Why you need Machoke

When you arrive in Rocky Ridges, a boulder blocks the Pokémon Center entrance and you are not strong enough to shift it. Professor Tangrowth points you toward Machoke, who has the Strength needed to clear the path.

Meeting Scorbunny first

You cannot go straight to Machoke. Scorbunny points you in the right direction.

Find the dry grass patches in Rocky Ridges and water all four of them to create a Red Tall Grass habitat. Wait for the grass to shake, then investigate it. Scorbunny appears. Talk to it and it tells you what Machoke needs to show up.

Building the Grassy Training Field

Machoke wants somewhere to train. Build a Grassy Training Field habitat by placing sandbags next to the Red Tall Grass you already made. Find sandbags in the Items section of your Build Queue.

Place them close enough to the grass that the habitat outline activates. Once placed, wait for the grass to shake again and check on it. Machoke appears.

Learning Strength

Talk to Machoke and it challenges you to a workout. Complete the prompt to train with it. Machoke then teaches you the Strength move.

Use Strength on the boulder blocking the Pokémon Center entrance. The path clears and the rest of Rocky Ridges opens up, including the mines and the route toward Graveler.

After Machoke joins

Machoke's specialty is Build, which speeds up construction when it is active in the area. Keep that in mind when you have large projects underway in Rocky Ridges.