Overview
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[OVERVIEW]
Machoke is a threatening PU wallbreaker that's nearly impossible to switch into due to its perfect neutral coverage, (AC) and large movepool, in addition and access to priority. It functions as a great status absorber and has solid bulk when running an Eviolite, making it near impossible to OHKO, although most strong attackers are capable of knocking it out in two hits. However, Machoke is so slow that even common defensive Pokemon can outspeed it, and it lacks recovery outside of Rest, which forces it to rely on Sleep Talk to do damage maintain offensive pressure. (or w/e if you mean something else, but this was worded really confusingly cause ST obviously doesn't do damage and it can just use its other attacks while awake) Machoke also has no useful resistances and relies on its Eviolite for bulk, giving it heavy competition with Poliwrath for a teamslot due to the latter's superior defensive typing and ability to hold Leftovers. Despite this, Machoke has a solid place in the PU metagame as a threatening wallbreaker capable of absorbing status on offensive teams.
All Out Attacker
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[SET]
name: All-Out(add hyphen) Attacker
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Bullet Punch
move 4: Ice Punch / Thunder Punch
ability: Guts
item: Eviolite
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Def / 20 SpD / 60 Spe
nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Close Combat is Machoke's main STAB move, although but it comes with the drawback of lowering both Defense and Special Defense each time it's used. While Dynamic Punch can be run in place of Close Combat for no Defense drops and a 100% confusion chance, it doesn't hit as hard and mandates running No Guard over Guts, preventing prevents (clarity) Machoke from being an effective status absorber. Knock Off gives Machoke nearly perfect neutral coverage and smacks Psychic- and Ghost-types while removing items, and Bullet Punch allows Machoke to pick off weakened Pokemon with priority. In the final slot, Ice Punch is preferred to hit defensive Torterra, Jumpluff, and Togetic for super effective damage, but Thunder Punch can be used to OHKO Pelipper while still providing super effective coverage for other Flying-types.
Set Details
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Maximum Attack investment and an Adamant nature make Machoke as strong as possible, while 60 Speed EVs allows allow it to outspeed uninvested Pokemon with base 50 Speed, most notably Lickilicky. The rest of the EVs and the Eviolite maximize Machoke's bulk, helping to make up for its poor Speed.
Usage Tips
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Machoke can be brought in safely against most defensive Pokemon, giving it the opportunity to wallbreak. Bringing it in constantly can help keep the pressure on bulkier teams, which often lack safe switch-ins to Machoke. If running Guts, (doesn't make much sense to mention this cause it's the only slash, feel free to keep it if I'm missing something though) Machoke can be switched into predicted status moves from Pokemon such as Misdreavus and Gourgeist-XL if possible to get the Guts Attack boost, but is thenthis causes it to be worn down by burn and poison quickly due to the its lack of recovery. Machoke is prone to being worn down, so avoid switching into strong attacks, and try to switch in for free rather than constantly taking damage. Machoke can be used as a check to Pokemon like Misdreavus and Zebstrika due to its passable bulk, but it will not be a consistent counter due to its lack of recovery. Click Knock Off more early-game (add hyphen) to cripple teams, especially on Pokemon holding Eviolites. Although it is priority, Bullet Punch is fairly weak and should only be used against extremely weakened opponents. Be careful about switching Machoke into Pokemon with Knock Off, such as Pawniard or Leafeon, as it will leave it crippled for the rest of the game.
Team Options
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Machoke fits best on balanced and bulky offensive teams due to its ability to break down opposing defensive cores and support facilitate (you'd support a sweeper, 'support a sweep' doesn't seem correct) late-game (add hyphen) sweeps. Entry hazard setters, such as Roselia and Piloswine, help Machoke due to the amount of switches it's able to force, racking up passive damage versus opposing teams. Zebstrika is a good offensive partner, as it can counter Jumpluff, which takes little damage from Knock Off and Close Combat, as well as getting and can get Machoke free switches with Volt Switch, although most Electric-types can help to check Flying-types for Machoke in the first place. Defoggers such as Vullaby and Togetic can use the fact that Machoke can check the both of tier's Defiant users, Purugly and Pawniard, to more easily remove hazards, and hazard removal helps Machoke as because its lack of recovery makes it more susceptible to being worn down by entry hazards passive damage. (less repetitive) Nearly every sweeper appreciates Machoke's ability to break down opposing defensive cores and remove Eviolites. Swords Dance Quick Feet Ursaring is a good user of the wallbreaking example, (AC) as it can smash through teams once walls, such as Gourgeist and Togetic, are have been either crippled or removed. Probopass resists every one of Machoke's weaknesses and can give it free switches by utilizing a slow Volt Switch. Grumpig is another good check to Psychic-types that can also provide paralysis support with Thunder Wave to help patch up Machoke's poor Speed. Pursuit trappers such as Pawniard and Dodrio and other Psychic-type checks like such as Mightyena can further help Machoke patch up its Psychic weakness. Wish users such as Hypno and Lickilicky can help keep Machoke healthy throughout the match, giving it more opportunities to wallbreak.
