The Kicking Pokemon. Pick Hitmonlee at the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City. Higher Attack than Hitmonchan, but both are F-Tier in Yellow's Psychic-dominated competitive scene.
380HP50Attack120Defense53Speed87Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Weak to
Physical
Cannon
87Speed · Above Avg

Is Hitmonlee Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Gift from the Fighting Dojo in Saffron City. Pick either Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan, not both. Hitmonlee is faster and hits harder, making it the better choice for most playthroughs. Fighting coverage helps against Giovanni and Lorelei.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadSEEETTEEEGTEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4HitmonleeGiftKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Strong

Hitmonlee resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Even

Hitmonlee trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

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

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

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Hitmonlee trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

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 Hitmonlee's weaknesses hard.

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

Sabrina's team hits Hitmonlee's weaknesses hard.

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

Hitmonlee 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
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Hitmonlee 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

Hitmonlee 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
Even
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

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

Easy KO
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
Tough

Agatha's team hits Hitmonlee's weaknesses hard.

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

Hitmonlee 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
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
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

Hitmonlee trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
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

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

View Hitmonlee locations

How to Get Hitmonlee in Yellow

Beat Kiyo at the Saffron City Fighting Dojo and you get to choose one fighter. Hitmonlee is the kicking half, handed over at level 30. Picking it locks out Hitmonchan for good.

1 location to catch Hitmonlee

Badge 4

Hitmonlee Weakness

Type-wise, Hitmonlee takes extra damage from Flying and Psychic. Few weaknesses and 2 resistances make the typing clean. Hitmonlee leans offensive (base 120 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Hitmonlee 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 Hitmonlee Weak Against

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

What is Hitmonlee Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Hitmonlee

Hypno
Hypno
Psychic
C
Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
B
Butterfree
Butterfree
BugFlying
C
Scyther
Scyther
BugFlying
C
Golbat
Golbat
PoisonFlying
C

Hitmonlee Evolutions

No evolution, no breeding. Hitmonlee is a Fighting type with 380 base stats that exists outside the normal chain system. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Hitmonlee
#106Hitmonlee
Does not evolve
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Hitmonlee Best Moveset

120 Attack is among the highest available, locked into a Fighting type that Psychic-types shut down on sight. MoveHigh Jump Kick misses and deals recoil, and MoveBody Slam often deals more useful damage since Fighting matchups at the top are all losing ones. Physical power aimed at the wrong targets.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Hitmonlee
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • High Jump KickSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • Seismic TossSTAB
  • Mega Kick

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Hitmonlee learns High Jump Kick and Jump Kick naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Double Kick
D4510030Fighting
Lv 1
Meditate
A——40Psychic
Lv 33
Rolling Kick
A908515Fighting
Lv 38
Jump Kick
—1509510Fighting
Lv 43
Focus Energy
———30Normal
Lv 48
High Jump Kick
B1959010Fighting
Lv 53
Mega Kick
A120755Normal

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
B—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
C1208025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Hitmonlee can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP50
D
Attack120
A
Defense53
D
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed87
C
Total380
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.5 m
Weight49.8 kg
Base XP159
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

When kicking, the sole of its foot turns as hard as a diamond on impact and destroys its enemy.

Pokemon Yellow

Hitmonlee Yellow Guide

  • Honestly, in Yellow Hitmonlee is a tough sell. It rates just E-Tier, and stronger Fighting options exist. Fun pick, not a practical one.

  • In Yellow, Hitmonlee plays as a cannon. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Hitmonlee has appeared in 20 games: most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Explore

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