PK Thunder

PK Thunder PSI Thunder PKサンダー PK Thunder
PK Thunder α in Mother 3
Ranks	α (Alpha) β (Beta) γ (Gamma) Ω (Omega)
Target	Enemy
PSI category	Attack
Appears in	EarthBound Beginnings EarthBound Mother 3 Super Smash Bros. Melee Brawl For Nintendo 3DS and Wii U Ultimate
Learned by	Ana Paula Poo Kumatora Ness (Smash Bros. only) Lucas (Smash Bros. only)

PK Thunder is a PSI attack, introduced in EarthBound Beginnings. It is a electricity-based attack that summons bolts of lightning to strike random targets, with more being called down at higher stages. PK Thunder can be reflected by the Franklin Badge in EarthBound and Mother 3. PK Thunderis learned by Ana in EarthBound Beginnings, Paula and Poo in EarthBound, and Kumatora in Mother 3.

Overview

The user causes a lightning bolt to strike an opponent for electrical damage. In EarthBound Beginnings characters with the Earth Pendant equipped will be resistant to it, while in EarthBound and Mother 3 the Franklin Badge will reflect the lightning back at the user.

In EarthBound Beginnings PK Thunder can be aimed at any chosen opponent, unlike in its successors. This is also the only game where the Franklin Badge will not reflect the attack, as instead it reflects the lethal PK Beam γ. Oddly PK Thunder does not have an Ω tier and only goes up to γ, the reason for this is unknown.

PK Thunder was completely overhauled in EarthBound and Mother 3: now the move no longer allows the user to choose a target, instead it targets a random opponent with a chance to miss, in Mother 3 its accuracy is noticeably higher than in EarthBound. The accuracy of PK Thunder is higher when more enemies are present. The number of times PK Thunder strikes increases with each tier: PK Thunder α strikes once, β strikes twice, γ strikes thrice, and Ω strikes four times. PK Thunder will also remove any PSI Shields that have been put up, and in Mother 3 it alsp has a chance of paralyzing a target.

The "Crashing Boom Bang" attack in EarthBound is functionally identicle to PK Thunder and so can also be reflected by the Franklin Badge.

Learnset and damage output

In EarthBound Beginnings

Rank	Effect	PP	Characters	Level learned
α	10-12 points of damage to one enemy	3	Ana	2
β	48-55 points of damage to one enemy	6	Ana	9
γ	48-55 points of damage to all enemies	12	Ana	28

In EarthBound

Rank	Effect	PP	Characters	Level learned
α	60-180 points of damage to one random enemy	3	Paula Poo	8 15
β	60-180 points of damage to two random enemies	7	Paula Poo	25 15
γ	100-300 points of damage to three random enemies	16	Paula Poo	57 41
Ω	100-300 points of damage to four random enemies	20	Poo	55

• The probability of Thunder hitting an enemy is calculated as Number of foes/4, and the probability will not decrease if some enemies are defeated before the attack is finished. There is also no elemental resistance for thunder, meaning the damage will never decrease. In addition, PSI Thunder will also erase psychic shields or psychic power shields protecting any combatants it connects with.

In Mother 3

Rank	Effect	PP	Characters	Level learned
α	120-130 points of damage to one random enemy, 15% chance of paralysis	7	Kumatora	12
β	120-130 points of damage to two random enemies, 15% chance of paralysis	15	Kumatora	32
γ	170-230 points of damage to three random enemies	21	Kumatora	49
Ω	170-230 points of damage to four random enemies	32	Kumatora	57

In the Super Smash Bros. series

PK Thunder is Ness's Special Up move, available in all Super Smash Bros. games. He can redirect it at himself to fire himself at enemies, which does much damage. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, PK Thunder is once again Ness' Special Up move, but is also now Lucas'. Lucas' is different in the fact that it can move through enemies, while Ness' can't.

Gallery

Gallery
PK Thunder α and β in Mother 3	PK Thunder γ and Ω in Mother 3