How to Evolve Machoke in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and More

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Learn the ins and outs of Machoke's evolution

Co-authored by Ethan Dobbs and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: December 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Trading in the Game
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• Evolving in Pokémon Legends: Arceus
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• Evolving in Pokémon GO
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• Evolving with an Emulator
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• Video
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• Expert Interview
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• Q&A

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Machoke can be evolved into Machamp when it is traded to another player. This means that you'll need to find someone who has the same system and game as you so that you can trade with them. Once you've traded the Machoke and it evolves into a Machamp, have the other person trade it back to you. If you're using an emulator, you'll need to use a workaround to evolve Machoke. In this article, we'll go over all the ways to evolve Machoke, including top tips from Pokémon expert Ethan Dobbs.

Evolving Machoke

• In most versions of the game, you'll need to trade your Machoke with a friend to get it to evolve.
• In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you can get a special item called a Linking Cable, which can be used to evolve your Machoke without trading it.
• In Pokémon GO, you can evolve Machoke by gathering 100 Machop candies or have someone else trade you a Machoke to evolve it for free.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Trading in the Game

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1. 
   1
   Find a friend to trade with, or use another system and game. To evolve Machoke, you'll need to trade it to someone. Your friend will need to have the same system and generation of Pokémon game in order to trade. In Generation VI, you can trade online with other people. Just make sure that they know you want your Machamp back!

   • If you're using an older console that doesn't have online trading (like the Game Boy Color or Game Boy Advance), you'll need the link cable for that console to make a trade.
   • If you don't have a friend with the same system and generation of game, you'll need a second copy of the game on another console to do the trade.
   • If you're using an emulator, it may be difficult to trade the Pokémon. If you're playing a Generation IV game, you can edit the ROM file to allow you to evolve Machoke through leveling up.
2. 
   2
   Ensure you meet the requirements in the game to trade. You can't trade with someone until you've accomplished a few things early on. This shouldn't affect most players, but you may be trying to trade too early.

   • Generation I: You can trade after receiving the Pokédex from Professor Oak.
   • Generation II: You can trade after giving the Mystery Egg to Professor Elm.
   • Generation III: You can trade after getting the Pokédex from Professor Birch in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, or from Professor Oak in Pokémon Fire Red and Leaf Green.
   • Generation IV: You can trade after getting the Pokédex from Professor Rowan in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, or from Professor Oak in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
   • Generation V: You can trade after you get the Trio Badge and receive the C-Gear in Pokémon Black and White, or after you get the Basic Badge and receive the C-Gear in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
   • Generation VI: You can trade as soon as you have two Pokémon in Pokémon X and Y.
     • In Pokémon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby, you must get the PlayNav from Wally, and you must have at least two Pokémon in your team.
   • Generation VII: You can trade as soon as you get to the first Pokémon Center in the game in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon.
     • In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, you'll be able to trade when Professor Oak gives you Razz Berries after you deliver a Parcel to him. You'll also need at least two Pokémon in your Pokémon Box and/or Party, not including walking and Partner Pokémon, to trade with another game.
   • Generation VIII: In Pokémon Sword and Shield, you'll unlock Y-Comm, which you can trade on, after Professor Magnolia gives you a Dynamax Band on Route 2.
     • In Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, you'll need to visit Sandgem Town and receive a Pokédex from Professor Rowan, in addition to having two or more Pokémon in your PC and/or Party if you want to trade with another game.
   • Generation IX: You'll need to visit and use the first Pokémon Center, which is located at Los Platos (East).
     • In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, you'll be able to trade once you get through the intro to the game and unlock Mable's Research, which also unlocks Link Play.
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3. 3
   Put Machoke in your party (Generations I-IV). In the earlier Generations of Pokémon games, you'll need to have Machoke in your party to trade it to someone. In later games, you can trade any of the Pokémon you have stored.
4. 
   4
   Connect the two devices. The method of connection depends on the systems you are connecting.

   • Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance: Connect the two systems with a Game Link cable. You can't connect two different versions of Game Boy. Enter the Union Room on the second floor of the Pokémon Center to find the other player.
   • Nintendo DS: You can connect wirelessly with other systems in the vicinity. Generation V games have an IR feature built into the cartridge.
   • Nintendo 3DS: Press the L and R buttons and select the Player Select System. This will allow you to find people in the vicinity or connect to the internet and trade online. When trading online, make sure your partner knows you want the evolved Machamp back.
   • Nintendo Switch & Switch 2: You'll need to be connected to the internet and have access to Nintendo Switch Online. You'll be able to set a Link Code on the trading menu. Let your partner know what the Link Code is, so they are able to trade with you. Let them know you'd like your evolved Machamp back, so they know to start the process again once they receive it.
5. 
   5
   Trade your Machoke. Your Machoke will evolve into Machamp immediately after being traded. According to Dobbs, now is when you'll have your trading partner trade Machamp back to you once you've finished the trade.

