Primeape Movesets & Competitive Sets

Moves Stone Edge hits Flying-type Pokemon that resist or are immune to Close Combat for super effective damage, such as Scyther, Swanna, and Oricorio-G. It is also Primeape's best way of dealing damage to Poison-type Pokemon such as Haunter and Qwilfish. U-turn is used to pick up momentum on forced switches and pivot Primeape out of foes that beat it such as Sableye and Jellicent. Encore annoys foes by locking them into undesirable status moves such as Stealth Rock, Toxic, and setup moves. Pokemon that may use such moves include Clefairy and Calm Mind Spiritomb. It has good synergy with U-turn as well, generating free turns. Gunk Shot provides coverage for the Fairy-types that tank Primeape's Close Combat, such as Clefairy and Silvally-Fairy, and it also hits Grass-types such as Lurantis for more damage than Close Combat. Earthquake is an option that allows Primeape to do more damage to Skuntank while bypassing Aftermath, as well as chip Spiritomb more reliably than Stone Edge. It also hits Pokemon such as Regirock without suffering the drops of Close Combat. However, Primeape would much rather use Encore or Gunk Shot due to them being more useful overall, and Primeape can KO the former with some chip anyway. Set Details Fist Plate allows Primeape to bluff a Choice item set while also boosting the power of its STAB move. Fightinium Z does the same but exchanges Fist Plate's consistent power boost for a one-time powerful All-Out Pummeling, doing more damage to foes such as Torterra. Defiant takes advantage of Defog when used by Pokemon such as Skuntank and Lurantis by receiving a +2 Attack boost from the evasion drop. It also boosts Primeape's Attack when its stats are dropped by Sticky Web or Intimidate. Usage Tips This Primeape set is best used as an early-game wallbreaker. If Primeape has not yet revealed its lack of Choice Scarf, it is a good idea to send it in after something has fainted to bluff a Choice Scarf set and take advantage of the forced switch with U-turn. Switching Primeape out instead of switching moves helps bluff the Choice Scarf set as well. U-turn can also be used when Primeape threatens the foe with heavy damage. Intentionally using the incorrect attack against foes that often carry Protect such as Audino and Regirock is smart to lull the opponent into a false sense of security, as they will often stay in afterward believing Primeape is locked into a move. Try not to reveal Encore, use All-Out Pummeling, or switch moves too soon, as revealing the fact that Primeape is not using a Choice Scarf set removes a lot of its surprise factor and makes it less threatening against faster Pokemon. An appropriate time to do the aforementioned is when Primeape is able to KO, heavily damage, or Encore a foe attempting to take advantage of Primeape supposedly being locked into one move. Such Pokemon include Oricorio-G and Type: Null. All-Out Pummeling should be used to KO a foe that would otherwise be out of range of Primeape's other moves. It can also be used to take out foes if you cannot risk Stone Edge or Gunk Shot missing. After having locked a foe into an exploitable move via Encore, using U-turn or Close Combat is generally the best play, as Primeape can either bring a dangerous teammate in for free, pick up momentum as the foe switches out, or fire off a powerful attack with few to no repercussions. If it is known that an enemy Pokemon such as Qwilfish is carrying a Rocky Helmet, spamming U-turn is discouraged, as Primeape will end up being worn down very quickly. Instead, double switch into an ally such as Eelektross that can beat said foes. As Primeape is very frail, switching it in on even resisted hits is not recommended. Instead, get Primeape in via pivoting moves such as U-turn, double switching, or switching Primeape in on a predicted status move such as Stealth Rock. It can switch into predicted uses of Defog from Pokemon such as Skuntank but must be wary of said Pokemon predicting this and choosing to attack instead. Team Options Pokemon such as Aurorus, Haunter, and Oricorio-G are able to beat or force out Primeape's checks, like Sableye. In return, Primeape is able to beat their checks as well, specifically specially defensive Pokemon such as Eelektross and Regirock, and it provides them with U-turn and Encore support, giving them more opportunities to break. Oricorio-G can use these chances to set up Calm Mind as well. Primeape's ability to deter Defog with Defiant is appreciated by Pokemon that stack entry hazards, such as Qwilfish, Omastar, and Shuckle. Primeape appreciates the chip damage these hazards give, which helps it exert more pressure in conjunction with U-turn. Sticky Web also allows Primeape to outspeed normally faster grounded foes such as Floatzel and Alolan Raichu while also not giving away its lack of Choice Scarf. Stoutland and Bellossom are both Pokemon that appreciate Primeape being able to surprise Pokemon such as Regirock and Oricorio-G with its lack of Choice Scarf, as they will often switch in after Primeape has KOed a foe due to believing it is Choice locked and attempt to set up hazards or use Calm Mind. Other pivots such as Eelektross and Silvally-Water can create a VoltTurn core with Primeape, putting lots of pressure on the opposing team as well as helping to keep momentum. These Pokemon also help break down some of Primeape's checks, such as Sableye and Golurk. Eelektross also provides Knock Off support, removing the passive recovery of Pokemon such as Altaria, while Silvally-Water appreciates Primeape threatening its checks such as Audino and Lanturn. Choice Scarf users such as Swanna and Dodrio help both Primeape and its team keep faster foes in check, as Primeape is unable to fill the role of revenge killer with this set. Their presence also makes it easier for Primeape to bluff the Choice Scarf set. Teammates with multiple common sets outside of Choice Scarf such as Haunter also make it more difficult for the opponent to predict which Pokemon is holding a Choice Scarf.

