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Primeape wasn’t part of the conversation whenPokemon TCG Pocketfirst 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 toPokemon 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 ina 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 withsupportive cardslike Kabuto, Giovanni, Potion, Sabrina, Poke Ball, and Demo Fossil.
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You can usuallyget promotional cards like the Promo-A Mankeyby participating inPokemon Pocket’s limited-time events.
Primeape Deck Synergies
How to Play Primeape Effectively
Playing Primeape requires a straightforward strategy, but there are a few key details to keep in mind:
How to Counter Primeape
As a Fighting-Type Pokemon, Primeape is vulnerable tothe 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 tothe 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 ofthe current META. Its accessibility and reliable performance against other top-tier decks make it a must-have setup.
