The Superpower Pokemon. Machop's Fighting type seems useful, but Psychic types dominate Gen 1 and make the whole Machop line struggle.
305HP70Attack80Defense50Speed35Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Machop
Machoke
Machamp
Weak to
Physical
Trick Room
35Speed · Very Slow

Is Machop Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Machop is slow and fragile on the special side but hits hard physically. Fighting coverage is valuable throughout Red and Blue. The goal is Machamp, but that requires trading through Machoke.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTGTETGGGGEEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3MachopCatchableErikaGym 4MachampEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Machop's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Machop has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Even
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Machop's defenses.

Avoid
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
Even
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Avoid
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's team hits Machamp's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
Risky
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

Easy KO
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Even
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Machamp has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

You Win
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Catchable

Available after Badge 3
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Catch Machop in Rock Tunnel (walking, Lv 15-17, uncommon).

View Machop locations

Evolve Machop to Machamp

Trade
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Machoke evolves into Machamp when traded. Most players are ready to trade before reaching Koga.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Machop in Red & Blue

Machop works Rock Tunnel and Victory Road, ten spots, common in the latter. A dependable Fighting-type once you reach the mid-game tunnels, present in both versions.

2 locations to catch Machop

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8

Where To Catch Machop in RB

The line opens with Machop at Lv. 15-24 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Machamp
    Step 3Evolve into Machamp

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Red & Blue for Machop.

Machop Weakness

Type-wise, Machop takes extra damage from Flying and Psychic. Its Fighting typing keeps the defensive matchups simple. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Machop Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Flying, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Bug, Rock
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Machop Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Machop Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Machop

Hypno
Hypno
Psychic
C
Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
B
Golbat
Golbat
PoisonFlying
C
Butterfree
Butterfree
BugFlying
C
Spearow
Spearow
NormalFlying
C

Machop Evolutions

Machop starts a line toward Machamp. Can't breed this Fighting type (305 stats), so keep the evolution path going. Evolving adds up to 200 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Machop
Fighting
Machoke
Fighting
Machamp
Fighting
HP
70
80+10
90+10
ATK
80
100+20
130+30
DEF
50
70+20
80+10
SP.ATK
35
50+15
65+15
SP.DEF
35
60+25
85+25
SPE
35
45+10
55+10
BST
305E-Tier
405E-Tier+100
505E-Tier+100
ROLE
Trick Room
Attacker
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Machop Best Moveset

Fighting pre-evolution with stats too low to compete. The typing actively hurts in a meta where Psychic dominates everything. Evolve through Machoke toward Machamp.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Machop
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Low KickSTAB
  • Fire Blast
  • EarthquakeCoverage
  • Body Slam

Moves List

TMs define Machop's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Submission and Karate Chop, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Ground coverage and more. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Karate Chop
C5010025Normal
Lv 20
Low Kick
S—9020Fighting
Lv 25
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 32
Focus Energy
———30Normal
Lv 39
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting
Lv 46
Submission
C1208025Fighting

TM Moves

All 23 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
S8510015Normal
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
D—10020Fighting
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSilph Co.badge 5
S10010010Ground
TM38S120855Fire
TM27——305Ground
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
C120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
D808520Normal
TM35
MetronomePokémon Labbadge 6
D——10Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM48D759010Rock
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
C1208025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Machop can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP70
C
Attack80
C
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed35
F
Total305
Details
Catch Rate
Moderate180 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.8 m
Weight19.5 kg
Base XP61
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

Loves to build its muscles. It trains in all styles of martial arts to become even stronger.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Machop Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, Machop does the job early-game if you need a Fighting type on your team. Evolve it into Machoke before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Machop has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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