Community POTW #50

[Serebii]

Time for another Pokémon of the Week



This week we'll be doing Hitmonlee, one of the original Pokémon

http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/106.shtml

Hitmonlee isn't the best Fighting-type Pokémon, but is capable of quite a few decent sets and destruction

Go nuts, BUT STAY ON TOPIC. If you go off topic, I'll infract you

[Sevans]

Abilities;
Limber-no paralysis... not very impressive. You can't be bothered by paralysis with it, but it really pales in comparison to unburden because you are slow without unburden anyways.
Reckless-boosts power of recoil moves... HJK is boosted, and it gets really strong. Jump Kick gets Boosted also. This is usable, but then Hitmonlee is a (on the physical side) glass cannon, and a slow one, too. Unburden is definitely the best ability this Pokémon has available.
Unburden-speed is doubled when held item is consumed... a great ability, especially because you can pair a gem and one of its 3-4 priority moves to activate this ability. The only problem is that when you switch out, you won't get the boost again.

Hitmonspeed@Normal Gem/Steel Gem
Adamant and Unburden
108HP/252ATK/148Spe
-Fake Out/Bullet Punch
-High Jump Kick/Jump Kick/Close Combat
-Pursuit/Thief
-Blaze Kick/EQ/Stone Edge

Normal Gem, Fake Out and Unburden is an awesome combo. On turn one, you get to make you opponent flinch, possibly break their focus sash, double your speed, and hit them with a 60BP normal move before they can hit you. It's great. Bullet Punch is there if you are insanely afraid that a ghost will switch in and stop fake out and your speed boost. 148 Speed with an IV of 31 hits 247 Speed with adamant, enough to out-speed choice scarf base 100s with a plus speed nature. You could invest more speed if you want, but I figured I'd provide a significant number that didn't include maxing speed. 252 Attack EVs with a Base 120 gets to 372, which means this thing can be a pretty decent sweeper. I have 3 fighting moves listed, in order of most likely to be haxed to least likely. High Jump Kick is 130 BP, 90 Acc, but if you miss you lose 1/2 of your HP. Jump Kick is 100BP for 95 acc but if you miss you only lose 1/8 of your HP. Close Combat is 100 Acc, but lowers your defenses. Pursuit catches fleeing pokémon, and lets you hit ghosts with something. Theif also hits ghosts, in addition to the nice effect of taking the opponents item, as you will have none after using fake out. Blaze kick or EQ or Stone Edge. Blaze kick hits Scizor and co, EQ is a more accurate good move in general. Stone Edge has shaky accuracy but is powerful. You could also opt for no dark move and use the EdgeQuake combo on any of Hitmon's sets.

HitMonBulk@Normal Gem
Adamant/Impish/(nature that boosts SpD, lowers SpA) and Unburden
252HP/108ATK/148Spe
-Fake Out
-Bulk Up
-High Jump Kick/Jump Kick
-Thief/Pursuit/EQ/Blaze Kick/Stone Edge

I already explained most of this. Bulk up raises Hitmonlee's Defense and Attack, so with its great speed it can become a pretty bulky, really fast monster after one boost. Max HP because its HP is really low. You can pick how defensive you want it, Attack EVs aren't really necessary. Pick a fighting move, no close combat as it lowers your defenses. Thief is still good, Pursuit is a great option because you are boosting and it is more likely the opponent will get scared and switch. EQ for just being good. Blaze kick for 4X on all the Steel+Bug/Grass types. Stone Edge because it is there.

Hit-Mon-Lee is Gim-mik-ey @(Pinch Berry that boosts attack)-if it ever gets released...
Unburden and Adamant/Jolly
?HP/?ATK/252Speed
-Reversal
-Endure/Substitute
-Thief/Pursuit
-Blaze Kick/EQ/Stone Edge

The semi-classic reversal set, except Hitmonlee gets +2 Speed, and +1 Attack. The EVs are written because they depend on which move you're using. If substitute, You should EV so your HP is divisible by 4. If Endure, you can focus more on Attack. Thief/Pursuit and Blaze Kick/EQ/Stone Edge have been explained already. Adamant/Jolly depending on how fast you want to be to ensure nothing outspeeds you.

