What is the Best Ability for Hitmonchan?
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The best ability for Hitmonchan is undoubtedly Iron Fist. This ability significantly boosts the power of Hitmonchan’s many punching moves, which constitute the bulk of its offensive arsenal. While Hitmonchan doesn’t have a vast array of abilities, Iron Fist synergizes perfectly with its move pool and fighting style, making it the most impactful choice. Without Iron Fist, Hitmonchan’s damage output would be substantially lower, making it a less viable option in battles.
Understanding Hitmonchan’s Abilities
Hitmonchan has access to three abilities: Keen Eye, Iron Fist, and its Hidden Ability, Inner Focus. Let’s break down each of these and see why Iron Fist stands out.
Keen Eye
Keen Eye prevents the Pokémon’s accuracy from being lowered. While this can be beneficial in certain situations, it doesn’t offer the same offensive boost as Iron Fist. Lowering accuracy is not a common tactic utilized in many battles, making this ability less impactful overall for Hitmonchan.
Inner Focus
Inner Focus prevents the Pokémon from flinching. Flinching can be a nuisance, but it is not often enough to be an absolute problem. While preventing flinching is a nice perk, it doesn’t contribute to Hitmonchan’s overall damage output, and it doesn’t have the same kind of impact that Iron Fist provides.
Why Iron Fist is Superior
Iron Fist increases the power of punching moves by 20%. This is a significant boost, especially considering that most of Hitmonchan’s moves are punches. Moves like Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Fire Punch become much more potent with this ability. This allows Hitmonchan to not only deal more damage, but also gain health back, which is vital to its longevity. Drain Punch especially becomes a force to be reckoned with, as its power is both boosted by Iron Fist and it allows Hitmonchan to heal off damage taken, potentially allowing it to stay in fights longer than other Pokémon.
Hitmonchan’s Optimal Moveset with Iron Fist
To maximize the effectiveness of Iron Fist, it’s crucial to have a move set that capitalizes on it. A common and effective setup includes:
- Drain Punch: As mentioned, this move benefits greatly from Iron Fist, providing both power and recovery.
- Close Combat: While it doesn’t get the Iron Fist boost, it is a powerful fighting-type move that is great for dealing massive damage.
- Thunder Punch: This provides coverage against Flying and Water-type Pokémon.
- Ice Punch: Useful against Flying, Ground, and Grass-type Pokémon.
- Fire Punch: This is beneficial for dealing with Grass and Bug-type opponents.
The combination of Iron Fist and these punching moves allows Hitmonchan to cover a wide range of types, making it a versatile fighter in any battle.
The Impact on Hitmonchan’s Viability
Without Iron Fist, Hitmonchan is significantly less viable. Its base attack isn’t high enough to make it a standout damage dealer, and it would rely on its other abilities, which do not assist with offense. Iron Fist transforms Hitmonchan from an okay fighter to a force to be reckoned with. The increase in damage, combined with the utility of moves like Drain Punch, greatly improves its performance in a variety of battles.
FAQs About Hitmonchan
1. What is Hitmonchan based on?
Hitmonchan is inspired by the martial arts legend Jackie Chan. Known for his acrobatic fighting style, Jackie Chan’s influence is evident in Hitmonchan’s design and fighting prowess.
2. How does Tyrogue evolve into Hitmonchan?
Tyrogue evolves into Hitmonchan at level 20 if its Defense stat is higher than its Attack stat. This means that in order to get a Hitmonchan, you must raise the Tyrogue’s defense stat so that it is higher than its attack stat.
3. What is the best fast move for Hitmonchan in Pokémon GO?
Counter is the best fast move for Hitmonchan in Pokémon GO. It benefits from the same-type attack bonus (STAB) and provides strong damage output. Bullet Punch is a suboptimal option, even though it covers weakness to Fairy-types.
4. What are some other moves that benefit from Iron Fist?
Besides Drain Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, and Fire Punch, other moves like Mach Punch, Bullet Punch, Mega Punch and Hammer Arm also gain the boost from the Iron Fist ability.
5. Can Hitmonchan evolve?
No, Hitmonchan does not evolve into any other known Pokémon. It is a final form of Tyrogue’s evolution line.
6. Is Hitmonchan a good competitive Pokémon?
While it is not the best competitive Pokémon, Hitmonchan can be viable with the right team support and proper strategy. Its access to a wide range of punching moves and Iron Fist allows it to hold its own. With Agility, it can also get boosts to become very fast and take down weakened Pokémon.
7. What are the disadvantages of Hitmonchan?
Hitmonchan’s biggest disadvantage is its relatively average base stats. It is not the fastest, strongest, or most defensive Pokémon, which makes it difficult to use. However, Iron Fist and its varied movepool makes it a viable pick.
8. How can I breed for a Hitmonchan with perfect IVs?
To get a Hitmonchan with perfect IVs, you’ll need to breed a Pokémon with good IVs using a Destiny Knot. The Destiny Knot passes down five IVs from the parent to the child. Continue breeding until you get a Tyrogue with good IVs, and then level it to 20.
9. Is Hitmonlee better than Hitmonchan?
It is widely considered that Hitmonlee is better than Hitmonchan because of its high base attack and speed stats. However, Hitmonchan’s versatility and access to elemental punches make it a good alternative.
10. Which Pokémon should I pick at the Fighting Dojo?
You will be given the option to pick between Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan at the Fighting Dojo. While many say that Hitmonlee is the better choice, the two Pokémon are very similar in power and usefulness. Hitmonchan’s access to elemental punches, as well as more balanced stats, can be beneficial.
11. What are Hitmonchan’s weaknesses?
Hitmonchan is a Fighting-type Pokémon, so it is weak to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type moves. It resists Bug, Rock, and Dark-type attacks.
12. What is Hitmonchan’s strongest attack in Pokémon GO?
Hitmonchan’s most damaging attacks are Close Combat and Dynamic Punch. However, both of these are charge moves that take time to charge.
13. What other abilities does Hitmonchan have?
Hitmonchan has Keen Eye, which prevents accuracy from being lowered, and Inner Focus, which prevents flinching. However, Iron Fist is the most impactful of the three.
14. How do I use Agility effectively on Hitmonchan?
To use Agility effectively on Hitmonchan, try using it when most of the opposing Pokémon are weakened. The goal is to make Hitmonchan outspeed everything and clean up the field.
15. What is the best strategy for using Hitmonchan in battle?
The best strategy for using Hitmonchan is to take advantage of its wide range of attacking moves with Iron Fist. Using Drain Punch to stay healthy is very beneficial, as well as being able to use Close Combat for a more powerful attack.
In conclusion, while Hitmonchan might not be the strongest Pokémon, Iron Fist is undoubtedly its best ability. It synergizes perfectly with Hitmonchan’s movepool and allows it to deal considerable damage while using a wide variety of moves to hit opponents for supereffective damage. By understanding how it works and building a strategy around it, you can maximize the potential of this classic Pokémon.