Rest/Talk
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[SET]
name: Rest/Talk RestTalk
move 1: Close Combat
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
ability: Guts
item: Eviolite
ability: Guts
nature: Adamant
evs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Def / 20 SpD / 60 Spe
nature: Adamant
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Close Combat is Machoke's strongest attack, although but it comes with the drawback of Defense and Special Defense drops. Knock Off gives Machoke coverage against Ghost- and Psychic-types (RC) and comes with the added benefit of removing opposing teams' items. Rest allows Machoke to keep healthy throughout the match, and Sleep Talk gives it the opportunity to attack while asleep.
Set Details
========
Machoke's Attack EVs and Adamant nature allow it to deal as much damage as possible, while the Speed investment makes it faster than uninvested base 50 Speed Pokemon such as Lickilicky. The other EVs coupled with the Eviolite give Machoke as much bulk as possible to take hits more easily.
Usage Tips
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Machoke can consistently switch into all walls without a super effective STAB moves move, so use it as a sponge for weaker attacks from defensive Pokemon. Use Rest to keep Machoke healthy, but beware of the free turns it can give to opposing teams. While Resting asleep, Machoke becomes even stronger due to its Guts ability, so use the Attack boosts boost to deal more damage to defensive Pokemon. Use Knock Off more early-game (add hyphen) to cripple opposing teams early on. Be careful about switching Machoke into stronger attackers, as they can all either 2HKO it due to Machoke's only passable bulk or Knock Off its Eviolite.
Team Options
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Rest/Talk RestTalk Machoke fits best on balanced teams that lack a solid status absorber and sponge for weaker attacks. Electric-types help take on the Flying-types that threaten to OHKO Machoke, as well as while also threatening Pelipper, which can wall Machoke even without a Flying-type move. Pokemon with Rapid Spin such as Armaldo can use Machoke's ability to threaten Ghost-types that can block their Rapid Spins to remove entry hazards more easily. Similarly, Pokemon with Defog such as Pelipper can take advantage of Machoke's type advantage versus both Defiant users in the tier to more easily remove entry hazards. Steel-types such as Probopass can resist every single one of Machoke's weaknesses, making them ideal defensive partners.
Strategy Comments
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[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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A Choice Band can be used over Eviolite on all-out (add hyphen) attacking Machoke to make it even stronger, but this also makes it more difficult to advantage of its excellent coverage due to being locked into a single move. A faster spread with 172 Speed EVs can be used on a four attacks set with Thunder Punch to outspeed uninvested Pelipper, however but this significantly cuts into Machoke's bulk and most Pelippers Pelipper run Speed investment regardless. Cross Chop is an option on RestTalk Machoke over Close Combat in order to prevent the defense drops, but it is also weaker and has imperfect accuracy. Encore is an option on a four attacks set to lock Pokemon into ineffective moves, but doing so sacrifices valuable coverage or priority. Heavy Slam and Earthquake can also be used to hit Clefairy or Arbok, respectively, but again this sacrifices important coverage to hit Pokemon that can easily be handled by teammates.
Checks & Counters
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Checks and Counters
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**Flying-types**: Most Flying-types resist Close Combat and can hit back to either OHKO or 2HKO with their super effective STAB moves (most notably Dodrio, Swanna and Jumpluff). However, none appreciate switching in on Knock Off, Thunder Punch, or Ice Punch. Pelipper can also wall all variants of Machoke not running Thunder Punch.
**Arbok**: Arbok can easily set up Coils on Machoke and hit it for strong high damage with Gunk Shot (RC) while not caring too much about any of Machoke's attacks save the rare Earthquake.
**Fairy-types**: (add hyphen) Although they loses their Eviolite, Clefairy and Togetic are some of the best answers to Machoke by resisting due to their resistance to both Close Combat and Knock Off, although Togetic fears Ice/ThunderPunch Ice Punch and Thunder Punch and they both take significant damage from Heavy Slam, especially once their Eviolite has been knocked off.
**Psychic-types**: (add hyphen) Although they can't switch in on a Knock Off, Kadabra and Grumpig can revenge Machoke after a little prior damage with Psychic; (SC) as well as being able to additionally, they can (bit too much going on in this sentence) come in on the resisted Close Combat, although Kadabra will lose its Focus Sash.
**Hard Hitters**: Nearly all offensive (remove line break) Pokemon in PU outspeeds Machoke (RC) and due to its lack of resistances can 2HKO or revenge kill Machoke it due to its lack of resistances, although it can win in a 1v1 one-on-one situation against most of the tier's strong attackers, such as Stoutland and Simipour.
