You've finally caught that scrappy little grey powerhouse. Maybe you found it wandering around Route 207 in Sinnoh, or perhaps you're grinding through the Kanto tall grass. Either way, the question is burning: what level does Machop evolve?
Nobody wants to be stuck with the "basic" version of a Pokémon forever. Especially not when its older brothers have four arms and a championship belt.
The Magic Number for Machop
To evolve your Machop into Machoke, you need to hit level 28.
This is the standard across almost every single mainline game. Red, Blue, Yellow? Level 28. Sword, Shield, Scarlet, or Violet? Still level 28. It’s one of those rare constants in the Pokémon world that hasn’t changed since the 90s.
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Hitting 28 is a huge deal. Your tiny martial artist grows significantly, develops that signature black-striped muscular look, and gets a massive bump in Attack and HP. Honestly, the difference in "feel" when you finally see that evolution screen is night and day.
What Level Does Machop Evolve in Spin-offs?
While the main games stick to the rules, some spin-offs like to do their own thing. It's kinda annoying if you're jumping between titles.
In Pokémon Quest, the blocky expedition game on Switch and mobile, things move a bit faster. Machop still evolves at level 28 there. However, the next step is where it gets weird. Since you can't trade in Quest, Machoke evolves into Machamp at level 36 automatically.
Then there’s Pokémon GO. Levels don't work the same way in Niantic's world. You don't wait for a specific level; you just need 25 Machop Candies. Once you've got those, you click the button and—boom—you've got a Machoke.
Why Isn't My Machop Evolving at Level 28?
So, you hit the mark. You're at level 28, maybe even 29 or 30, and nothing happened. Don't panic. You haven't broken the game. There are usually two very simple reasons for this.
- The Everstone: Check your held items. If you gave your Machop an Everstone (maybe to boost its stats with Eviolite), it will never evolve. Take it off.
- The B Button: If you accidentally tapped the B button during the evolution animation, you cancelled the process. Just level it up one more time (to 29, 30, etc.) and it will try to evolve again.
It’s also worth mentioning that your Machop needs to level up via experience—usually from a battle or a Rare Candy. If it's just sitting in your PC, it’s not going to transform on its own.
Evolution Table at a Glance
| Stage | Requirement | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First Evolution | Level 28 | Machoke |
| Second Evolution | Trade (or Linking Cord) | Machamp |
The Machoke to Machamp Problem
Getting to Machoke is the easy part. The real headache starts when you want that four-armed beast, Machamp. For decades, the only way to get a Machamp was to trade your Machoke to a friend.
This has caused a lot of heartbreak. You send your prized fighter away, and if your "friend" is a jerk, you never see it again.
Is there a way around trading? Sorta. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak finally gave us a break. They introduced the Linking Cord item. It works like an evolution stone. You use it on Machoke, and it evolves immediately without needing another person.
In Pokémon GO, you can also bypass the trade by spending 100 Candies. But let's be real—if someone trades you a Machoke in GO, the evolution to Machamp becomes free. That's a huge saving on resources.
Strategy: Should You Wait to Evolve?
Some players think you should hold off on evolving. In earlier generations, unevolved Pokémon sometimes learned moves faster than their evolved counterparts.
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With the Machop line, this isn't really a huge concern anymore. Most of the heavy-hitting moves like Dynamic Punch or Cross Chop are learned at similar levels regardless of whether you're a Machop or a Machoke.
Basically, as soon as you hit level 28, go for it. The stat boost you get from becoming a Machoke is much more valuable than saving a couple of levels on a specific move. You'll survive longer in battles, which means you'll earn more XP anyway.
Key Takeaways for Trainers
- Mainline Games: Hit level 28. No items needed.
- Legends Arceus: Use a Linking Cord if you don't want to trade.
- Pokémon GO: 25 Candies for the first step, 100 for the second (or a trade).
- Items: Ensure no Everstone is held.
If you're playing Brilliant Diamond or Shining Pearl, you can find Machop early on Route 207. It's one of the best Fighting types for a casual playthrough, especially for taking on the early gyms. Just keep grinding until that level 28 threshold, and you'll be set.
Now that you know the level requirements, the next step is to head into the tall grass and start training. If you're playing a version that requires trading for the final form, check out local Discord groups or the r/pokemontrades subreddit to find a reliable partner for a "touch trade" so you can finally add Machamp to your PokéDex.