How To Get TM25 Thunder in Pokémon Platinum

There are two ways to get TM25 Thunder in Pokémon Platinum:

Unlimited copies can be purchased at the department store in Veilstone City. They cost 5,500 Pokédollars apiece.
One copy can be found at Lake Valor. The TM is visible in a patch of grass in the southeastern corner of the lakefront, and to reach it you’ll need a Pokémon that can use Surf.

Thunder is a damage-dealing, Electric-type special move that has a very high base attack power at the cost of accuracy. It also has a 30% chance of paralyzing the target.

Getting TM25 Thunder

You can first obtain TM25 Thunder when you reach Veilstone City, shortly after defeating Leader Fantina in Hearthome Gym. You’ll be able to purchase TM25 on the third floor of the Veilstone Department Store. This method is repeatable, if slightly expensive.

You won’t be able to pick up the copy at Lake Valor until you’re near the end of the game.

Location #1: Veilstone Department Store

TM25 Thunder’s first location on the Town Map.

To reach the Veilstone Department Store from the Pokémon Center, head northwest.

Heading northwest from the Veilstone Pokémon Center.

The building you want to enter is a tall, orange-and-pink structure with large balloons fastened to the roof.

Veilstone Department Store.

Take either the elevator or the escalators up to the third floor.

The third floor of the Department Store.

Speak to the clerk at the counter in the southwest corner of the third floor, and she will sell you TM25 for 5,500 Poké Dollars.

You can purchase as many copies of TM25 as you need through this method.

TM25 Thunder’s listing in the Department Store.

Location #2: Valor Lakefront

TM25 Thunder’s second location on the Town Map.

The second method of obtaining TM25 Thunder is not available until after thwarting Team Galactic at the peak of Mt. Coronet and causing Lake Valor to be refilled. So you’ll be much closer to the end of the game at this point.

Here’s how to get the TM:

Make sure you have a Pokémon that knows the Hidden Move Surf, then head south from Veilstone City’s Pokémon Center.

Taking the main street south from Veilstone City’s Pokémon Center.

Use the southern gate to leave the city, heading toward Route 214.

Leaving Veilstone City via the south entrance gate.

Once you’re on Route 214, continue south.

Moving south on Route 214.

Head south through the entire picket fence maze area, passing the Lake Valor sign.

Continuing south past the Lake Valor sign.

When the area switches from Route 214 to the Valor Lakefront, keep going south, stepping onto the paved area.

Leaving Route 214 and reaching the Valor Lakefront area.

To the west of the smaller patch of pavement, you will see the entrance to Lake Valor through the trees. Pass through.

Entering the Valor Lakefront.

Once you’re in the clearing, head southwest to approach the lake.

Lake Valor.

Use Surf to skim across Lake Valor’s surface, and head south on the water.

Using Surf on Lake Valor.

Pass by the cave in the middle of the lake and keep going south.

Continuing south, past the cave.

In the southeastern corner of the lake, you will see a section of land covered in tall grass. Disembark here.

Surfing to the southeastern corner of the lakefront.

TM25 Thunder will be visible at the eastern edge of the tall grass as an overworld item.

Obtaining TM25 Thunder.

Thunder Details + Uses

In-game description of TM25 Thunder.

Thunder is a damage-dealing, Electric-type special move with a high base power, but low accuracy. It also has a 30% chance of inflicting paralysis on the target.

Thunder Move Details
Type	Electric
Category	Special
Power	110
Accuracy	70%
PP	10 (max. 16)

Thunder is like a more powerful, less reliable version of the move Thunderbolt, which has a base power of 95 but a 100% accuracy stat.

Under normal circumstances, Thunderbolt is the preferred Electric-type move. Mostly because what is lost in damage output is compensated with more frequent hits.

But it’s worth mentioning that Thunder will always hit the target if used in rainy weather (unless the target is semi-invulnerable from a move like Dive or Dig).

So if Rain Dance is used alongside Thunder, the move becomes vastly superior to Thunderbolt.

Since certain Electric-type Pokémon (such as Raichu, Luxray, and Electivire) can learn Rain Dance, they can turn Thunder into a devastating 100% accuracy, 165 base power attack (after factoring in the Same-type attack bonus) that also has a 30% chance of inflicting paralysis.

Miscellaneous info about Thunder:

Thunder can hit Pokémon that are in the semi-invulnerable phases of the moves Fly and Bounce.
The user of Thunder can hold a Wide Lens to boost the move’s accuracy to 80%.
When used during harsh sunlight, Thunder’s accuracy stat drops to 50%.
If Thunder is used in a Pokémon Contest in the Cool category, it will generate 2 Appeal Points, plus 2 bonus Appeal Points if the user is the first to act in that round.

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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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