Makuhita Movesets & Competitive Sets

With Makuhita's feeble defenses and mediocre Speed, it isn't muscular enough to actually be a threat to anything without assistance, meaning it can just run a support set for helping a more potent teammate. STAB Force Palm does a decent amount of damage to most threats, and has a nifty chance of paralysis that can cripple the opponent. However, Toxic can serve as a replacement to Force Palm if the chance of paralysis which the former offers is not needed, chipping away at the opponent's health and crippling walls. Whirlwind enhances Makuhita's utility, foiling the attempts of sweepers to set up while also shuffling the opponent's team and stacking up residual damage. Knock Off is a great move to have considering the ubiquity of Eviolite, and thus makes a teammate's sweep easier. There are two options for the last slot. Bullet Punch provides useful priority and can pick off weakened opponents, but Brick Break provides a powerful STAB move that also shatters any screens in play. The EV spread ensures that Makuhita can withstand most attacks and dish out damage in return. Thick Fat grants Makuhita useful resistances to Fire- and Ice-type moves, allowing it to take on threats such as Houndour and Snover more easily. Since Makuhita functions best under Trick Room, a bulky Pokemon that can set up the field effect partners very well with it. Bronzor comes to mind immediately, as it can set up Trick Room with ease thanks to its great bulk, while also dealing with the Psychic- and Fighting-type threats which trouble Makuhita.

Though Makuhita can't sweep by itself without support, it does have access to Belly Drum, which sends its Attack stat skyrocketing from a measly 16 to a jaw-dropping 64! This kind of power is more than enough for Makuhita to sweep. Close Combat is a powerful STAB move that will destroy anything that doesn't resist it, and is Makuhita's most powerful attack. Cross Chop can be used if the drop in defenses resulting from each use of Close Combat is an issue, but bear in mind that it is inaccurate. Bullet Punch gives Makuhita the ability to muscle through faster threats once it has set up, dealing massive damage if not OHKOing most threats. Ice Punch rounds out Makuhita's coverage, eliminating Flying-types with ease. The EV spread is almost identical to the first set, with the only differences being the removal of the Speed EVs and usage of a 0 Speed IV to ensure that Makuhita outruns most other threats when Trick Room is in play. Guts ensures that a burn won't cut short Makuhita's sweep, and is thus preferred over Thick Fat. There are two options for an item. While Eviolite will give Makuhita the bulk to take priority attacks, Oran Berry will give it a form of recovery, and also activates when Belly Drum is used, forming a potent combo with the move. Again, Bronzor is an excellent partner for Makuhita, resisting all of Makuhita's weaknesses and setting up Trick Room.

This is Makuhita's standard lead set. The main purpose is to use Fake Out on turn one, which will cause the opposing Pokemon to flinch. Makuhita can then proceed to do damage the opponent with either Close Combat or Rock Slide. Bullet Punch is helpful as it gives Makuhita a priority attack. Ice Punch is an option for hitting Gligar who would otherwise counter this set. Cross Chop can be used instead of Close Combat if the Defense and Special Defense drop is off-putting, but Makuhita's defensive stats are dangerously low to begin with. As for the item, Oran Berry lets Makuhita recover a good amount of health if it can last long enough for it to activate. The EVs may seem complicated, but they are used for a specific purpose. This spread gives Makuhita a Speed stat of 13 and an Attack stat of 15. The remaining EVs are invested in Makuhita's Defense and Special Defense stats for a bit of extra bulk. Rock Slide is the better move for this set, as it inflicts a good amount of damage and has a chance to make your opponent flinch if it can outspeed it. However, using Rock Slide means missing out on Ice Punch for Gligar, who can be a real problem. Toxic can be used if walls are proving problem, but it makes this set more of a supporter than an actual lead. Bronzor is a sturdy wall who takes care of Makuhita's weaknesses and can set up Stealth Rock. Any Pokemon who can set up entry hazards would be a good partner for Makuhita, as it can cause a lot of switches. Makuhita has trouble taking out Gligar and Pokemon who have decent attack stats, as its poor defensive stats would not stand a chance against them.

This set makes use of Trick Room and Belly Drum to attempt a sweep. After using a Belly Drum, Makuhita reaches a staggering Attack stat of 64, allowing it to tear through almost any Pokemon. Oran Berry helps Makuhita recover most of the HP it loses after using Belly Drum, which is helpful. Bullet Punch is for hitting Pokemon who are slower than Makuhita, as they can outpace it if Trick Room is up. Close Combat and Cross Chop are both exceptional attacking options, but both have their flaws. Close Combat gives Makuhita a Defense and Special Defense drop every time it is used, while Cross Chop has shaky accuracy and less power. Ice Punch is the preferred option for the final slot for hitting Gligar, who would otherwise counter Makuhita. Fire Punch can be used as well to hit Bug-types and Bronzor, but has little use outside of that. The item chosen depends on the team being used. Life Orb can be used for the boost in power, but it greatly reduces Makuhita's longevity, as Belly Drum already depletes half of its health. Oran Berry is preferred, as it recovers 10 HP after using Belly Drum. Makuhita is better used with the help of a dual screener so as to reduce damage taken. Once again, Bronzor makes for a good teammate, as it is a decent wall and covers Makuhita's weaknesses.