[OVERVIEW]
Primeape is one of the most dangerous physical attackers in the metagame. Boasting an astronomical Attack stat, a great Speed stat that ties it with Xatu, and a powerful STAB Cross Chop backed up by solid coverage, Primeape makes for a great choice for wallbreaking or cleaning on many teams. Furthermore, that same Cross Chop comes with the coveted trait of being super effective against the common and dominant Normal-types, potentially OHKOing threats like Stantler, Persian, and Porygon and dealing massive damage to Wigglytuff; it also takes a heavy chunk out of Dewgong, Sudowoodo, and Graveler. Cross Chop even has a potentially game-breaking increased critical hit rate that can slice right through a Wigglytuff or Porygon that has used Curse several times. However, Primeape has some very debilitating issues. Move accuracy is its biggest problem, turning what would otherwise be KOs from Primeape's Cross Chop or Thunder into potentially unreliable tools. Primeape is also plagued by the presence of Xatu, Fearow, and Weezing, three of the best and most common Pokemon in the tier, which are all great answers to it. Primeape is also quite frail, having difficulty switching into its targets repeatedly, so it can be difficult to find entry for it. Primeape is also easily revenge killed by Fearow and Xatu after some chip damage.
[SET]
Name: Substitute Attacker
move 1: Cross Chop
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Substitute
Item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
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.
[SET]
Name: RestTalk
move 1: Cross Chop
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
Item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
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.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Slide can be used instead of Double-Edge on the Substitute set to hit Xatu and Fearow for close to 50% and Pineco for a 3HKO while being far more accurate than Thunder. It also hits just as hard against Fire-types as Cross Chop while being more accurate; however, it comes at the cost of having to use Cross Chop rather than Double-Edge against low health targets like Octillery, which can result in a miss. Without Rock Slide, Primeape is also completely walled by Gloom and has to repeatedly use Thunder to attempt to hit Weezing for meaningful chip damage. Counter can be used over Double-Edge on the Substitute set in order to surprise threats like Weezing, Dugtrio, and, if healthy enough to survive a Drill Peck, Fearow with heavy damage or even a KO; however, it comes at the cost of another move like Double-Edge and is ineffective against Xatu. Using Counter unsuccessfully will also remove all surprise factor and cause it to become significantly less useful. Thief can be used over Substiute or Double-Edge to steal Leftovers from Weezing, Gloom, or Xatu. A combination of Rest and Mint Berry can even be used alongside Thief to give Primeape a one-time full heal and then proceed to take Leftovers away from one of its walls. However, this comes at the cost of Double-Edge or Substitute, which reduces reliability, and RestTalk is often a better version of Mint Berry + Rest + Thief, as it does not require this setup process and gives Primeape the ability to continually heal throughout a game. Meditate can be used over Thunder on the Substitute set to boost Primeape’s Attack even further, letting it deal heavy damage to Weezing in short succession; however, it struggles against Xatu and will be KOed quickly, so it should be used alongside Houndour or a Pokemon that can take advantage of a chipped Weezing such as Hidden Power Rock Kingler. Protect allows Primeape to gain additional Leftovers recovery and potentially block an Explosion from the likes of Graveler and Pineco, though it compromises coverage further or means Primeape has to forgo Substitute. Screech can be used to force Spikes damage on the foe and break past Weezing and Gloom with an effectively +2 boosted Double-Edge with enough chip damage, though it comes at the cost of a moveslot, takes a turn to use, and has a 15% chance to miss.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Weezing’s phenomenal bulk means it takes less than 30% from Primeape's Thunder and Double-Edge, the former of which can miss and the latter of which can grant relatively free entry to Xatu. Leftovers combined with Primeape often not wanting to stay in once Weezing has switched in means Weezing is able to heal off a lot of the damage it takes in the process, and Weezing can use Primeape’s presence to gain entry and fire off its own powerful attacks. Gloom takes far more damage from Double-Edge, but it has Moonlight to keep itself healthy enough to handle Primeape throughout the battle and has Stun Spore to paralyze Primeape. However, both Weezing and Gloom can slowly be worn down by Primeape over time, especially with Spikes on the field, and both hate paralysis from Thunder. Weezing and Gloom are also often tasked to handle other threats, such as Fearow and Octillery, respectively. While Gloom has Moonlight, it only has 8 PP, which can run out in longer games when it is tasked with repeatedly switching into Primeape and other threats like Octillery.
**Flying-types**: Xatu possesses a 4x resistance to Cross Chop and can hit Primeape for upwards of 80% with STAB Psychic. Fearow, meanwhile, does not resist Cross Chop but outspeeds Primeape and easily 2HKOes it with Drill Peck. Both Xatu and Fearow also run RestTalk to keep themselves healthy and stay able to handle Primeape throughout a game. However, Primeape’s Thunder is favored to 2HKO both Fearow and Hidden Power Electric Xatu, and if Thunder lands and paralyzes them as they switch in, Primeape can use Thunder again or use Rock Slide and easily knock them out; Primeape can also win the Speed tie against Xatu. Substitute also ensures Primeape gets an opportunity to land a Thunder instead of using Cross Chop as Xatu comes in. Despite this, Thunder still has a relatively high chance to miss and can result in Primeape doing nothing against Xatu and Fearow.
