Hitmontop

Hitmontop's origin

Hitmontop looks based on a spinning top and a capoeira fighter, and needing equal Attack and Defense to evolve mirrors how a top must stay balanced to keep spinning. Its limbs and tail may also recall a circus strongman's barbells.

Hitmontop in the anime

Hitmontop appeared in Two Hits and a Miss under the ownership of Chigusa, who had him help teach her students to make Fighting-type attacks more graceful. Butch's Hitmontop appeared in The Mystery is History and reappeared across the main series and Pokémon Chronicles, while Bea's Hitmontop appeared in a fantasy in Solitary and Menacing! before physically appearing in Octo-Gridlock at the Gym!, where it lost to Ash's Pikachu.

Hitmontop on cards

Hitmontop's first cards were two 2001 Neo Discovery Rares illustrated by Sumiyoshi Kizuki. HeartGold SoulSilver and Call of Legends both carried Holo Rare printings, illustrated by Ken Sugimori and Shigenori Negishi respectively, and the Mega Evolution era's Ascended Heroes added both a Common and an Illustration Rare, illustrated by Kouki Saitou and osare.

Cards to know

• Hitmontop (Wizards Black Star Promos #37)

  A Wizards Black Star Promo Hitmontop illustrated by Atsuko Nishida.

• Hitmontop (HeartGold SoulSilver #5)

  A HeartGold SoulSilver Holo Rare illustrated by Ken Sugimori.

• Hitmontop (Call of Legends #8)

  A Call of Legends Holo Rare illustrated by Shigenori Negishi.

• Hitmontop (Ascended Heroes #240)

  An Ascended Heroes illustration rare by osare.