[Overview]
<p>Medicham is known for its ability, Pure Power, which doubles its Attack stat. Its Adamant Choice Band-boosted Hi Jump Kick is the hardest-hitting attack in RU, capable of OHKOing resistant Pokemon such as Alakazam as well as almost everything that does not resist it. With such great power, Medicham can also be very threatening with a Choice Scarf, increasing its Speed far above average. It also has decent coverage options at its disposal, including secondary STAB moves Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut, Ice Punch, and ThunderPunch. Medicham is unique in that it is one of only two fully evolved Psychic / Fighting Pokemon, along with Gallade. Medicham hits harder than Gallade, but lacks the more reliable Close Combat, as well as the latter's decent special bulk. In addition to Medicham's frailty, Hi Jump Kick is also very risky if the opponent carries a Ghost-type; Medicham almost always needs Pursuit support.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
move 3: Ice Punch / Rock Slide
move 4: Trick / ThunderPunch
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Medicham is an incredibly powerful attacker with middling Speed, making it a great user of a Choice Scarf or Choice Band. The Choice Scarf set abuses Hi Jump Kick with its absurdly high Attack stat to plow through teams once their Ghost-types are gone, while the Choice Band set is more adept at breaking through slow walls. The latter variant also packs significantly greater power: nothing can safely switch into Choice Band Medicham. Hi Jump Kick is Medicham's bread and butter, while Psycho Cut is a more reliable STAB. Zen Headbutt can be used on the Choice Scarf set to abuse the flinch, but its imperfect Accuracy makes it generally inferior. Ice Punch gains important coverage on Gligar; alternatively, Rock Slide can be used to hit Pokemon such as Moltres. Trick in conjunction with Choice Scarf messes with stall teams, but the Choice Band set would prefer a fourth move slot to nail Slowking for a OHKO.</p>
<p>The choice between Jolly and Adamant for the Choice Scarf set comes down to whether or not you want to beat other Choice Scarfed base 80 Speed Pokemon and sweepers like Rock Polish Torterra and Aggron. The Choice Band set should always be Adamant though.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Offensively, Stealth Rock goes a long way; it makes sure no Flying-types can come in and fend off Hi Jump Kick. Two examples of reliable Stealth Rock users are Regirock and Steelix. Most opponents will switch in a Fighting-type and try to KO Regirock or Steelix, but this gives Medicham a chance to switch in. Medicham will also often need early in the game. Having something to take a Ghost-, Flying-, or just general neutral attack is handy. Steelix and Regirock can fill both of these niches. Pursuit is another important tool, removing Ghost-types from the match and giving you a safer path to victory. As a bonus, bulky Psychic-types will also be trapped and eliminated. Pokemon such as Honchkrow and Absol make good choices for this.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Hi Jump Kick
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Bullet Punch / Ice Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is basically a compromise between Medicham's two Choice options, with the main advantage of being able to switch attacks. Life Orb grants it almost equal power to Choice Band, and Medicham has room for its two hardest-hitting attacks as well as Fake Out and Bullet Punch. Hi Jump Kick is still strong enough to 2HKO most Slowking and should still be used whenever safe. Zen Headbutt is chosen as a second move because Psycho Cut is illegal with Bullet Punch, and hits incredibly hard off of Medicham's monstrous Attack stat. Ice Punch can be used over Bullet Punch to hit Gligar, but Zen Headbutt does not fare too shabbily against the little sand scorpion.</p>
<p>This Medicham fits onto a team as a weather counter as well, with Fake Out and Bullet Punch making sure the opponent will not get too far with their speedy sweepers.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Medicham sets almost always rely on a Pursuit user to get rid of Ghost-types, and this set is no exception. Spikes on the other hand are more useful for this set in particular since Medicham gives up some power for the ability to switch attacks. For example, Hi Jump Kick needs a layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock to guarantee a 2HKO on Slowking. Uxie and other bulky Psychic-types can still wall this set to some extent as well, but Pursuit generally dents them enough for Medicham to power through them. Medicham also attracts Will-O-Wisps from various Pokemon in an attempt to neuter its Attack stat, so carrying a Fire-type (ideally with Flash Fire) is a good idea as well.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Medicham has a pretty decent physical movepool; however, Drain Punch is the only other real move of note. This can be used on any set for a more reliable STAB move as well as recovery. Recover is another option, but Medicham is far better off attacking. Bulk Up has potential as well, as does Baton Pass, but Medicham itself is one of the better Bulk Up users in the tier. However, Medicham's stats better suit it to speedy attacking.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>Ghost-types are the biggest counters for Medicham , who needs prediction to bypass them on its own. Psychic-types are slightly less reliable since most of them are frail and hence 2-3HKOed by Hi Jump Kick, and furthermore lack recovery, but they suffice in a pinch. Protect is the bane of most Medicham since it not only scouts Choiced Medicham's move, but also causes Hi Jump Kick to miss.</p>
