From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Hitmonlee (Japanese: サワムラー Sawamular) is a Fighting-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It evolves from Tyrogue starting at level 20 when Tyrogue's Attack is higher than its Defense. It is one of Tyrogue's final forms, the others being Hitmonchan and Hitmontop.

Biology

Hitmonlee is a humanoid Pokémon with an ovoid body. Lacking a distinct neck and head, its upper torso has almond-shaped eyes with black space around them and appears to lack a nose and mouth. Primarily brown, it has cream-colored, segmented arms and legs. Each hand has three fingers and each foot has three clawed toes. The soles of its feet and its ankles have circular, yellow pads. Hitmonlee is an exclusively male species with no female counterpart.

Hitmonlee's legs freely contract and stretch similar to a coiled spring. This flexibility allows Hitmonlee to run with lengthy strides and gives it greater reach for its kicks. Its excellent sense of balance enables it to kick in succession from any position. After battling, it rubs down its legs to relax the tight muscles. Rare in the wild, it is primarily found in urban areas. It had a number of kicking moves as signature moves in the past: Jump Kick, High Jump Kick, Rolling Kick, and Mega Kick.

In the anime

In the main series

Major appearances

In The Punchy Pokémon, Team Rocket stole a Hitmonlee from Giant in order to compete in the P1 Grand Prix. He defeated Brock's Geodude, and Anthony's Hitmonchan (by cheating) before losing fair and square to Ash's Primeape.

In Chikorita's Big Upset, a Hitmonlee was a member of a gang of wild Fighting-type Pokémon. He befriended Chikorita after she defeated its leader, a Primeape, and became the new gang leader.

In Two Hits and a Miss, Shiro used a Hitmonlee during a battle against Chigusa's Hitmontop. He was eventually defeated during a rematch.

In Wobbu-Palooza!, a festival crasher disrupted the Wobbuffet Festival with a Hitmonlee. He was soon fought off by Ash, his friends, and Team Rocket.

In A Tyrogue Full of Trouble, Kiyo's Hitmonlee fought alongside him to break a rolling boulder. Kiyo later used Hitmonlee in battle during an attempt to catch a wild Tyrogue.

In Gotta Catch Ya Later!, a Hitmonlee belonging to Kail of the Invincible Pokémon Brothers assisted another brother's Hitmonchan in his battle against Misty. He was defeated due to the intervention of Brock's Forretress.

In Saved by the Beldum, Gilbert used a Hitmonlee during the preliminaries of the Ever Grande Conference, during which he lost to Pikachu. He reappeared in a flashback in Shocks and Bonds.

In Pasta La Vista, Master Hamm used a Hitmonlee in a battle to decide the fate of his fighting dojo. After Master Hamm broke his back, Ash stepped in for him and borrowed Hitmonlee for the match.

In A Marathon Rivalry!, Daniel entered a Hitmonlee in the Pokéathlon, where it competed against Ash's Monferno. Despite the power of his Fighting skills, Monferno was equally agile, and the battle concluded in a tie.

In Casting a Paul on Barry!, Barry used a Hitmonlee during his battle against Paul. Despite being able to cause a lot of damage to Ursaring, he was eventually defeated after inadvertently triggering Ursaring's Guts Ability.

Minor appearances

In Showdown at Dark City, a Hitmonlee was one of the Yas Gym's Pokémon.

In A Chansey Operation, an injured Hitmonlee was brought to the clinic and treated.

A Hitmonlee appeared as an image in The Ultimate Test.

In Riddle Me This, a Hitmonlee performed music for Gary and his entourage while they stayed at one of Cinnabar Island's hostels. Another was at the Pokémon Lab when Team Rocket targeted it.

In Pikachu's Vacation, a Hitmonlee was at the Pokémon Theme Park.

Two Hitmonlee appeared in Bad to the Bone. One belonged to a Trainer, while the other belonged to a Gym Leader in a flashback.

In Friends to the End, a Trainer's Hitmonlee attended the closing ceremonies of the Indigo League.

In Mewtwo Strikes Back and its remake Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, Corey's Hitmonlee was captured and cloned by Mewtwo. The Hitmonlee clone was seen again in Mewtwo Returns.

In The Power of One, a Hitmonlee sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.

A Hitmonlee appeared in the Japanese credits of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.

In Wired for Battle!, a Hitmonlee was in Muramasa's dojo.

In Beauty and the Breeder, a Pokémon Breeder's Hitmonlee participated in a Pokémon breeding competition.

In Ariados, Amigos, a Trainer's Hitmonlee attended the Pokémon Jujitsu Academy.

In The Legend of Thunder!, Shinji used a Hitmonlee in his battle against Jimmy's Typhlosion.

In Enlighten Up!, a student at Slowpoke Temple had a Hitmonlee.

In Johto Photo Finish, Gary's demonstration featured a Hitmonlee evolving from a Tyrogue.

In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, a Trainer's Hitmonlee competed in the Rota tournament.

A Coordinator's Hitmonlee appeared in Harley Rides Again.

A Coordinator's Hitmonlee appeared in Channeling the Battle Zone!.

A Trainer's Hitmonlee appeared in I Choose You!.

A Trainer's Hitmonlee appeared in This Magik Moment!.

Multiple Hitmonlee appeared in JN034, under the ownership of the Fighting Dojo. Bea's Hitmonlee also appeared in a fantasy.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP166 Hitmonlee Ash's Pokédex Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon. This nimble Pokémon launches lethal kicks from almost any position.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry AG145 Hitmonlee Ash's Pokédex Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon. Hitmonlee can extend and retract its legs at will to kick opponents from almost any distance.

