How To Evolve Tyrogue Into Hitmontop Hitmonchan And Hitmonlee In Pokemon Scarlet And Violet Dlc

Evolving Tyrogue into Hitmontop, Hitmonchan, and Hitmonlee in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC: A Comprehensive Guide
The Paldea region, now expanded with the Teal Mask and Indigo Disk DLCs for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, offers a wealth of Pokémon to discover and train. Among these is Tyrogue, a unique Fighting-type Pokémon with a peculiar evolutionary path. Unlike most Pokémon, Tyrogue doesn’t evolve based on leveling up with a specific item or in a particular location alone. Instead, its evolution into Hitmontop, Hitmonchan, or Hitmonlee is determined by its base stats – specifically, its Attack, Defense, and Speed. This guide will provide a detailed, SEO-friendly breakdown of how to achieve each of Tyrogue’s evolutions within Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC, ensuring you can add these iconic Fighting-types to your team.
Understanding Tyrogue’s Evolutionary Triggers: The Crucial Stat Check
The key to unlocking Tyrogue’s potential lies in understanding its inherent stats. When Tyrogue reaches level 20, its game will assess its base Attack, Defense, and Speed. The stat that is highest among these three will dictate which evolution Tyrogue undergoes. It’s crucial to note that this stat check happens upon leveling up to level 20. If your Tyrogue is already level 20 or higher and its stats haven’t been influenced by stat-boosting items or specific training, you may need to level it up again to trigger the evolution.
1. Evolving Tyrogue into Hitmontop: The Balanced Fighter
Hitmontop is the evolution that occurs when Tyrogue’s Defense stat is equal to its Attack stat, and both are higher than its Speed stat. This means you’re aiming for a perfectly balanced Tyrogue in terms of its offensive and defensive capabilities, with a slightly lower Speed.
- Identifying the Target Stat: For Hitmontop, the critical condition is Attack = Defense > Speed.
- How to Influence Stats:
- Base Stats: When you first catch a Tyrogue, its base stats will vary slightly due to individual values (IVs). You can check these in the "Summary" screen of your Pokémon. While you can’t change base stats, understanding them at the outset helps.
- Effort Values (EVs): This is where you have the most control. EVs are gained by defeating specific Pokémon or by using beneficial items. Each Pokémon has a maximum EV yield of 510 across all stats, with a cap of 252 in any single stat.
- Boosting Defense: To increase Tyrogue’s Defense, you’ll want to defeat Pokémon that yield Defense EVs. In the Paldea region and its DLCs, several Pokémon are excellent sources of Defense EVs. These include:
- Great Tusk (Scarlet)/Iron Treads (Violet) – Scarlet and Violet Base Game: These Paradox Pokémon offer a significant chunk of Defense EVs but are high-level encounters.
- Dondozo: This large Water-type Pokémon is a reliable source of Defense EVs. You can often find Dondozo in open water areas.
- Garganacl: This Rock-type Pokémon, found in mountainous regions and caves, also provides Defense EVs.
- Iron Hands (Violet)/Great Tusk (Scarlet) in Indigo Disk: If you have access to the Indigo Disk DLC and are playing Scarlet, Great Tusk remains a strong option. Iron Hands in the Indigo Disk also provides good Defense EVs.
- Specific Raid Battles: Keep an eye out for Tera Raid Battles featuring Pokémon known to yield Defense EVs.
- Controlling Attack and Speed: To ensure Defense remains equal to or higher than Attack, you need to be mindful of EV training for Attack and Speed.
- Avoid excessive Attack EVs: If you’re focusing heavily on Defense, try to avoid defeating too many Pokémon that yield Attack EVs.
- Limit Speed EVs: Similarly, be cautious about EV training for Speed.
- Boosting Defense: To increase Tyrogue’s Defense, you’ll want to defeat Pokémon that yield Defense EVs. In the Paldea region and its DLCs, several Pokémon are excellent sources of Defense EVs. These include:
- Stat-Boosting Items:
- Defense Boosting Items: Items like the Defense Curl, Dire Hit (though this is an accuracy booster, it’s often confused with stat boosters), and the Zinc supplement (which adds 10 EVs to Defense) can be used. Zinc is particularly useful for precise EV training. You can purchase Zinc at the Poké Center Marts once you’ve progressed far enough in the game.
