Machamp Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Machamp in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Machamp
Machamp is a 3-Star Raids raid boss in Pokemon GO with fighting typing. The best counter is Shadow Mewtwo (Shadow) with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 44.118 DPS. Machamp's shiny form is available from raid encounters.
Machamp can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Machamp is weak to Fairy, Flying, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Dark, Rock-type moves as Machamp resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Machamp is Shadow Mewtwo (44.118 DPS), Mega Alakazam (42.556 DPS), and Mega Rayquaza (38.968 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Machamp: After defeating Machamp, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1709 and 1790 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 2126-2226 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Machamp from raids will have exactly 1790 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Machamp?
The best counter for Machamp is Shadow Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike, dealing 44.118 DPS. Other top options include Mega Alakazam (42.556 DPS) and Mega Rayquaza (38.968 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Machamp?
Machamp can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Machamp weak to?
Machamp is weak to Fairy, Flying, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Dark, Rock-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Machamp be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Yes! Machamp's shiny form is available from raid encounters. The shiny rate for legendary raids is approximately 1 in 20 (5%). Use a Pinap Berry if you already have a shiny and want extra candy.
What CP is a 100% IV Machamp from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Machamp from raids will have 1790 CP at level 20, or 2226 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1709. If you see 1790 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Machamp worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Machamp is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Machamp?
For the best moveset for Machamp itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Machamp stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Machamp without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Machamp can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Mewtwo (36.824 DPS) and Enamorus (Incarnate) (36.167 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Machamp in raids?
Machamp is weather boosted during cloudy weather. When boosted, Machamp is harder to defeat (higher CP in the raid) but the catch encounter will be level 25 instead of 20, giving you a higher CP catch (2126-2226 CP) with potentially better IVs. Weather boost is a double-edged sword — harder raid, better reward.