	-2	Opener, Throw & Lower Invulnerable
		32	10	?	M	sh	18	1	20	4	-3	Opener, Throw & Lower Invulnerable
		40	10	?	M	sh	20	1	19	2	-5	Opener, Throw & Lower Invulnerable
Sammamish		32	-	?	M	sh	7	6	39	74	-31	Throw & Projectile & Upper Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown
		38	-	?	M	sh	7	8	37	75	-36	Throw & Projectile & Upper Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown
		44	-	?	M	sh	11	6	46	72	-36	Throw & Projectile & Upper Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown
Sky Fall		13.5	-	?	M	sh	19	2	32	28	-13	-
Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
Shadow Triplax	x2	12 + 3.6x3 + 10.8	0	?	M	sh	3,3	2	27	4	1	Super Armor (1 Hit)
Shadow Call of the Earth	x2	2 + 24x4	0	?	M	sh	5,0	3	37	104	-	Ground Bounce, Throw Invulnerable, Hard Knockdown
Shadow Ankle Slicer	x2	16 + 4.8x3 + 14.4	0	?	M	sh	2,9	9	18	6	-4	Throw & Lower Invulnerable
Shadow Sammamish	x2	24 + 3.6x3 + 18	0	?	M	-	6,0	9	45	33	-30	Startup Invulnerable
Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
LP Auto-Double		1.8,2.4	20	-	M	linker/ender	4	2	12	2	-
MP Auto-Double		3.6,4.9	16	-	M	linker/ender	6	3	23	3	-
HP Auto-Double		5.4,6.5	12	-	M	linker/ender	8	3	32	5	-
LK Auto-Double		1.8,2.4	20	-	M	linker/ender	4	2	13	2	-
MK Auto-Double		3.6,4.9	16	-	M	linker/ender	6	2	22	3	-
HK Auto-Double		5.4,6.5	12	-	M	linker/ender	8	5	32	5	-
Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
Triplax Linker		1.9,1.9	12	?	M	sh/auto-double	7	2	28	1	-	Carry
		1.9,1.9,1.9	15	?	M	sh/auto-double	8	2	24	2	-	Carry
	hold /	1.9,1.9,1.9,2.9	16	?	M	sh/auto-double	8	2	24	4	-	Carry
Ankle Slicer Linker		5.8	16	?	M	sh/auto-double	7	2	19	2	-	Damage
		4.4,4.4	18	?	M	sh/auto-double	9	3	16	4	-	Damage
	hold /	3.9,3.9,3.9	21	?	M	sh/auto-double	10	3	16	5	-	Damage
Back Throw Linker		0	10	?	TH	sh/auto-double	4	2	-	14	-	Exchange
Shadow Triplax Linker	x2	?	0	?	M	sh/auto-double	2,4	3	-	6	-	Carry
Shadow Ankle Slicer Linker	x2	?	0	?	M	sh/auto-double	2,5	1	-	5	-	Damage
Move Name	Input	Damage	Counter Hit Damage	Potential Damage	Shadow On Hit	Shadow On Block	Guard	Startup	Active	Recovery	Adv On Hit	Adv On Counter Hit	Adv On Block	Special Properties
Triplax Ender		varies	N/A	varies	M	-	-	-	-	-	-	Carry/Wall Splat
Call of the Earth Ender		varies	N/A	varies	M	-	-	-	-	-	-	Damage
Ankle Slicer Ender		varies	N/A	varies	M	-	-	-	-	-	-	Battery
Sammamish Ender		varies	N/A	varies	M	-	-	-	-	-	-	Launcher
Shadow Call of the Earth Ender	x2	varies	N/A	varies	M	-	-	-	-	-	-	Damage, Ground Bounce
Shadow Sammamish Ender	x2	varies	N/A	varies	M	-	-	-	-	-	-	Damage, Sky Fall Cancelable

Matchups

• Vs. Glacius

TBW

• Vs. Jago

TBW

• Vs. Sabrewulf

TBW

• Vs. Thunder

TBW