- Attack and Speed Control Items: Use items like Protein (Attack) and Carbos (Speed) sparingly or strategically to prevent them from surpassing Defense.
- Vitamins: Vitamins like HP Up, Protein, Iron, Calcium, Zinc, and Carbos each grant 10 EVs to a specific stat and can be purchased at Poké Centers. For Hitmontop, you’ll be primarily using Zinc and potentially Iron or Carbos only if you need to slightly adjust those stats while focusing on Defense.
- Feathers: In the Teal Mask DLC, you can collect a variety of feathers that boost specific stats. The Wicked Feather boosts Defense.
- The Process:
- Catch a Tyrogue.
- Note its base stats upon catching.
- Begin battling Pokémon that yield Defense EVs, or use Zinc and other Defense-boosting methods.
- Crucially, monitor your Tyrogue’s stats regularly. You can do this by checking its Summary screen.
- Once you feel confident that its Defense is sufficiently high and likely to be equal to its Attack when it reaches level 20, proceed to level it up. You can use Exp. Candies or battle wild Pokémon.
- If your Tyrogue reaches level 20 and its Defense and Attack are equal and higher than Speed, it will evolve into Hitmontop.
- Troubleshooting: If it evolves into something else or doesn’t evolve, you’ll need to reset its EVs. This can be done using the Pomeg Berry, Kelpsy Berry, Qualot Berry, Hondew Berry, Grepa Berry, or Tamato Berry. These berries lower EVs for a specific stat and also increase friendship. You can find these berries through battling or in the overworld. After resetting, repeat the EV training process.
2. Evolving Tyrogue into Hitmonchan: The Special Attacker (for its line)
Hitmonchan is the evolution that occurs when Tyrogue’s Attack stat is higher than its Defense stat, and both are higher than its Speed stat. This requires prioritizing offensive power while maintaining a reasonable defensive presence.
- Identifying the Target Stat: For Hitmonchan, the critical condition is Attack > Defense > Speed.
- How to Influence Stats:
- Boosting Attack: To increase Tyrogue’s Attack, you’ll want to defeat Pokémon that yield Attack EVs. Good sources in Scarlet and Violet and its DLCs include:
- Great Tusk (Scarlet)/Iron Treads (Violet) – Scarlet and Violet Base Game: These Paradox Pokémon are excellent for Attack EVs.
- Larvitar/Pupitar/Tyranitar: These Rock/Ground-types are often found in caves and rocky areas and yield Attack EVs.
- Makuhita/Hariyama: These Fighting-types naturally yield Attack EVs. You’ll find them in various locations throughout Paldea.
- Iron Valiant (Violet)/Roaring Moon (Scarlet) in Indigo Disk: These powerful Paradox Pokémon offer substantial Attack EVs in the Indigo Disk.
- Specific Raid Battles: Look for Tera Raid Battles featuring Pokémon known for their Attack.
- Controlling Defense and Speed: The key here is to ensure that your Attack EVs are higher than your Defense EVs, but your Defense is still higher than your Speed.
- Limited Defense Training: Avoid battling Pokémon that heavily boost Defense or using too many Zinc supplements.
- Careful Speed Training: Similarly, be mindful of Speed EV gains.
- Boosting Attack: To increase Tyrogue’s Attack, you’ll want to defeat Pokémon that yield Attack EVs. Good sources in Scarlet and Violet and its DLCs include:
- The Process:
- Catch a Tyrogue.
- Monitor its base stats.
- Begin battling Pokémon that yield Attack EVs, or use Protein and Iron supplements.
- Continue to monitor your Tyrogue’s stats. You need to ensure Attack is climbing faster than Defense.
- Once you believe its Attack will be the highest when it reaches level 20, level it up.
- If your Tyrogue reaches level 20 and its Attack is higher than its Defense, and both are higher than its Speed, it will evolve into Hitmonchan.
- Troubleshooting: If it evolves into something else or doesn’t evolve, reset its EVs using the appropriate berries and try again, adjusting your EV training strategy.
3. Evolving Tyrogue into Hitmonlee: The Speedy Striker
Hitmonlee is the evolution that occurs when Tyrogue’s Speed stat is higher than both its Attack and Defense stats. This means you’re prioritizing raw speed above all else for this evolution.
