Machoke -- Evolutions Pokemon Card Review

Pokemon Card Overview:
Today's Pokemon Card Review is of Machoke from the XY Evolutions Pokemon Card set.  Machoke is a Stage 1, fighting type Pokemon card, with a HP of 90.  It has a x2 weakness to psychic type Pokemon, no resistance type, and a two colorless energy card retreat cost.  Machoke does not have an Ability but it does have two moves.  The first move that this card has is called Karate Chop, for two fighting energy cards this move does 60 damage minus 10 damage for each damage counter on Machoke.  Machoke's second move is called Submission, for three fighting energy cards, this move does 80 damage, however Machoke does 20 damage to itself.

Pokemon Card Strategy:
So as far as strategy goes, since Machoke is a Stage 1 Pokemon card, you'll first have to get Machop into play (I reviewed Machop from this set yesterday) and then evolve Machop into Machoke.  Machop does have a Stage 2 evolution in Machamp, which I'll be reviewing tomorrow, that you'll probably want to use with this Pokemon line but since I haven't reviewed that card yet, the strategy below will act like Machoke is the final evolution in this line.  So if you read my review of Machop, you'll know that I thought it was a below average Basic Pokemon card overall.  The card actually had an above average HP and could do up to 40 damage a turn, but the card was limited in that it only had one move, required two energy cards to use that move, and this move was based off of coin flips, meaning it may end up doing zero damage every turn.  So knowing this about Machop and looking at this Machoke card, I cannot recommend using either in a deck, I could see using Machop if you know that Machoke is a decent card to use, but really, both of Machoke's moves work to make the other move worse.  For one turn, this card may be okay, doing 60 damage for two energy cards with Karate Chop, but as soon as Machoke gets attacked or if you decide to use Submission, Machoke gets more damage put on it, plus Karate Chop does much less damage.  So it seems like with this line that it would be best to use the full line, up to Machamp, and only keep Machop and Machoke in the active Pokemon spot for a turn or two each, never for any long periods of time.

Pokemon Card Rating:  
I would give this card a 2 out of 5 rating.  In my opinion this is an average to slightly below average Stage 1 Pokemon card from the XY Evolutions set.  Similar to Machop, this card has some good things going for it, it has a solid HP and two powerful moves, at least at first.  However, like I mentioned above, after one turn with Machoke, you'll either be doing less damage when attacking with Karate Chop, or you'll be attacking Machoke when using Submission.  So, since I gave both Machop and Machoke 2 out of 5 ratings from this set, combined they get the same rating from me, 2 out of 5.  Look elsewhere for fighting type Pokemon to use.

Tomorrow's Pokemon Card:
So thanks for reading today's Pokemon card review of Machoke from the XY Evolutions set, stay tuned for tomorrow's card review of Machop's Stage 2 evolution in Machamp, which is from this same set.  Make sure to check below for the Free Pokemon TCG Online Codes!

Free Pokemon TCG Online Code Cards:
Today's Quiz for a Pokemon TCG Online Code Card --
At what level does Machoke evolve into Machamp?
Please respond with the correct answer and a link to your YouTube channel. 24 hours from now I will be randomly selecting a correct response to my question and sending a private message to this person with a free code on YouTube.