Other Options:
Rapid Spin - is available. could be used so that hitmonlee is a fast spinner, you need a dark move with rapid spin though, to deal with ghosts.
Theif and Pursuit - can trick the opponent into thinking you won't pursuit them on the switch, although I don't recommend this.
Fling - is another move for ghost types, although I don't know if Fling + Unburden does actually double speed.
Counter - is there for use with focus sash
Rock Slide - for a good flinch chance
Rest and chesto/lum berry - can be used with unburden on a set containing Bulk Up; you set up, heal yourself and double speed and then sweep.

Doubles and Triples-
Doesn't look too bad, has EQ and Fake Out, so this could be decent in doubles, but it definitely is good in singles.

Partners-
Deal with ghost types. Something that can deal with status is good too.

Counters-
Phasers mess this guy up, as he can't do as well if he loses his item and speed boost. Status cripples him. Besides that, Hitmonlee is pretty much another frail but powerful sweeper, and can be deal with the same way. Trick room, Priority, Anything that can survive its attack and hit it back for either SE damage or physical damage should be able to beat it.

EDIT- a little nitpick about Zebstrika's POTW (in other options), it says Cell Battery + Lightningrod is usable in doubles. It isn't. I tested with Absorb Bulb and Storm Drain, and they don't give a +2 to SpA. Why would Cell Battery work differently?

IMPORTANT! No Egg moves are compatible with unburden, as all the Hitmons are male. (I don't feel like going back and changing everything in my post, so here are the egg moves that a DW Hitmonlee can't learn (are incompatible with unburden);
Rapid Spin
Mach Punch
Counter
Vacuum Wave
Bullet Punch
Pursuit

So wherever I have pursuit/theif, only theif works.

[Sceptile Leaf Blade]

First with some sets :P

Hitmonlee @ Choice Band
Adamant nature
252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4HP
Trait: Limber
-High Jump Kick
-Sucker Punch
-Stone Edge
-Pursuit / Rapid Spin

Straightforward and simple. High Jump Kick is for STAB power, Sucker Punch has priority and kills Psychics and Ghosts like Alakazam, Stone Edge kills fliers, and the final move is filler.

Hitmonlee @ Liechi Berry
Jolly nature
252 Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Trait: Unburden
-Endure
-Reversal
-Stone Edge
-Blaze Kick / Pursuit / Bulk Up / Close Combat / High Jump Kick

Endure Reversal Hitmonlee. When you end up at 1HP because of Endure, the Liechi Berry activates to raise your attack. Then your ability Unburden also activates because you consumed your berry, doubling your speed. Then sweep. It's a bit gimmicky as stuff like Sandstorms destroy you, and priority moves easily revenge kill you, but it might work. With Jolly and a good IV Hitmonlee can reach 600 Speed when Unburden activates, only being outran by Sand Rush Excadrill and some really fast scarfers (and you shouldn't be using Endure Reversal in a sandstorm anyway), while it also reaches 508 Attack once the Liechi berry activates. With a STAB 200BP Reversal coming from that it will hurt foes. Adamant might also work, leaving you with 558 Attack after Liechi boost, but only leaves you with 546 speed rather than 600. Unfortunately you can't get Sucker Punch on this set as it is incompatible with Unburden.

The final move is basically filler. Blaze kick umm, has a high crit ratio and hits Venusaur and Vileplume harder than Reversal does, but isn't that useful. Pursuit can catch fleeing foes, Bulk Up prepares you more before Enduring so you can hit harder when sweeping, Close Combat and HJK are there to have a STAB move before Enduring.

[Serpentine]

Third Post!

Reversal
Unburden
Adamant
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Speed
Liechi Berry

Endure
Reversal
Blaze Kick/Stone Edge/Hi Jump Kick/Rest
Blaze Kick/Stone Edge/Hi Jump Kick/Rest

Endure+Reversal is a given. With the benefit of the Liechi Berry and Hitmonlee's ability Unburden, it's like the usual Salac Berry set, only with boosted attack. Blaze Kick and Stone Edge keep you from being useless if you ever run into a Ghost-type and Hi Jump Kick is your strongest STAB. Rest allows you to abuse Endure+Reversal over and over and over.