   • Dobbs says to make sure your Machoke isn't holding an Everstone, or it won't be able to evolve.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Evolving in Pokémon Legends: Arceus

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1. 1
   Obtain a Linking Cord. Unlike other Pokémon games, you can evolve Machamp into Machoke using an item called a Linking Cord. The Linking Cord can be obtained from the following places in Pokémon Legends: Arceus:

   • In Jubilife Village
   • On the floor in Space-time Distortions
   • As a gift for completing the Path of Tenacity battle
   • As a reward for completing the "Getting to Know Ghosts" request
   • As a reward from Space-time Distortions
2. 2
   Use the Linking Cord on your Machamp. Using the Linking Cord on your Machamp will cause it to immediately evolve into a Machoke, similarly to how an evolution stone works.

   • The Linking Cord has flavor text in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, but it can only be obtained in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. If you give a Linking Cord to a Pokémon that doesn't use it, you may be able to trade it to Scarlet/Violet/Z-A, where you can then use it on your Machoke.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Evolving in Pokémon GO

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1. 1
   Obtain 100 Machop candies. If you don't want to trade your Machoke (or you have no one to trade with), you can gather 100 Machop candies to evolve your Machoke into a Machamp.

   • The fastest way to gather Machop candies is to catch them. Use a Pinap Berry when you do to double the amount of candies gained.
   • If you have Rare Candies, convert them into Machop candies.
2. 
   2
   Get someone else to trade you a Machoke. Since Pokémon GO Pokémon can only be traded once, you'll need a friend to trade you a Machoke they caught so you can get a Machamp. If you trade your own Machoke to a friend, you won't be able to get it back.

   • If you are traded a Machoke, the candy cost to evolve it to a Machamp will be free.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Evolving with an Emulator

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1. 
   1
   Understand the process. You'll be using a special program on your computer that will modify your ROM file's data. These changes will allow you to evolve Machoke into Machamp without having to trade. Instead, it will attempt to evolve as soon as it reaches Level 37. You will need a computer to complete this process, but you can transfer the altered ROM file to your mobile device if you typically play on the go.
2. 2
   Download the Universal Pokémon Game Randomizer tool. This will allow you to edit your ROM file so that Machoke (and other trade-evolution Pokémon) can be evolved the traditional way through leveling. You can download this fan-made tool for free on GitHub.
3. 3
   Extract the folder containing the Randomizer tool. Right-click on the downloaded ZIP file and click "Extract All". Follow the prompts to create a new folder for the program.
4. 4
   Run the Universal Pokémon Game Randomizer tool. Double-click the .bat file for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux) to run the program. The randomizer window will open with a variety of options.

   • You will need Java installed on your computer to run the Universal Pokémon Game Randomizer. See How to Install Java for instructions on installing Java on your computer.
5. 5
   Click the "Open ROM" button and browse for your ROM file. If your ROM is in ZIP format, you'll need to extract it before you can edit it in the Randomizer. You can use this tool on any generation ROM (except Generation VI).
6. 6
   Check the "Change Impossible Evolution" box. You can find this box in the "General Options" section of the Randomizer. This is the only setting you should check or change in the Universal Pokémon Game Randomizer.
7. 7
   Click the "Randomize (Save)" button. This will apply the evolution changes to all Pokémon in your game that require trades to evolve. Don't worry that the button says "Randomize", since nothing else will be changed as long as you have not enabled any other options.
8. 8
   Load your new ROM file into your emulator. The Universal Pokémon Game Randomizer will generate a new ROM file that you can load into your emulator. Your old save states will work as long as everything is in the correct location.
9. 9
   Raise Machoke to Level 37 or higher to evolve. Your new ROM file will be altered so that Machoke will evolve into Machamp at Level 37 or higher. This will happen automatically as soon as it levels up, like most Pokémon.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  At what level does Machoke evolve into Machamp?

  

  Community Answer

  Machoke evolves into Machamp when traded. You need to send your Machoke to someone and then it will evolve, then ask him/her to trade it back.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  Will this also evolve Kadabra?

  

  Lugia2453

  Top Answerer

  Yes, Kadabra also evolves by trading (not by level up).

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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• Question

  Can I evolve Machoke using a different method?

  

  Community Answer

  Unfortunately, no. As explained in here, you either trade Machoke, or use a third-party program to force evolution to occur.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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