What it does
Cross Chop is a Fighting-type physical move that raises the user's critical-hit ratio by one stage on use. Base crit rate is stage 0 — roughly 4.2%. After one use, that moves to stage 1, around 12.5%. A critical hit multiplies damage by 1.5× and bypasses any defensive stat drops the target has. The jump in crit rate isn't enormous, but in a tight game that 12.5% chance of unexpected extra damage has real value.
Fighting-type coverage is broad: super effective against Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, and Dark. In Champions, Rock- and Steel-type threats come up constantly, so this move finds its target regularly.
Who runs it
Machamp runs Cross Chop at around 30% usage. With 130 base Attack, it doesn't need much of an excuse to threaten things. Cross Chop is the core damage slot — no setup, no special item required — just attack into the right target and let the super effective multiplier do the work.
How to use it
This is a single-target move in doubles, so pick your target. The mental checklist is short: Normal, Rock, Steel, Ice, Dark — use it. Bug, Poison, Flying — Fighting is resisted there, find another move. Ghost is immune entirely. No spread discount applies, so the full damage lands on whoever you aim at.
Tips & strategy
The crit boost is bonus value, not the plan. If a slightly bulky target survives at low HP because you didn't roll the crit, that's the game — accept it and finish it next turn. When the crit does land on a chunky target that barely survived, that's when it matters. Don't build your decision-making around the crit happening; build it around the super effective hit, and treat the crit as upside. Cross Chop has no secondary effect beyond the crit rate, so you're clicking it purely for damage — nothing tricky.