What is a good moveset for Hitmonchan?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Hitmonchan, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Hitmonchan Pokédex and learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Gen V

Hitmonchan (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch

All moves get boosted by Iron Fist. Bullet Punch provides priority, Drain Punch is STAB that also heals you, and Thunder and Ice Punch are type coverage. Sweeping EVs.

Comments

don't give it bullet punch, give it Mach Punch for stab.

Answer 2

Rayman (Hitmonchan) (M) @ Big Root
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 240 HP / 112 Atk / 16 Def / 140 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch

---

Bulk Up = Bulk.
Drain Punch is STAB and your primary attacking move, it also pairs well with Big Root (Thanks to Heinz Ketchum for making me think of that)
Ice Punch + Thunder Punch is a great coverage combo to abuse.

Comments

I use pretty well the same set, my EVs vary a bit to my taste, but not much. One thing I would suggest is to use Big Root, it gives a 30% increase in power to Hitmon's STAB Drain Punch (150 power after factoring STAB, Iron Fist, and Root Boosts). As Drain Punch is the most used attack on this set, increasing its power (and recovery) further will only help your success.

---

Heinz_Ketchum, what EV's do you use?

---

I’ve also seen Life Orb on Big Root sets, given that you do more damage, therefore gaining more life, with the tiny disadvantage. Thoughts?

Answer 3

Role: NU Bulky Spinner

Hitmonchan @ Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 196 HP / 252 Atk / 60 Def
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Ice Punch

====Explanation====

DON'T USE HITMONCHAN!!!

While Hitmonchan is outclassed by a lot of Fighting-types in NU, he does have a niche in NU as a bulky spinner. One of his main appeals is his resistance to Stealth Rock. Hitmonchan also gets Iron-Fist boosted STAB Mach Punch, allowing it to pick off weakened foes. Drain Punch allows it to have a reliable form of passive recovery and is boosted by Iron-Fist. Ice Punch allows it to deal with Flying-types that try to switch-in and land the kill. It's also important to note that Ice Punch can OHKO Scyther and Archeops (if they try to predict the Drain Punch) with SR on their side of the field. Assault Vest is a nice item to bolster Hitmonchan's Sp. Def and give it nice bulk, although Life Orb can be used to boost his damage.

Note: This set was updated since the drop of Hitmonchan to NU (although it has been a while now). If this is not the set you're looking for, check here.

Answer 4

Double/Triple Battle

Hitmonchan (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Drain Punch
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch

Rock Slide hits multiple Pokemon, as does Earthquake. Drain Punch is STAB. Ice Punch is type coverage. Some Pokemon are just straight-forward.

Answer 5

Gen 8 ZU

Hitmonchan @ Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Throat Chop
- Toxic / Rapid Spin

Drain Punch is STAB and gets an Iron Fist boost. It also lets Hitmonchan heal from Life Orb recoil and other damage like Stealth Rocks. Mach Punch is STAB Iron Fist boosted priority. Throat Chop covers Ghost and Psychic types. Toxic cripples switch-ins and puts things into Mach Punch range, Rapid Spin boosts Speed and blows away hazards.

Comments

This is the only set I've seen with Throat Chop, which is the only good move to cover its Psychic weakness. I wonder why.

---

It's likely because most of these sets were made before Throat Chop was a move, and that people would rather use a move boosted by Iron Fist like the elemental punches or Bullet Punch.

Answer 6

This is the moveset I like to use for Hitmonchan:

Hitmonchan (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 248 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Earthquake

• Drain Punch: STAB, Ability, and Healing
• Ice Punch: Ability and Coverage
• Thunder Punch: Ability and Coverage
• Earthquake: Makes good use of high attack and can deal with more enemies at the same time

Answer 7

Hitmonchan @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mach Punch
- Fire Punch
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch

This set is like a slightly weaker Diggersby, (You can run Adamant with web, and match that mofo) and not only provides priority to face off personally against the bunny, and Greninja's dark half, it also packs a physical bolt beam, and access to fire punch will really piss a lot of sun grass users that have Chlorophyll but get outsped by your scarf.

