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 (and one particular Hitmonlee can do this with its arms as well). The source of its power comes from the ligaments in its legs that Hitmonlee can fully control. This flexibility allows Hitmonlee to run with lengthy strides, giving it greater reach for its kicks. Its excellent sense of balance enables it to kick in succession from any position. Hitmonlee's kicking strength is incredibly powerful owing to its diamond-like soles. Right before kicking an opponent, Hitmonlee will harden the muscles on the sole of its foot, allowing it to maximize the full power of its kick. It has sometimes been nicknamed the "Kick Master". After battling, it rubs down its legs to relax the tight muscles. Rarely found in the wild, it is primarily found in urban areas. It has been seen competing with either Hitmonchan, or Hitmontop.
Hitmonlee has had several kicking moves as signature moves:
Prior to Generation V, Reckless was Hitmonlee's signature Ability.
Evolution
Hitmonlee evolves from Tyrogue.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
Main series
Major appearances
Hitmonlee debuted in The Punchy Pokémon. Team Rocket stole him from a man named Giant in order to compete in the P1 Grand Prix. The Kicking Pokémon 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 Ash's Pikachu.
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 at the Lily of the Valley Conference. 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 the Pokémon Beauty Contest.
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 Solitary and Menacing!, under the ownership of the Fighting Dojo. The Karate Master used one of them to battle Bea, only for it to be defeated.
A Trainer's Hitmonlee appeared in Secrets of the Jungle.
A Trainer's Hitmonlee appeared in Beyond Chivalry… Aiming to be a Leek Master!.
A Hitmonlee appeared in Narrowing the Chaser Chase!, under the ownership of a Project Mew Challenger.
A Trainer's Hitmonlee appeared in This Could be the Start of Something Big!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP166
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Hitmonlee
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Ash's Pokédex
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Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon. This nimble Pokémon launches lethal kicks from almost any position.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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AG145
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Hitmonlee
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Ash's Pokédex
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Hitmonlee, the Kicking Pokémon. Hitmonlee can extend and retract its legs at will to kick opponents from almost any distance.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP184
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Hitmonlee
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Dawn's Pokédex
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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.
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Pokémon Origins
Koichi'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.
Pokémon Evolutions
In The Show, a Hitmonlee briefly appeared under the ownership of a Trainer in Ecruteak City.
How I Became a Pokémon Card
A Team Rocket Grunt was seen with a Hitmonlee.
Pocket Monsters DP
A Hitmonlee appeared in PMDP11.
Pocket Monsters HGSS
A Hitmonlee appeared in PMHGSS11.
Pokémon Adventures
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.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
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!!.
Pokémon: Yeah! I Got Pokémon!
Shu caught a Hitmonlee in Down with the "Kick Fighter".
A Hitmonlee appeared in GDZ23.
A Hitmonlee appeared in GDZ51.
Pokémon Journeys
In Solitary and Menacing!, multiple Hitmonlee were seen in the Fighting Dojo.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
- Main article: Giovanni's Hitmonlee
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!!.
Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire
A Hitmonlee appeared in The Greatest Invention?!.
Pokémon Zensho
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.