Banded Lee
Limber
Adamant
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Choice Band

Hi Jump Kick
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Sucker Punch

All of the moves are super strong. Hi Jump Kick covers Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, and Steel. Earthquake covers Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel. Stone Edge covers Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug. Sucker Punch covers Ghost and Psychic. You basically have coverage over 12 types.

[Ilan]

Coooooooooooool at last something I like!

He got 3 cool abilities but I will post only a set with his new and awesome one which got released lately
hitmolee is much more awesome now here's a gen 5 set:

@normal gem
Trait: Unburden
Nature:adamanst
EV 252 attack, 252 speed,4 HP
Fake Out
Close Combat/HI Jump Kick
Stone edge
Blaze Kick/Bulk up

nice new set!

Fake Out + normal gem + unburden act as almost always a free agility making him faster than everithing! CC is a realible STAB while HI JUMP KICK is a bit stronger but more risky, SE adds coverage, blaze kick hits skarm,bulk up raises attack even more!

none unburdened:
@Life Orb/Choice Band
Trait: Limber/reckless
Nature:Jolly
Evs: 252 attack,252 speed,4 HP (not sure maybe 4 defense is better)
Hi Jump Kick/Close Combat
Mach Punch
Pursuit/Blaze kick
Stone edge

something more traditional
If you don't use HJK go for limber, CC is safer, HJK is stronger, mach punch is awesome with hitmonlee speed and it get STAB, pursuit hit ghosts like chandelure who fer SE, blaze kick hit skarm mostly, SE is for coverage.

P.s: first and third posts are spam,to secound post: liechi berry is unreleased and endure/reversal set isn't realible anymore since gen 5 (too much priority)

[lolerplanez]

I really like hitmonlee as a sweeper and mon and he only got better with his DW ability.

Hitmonlee @ normal gem
adamant
252 atk 252spd 4hp
unburden

Close Combat
Blaze Kick
Fake Out
Stone Edge

Fake out to double speed and sweep from there. CC is stab goes great with stone edge. Blaze Kick is for ferrothorn NOT SCIZOR as scizor OHKO's you with bullet punch.

IMO works best once priority users are gone. This guy cannot take a hit especially after it starts using CC which drops his defence.

[stanleysmith]

I've never done one of these before, so here goes:

Pure Offense
Adament
@Shell Bell
Unburden

- Fake Out
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- EarthQuake/Bullet Punch/Mach Punch/Bulk Up

Fake Out for stopping your opponent and dealing a little damage. Hi Jump Kick and Stone Edge for strong moves. Hi Jump Kick gets STAB and Stone Edge for your Flying weaknesses. EarthQuake can be for more type coverage. Bullet Punch and mack Punch are priority moves and can do okay. Mach Punch is better because of STAB. Bulk Up can raise your attack and defense.

[Aurath8]

Aah Hitmonlee. A decent example of a Glass Cannon with it's high Attack, abysmal Defence and less than ideal Spdef. It's 87 Speed is an issue. It's just not quite fast enough. It's movepool is also rather shallow beyond all those Fighting moves. However, High Jump Kick, huge attack by RU standards and Reckless make it quite threatening.

Abilities
Limber: Stops you from being paralyzed. It's OK if you're not running High Jump Kick I guess but it's mainly outclassed by:
Reckless: Increases recoil moves by 20%. It's basically a free Fist Plate for High Jump Kick. It also increases recoil by 20% but HJK recoil is only if it misses and it can only do 1/2 HP recoil max(which you would do anyway).
Unburden: Doubles Speed when you consume your held item. You could run Fighting Gem or something but you'll miss LO, Bulk Up or Choice Band boosts. EDIT: Oh yeah; forgot about Fake Out. Use that since it's baically a free Agility.

