[Overview]
<p>Hitmontop has always been a niche pokemon and a unique one at that. It boasts high defenses and attack, yet it was never made to wall or sweep. Instead, it was one of the few pokemon who recieved the move Rapid Spin giving it the role of a bulky sweeper. This generation, Hitmontop serves as a check to many of the new prominent sweepers like Doryuzuu and Cloyster. Hitmontop still remains a bulky spinner this generation, but it is also now a reliable anti-metagame pokemon.</p>
[SET]
name: Priority Attacker
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Close Combat
move 4: Stone Edge / Sucker Punch
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant
EVs.: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Hitmontop is one of the best users of its ability Technician. It boosts Fake Out's power to 60 instead of 40. This means that Hitmontop can break sashes and cause a lot of residual damage every time it switches in. Technician also boosts Mach Punches power to 60. After STAB, it becomes a powerful priority move. It's so powerful, that Hitmontop always KO's Doryuuzu after a Fake Out and Mach Punch. Hitmontop's strong fighting priority also helps it take down many other popular pokemon such as Sazando, Shell Smash Cloyster, and Tyranitar. Even if it isn't super effective, Mach Punch still deals massive damage. For example, Mach Punch does about 50% to Ononokusu. Hitmontop's strong priority makes it a menace to deal with. </p>
<p>But priority isn't all that this set has to offer. Close Combat still deals a lot of damage on many pokemon, most of whom expect a weak attack or a switch. Sucker Punch is a great way to deal with Ghost-types, as pokemon like Gengar and Shanderaa can be hit for super effective damage. It also gets priority, so it can be used against pokemon that resist or are immune to Mach Punch. Stone Edge is there to destroy Flying-types like Togekiss that think they can easily kill Hitmontop with Air Slash. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>For a more bulky role, Hitmontop has a few more options. Some Attack EVs can be moved to either defense stat, but Hitmontop doesn't want to lose too much power. Leftovers can also be used instead of Life Orb if it needs more bulk, but the difference in power is noticable. If it needs a good recovery move, rest is always an option, but Hitmontop will be asleep for two turns, giving the opponent time to set up. This set isn't really meant to stall out anyone, so this may not even be necessary. There are also several other options Hitmontop has. Hi Jump Kick has great power and doesn't drop Hitmontop's defenses, unlike Close Combat. However, Hitmontop is a Ghost magnet, so Hi Jump Kick is risky. Pursuit is a choice for those who don't want to rely on Sucker Punch for Dark coverage, although Rock-Fighting coverage is generally better.</p>
[SET]
name: Rapid Spin
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: Sucker Punch / Rest
move 4: Foresight / Toxic
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Impish
EVs.: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Hitmontop is one of the best Rapid Spinners out there. His main advantage is the use of the Foresight + Rapid Spin combo. This combo allows both Normal-type and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-types who would normally spin block Hitmontop. This also allow Hitmontop to hit them with its STAB Fighting-type attacks which they would normally be immune to. It is true, however, that not all teams run a spin blocker, so Foresight may not even be necessary, in which case Toxic should be used for stalling. Close Combat is the main STAB option. Close Combat may sacrifice some of Hitmontop's bulk, but it is the strongest reliable STAB move. The third moveslot is based on preference. Sucker Punch hits offensive pokemon such as Gengar and Shanderaa who would otherwise revenge kill or spin block Hitmontop. Rest is if recovery is needed, but the extra turns of sleep can be troublesome. Due to Intimidate the maxed out Defense, Hitmontop is a very strong physical wall.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Hitmontop can always move some EVs to Defense to make it a more dedicated special Wall, or it can move some EVs to Defense to make it a more dedicated physical wall. A Chesto or Lum berry could be used in conjunction with Rest, but the Leftovers recovery is important. Revenge can be run as another STAB option, but the power is decreased by the lack of Technician. Stone Edge can be used instead of Sucker Punch, as most offensive Ghost-types will be OHKO'd by it anyway, but Sucker Punch offers useful priority. For really gimmicky players, a Red Card can be a good item option. After their Ghost-type switches in and hit Hitmontop, it is forced to switch out, giving Hitmontop an easier time spinning. Overall, it's pretty gimmicky, but it's an option. Hi Jump Kick is a choice over Close Combat for those that need the extra power, but Hitmontop attracts ghosts, and so this really isn't reliable.</p>
<p>Hitmontop offers Rapid Spin support, which few other pokemon can offer, but many can benefit from it. Urugamosu benefits in particular from Hitmontop's support. Hitmontop can spin away the hazards that cripple it so bad, and in return Urugamosu can set up on walls that try to stop Hitmontop. Gyarados can do the same. Gyarados also serves as a check to many pokemon that try to check Hitmontop, such as Skarmory and Hippowdon. Shanderaa can serve as a lure for many pokemon that Hitmontop counters such as Tyranitar and Doryuuzu. Scizor works wonders with Hitmontop. Scizor needs to switch in and out quite often and is crippled by Spikes and Stealth Rock. In addition, both carry strong STAB priority and can wreck havoc on speed based teams.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Hitmontop has several other options available. Intimidate can be added in for some extra physical bulk, but Technician is what makes Hitmontop so special. Aerial Ace is never a bad choice to counter pokemon like Roobushin and Breloom, but it doesn't work as well as some of the other moves and doesn't provide much coverage. Bullet Punch can be used as a different priority move, but it does not recieve STAB and has limited use. If Mach Punch is underwhelming,other STAB moves can be substituted. Hitmontop has access to Hi Jump Kick, but it can be risky, as Hitmontop tends to lure in Ghost types. Close Combat is a strong option, but Hitmontop doesn't like the defense drops. The safest bet is with Revenge, as it can be boosted with Technician or it can be doubled if the opponent moves first. Low Kick can see some success because even lighter pokemon recieve a power boost due to Technician, but it is unreliableand can be underwhelming. Toxic can be used on a more stallish set, but Hitmontop has more important things it needs to accompish. Hitmontop has access to Endeavor, Reversal, and priority, giving it great potential to be a reversal sweeper, but with weather omni present this generation, it's hard to pull off. Choice Band can be used on Hitmontop for suprise, but there are better pokemon for this. Same goes for a Choice Scarf set, although Choice Scarf seems really unecessary with Hitmontop's access to priority. Hitmontop can run an effective Bulk Up set due to its bulk and power, but its Technitop set works better all around and isn't outclassed by Roobushin.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Hitmontop has his fair share of counters in OU. Any bulky Flying-type can come in on a resisted Mach Punch and threaten with STAB Air Slash. Pokemon like Gliscor are particularly troubling because they often pack strong Flying STAB with Acrobat or can set up on Hitmontop, while Hitmontop deals petty damage. Psychic types also can give Hitmontop a rough time. Pokemon like Rankurusu and Espeon threaten it with a strong STAB Psychic, but they have to watch out for Sucker Punch. Dedicated physical walls and pokemon with Intimidate can be tough to deal with, as Hitmontop isn't meant to be a wall breaker. Finally, faster priority users can make things hard for Hitmontop. It relies on its priority to outspeed things, but if the other pokemon has priority of its own, Hitmontop is in trouble.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Steadfast doesn't do anything for Hitmontop. Flinch haxers like Togekiss deal too much damage anyway, so its hard to find a time when the opponent will flinch Hitmontop. Furthermore, Hitmontop doesn't need speed. It has priority moves to bypass its low speed. Those priority moves rely on Technician for power, so there is really no reason to use Steadfast.</p>
