Is Machoke Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Powerful even without evolving. AbilityGuts turns status conditions into damage boosts. Handles Byron, Candice, and Cynthia's Lucario without much trouble. Trade it to unlock Machamp if you can.
Machop has the type edge here and should clean up Roark's team.
Machop trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Machoke trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Machoke has the type edge here and should clean up Crasher Wake's team.
Fantina's team hits Machoke's weaknesses hard.
Machoke has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Machamp resists most of Candice's coverage and hits back hard.
Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Volkner's team.
Machamp trades roughly evenly with Aaron's team.
Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.
Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Machamp trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Cynthia's team.
Catch Machop on Route 207 (walking, Lv 5-7, common).
Your Machop should hit Level 28 before you reach Maylene, at typical leveling pace.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Candice.
How to Get Machoke in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The chain to Machoke requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Machop at solid rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
Where To Catch Machoke in BDSP
To get Machoke, start by catching Machop through walking encounters at Lv. 5-58. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch MachopRoute 207Lv.5-7GrassRate 45%DayRoute 207Lv.5-7GrassRate 35%MorningRoute 207Lv.5-7GrassRate 25%NightMt. Coronet - Route 207 EntranceLv.15-16CaveRate 25%Mt. Coronet - Route 211 EntranceLv.13CaveRate 10%Route 208Lv.16-17GrassRate 20%Morning/dayRoute 210 - NorthLv.25-26GrassRate 20%Morning/dayGrassland CaveLv.16-20CaveSpacious CaveLv.16-20CaveSunlit CavernLv.16-20CaveWhiteout CaveLv.16-20CaveRoute 208Lv.17GrassRate 10%NightRoute 210 - NorthLv.26GrassRate 10%Night
Step 2Machoke ✓Route 211 - EastLv.27-28GrassRate 20%Morning/dayGrassland CaveLv.25-29CaveRequires DefogSpacious CaveLv.25-29CaveRequires DefogSunlit CavernLv.25-29CaveRequires DefogWhiteout CaveLv.25-29CaveRequires DefogRoute 210 - NorthLv.26GrassRate 10%Route 211 - EastLv.27GrassRate 10%NightVictory Road - 1FLv.44-46CaveRate 25%Victory Road - B1FLv.44-46CaveRate 25%Route 216Lv.33-34GrassRate 20%Morning/dayAcuity LakefrontLv.35-36GrassRate 20%Morning/dayRoute 217Lv.35-36GrassRate 20%Morning/dayMt. Coronet - SummitLv.39-40CaveRate 20%Morning/dayMt. Coronet - B1FLv.31CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - Route 216 EntranceLv.31CaveRate 10%Route 216Lv.34GrassRate 10%NightAcuity LakefrontLv.36GrassRate 10%NightRoute 217Lv.36GrassRate 10%NightMt. Coronet - 2FLv.37CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - 3FLv.37CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - 4FLv.39CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - 5FLv.39CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - SummitLv.40CaveRate 10%NightMt. Coronet - Top CaveLv.40CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - 6FLv.41CaveRate 10%Mt. Coronet - 7FLv.41CaveRate 10%Victory Road - Nat Dex AreaLv.50-52CaveRate 25%Victory Road - Nat Dex Area B1FLv.50-52CaveRate 25%Route 226Lv.53GrassRate 10%Stark Mountain - EntranceLv.56CaveRate 10%Stark Mountain - InteriorLv.58CaveRate 10%Route 225Lv.51GrassRate 5%or evolve from Machop (Step 1)
Step 3Evolve into Machamp
Machoke Weakness
Machoke's Fighting typing leaves it vulnerable to Flying, Psychic, and Fairy. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fighting typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Flying, Psychic, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug, Rock, Dark |
What is Machoke Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Machoke
 Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x112-133%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x92-108%KO Aerial Ace 2x24-29% | ||
 Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
 Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Dream Eater 2x131-155%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x70-82% | ||
 Masquerain Bug | C | |
 Hypno Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Hypno builds →Dream Eater 2x89-105%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x46-56% | ||
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x112-133%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x92-108%KO Aerial Ace 2x24-29% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Dream Eater 2x131-155%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x70-82% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Hypno Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Hypno builds →Dream Eater 2x89-105%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x46-56% | ||
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x109-129%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x89-105%KO Aerial Ace 2x22-26% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Dream Eater 2x127-150%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x68-81% | ||
 Staraptor Normal | B | |
 Grumpig Psychic | C | |
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x110-129%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x89-105%KO Aerial Ace 2x22-26% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Dream Eater 2x126-149%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x67-80% | ||
Staraptor Normal | B | |
 Chimecho Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Chimecho builds →Dream Eater 2x102-120%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x55-65% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x108-127%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x86-102%KO Aerial Ace 2x21-26% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Dream Eater 2x123-145%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x65-77% | ||
Chimecho Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Chimecho builds →Dream Eater 2x102-120%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x55-65% | ||
Masquerain Bug | C | |
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x108-127%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x86-102%KO Aerial Ace 2x21-26% | ||
Golbat Poison | C | |
Obtain MethodMt Coronet Surfing | ||
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Dream Eater 2x123-145%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x65-77% | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x123-146%KO Air Slash 2x78-92% Dazzling Gleam 2x55-65% | ||
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Kadabra Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x151-178%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x67-79% | ||
 Granbull Fairy | C | |
Mr. Mime PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Mr. Mime builds →Dream Eater 2x108-128%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x87-102%KO Aerial Ace 2x22-26% | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Staraptor's Double-Edge hits Machoke for 46-54%. Gardevoir's Moonblast hits Machoke for 84-99%. Togekiss deals 68-81% with Dazzling Gleam.
Staraptor Normal | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityReckless ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Staraptor builds →Close Combat31-36% Double Edge46-54% U Turn9-11% | ||
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTrace ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x84-99% Psychic 2x80-94% Shadow Ball23-28% | ||
 Togekiss Fairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySerenegrace ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Machoke View Togekiss builds →Air Slash 2x64-76% Dazzling Gleam 2x68-81% | ||
Machoke Evolutions
Sitting between Machop and Machamp, Machoke is part of a chain that requires a trade. Not your typical level-up setup. So far, Sp.Def got the biggest boost (+25 from Machop). The final form adds another 100 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Machoke to get Machop eggs easily using 39 partners from the Humanshape egg group. Notable egg moves include Bullet Punch, Close Combat, Counter and 10 more.
BDSP Machoke Best Moveset
100 Attack with AbilityNo Guard meaning every move connects without exception. The moveset has physical Fighting TermStab at moderate power, but 80/70/60 bulk is exploitable and 45 Speed goes last. One evolution from Machamp's B-tier AbilityNo Guard offense.
Best Build
Machoke best EVs are HP and Defense
Bulky Support Moveset
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Bulk Up
- Close Combat
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
STAB runs through Focus Punch and Focus Blast for the basics, but Machoke's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Dark and Normal hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Machoke’s boundless power is very dangerous, so it wears a belt that suppresses its energy.
It can lift a dump truck with one hand. Using that kind of strength, it helps people do heavy jobs.
Machoke Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
Machoke is meant to evolve into Machamp. At 405 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, watch for Aerodactyl (Flying), Alakazam (Psychic), and Clefable (Fairy) when using Machoke. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
No. Machoke only evolves into Machamp through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Machoke to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required.
Guts increases Attack to 1.5× with a major status ailment. That's the one you want on Machoke. Steadfast is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. No Guard works too if your team needs something different.
Base 45 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Machoke is a physical attacker with base 100 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as an attacker.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Machoke has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves