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Hitmonchan attempts to act as an offensive entry hazard remover with its solid Attack stat and Iron Fist ability. However, Cryogonal does the job as a hazard remover much better, since it has much better natural bulk, higher Speed, and a wider movepool with access to Knock Off to cripple foes and reliable recovery so it can perform its role longer. Even Defog Gurdurr works better with its Attack power, bulk, access to Knock Off, and Guts ability to act as a status absorber.

Moves Thunder Punch is the primary coverage move to threaten Pokemon like Jellicent, Oricorio-G, and Qwilfish that attempt to switch into Hitmonchan. Stone Edge is a more powerful yet less accurate option to punish Pokemon like Scyther and Oricorio-E. Set Details 156 HP EVs with an Assault Vest guarantee that Hitmonchan survives Modest +2 Omastar's Hydro Pump after Stealth Rock damage. The EVs in Speed allow Hitmonchan to outspeed Choice Specs Modest Jellicent, Aurorus, and Aggron. Alternatively, it can run 196 Speed EVs to outpace Timid Aurorus and Mild Abomasnow. The rest of the EVs are placed into Attack so Hitmonchan can have greater offensive presence combined with an Adamant nature and Iron Fist. Usage Tips Hitmonchan can threaten out Pokemon such as Drampa, Alolan Sandslash, and Aurorus thanks to its STAB attacks, as well as blanket checking powerful special attackers such as Drampa, Omastar, and Rotom-F. Be careful with Hitmonchan's health; it only checks these aforementioned threats for a limited time, since it has a low amount of HP and Drain Punch is not the most reliable recovery move. Make sure Toxic Spikes are also cleared, since Hitmonchan doesn't appreciate being poisoned. After it has come into battle, it should aim to clear away entry hazards if they are present, recover its health lost with Drain Punch, or revenge kill a weakened threat with Mach Punch. However, the opponent could anticipate these moves and go to a Pokemon that resists Hitmonchan's STAB attacks or blocks Rapid Spin such as Oricorio-G, Silvally-Fairy, or Jellicent. If this is anticipated, it would be wise to use one of Hitmonchan's coverage moves to catch these switch-ins off guard. However, Hitmonchan should not stay in against these Pokemon because they can threaten it out with their STAB moves, Toxic, or a burn from Will-O-Wisp or Scald. Team Options Keeping Hitmonchan healthy is a priority so it can continue being a blanket check to strong special attackers. Teammates such as Alolan Persian and Lanturn can help keep Hitmonchan healthy with Z-Parting Shot and Heal Bell, respectively. Having a Poison-type teammate like Skuntank, Qwilfish, or Roselia can also be a good idea, since they absorb Toxic Spikes for Hitmonchan. Qwilfish and Roselia also appreciate Hitmonchan not clearing the Spikes they set when it uses Rapid Spin. Qwilfish can also provide Intimidate support so Hitmonchan has an easier time taking physical attacks. Pursuit trappers like Skuntank and Stoutland can trap Ghost- and Psychic-types that can give Hitmonchan trouble. Physically defensive Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Regirock appreciate Hitmonchan's ability to soft check special attackers. These Pokemon also enjoy Hitmonchan's ability to check Water-type Pokemon such as Omastar, Carracosta, and Ludicolo. Other offensive Pokemon such as Scyther, Dodrio, and Articuno appreciate Hitmonchan's ability to remove Stealth Rock.

Moves Thunder Punch can deal super effective damage to bulky Water-types such as Jellicent and Qwilfish, which can otherwise spinblock Hitmonchan and set Spikes, respectively. Stone Edge can punish Pokemon like Oricorio-E and Altaria that attempt to switch into Hitmonchan. Set Details Maximum Speed ensures that Hitmonchan will outpace Timid Omastar before Shell Smash and Timid Aurorus. Usage Tips This set turns Hitmonchan into a wallbreaker that can also act as a revenge killer and take care of offensive threats such as Omastar, Stoutland, and Simisear thanks to Mach Punch. Hitmonchan shouldn't be brought in against a direct attack, because this set sacrifices bulk for power. Instead, it should be brought in through aggressive double switches, by using a pivot, on passive Pokemon such as Audino, or after a teammate has fainted. Hitmonchan is most likely going to be using its Fighting-type STAB moves throughout the match, so it will be inviting Pokemon such as Oricorio-G and Jellicent to take these moves. If this is anticipated, Hitmonchan can use one of its coverage moves to punish these Pokemon that attempt to switch directly into it. This play can be especially rewarding given the extra power that Life Orb provides. Clearing entry hazards is still an important role that Hitmonchan provides, although it isn't that durable because of its lack of bulk investment and the recoil from Life Orb. If hazards are clear, Hitmonchan should focus on wallbreaking and revenge killing. Team Options Life Orb Hitmonchan fits on teams that need a check to fast and frail setup sweepers such as Omastar, Lycanroc, and Simisear as well as a spinner. Since Hitmonchan forces many switches, it can take advantage of entry hazards to provide important chip damage. Stealth Rock setters like Aggron, Mudsdale, and Regirock have good synergy with Hitmonchan. Spikes setters like Roselia and Qwilfish also appreciate the fact that Hitmonchan doesn't remove the Spikes they set when it clears hazards. Dark-types like Skuntank, Absol, and Spiritomb are beneficial, as they can properly check the Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Claydol, Jellicent, and Haunter that can give Hitmonchan trouble. Since Hitmonchan isn't as invested in its defenses, having a pivot that can bring it in safely is important. Teammates such as Eelektross, Alolan Persian, and Oricorio-E are decent options for this role. Eelektross can threaten out Jellicent and Qwilfish for Hitmonchan if it chooses to run Stone Edge instead of Thunder Punch. Special attackers such as Haunter, Rotom-F, and Simisear appreciate Hitmonchan's ability to clear hazards and threaten special walls like Type: Null and Eelektross.

