Several Reasons Why You Should Have a Machamp or Two

Everyone should have a Machamp. It’s such a useful Pokemon. Why? Well Machamp is just so damn useful. It’s good to have a few of them, six at least. Even having one single, great Machamp does a lot for you. But how useful IS Machamp? There are plenty of reasons why.

The best choice for defeating gyms

What do you normally see in Gyms? Snorlax, Slaking and Blissey, of course! Big, bulky Pokemon. These Pokemon have high health, even as their motivation drops. These Pokemon are also Normal types. Which means they are weak to Fighting types. And Machamp has been the go-to when it comes to gyms for years. Machamp can easily tear through most gyms and will continue to do so for years.

Great for quickly beating Team Leaders in training matches

When it comes to walking a low CP buddy Pokemon, waiting for Team Rocket fights or doing gyms. But if you need to battle right now, you can just use a Machamp, particularly against Blanche. My preferred Machamp is a 1200cp one that can handily defeat Blanche’s great league team. Using that Machamp, you have two empty slots you can slip multiple buddies in.

Amazing against Team Rocket GO

Machamp is a star pick for many Team Rocket fights. Not just because of its typing but because it hits hard and has some fast-charging charge moves. With Team Rocket leaders in particular, Machamp excels at breaking shields, either with Cross Chop or Rock Slide, both of which charge quickly enough to be ready to attack before the Rocket leaders do.

Machamp was also excellent for the Challengers that some bigger Pokemon GO events have. For the Pokemon Championships, I beat half the challengers I faced with a single Machamp. Granted, those fights aren’t that hard and I have a strong Machamp, but still, Machamp does work a little too much.

A good choice for PvP

Fighting types are excellent for PvP as well, and Machamp, while not as bulky as other types, has all the right moves to shine. Counter is one of the best fast moves, Dynamic Punch is a strong move with STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) but Machamp also has great cover moves. The exclusive move Payback works great against Psychic types, Machamp’s biggest enemy. More importantly though, Machamp has the great cover move Rock Slide, which really ruins the day for flying types.

Sure, fairy types will still screw you over, but at least you can throw some rocks at those damn pixies.

Cheaper than other Fighters

The most important thing about Machamp though is that it’s cheap to get a Machamp or three. Lucario is good but not bulky and is still somewhat rare. While Timburr has been in raids semi-regularly, that too is expensive to evolve. Sure, you can evolve for free when you trade these guys, but trading requires luck, which you don’t want to have to rely on.

Speaking of luck, Machop is also available in shadow form, thanks to Team Rocket. It’s expensive to power a shadow Machop up, but boy does shadow Machamp punch hard. If or when shadow Lucario comes out, it will definitely be stronger, but with our current Pokemon line-ups, shadow Machamp is king.

Plus, Machop just seems to be a common spawn. Even if Lucario and Conkuldurr are better, the difference is small enough to not worry about it.

So grab yourself a Machamp and start kicking people’s asses.