Moves U-turn is used to gain momentum, giving a free switch in to a teammate if the foe switches out or you predict correctly versus a check or counter, while also doing a decent amount of damage to Psychic-types. Stone Edge allows Primeape to threaten Flying-types such as Scyther, Oricorio-G, and Swanna more effectively, as well as providing useful neutral coverage. Gunk Shot is great coverage to have on Primeape because it OHKOes Fairy-types such as Silvally-Fairy. Seed Bomb is somewhat weaker but allows Primeape to lure Jellicent. Alternatively, Earthquake can work over Stone Edge as a more accurate option which can revenge kill Skuntank without triggering Aftermath. Set Details With a Choice Band maximizing the damage output of its moves, Primeape can 2HKO a large portion of the metagame with its spammable Close Combat. Defiant allows Primeape to pivot into and punish Skuntank and Cryogonal on a predicted Defog. Usage Tips Close Combat is a very spammable move and, coupled with its high Base Power and a Choice Band, it can severely dent teams. Choice Band Primeape is best utilized as an early- or mid-game wallbreaker. Generally, you want to get Primeape on the field as often as possible for it to take advantage of its wallbreaking opportunities for its teammates, usually a late-game cleaner or sweeper. Primeape has decently strong coverage, so feel free to use whatever works in different situations to avoid being set up on by Pokemon that tank Close Combat. With that said, using Primeape with Choice Band requires a decent amount of prediction, so playing aggressively will get the most out of it; you have to be very careful about getting set up on if you are locked into Stone Edge and the opponent brings in a Pokemon like Alolan Persian or Carracosta. Team Options Entry hazard support from the likes of Regirock and Qwilfish is helpful for the passive damage it provides because Primeape pivots into and out of the field, making wallbreaking easier for Choice Band sets. Primeape does not like to switch into entry hazards itself, though, as they can wear it down fast so Skuntank is a perfect partner that can remove hazards, while also being able to Pursuit trap Ghost- and Psychic-types for Primeape. Pokemon with access to Rapid Spin such as Alolan Sandslash also make good partners. A setup Sweeper such as Bulk Up Gurdurr is also a good partner for Primeape because Choice Band Primeape breaks through Gurdurr's checks, making it easier to set up. Furthermore, Pokemon that are immune to Will-O-wisp such as Simisear and Combusken are good teammates. Finally, Pursuit trappers such as Spiritomb make for good teammates to Primeape, as they can trap Psychic-types.

Moves U-turn is handy for gaining momentum, giving a free switch in to whatever Pokemon the opponent sends out, while also being able to hit Psychic-types such as Musharna, super effectively. Stone Edge is used to revenge kill or hit Flying- and Ghost-types such as Scyther, Swanna, Haunter, and Oricorio-E. Ice Punch is weaker versus the aforementioned targets, but maintains coverage for Flying-types while allowing Primeape to better check Torterra and Victreebel. Gunk Shot is useful coverage that gives Primeape a way of KOing Fairy-type Pokemon such as Clefairy and Silvally-Fairy. Pursuit is an option over Gunk Shot to trap frail Ghost- and Psychic-types such as Haunter and Alolan Raichu, although its usage is extremely niche. Set Details Defiant allows Primeape to punish a predicted Defog from Pokemon such as Skuntank, as well as other moves such as Strength Sap from Victrebel and Bellossom and Parting Shot from Alolan Persian and Silvally-formes. Usage Tips The main function of Choice Scarf Primeape is to grab momentum and revenge kill foes. Close Combat is Primeape's main revenge killing tool and its coverage, most notably Stone Edge, should be used sparingly because it's weak and easily taken advantage of, allowing Pokemon like Musharna and Carracosta to set up for free. You should use U-turn every time you expect a defensive switch-in to be brought in in order to keep momentum up. Be aware that Primeape isn't all that bulky, so be careful when pivoting into Defog users such as Skuntank and Lurantis. Team Options Primeape fits well on teams that need a reliable revenge killer. Entry hazards from Pokemon like Qwilfish increase Primeape's capability of pressuring its checks and counters. Flying checks such as Regirock and Alolan Sandslash are beneficial for when you predict wrong with Close Combat versus the opposing team. Lastly, Pursuit support from the likes of Absol, Skuntank, and Liepard is appreciated to deal with Psychic and Ghost-types that take on Close Combat.

