Ive gotten permission from ShinyAzelf to do this.
[Overview]
<p> When one looks at Makuhita, you would think it is a very defensive Pokemon. But when you look at it's stats, you would think its outclassed by Machop, who's every single stat is the same or better than Makuhita's. But it isnt all bad for the Guts Pokemon, as it has the ability to have a supportive role, unlike other Fighting types in LC and Thick Fat, which lets Makuhita take Fire and Ice hits much better than Machop. It also has a few movepool advantages over Machop, like Fake Out, Whirlwind, and Force Palm. It also gets Belly Drum, which makes it a great sweeper, and with Trick Room support, it can be quite the sweeper. But when you use Makuhita, be sure to use it for it's good traits over Machop. But when you want an offensive role, Machop is always the better option. </p>
<p> When one looks at Makuhita, you would think it is a very defensive Pokemon. But when you look at it's stats, you would think its outclassed by Machop, who's every single stat is the same or better than Makuhita's. But it isnt all bad for the Guts Pokemon, as it has the ability to have a supportive role, unlike other Fighting types in LC and Thick Fat, which lets Makuhita take Fire and Ice hits much better than Machop. It also has a few movepool advantages over Machop, like Fake Out, Whirlwind, and Force Palm. It also gets Belly Drum, which makes it a great sweeper, and with Trick Room support, it can be quite the sweeper. But when you use Makuhita, be sure to use it for it's good traits over Machop. But when you want an offensive role, Machop is always the better option. </p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Force Palm / Toxic
move 2: Whirlwind
move 3: Fake Out
move 4: Brick Break / Protect
item: Oran Berry
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Careful
evs: 180 HP / 196 Def / 116 Sp.Def
name: Support
move 1: Force Palm / Toxic
move 2: Whirlwind
move 3: Fake Out
move 4: Brick Break / Protect
item: Oran Berry
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Careful
evs: 180 HP / 196 Def / 116 Sp.Def
[Set Comments]
<p> Thanks to Makuhita's great typing, decent bulk, and good support movepool, Makuhita can run a support set pretty well. Force Palm has a 30% chance to paralyze the opponent. Toxic can be used to have walls like Munchlax die pretty quickly. Whirlwind can phaze setup Pokemon like Totodile and Fake Out deals some free damage and breaks sashes. Brick Break can be used if you are not using Force Palm, and Protect stalls out Toxic damage. </p>
[Additional Comments]
<p> Close Combat can be used to do more damage, but the drop of defenses is a big bummer. By 3rd Gen move tutor, Makuhita also gets Refresh, which can make it a good status absorber. It also gets Sunny Day, but other Pokemon use it much better. Note that you shouldn't be using Force Palm and Toxic together, as you can't have 2 statuses at once. </p>
[SET]
name: TR Belly Drum Sweeper
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Oran Berry / Toxic Orb / Fist Plate
ability: Guts
nature: Brave
evs: 196 Atk / 180 HP / 36 Def / 36 Sp.Def
ivs: 0 Spe
name: TR Belly Drum Sweeper
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Ice Punch
item: Oran Berry / Toxic Orb / Fist Plate
ability: Guts
nature: Brave
evs: 196 Atk / 180 HP / 36 Def / 36 Sp.Def
ivs: 0 Spe
[Set Comments]
<p> This is the only offensive set that Makuhita can run without being outclassed completely by Machop. After a Belly Drum, Makuhita has a groundbreaking 64 Atk stat, and with Trick Room support, Makuhita can become a very threatening sweeper. Close Combat has better accuracy and power than Cross Chop, but you don't lose your defenses. Ice Punch hits Dragon types and Grass types, and Bullet Punch is for slower Pokemon like Azurill and Duskull. </p>
<p> This is the only offensive set that Makuhita can run without being outclassed completely by Machop. After a Belly Drum, Makuhita has a groundbreaking 64 Atk stat, and with Trick Room support, Makuhita can become a very threatening sweeper. Close Combat has better accuracy and power than Cross Chop, but you don't lose your defenses. Ice Punch hits Dragon types and Grass types, and Bullet Punch is for slower Pokemon like Azurill and Duskull. </p>
[Additional Comments]
<p>Fake Out can be used to break Focus Sashes, but its very situational unless you are up against a lead. The item choice depends on your team, Life Orb gives you extra power, Fist Plate makes your Fighting type move even more powerful, and Oran Berry can be used with Dual Screen support, 0 HP EVs and 0 HP IVs, and 116 Defense and Special Defense EVs so you get your health back, but you take more damage. </p>
[Other Options]
<p> Its hard to run any other moves without being completely outclassed by Machop, but here goes. Feint can be used to get behind Protect, but its highly situational. A Substitute+Focus Punch set can be used with a Flame Orb, but again, Machop outclasses it in the sense, too. It can run a lead set with Rock Slide/Protect, Fake Out, Close Combat, and Bullet Punch or Counter. Fire Punch can be used to hit Bronzor for more damage, but Cross Chop already does that better. A set with Endure + Reversal with a Pinch Berry can be used, but then it gets destroyed by Snover or Hippopotas, one of the two most common Pokemon in LC. With Guts, though a highly unrecommended option, a Guts+Fling set can be used to make sure a Physical sweeper doesn't get in your way. </p>
<p> Its hard to run any other moves without being completely outclassed by Machop, but here goes. Feint can be used to get behind Protect, but its highly situational. A Substitute+Focus Punch set can be used with a Flame Orb, but again, Machop outclasses it in the sense, too. It can run a lead set with Rock Slide/Protect, Fake Out, Close Combat, and Bullet Punch or Counter. Fire Punch can be used to hit Bronzor for more damage, but Cross Chop already does that better. A set with Endure + Reversal with a Pinch Berry can be used, but then it gets destroyed by Snover or Hippopotas, one of the two most common Pokemon in LC. With Guts, though a highly unrecommended option, a Guts+Fling set can be used to make sure a Physical sweeper doesn't get in your way. </p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p> Most Pokemon that counter Machop can counter Makuhita pretty well. Ghost types can switch into a Fighting attack and take everything Makuhita dishes out pretty well, especially Duskull. If you can find out its a Support set, Revenge killers handle Makuhita pretty well like Machop and Abra. As long as Makuhita doesnt have guts, Koffing can counter it with perfect ease. </p>