Moves Drain Punch serves as both Hitmochan's main STAB attack and primary method of recovering HP, allowing it to continue using Rapid Spin. Mach Punch gives Hitmonchan a way to deal with weakened faster Pokemon such as Lycanroc, Kabutops, and Kangaskhan. Toxic gives Hitmonchan a way to cripple defensive switch-ins such as Jellicent and Sableye. Set Details The given EV investment lets Hitmonchan always OHKO maximum HP Alolan Sandslash with Drain Punch while still having a good chance of avoiding a 2HKO by Timid Choice Scarf Aurorus's Blizzard after hail and Stealth Rock damage. Iapapa Berry gives Hitmonchan an extra form of recovery without relying on Drain Punch. This is especially helpful after switching into entry hazards and powerful Pokemon often. Usage Tips Hitmonchan can try to pivot into Pokemon such as Cryogonal, Audino, and Eelektross, but you should be cautious, because Hitmonchan should still try to be as healthy as possible so it can continue clearing entry hazards for its team. Be mindful of Hitmonchan's HP, since it can only take certain attacks such as Aggron's Head Smash from full HP. Hitmonchan can also come into battle against Stealth Rock users such as Regirock and Alolan Sandslash as they are setting their hazards or with the help of a pivot. Rapid Spin is most likely going to be the most used move, as Hitmonchan should aim to clear its side of the field of entry hazards as soon as possible. Since Hitmonchan often invites Pokemon like Jellicent, Golurk, and Sableye into battle, it can use Toxic as they come in to cripple them. Afterwards, Hitmonchan should try to pivot out because these Pokemon threaten it with their own Toxic or a potential burn from Scald. Once these Pokemon are properly dealt with, Hitmonchan can use Drain Punch to keep itself healthy. Still, be mindful of common Rocky Helmet users such as Skuntank and Qwilfish, as the extra residual damage is detrimental to Hitmonchan's attempt to restore its health with Drain Punch. Skuntank can also wear Hitmonchan down further with Aftermath. Team Options Hitmonchan fits on most bulky or balanced teams thanks to its ability to clear entry hazards while threatening Stealth Rock setters like Regirock. Offensive Pokemon that are weak to Stealth Rock such as Simisear, Scyther, and Oricorio-E appreciate Hitmonchan's Rapid Spin support and ability to check Rock-types. These Pokemon can also threaten physically defensive Pokemon like Tangela and Gurdurr for Hitmonchan. Spikes setters like Ferroseed, Qwilfish, and Roselia also pair well with Hitmonchan, since it can remove hazards without removing the Spikes they set. Qwilfish and Roselia can also absorb Toxic Spikes for Hitmonchan. Physically defensive teammates like Aggron, Mudsdale, and Regirock can help Hitmonchan by taking physical attacks aimed at it such as Poison Jab from Skuntank. Aggron and Regirock can also threaten Flying-types for Hitmonchan. Partners like Skuntank, Alolan Persian, and Spiritomb can also be beneficial, since they can help stop the Ghost- and Psychic-types like Golurk and Claydol that wall Hitmonchan. Skuntank can even absorb Toxic Spikes for Hitmonchan, which benefits its longevity. Pivots such as Scyther, Lanturn, and Eelektross can help bring Hitmonchan safely into battle against Pokemon like Drampa, Stoutland, and Audino.

