How To Get TM24 Thunderbolt in Pokémon Platinum

by Chris Haygood

There are two ways to get TM24 Thunderbolt in Pokémon Platinum:

You’ll find one copy of TM24 on an island behind the Valley Windworks. Obtaining this copy requires a Pokémon that knows Surf.
There are unlimited copies of TM24 at the Veilstone City Prize Exchange. They cost 10,000 Coins each, and you can get coins by purchasing them or winning them from the Veilstone Game Corner next door.

Thunderbolt is a damage-dealing Electric-type special move that also has a 10% chance of paralyzing the target.

TM24 Thunderbolt Locations

There are two locations where you can find TM24 Thunderbolt.

Of the two locations, the Veilstone Prize Exchange is a repeatable way to get multiple copies of TM24.

Location 1: The Valley Windworks

TM24 Thunderbolt’s first location on the Town Map.

You’ll find a copy of TM24 Thunderbolt on an island behind the Valley Windworks, east of Floaroma Town, right off of Route 205.

It requires a Pokémon that knows Surf to access, which is only available after defeating Crasher Wake at the Pastoria City Gym.

To reach the island, start by heading east from the Floaroma Town Pokémon Center.

Heading east on Floaroma Town’s main road.

Leave Floaroma Town through the eastern entrance, and continue east on Route 205.

Traveling east on Route 205.

When you arrive at the bridge that takes you north to Eterna City, approach the river on the right-hand side of it and use Surf.

Using Surf on the river near the Valley Windworks.

Head in a general northeastern direction up the river, which will take you behind the Valley Windworks building.

Coming up on the island behind the Valley Windworks.

On a small island behind the Windworks building—offering barely a few tiles of terrain to stand on—you can see TM24 Thunderbolt as a Pokéball overworld item.

Acquiring the first copy of TM24 Thunderbolt.

This is the only free copy of TM24 Thunderbolt you can find.

The other method is quite expensive. So if you’d rather not spend a ton of time at the Veilstone Game Corner, use this copy of the TM cautiously.

Location 2: Veilstone City Prize Exchange

TM24 Thunderbolt’s second location on the Town Map.

TM24 Thunderbolt can also be purchased from the Prize Exchange kiosk in Veilstone City. This method is repeatable, but can be very expensive in terms of time, money, or both.

The Prize Exchange is directly south of the Veilstone City Pokémon Center.

From the Pokémon Center, take the stairs down to the street and head down main street in a southeastern direction.

Taking Veilstone’s main street eastward, then turning to the south.

Turn west as soon as you’re able, and the Prize Exchange is just up the nearest stairs.

Arriving at the Prize Exchange.

TM24 Thunderbolt costs 10,000 Coins to purchase, which can only be obtained from the Veilstone Game Corner next door, either by buying them from the vendor at the counter or by winning them from the slot machines.

TM24 Thunderbolt’s listing at the Veilstone Prize Exchange.

If you haven’t mastered the slot machines, you can expect to spend hours at the Game Corner before you’ve amassed enough coins to purchase a single copy of TM24.

If you buy the Coins using money, it will cost 200,000 Pokédollars to do so.

Either way, it’s a big investment.

Thunderbolt Details and Uses

In-game description for TM24 Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt is a damage-inflicting Electric-type special move.

When it hits, it also has a 10% chance of causing the paralysis status condition.

Thunderbolt Move Details
Type	Electric
Category	Special
Power	95
Accuracy	100%
PP	15 (max. 24)

Thunderbolt is a very solid move that’s worth using whenever you can get it.

It has a high base power, a secondary effect, a decent PP count, and no penalties to use. The 10% chance of paralysis is low, but it’s always nice to have even a small opportunity of inflicting such a debilitating status effect, especially when the move is already so powerful.

Some extra notes about Thunderbolt:

If used in a Pokémon Contest in the Cool category, Thunderbolt will generate 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the user is the first Pokémon to act in that turn.
Thunderbolt can also be used as the second move in a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user earning 4 bonus Appeal Points if Charge was used in the previous turn.

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Chris Haygood

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Chris is an American freelance writer and lifelong gamer. RPGs have been his genre of choice ever since he got Pokémon Blue in 1867, but if he finds a good rhythm game, he will prioritize playing it over both eating and breathing.

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