Machoke is one of the most recognizable Pokémon in the franchise, known for its powerful build and impressive strength. If you’ve got a Machoke and want to evolve it into the even stronger Machamp, you’re in the right place. Unlike many Pokémon that evolve through leveling up, Machoke has a unique evolution method that requires a bit more effort. But don’t worry—it’s simple once you know what to do.
Machoke is the evolved form of Machop and is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon. It evolves into Machamp through trading, which is different from traditional level-based evolutions. If you’ve been training your Machoke and wondering why it hasn’t evolved, it’s because leveling up alone won’t do the trick. Instead, you must trade it to another player, triggering its evolution into Machamp.
Before you can evolve a Machoke, you need to have one in your possession. If you don’t already have a Machoke, you can either catch a wild one or evolve a Machop into Machoke at level 28.
Since Machoke evolves through trading, you’ll need another person to trade with. This can be done in multiple ways depending on which Pokémon game you are playing.
Once you have a trading partner, start the trade and send your Machoke to them. The moment the trade is completed, Machoke will evolve into Machamp.
If you want to keep the Machamp you just evolved, ask your trading partner to send it back. Most players do “trade-backs,” where they return evolved Pokémon after completing the trade.
In some modern Pokémon games, trading may not be necessary. Certain game versions offer alternative evolution methods. For example, Pokémon Legends: Arceus allows players to evolve trade-dependent Pokémon using an item called the Linking Cord. If you’re playing this game, simply use the Linking Cord on Machoke, and it will evolve into Machamp without the need for trading.
Machamp is a significant upgrade from Machoke in both design and battle capability. Here’s why you should evolve Machoke as soon as possible:
Once you’ve evolved your Machoke into Machamp, you’ll want to train it properly to maximize its potential. Here are some tips: