Hitmontop – Pokémon TCG Highlander

Hitmontop is one of the few Pokémon that is able to deal up to 60 damage right after playing it with only 1 Basic Energy needed. This isn’t a short sprinted Pokemon however, you will find a lot of mid to late game Prize Card opportunities with this gyrating gladiator.

Strategy Points:

• The momentum you can quickly take with “Triple Kick” opens opportunities for early wins. Being able to do up to 60 damage for 1 Energy is something your opponent will need to stay aware of. You can use Victini or Trick Coin to further increase your odds while Sandaconda and Fearow – Level X can assist throughout the game after they set up.
• Nidoking, Decidueye, Dugtrio and Rocky Helmet are all great ways to get the bonus damage from “Upward Kick”. If you’re using Eviolite, Fighting Fury Belt, and/or Stone Energy for a more defensive strategy, you can use Agatha to move damage over from Hitmontop as well.
• “Close Combat” does a lot of damage, before modifiers. With the previously mentioned defensive cards, you can mend the damage increase effect. You can also blitz the opponent going first with Regirock + Stark Mountain or going second with Double Colorless Energy and Fighting Energy being your two attachments that turn.
• With Tyrogue
• The stat bonuses granted with “Stages of Evolution” grants Hitmtop an edge in offense, defense, and mobility. An important thing to note is Hitmontop’s rare “Evolved Basic” status that allows it to get the benefits of Eviolite and Triple Acceleration Energy while not worrying about anti-unevolved strategies from Machamp.
• “Show Form Set” grants reliable Fighting Energy recovery for Pokémon like Golem and Barbaracle to stream more damage.
• Because there are three different Pokémon that evolve from Tyrogue, you can run 3 of them in the same deck. This allows for stacking “Show Form Set” while providing an abundant Evolution Tree that allows you to prize a few away and still have one or two in the deck, evolving into any “Hitmon Evolution” you want.
• With Hitmontop – Level X
• With “Pivot Wind Up”, you’ll want to anchor around Pokémon that can swiftly move to the bench. Float Stone and Air Balloon grant this well, while Silvally, Dodrio, and Bewear all provide an ease of movement for as long as they’re out. Linoone, Tentacruel, and Slowking are great Pokemon to use to manipulate your opponent’s board in making different Pokémon EX’s.
• With “Ring Out Rotation”, you can utilize a plethora of damage modifiers like Strong Energy, Professor Kakui, Fighting Stadium and Quagsire that will apply to the Pokémon you dragged up. You can rotate to a punishing wall like Sharpedo or Lugia afterwards.