Counters
If you see Hitmonlee it's either going to use Fake Out + Unburden, Hi Jump Kick and occasionally Bulk Up. Ghost types are the first you should look to as Hitmonlee can barely touch Ghosts at all. They can also throw an threatening Will-o-Wisp it's way. Gengar, Jellicent, Dusclops/Dusknoir, Cofagrigus, Golurk etc. pretty much any Ghost apart from Shedinja can threaten Hitmonlee. The best thing about Ghosts is if they switch-in to HiJumpKick, Hitmonlee crashes and will lose half his health. Frailer Ghosts should watch out for Sucker Punch though.
Psychics are next in line as they can switch in to High Jump Kick and hit it supereffectively. Reuniclus, Cresselia, Slowbro, Xatu, Claydol, Musharna, Sigilyph all switch-in very well thanks to their huge Defence. Alakazam can revenge non-Scarf/Unburden sets I guess.
Finally we have Poison types. Which also benefit from a Hi Jump Kick resistance. Nidoqueen and Crobat can both switch-in an immediately threaten it with power physical STAB. Speaking of powerful physical STAB, that's all you need to beat Hitmonlee. it's Defnce is comparable to Alakazam making it to powerful priority and faster attackers. Scyther, Scizor, Conkledurr, Azumarrill, Mamoswine and Hitmontop all revenge well with powerful priority.
Hitmonlee is powerful but if you can work around Hi Jump Kick you've already taken one big step towards defeating Hitmonlee.

[Sceptile Leaf Blade]

Actually, High Jump Kick hits Skarmory, Metagross, Bronzong, and Ferrothorn harder than Blaze Kick does. Blaze Kick has 170 BP including the SE multiplier, while HJK reaches 195 BP including STAB. Blaze Kick is less risky, can burn, and has a high critical hit ratio though, still making it a good option.

[Sala-imence]

Item: Leichi Berry
Ability: Unburden
Nature: Adamant (High Atk, low SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Reversal
- Endure/Substitute
- Bullet Punch
- Brick Break

Awesome set, now with the dream world ability unburden unlocked. OK, so either use substitute or endure to keep yourself alive at low health.

This activates the Leichi berry, and with you hold item having been consumed, your speed is doubled thanks to unburden.

Then reversal has immense power.

But if you suspect a priority move lurking in the opponent, get them quick with a bullet punch.

Brick break is just a filler so that you can annoy anyone who dares you screens.

[Diaglio]

ChoiceLee @ Choice Band/Scarf
Jolly/Adamant
Limber
252 Speed 252 Attack 4 Hp
-Blaze Kick
-Mega Kick
-Hi Jump Kick
-Stone Edge

They really need a kicking equivalent to Iron Fist. HJK is for STAB. Stone Edge can handle Flying-and-Bug-Types. Mega Kick is good neutral coverage. Blaze Kick has pretty much the same coverage as Hi Jump Kick, but with better accuracy.

Let's Make Some Fast Kicks, Hmm?
Hitmonlee @ Normal Gem
Unburden
Jolly
252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 Hp
-Fake Out
-Hi Jump Kick
-Return
-Stone Edge

Start out with Fake Out. Flinching at the use of the Normal Gem will occur and trigger Unburden, taking Hitmonlee's Speed up to pretty high levels. HJK is STAB. Return is good neutral coverage. Stone Edge does the same as before.

[Missingno. Master]

SpeedLee
Hitmonlee@Normal Gem
Adamant nature
Unburden
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Fake Out
~Hi Jump Kick/Close Combat
~Earthquake
~Blaze Kick/Stone Edge

Generation V was very, very, very, very, very good to Hitmonlee. Unburden is exactly what it needed to rise above its fellow Fighting-types by providing a much-needed boost to its otherwise OK Speed. Fake Out consumes the Normal Gem, thus activating Unburden. Hi Jump Kick is the preferred STAB move, but Close Combat is an option if that nasty recoil doesn't appeal to you. Earthquake is all-around good, and Blaze Kick is for additional coverage, though can be replaced with Stone Edge for the EdgeQuake combo.

Item and ability ought to be obvious, given that I explained them first thing.

ScarfLee
Hitmonlee@Choice Scarf
Adamant nature
Reckless
252 Atk/252 Spd/4 HP
~Hi Jump Kick
~Blaze Kick/Stone Edge
~Earthquake
~Double-Edge

Hitmonlee still has options that don't involve Unburden. They're not as good, but they exist. This is one of them. Reckless boosts the power of any move Hitmonlee uses that gives recoil damage or has potential to; this includes Hi Jump Kick AND Double-Edge, but for the latter, you have to teach it to a Generation III Tyrogue, Pal Park it, and pray to Arceus that its ability changes to Reckless upon evolving into Hitmonlee. It's the same way you'd get a Magic Guard Clefable with Softboiled, which, don't deny it, we've all done. The remaining two moves are for extra coverage. The EdgeQuake combo is always a possibility, but Blaze Kick can find a place in there as well.

