Machoke, like its evolved form, is a pure Fighting-type Pokemon. It evolves from Machop at level 28. To get Machamp, players need to trade Machoke to someone else and have it traded back to them.
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How to Get Machoke in Sword and Shield
The easiest way to get Machoke is to evolve Machop. Luckily, Machop can be found early in-game as a Random Encounter on Route 3. It’s also spotted in several different areas in the Wild Area (ex: North and South Lake Miloch). Thanks to the Camping feature in Sword & Shield, players can cook curry for their Machop until it has 2 “Camp Hearts.”
Once Machop has enough hearts, it will start earning double experience in battle. Coupled with the EXP share that’s been present since Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!/Let’s Go, Eevee!, Machop should reach level 28 in a relatively short time.
Players who don’t have the time or patience to evolve Machop can instead find Machoke in Max Raid Battles in the Wild Area or in Dynamax Adventures. It also appears as a Visible Pokemon at Axew’s Eye and Stony Wilderness, and a Random Encounter at Hammerlocke Hills and Giant’s Seat.
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Evolving Machoke
The method of trading has certainly evolved over time with Pokemon. In Sword & Shield, players will be locked out of trading/battling until they receive the Pokedex. What follows is a bit more complex.
Players have two different ways of trading in generation 8. They can either Trade Locally or they can use Online Trading. Trading can either be done with a complete stranger, or players can use “Link Codes.” Note: Unlike Local Trading, Online Trading requires the Nintendo Online subscription. Here are the differences and how to initiate them:
Local Trading
After getting the Pokedex, open the Y-Comm Menu with Y. Select Link Trade; both players need to do this. Trading with a specific person ONLY: Players need to put in the same code after selecting “Set Link Code. " Wait to be connected once the menu is closed.
Online Trading
Both players need to have the Nintendo Online subscription. Open the Y-Comm Menu with Y. Select “Start Trading” to trade with a random person, or. . . Trading with a specific person ONLY: Use “Set Link Code. " Close the menu.
Other methods of trading involve Surprise Trades and using Pokemon Home.
Since the goal is to evolve Machoke, it’s highly recommended to trade with someone who is trustworthy. There are too many incidents of Scam Trades in Pokemon. Players want to avoid trading away their Machoke and not being able to get back their fully-evolved Machamp.
Pokemon Sword & Shield is available now on Nintendo Switch.
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