3CL TCG

Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026

Shadow Machamp

Say it: SHADOW muh-CHAMP

Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand

Shadow Machamp is a Team GO Rocket Shadow. It hits harder and takes more damage than normal Machamp. Same Fighting typing — the same counters still work. Remove Frustration before you power it up.

Say it: SHADOW muh-CHAMP

Shadow Machamp is the Shadow form of Machamp (Fighting) in Pokémon GO. Expect ~20% more damage dealt and taken versus the normal form.

FightingShadow (+ATK / −DEF)

Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).

Pokédex notes

Shadow Machamp is a Shadow Fighting Pokémon in GO. Shadow variants deal extra damage in raids and PvP but take more hits — compare purified vs Shadow before investing.

Where in GO: Team GO Rocket Grunts, Leaders, and Giovanni

Invest tip: Power up high-Attack Shadows after Frustration removal. Prefer Counter + Dynamic Punch.

Type matchups

  • Fighting moves hit Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, and Steel hard.

When Shadow Machamp is your opponent, Flying, Psychic, Fairy hits hard.

Full type matchup guide →

GO base stats

Shadow-adjusted from base Game Master row (+20% Attack, −20% Defense).

Inherits stats from Machamp— this costume or form may not have its own Game Master row.

Attack
281
Defense
127
Stamina
207

Weak to

FlyingPsychicFairy

Resists

BugRockDark

Best Pokémon to use against it

When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.

Recommended

Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.

  1. 1. Mega Rayquaza · beats Flying

    Dragon Tail + Dragon Ascent

  2. 2. Shadow Staraptor · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Brave Bird

  3. 3. Yveltal · beats Flying

    Gust + Oblivion Wing

  4. 4. Mega Pidgeot · beats Flying

    Gust + Brave Bird

  5. 5. Staraptor · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Brave Bird

  6. 6. Braviary · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Brave Bird

  7. 7. Honchkrow · beats Flying

    Peck + Sky Attack

  8. 8. Tornadus (Incarnate) · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Hurricane

  9. 9. Moltres · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Sky Attack

  10. 10. Zapdos · beats Flying

    Thunder Shock + Drill Peck

  11. 11. Unfezant · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Sky Attack

  12. 12. Swellow · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Brave Bird

Budget

Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.

  1. 1. Honchkrow · beats Flying

    Peck + Sky Attack

  2. 2. Staraptor · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Brave Bird

  3. 3. Swellow · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Brave Bird

  4. 4. Togekiss · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Aerial Ace

  5. 5. Noivern · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Hurricane

  6. 6. Pidgeot · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Brave Bird

  7. 7. Fearow · beats Flying

    Peck + Sky Attack

  8. 8. Dodrio · beats Flying

    Feint Attack + Drill Peck

  9. 9. Crobat · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Air Cutter

  10. 10. Skarmory · beats Flying

    Air Slash + Brave Bird

  11. 11. Pelipper · beats Flying

    Wing Attack + Hurricane

  12. 12. Talonflame · beats Flying

    Peck + Brave Bird

Moves in GO

Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.

Fast

  • bullet punch
  • counter

Charged

  • heavy slam
  • dynamic punch
  • close combat
  • rock slide
  • cross chop

Team GO Rocket

Shadow versions hit ~20% harder and take ~20% more damage. Use Fighting typing weaknesses quickly — they punch above their weight but faint faster than normal.

Defeat the Shadow in battle, then use a Rescue Rocket Radar or standard Rocket battle rewards to catch it. Purify or keep Shadow based on whether you want bulk (purified/normal) or raid DPS (Shadow).

  • Team GO Rocket Grunts (Shadow pool rotates)
  • Team GO Rocket Leaders — Arlo, Cliff, Sierra (rotation)
  • Giovanni (featured Shadow — rotation)
Shadow Pokémon guide →Grunt identification table →

PvP league ranks (family snapshot)

  • Great League · rank #311 of 954 · CP 1484

    Bullet Punch + Close Combat

  • Ultra League · rank #204 of 747 · CP 2489

    Bullet Punch + Close Combat

  • Master League · rank #129 of 1023 · CP 3455

    Bullet Punch + Close Combat

Open battle tools →

In your Collect

Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.

Sign in to see holdings, or open Collect.

Open Collect →

Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).

Raid attacker roles

Fighting-type shortlist

  • Shadow Machamp — Counter + Dynamic Punch
  • Machamp — Counter + Dynamic Punch
  • Machamp — Counter + Dynamic Punch
Full Fighting list →

Recommended vs these bosses

In the Competitive Guide

Related species

Also named in the same guide chapters (text only).

MachampMamoswineShadow MamoswineShadow TypeType NullCostume KyogreKyogrePrimal Kyogre
Pokédex browserSearchGO CompanionFamily trades