Moves Bulk Up allows Hitmonchan to break through its bulkier checks like Vileplume much more easily than with standard Life Orb sets. Drain Punch is used in combination with the Iron Fist boost in order to gain back HP after taking hits to set up. Close Combat is an option to hit a lot harder but also lowers defenses and causes Hitmonchan to be worn down a lot more easily. It allows Hitmonchan to also net KOs on Rhydon and Steelix when running a Jolly nature. Mach Punch is also boosted by Iron Fist and gives Hitmonchan a priority attack to hit faster threats like Tauros and Archeops. Ice Punch is the coverage of choice, as it hits common Fighting-resistant Pokemon such as Vileplume and Xatu. Iron Fist-boosted Ice Punch also hits Fighting-resistant Pokemon a lot harder than coverage moves like Knock Off that are used by other Bulk Up sweepers like Gurdurr. Set Details The EVs are to maximize attacking capabilities, with maximum Speed investment used to outspeed Pokemon like Claydol, Pursuit Skuntank, and neutral-natured base 70 Speed Pokemon like Samurott and Ludicolo. It also allows Hitmonchan to not have to rely on Mach Punch to revenge kill certain Pokemon, something that similar attackers like Gurdurr are forced to do. An Adamant nature can be used to guarantee the OHKO on threats like Vileplume and Archeops with Ice Punch and Mach Punch, respectively, after Stealth Rock. A Jolly nature can be used to outspeed Pokemon that aim to outpace Adamant Hitmonchan such as Xatu, which Hitmonchan can then proceed to OHKO with Ice Punch after a boost. Iron Fist gives a boost to all the punch-based attacks on the set. Life Orb is used to boost all the attacks on the set, and Drain Punch helps mitigate its recoil. Usage Tips Hitmonchan is able to force Pokemon like Steelix and Shiftry out quite easily, so it's able to set up Bulk Ups on them in order to break through whatever counter the opponent switches in, like Vileplume or Xatu. Hitmonchan is also able to bluff the Rapid Spin set quite often, so setting up on obvious switches to spinblockers like Gourgeist takes advantage of this well. It can also be played as a revenge killer early in the game, as Iron Fist-boosted Mach Punch is a great tool to revenge kill threats like Tauros and Pyroar. It's also smart to know what the checks to Hitmonchan are and strategically chip them throughout the game to get them in range of Hitmonchan's Mach Punch. This includes Pokemon like Garbodor and Clefairy that need to be chipped earlier in the game, as they are hard stops to this Hitmonchan set. Team Options As most of Hitmonchan's checks are Psychic- and Ghost-types like Mesprit, Xatu, and Mismagius, it's smart to pair it with a Pursuit trapper like Liepard or Skuntank. Pairing Hitmonchan with Volt Switch and U-turn users like Rotom and Mesprit allows you to chip at the opposing team in order to get them in range of Hitmonchan's attacks as well as getting it in safely. Choice Band Scyther also makes for a great partner, as it provides Pursuit support and is able to break down physical walls like Garbodor and Clefairy, while Hitmonchan switches in on Steel- and Rock-types through U-turn and forces them out. Rhydon and Steelix make for great partners, as they are able to check the numerous physical attackers like Scyther and Charizard that plague Hitmonchan prior to setting up; they also provide Stealth Rock for Hitmonchan to guarantee KOs on Pokemon like Vileplume and Archeops.

Moves Drain Punch is a STAB move boosted by Iron Fist that provides Hitmonchan with semi-consistent recovery. Mach Punch is a strong priority move that helps support Hitmonchan's poor Speed by letting it revenge kill offensive threats such as Tauros and Shiftry. Ice Punch provides neutral coverage on Pokemon that resist Hitmonchan's STAB attacks and allows Hitmonchan to deter Ghost-types from blocking Rapid Spin. Another option is Stone Edge, which, in addition to dealing more damage to Ghost-types, hits several Flying-types that are neutral to Ice Punch super effectively, such as Charizard, Mantine, and Pelipper. It's also a non-contact move and therefore preserves Hitmonchan from Rocky Helmet and Aftermath damage, although it loses coverage against Grass-types such as Vileplume and is less reliable overall due to its low accuracy. Rapid Spin constitutes much of Hitmonchan's value in NU, as its favorable matchup against many entry hazard setters gives it many opportunities to spin throughout the course of a battle. Set Details Iron Fist raises the Base Power of Hitmonchan's punch-based attacks. 48 EVs in Speed allow Hitmonchan to outpace Adamant Aggron; however, depending on how much bulk you desire or what threats you believe are worth outspeeding, the amount of Speed is highly customizable. Examples include running 96 EVs to Speed creep Adamant Torterra and Trevenant and 208 EVs to do the same for neutral-natured Samurott and Ludicolo. An Adamant nature along with maximum Attack investment gives Hitmonchan the greatest ability to pressure opposing teams, and the remaining EVs are dumped into HP to allow Hitmonchan to sponge hits as well as possible. Usage Tips With Assault Vest equipped and some HP investment, Hitmonchan can pivot into numerous special attackers in the tier, such as Magmortar and Swellow. Rapid Spin will often be the move of choice when entry hazards are up, but be wary of opposing spinblockers such as Rotom and Mismagius, which may require an Ice Punch or a double switch to a Pursuit trapper to take care of, as well as of chip damage from Rocky Helmet users such as Garbodor and Xatu. Although Hitmonchan's power is significantly decreased due to a lack of a power-boosting item, it is still adept at revenge killing weakened and frail attackers such as Pyroar and Jynx. Team Options As is the case with any spinner, but especially with a Fighting-type one, Pursuit support from the likes of Skuntank and Liepard is key for dealing with Ghost-type spinblockers such as Rotom and Psychic-type threats such as Mesprit and Xatu. Psychic-types such as the aforementioned Mesprit and Xatu can remove bothersome Poison-types such as Garbodor and Weezing which largely wall Hitmonchan and can even chip away at its health with Rocky Helmet, punishing it for spinning away entry hazards. Scyther, Charizard, and other Flying-types greatly benefit from Hitmonchan's ability to keep Stealth Rock off the field and pressure the Rock- and Steel-types that can easily thwart their sweeps. Due to the Special Defense boost from Assault Vest, Hitmonchan pairs well with frailer attackers such as Vivillon and Samurott which are forced out by strong special attackers like Swellow, Lilligant, and Aurorus.

