Primeape Guide (Deck, Strategy, Counter)

Primeape wasn’t part of the conversation when Pokemon TCG Pocket first launched. However, everything changed when the Promo-A Mankey card joined the roster. This Mankey came with a unique secondary ability that completed Primeape’s deck puzzle. Now, the duo of Promo-A Mankey and Primeape has become one of the most effective counters to Pokemon Pocket’s META Pikachu ex lineups—a twist that no one saw coming.

Primeape-Mankey Synergies Explained

When evolved from a damaged Mankey, Primeape gains an extra 60 DMG, boosting its attack to a powerful 100. The issue was that you had to wait for the opponent to hit your Mankey before evolving it into Primeape to trigger this bonus. And this could sometimes backfire because the enemy could knock your Active Pokemon out. However, the Promo-A Mankey card fixed this problem with a clever twist.

Unlike regular Mankey, Promo-A Mankey has a secondary ability: Every time it hits the enemy, it also deals 10 damage to itself. This self-inflicted damage is crucial for Primeape’s evolution, as it lets you trigger the bonus attack without waiting for the opponent’s turn. Simply attack once, and the 10 DMG will activate Primeape’s bonus.

The Best Deck for Primeape in Pokemon Pocket

In the current META, Primeape performs best in a Mankey-Kabutops lineup. Mankey serves as the deck’s core, activating Primeape’s evolution, while Kabutops acts as the backup evolution line, readying the Bench for counterattacks. The rest of the deck can be filled with supportive cards like Kabuto, Giovanni, Potion, Sabrina, Poke Ball, and Demo Fossil.

Primeape Deck Synergies

• Promo-A Mankey activates Primeape’s ultimate damage (unlike regular Mankey, which requires being hit by the enemy first).
• Demo Fossil is an Item Card that triggers Kabuto, which then evolves into Kabutops.
• Giovanni adds extra damage to Primeape’s attacks.
• Potion keeps Primeape on the board longer.
• Sabrina is a tech option to protect the Active Spot.
• Poke Ball and Professor’s Research help draw more cards to accelerate your strategy.

How to Play Primeape Effectively

Playing Primeape requires a straightforward strategy, but there are a few key details to keep in mind:

• Primeape is Potion-reliant. Since its true power is activated by a damaged Mankey, Primeape starts with low HP. Be ready to heal it quickly with Potions to keep it on the board longer.
• Have a backup evolution ready. Because Primeape depends on Mankey’s HP, it prevents you from evolving two Mankey cards at once. Ensure you have another line of attack on the Bench, ideally one that uses the same Energy type.
• Use Primeape to steal the initiative. Primeape excels in the early game, often securing two critical points before being knocked out. This emphasizes the importance of having a backup strategy for the late game. For example, Kabutops from this deck can take over and finish off late-game cards.

How to Counter Primeape

As a Fighting-Type Pokemon, Primeape is vulnerable to the Psychic-Type Mewtwo ex META. Despite its fast, high-damage attack, Primeape is a low-HP attacker, making it easy for opponents to defend it in the Active Spot while preparing an ex Pokemon on the Bench for a decisive strike.

Primeape’s low HP highlights the need for backup evolution lines in a META Primeape deck, along with maximizing Sabrina’s effect. Without these, taking out Primeape won’t be a difficult task for your opponent.

Primeape-Mankey Deck Overview

The key components of the Primeape-Mankey deck are easy to acquire for free, making it a worthwhile choice. Primeape is commonly pulled from Charizard booster packs, and Promo-A Mankey is an early draw from the Lapras ex promotional event. Most importantly, this deck is an excellent counter to the Pikachu ex META, as it effectively counters Electric-types.

While Primeape’s Mankey deck isn’t considered S-tier, it ranks in the B-tier of the current META. Its accessibility and reliable performance against other top-tier decks make it a must-have setup.