[OVERVIEW]
Machamp is the embodiment of a tank in NU, capable of taking a wide array of attacks while attempting to hit back harder. Machamp's Fighting STAB makes it capable of threatening top tier Pokemon like Clefable, Golem, and Kabutops, and it has complimentary coverage in Rock Slide for Charizard and Venomoth. Machamp also has a powerful Hyper Beam, coming off the highest Attack stat in the tier, making common Fighting resist Mr. Mime 2HKO'd by Body Slam + Hyper Beam. Although Machamp has high attack and solid bulk, it's poor speed often means it mandates heavy Paralysis support, lest it be easily outsped and revenge-KOed by several common Pokemon. Machamp's reliance on the inaccurate Submission as STAB can make it inconsistent at its role.
[SET]
name: All-Out Attacker
move 1: Submission
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Body Slam / Hyper Beam / Substitute
[SET COMMENTS]
Submission makes Machamp the best offensive check to Clefable, easily 2HKOing it along with Golem, Kabutops, Wigglytuff, and high odds to OHKO Raticate. Rock Slide nails common Fighting resistances. 2HKOing Charizard, Moltres, and Venomoth. Earthquake hits Nidoking, which resists both Submission and Rock Slide, and also hits the rare Gastly while generally being a solid high BP neutral attack into a majority of the tier. Body Slam lets Machamp spread Paralysis itself and Hyper Beam can be used to trade against a chipped Mr. Mime, but otherwise Machamp's coverage moves are often stronger against the rest of the tier. Substitute allows Machamp to capitalize on the switches it often forces through its offensive presence, especially against Paralyzed foes,
Thunder Wave leads like Mr. Mime and Clefable are great partners to start a game off with for Machamp, spreading the yellow magic early. Stun Spore Venomoth and bulky Body Slam users like Blastoise and Charizard also aid Machamp in this regard. Machamp also helps Charizard by switching into — and beating Rock-types like Golem and Kabutops, while Charizard outspeeds and threatens Fighting resists like Exeggcute, Mr. Mime, and Venomoth. Machamp's damage output can generate leads for faster Pokemon like Electrode and the aforementioned Charizard to clean up late game. Electrode in particular can assist Machamp with Thunder Wave, while also appreciating Machamp's positive matchup against Golem and ability to effectively weaken Nidoking with Earthquake.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/togkey.400664/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
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