STAB Conundrums - Hitmonlee Edition
Hitmonlee has access to some incredible Moves. When it comes to STAB, HJK is unmatched for power. However, 90% accuracy and 50% recoil on a miss can deter many a player if they keep getting psychologically scarred by it. Ghost Types entering on a good prediction will guarantee 'lee becomes a cracked glass cannon.
Even if you go for the more reliable Close Combat, you may also run into Pranksters who throw up a Sub and toss Status Effects at you like a monkey with so much poo. In this rare, yet possible, case, Double Kick can hit through a Sub, but is far less reliable on power.
Countering Hitmonlee
Learning what you'll meet is key:
-Fake Out will barely faze Inner Focus Pokemon like Crobat, Lucario, and non-DW Dragonite and will also aid Steadfast Pokemon like Gallade and, again, Lucario. However, most will only have 1 chance to 1-shot Unburden 'lee.
-Pranksters with Substitute up before 'lee enters and Status Effects in their arsenal will screw with Unburden 'lee.
-Reckless-HJK is rendered useless against Ghost Types. Pressure is available to 3 of them, making HJK and Close Combat less viable in the long term due to 10 and 5 PP, respectively.
-Cof' has immunity to 'lee's STAB and Fake Out. Add high Defense and it can wear 'lee down hard.
-Trick Room can bog Unburden 'lee down. Your potentially-600 Speed becomes the absolute lowest Speed in a Trick Room situation. Slowbro, Eviolite-clops, Dusknoir, Heatproof-EQ-Imprison-Bronzong, Claydol, and Cof' are the most likely to do so against 'lee due to high Defense and neutral-or-better resistance to 'lee's STAB.