Answer 8

Hitmonchan @ Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Drain Punch
- Thunder Punch / Fire Punch
- Ice Punch / Fire Punch

All moves are boosted by Iron Fist. Bullet Punch provides good priority, and Drain Punch gives Hitmonchan a trusty STAB move and healing. Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Fire Punch are all great coverage moves, of course boosted by the ability.

Answer 9

Move Set:

Hitmonchan (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Ice Punch
- Bullet Punch

Assault Vest increase special defense. Power-Up Punch increases atk plus stab. Ice and Thunder Punch are for flying types. Bullet punch is priority and for Fairy-types. Iron Fist also makes these moves more powerful. Hope this helps. :)

Answer 10

Here we go you constipated Doduo- It rhymes!

Hitmonchan @ Life Orb
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 132 HP / 252 Atk / 124 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch / Fire Punch / Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
- Drain Punch
- Focus Punch
- Substitute

This is a (sort of) tanky in Special Defense attacker- Sub+Focus Punch and Iron Fist is great, and the elemental punches are great for coverage, but Bullet Punch (not Mach Punch- too much fighting type moves!) can be used for priority too. Drain Punch = signature move!!!

Comments

Status Moves like Substitute cannot be used while holding an Assault Vest.

---

oh.. I'll fix dat!

Answer 11

assault vest hitmonchan

Hitmonchan @ Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Rapid Spin / Power-Up Punch
- Ice Punch
- Bullet Punch / Mach punch

You might say it's a bad set, but I have won so many battles because of this set, and not just in low tiers. I use this set in OU as well. I think it's the best Hitmonchan set without a doubt.

Answer 12

Walkthrough Hitmonchan( in Pvp replace Quick Claw by Choice Scarf)

Hitmonchan @ Quick Claw / Choice Scarf
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 200 Atk / 52 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Drain Punch: Stab, healing
- Mach Punch: Stab, better than Bullet punch
- Ice Punch: Coverage
- Sky Uppercut: Stab, Coverage

• Drain Punch: Stab, healing
• Mach Punch: Stab, better than Bullet punch
• Ice Punch: Coverage
• Sky Uppercut: Stab, Coverage

If Hitmonchan can learn Sucker Punch or Shadow Punch, it will more powerful. :)

Answer 13

I mean, it has less weaknesses than Breloom, and I think Iron Fist helps more than a higher attack stat, sooo…. why has no one made a SubPunch set?

Hitmonchan @ Leftovers / Payapa Berry
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 HP 252 Atk 4 Def
Brave Nature
- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Drain Punch
- Thunder/Ice/Fire Punch

Still not sure about having both Leftovers and Drain Punch when you could either have a Payapa Berry or another coverage move. Everything else is standard: Substitute, then Focus Punch. It’s better if you’re slower, because then you guarantee only one attack before the punch; hence, the Brave nature

Answer 14

Here's a Curse set, to be used in (if any) the tiers where Hitmonchan is even somewhat viable.

> Hitmonchan @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Fist
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 8 HP / 252 Atk / 248 Def / SpD
Adamant / Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe (if TR)
- Bullet Punch / Mach Punch
- Curse
- Throat Chop
- Power-Up Punch / Drain Punch / Mach Punch

Tera is probably banned in any of the tiers where Hitmonchan is actually usable. Curse is the setup move, lowering Speed. Adamant Nature is the standard boosting nature for Physical attackers. Brave is for Trick Room, and so is 0 IVs in Speed. Power-Up Punch isn't really recommended, but if you want to attack and boost your Attack you can use it. Drain Punch can be used as a recovery move. Mach Punch and Bullet Punch are nice priority moves, and Bullet Punch is nice Fairy coverage. 248 in bulk EVs can let you survive a Physical hit, or even a Special one. 248 in SpD is recommended because you already have a boosting move in Curse. Throat Chop is coverage. Leftovers is nice passive coverage. Iron Fist is great because it boosts 2 of your attacking moves.