Moves Close Combat obliterates Normal-, Rock-, Steel-, Dark-, and Ice-types, as well as dealing huge amounts of damage to neutral targets. For example, it OHKOes Assault Vest Lanturn, Hitmonchan, Magmortar, Lilligant and Ludicolo from full HP. U-turn is one of Primeape's biggest niches over other Fighting-types, allowing it to maintain momentum while also hitting Psychic-types such as Musharna, Mesprit, Malamar, and Claydol super effectively. Stone Edge lets Primeape hit Flying-types such as Scyther, Rotom-S, and Xatu extremely hard if they switch in. Earthquake primarily hits Garbodor, which is otherwise very problematic, as it can wear down Primeape with Rocky Helmet. Earthquake also KOes Skuntank without triggering Aftermath. Alternatively, Ice Punch gives Primeape a way to hit Vileplume, Gourgeist-XL, and Torterra hard while providing coverage against Flying-types at the cost of being unable to OHKO Scyther. Gunk Shot is an option to 2HKO defensive Mega Audino and OHKO mixed defenses Clefairy. Set Details Primeape sports a standard offensive spread with maximum Attack and Speed investment to hit as hard and be as fast as possible. Jolly is the preferred nature, as an Adamant nature doesn't help it score any extra notable OHKOs and leaves it vulnerable to base 90 Speed threats such as Lilligant and Mr. Mime. With a Jolly nature, Primeape outspeeds positive-natured base 90 Speed Pokemon and below, such as Lilligant, Vivillon, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, and Zangoose, and Speed ties with base 95 Speed Pokemon, including Jynx, Haunter, and offensive Xatu. With a Choice Band, Primeape's Attack stat rises to extremely threatening levels, giving it significant wallbreaking power. Defiant allows Primeape to pivot into and punish Defoggers such as Pelipper and Mantine with a +2 Stone Edge. Alternatively, Vital Spirit lets Primeape absorb Sleep Powder from Lilligant and Vivillon and Spore or Dark Void from Smeargle. Usage Tips Primeape thrives in VoltTurn cores, which enable it to switch out of its counters and come into battle unscathed, as it does not have the bulk to switch into even neutral hits. After coming in, Primeape should be played as a wallbreaker that can punch holes in the opponent's team and make way for a teammate to sweep. Close Combat is Primeape's most spammable move, but if the opponent has a Fighting-type switch-in such as Vileplume or Gourgeist, it's best to simply use U-turn to gain momentum. Sometimes clicking the appropriate coverage move, such as Stone Edge on a predicted Scyther switch-in, can gain a huge amount of momentum, but it is important to weigh the risk versus the reward, as Primeape does not have the bulk to stomach hits if a prediction is wrong. Finally, Primeape's presence alone can be enough to deter the use of Defog due to the threat of Defiant, but if it seems likely that the opponent will use it, pivot Primeape in and punish them for doing so. Team Options Primeape fits best on VoltTurn offense; Volt Switch and U-turn users such as Rotom, Lanturn, Scyther, Xatu, and Manectric are all spectacular partners that can keep up momentum and help wear down one another's checks. Spikes-stacking support from Garbodor and Ferroseed pairs extremely well with Primeape, as Primeape can wear down its checks through pivoting with U-turn more effectively and, as a bonus, act as a Defog deterrent to keep hazards up. Pursuit trappers such as Skuntank and Liepard are amazing partners, trapping the bothersome Psychic- and Ghost-types that prevent Primeape from spamming Close Combat. Furthermore, speedy late-game sweepers such as Floatzel, Swellow, Archeops, and Choice Scarf Jynx work well in conjunction with Primeape's wallbreaking capabilities and can take on faster threats such as Charizard, Tauros, Pyroar, and Scyther in return. Additionally, Fire-types such as Magmortar and Pyroar can pivot into Will-O-Wisp from Weezing and Mismagius and appreciate Primeape's ability to break down their checks such as Assault Vest Hariyama, Regirock, Rhydon, and Lanturn.

