Pokemon Examination

Team Rocket's Hitmonchan
Type: Basic Fighting Pokemon
LV.29     HP 60
F:   Cross Counter
Effect: During your opponent's next turn, if an attack does
    damage to this Pokemon (even if this Pokemon is Knocked Out),
    flip a coin. If heads, this Pokemon does twice the damage
    received to the Attacking Pokemon.
FFC:   Magnum Punch:   50
Retreat: C
Weakness: P
No. 107 (Rare Hologram)

Solid Basic with a strong 60HP (okay, not that strong). Team Rocket's Hitmonchan should replace Hitmonlee unless you're going for bench destruction because Magnum Punch and Hi Jump Kick do the same amount of damage but Magnum Punch costs 2 Fighting and 1 Colorless, while Hi Jump Kick requires 3 Fighting. Cross Counter is okay as a first move; think of it as a Smokescreen. It prevents damage, but only with a good flip. Although Cross Counter does not stop attacks, it is an okay investment for 1 Fighting. Weakness remains to Promo Mewtwo, who kills it in 1 hit. Retreat Cost is 1 Colorless now, which is better than his Base Set I & II counterpart.

Cross Counter can potentially deal more damage than any move in the game (blah, blah). If I get Hitmonchan up to 3 Energy before he dies, I'll probably be using Magnum Punch and not Cross Counter because of reliability. Speaking of Magnum Punch, it is a really good attack. We all love Base Set Hitmonchan's Special Punch, right? Special Punch is a great attack, and Magnum Punch is only better - a automatic PlusPowered Special Punch. With the retreat cost of 1 it can be retreated with relative ease.

Right now Base Set Hitmonchan is not as common as before because of the Fighting Resistance and Promo Mewtwo. This card has the same problems, although Magnum Punch still does 20 damage through resistance. 60HP, let me tell you, if worlds away from 70. With only 60, Wigglytuffs and Scythers need not a PlusPower to kill it, and 20 damage attacks take 3 turns to KO, opposed to a 70HP needing 4. 30 damage attacks, like Scyther's, take 2 turns to KO, as opposed to 3 against a 70HP Pokemon. Unfortunetaly guys, 60HP falls way short - I learned that with Hitmonlee.

I think you might be seeing this guy is several Haymaker decks if they survive this long (for some reason a have a feeling they will). Although I don't recommend him as your main hitter, using him as a cleaner might work well; make sure to load him up on the bench so that he doesn't take his to his tender HP.