Pokémon GO Machamp: Evolution, Weaknesses, Shiny & PvP Moveset Mastery!

by Jerry Cook Updated on 2025-08-18 12:18:57 / Update for Pokemon iOS

Pokémon Go Machamp is famous for its four muscular arms and devastating punches. He has been part of the Pokémon universe since Generation I. He’s a great Pokémon to have if you’re into nostalgic picks with real competitive bite.

As such, in this Machamp PvP & PvE guide article, from Machamp's best moveset and evolution to Machamp's weakness and shiny version, we tell you everything you need to know about Machamp in Pokémon Go!

Is Machamp good in Pokemon Go

Part 1. Is Machamp Good in Pokémon Go? Best Fighting Types

Machamp is one of the top Fighting-type attackers in raids. Here are Machamp’s key stats in Pokémon GO for 2025:

Machamp's Key Stats

best attack machamp pokemon go

Machamp is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon with strong all-around stats. It boasts an Attack stat of 234, Defense of 159, and Stamina of 207, giving it both power and decent bulk. Its Max CP reaches up to 3455, which makes it viable in multiple formats, especially Ultra League and PvE scenarios.

  • Attack: 234
  • Defense: 159
  • Stamina: 207
  • Max CP: 3455

Being a Fighting-type, Machamp naturally has an advantage over Normal, Rock, Ice, Steel, and Dark-type Pokémons, dealing 2x more damage to them.

Why Machamp Is Good in PvP?

Machamp excels in Pokémon GO PvP mainly due to its powerful Fighting type, high attack power, great durability, and sturdy build, making it a strong and reliable choice in PvP battle leagues.

  • Fast & Hard-Hitting Moveset:Machamp in Pokémon Go PvP stands out for its fast-charging, hard-hitting moveset. Machamp’s best moveset combination of Counter as a fast move and Dynamic Punch as a charge move gives it excellent damage output and energy efficiency.
  • Versatile Coverage: For those looking to play mind games, Cross Chop is a great option for baiting shields, while Rock Slide or Stone Edge helps deal with Flying-types, which are one of Machamp's weaknesses.
  • Shadow Machamp Domination: Thanks to the Shadow bonus, Shadow Machamp is even better and often ranks near the top for raw damage output. With proper IVs and shield timing, it can easily dominate Great and Ultra League battles.

Why Machamp Is Great in Raids?

For raids, Machamp is one of the best Fighting‑type attackers you can use in Pokémon Go.

  • High DPS Fighting Attacker: His fast move, Counter, and Charge Move, Dynamic Punch, deliver excellent DPS against bosses weak to Fighting, and Shadow Machamp boosts this even further.
  • Key Role in Raid Teams: It’s the go-to fighter against common raid bosses like Tyranitar, Regigigas, and Snorlax, who are all weak to Fighting moves.
  • Easy to Obtain & Power Up: To put the cherry on top, Machop frequently appears in Events and Field Research. This makes it very easy to obtain. One such example is the upcoming Pokémon Go Fest: Max Finale event, which will feature Dynamax Machomp on Thursday, August 21 and Friday, August 22.

Part 2. Machamp Complete Evolution Chain!

Machamp is the final form in this evolution chain and also has a Gigantamax form in some games that changes its appearance and battle capabilities.

What Are the Three Evolutions of Machamp?

All three Machamp evolutions are Fighting-types, with Machamp being the final and strongest stage. This evolution line has been around since Generation I, and it’s still highly relevant in both PvP and PvE gameplay today.

machamp evolution pokemon go

The Machamp evolution chainare:

  • Marchop — the first stage (basic form).
  • Machoke — evolves from Machop.
  • Machamp (final form) — evolves from Machoke.

In Pokémon Go, Machop evolves into Machoke using 25 Machop Candy, and Machoke evolves into Machamp using 100 more Candy.

How to Evolve Machoke into Machamp in Pokémon GO?

To evolve Machoke into Machamp in Pokémon GO, you have Three options:

  • Use 100 Machop candies: To evolve Machoke into Machamp in Pokémon Go, you mainly need to spend 100 Machop Candy.
  • Trade Machoke with Friends: You can then trade back the evolved Machamp from your friend. This gives you Machamp while saving Candy for other uses, like powering up or evolving more. If you trade your Machoke with a friend, the Machamp Pokémon Go evolution becomes free!
  • Collect Machamp during Community Day: But if you don’t have any friends, don’t worry. Machop often appears in Community Day pr events, and this makes it easier to gather enough Candy for Machamp's evolution.

Best IVs to Look for Before Evolving Machamp

Before evolving Machoke into Machamp, it’s smart to check its IVs.

  • For PvP, especially in Great League and Ultra League, you’ll want lower Attack, higher Defense, and higher HP stats to stay within the CP cap while maximizing bulk.
  • For PvE (like raids), aim for a high Attack IV, ideally perfect IVs (15/15/15) for maximum damage output.

