Thunder/Gameplay

Overview

Gameplay

Movelist Terminology Overall Killer Instinct 1 & 2 Killer Instinct (2013) Directions are assumed facing to the right [→] P: Any Punch K: Any Kick Charge: Hold the direction for at least 1 second Long Charge: Hold the direction for at least 2 seconds Hold: Hold the button for however long Release: Release a held button QP: Quick Punch QK: Quick Kick MP: Medium Punch MK: Medium Kick FP: Fierce Punch FK: Fierce Kick LP: Light Punch LK: Light Kick MP: Medium Punch MK: Medium Kick HP: Heavy Punch HK: Heavy Kick 2P: Any two Punches together 2K: Any two Kicks together 3P: All three Punches together 3K: All three Kicks together

Killer Instinct (1994)

Special Moves

Name	Input	Description
Phoenix	[↓ ↘ → + K]	Thunder throws a bird-shaped fireball.
Fast Phoenix	[Hold MK + ↓ ↘ → + Release]	Thunder throws a faster bird-shaped fireball.
Flying Mohawk	[↓ ↙ ← + QP/MP]	Thunder performs a rising headbutt.
Sammamish	[→ ↘ ↓ ↙ ← + FP]	Thunder performs a higher rising headbutt that causes knockdown.
Triplax	[Charge ← → + P]	Thunder advances with three spinning slashes.
Reverse Triplax	[Charge → ← + MP]	Thunder advances with three spinning slashes. For use as a reversal during an approach.
Tomahawk	[↓ ↙ ← + FP] (air)	Thunder strikes diagonally downwards with his tomahawk.
Combo Breaker	[↓ ↙ ← + P]	Thunder headbutts out of a combo. Must be timed correctly. Quick beats Medium, Medium beats Fierce, Fierce beats Quick.

Post-Combo Breakers

Name	Input	Description
Giant Phoenix	[Hold MK + → ↘ ↓ ↙ ← + Release]	Thunder throws a larger and stronger bird-shaped fireball.
Shadow Tomahawk	[Hold FP + ↓ ↙ ← + Release] (air)	Thunder strikes diagonally downwards with his tomahawk faster.

Combo Openers

Name	Input
Triplax	[Charge ← → + P]
Tomahawk	[↓ ↙ ← + FP] (air)
Flying Mohawk	[↓ ↙ ← + QP]

Combo Linkers

Name	Input
Reverse Triplax	[Charge → ← + MP]

Combo Enders

Name	Input
Triplax	[Charge ← → + FP]
Sammamish	[→ ↘ ↓ ↙ ← + MP/FP]
Phoenix	[↓ ↘ → + FK]

Finishers

Name	Input	Description
Danger Move: Ax Uppercut	[↓ ↙ ← + FK] (close)	Thunder uppercuts his opponent into the sky, leaving behind a unique item based on the character.
Danger Move: Rain Dance	[↓ ↘ → + FP] (distant)	Thunder performs a tribal dance, calling a bolt of lightning to strike his opponent.
Ultra Combo	[Charge ← → + QP] (in combo)	Thunder delivers 35 hits to end the match.
Ultimate: Rain Dance	[↘ ↓ ↙ + MP] (in combo)	Thunder finishes the combo with Rain Dance.
Humiliation	[↓ ↓ → + QK]	Thunder forces his defeated opponent to dance.

Killer Instinct (2013)

Combat Traits

Name	Description
Throw Linkers	Thunder can utilize his Back Throw as an opener or as a linker during a combo.

Command Attacks

Name	Input	Description
Horn Breaker	[→ + HP]	Thunder advances with two tomahawk chops. Hits overhead.
Call of the Sky	[3P]	Thunder calls lightning to strike himself, charging his body for 10 seconds so his next forward dash a Murder of Crows dash. Can beat projectiles if timed correctly.
Shin Splitter	[LK]	Thunder does a shin kick that causes flipout on airborne opponents.
Forward Throw	[→ + LP+LK]	Thunder flips the opponent into the air and bodychecks them away.
Back Throw	[← + LP+LK]	Thunder grabs the opponent and swings them around. Deals no damage.