Other options:
*Endure with a Liechi Berry also works for activating Unburden, and even gives an Attack boost in with the mix. Too bad the Liechi Berry is unobtainable at the moment.
*Hitmonlee learns Bulk Up if you need an Attack boost, but the poor thing already suffers from 4-moveslot syndrome as it is. It's not a bad idea with a Focus Sash in place of Normal Gem and Fake Out, but given the popularity of priority and Sandstorm, it's a pretty big risk.
*Speaking of priority, Hitmonlee has access to Mach Punch and Bullet Punch, which might go good on a Choice Band set, but compared to what it usually runs, it's really not the best idea.
*Reversal is an option if you're doing either of the top two things listed here.

Abilities:
*Limber: Prevents paralysis. No. Just no. It may prevent paralysis, but... just no.
*Reckless: Powers up moves that give recoil damage or crash damage. For Hitmonlee, this means Jump Kick, Hi Jump Kick, and Double-Edge. If you don't want to use an Unburden Hitmonlee for whatever reason, this is the second best ability for it.
*Unburden: Hitmonlee's Hidden Ability, and the absolute best thing that ever happened to it. Doubles its Speed when it uses up its held item. And believe you me, Hitmonlee needs a boost to its Speed something terrible. Base 87 Speed may not be awful, but it's low enough to explain its absence from OU for all these years. Now it can outspeed most things that run Choice Scarf.

Partners:
Guts sweepers, Fire-types, anything with Flash Fire. If it can take a Will-O-Wisp like nothing, it's a good partner for Hitmonlee. This thing does NOT want to be burned. It's also advisable to have something on hand that can handle Ghost-types so they don't interfere with Fake Out. And deal with phazers as well. It's advisable to save Hitmonlee until a nice path has been cleared for it, paved with the corpses of your opponent's Ghost-types and users of Roar, Whirlwind, Circle Throw, and Dragon Tail.

Counters:
Phazers screw Hitmonlee over royally, as once the Normal Gem is used up, it's gone for the whole match. Ghost-types switched into the Fake Out also screw Hitmonlee up, but not as thoroughly as phazers do. Bulky psychics are also effective, but Celebi still has to watch out for Blaze Kick.

Opinion:
Ohhhh, you gotta love Hitmonlee. I've always liked it fine, but Unburden just multiplied its awesomeness by so friggin' much.

Prediction for next week:
Delibird

[ClefairyRox]

Hitmonlee, or "The Kicking Fiend" as it has been called in the anime. Like the other Hitmons, it has great base 110 Sp. Def balanced by low base 50 HP, as well as a puny base 35 Sp. Attack. Out of all of them, Hitmonlee has the highest Attack and Speed, at base 120 and base 87, respectively. However, it has the lowest base Defense out of all of them. Base 53 Defense means even neutral physical attacks can OHKO, especially when combined with Hitmonlee's already poor HP. And Hitmonlee is still outrun by many threats, although it can learn priority moves by the means of breeding and move tutor to help overcome that.

The numerous other fighting types that have been introduced since Generation 1 have really overshadowed Hitmonlee. In particular, Mienshao tends to be a stronger choice in OU for a physical attacker. In the lower tiers, however, Hitmonlee can prove quite a threat.

Limber protects Hitmonlee from paralysis. This gives it a free switch-in on Thunder Wave and Glare and nullifies the Para-Flinch strategy. In addition, it provides insurance against moves that have a high paralysis chance, like Discharge and Body Slam.

Reckless boosts the power and recoil of moves that cause recoil damage. This is unfortunately illegal with the third-gen tutor move Double Edge, but gives a sizeable boost to High Jump Kick, Hitmonlee's strongest attack.

I personally think the Hitmons got screwed over when it comes to Hidden Abilities (though not as much as Delibird). Hitmonlee is probably the exception, however. Unburden doubles Hitmonlee's Speed when its held item is consumed. I suppose the best way to use this ability is to use Substitutes to get down into the range where a berry can activate, in turn activating the Unburden boost. It also works well with the Endure-Reversal strategy. EDIT: I forgot about using Normal Gem and Fake Out, basically giving Hitmonlee a free Agility.