Moves Drain Punch is a great reliable STAB move, getting boosted by Iron Fist and recovering HP that Hitmonchan might've lost when switching in. Close Combat can be used over Drain Punch, as it offers more damage, being able to OHKO Skuntank and Ferroseed, but it doesn't recover HP and lowers both of Hitmonchan's defensive stats. Mach Punch is a great STAB priority move that can pick off weakened foes. Ice Punch and Stone Edge both provide solid coverage on lots of Pokemon that are normally able to switch in on Drain Punch, such as Mantine, Charizard, and Scyther. Stone Edge also hits Rotom and Mismagius for more damage than Ice Punch. Rapid Spin is what sets Hitmonchan apart from other Fighting-types in the tier, as it gets lots of opportunities to spin away entry hazards throughout the match. Set Details Maximum Attack and Speed investment allows Hitmonchan to hit as hard as possible, while Drain Punch, Ice Punch, and Mach Punch are boosted further by Iron Fist. An Adamant nature is preferred over Jolly, as the important Pokemon Hitmonchan gets to outspeed with Jolly are limited to Shiftry and Kabutops, which faint to a Mach Punch anyway. Life Orb offers more damage on all of Hitmonchan's attacks at the cost of 10% of Hitmonchan's HP every time it uses one. Usage Tips Hitmonchan should be used to revenge kill powerful attackers like Barbaracle and Shiftry with Mach Punch. When predicting a switch to a defensive check that Hitmonchan can hit super effectively with a coverage move, the appropriate move can be used, but Rapid Spin should be prioritized most of the time depending on the situation. If there are no entry hazards on the field to spin away and there is a hard counter to Hitmonchan such as Weezing or Mesprit on the opposing team, there is no real reason to stay in and attack it for a pathetic amount of damage, so you're better off double switching in that scenario to keep up momentum. Team Options Hitmonchan is checked by most Psychic-types and Ghost-types such as Mesprit, Musharna, Mismagius, and Rotom, which makes Pursuit trappers such as Skuntank and Liepard great partners. In return, Hitmonchan is able to break past the likes of Steelix and Rhydon, both which easily switch into Skuntank and Liepard. Steelix is a good partner due to its ability to check Mega Audino and other Psychic-types, while providing Stealth Rock support. Pairing these two together comes at the cost of being vulnerable to Rotom, so make sure to pair the two with a solid check such as Magmortar, Pyroar, or Lanturn. Charizard, Scyther, and Archeops are good teammates for Hitmonchan too, as all of them greatly benefit from Hitmonchan's ability to spin away entry hazards and beat Steel- and Rock-types. Ice-types also benefit from Hitmonchan's hazard control, as well as it dealing with Steel-types and having good matchups versus most of the Fire-types in the tier.

A simple offensive set is the best way to utilize Hitmonchan. Although it might not look very unique at first, access to Iron Fist, a plethora of punching moves that get boosted by said ability, and priority in Mach Punch give it all the advantages that it needs and somewhat make up for its inferior power. Without Psychic- and Ghost-types, Hitmonchan is surprisingly difficult to wall, so it can serve as an effective wallbreaker with its good coverage while keeping faster Pokemon in check with Mach Punch. Drain Punch is the preferred STAB option, as it gets boosted by Iron Fist, making it reach decent levels of power while simultaneously healing off damage taken from Life Orb. Alternatively, Close Combat can be used, as even factoring in Iron Fist it is stronger than Drain Punch. Mach Punch is an important move for Hitmonchan, as it is one of the few Pokemon that can learn the move, allowing it to finish off or revenge kill foes weak to it; for example, it almost always OHKOes Sawsbuck and Crawdaunt after Stealth Rock damage. Thunder Punch allows Hitmonchan to 2HKO bulky Water-types, such as Poliwrath and Slowking, and it can also hit Flying-types hard on the switch. Ice Punch is preferred for the final slot, getting good coverage with Thunder Punch to form a pseudo BoltBeam combination and hitting Pokemon such as Tangrowth, Druddigon, and Amoonguss for super effective damage. However, Hitmonchan could instead use Rapid Spin in this slot, as it allows Hitmonchan to rid the field of hazards, though this is at the expense of losing coverage. Keep in mind though that it loses to all relevant spinblockers, so only use it in case space cannot be made on your team for the few other Rapid Spin users in the tier and Hitmonchan's other traits are needed. Hitmonchan should always run maximum Attack and Speed with an Adamant nature, as it needs all the power it can get and needs to outpace Absol, as Mach Punch will then make Sucker Punch fail, which can do a lot of damage despite the resistance it has. A Life Orb is preferred simply because it offers more power, and Drain Punch mitigates the recoil damage from the item anyways. Fire Punch can be used over one of Hitmonchan's coverage moves, and is notable for getting past Bug-types such as Escavalier and Galvantula, but space is fairly limited on this set and Fire Punch doesn't offer as much offensive coverage as the other moves that Hitmonchan typically uses. Like almost every other Fighting-type in the metagame, Hitmonchan struggles a lot against Ghost- and Psychic-type Pokemon, having nothing in its movepool that can be used to defeat them reliably. Due to this, Pursuit support from the likes of Absol, Spiritomb, and Escavalier is a good idea, as it can trap them or hit them with a stronger move if they decide to stay in. In addition, if Ghost-types are eliminated, Hitmonchan can use Rapid Spin more freely. If Hitmonchan is running Rapid Spin, Fire-types, such as Moltres and Entei, also make good partners, as they appreciate the lack of entry hazards on the field and can switch into Will-O-Wisps from the Ghost-types that carry them. They also offer the ability to destroy said Ghost-types as well as the Bug-types that resist Hitmonchan's STAB moves. Hitmonchan is easily taken out by STAB Flying-type moves from the likes of Moltres and Sigilyph, making Lanturn a good partner since it resists Flying and has the bulk to take all their other moves, while Heal Bell can cure Hitmonchan of troubling statuses, most of which severely cripple Hitmonchan. Although Archeops stands a chance at beating Lanturn with Earthquake, Hitmonchan can hit Archeops hard with any of its moves, so the likelihood of one directly threatening Hitmonchan is rare.

