Hitmonlee
Yea, i know i need to write this up, school and what not has been keeping me from writing this. Will start writing over the weekend. Credit to NWO for the original.
[Overview]
<p>Hitmonlee is one of the most useful Fighting-type Pokemon in the RU tier. With an amazing base 120 Attack, Hitmonlee is beaten in this respect only by Gallade and Medicham and ties with Hariyama as the third most powerful Fighting-type in the tier. It is also the second fastest Fighting-type in RU, losing only to Primeape. It also falls in a unique speed tier with its base 87 Speed, which allows it to outpace the 85 Speed Pokemon that dominate the tier. It also has powerful priority moves in Sucker Punch and STAB Mach Punch, which allow it to deal with faster Pokemon and revenge killers. Rapid Spin is also a very important niche Hitmonlee has, as it also makes a great offensive spinner when coupled with its high Attack. Its most important attribute by far, however, is its Hi Jump Kick, which is boosted by Reckless; with the BW buff, it reaches an obscene 234 Base Power factoring in STAB and Reckless. With all of these traits in mind, it isn't hard to see why Hitmonlee is such a useful Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Double Edge
move 3: Sucker Punch / Mach Punch
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Life Orb
ability: Reckless
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With its Attack and decent Speed, Hitmonlee makes a great user of Life Orb. Its already powerful Hi Jump Kick is boosted even further by Life Orb, allowing Hitmonlee to easily OHKO or 2HKO any Pokemon that isn't immune to it. Double-Edge is another beneficiary of Reckless, giving Hitmonlee important coverage against defensive Psychic- and Poison-type Pokemon, both of which resist Hi Jump Kick. Even though it isn't close to the power of Hi Jump Kick, an unresisted Double-Edge is still nothing to scoff at. Sucker Punch is another great coverage attack, used to hit Ghost-type Pokemon such as Haunter and Dusknoir. Sucker Punch also serves two other important purposes: revenge killing faster threats as well as preventing Hitmonlee from being revenge killed. Stone Edge rounds off the set by hitting Flying-type Pokemon hard.</p>
<p>Hitmonlee's nature—Jolly or Adamant—is more of a matter of preference than one of necessity. A Jolly nature guarantees that Hitmonlee outspeeds Pokemon with base 86 Speed or lower, such as Rotom-C, Gallade, as well as Adamant Entei, who Hitmonlee can OHKO with Stone Edge. However, an Adamant nature gives Hitmonlee more power behind its Hi Jump Kicks, which is important in doing more damage to Pokemon. Furthermore, Hitmonlee's priority moves are also powered up, making it actually harder to revenge kill.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>If there is a downfall of using a Life Orb set, it's that Hitmonlee will be worn out easily. Due to entry hazard damage and the occasional Hi Jump Kick miss along with Double-Edge and Life Orb recoil, Hitmonlee's lifespan is really cut down. Wish support is highly recommended, as it keeps Hitmonlee alive longer to spam Hi Jump Kick. Substitute can be used over Stone Edge to ease prediction, though it isn't recommended due to the amount of health it takes to make a Substitute, which may compound Hitmonlee's problem with recoil damage. Mach Punch can be used over Sucker Punch for more reliability and a priority STAB, but then Hitmonlee sacrifices the ability to take out faster Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon. Therefore, Mach Punch should be used alongside Stone Edge so that Hitmonlee isn't useless against Ghosts. Close Combat can be used if you hate the backlash of Hi Jump Kick, but the large drop in power makes this an undesirable option.</p>
<p>Hitmonlee's greatest enemies are Ghost-types. Honchkrow and Drapion therefore make excellent teammates, due to their ability to threaten Ghosts with their powerful Dark STABs or pick them off with Pursuit. Once Ghost-type Pokemon are removed, Hitmonlee can spam Hi Jump Kick fearlessly. However, this doesn't mean Hitmonlee is home free; bulky Psychic-, Flying-, and Poison-types such as Claydol, Eviolite Gligar, and Weezing can also prove problematic. Again, Dark-type Pokemon make great partners as they deal with Psychic-type Pokemon. Water- and Ice-type Pokemon such as Ludicolo help against Flying-types such as Gligar. Galvantula's Thunder also helps Hitmonlee, as the paralysis it may cause helps it to outpace faster threats. Psychic-type Pokemon make great partners as they can take out Poison-types such as Weezing and Qwilfish. Medicham is a perfect example, as it can use it's own powerful Hi Jump Kicks while taking out Poison-types and Gligar with its Psychic STAB and Ice Punch, respectively. Lastly, Sharpedo makes a great partner, as it has the ability to take out Ghost- and Psychic-types as well as Gligar, while Hitmonlee helps out Sharpedo by weakening opposing walls, making sweeps easier for both Pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Double Edge