Using an IV Appraisal Tool in-game can help you find the best Machop to evolve into your top-performing Machamp Pokémon Go.

  • League
  • Ideal IVs
  • CP Cap
  • Level
  • Great League/li>
  • 0/15/10
  • 1500 CP
  • 18.5
  • Ultra League
  • 0/15/14
  • 2497 CP
  • 31
  • Master League
  • 15/15/15
  • No Cap
  • 50

Part 3. Beat Machamp Fast! Best Counters & Weaknesses Explained

Here’s a detailed breakdown of Machamp’s weaknesses and best counters in Pokémon GO:

Machamp Weaknesses

Machamp is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon, which means there are three main Machamp weaknesses:

  • Fairy
  • Flying
  • Psychic

These attack types deal 60% more damage against Machamp in both PvP and PvE battles. On the other hand, Machamp resists Rock, Bug, and Dark moves. These don’t work well against him, so it’s better to avoid using those. In that, Machamp takes about only 63% of the total damage dealt.

Who Can Beat Machamp? Top Machamp Counters

To take down Machamp quickly, you need to exploit Machamp's weaknesses, and thus your best bet is to go with powerful Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type Pokémons.

The best Pokémons for this job are Mega Rayquaza, Shadow Mewtwo, Mega Alakazam, Rayquaza, and Mega Gallade. All of these are excellent Machamp counters thanks to their strong DPS and type advantage.

  • Pokémon
  • Fast Move
  • Charged Move
  • Type Advantage
  • Mega Rayquaza
  • Air Slash
  • Dragon Ascent
  • Flying
  • Shadow Mewtwo
  • Confusion
  • Psystrike
  • Psychic
  • Mega Alakazam
  • Confusion
  • Psychic
  • Psychic
  • Rayquaza
  • Air Slash
  • Dragon Ascent
  • Flying
  • Mega Gallade
  • Confusion
  • Psychic
  • Psychic

Bringing the right Machamp counters is the fastest way to win, especially in high-level raids or when dealing with a Shadow Machamp in Pokémon Go.

Part 4. Machamp Moveset Guide for Pokémon GO: PvP & PvE Picks

For Machamp in Pokémon GO, here’s a best moveset guide tailored for both PvP and PvE

Best PvP Moveset for Machamp

In PvP, Machamp’s best moveset is Counter (Fast Move) paired with Cross Chop and Rock Slide (Charge Moves).

  • The reason for this is that Counter deals strong damage and charges energy quickly.
  • Cross Chop, on the other hand, is great for baiting shields due to its low energy cost, while Rock Slide gives coverage against Flying-types, which is one of the main Machamp weaknesses.
  • You can also use Payback if you expect Psychic or Ghost opponents, though it requires an Elite TM.

Best PvE Moveset for Machamp

For raids and gym battles, Machamp’s best moveset is Counter (Fast Move) and Dynamic Punch (Charge Move).

  • This combo gives Machamp high DPS (damage per second), making it one of the top Fighting-type attackers in Pokémon Go.
  • It's especially effective against Normal, Ice, Rock, Steel, and Dark-type bosses.
  • If you have a Shadow Machamp, this Machamp’s best moveset becomes even more deadly thanks to the Shadow damage boost.

Part 5. How to Get Machamp & Shiny in Pokémon Go?

Machamp can be shiny in Pokemon Go?

shiny machamp

Yes, Machamp can be shiny in Pokémon GO. The shiny Machamp in Pokémon GO is primarily green in color. Its usual bluish-gray skin changes to a green shade for the shiny variant, which is often compared to the Hulk due to this distinctive green hue.

So, you can obtain shiny Machamp by either catching or evolving shiny Machop or Machoke, or by getting a shiny Gigantamax Machamp during special events or through trading.

Where to Find Shiny Machamp? Best Location

In Pokémon GO, the best locations and strategies for finding Shiny Machamp are linked to the spawn points and weather-boosted areas of its base form, Machop.

  • Spawn Locations:
    To find a shiny Machamp in Pokémon Go, you need to find a shiny Machop first and then progress through the Machamp evolution by feeding it candies and/or trading with friends.
  • Cloudy Weather Areas:
    In-game cloudy weather boosts Fighting-type Pokémon spawns, meaning more Machop in the wild.
    In such weather conditions, make sure to use a Lure Module and Incense at a PokeStop to boost Machop spawns and possibly get a chance to find a shiny Machop.
  • 5-Star Raids:
    Gigantamax Machamp recently showed up in a 6‑star Max Battle back in May 2025. Chances are, it may appear again as Max battles often feature recurring raid bosses. If you're lucky enough to find it, make sure to beat it, and you might encounter a Shiny Gigantamax Machamp.
  • Urban Parks and Popular PokéStop Clusters:
    Machop spawns more often in locations with frequent Pokémon activity. Areas with many PokéStops, especially parks, can increase Machop spawns, giving you more candies and more chances to encounter its shiny version and evolve it into a shiny Machamp in Pokémon Go.
  • Special Events and Community Days:
    Special Events and Community Days often boost Machop’s spawn rate. These events also increase their shiny chances, making them the best time to hunt for Shiny Machop and work toward your shiny Machamp evolution.