This set sacrifices power in exchange for better longevity, giving Hitmonchan a much better matchup against defensive teams that could simply wear down the Life Orb set. Bulk Up allows Hitmonchan to easily defeat defensive physical attackers that could otherwise 2HKO it, such as Sandslash and Quagsire. Drain Punch helps keep Hitmonchan healthy and has a respectable 75 Base Power thanks to Iron Fist. After a Bulk Up, Hitmonchan can survive an attack from many offensive Pokemon and OHKO them back with Drain Punch, restoring most of its lost HP in the process; examples include Tauros, Manectric, and Floatzel. Ice Punch is Hitmonchan's best coverage move, allowing it to hit every common defensive Pokemon except Slowking for at least neutral damage. The last slot is reserved for Rapid Spin. You could opt for another move in that slot to make Hitmonchan more threatening, such as Thunder Punch, Mach Punch, or Substitute, but Poliwrath and Medicham both have significant advantages over Hitmonchan as dedicated Bulk Up sweepers; Rapid Spin is what sets Hitmonchan apart. The EV spread maximizes Hitmonchan's Attack so that it can deal decent damage even when it doesn't get a chance to boost. 88 Speed EVs allow Hitmonchan to outspeed neutral-natured base 55s such as Cacturne and Relicanth, as well as minimum Speed Gligar and all other walls that don't invest in Speed. It's worth noting that Gligar and some other fast walls such as Gardevoir will sometimes invest in Speed, so you should consider adding a few more Speed EVs if you want to increase Hitmonchan's chances of outspeeding them. This set belongs on a team that needs Hitmonchan's Rapid Spin support, as otherwise Poliwrath and Medicham are better choices as Bulk Up users. Slower balanced or defensive teams generally prefer this set to the Life Orb variant thanks to its ability to stay healthy so that it can spin multiple times in a match if needed. Skuntank is a highly recommended teammate, as nearly every Psychic-type in the tier can safely switch into Hitmonchan and force it out.

Hitmonchan's access to a 120-Base Power, 100% accurate STAB move and excellent super effective coverage from the elemental punches make it a solid revenge killer and late-game cleaner when equipped with a Choice Scarf. Close Combat OHKOes most offensive Pokemon after Stealth Rock or other chip damage, and Thunder Punch and Ice Punch cover most of the Pokemon that resist it. The last slot is mostly filler. Stone Edge OHKOes Charizard, which barely survives Thunder Punch from full health, and also hits Venomoth and Pinsir. Earthquake 2HKOes Muk, which shakes off any other move Hitmonchan throws its way, and can also be nice to have against Pokemon with Static or Flame Body, such as Manectric and Magmortar, because it does not make contact. Finally, although Rapid Spin is not a good move to be locked into, it can still be useful to have in case your opponent manages to stack a lot of entry hazards. This set competes directly with Medicham, which can run a similar set but with more power, slightly more Speed, and access to a secondary STAB move and Trick. However, Medicham's primary STAB move is High Jump Kick, which has a 10% chance to miss and the possibility of recoil damage that could cause Medicham to KO itself. Hitmonchan's access to Close Combat makes it a more reliable option if you don't need Medicham's extra power. Choice Scarf Hitmonchan also works well alongside Medicham; Life Orb Medicham can kick and punch massive holes into your opponent's walls, and then Choice Scarf Hitmonchan can clean up the rubble. With the boost from Choice Scarf, 216 Speed EVs allow Hitmonchan to outspeed every unboosted Pokemon in the tier except Electrode. Mach Punch and Fire Punch are alternative options in the last moveslot if you don't like any of the options listed. Mach Punch may seem strange on a Choice Scarf set, but it could save your team from being swept by Choice Scarf Typhlosion or Chlorophyll-boosted Shiftry. Fire Punch is an alternative to Stone Edge to hit Bug-types more reliably and is a relatively safe move to be locked into due to the lack of common Fire-immune Pokemon in NU. Choice Scarf Hitmonchan is most effective when you can click Close Combat without thinking, which means it needs teammates that can remove Ghost- and Psychic-types. As always, Skuntank is a great partner as the best Pursuit trapper in the tier. Wallbreakers such as Life Orb Medicham, Life Orb Magmortar, and Swords Dance Charizard are also excellent at KOing or severely crippling Slowking and other walls that could stop Hitmonchan from cleaning. Hitmonchan is relatively slow for a Choice Scarf user, which means it fits better on teams that have solid defensive answers to common faster Choice Scarf users such as Typhlosion and Manectric. Slowking and Regirock counter Typhlosion, and Nidoqueen is a great switch-in to Manectric.

