[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
Name: Offensive Life Orb
Move 1: Drain Punch
Move 2: Mach Punch
Move 3: Ice Punch
Move 4: Rapid Spin
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Spd / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
========
Usage Tips
========
========
[SET]
Name: Spinner
Move 1: Drain Punch
Move 2: Mach Punch
Move 3: Ice Punch
Move 4: Rapid Spin
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost Pokemon can block Rapid Spins and can only be hit by non STAB Ice Punch making it hard for Hitmonchan to do much against. Pokemon such as Gourgeist-Super, Sableye and Palossand can come in on Hitmonchan and fire off a free Will-O-Wisp crippling a Pokemon on your team.
**Poison-types**: Poison resists Fighting and can use Hitmonchan as a momentum shifter. Weezing can use switching in to Hitmonchan as a way to get up hazards as well as using Pain Split if low on health. Qwilfish can also abuse this by getting up hazards while forcing Hitmonchan out.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types resist Hitmonchan's STAB and can come in on it. Granbull's Intimidate makes Hitmonchan useless in a 1v1 match up forcing a switch, giving momentum to the opposition. Clefairy can use Hitmonchan as set up fodder even after switching in to it.
**Psychic-types**: With no coverage move such as Knock Off, Hitmonchan is exposed to Psychic-types, having no real way to combat them it is forced to switch. Musharna can come in on Hitmonchan and use it as set up fodder, where as Mesprit can force Hitmonchan out and deal huge damage to the switch in.
**Flying-types**: A lot of the Flying-type Pokemon that are threats in PU are faster than Hitmonchan and can usually beat it one vs one. Swanna in particular is a huge threat, forcing out Hitmonchan, giving the opposition momentum as well as a hit on your switch in. Ninjask and Emolga are also much faster than Hitmonchan and can force it out.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers threaten Hitmonchan out as it has sub par bulk in defense and HP. Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Electivire will be able to threaten Hitmonchan out, getting a free hit on the switch in as well as momentum.
- Hitmonchan is the best Rapid Spinner in PU at the moment.
- Hitmonchan's AV set allows it to soak up hits from special attackers in the tier and deal with them.
- Hitmonchan can hit very hard with Iron Fists boosting its attacks, Hitmonchan is hard to switch in versus in PU.
- Access to priority allows Hitmonchan to pick up revenge kills when needed.
- Hitmonchan struggles to hit bulky Ghost-types hard and can not Rapid Spin against them. Bulky Ghost-types such as Sableye, Gourgeist-Super can all switch in on Hitmonchan and force it out with the threat of a burn.
- Hitmonchan struggles to deal with bulky Pokemon such as Gastrodon, Gourgeist-Super and Weezing, without a hugely viable set up set, it can be forced out often.
- Hitmonchan's low defense makes it weak to heavy hitting physical attackers usually causing a switch and losing momentum.
[SET]
Name: Offensive Life Orb
Move 1: Drain Punch
Move 2: Mach Punch
Move 3: Ice Punch
Move 4: Rapid Spin
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Spd / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Drain Punch can guarantee a kill vs Pokemon such as defensive Carracosta after Stealth Rocks as well as putting Skuntank in range of Mach Punch. It can break through defensive Pokemon a lot easier and can deal with bulkier Pokemon such as Lanturn being 2HKOed and always killing Miltank after Stealth Rocks.
- Mach Punch helps to revenge kill Pokemon that are faster. The added Life Orb power helps to guarentee a kill on Pokemon such as Archeops, Jynx, Pyroar, Shiftry, Abomasnow after rocks. as well as guaranteeing kills on Togedemaru, Absol and Zangoose from full.
- Ice Punch is Hitmonchan's only coverage move on this set, with the added Life Orb boost it helps to beat Pokemon it usually would struggle with such as being able to OHKO Lilligant and Golurk after Stealth Rocks most of the time.
- Rapid Spin is a good way of getting rid of the opposing teams hazards whilst keeping your own.
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- 252 Speed on this set allows it to out speed uninvested Pokemon with base 100 Speed as well as invested Pokemon from lower speed tiers.
- 252 Atk with an Adamant Nature and Iron Fist paired with Life Orb means Hitmonchan hits a majority of the tier very hard with the combination of Ice Punch and Drain Punch.
Usage Tips
========
- Mach Punch is very good at revenge killing Pokemon as well as forcing out Pokemon. Try to gain as much momentum as possible taking advantage of this. Mach Punch also has the potential to clean a team late game with the Life Orb set against more offensive teams.
- Beware of strong attackers and especially strong physical attackers as Hitmonchan's bulk without investment is sub par.
- With the Life Orb make sure you know when to use Toxic. If there is a 100% switch in to Hitmonchan on the oppositions team it is better to Toxic to permanently have residual rather than doing a small amount with Ice Punch or Drain Punch.
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- Hitmonchan is best with a Pursuit trapper as it allows it to freely Rapid Spin and use its Fighting STAB. A Pokemon such as Stoutland or Skuntank would be perfect for that. Pursuit Pokemon also get rid of the Psychic type Pokemon that Hitmonchan is weak from.