Special Moves

Name	Input	Description
Triplax	[↓ ↘ → + P]	Thunder advances with two spinning slashes. Light and Medium versions hit twice, while Heavy hits three times.
Call of the Earth	[↓ ↙ ← + P]	Thunder grabs the opponent and slams them down, then curbstomps their head. Button strength determines damage and range. Invulnerable to throws.
Ankle Slicer	[↓ ↙ ← + K]	Thunder steps back before chopping the opponent’s legs. Invulnerable to throws and lows. Button strength determines distance.
Sammamish	[→ ↓ ↘ + P]	Thunder performs a rising headbutt. Invulnerable to projectiles and overhead attacks. Can be canceled into one of three follow-up moves.
Rainmaker	[LK] (Sammamish)	Thunder performs a quick midair knee. Causes flipout.
Downpour	[MK] (Sammamish)	Thunder flies forwards with a kick with both feet. Causes hard knockdown.
Skyfall	[HK] (Sammamish)	Thunder cancels his momentum into a downward stomp. Causes ground bounce.

Shadow Attacks

Name	Input	Description
Shadow Triplax	[↓ ↘ → + 2P]	Thunder performs five spinning slashes with his tomahawks. Has one hit of armor.
Shadow Call of the Earth	[↓ ↙ ← + 2P]	Thunder grabs the opponent and slams them down, then curbstomps their head three times before tossing them up. Throw invulnerable in active frames.
Shadow Ankle Slicer	[↓ ↙ ← + 2K]	Thunder steps back before chopping the opponent’s legs, hitting five times. Invulnerable to throws and low hits.
Shadow Sammamish	[→ ↓ ↘ + 2P]	Thunder performs a rising headbutt that hits five times. Fully invulnerable, and can still be canceled into follow-up moves.

Combo Openers

Name	Input
Triplax (Shadow OK)	[↓ ↘ → + P]
Ankle Slicer (Shadow OK)	[↓ ↙ ← + K]
Back Throw	[← + LP+LK]

Combo Linkers

Name	Input
Triplax (Shadow OK)	[↓ ↘ → + LP/MP]
Ankle Slicer (Shadow OK)	[↓ ↙ ← + LK/MK]
Back Throw	[← + LP+LK]

Combo Enders

Name	Input	Effect
Triplax	[↓ ↘ → + HP]	Carry
Call of the Earth (Shadow OK)	[↓ ↙ ← + P]	Damage
Ankle Slicer	[↓ ↙ ← + HK]	Battery
Sammamish (Shadow OK)	[→ ↓ ↘ + P]	Launcher

Instinct Mode

Name	Input	Description
Murder of Crows	[HP+HK]	Thunder’s forward dash gains a speed boost, full invulnerability, and can pass through opponents. All special moves can be dash-canceled into this on hit or block.

Finishers

Name	Input	Description
Ultra Combo	[↓ ↘ → + 3P]	Thunder delivers 28 hits to finish the match.
Ultra Ender	[MP+MK] (in Ultra)	Thunder chops with both tomahawks to end the Ultra Combo.
Stage Ultra	[↓ ↘ → + 3K]	Thunder triggers a stage-specific finishing blow.
Ultimate	[LP+LK] (in Ultra)	Thunder charges his tomahawks before rushing forwards in a murder of crows. He stops inches within his opponent's face, headbutting them before slamming them down with both tomahawks. Thunder flips into the air and performs a two-footed stomp onto their body, with lightning striking him on impact to fry the opponent.

External Links

• Killer Instinct Classic help manual on Xbox Live
• Thunder's gameplan analysis at Infil's The Complete Killer Instinct Guide