This set's combination of power and utility makes it a solid addition to offensive teams that need a spinner. Close Combat is a powerful STAB move that 2HKOes every NU Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Mach Punch is one of the strongest reliable priority moves in the tier thanks to the boost from Iron Fist, making Hitmonchan an effective revenge killer of frail or weakened offensive Pokemon. The elemental punches also receive boosts from Iron Fist and provide valuable coverage on the Pokemon that resist Hitmonchan's STAB moves; Ice Punch OHKOes Gligar and 2HKOes Nidoqueen and Vileplume, while Thunder Punch 2HKOes Slowking and OHKOes Charizard on the switch. Last, but certainly not least, Rapid Spin provides invaluable support, especially for teams featuring Pokemon that are weak to Stealth Rock, such as Charizard and Typhlosion. Life Orb is the best item on this set, as it gives Hitmonchan the power it needs to 2HKO common switch-ins like Slowking and Nidoqueen with the appropriate elemental punch. However, Black Belt is a viable alternative to boost Close Combat and Mach Punch without forcing Hitmonchan to take recoil damage when using Rapid Spin. The EV spread maximizes Hitmonchan's power and gives it enough Speed to beat neutral-natured base 70s such as Magneton and Poliwrath as well as the occasional Jolly Whiscash. The remaining EVs go into HP and Defense to slightly improve Hitmonchan's bulk without increasing Life Orb recoil. A bulkier spread of 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spe is a reasonable alternative that still lets Hitmonchan outspeed neutral-natured base 60s and below. Bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Hypno and Dusclops wall Hitmonchan effortlessly. This makes Skuntank a great partner, as it is perfectly built to shut down and cripple Psychic- and Ghost-type walls with its typing and access to Pursuit, Taunt, and Crunch. The offensive Fire-types that appreciate Hitmonchan's Rapid Spin support also appreciate Skuntank's ability to remove Pokemon such as Hypno, Slowking, and Grumpig from play; a team built around one or more Fire-types supported by Skuntank and Hitmonchan can be very difficult to deal with. Depending on which elemental punch you choose, Hitmonchan will also be walled by some additional Pokemon. Without Thunder Punch, Hitmonchan can't do meaningful damage to Slowking, so having Skuntank or another Pursuit user as a teammate is even more important. On the other hand, without Ice Punch, Hitmonchan is walled by Gligar, Nidoqueen, and Vileplume, so powerful Fire- or Psychic-type special attackers such as Charizard, Jynx, and Gardevoir are good teammates.

This set is pretty unorthodox but can work wonders against frailer, offensive teams should Hitmonchan get a turn to set up. The goal with this set is to set up Agility late-game on a Pokemon Hitmonchan forces out, like Flareon or Kecleon, and proceed to sweep the opponent's team because nothing is able to outspeed it. This set completely turns the tide against otherwise safe checks and revenge killers like Raticate and Haunter, as they are outsped and OHKOed by a boosted Hitmonchan. Sky Uppercut and Hidden Power Ghost give Hitmonchan the coverage it needs to successfully sweep, with the last slot taking out key threats to the success of this set. Rock Slide is recommended here to get as strong a hit on targets like Pidgeot, Golbat, and Venomoth as possible and make use of the possible flinch chance should it come down to it. Earthquake is a strong option as well to make sure Arbok and Swalot cannot stop Hitmonchan's sweep, and it is Hitmonchan's best way to break through Sableye. With the given spread, Hitmonchan is as strong as possible while outspeeding literally everything else in the tier after Agility, even vastly outpacing maximum Speed Tangela in the sun. Due to this, you can drop Hitmonchan's Speed investment down a bit and pump some of those EVs into HP to protect Hitmonchan a bit from foes' priority moves, but outspeeding as much as possible before a boost may be more beneficial to the success of this set. This set should function almost solely as a sweeper, meaning it's going to need teammates to break walls and generally weaken the opponent's team enough to allow it to sweep. In particular, Sableye needs to be removed or weakened sufficiently before Hitmonchan sets up, as it'll otherwise wall Hitmonchan to oblivion. Spikes is the best way to whittle down Sableye down, along with a few of Hitmonchan's other checks, making Glalie and Roselia ideal teammates. Strong special wallbreakers should be next on the list of Hitmonchan's teammates to force the opponent's hand and hopefully get them to sacrifice Sableye or other physically defensive Pokemon. Seadra, Flareon, and Huntail are particularly adept at eliminating Sableye and other Hitmonchan checks from the picture. Alternatively, pairing Hitmonchan with a physically attacking lure to take out Sableye is also doable. Machoke can lure Sableye in and nail it with Toxic, effectively removing its long-term capability to wall both Machoke and Hitmonchan. Other physical attackers like Raticate can punch a hole deep enough into Sableye and Chimecho to allow Hitmonchan to clean up later with Earthquake and Hidden Power Ghost.

