Machoke -- Guardians Rising Pokemon Card Review

Pokemon Card Overview:
Today's Pokemon Card Review is of Machoke from the Guardians Rising Pokemon Card set.  Machoke is a Stage 1, Fighting type Pokemon card, with a HP of 100.  It has a x2 weakness to Psychic type Pokemon, no resistance type, and a three Colorless Energy card retreat cost.  Machoke's Ability is called Daunting Pose and prevents all damage done to your Benched Pokemon by your opponent's attacks and Abilities.  Besides the Ability, Machoke just has one move called Cross Chop, for two Fighting Energy cards this move does 30 damage plus 30 more damage if you get a heads when flipping a coin.

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 an average Basic Pokemon card overall.  It had a powerful move for a Basic Pokemon, being able to do 50 damage for only two Energy cards, plus it had a solid HP.  But the card was limited overall with only one move and a higher retreat cost.  So knowing this and looking at this Machoke card, I would either recommend using Machop as a starter type Pokemon for your deck without Machoke, or, to use the line solely for Machoke's Ability.  You can just keep Machoke on the Bench and prevent your opponent from doing any damage to your Benched Pokemon.  Essentially, its Ability will prevent all spread damage from happening.  Besides its Ability, Cross Chop does less damage than Machop can do, so that is why I wouldn't put it in the Active Pokemon spot if I didn't have to.

Pokemon Card Rating:  
I would give this card a 3 out of 5 rating.  Despite having a move that does less damage than its Basic evolution form, in my opinion this is still an average Stage 1 Pokemon card overall.  Like I mentioned above, this card's Ability is excellent and can easily be utilized from the Bench the entire game.  Combined with Machop from this set, which I also gave a 3 out of 5 rating, both cards get a 3 out of 5 rating from me.

Tomorrow's Pokemon Card:
So thanks for reading today's Pokemon card review of Machoke from the Guardians Rising 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.