- Identifying the Target Stat: For Hitmonlee, the critical condition is Speed > Attack and Speed > Defense. It’s often easiest to achieve this when Speed is also the highest stat overall, meaning Speed > Attack = Defense or Speed > Attack > Defense.
- How to Influence Stats:
- Boosting Speed: To increase Tyrogue’s Speed, you’ll want to defeat Pokémon that yield Speed EVs. Excellent sources in Scarlet and Violet and its DLCs include:
- Iron Bundle (Violet)/Flutter Mane (Scarlet) in Indigo Disk: These Paradox Pokémon are incredibly fast and offer significant Speed EVs.
- Z rapidash (Scarlet)/Rapidash (Violet): These speedy Fire-types are often found in open fields and can be good sources.
- Electrode: Known for its incredible Speed, Electrode provides a good chunk of Speed EVs.
- Salazzle: This fast Fire/Poison type is another reliable source.
- Specific Raid Battles: Look for Tera Raid Battles featuring Pokémon that are known for their high Speed.
- Controlling Attack and Defense: The goal is to ensure Speed is consistently the highest stat.
- Minimal Attack and Defense Training: Avoid battling Pokémon that yield Attack or Defense EVs, or using Protein, Iron, or Zinc supplements.
- Focus Solely on Speed: Prioritize Speed EV gains above all other stats.
- Boosting Speed: To increase Tyrogue’s Speed, you’ll want to defeat Pokémon that yield Speed EVs. Excellent sources in Scarlet and Violet and its DLCs include:
- The Process:
- Catch a Tyrogue.
- Check its initial stats.
- Begin battling Pokémon that yield Speed EVs, or use Carbos supplements liberally.
- Constantly monitor Tyrogue’s stats to ensure Speed is always the highest.
- Once you are confident that Speed will be the highest stat upon reaching level 20, level it up.
- If your Tyrogue reaches level 20 and its Speed stat is higher than both its Attack and Defense stats, it will evolve into Hitmonlee.
- Troubleshooting: If the evolution doesn’t go as planned, reset EVs with the appropriate berries and re-strategize your Speed EV training.
Important Considerations for EV Training in Scarlet and Violet DLC:
- The Power of the Indigo Disk: The Indigo Disk DLC introduces even more Pokémon and challenges, potentially offering new and efficient ways to EV train. Some Paradox Pokémon found in the Terarium are particularly potent for specific EV yields.
- Fighting Pokémon in the Academy: For base game EV training, consider the Pokémon that trainers at the Naranja Academy (Scarlet) or Uva Academy (Violet) might represent. While not always the most efficient, they can be convenient.
- The Teal Mask’s Feather Collection: As mentioned, the Teal Mask DLC offers a feather collection mechanic where you can find feathers that boost specific stats. Collecting Wicked Feathers will boost Defense, which can be useful for Hitmontop.
- EV Checkers: While there isn’t an in-game explicit "EV checker" like in some previous generations, you can infer your Pokémon’s EVs by comparing its stats at level 100 to its base stats, or by using online EV calculators that take your Pokémon’s level, Nature, and IVs into account. However, for the specific goal of evolving Tyrogue at level 20, simply monitoring the stats as they increase is usually sufficient.
- Natures: A Pokémon’s Nature also influences its stats. For example, an Adamant Nature boosts Attack and lowers Special Attack, while a Bold Nature boosts Defense and lowers Attack. Choosing a Tyrogue with a Nature that complements the evolution you’re aiming for can make EV training slightly easier. For instance, a Tyrogue with a Docile, Hardy, Quirky, or Bashful Nature (which don’t affect Attack, Defense, or Speed) is ideal if you want to control all stat gains through EV training.
- IVs (Individual Values): While EVs are the primary driver for evolution, IVs also play a role. If your Tyrogue has naturally very high IVs in one stat and lower in others, it might slightly skew the results. However, with sufficient EV training, you can usually overcome minor IV differences.
- The "Check Stats" Option: After a Pokémon levels up, you can select "Check Stats" from the summary menu to see the stat changes. This is crucial for monitoring your progress.
By meticulously managing your Tyrogue’s Effort Values, you can reliably steer its evolution towards the specific Fighting-type powerhouse you desire. Whether you seek the balanced defense of Hitmontop, the offensive prowess of Hitmonchan, or the blistering speed of Hitmonlee, understanding these stat-driven evolution mechanics is paramount to success in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s expanded world.
