The Superpower Pokemon. Machop's Fighting type sounds promising, but Psychic dominance in Gen 1 makes the entire line struggle in Yellow's competitive scene.
305HP70Attack80Defense50Speed35Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Machop
Machoke
Machamp
Weak to
Physical
Trick Room
35Speed · Very Slow

Is Machop Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Found in Rock Tunnel. Machop is slow and weak on the special side but provides Fighting coverage that helps against Giovanni and Lorelei. The goal is Machamp through trade, but Machoke works fine on its own.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTETETGGEGEEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3MachopCatchableMachokeEvolveErikaGym 4MachampEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Machop's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
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 GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Machop trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Also good Pokemon you can catch and use for Gym 3
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Machoke's defenses.

Even
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's team hits Machamp's weaknesses hard.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

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

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

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

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Easy KO
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Even
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
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 SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream 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
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Machamp trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 3
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Catch Machop on Route 10 (walking, Lv 16-18, rare).

View Machop locations

Evolve Machop to Machoke

Level 28
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Machop evolves into Machoke at Level 28. Your Machop should hit Level 28 before you reach Erika, at typical leveling pace.

View Machoke locations

Recommended Moves

Evolve Machoke 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 Yellow

Machop turns up in a cave at a couple of spots, common to rare depending where. The level range stays tight, so a caught Machop slots in without much grinding.

2 locations to catch Machop

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 3

Where To Catch Machop in Y

Machop is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking and trade encounters from Lv. 16-45 across 6 total spots in the chain.

  1. Machamp
    Step 3Evolve into Machamp

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Yellow 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
Scyther
Scyther
BugFlying
C
Butterfree
Butterfree
BugFlying
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

Y Machop Best Moveset

Fighting typing actively hurts in a format where Psychic-types dominate. Stats too low for any role at any tier. The evolution line leads to Machamp, where 130 Attack still can't overcome the type disadvantage.

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

Very powerful in spite of its small size. Its mastery of many types of martial arts makes it very tough.

Pokemon Yellow

Machop Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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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