To be honest, any one of these abilities can be effective, just be sure to have the correct moveset for them.

Hitmonlee has a pretty good physical movepool to work with. Jump Kick and High Jump Kick got a big power boost in the generation shift, and Hitmonlee can use them to great effect, especially if it has Reckless. It can get Close Combat if you prefer perfect accuracy and no risk of recoil. Superpower is a tutor move, but it is inferior to Close Combat since it lowers Hitmonlee's Attack. Low Kick hits heavy Pokemon hard, but the lighter ones will shrug the damage off. And then there's good old Brick Break, which is much weaker but can smash screens. Blaze Kick is a decent coverage move, though it's accuracy is a bit shaky. It gets the ever-useful Edge-Quake combination as well as the less-useful Bounce. It can Pursuit a fleeing Pokemon to pick off some HP or Fake Out a Pokemon on its first turn. Finally, it can get priority moves Bullet Punch, Mach Punch, and Sucker Punch despite being a Pokemon known for its kicking.

Hitmonlee also has a decent support movepool. It gets Rapid Spin through Egg move, and since it resists Stealth Rocks, it is a decent user of it. Wide Guard is great in Doubles and Triples, as is Helping Hand. It can Knock Off an opponent's held item. Magic Coat and Role Play are both situational, but can be useful in their own ways.

Countering Hitmonlee: With so many possible ways to go, Hitmonlee is less one-dimensional and therefore harder to predict. Psychic types can whale on it, but must be wary of Sucker Punch. Ghosts are great switch-ins. In particular, a well-placed switch to a Ghost type on a High Jump Kick will cause severe damage to Hitmonlee, especially if it has Reckless. Good use of Protect also will cause Hitmonlee to take HJK recoil. Of course, your opponent will inevitably be cautious with HJK if you have a Ghost type, thanks to the Team Preview.

Weezing is probably the best counter to Hitmonlee. It resists Fighting attacks, is immune to Earthquake, and can shrug off pretty much everything else with its physical bulk. The only thing it really has to fear is having its Leftovers/Black Sludge Knocked Off. Weezing can also burn Hitmonlee with Will-O-Wisp, making it much less threatening. Other Pokemon, particularly Ghost-types, that burn Hitmonlee are also useful. There are a number of other Pokemon that resist Fighting, but they will take heavy damage from Hitmonlee's coverage moves.

Don't underestimate the Kicking Fiend for a second if you see it in the Team Preview. It will be impossible to know what set it is running at first glance, but once that's revealed, you can switch to an appropriate counter. Be careful, however, lest your poor Pokemon be KO'd by a High Jump Kick to the face.

[grantholomew]

Suicide Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee @ Focus Sash/Normal Gem
Trait: Reckless/Unburden
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Jolly (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Hi Jump Kick
- Mach Punch/Fake Out
- Blaze Kick/Stone Edge
- Pursuit/Bullet Punch
This is kinda like my Zebstrika set, attack until you die. Hi Jump Kick is for STAB. Mach Punch is STAB priority, but you can't have it with Unburden, so Fake Out (with a Normal Gem) would be there instead. Blaze Kick is for Steel-types that aren’t weak to Fighting, while Stone Edge is for Flying-types. Pursuit is for Ghost-types, while no Pokémon are immune to Bullet Punch ('cept Shedinja) so it can be used to revenge kill. Reckless if you really want to kill stuff with Hi Jump Kick, otherwise Unburden for when you lose your Focus Sash.

[CaptainCombusken]

Rapid Spinner
Adamant [With 252 Atk, 252 SpDef and 4 HP EVs]
@Quick Claw
Limber

- Rapid Spin
- Mahc Punch
- Blaze Kick
- EarthQuake

This set is very useful for tiers where Donphan is banned but where Hitmonlee is not. He is also rather good at physical attack too so makes a good attacker. Rapid Spin to Spin things, Mach Puch for STAB and priority, Earthquake and Blaze Kick as a couple of powerful attacking moves.

[Lord Zoroark]

...Does anyone else think that this Pokemon and its pre-evolutions (and family in general) all look like girls?

