Electric discharge machining has established itself as one of the most commonly used nontraditional machining techniques. The possibility of using powder metallurgy processed electrodes to improve the electric discharge machining performance has been explored in recent times. In the present experimental study an attempt has been made to compare the performance of powder metallurgy processed copper tungsten electrodes with the conventional copper electrode using reverse polarity during electrical discharge machining of Inconel 718 alloy steel. The response parameters selected for the study are material removal rate (MRR) surface roughness (SR) Ra value, tool wear rate (TWR) and change in surface roughness (SR) Ra value of electrode before and after machining. It is concluded that powder metallurgy processed copper tungsten electrode gives better machining performance in comparison with the conventional copper. Surface roughness obtained with powder metallurgy processed CuW electrode is less as compared with that obtained with conventional copper electrode. This is attributed to detachment of powder metallurgy electrode constituent which further get deposited on the work surface and thereby reduces the surface cracks. Same is confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.