Moves Close Combat is a strong STAB move capable of revenge killing fast threats such as Tauros, Swellow, Pyroar, Jynx, and +2 Omastar. U-turn lets Primeape gain momentum throughout the match, pivot out and wear down the opponent's side, and OHKO Shiftry and Malamar after Stealth Rock. Earthquake targets grounded Poison-types such as Garbodor and Skuntank, as well as Fire-types such as Magmortar and Combusken. Finally, Stone Edge lets Primeape revenge kill Flying-types such as Rotom-S, Scyther, Vivillon, and Archeops. Set Details Primeape runs a standard offensive spread of maximum Attack and Speed investment in order to hit as hard as possible and outspeed the entire unboosted metagame with a Choice Scarf. A Jolly nature is pivotal for Primeape, as it grants it the ability to revenge kill Pokemon such as Omastar and Barbaracle at +2 and Lilligant and Vivillon at +1, as well as Speed tie with common base 95 Speed Choice Scarf users such as Jynx, Haunter, and opposing Primeape. Furthermore, an Adamant nature does not grant any extra relevant OHKOs and 2HKOs that Jolly Primeape misses out on. Defiant gives Primeape the opportunity to boost its Attack by two stages if it switches into a correctly predicted Defog, and it also punishes Intimidate Mawile. However, Vital Spirit is a viable alternative, allowing Primeape to pivot into Sleep Powder from Lilligant and Vivillon, as well as Spore or Dark Void from Smeargle. Usage Tips Choice Scarf Primeape functions much differently from Choice Band Primeape, as it is a revenge killer rather than a wallbreaker. In order to preserve momentum, it is usually best to U-turn out early-game if the opponent has a healthy switch-in to Primeape's Close Combat. In this scenario, it would be wiser to avoid bringing in Primeape too often, as it can quickly drain momentum for your team if it is forced to click U-turn frequently. When using Defiant, Primeape should attempt to pressure Defoggers. Switch Primeape in when you predict that the opponent will use Defog, but be wary, as bulkier Defoggers such as Pelipper and Prinplup will not be OHKOed even at +2. Team Options Choice Scarf Primeape should be used on teams that appreciate a revenge killer that can maintain momentum with U-turn and OHKO fast threats such as Tauros, Pyroar, Jynx, and Archeops. Setup sweepers such as Swords Dance Samurott, Nasty Plot Jynx, Shell Smash Omastar, and Swords Dance Pinsir appreciate Primeape's ability to revenge kill Pokemon that outspeed them and clean up after their sweep has been ended. In addition, Pursuit trappers are fantastic partners for Primeape, as they can easily be brought in against Psychic- and Ghost-types through U-turn and proceed to dispatch them. Pokemon such as Rotom, Scyther, Floatzel, and Lanturn are great partners for Primeape, forming a VoltTurn core with it and keeping up momentum while wearing down one another's checks. Hazard users such as Omastar, Garbodor, Ferroseed, and Steelix are good partners, as Primeape can take advantage of the passive damage they provide and, in return, can dissuade the use of Defog through the threat of Defiant.

This set has many purposes, but one of the main reasons to use it is for its ability to bluff a Choice Scarf. Since the vast majority of Primeape sets are going to be running a Choice item, this set is able to lure in Pokemon that think they would be safe, only to be hit with an untimely Close Combat. Aside from this, Encore is easily one of the greatest support moves in the game, locking the opposing Pokemon into its last used move for three turns. Using Encore, you can lock Pokemon into set-up moves, Stealth Rock, Substitute, and more, basically giving you a chance to ruin the opponent's initiative and bring it back to your side. This makes U-turn a great choice on this set, since oftentimes your opponent will want to switch after being locked into a move. Finally, Punishment and Ice Punch are both great moves on this set. Ice Punch is more consistently reliable, but with Encore, slower Pokemon can be locked into boosting moves and subsequently hit for great damage with Punishment. The choice in items is up to you. Both items are effective since they both bluff a Choice Scarf, but generally, Fist Plate is better than Expert Belt, as a neutral Close Combat hits harder than a super effective Ice Punch. It is important to note that this set is best played by bluffing a Choice item as long as possible, and you should only reveal that you are not locked into a move at the most optimal time. The surprise factor is one of the reasons why this set can be so successful. Jolly is once again the preferred nature for this set because base 95 Speed is still fantastic. The added power is less noticeable than the added Speed. Vital Spirit is also still its best ability for the same reasons found in the Choice Scarf set, although this set runs Defiant better than the Scarf set due to the liberty to switch up moves. Even so, Vital Spirit is still the better option. A set with Taunt over Encore could be interesting as well, but it would primarily be used to prevent entry hazards from being placed, a job that Sawk does better due to its slightly superior bulk, greater power, and Mold Breaker. Even more so than the Scarf set, this set loves entry hazards on the opponent's side. Encore forces a lot of switches, so Spikes and Stealth Rock support is strongly recommended. Because of its frailty, Primeape hates priority, so you should pack something to take priority moves, such as Fake Out, Mach Punch, Quick Attack, and Aqua Jet. Lastly, Ghost-types are still just as big of a problem for this Fighting-type as they are most, so support from Skuntank to remove Ghost-types is once again recommended.

