Thunder Jolt (でんげき Dengeki?, lit. "Electric Attack") is Pikachu and Pichu's Neutral Special Move. Thunder Jolt is fairly unique for a projectile attack in that it hugs the ground it travels on, bouncing up and down as it moves forward (often over obstacles). When used in the air, a ball of electricity is launched that falls diagonally until it hits a solid object, where it assumes the normal arc form. Like its other specials, Thunder Jolt damages Pichu upon use, inflicting 1% damage each time.
This move is also good for spamming heavy characters and fast falling ones like Ike and Fox.
Gallery[]
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| 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[]
In Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U, Thunder Jolt can be customized into Thunder Wave or Thunder Shock.
Thunder Wave[]
Thunder Wave will paralyze opponents that it hits, but does less damage. This move can potentially set up an infinite combo.
Strengths
- Paralyzes opponents
Weaknesses
- Deals barely any damage
Thunder Shock[]
Thunder Shock will travel strictly horizontally, but will trigger a small blast as it disappears.
Strengths
- Does more damage
- Does more knockback
Weaknesses
- High endlag
- Travels less distance
| 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[]
Thunder Shock is most likely inspired by the Thunder Jolt. An example would be Electabuzz hitting Slowbro with the said move.
Unlike most other attacks Pokémon use in the Super Smash Bros. games, there has never been an attack named Thunder Jolt in any Pokémon video game. Thunder Jolt was, however, present on the original Pikachu card as one of the many moves invented for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The name of the move in the Smash Bros. games likely arose either from the popularity of the trading cards at the time of Super Smash Bros. or from a mistranslation of "Thunderbolt," the name of a standard Pikachu move in the RPGs.
The name itself does specifically come from the TCG.