Hi there Pojo!

Although I'm not a huge fan of card comparisons, I would like to look at
two cards which have been used in other comparisons, and put my two
cents worth in.

HITMONCHAN VS HITMONLEE

Let's look at their Stats shall we...

Hitmonchan
Stage: Basic
Hp: 70
Type: Fighting
Weakness: Psychic
Resistance: None
Retreat: CC

Attacks

F                       Jab      20
FFC    Special Punch    40

Hitmonlee
Stage: Basic
Hp: 60
Type: Fighting
Weakness: Psychic
Resistance: None
Retreat: C

Attacks

FF            Stretch Kick    20
         (choose one of your opponent's benched pokemon and do 20 damage
to it.  Do not apply resistance of weakness.)
FFF        High Jump Kick 50


Now let's try and compare them in a different light.  Let's put these
pokemon into real game situations and see who comes out on top!

STARTING OFF

I think there is no question here that Hitmonchan wins this contest.
With 10 more HP and an attack that requires only one fighting energy, he
gets damage happening immediately.  Hitmonlee has to wait two turns to
get an attack off.  When he get's the opportunity, he can only attack a
pokemon on the bench.  This REALLY sucks if there are no pokemon on the
bench to attack (an occurance which happens more than not when starting
off).  One good point for Hitmonlee is his retreat cost here.  If either
pokemon are facing a pokemon with fighting resistance, Hitmonlee can
retreat on the first turn, while Hitmonchan get's stuck (barring any
helpful trainer's like switch or DCE).

AGAINST WEAKNESS

This is one comparison which doesn't get into enough detail.  I'll try
to alter that.

Both pokemon are weak to Psychic.  Let's look at some psychic pokemon
now.  Abra, Gastly (fossil), Haunter (fossil) for instance.  They ALL
attack these fighting pokemon  for 20 Damage and have the chance of
effecting in some way (sleep or paralysis).  Now let's put our fighting
pokemon's HP into account.  In all three of these cases (barring
trainer's again), Hitmonlee would be knocked out in exactly 3 turns
while Hitmonchan would last 4.  Against bigger foes like Gengar,
Alakazam and Hypno; they ALL attack for 60 damage agianst these two
(barring Gengar's curse to the defending pokemon), with Alakazam having
the chance to confuse.
In this case, Hitmonchan lives for another turn, while Hitmonlee is six
feet under.  Against Kadabra or Promo Mewtwo, there is no difference as
either Hitmonchan or Hitmonlee would be fried in one shot.

My conclusion is that although both pokemon are weak to the same type,
when looking at psychic attacks with respect to HP, Hitmonchan clearly
wins here too.

AGAINST RESISTANCE

This is a category which Hitmonlee wins outright.  Although he needs
three fighting energy, while Hitmonchan needs only two fighting and one
colourless, Hitmonlee does 20 damage vs. Fighting resistant pokemon,
while Hitmonchan only does 10.  Against a pokemon like Spearow,
Hitmonlee could finish off a fully healed one in three turns, while
Hitmonchan would nearly get pecked to death in taking 5 rounds.  Another
plus for Hitmonlee is his ability to stretch kick a benched pokemon for
20 regardless of resistance.  Therefore he can finish off that pesky
Scyther or Fearow cowering on the opponent's bench with only 2 energy.

AGAINST ENERGY REMOVAL

Another easy category to decide.  Hitmonchan wins here outright.

In the real world, most pokemon battles occur with those dreaded Energy
Removals.  With Hitmonchan able to attack with only one energy, he can
get removaled completely and still function, while Hitmonlee could take
a serious pounding in trying to build up those two or three energies.
On top of that, Hitmonlee also gets hurt by the fact that he can only
use fighting energy, while Hitmonchan has that colourless requirement
making it easier for Chan to re-charge.

DAMAGE HEALING

Another category that doesn't get usually talked about when comparing is
the ability to heal one's pokemon.

Now there are a number of trainer cards one can use to heal damage from
a pokemon.  Let's look at them:

Scoop-up:  The focus is not centered around how much energy is lost, but
rather what happens after... that is starting up again.  Hitmonchan wins
here (as before mentioned) because he can be slapped back down and
powered up in no time to start dealing damage again.  Hitmonlee is less
effective when scoop-up is concerned.

Potion:  equal for both.
Mr. Fuji:  equal for both.

Super Potion:  Is equal for both when adding any energy card and using
THAT energy card for the Super Potion.  However, when an energy card has
to come off of them in order to use Super Potion (because you don't have
any energy in your hand and no helpful trainer's like energy retreival
or energy search),  then Hitmonchan wins this outright.  Hitmonchan can
throw away that colourless energy requirement (whatever it may
be..psychic energy, electric energy, etc) while Hitmonlee has to throw
away that fighting energy.  Also in the turns to follow, Hitmonchan
needs realy ANY energy card to replace while Hitmonlee can ONLY use
fighting.  If the energy cannot be obtained, then Hitmonchan can still
attack for 20 with his jab, and Hitmonlee is left with stretch kicking
for 20 on a benched pokemon AT BEST.

My conclusion here is that Hitmonchan is more effective when healing is
taken into account.  Sure you can potion your Hitmonlee...but then
again, who plays with 4 potions?

FINISHING

Both pokemon make excellent finisher's.  I believe that you have to give
the better finisher to Hitmonlee.  The reason why is because of his
varied attacks.  With a fully pumped Hitmonlee, your opponent has to
worry about both fronts, the active pokemon and the bench.  I have spent
too many games with a Hitmonchan out and as soon as the defending
pokemon is one turn from being knocked out, my opponent retreats or
switches his pokemon with another to get pounded on. His goal it this
point is to STALL.  With my Gusts unavailable..I'm almost at his mercy.
With Hitmonlee in however,  that stretch kick... no more worries.  He
might even save you from being decked.


OTHER CATEGORIES FOR COMPARISON

Overall HP:  Hitmonchan
Overall Retreat: Hitmonlee
Overall Cost:  ???   WHO CARES?  This is NOT a category for comparing
pokemon and has NO BEARING on the game one bit!


OVERALL
I havn't even counted.  But Hitmonchan covers more bases I'm sure.
Overall I would have to go with him.


ADVICE
If thinking about which one to use in a fighting Haymaker..use both
3-4 Hitmonchan, 1 Hitmonlee

If thinking about which to fit into a fighting evolution deck.  Take
Hitmonchan over Lee or keep the number of Chan's higher.

BOTTOM LINE
Hitmonlee is clearly aweful to start with and awesome later on.  You
only really need 1-2 in any deck.


--
Don Taylor
Email your thoughts to... dtaylor@nas.net