Machamp · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Machamp card
Numbered 16 of 165 in Expedition Base Set, released in September 2002, Machamp is a Rare Holo, a Stage 2 Fighting-type carrying 120 HP.
It evolves from Machoke, so Machamp is a later-stage card that set-builders usually slot into a full evolution run rather than buy alone.
Illustrated by Shin-ichi Yoshida.
About Machamp in the Pokémon world
The Fighting-type final form of the Machop line. Four arms. Base Set holo Machamp is the only holo card guaranteed to appear in 1st Edition Base Set starter decks (the Bulbasaur preconstructed deck). Its 1st Edition print is dramatically more common than other Base holos in 1st Edition because of this. The Unlimited print population mostly came from booster packs and is much smaller.
What is Machamp worth?
Machamp is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Expedition Base Set's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Expedition Base Set holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Machamp before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window on Machamp is where most points are won or lost. Surface scratches and foil misregistration are common on Wizards-era cards, and centering was inconsistent enough that clean PSA 10s stay scarce. Read the fighting foil at a 45-degree angle under strong light before committing.
If you are collecting Machamp
When you go to buy Machamp, settle three things in order: the print variant, the condition, and a comp for that exact combination. A blended average across variants will mislead you on Machamp, so price the specific copy in front of you.