When equipped with a Choice Band, Primeape can make up for its middling power while still fully utilizing its great Speed. Primeape can also separate itself from Sawk with its access to U-turn, which allows Primeape to switch out against the Ghost- and Psychic-types that can wall it and bring in a partner to Pursuit trap them. Close Combat is used for a high Base Power STAB move that Primeape can spam late in the game. U-turn is used to scout the opponent's team before Primeape can mindlessly spam Close Combat, while also allowing it to switch out of its checks and counters and wear them down throughout the match. Finally, Ice Punch and Stone Edge are both used for coverage moves. The former hits Flying- and Grass-type Pokemon, such as Altaria, Tangela, and Vileplume, that either resist Primeape's STAB or take little from it. The latter can also hit Flying-type Pokemon and gives Primeape coverage against Bug-types. Vital Spirit is used so Primeape can switch into Sleep Powder from Grass-types, then use U-turn to either deal good damage to them or scout out a potential switch. Primeape can also use Earthquake for coverage against Poison-types or Punishment to deal good damage against opposing setup sweepers, but these moves are typically less useful than Ice Punch and Stone Edge. Primeape loves having Pursuit support to take out the Psychic- and Ghost-type Pokemon that wall it, making Skuntank and Sneasel ideal partners. Even with a Choice Band, Primeape lacks the power of heavy hitters such as Sawk. With this in mind, powerful wallbreakers are very useful to give Primeape an easier time later on in the match. Charizard, Eelektross, and Samurott are great to fill this role. Another way to help Primeape throughout the match is to set up hazards against the opponent. Hazards are so greatly appreciated because of Primeape's ability to force switches with U-turn and wear down its checks and counters. Garbodor is an excellent Spikes setter and Metang can cover Primeape's Psychic- and Flying-type weaknesses and use Stealth Rock. Finally, other users of U-turn and Volt Switch are great partners for Primeape, as they can keep up offensive momentum throughout the match. Swellow, Probopass, and Zebstrika are the best examples of this.

Primeape's most popular set in NU is its Choice Scarf set, and it is undoubtedly its best one. Primeape's largest selling point is its Speed stat which is showcased in this set. With a Choice Scarf equipped, Primeape hits an impressive 475 Speed, allowing it to outspeed the entire unboosted tier. Primeape is also one of the fastest Choice Scarf users in NU. The only common Choice Scarf users with which it ties in Speed is Haunter, and some of the only ones to beat it include Charizard, Tauros, and Zebstrika. Close Combat is chosen for the most powerful and reliable STAB in Primeape's movepool. U-turn is one of Primeape's greatest tools, allowing it to force switches to help weaken foes and scout out what the opponent wants to do without risking being KOed. Finally, Primeape rounds out its coverage with Ice Punch and Stone Edge. Stone Edge hits the Flying- and Bug-types that resist Close Combat, while Ice Punch is a more reliable option against Flying-types due to its perfect accuracy. A Jolly nature is used on this set for multiple purposes, though the main reason to is to outspeed slower Choice Scarf Pokemon, such as Sawk, Pinsir, and Rotom-A, who would otherwise outspeed it with an Adamant nature. It also allows Primeape to Speed tie with other Primeape and Haunter. Vital Spirit is the best ability for the set, even though most of the Pokemon in the tier that would try to use a sleep-inducing move against it can either knock it out or completely wall it. Despite this, Anger Point relies on getting hit by a critical hit, which is an unreliable tactic, especially since Primeape is so frail. Defiant is a great ability in tiers where Intimidate users are more common, but the ability is rare in NU, making this ability practically useless. You may also want to use Punishment on this set, but it is pitifully weak, even after opposing Pokemon have a gathered some stat boosts. Since Primeape is able to force switches while it is scouting, it appreciates support from Pokemon who can set up entry hazards. For this reason, Garbodor is a great partner because it can reliably set up Spikes. When using either of these Pokemon alongside Primeape, be wary of the compounded Psychic-type weakness. Metang also gets a mention as a Stealth Rock user, but it's also a fantastic partner for taking the Psychic- and Flying-type attacks targeted at Primeape. Since Primeape struggles to defeat Ghost-type Pokemon, Skuntank's support is greatly appreciated, as it is able to trap Ghost-types with Pursuit. Finally, other VoltTurn Pokemon are great partners, as they allow your team to keep up initiative and force switches.

