Machop · Base Set 2, what to know.
About the Machop card
Numbered 78 of 130 in Base Set 2, released in February 2000, Machop is a Common, a Basic Fighting-type carrying 50 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Machop needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita. Arita painted the Base Set Charizard and much of the early holo run, and his work has a painterly weight that set the visual tone of the Wizards era.
Machop carries this Pokédex flavor text: "Loves to build its muscles. It trains in all styles of martial arts to become even stronger."
About Machop in the Pokémon world
A Fighting-type humanoid Pokémon. Small but disproportionately strong. Base Set Common with thin demand.
What is Machop worth?
Machop is a Common, so raw copies trade for very little and most of the print run survives. The only real value is in pristine, high-grade copies, where even a Common can reach low triple digits in 1st Edition PSA 10. See the live price above for the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Base Set 2 produced Unlimited prints. For Machop, the print variant can change the price several times over, so identify it before you buy.
Grading and condition
Machop is the most forgiving tier to grade in the set. Centering on the framed border is the usual cap, and the soft Wizards-era cardstock picks up edge whitening easily, but high print runs keep clean copies affordable.
If you are collecting Machop
Raw copies of Machop are inexpensive enough that grading rarely pays unless you have a clearly pack-fresh example. For set completion, a clean sleeved Machop is the practical move.