<p>Medicham is known for its ability, Pure Power, which doubles its Attack stat. Its Adamant Choice Band-boosted Hi Jump Kick is the hardest-hitting attack in RU, capable of OHKOing resistant Pokemon such as Alakazam as well as almost everything that does not resist it. With such great power, Medicham can also be very threatening with a Choice Scarf, increasing its Speed far above average. It also has decent coverage options at its disposal, including secondary STAB moves Zen Headbutt and Psycho Cut, Ice Punch, and ThunderPunch. Medicham is unique in that it is one of only two fully evolved Psychic / Fighting Pokemon, along with Gallade. Medicham hits harder than Gallade, but lacks the more reliable Close Combat, as well as the latter's decent special bulk. In addition to Medicham's frailty, Hi Jump Kick is also very risky if the opponent carries a Ghost-type; Medicham almost always needs Pursuit support.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice
move 1: Hi Jump Kick
move 2: Psycho Cut / Zen Headbutt
move 3: Ice Punch / Rock Slide
move 4: Trick / ThunderPunch
item: Choice Scarf / Choice Band
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Medicham is an incredibly powerful attacker with middling Speed, making it a great user of a Choice Scarf or Choice Band. The Choice Scarf set abuses Hi Jump Kick with its absurdly high Attack stat to plow through teams once their Ghost-types are gone, while the Choice Band set is more adept at breaking through slow walls. The latter variant also packs significantly greater power: nothing can safely switch into Choice Band Medicham. Hi Jump Kick is Medicham's bread and butter, while Psycho Cut is a more reliable STAB. Zen Headbutt can be used on the Choice Scarf set to abuse the flinch, but its imperfect Accuracy makes it generally inferior. Ice Punch gains important coverage on Gligar; alternatively, Rock Slide can be used to hit Pokemon such as Moltres. Trick in conjunction with Choice Scarf messes with stall teams, but the Choice Band set would prefer a fourth move slot to nail Slowking for a OHKO.</p>
<p>The choice between Jolly and Adamant for the Choice Scarf set comes down to whether or not you want to beat other Choice Scarfed base 80 Speed Pokemon and sweepers like Rock Polish Torterra and Aggron. The Choice Band set should always be Adamant though.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Offensively, Stealth Rock goes a long way; it makes sure no Flying-types can come in and fend off Hi Jump Kick. Two examples of reliable Stealth Rock users are Regirock and Steelix. Most opponents will switch in a Fighting-type and try to KO Regirock or Steelix, but this gives Medicham a chance to switch in. Medicham will also often need early in the game. Having something to take a Ghost-, Flying-, or just general neutral attack is handy. Steelix and Regirock can fill both of these niches. Pursuit is another important tool, removing Ghost-types from the match and giving you a safer path to victory. As a bonus, bulky Psychic-types will also be trapped and eliminated. Pokemon such as Honchkrow and Absol make good choices for this.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Hi Jump Kick
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Bullet Punch / Ice Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Adamant / Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set is basically a compromise between Medicham's two Choice options, with the main advantage of being able to switch attacks. Life Orb grants it almost equal power to Choice Band, and Medicham has room for its two hardest-hitting attacks as well as Fake Out and Bullet Punch. Hi Jump Kick is still strong enough to 2HKO most Slowking and should still be used whenever safe. Zen Headbutt is chosen as a second move because Psycho Cut is illegal with Bullet Punch, and hits incredibly hard off of Medicham's monstrous Attack stat. Ice Punch can be used over Bullet Punch to hit Gligar, but Zen Headbutt does not fare too shabbily against the little sand scorpion.</p>
<p>This Medicham fits onto a team as a weather counter as well, with Fake Out and Bullet Punch making sure the opponent will not get too far with their speedy sweepers.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Medicham sets almost always rely on a Pursuit user to get rid of Ghost-types, and this set is no exception. Spikes on the other hand are more useful for this set in particular since Medicham gives up some power for the ability to switch attacks. For example, Hi Jump Kick needs a layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock to guarantee a 2HKO on Slowking. Uxie and other bulky Psychic-types can still wall this set to some extent as well, but Pursuit generally dents them enough for Medicham to power through them. Medicham also attracts Will-O-Wisps from various Pokemon in an attempt to neuter its Attack stat, so carrying a Fire-type (ideally with Flash Fire) is a good idea as well.</p>
[OTHER OPTIONS]
<p>Medicham has a pretty decent physical movepool; however, Drain Punch is the only other real move of note. This can be used on any set for a more reliable STAB move as well as recovery. Recover is another option, but Medicham is far better off attacking. Bulk Up has potential as well, as does Baton Pass, but Medicham itself is one of the better Bulk Up users in the tier. However, Medicham's stats better suit it to speedy attacking.</p>
[CHECKS AND COUNTERS]
<p>Ghost-types are the biggest counters for Medicham , who needs prediction to bypass them on its own. Psychic-types are slightly less reliable since most of them are frail and hence 2-3HKOed by Hi Jump Kick, and furthermore lack recovery, but they suffice in a pinch. Protect is the bane of most Medicham since it not only scouts Choiced Medicham's move, but also causes Hi Jump Kick to miss.</p>