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Mach Punch / Close Combat
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
ability: Reckless
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Hitmonlee is a great user of not only a Life Orb but also a Choice item; with its powerful Hi Jump Kick and high Attack, it isn't very hard to see why. Once Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon are gone, Hitmonlee can freely spam Hi Jump Kick. No Pokemon will want to take an unresisted Choice Band Hi Jump Kick, and Hitmonlee can easily clean up house with a Choice Scarf. A Reckless-boosted Double-Edge allows Hitmonlee to hit Psychic-, Flying-, and Poison-type Pokemon, such as Claydol, Gligar, and Weezing, respectively, hard on the switch in. Stone Edge gives additional coverage against Flying-types, meaning that Hitmonlee doesn't need to use Double-Edge, while also hitting bulky Ghost-types, most notably Cofagrigus and Dusknoir. Mach Punch finishes the set, allowing a Choice Band Hitmonlee to pick off faster threats. Mach Punch can be used on Choice Scarf variants to deal with Swift Swimmers such as Omastar and Kabutops as well as Sharpedo. Close Combat can also be used on the Choice Scarf variant to ensure a revenge kill, or the Choice Band variant to prevent recoil if Hi Jump Kick misses.</p>
<p>The choice between Jolly and Adamant is one of personal preference, while the choice between a Choice Band and a Choice Scarf is one of the role Hitmonlee needs to perform. A Jolly nature allows Hitmonlee to outspeed Pokemon with base 86 Speed or lower; however, an Adamant nature gives Hitmonlee much more power. A Choice Band allows Hitmonlee to break through even the bulkiest of physical walls and open up a sweep for a teammate. To showcase the absolute power of Choice Band, an Adamant Choice Band Reckless Hi Jump Kick is guaranteed to OHKO Steelix, the best physical wall in RU; even Pokemon that resist Fighting-type attacks cannot take repeated Hi Jump Kicks. For example, a physically defensive Claydol takes about of 50% from a Hi Jump Kick. Choice Band also allows Hitmonlee to get important KOs with its coverage moves, 2HKOing Qwilfish and Weezing factoring in Stealth Rock, and potentially OHKOing Rotom with Stone Edge. On the other hand, Choice Scarf Hitmonlee is used for revenge killing; Jolly Choice Scarf, in particular, outpaces +2 Jolly Aggron. It also enables Hitmonlee to go on a late-game sweep when all possible threats are gone.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>As with any Pokemon with a Choice item, Hitmonlee needs support. Honchkrow and Drapion are prime examples because they can rid the field of Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon that Hitmonlee despises. With those Pokemon removed, Hitmonlee can Hi Jump Kick repeatedly in the late-game, which will strike fear into the opponent's heart. Another great teammate is Medicham, which can take out Poison-types such as Weezing with Zen Headbutt or Psycho Cut and Gligar with Ice Punch. Moreover, with its own Huge Power Hi Jump Kicks, Medicham can pair up with Hitmonlee to weaken Pokemon until one can sweep through.</p>
<p>While Hitmonlee does have an extensive movepool, most options aren't really good with a Choice item. Earthquake can be used, but provides redundant coverage and is inferior to Close Combat in most cases. Sucker Punch can be used with Choice Band for a nasty surprise for Kadabra or Haunter, but leaves Hitmonlee vulnerable to set up moves. Close Combat and Mach Punch can be used in conjunction if you're paranoid about missing Hi Jump Kicks, but the power difference between Hi Jump Kick and Close Combat is generally not worth it.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Spinner
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Stone Edge / Double-Edge
move 3: Foresight
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Reckless