This set aims to disrupt and halt the opponent's strategy with Encore while following up with the appropriate move afterward. Encore allows Primeape to lock the foe into a single move, which is useful against set-up and support moves that are not harmful to Primeape. However, if you predict that your foe will switch out instead of attacking Primeape, using Substitute or U-turn to scout is more beneficial. Substitute essentially gives Primeape a temporary extra life against attacks, as well as immunity to status. U-turn does decent damage and gains momentum for your team by allowing Primeape to switch to a counter at the same time. Offensively, Close Combat is Primeape's main STAB attack, dealing deadly damage to any Pokemon that doesn't resist it. Stone Edge has good coverage in conjunction with Close Combat, hitting Flying-, Bug-, and Fire-type Pokemon, such as Moltres, Scyther, and Arcanine, for super effective damage. Lastly, Toxic helps cripple opponents that resist or take little damage from Primeape's attacks. Leftovers is the preferred item because it recovers HP lost from Substitute and residual damage, greatly extending Primeape's longevity. With the recovery provided by Leftovers, Primeape has more chances to switch in and use Encore on various threats. The HP EVs allow Primeape to use Substitute five times from full health with Leftovers factored in. Entry hazard support from Omastar, Mesprit, or Drapion is excellent with this Primeape since Encore causes a lot of switches. This means more indirect damage will pile up and weaken your enemy, which allows a late-game sweeper, such as Alakazam, Swellow, or Scyther, to clean up more easily. Even with Toxic Spikes support, using Toxic is an option because it hits Flying-types and Levitators which would otherwise wall Primeape. Stealth Rock is perhaps the best entry hazard to use alongside this set, since it smashes the Bug- and Flying-type Pokemon that resist Close Combat. Most physical walls or tanks, such as Milotic, Uxie, and Weezing, are annoying to Primeape. However, Primeape can hinder the aforementioned walls (with the exception of Weezing) with Toxic and clean them up later in the match with Close Combat and Stone Edge. Primeape cannot stall them out by itself, though, so bulky Pokemon such as Rotom, Milotic, and Venusaur can help block their advances while Toxic takes effect. Using Scyther and Arcanine can help defeat Venusaur, which takes little damage from any of Primeape's attacks. Pursuit users are also helpful at removing the Psychic-type walls.

This set plays very similarly to Choice-locked Primeape, but with one big distinction: the ability to switch between moves, giving Primeape the freedom to fire off Close Combats without the fear of Ghost-types setting up on it. Primeape's main job is the same: scout out the opponent by switching into a Pokemon which Primeape will force out, such as Chansey, and proceed to use U-turn, as opposed to Close Combat, to scout your opponent's Primeape counter. Late-game is where Life Orb Primeape really shines, as it can outpace a large portion of the UU metagame and bring the hurt with its large movepool. The premise is simple: come in after the opposing team has been scouted on a Pokemon that is easily threatened by Primeape, and fire off the appropriate coverage move. Close Combat is the obligatory STAB move, and as Primeape will probably be played at the end of the match and outspeed most threats, the defense drops are negligible. U-turn remains Primeape's strongest hit on bulky Psychic-types such as Uxie, Exeggutor, and Slowbro. Stone Edge has great coverage alongside Close Combat and is Primeape's best attack on Flying-types and scores a good hit on Ghost-types. The last slot is again up to the player's discretion. Ice Punch pairs well with Vital Spirit and gives Primeape a nice way to threaten Venusaur and Tangrowth, which Primeape can come in on with its immunity to Sleep Powder. Earthquake can be used in the last slot to provide Primeape with the feared EdgeQuake combination, but it has a lot of overlapping coverage with Close Combat. Finally, Punishment is Primeape's strongest move against Rotom, Mismagius, and Dusclops. Unlike the Choice Scarf set, since Primeape no longer outspeeds all of the unboosted metagame, it will need some insurance against faster threats. Swellow, Alakazam, Sceptile, Mismagius, and Dugtrio all pose a significant threat to Primeape's existence, so packing checks to them will grant Primeape a new lease on life should it encounter them. Registeel easily switches into the first three threats thanks to its Steel typing and large bulk. Primeape's nemesis Mismagius now outspeeds it, so pairing Primeape with Mixed Houndoom will produce positive results; Houndoom is resistant to Shadow Ball, benefits from Will-O-Wisp, and can eliminate Mismagius with Pursuit. Primeape is again stopped cold by Weezing and Slowbro, so including Lanturn or Milotic, the latter of which also walls Dugtrio, on your team will again bolster Primeape's performance. With a Life Orb and entry hazards, such as Stealth Rock and Spikes, Primeape obtains a few KOs it normally couldn't, such as against Venusaur. Good teammates to provide entry hazards include Uxie, Omastar, Cloyster, and Qwilfish.