With Bulk Up, Hitmonchan turns into more of a tank, letting it blow through the Pokemon it's meant to take out and keep on chugging. Being able to switch moves is a big selling point in running Bulk Up over Choice Band, as is the added recovery from Leftovers to deal with Spikes and the greater number of hits Hitmonchan is able to take. Sky Uppercut and Hidden Power Ghost give Hitmonchan great two-move coverage, hitting everything in the tier for sufficient damage once Hitmonchan has enough boosts under its belt. Earthquake prevents Arbok and Swalot from stopping Hitmonchan's sweep, but Mach Punch can be used to pick off weakened attackers like Raticate, Glalie, and Murkrow. The choice comes down to your team. Earthquake makes Hitmonchan more of a wallbreaker and stallbreaker, while Mach Punch makes Hitmonchan a better cleaner and safety net. A bulkier EV spread like 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe with an Adamant nature can be used to make better use of the Defense boosts from Bulk Up, while still outspeeding maximum Speed Jolly Pupitar. This spread features more Attack than the listed spread thanks to the Adamant nature beefing up Mach Punch and effectively making up for the Speed lost. Specially defensive spreads, with varying degrees of defensive investment are also usable, but having immediate Speed and power is what generally makes Hitmonchan so dangerous. Rock Slide can be used in the last slot depending on the needs of your team, in particular giving Hitmonchan super effective coverage on Golbat and Pelipper. Substitute is an option that allows Hitmonchan to better sweep the opponent's team end-game by protecting it from revenge kills from the likes of Flying-types and Chimecho as well as status from Sableye. This set fits best on balance teams that need a way to stallbreak, dismantle common defensive cores, and prevent Sableye and Chimecho from being consistent, reliable answers to Hitmonchan. A big perk to using this set over others is that it's harder for physical threats like Pidgeot and Raticate to revenge kill it, although they still pose a threat should Hitmonchan be sufficiently weakened. Haunter in particular is still a major threat to the success of this set, making generally defensive teammates that can keep offensive pressure up ideal to pair with Hitmonchan; options include Kecleon, Relicanth, and Tangela. This set is stopped cold by Swalot if lacking Earthquake or Substitute, making Chimecho a good partner to take it out; Chimecho can also heal status with Heal Bell.

Hitmonchan's Focus Punch is one of the strongest unboosted attacks in the tier and absolutely devastates even those Pokemon that resist it, exposing even the most physically defensive versions of Chimecho to a 2HKO from Focus Punch followed by Hidden Power Ghost. Substitute pairs perfectly with Focus Punch, as it protects Hitmonchan from status and revenge kills and allows Hitmonchan to fire off a Focus Punch guaranteed. The last slot is flexible, with Mach Punch picking off most Pokemon that can break Hitmonchan's Substitute and survive a Focus Punch such as Pidgeot. Earthquake is also usable to muscle through the Poison-types that can comfortably tank Focus Punch and Hidden Power Ghost like Swalot and Arbok and is Hitmonchan's best weapon against Sableye apart from Toxic. The EV spread given makes Hitmonchan as specially bulky as possible while keeping a decent amount of power behind its attacks, in particular allowing its Substitute to survive Giga Drain from 0 SpA Roselia and Surf from 0 SpA Dewgong. If you feel you don't need these benchmarks and want Hitmonchan to hit as hard as possible, a simple 252 Atk / 252 Spe spread is perfectly doable and lets Hitmonchan gain a guaranteed OHKO on 0 HP Pidgeot. This set can be combined with a Liechi or Salac Berry over Leftovers to allow Hitmonchan to sweep in the late-game. If you go this route, it's recommended to place Sky Uppercut in the last slot to give Hitmonchan a STAB move should it be unable to keep its Substitute up. Rock Slide can be used in the last slot, as Hitmonchan tends to lure in Golbat and this set is apt at taking it out along with Pelipper and Venomoth. Finally, Toxic is another option for the last slot as Hitmonchan's best move for Sableye and can allow Hitmonchan to stall for extra chip damage on foes should the need arise. Sableye and physically defensive Chimecho pose a huge barrier to the success of this set, making a very strong special attacker to break through these threats a good teammate. Cacturne in particular can set up Spikes against Sableye to weaken Hitmonchan's other checks and threatens Chimecho out with a STAB Hidden Power Dark. Wish Flareon makes a great partner to this set as well to help recover off the damage Hitmonchan will take from setting up Substitute and to obliterate Sableye with STAB Fire Blast. This set works well as a lure to weaken the opponent's physically defensive Pokemon, opening the door for a late-game sweeper like Kingler or Pupitar to clean up after Hitmonchan throws around a few Focus Punches.

