Hitmontop

Hitmontop is one of the tier's few Fighting-types, offering unique role compression by being able to both use Rapid Spin and check the tier's best Pokemon, Kangaskhan. Hitmontop's ability Intimidate isn't just useful for switching into Kangaskhan, however, as it checks a slew of other physical attackers such as Granbull, Nidoqueen, and Solrock, which Hitmontop counters. Its base 110 Special Defense is nothing to scoff at either, letting it take hits and trade with certain special attackers in a pinch such as Tentacruel, Ampharos, and Lanturn. Hitmontop's access to Fighting-type STAB lets it threaten many common Pokemon, and it has a good physical movepool for coverage to back it up.

However, while Hitmontop can both check Kangaskhan and use Rapid Spin as dual role compression, it finds itself being less effective at both than the Pokemon it competes with, such as Granbull for the former and Tentacruel and Blastoise for the latter. Hitmontop's meager base 50 HP and lack of reliable recovery means it can have trouble switching in against offensive Kangaskhan variants with Spikes up. Without the Intimidate Attack drop, it also takes heavy damage from the physical attackers it means to check besides Solrock. Hitmontop's onus to use Rapid Spin can also make it passive against Spikes teams, and it tends to invite in dangerous Pokemon such as Scyther and Gligar. Not only this, but Hitmontop can struggle against teams using Misdreavus to spinblock, as Hitmontop does not like wasting its health to Psychic without getting a chance to use Rapid Spin. Hitmontop also has issues offensively; as a Fighting-type, it wants as much coverage as possible but can't fit everything into one set, giving it painful four-moveslot syndrome. Even with the proper coverage, Hitmontop's unimpressive base 95 Attack means it lacks power even against the Pokemon hit super effectively by it, such as Omastar, Walrein, and Cradily.