This Primeape plays extremely similarly to the Choice Scarf variant but trades Speed for more power. Choice Band gives Primeape the capacity to 2HKO many prominent defensive walls, such as Milotic and Donphan, with Close Combat, that it normally would miss out on. While rushing onto the battlefield with fists flying may seem like the way to play this Primeape, it's usually smarter to feign a Choice Scarf by utilizing Primeape's now-boosted U-turns to scout out the opponent beforehand. The idea is to switch into a Pokemon which will be forced out by Primeape, such as Registeel, and instead of using the obvious Close Combat, scout the opposition with U-turn. After the majority of your opponent's team has been revealed, Primeape is free to start annihilating its opponents with STAB Close Combats or one of the appropriate coverage moves. The extra power in Primeape's U-turn can stealthily chip away its counter's health faster, allowing it to unleash its Close Combats earlier and surprise the opponent with its boosted power. Primeape may be fast, but it's far from outpacing the entirety of the UU metagame, so you should use it cautiously. Registeel again makes a good partner, as it can absorb blows from most of the fast and powerful hitters that threaten Primeape, including Swellow, Alakazam, and Sceptile. Spikes support is highly recommended with this set, as U-turn + Spikes will quickly rack up a lot more residual damage, especially on grounded walls such as Milotic. Qwilfish and Omastar are good candidates for providing said Spikes, and Omastar can even add Stealth Rock to the mix. Another good teammate to pair up with Primeape is Houndoom, which, with Flash Fire and Pursuit, can switch into the majority of Ghost-types with little worry and eliminate them.

Primeape's awesome Speed stat is exploited to the fullest extent with a Choice Scarf, turning it into both an efficient scout and an excellent revenge killer. U-turn allows Primeape to come in on a Pokemon that it can scare out, like Chansey, and scout for the opponent's counter. Close Combat is the obligatory STAB move of choice because of its high Base Power; Primeape will be doing a lot of switching with a Choice item, effectively negating the troubles caused by the defense drops. Stone Edge hits Ghost- and Flying-types, such as Rotom and Moltres respectively, which resist the aforementioned moves. The choice in the final moveslot comes down to personal preference. Ice Punch, in tandem with Vital Spirit, allows Primeape to become an effective check to Venusaur. Earthquake can be used to hit Poison- and Electric-types super effectively, but they are mostly uncommon and are usually already dealt with by Primeape's other moves. Finally, Punishment is an option to score a reliable blow on Ghost-types, particularly Rotom and Mismagius; however, outside of hitting the rare stat boosting Psychic-types, that is quite literally the furthest extent of its uses in UU. The EVs and nature are designed to give Primeape as much attacking power as possible while also giving it enough Speed to outpace the entire UU metagame with a Choice Scarf, including Choice Scarf Rotom. The remaining EVs are placed into HP to give Primeape a minor buffer against weaker attacks from the likes of Registeel and Chansey. An alternative spread of 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe with an Adamant or Jolly nature can be utilized to maximize Primeape's offensive game. With a Choice Scarf and U-turn, Primeape works wonderfully as a scout. When using Primeape, the idea is to switch into a Pokemon that Primeape will force out, such as Registeel, and proceed to use U-turn, as opposed to Close Combat, to scout your opponent's Primeape counter. In this way, Primeape ensures that momentum will stay on your side and keeps the opponent on their toes. After the majority of your opponent's team has been revealed, Primeape is free to start raining down STAB Close Combats or one of the appropriate coverage moves. This Primeape can also make an effective lead, as it is immune to Sleep Powder, which forces Choice Scarf Venusaur into attacking on turn one, as well as forcing other sleep inducers out thanks to the threat of Primeape's large movepool. Primeape's early U-turn permits it to do decent damage to Uxie and Mesprit and scout the opponent's early switch-in to Primeape. It easily beats other common leads such as Ambipom (though Primeape will still get hit by a powerful Fake Out), Alakazam, Mismagius, Moltres, and Registeel. Primeape also beats Scyther, Cloyster, and Omastar if they do not carry Focus Sash. While Primeape can gain you early momentum, it does little to prevent entry hazards from being set up by the opponent, which can prove problematic in the long run considering all the switching it will be doing with U-turn. It also has trouble with lead Arcanine, Hariyama, Qwilfish, and Spiritomb. To ensure momentum stays on your side, pairing Primeape with other U-turn users that lure out Pokemon it can counter is a good idea. Swellow and Scyther are both good examples, as they lure out Steel- and Rock-types that Primeape can scare away with its STAB Close Combat. Weezing and Slowbro are hard stops to any attempt Primeape might have for a sweep, so Pokemon which can easily eliminate them, such as Lanturn, will prove useful. Registeel makes a good partner thanks to its ability to absorb various attacks aimed at Primeape when it is locked into the wrong move. Pairing Primeape with a Pursuit user, such as Absol or Skuntank, provides Primeape with a way to easily bypass Rotom and Mismagius and eliminates the need to waste a moveslot for Punishment. Primeape will be issuing a lot of switches, so setting up entry hazards on the opponent's field will help to more quickly wear out the opposition; good teammates to set up entry hazards include Uxie, Omastar, and Cloyster. In the same realm, keeping entry hazards off of Primeape's side of the field is recommended. Claydol is a good teammate to provide Rapid Spin support as it can easily switch into Weezing in addition to setting up Stealth Rock. Finally, as Primeape makes a good scout and wallbreaker, pairing it with a second Fighting-type, such as Hitmonlee, is a good strategy. The main idea is to scout out the opponent's Fighting-type counters with Primeape early game and eliminate them with the rest of your team, which will then allow the second Fighting-type to wreak havoc upon your opponent's ravaged team late game.