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Although Hitmonlee is mostly known for its powerful Hi Jump Kick, it also has a move most offensive Pokemon wish they had: Rapid Spin. While often outclassed by Hitmontop in UU, Hitmonlee finds itself as the best offensive Rapid Spinn user in RU. The threat of Hi Jump Kick forces many switches, giving Hitmonlee plenty of opportunities to get a Rapid Spin off. Rapid Spin is obviously the crux of this set, providing much-needed support for teammates weak to Spikes and Stealth Rock. Like most Hitmonlee sets, Hi Jump Kick is the STAB move of choice, as even with Leftovers, it still packs a powerful punch. However, the move that makes this set work without a doubt is Foresight. It not only guarantees a Rapid Spin but also allows Hitmonlee to screw over some of its best counters. With Foresight, Hitmonlee gets unresisted coverage with just two moves. Double-Edge gets a nice Reckless boost and hits everything that resists Hi Jump Kick for good damage. However, Stone Edge can also be used for super effective coverage against Bug- and Flying- types, as well as a method for hitting Ghost-types should the user mispredict on a Ghost-type switch-in.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Even though this Hitmonlee has Foresight, Honchkrow and Drapion are still the best teammates, as with any other Hitmonlee variant. With Leftovers, Hitmonlee lacks the power provided by Life Orb or Choice Band, and bulky Ghost-types such as Dusknoir and Cofagrigus can simply take a Stone Edge and burn Hitmonlee, crippling Hitmonlee for the remainder of the match. Foresight is also reliant on prediction, and having Honchkrow or Drapion remove Ghost-types eases this prediction. In return, Hitmonlee helps them out by spinning away Stealth Rock and Spikes, respectively. Sucker Punch is a viable option for hitting Haunter and Kadabra, both of which can outspeed and hit it with Shadow Ball or Psychic before Hitmonlee can retaliate with Double-Edge.</p>
<p>Leftovers is the preferred item, as it allows Hitmonlee to come in multiple times throughout the match, giving it plenty of times to pull off a Rapid Spin. Hitmonlee's above-average Special Defense and offensive presence gives it many opportunities to come in and force a switch. However, Life Orb is a viable alternative, as it gives Hitmonlee the power to abuse Hi Jump Kick and Foresight. Even Cofagrigus and Dusknoir risk being 2HKOed, although Hitmonlee must be wary of Will-O-Wisp. Unfortunately, Life Orb greatly hinders Hitmonlee's survivability, which is undesirable for a Rapid Spinner.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Bulk Up can be useful, taking advantage of Hitmonlee's reasonable Special Defense and shoring up its weaker Defense, as well as boosting its Attack. However, Bulk Up doesn't fit well with either Hi Jump Kick or Close Combat, since Hi Jump Kick could screw Hitmonlee with a miss and Close Combat defeats the purpose of Bulk Up altogether. Knock Off is another option, as it can remove Leftovers from common switch-ins such as Cofagrigus, Dusknoir, and Rotom, or better yet, remove Eviolites from Misdreavus or Gligar. This gives Hitmonlee an easier time beating down its checks over the course of the match. However, there are risks associated with Knock Off; Hitmonlee must sacrifice a coverage move, which can be game changing. Close Combat can be run alongside Limber as the main STAB if you want reliability over power. Endure + Reversal with a Salac Berry is very difficult to pull off, but with the right support, it could potentially yield great results. This strategy can catch an unsuspecting opponent off guard, and can be game breaking if played correctly.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>The best way to deal with Hitmonlee is to bait or force a Hi Jump Kick and switch to a Ghost-type, causing Hitmonlee to immediately lose half its health. The Life Orb set gets worn down very quickly by passive damage, and prediction is the key to defeating the Choice set. As far as actual counters go, bulky Ghost-types such as Cofagrigus, Dusknoir, and Spirtomb are the best options; all of them take little damage from Stone Edge, and can cripple Hitmonlee with Will-O-Wisp. Golurk is also a great counter, as it resists every move Hitmonlee can run except Sucker Punch, which it can set a Substitute up on, putting Hitmonlee in a tight spot. Ghost-types in general fare well against Hitmonlee; as such, Eviolite Misdreavus and Rotom also make decent switch-ins. Haunter outspeeds Hitmonlee and can hit hard with Shadow Ball despite Hitmonlee's decent special bulk. However, Haunter must watch out for Sucker Punch, which can OHKO Haunter due to its poor Defense.</p>
<p>The most important thing to do when facing a Hitmonlee is to pack Pokemon that resist Fighting-type attacks. If a Pokemon does not resist Hi Jump Kick, it is not safe to face Hitmonlee. Sigilyph is a great example, as it 4x resists Hi Jump Kick and can simply use Psycho Shift to burn Hitmonlee, crippling it for the remainder of the game. Other bulky Psychic-, Poison-, and Flying-types are generally good answers as well. Claydol, Uxie, Weezing, Qwilfish, Gligar, and Moltres are all viable switch-ins, although Moltres must watch out for a well-timed Stone Edge. Finally, revenge killing Hitmonlee is a viable option, as many Pokemon in RU outspeed Hitmonlee. However, some revenge killers like Kadabra must watch out for Sucker Punch or Mach Punch, and Scarfed variants of Hitmonlee are much more difficult to revenge kill.</p>
