The Punching Pokemon. The other Fighting Dojo pick. Hitmonchan gets elemental punches, but they're all Special-type moves in Gen 1 and its Special stat is low.
380HP50Attack105Defense79Speed76Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Weak to
Physical
Setup Sweeper
76Speed · Below Avg

Is Hitmonchan Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

The other Dojo gift. Hitmonchan has more bulk than Hitmonlee but less speed and power. The elemental punches are fun but the lower Attack keeps them from making up the difference. Most players pick Hitmonlee instead.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEEEETBGGEGBETBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4HitmonchanGiftKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

You Win
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Even
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Even
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Risky
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Tough

Koga's typing presses Hitmonchan's defenses.

Even
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
Even
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Avoid
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Bad

Sabrina's Pokemon outpace and outclass Hitmonchan here.

Avoid
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
Avoid
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Hitmonchan has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Hitmonchan has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
Even
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Risky
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Risky
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Hitmonchan has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Bad

Agatha's Pokemon outpace and outclass Hitmonchan here.

Avoid
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Risky
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Avoid
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Risky
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Tough

Blue's team hits Hitmonchan's weaknesses hard.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Avoid
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Gift

Available after Badge 4
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Hitmonchan is given to you as a gift in Saffron City at Lv 30. Beat the Karate Master; you may take only one of the two Poke Balls. Defeat the Karate Master at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City, then pick Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan; you can only take one.

View Hitmonchan locations

How to Get Hitmonchan in Red & Blue

The other Fighting Dojo prize for defeating Kiyo in Saffron City, handed over at level 30. Choosing Hitmonchan the puncher means Hitmonlee walks away with the other trainer.

1 location to catch Hitmonchan

Badge 5

Hitmonchan Weakness

Hitmonchan's Fighting typing leaves it vulnerable to Flying and Psychic. Not many exploitable gaps in the Fighting typing defensive chart. Hitmonchan's physical bulk (base 79 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Hitmonchan Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Flying, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Bug, Rock
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Hitmonchan Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Hitmonchan Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Hitmonchan

Hypno
Hypno
Psychic
C
Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
B
Butterfree
Butterfree
BugFlying
C
Golbat
Golbat
PoisonFlying
C
Spearow
Spearow
NormalFlying
C

Hitmonchan Evolutions

Hitmonchan is a standalone Fighting type at 380 total. It can't breed, which makes catching one the only real option. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Hitmonchan
#107Hitmonchan
Does not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Hitmonchan Best Moveset

The elemental punches (Fire, Ice, Thunder) all run off the Special stat, not the 105 Attack. Fighting typing gets punished by Psychic dominance. The moves can't leverage what should be the main selling point.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Hitmonchan
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Ice Punch
  • Body Slam
  • SubmissionSTAB
  • AgilitySetup

Moves List

The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Hitmonchan's Normal and Fire coverage and more all comes from technical machines, built on top of Submission and Counter for same-type damage. Double-Edge and Mega Kick are the payoff moves.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Agility
B——30Psychic
Lv 1
Comet Punch
A188515Normal
Lv 33
Fire Punch
—7510015Fire
Lv 38
Ice Punch
B7510015Ice
Lv 43
Thunder Punch
—7510015Electric
Lv 48
Mega Punch
C808520Normal
Lv 53
Counter-5
A—10020Fighting

TM Moves

All 19 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B8510015Normal
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
A—10020Fighting
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
A120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
C808520Normal
TM35
MetronomePokémon Labbadge 6
D——10Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
B1208025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Hitmonchan can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP50
D
Attack105
B
Defense79
C
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed76
C
Total380
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.4 m
Weight50.2 kg
Base XP159
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+2Spe
Special Defense training target
Pokedex Entry

While apparently doing nothing, it fires punches in lightning fast volleys that are impossible to see.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Hitmonchan Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, Hitmonchan has niche appeal at best. The E-Tier rating means you're fighting uphill by mid-game. There are better Fighting Pokemon available.

  • In Red & Blue, use Hitmonchan as a setup sweeper. Physical side carries the damage. Speed is middling, Submission is the primary attack. Set up with Agility when you get a free turn.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Hitmonchan appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Hitmonchan have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Want to tell us more?
What was most useful?
What could be improved?
Thanks for your feedback