Set Description RestTalk improves Primeape's longevity significantly, giving it more freedom to switch into Pokemon like Dewgong, Stantler, Porygon, and Chinchou, as a Primeape without RestTalk wants to preserve its health for late in the game and cannot afford to be paralyzed by Chinchou's Thunder or Porygon's Thunder Wave. Thunder provides the best possible coverage alongside Cross Chop, having the ability to 2HKO Xatu and Fearow and potentially paralyze Weezing, helping Primeape pose a serious threat even when facing its checks; it can also fish for paralysis against Gloom and Exeggcute, which otherwise wall this set. Thunder additionally retains the ability to hit Octillery and Dewgong hard and has a small chance to threaten Curse Porygon with paralysis while Primeape is sleeping, providing additional reliability when using Sleep Talk. Team Options RestTalk Primeape works best on teams that want Primeape's powerful Fighting-type offense but need to better handle threats like Dewgong, Chinchou, and Porygon, such as on the popular Xatu + Dugtrio Spikes teams, which tend to struggle against these threats. RestTalk Primeape also works well on Graveler + Gloom teams, as it appreciates Graveler shutting down Pineco and checking Weezing as well as Gloom spreading paralysis; in return, Primeape can switch into Dewgong and Porygon for the two. Ninetales is a perfect defensive partner, as it struggles with Dewgong, Chinchou, and Rock-types like Sudowoodo, which Primeape can check. In returm, Ninetales provides a reliable switch into Weezing and Gloom for Primeape. Pineco is a solid option for a teammate, as its Spikes down Weezing and Gloom.

Set Description Cross Chop is Primeape’s strongest choice of STAB move and comes with an increased critical hit rate, letting it come close to if not outright OHKOing most Pokemon that do not resist it. Thunder is Primeape’s strongest option to hit Xatu and Fearow, and the 30% paralysis rate can be ruinous to them as well as Gloom and Weezing, provided the move hits. Double-Edge is a generally powerful neutral move to use against Gloom and Weezing or for the 100% accuracy against a low health target; it's also useful for preserving Cross Chop PP. Substitute allows Primeape to safely scout switch-ins and force the foe to attack it, reducing prediction in scenarios where Primeape needs to decide whether to use Cross Chop to hit the Pokemon in front of it, like Stantler, or use Thunder to hit an incoming Xatu. Substitute also allows Primeape to block Explosion and Toxic from Pineco which cannot otherwise threaten Primeape, or block Explosion from a Graveler or weakened Weezing trying to trade with it. Team Options Pineco is a great partner for Primeape, setting up Spikes to help wear down opposing Weezing and Gloom throughout a game and helping Primeape break through them. Weezing can lure in Xatu and opposing Weezing and damage them by using Thunder on the switch or using Explosion to trade and clear the way for Primeape. Ninetales can wall Weezing, Gloom, and Xatu, and if Weezing chooses to use Explosion to eliminate Ninetales, then it means it will not be present to handle Primeape. In return, Primeape can switch into Sudowoodo and Dewgong for Ninetales and threaten them out. Sudowoodo and Graveler wall Fearow, take advantage of Pineco, are solid switch-ins to Weezing that lack Hidden Power Water, and can use Self-Destruct and Explosion, respectively, to take out a bulky threat like Octillery or Xatu. Dewgong walls Xatu and Gloom and in a pinch can switch into Fearow, threatening to deal heavy damage to all three with Ice Beam. Xatu can switch into Gloom, and to an extent Weezing, and force them out. Both Xatu and Dewgong, along with other special attackers like Chinchou and BoltBeam Porygon, appreciate Primeape being able to severely threaten Wigglytuff; Chinchou and Porygon can also spread paralysis for Primeape. Xatu and other powerful wallbreakers like Stantler and Dugtrio are also very effective at spreading damage and weakening the opposing team for Primeape to clean late-game, especially with Spikes up.

Other Options: Counter