Episode Pokémon Source Entry DP184 Hitmonlee Dawn's Pokédex Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon, and the evolved form of Tyrogue. Its legs double in length, and opponents are surprised by Hitmonlee's attack range when facing it for the first time.

In Pokémon Origins

Kiyo's Hitmonlee briefly appeared in File 3: Giovanni. Later, Red sent out a Hitmonlee during a Gym battle with Giovanni, where he tied with his Rhyhorn.



In the manga

In the How I Became a Pokémon Card manga

One of the Team Rocket Grunts was seen with a Hitmonlee.

In the Pocket Monsters DP manga

A Hitmonlee appeared in PMDP11.

In the Pocket Monsters HGSS manga

A Hitmonlee appeared in PMHGSS11.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Hitmonlee makes a cameo in Danger: High Voltorb as a mysterious Pokémon aboard the S.S. Anne.

A Hitmonlee appeared in Tauros the Tyrant as one of the Pokémon used by Team Rocket Grunts to catch Green.

A Hitmonlee later appears as one of Bruno's Pokémon in Ponyta Tale. Later, he destroyed Bill's house in Hitmonlee, Baby! (One More Time). Bruno explains that Hitmonlee's legs are so flexible, it is impossible to locate the position of his knees and attack them.

A Hitmonlee was seen as one of Chuck's Pokémon. In the Gym Leader face-off of Entranced by Entei, he used Mind Reader and Reversal to turn Blue's tactics against him.

A Hitmonlee appeared as a Battle Factory Pokémon in Pinsir Me, I Must Be Dreaming.

The Battle Factory rented a Hitmonlee, which was stolen by Guile Hideout in Skirting Around Surskit I.

In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga

A Hitmonlee appeared in Let's Aim For The Goal!.

Gold borrowed a Hitmonlee to use in a tournament in Let's Use Fighting Type Pokémon!!.

A Hitmonlee appeared in a flashback in Let's Fight For The Future!!.

In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga

Shu caught a Hitmonlee in Down with the "Kick Fighter".

A Hitmonlee appeared in GDZ23.

A Hitmonlee appeared in GDZ51.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Giovanni has a Hitmonlee, which debuted in Pikachu Was Kidnapped!!.

A Hitmonlee appeared in Which One is the Real Clefairy!?.

A Hitmonlee is one of Bruno's Pokémon in the Pokémon League, as seen in Clefairy's Under Training!!.

A Hitmonlee appeared in Pikachu's Birthday Party.

A Hitmonlee appeared in Demanding Tests at the Pokémon School!.

Kiyo has a Hitmonlee, which appeared in The Mysterious Underground Amusement Park.

A Hitmonlee appeared in Legend Of The Strongest Pokémon!!.

In the Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire manga

A Hitmonlee appeared in The Greatest Invention?!.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

A Hitmonlee appeared in PZ07, under the ownership of the Dojo Master.

Bruno has a Hitmonlee, which fought Satoshi's Lapras and lost in PZ10.

In the TCG

Other appearances

When released from a Poké Ball, Hitmonlee will perform a Jump Kick targeting the nearest opponent. The jump moves in an arc heavily affected by gravity, but deals a great amount of damage and upward knockback to any foe it hits. Hitmonlee was replaced by Scizor in Super Smash Bros. Melee, who attacks in a similar way.

Hitmonlee appears as a trophy.

Trophy information

Sometimes referred to as the Kick Master, this flexible Fighting-type Pokémon can extend each leg to nearly twice its natural length. It can often be seen rubbing its legs down after a battle. In the original Super Smash Bros., it would shout to get itself pumped up and then launch fighters directly upward with a powerful kick.

Hitmonlee appears as a Spirit.

Game data

NPC appearances

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

In-game events

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Pokéathlon stats

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation VIII, this Pokémon is: Damaged

normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark ½× Fairy 2× None Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark ½× Fairy 2× None Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark ½× Fairy 2× None Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 2× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock ½× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel 1× Fire 1× Water 1× Grass 1× Electric 1× Psychic 2× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark ½× Fairy 2× None

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Sw Sh IoA Coaching Fighting Status — —% 10 Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Hitmonlee

indicates a move that gets when used by Hitmonlee Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Hitmonlee

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Hitmonlee Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

By a prior evolution

Generation VIII Other generations: II - III - IV - V - VI - VII Stage Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP This Pokémon has no moves exclusive to prior evolutions. Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Hitmonlee

indicates a move that gets when used by Hitmonlee Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Hitmonlee

indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Hitmonlee Click on the generation numbers at the top to see moves from other generations

Side game data

Evolution

Sprites

Trivia

Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan are the only Pokémon not previously related through an evolutionary family that later gained a shared pre-evolved form.

According to Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver: Prima's Official Strategy Guide, Hitmonlee is the only Pokémon recommended for the Hurdle Dash that is not a Flying-type.

Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan received the biggest increase to their Special stat in Generation II, gaining 75 points of Special Defense.

Origin

Based on its Japanese name and kicking attribute, Hitmonlee may represent Japanese kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura. Hitmonlee may be a personification of martial arts that focus on kicking, such as kickboxing, savate, Muay Thai, and Taekwondo. Due to its lack of a head, Hitmonlee's design bears a resemblance to mythical headless men such as the Xingtian and the Hindu demon Kabandha.

Name origin

Hitmonlee is a combination of hit, monster, and Lee (a reference to Bruce Lee).[1] The name is also related to Hitmonchan and Hitmontop, both of which are parallel evolutions to it as of Generation II.

Sawamular is derived from Tadashi Sawamura, a famous kickboxer.

In other languages





Related articles

Notes