Teleport. Raid. Catch. Machamp in minutes with PoGoskill

Now that you know Machamp Pokémon Go stats, evolutions, the best Machamp counters, and where to find it (urban areas, gyms, or spots with high Pokémon activity), it’s time to learn how to catch Machamp in just minutes! This method is perfect for trainers who are short on time and can only spare a few minutes a day.

You can catch Machamp quickly and safely using a reliable GPS spoofer. With PoGoskill location spoofing app, you can teleport to all Machamp coordinates instantly, and even use the on-screen joystick to simulate natural walking with 360-degree freedom, right from the comfort of your home!

Key features include

  • PoGomap Feature: Easily find nearby Pokémon and Raids.
  • Supports auto-catch: Catch Pokémon & spin PokéStops automatically from home.
  • Cooldown Timer: Keeps your account safe by limiting how many times you can spoof in a specific period of time.
Free Download
secure download Secure Download
Free Download
secure download Secure Download

How To Use PoGoskill to Catch Machamp?

  • Step 1Click the Download button and install PoGoskill. Then launch it and connect your device.

    pogoskill lunch
  • Step 2Choose “Game Mode” and pick a location packed with Gyms and PokéStops.

    pogoskill Game Mode
  • Step 3Teleport there, join a raid, and catch Machamp fast!

    pogoskill change location

FAQs About Machamp Pokemon Go

Is Machamp the best fighting type Pokémon?

Machamp is a strong and reliable Fighting-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO, valued for its solid attack and accessibility. However, it is not the best Fighting-type overall in 2025, as Legendary Fighting-types like Zamazenta outperform it in bulk, versatility, and competitive PvP roles.

How to evolve Machoke into Machamp without trading?

To evolve Machoke into Machamp in Pokémon GO without trading, you need to collect and use 100 Machop candies. Once you have 100 candies, you can select Machoke in your Pokémon list and tap the evolve button to evolve it directly into Machamp.

How rare is shiny machamp in Pokémon Go?

Shiny Machamp in Pokémon GO has a standard shiny rate of approximately 1 in 512 during special events such as the Gigantamax Machamp Raid Day event, which was held on May 25, 2025. This rarity rate applies specifically to encounters like the Gigantamax Machamp raids and reflects the typical shiny odds for rare raid bosses in Pokémon GO.

Is Payback good for Machamp in Pokemon Go?

Payback on Machamp in Pokémon GO is a niche, situational move mainly useful in PvP for coverage against Psychic and Ghost types, but it has a high energy cost and generally underperforms compared to better charged moves like Cross Chop, Dynamic Punch, or Stone Edge.

In PvE (raids and gyms), Payback offers little value and is not recommended, as Machamp is primarily valued for its Fighting-type damage output with moves like Counter and Dynamic Punch.

How to get Gigantamax Machamp in Pokemon Go?

Gigantamax Machamp will be featured at Pokémon GO Fest 2025 Max Finale. Specifically, Gigantamax Machamp appears on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time. This provides a great opportunity to battle and catch Gigantamax Machamp during the event window.

gigantamax machamp Pokemon Go

Is Mega Machamp in Pokemon Go?

No, there is currently no Mega Evolution for Machamp in Pokémon GO. Instead, Machamp has a Gigantamax form which was introduced in 2025 and can be encountered during special Max Battle Day events, such as the Gigantamax Machamp Max Battle Day held on May 25, 2025.

Mega Evolutions in Pokémon GO exist for other Pokémon like Mega Kangaskhan and Mega Blaziken, but Mega Machamp is not available as of now.

How to get Machamp yellow version?

In Pokémon GO, there is no "yellow version" of Machamp, as the concept of color versions like Pokémon Yellow applies to the main series games and not to Pokémon GO.

Final Thoughts

As seen above, to get Machamp in Pokémon Go, you need to either hatch or catch Machop from raids or events, then evolve it into Machoke with 25 candies, and then finally into Machamp with an additional 100 candies or by trading Machoke to evolve it for free.

Additionally, you can use the PoGoskill Location Changer, which requires no jailbreak and lets you quickly join raids from home to defeat Machamp faster.

pogoskill location changer PoGoskill

Best Pokemon Go Spoofer

  • Play Pokemon GO safely with the Original App
  • Enjoy Game Mode for PoGo spoofing
  • Quickly find Pokémon, Raids, and Routes nearby
  • Scan 2000+ PokéStops and Gyms in 1 Second
  • Compatible with latest iOS 18 & Android 15
jerry cook Jerry Cook

350+ Articles

  • Fix Gaming Problems
  • AR Gamer
  • Location Issues Technist

With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Jerry Cook has helped over 10,000 gamers conquer their gaming challenges. His expertise in resolving gaming problems is unparalleled.