- Hazards of your own would be great with Hitmonchan so that it can sweep the Pokemon weak to Mach Punch easier. Regirock would work especially well as it resists Flying and Poison that Hitmonchan is weak too. Regirock also acts as a physical wall protecting Hitmonchan.
- A set up sweeper such as Carracosta would work well with Hitmonchan as it can put a dent in the team making it easier for Mach Punch to clean.
- Skuntank is a really good teammate for Hitmonchan as it immune to Psychic, Resists Ghost and is neutral to Fairy.
[SET]
Name: Spinner
Move 1: Drain Punch
Move 2: Mach Punch
Move 3: Ice Punch
Move 4: Rapid Spin
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 208 HP / 252 Atk / 48 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Drain Punch can be an effective source of recovery as being able to recover off of a powerful STAB move helps to beat Pokemon that are faster than it such as Jynx.
- Mach Punch is a good form of priority and is much needed as Hitmonchan does not have the greatest speed tier. Mach Punch can kills threats like Jynx, Shiftry and Pyroar after some prior damage.
- Ice Punch is Hitmonchan's best coverage move. Hitting Flying-types as well as Ground and Grass-types for super effective damage. Being able to hit Pokemon such as Gourgeist, Golurk and Oricorio-Sensu for super effective damage helps to be able to Rapid Spin later in the game.
- Rapid Spin is a good way of getting rid of the opposing teams hazards whilst keeping your own.
Set Details
========
- 48 Speed is to out speed uninvested base 80 Speed Pokemon such as Meganium, Altaria and Grumpig.
- 252 Atk with an Adamant Nature and Iron Fist allows Hitmonchan to hit surprisingly hard giving its lacking Attack stat. The upside to this is that Hitmonchan can scare Pokemon out giving it a free turn to Rapid Spin.
- With 208 HP and an Assault Vest Hitmonchan can take many special hits from threats like living a hit from Jynx. It can also live a Firium Z boosted Fire Blast from Magmortar and a Fire Blast afterwards.
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- Try to predict when Ghost-types are coming in, do not waste a turn if you can get a prediction right.
- Make sure that you know when to use Drain Punch and when to Rapid Spin, if you know you will be able to Rapid Spin safely later it can benefit you to kill what is in front of you.
- Take advantage of Hitmonchans good special defense, bringing it in on special attackers and forcing switches.
Team Options
========
- Hitmonchan is in even more need of a Pursuit trapper on the team whilst using its Assault Vest set as it will deal less damage to incoming Ghost/Psychic-types. Skuntank is perfect as it is immune to Psychic as well as covering Hitmonchan's Fairy weakness. Pursuiting Ghost-types efficiently will gives Hitmonchan safe Rapid spins.
- A physically defensive Pokemon such as Regirock would work well as it resists Flying and Poison and takes the physical hits Hitmonchan struggles with.
- A Wish passer would work well with a more bulky Hitmonchan, Audino or Komala would work really well with Hitmonchan allowing it to impact the game for longer.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Alternatively Bulk Up Hitmonchan with Leftovers could also be used to break more bulkier teams as well being able to take hits from strong physical attackers that usually force out Hitmonchan
- Power up Punch is another option to break through teams more effectively if you are using offence.
- Toxic is used on Hitmonchan as a replacement for Rapid Spin or sometimes Ice Punch as it allows you to cripple Pokemon switching in such as Musharna, Sabeleye, Gourgeist-Super or Gastrodon.
- Thunder Punch can also be used instead of Ice Punch in order to hit Water/Flying Pokemon such as Swanna, Poliwrath and Lapras.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Ghost-types**: Ghost Pokemon can block Rapid Spins and can only be hit by non STAB Ice Punch making it hard for Hitmonchan to do much against. Pokemon such as Gourgeist-Super, Sableye and Palossand can come in on Hitmonchan and fire off a free Will-O-Wisp crippling a Pokemon on your team.
**Poison-types**: Poison resists Fighting and can use Hitmonchan as a momentum shifter. Weezing can use switching in to Hitmonchan as a way to get up hazards as well as using Pain Split if low on health. Qwilfish can also abuse this by getting up hazards while forcing Hitmonchan out.
**Fairy-types**: Fairy-types resist Hitmonchan's STAB and can come in on it. Granbull's Intimidate makes Hitmonchan useless in a 1v1 match up forcing a switch, giving momentum to the opposition. Clefairy can use Hitmonchan as set up fodder even after switching in to it.
**Psychic-types**: With no coverage move such as Knock Off, Hitmonchan is exposed to Psychic-types, having no real way to combat them it is forced to switch. Musharna can come in on Hitmonchan and use it as set up fodder, where as Mesprit can force Hitmonchan out and deal huge damage to the switch in.
**Flying-types**: A lot of the Flying-type Pokemon that are threats in PU are faster than Hitmonchan and can usually beat it one vs one. Swanna in particular is a huge threat, forcing out Hitmonchan, giving the opposition momentum as well as a hit on your switch in. Ninjask and Emolga are also much faster than Hitmonchan and can force it out.
**Strong Physical Attackers**: Strong physical attackers threaten Hitmonchan out as it has sub par bulk in defense and HP. Pokemon such as Mudsdale and Electivire will be able to threaten Hitmonchan out, getting a free hit on the switch in as well as momentum.
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