What is the best way to guarantee a Hitmontop in Crystal?

Question

Tyrogue can evolve into either Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, or Hitmontop depending on its stats. I want to get a Hitmontop, which means making sure my Tyrogue has equal Attack and Defense.

What's the best way to do this? Can I save before I receive it and keep resetting until I get the right stats, or is it predetermined once you start the game? Will my Tyrogue grow in certain stats based on what Pokémon it battles?

Thanks

Answer 1

Leave Tyrogue in the day care. Take it out and save right before it reaches level 20, just in case something wrong happens. If Tyrogue has higher physical attack, feed it iron. If it has higher physical defense, feed it protein. Then level it up.

Comments

Couldn't you just use a rare candy to level it to 20 after the receiving it at level 19 from the day care to avoid the possible stat change?  (After making sure to even out attack and defense with the vitamins first as sumwun said).  Battling varying pokemon does cause varying stat changes.

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Some stat changes are caused by IVs, and those IVs become more effective when a Pokemon levels up. So if the Tyrogue has the same stats at level 19, it's possible that its IVs are close to each other, and the small difference will show up at level 20.