Anyway, here's a DW set:
Hitmonlee
Ability: Unburden
Nature: Adamant
Hi Jump Kick
Blaze Kick
Reversal
Bullet Punch
Item: Focus Sash
EVs: Max Speed and Attack

...Wait a second... HOW DOES HE GET EGG MOVES IF HE'S ALWAYS MALE?
*Fumes* There goes my set.

Good Double Battle Buddies:
Anyone that can use Wide Guard to block Earthquake, Heat Wave, yada yada, THAT IS ALSO fast enough to destroy Psychics and/or Flying types. Mienshao, maybe. (I dunno, I just hate this guy.)
Counters:
Alakazam with Psyshock is GUARANTEED to destroy Hitmonlee with one blow... without Focus Sash, and provided that Hitmonlee isn't carrying Sucker Punch or Bullet Punch (...which is an Egg Move that it doesn't get XD). Any Physical Flying type that's faster than it should do the trick, just watcch out for Rock Slide and stuff.
...MAN, I hate this guy!

[The3DOstrich]

Unburden is a really good ability for hitmonlee, but it still can tae advantage of its special defense with a Bulk Up set:

Hitmonlee @ Leftovers
Nature: Careful
Ability: Limber / Reckless
Evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
~ Substitute
~ Bulk Up
~ Hi Jump Kick / Brick Break / Mach Punch
~ Sucker Punch

It's naturally pretty fast, and with screen support it can set up easily. Sub on a switch, and eep Bulking Up. It has pretty awful defence, but a few boosts will bring it up to a decent level. Hi Jump Kick is Hitmonlee's strongets STAB move, but Brick Break is his strongets STAB without any drawbacks. Mach Punch allows you to hit with priority, as does Sucker Punch, which also gives you near flawless coverage.

[Ilan]

...Does anyone else think that this Pokemon and its pre-evolutions (and family in general) all look like girls?

Anyway, here's a DW set:
Hitmonlee
Ability: Unburden
Nature: Adamant
Hi Jump Kick
Blaze Kick
Reversal
Bullet Punch
Item: Focus Sash
EVs: Max Speed and Attack

...Wait a second... HOW DOES HE GET EGG MOVES IF HE'S ALWAYS MALE?
*Fumes* There goes my set.

Good Double Battle Buddies:
Anyone that can use Wide Guard to block Earthquake, Heat Wave, yada yada, THAT IS ALSO fast enough to destroy Psychics and/or Flying types. Mienshao, maybe. (I dunno, I just hate this guy.)
Counters:
Alakazam with Psyshock is GUARANTEED to destroy Hitmonlee with one blow... without Focus Sash, and provided that Hitmonlee isn't carrying Sucker Punch or Bullet Punch (...which is an Egg Move that it doesn't get XD). Any Physical Flying type that's faster than it should do the trick, just watcch out for Rock Slide and stuff.
...MAN, I hate this guy!

SO WHY did you post this set if it is illegal? focus sash isn't that realible fake out is the most realible one

some people here tend to forget it it is at pre evolution moves also Unburden got released like a mouth ago so you can use it.

NO EGG MOVES meaning your only priority move is now fake out if you want mach punch or bullet punch then you need to use his other abilities

also timber is good when not using HJK or fake out.

liechi berry ISN'T released YET! and piriority is too dominant now a days so reversal is bad.

rapid spin... hitmontop is just better at that...

[wunderkind]

Hitmonlee
Ability: Unburden
Nature: Adamant
Hi Jump Kick
Blaze Kick
Reversal
Bullet Punch
Item: Focus Sash
EVs: Max Speed and Attack

...Wait a second... HOW DOES HE GET EGG MOVES IF HE'S ALWAYS MALE?
*Fumes* There goes my set.

All of its egg moves come from the other Hitmons. You breed one of them with Ditto, and the moves are passed down. Also, you don't want to use Focus Sash and Unberden, FS is not consumable, use a gem or berry.

[Charizard Lizzy]

Hitmonlee, another Pokémon with a sadly limited movepool. Ability-wise, though, he’s much luckier than his other Hitmon- cousins. Attack and Special Defense are the strongpoints of Hitmonlee, but he unfortunately lacks in Speed as a sweeper. The ability Unburden, however, has the possibility to alleviate Hitmonlee of this shortcoming.

