**artwork by me**
[OVERVIEW]
Hitmonlee is an interesting, albeit very flawed, setup sweeper in NeverUsed. Its appeal comes from access to both Curse and the ability Unburden, which, after consuming a White Herb, makes Hitmonlee the fastest non-Choice Scarf Pokemon in the tier. However, despite a naturally high Attack stat, Hitmonlee has trouble breaking through typical Fighting-type answers such as Garbodor, Vileplume, and especially Slowbro. Furthermore, Hitmonlee only gets one chance to sweep, and if it loses its White Herb before it sets up, it is potentially dead weight, limiting it to being a late-game sweeper. If it doesn't set up, Hitmonlee's middling Speed and poor bulk mean it is easily revenge killed by faster Pokemon such as Whimsicott, Choice Scarf Passimian, and Delphox. This is why Hitmonlee finds itself outclassed as a Fighting-type by Passimian and Medicham.
[SET]
name: Curse
move 1: Curse
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge / Earthquake
item: White Herb
ability: Unburden
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Curse activates Hitmonlee's ability Unburden and makes it stronger and less susceptible to priority moves such as Sneasel's Ice Shard. Close Combat is Hitmonlee's most reliable STAB move and, thanks to the defense drops after use, allows Hitmonlee to gain the Unburden boost should it find itself in a situation where it cannot set up with Curse. Knock Off not only provides amazing utility for Hitmonlee's team, but it also allows Hitmonlee to hit Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Xatu, Dhelmise, and Decidueye for super effective damage. Stone Edge allows Hitmonlee to hit Pokemon such as Golbat and Vikavolt for heavy damage. Earthquake is a fine option over Stone Edge to hit Garbodor and Delphox for more accurate super effective damage. However, this leaves Hitmonlee more susceptible to Whimsicott, Golbat, and Vikavolt.
Set Details
========
Unburden doubles Hitmonlee's Speed after consuming its White Herb, allowing it to outpace every Pokemon in the metagame. White Herb restores the stat drops that come with using Curse, making it a reliable way to boost Hitmonlee's stats. Maximum Attack and Speed EVs in tandem with an Adamant nature allow Hitmonlee to hit as hard as possible without sacrificing Speed.
Usage Tips
========
Hitmonlee should be used as a wincon, so only bring it out late-game when its checks and counters are gone or weakened enough to the point where it can pick them off after it sets up. Avoid using Hitmonlee early- or mid-game; it only gets one chance to set up, and if it loses White Herb prematurely thanks to Close Combat, it won't get that chance again. Hitmonlee is very frail, so it cannot come in on most strong attacks. Despite this, Hitmonlee does force switches against Pokemon such as Incineroar, Vanilluxe, and Silvally-Steel, so use these opportunities to start setting up. Hitmonlee can use Curse twice to gain more power and bulk while still outspeeding Heliolisk, Sneasel, and Whimsicott. However, this leaves it outsped by Choice Scarf Passimian.
Team Options
========
Pursuit trappers such as Sneasel and Houndoom make great teammates for Hitmonlee because they can trap and potentially get rid of the Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon that give Hitmonlee problems. Special wallbreakers such as Alolan Exeggutor, Delphox, and Vikavolt can overwhelm physically defensive Pokemon such as Slowbro, Garbodor, and Vileplume for Hitmonlee. Slow pivots such as Incineroar, Silvally-Steel, and Vikavolt can help bring Hitmonlee in on foes it can pressure such as Choice-locked Dark-type Pokemon. Incineroar and Silvally-Steel can also help Hitmonlee sponge hits from opposing Pokemon by using Intimidate or Parting Shot, making it easier for it to set up and sweep. Memento users like Whimsicott and Choice Scarf Gallade also help Hitmonlee take hits and can lure Slowbro and cripple it with Switcheroo or Trick. Pokemon like Seismitoad, Steelix, Rhydon, Garbodor, and Diancie are good entry hazard setters to pair with Hitmonlee because of their ability to set up entry hazards like Stealth Rock and Spikes. Toxic users such as Slowbro, Vaporeon, and Garbodor help put bulky Pokemon that resist Close Combat like Slowbro, Palossand, and Dhelmise on a timer. Fire-types such as Electrium Z Magmortar and Grassium Z Delphox also make for good teammates because they lure Slowbro in and deal with Comfey nicely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Life Orb Set using Reckless with High Jump Kick can potentially work, as it has a huge amount of power without needing to boost; High Jump Kick OHKOes Steelix and Incineroar even after Intimidate, 2HKOes Diancie, and still puts in work against Slowbro and Xatu. However, this set is outclassed by Medicham, which has much greater firepower thanks to Pure Power and stronger coverage options against Slowbro, Xatu, and Garbodor. This set also wears down Hitmonlee more thanks to Life Orb recoil and High Jump Kick's nasty recoil if it misses or if a Ghost-type switches into it. Rapid Spin provides great utility for Hitmonlee's team, but other offensive entry hazard removers like Rotom, Whimsicott, and Decidueye have better offensive and defensive types than Hitmonlee. Poison Jab is an option on the main set to hit Pokemon such as Whimsicott and Comfey, considering Hitmonlee survives one Draining Kiss from Comfey. However, boosted Stone Edge and Close Combat do significant damage to Whimsicott. Likewise, Blaze Kick can also be used to hit Whimsicott and OHKO specially defensive Vileplume after Hitmonlee sets up.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Psychic-type Pokemon**: Slowbro is the best check to Hitmonlee because it can take any hit from Hitmonlee and proceed to set up with Calm Mind, recover its HP with Slack Off or Regenerator, or cripple Hitmonlee with Toxic or a Scald burn. Other Psychic-type Pokemon like Xatu, Slowking, and Sigilyph dissuade Hitmonlee from setting up, but a boosted Knock Off OHKOes these Pokemon.
**Poison-type Pokemon**: Vileplume, Garbodor, and Weezing take very little from Hitmonlee's Close Combat and can proceed to wear it down with Effect Spore, Rocky Helmet, Strength Sap, or Will-O-Wisp. However, Garbodor is not an issue if Hitmonlee uses Earthquake.
**Fairy-type Pokemon**: Comfey stops Hitmonlee's sweep because it easily revenge kills Hitmonlee with Triage Draining Kiss. Whimsicott can stomach a boosted Stone Edge and OHKOes Hitmonlee in return with Moonblast. Diancie can potentially nail Hitmonlee with a Moonblast, but it takes a lot of damage from a +1 Close Combat.
**Ghost-type Pokemon**: Even if Hitmonlee does set up, it is easily handled by Ghost-types. Colbur Berry variants of Rotom, Dhelmise, and Palossand take little from Knock Off and proceed to cripple Hitmonlee with Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, Dhelmise can potentially KO Hitmonlee with Power Whip even if it uses Curse once, and Palossand can even recover its HP with Shore Up. Mismagius outspeeds Hitmonlee before a boost, can shut it down with Taunt, and KOes it with Dazzling Gleam, but Mismagius needs to be wary of a boosted Hitmonlee.
**Faster Pokemon**: If Hitmonlee doesn't set up, its middling Speed and poor bulk allow it to be easily revenged killed by faster Pokemon such as Heliolisk, Whimsicott, Mismagius, Delphox, and Aerodactyl as well as Choice Scarf users like Passimian and potentially boosted Pokemon such as Klinklang and Scrafty.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[JustoonSmitts, 239732]]
- Quality checked by: [[Rabia, 336073], [Espeonage., 395065], [quziel, 297859]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Rabia, 239732]]
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