This is Hitmonchan's flagship set and one of the most dangerous sets in the tier, with devastating power, speed, and coverage immediately upon entering the field. STAB Fighting-type attacks destroy a huge portion of the tier, and Sky Uppercut is a powerful and reliable attack to batter opposing Pokemon with, especially when backed by the power boost of a Choice Band. Brick Break is a bit weaker, but is 100% accurate and comes with the added benefit of breaking Reflect, which is an otherwise reliable way to soften Hitmonchan's blows. Hidden Power Ghost and Earthquake give Hitmonchan almost perfect coverage alongside its Fighting-type STAB move, with the former destroying Haunter and Chimecho, otherwise good switch-ins, and the latter taking out Swalot and Arbok as well as being Hitmonchan's strongest option against Sableye. The last moveslot is up to how you want Hitmonchan to operate on your team. Mach Punch makes Hitmonchan a safety net option against dangerous late-game sweepers like SubSalac Flail Kingler, Dragon Dance Pupitar, and Choice Band Raticate. Alternatively, Rock Slide completes Hitmonchan's stellar coverage and makes it extremely difficult to switch into safely for defensive teams, eliminating Flying-types like Golbat, Pelipper, and Tropius and Bug-types like Venomoth as decent switch-ins. A Jolly nature is needed to let Hitmonchan Speed tie with other Hitmonchan and ensure it outspeeds Kingler and maximum Speed base 65s, instead of just tying with them as it would with Adamant. Hidden Power Bug can be used to hit both Chimecho and Tangela in one slot, but Haunter is far more dangerous to teams than Tangela if it gets in for free, making Hidden Power Ghost the overall better option. Focus Punch can be used in the last slot if you think you can predict well; the power of a STAB Choice Band-boosted Focus Punch is almost unreal, blasting through neutral targets like Bellossom and 2HKOing bulky targets that Sky Uppercut only 3HKOes such as Wailord. Focus Punch's power is so great, a super effective Hidden Power Ghost only does about 10% more against targets that resist Focus Punch like Chimecho. There are only a few Pokemon that can take on this set without much trouble. Physically defensive Sableye is the most pressing concern for anybody using this set, as it is only 3HKOed by Earthquake and can heal off the damage with Recover. Pairing Hitmonchan with a strong special attacker that can blow past Sableye like Seadra or using a teammate that can hit it with Toxic will allow Hitmonchan to eventually break through it. Spikes will also go a long way in allowing Hitmonchan to punch through Sableye and other defensive threats like Swalot, meaning Roselia and Glalie are classic teammates. Any Pokemon that resist Fighting are roadblocks to Choice Band Hitmonchan, as they prevent it from using its powerful STAB moves. Dark-types like Cacturne and special walls like Kecleon can eliminate Fighting-resistant threats like Chimecho and Haunter, and Electric-types like Plusle can remove Pelipper and other Flying-types from the picture. Hitmonchan is rather easy to revenge kill with faster offensive Pokemon like Pidgeot and Murkrow, meaning Mawile is a great teammate; Mawile also comes with the benefit of being able to Baton Pass Substitutes and Swords Dance boosts to Hitmonchan. Keep in mind, though, that the goal is not to necessarily sweep with this Hitmonchan set—it works best as a wallbreaker and safety net. This set should be paired with a dedicated late-game sweeper, such as Dragon Dance Pupitar, SubSalac Flail Vigoroth, or Rain Dance Huntail, to clean up the opponent's team.

Hitmonchan is one of the few Pokemon with access to Rapid Spin in the tier, and it's far and away the most usable, meaning it has a major niche apart from being a super strong Fighting-type. Hitmonchan also has a pretty easy time spinning when needed, as Haunter, Sableye, and Shedinja are the tier's only spinblockers, and only Sableye can repeatedly switch into Hitmonchan without much worry. Hitmonchan also destroys two of the major Spikers in the tier in Cacturne and Glalie and deals a good number on the third, Roselia. All of this makes Hitmonchan a staple on defensive teams, allowing common grounded stall Pokemon like Roselia, Sableye, Flareon, and Relicanth to thrive. A bulky EV spread allows Hitmonchan to more easily come in throughout the game and spin when needed and retains its strength on the battlefield with maximum Attack investment. The moveset is designed to allow Hitmonchan to spin as reliably as possible, with Toxic making an appearance here in the last slot to cripple Sableye and eventually let Hitmonchan win the spin war against it. If you're not concerned by that, Earthquake gives Hitmonchan as much coverage as possible with its other moves, allowing it to get a spin off by forcing switches, if the opponent lacks Sableye that is. The EV spread has enough Speed to outrun Adamant Pupitar before a Dragon Dance, with the rest of the EVs invested in Attack and HP. Mach Punch can be used in the last slot to make Hitmonchan more of a safety net for the slower, defensive teams it'll likely be featured on, letting it check faster threats that can give defensive teams some trouble like Vigoroth and Raticate. Because this set is slower than other Hitmonchan variants, there are a number of Pokemon that can outspeed it and deal a huge amount of damage. This includes dangerous Choice Band attackers like Flareon and Kingler, which can blow right through Hitmonchan's increased bulk with Double-Edge for a near OHKO. With this in mind, this set requires a sturdy backbone to allow it to switch in and out; thankfully, this set fits best on teams that feature such backbones. Relicanth, Mawile, Metang, and Sudowoodo make great physically defensive Pokemon to pair with Hitmonchan. This set has a tougher time with Chimecho than most of its other sets, even with Hidden Power Ghost to beat it back, making a specially defensive teammate to take it down, like Kecleon, a good partner.

Bleh, it's Hitmonchan. Really, Counter + Curse can be on the same set if you want. Naturally, High Jump Kick is for STAB and your strongest attack. The other two attacks are because Hitmonchan doesn't learn anything better.

Other Options: Ice Punch