The Punching Pokemon. Hitmonchan's elemental punches sound great, but they run off Special in Gen 1. F-Tier in Yellow since its Special stat can't back them up.
380HP50Attack105Defense79Speed76Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Weak to
Physical
Setup Sweeper
76Speed · Below Avg

Is Hitmonchan Good in Yellow Playthrough?

The other Dojo gift. Hitmonchan trades speed and power for a bit more durability. The elemental punches are fun but don't hit hard enough to make up the difference. Hitmonlee is the pick for most players.

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

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
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 GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's typing presses Hitmonchan's defenses.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Hitmonchan's defenses.

Even
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Tough

Koga's team hits Hitmonchan's weaknesses hard.

Even
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Risky
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Avoid
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Bad

Sabrina's Pokemon outpace and outclass Hitmonchan here.

Risky
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Avoid
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Easy KO
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Risky
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Risky
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
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.

You Win
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Bad

Agatha's Pokemon outpace and outclass Hitmonchan here.

Avoid
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Risky
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Avoid
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Risky
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Hitmonchan trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

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 Hitmonchan; you can take only one of Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan.

View Hitmonchan locations

How to Get Hitmonchan in Yellow

The same Saffron Dojo reward, won by defeating Kiyo, offers Hitmonchan at level 30 as the punching half. Choose it and Hitmonlee is gone, since you only ever get one.

1 location to catch Hitmonchan

Badge 4

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
Scyther
Scyther
BugFlying
C
Golbat
Golbat
PoisonFlying
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

Y Hitmonchan Best Moveset

Three elemental punches (Fire, Ice, Thunder) that all run off Special instead of the 105 Attack that should power them. Fighting typing gets punished by Psychic at the top, and the one interesting gimmick in the movepool uses the wrong stat entirely. The moves look good until you check which number they use.

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

Punches in corkscrew fashion. It can punch its way through a concrete wall in the same way as a drill.

Pokemon Yellow

Hitmonchan Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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 Yellow, 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

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