* I keep finding people saying Focus Sash doesn't work with Unburden and others who say it does. Can anyone confirm which one is true

Abilities:
Limber – Prevents Paralysis. It’s not a bad ability, although Hitmonlee has some more interesting options to choose from.

Reckless – Recoil-inducing attacks gain 20% more power and recoil damage. This means that Jump Kick and Hi Jump Kick receive said effects. A great ability to pair with a Hi Jump Kick Hitmonlee.

Unburden (Dream World) – Use a held item and your Speed is doubled. Perfect for fixing Hitmonlee’s troublesome base 87 Speed.



Typical Sweeper Hitmonlee
Item: Focus Sash/Normal Gem/Enigma Berry
Ability: Reckless/Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Sp. Def
Nature: Adamant (+ Atk, - Sp. Atk) / Jolly (+ Spd, - Sp. Atk)
- Hi Jump Kick / Close Combat
- Bullet Punch / Fake Out
- Blaze Kick
- Stone Edge

Hi Jump Kick has wicked power (that will get even stronger if Reckless is your chosen ability). If you don’t like the not-so-smooth 90% accuracy and harsh recoil, another powerful Fighting option is Close Combat (it does lower both of your defenses, but for a sweeper it shouldn’t be of much concern to you in the first place). Bullet Punch gets priority*. With Unburden as your ability, though, holding a Normal Gem and using Fake Out will give you priority, activate Unburden, and flinch your opponent. Blaze Kick may not have the strongest base power, but there’s a higher chance for a critical hit and to burn the target. Stone Edge gets rid of Flying-types.

As another item option, with the Enigma Berry, if you happen to run into a Pokémon that lands a super-effective hit on you, not only will the damage actually heal you, but Unburden will activate and double Hitmonlee’s Speed. However, the Normal Gem with Fake Out is a much better choice.

*It should be noted that if you want an Unburden Hitmonlee, Bullet Punch cannot be bred because all Hitmonlee are male (you need a female Pokémon to pass a Dream World ability); Fake Out is a better choice with Unburden, anyways.


    Spoiler:- THIS SET IS NOT POSSIBLE SORRY:

Show Spoiler

 

Reversal Set
Item: Salac Berry
Ability: Unburden
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 Sp. Def
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
- Reversal
- Bullet Punch
- Sucker Punch/Pursuit
- Endure

The focus of this set is to purposefully get your health to 1 with Endure, activate Unburden and the Salac Berry, and sweep like no tomorrow with Reversal. If a Pokémon that resists you is thrown your way, Bullet Punch gives you priority to strike them down as quickly as possible. What if a speedy Ghost-type is sent out? Sucker Punch (or Pursuit if you don’t have access to a generation IV game) will take care of that.

The focus of this set is to purposefully get your health to 1, activate Unburden, and sweep like no tomorrow with Reversal. If a Pokémon that resists you is thrown your way, Bullet Punch gives you priority to strike them down as quickly as possible. What if a speedy Ghost-type is sent out? Sucker Punch (or Pursuit if you don’t have access to a generation IV game) will take care of that. Finally, I have absolutely no clue what the fourth slot should be, but it’ll be filler for you anyways.
 

EDIT: Whoops, the set in the Spoiler tag above is not legal because I was listing gen IV and Egg moves which cannot be passed with an Unburden Hitmonlee - because all Hitmonlee are male. In that case, I don't have a decent Reversal set to list.


Partners:
If you were to put him in the 2-v-2 scenery, Hi Jump Kick Hitmonlee will greatly benefit from any Pokémon with No Guard. Reckless will still give the boost, but now there’s no chance of it ever missing (well, unless the target uses Protect or Detect...).


Countering:
For a Pokémon so reliant on raw power, the usual burn condition will greatly hinder Hitmonlee. Ghost-types will shut down Himonlee’s key attack, but beware of Sucker Punch or Pursuit.


Attacks Index:
- Blaze Kick – Lvl. 45
- Bullet Punch - EGG
- Close Combat – Lvl. 57
- Fake Out - Lvl. 1, Tyrogue only
- Hi Jump Kick – Lvl. 29
- Stone Edge – TM71