**Pineco**: Pineco resists Cross Chop, almost always avoids a 3HKO from Double-Edge, and is only 3HKOed by the inaccurate Thunder and Rock Slide. In return, it can use Primeape to set up Spikes or use Rapid Spin to clear away the Primeape trainer's Spikes. However, Primeape can freely set up a Substitute that Pineco typically has no way to break other than by sacrificing itself with Explosion, although it will still likely mean that Pineco can use both Spikes and Rapid Spin relatively easily.
**Status**: If Primeape is not running RestTalk, poison from Weezing and Gloom’s Sludge Bomb and Ninetales’s Toxic is incredibly limiting for Primeape’s staying power. Paralysis from Magnemite and Chinchou’s Thunder, Wigglytuff’s Body Slam, and Porygon’s Thunder Wave is also incredibly detrimental, especially because these Pokemon are all prime candidates for Primeape to come in on and threaten out, since Primeape needs its high Speed stat intact to make up for its frailty and take advantage of its great Attack stat and superb coverage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beeorsomething.583728/
- Earlier versions written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gamer1234556.515642/ and https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fnh.245982/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mrsoup.375193/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/juoean.486979/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Primeape is one of the most dangerous physical attackers in the metagame. Boasting an astronomical Attack stat, a great Speed stat that ties it with Xatu, and a powerful STAB Cross Chop backed up by solid coverage, Primeape makes for a great choice for wallbreaking or cleaning on many teams. Furthermore, that same Cross Chop comes with the coveted trait of being super effective against the common and dominant Normal-types, potentially OHKOing threats like Stantler, Persian, and Porygon and dealing massive damage to Wigglytuff; it also takes a heavy chunk out of Dewgong, Sudowoodo, and Graveler. Cross Chop even has a potentially game-breaking increased critical hit rate that can slice right through a Wigglytuff or Porygon that has used Curse several times. However, Primeape has some very debilitating issues. Move accuracy is its biggest problem, turning what would otherwise be KOs from Primeape's Cross Chop or Thunder into potentially unreliable tools. Primeape is also plagued by the presence of Xatu, Fearow, and Weezing, three of the best and most common Pokemon in the tier, which are all great answers to it. Primeape is also quite frail, having difficulty switching into its targets repeatedly, so it can be difficult to find entry for it. Primeape is also easily revenge killed by Fearow and Xatu after some chip damage.
[SET]
Name: Substitute Attacker
move 1: Cross Chop
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Substitute
Item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
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.
[SET]
Name: RestTalk
move 1: Cross Chop
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
Item: Leftovers
[SET COMMENTS]
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.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rock Slide can be used instead of Double-Edge on the Substitute set to hit Xatu and Fearow for close to 50% and Pineco for a 3HKO while being far more accurate than Thunder. It also hits just as hard against Fire-types as Cross Chop while being more accurate; however, it comes at the cost of having to use Cross Chop rather than Double-Edge against low health targets like Octillery, which can result in a miss. Without Rock Slide, Primeape is also completely walled by Gloom and has to repeatedly use Thunder to attempt to hit Weezing for meaningful chip damage. Counter can be used over Double-Edge on the Substitute set in order to surprise threats like Weezing, Dugtrio, and, if healthy enough to survive a Drill Peck, Fearow with heavy damage or even a KO; however, it comes at the cost of another move like Double-Edge and is ineffective against Xatu. Using Counter unsuccessfully will also remove all surprise factor and cause it to become significantly less useful. Thief can be used over Substiute or Double-Edge to steal Leftovers from Weezing, Gloom, or Xatu. A combination of Rest and Mint Berry can even be used alongside Thief to give Primeape a one-time full heal and then proceed to take Leftovers away from one of its walls. However, this comes at the cost of Double-Edge or Substitute, which reduces reliability, and RestTalk is often a better version of Mint Berry + Rest + Thief, as it does not require this setup process and gives Primeape the ability to continually heal throughout a game. Meditate can be used over Thunder on the Substitute set to boost Primeape’s Attack even further, letting it deal heavy damage to Weezing in short succession; however, it struggles against Xatu and will be KOed quickly, so it should be used alongside Houndour or a Pokemon that can take advantage of a chipped Weezing such as Hidden Power Rock Kingler. Protect allows Primeape to gain additional Leftovers recovery and potentially block an Explosion from the likes of Graveler and Pineco, though it compromises coverage further or means Primeape has to forgo Substitute. Screech can be used to force Spikes damage on the foe and break past Weezing and Gloom with an effectively +2 boosted Double-Edge with enough chip damage, though it comes at the cost of a moveslot, takes a turn to use, and has a 15% chance to miss.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Poison-types**: Weezing’s phenomenal bulk means it takes less than 30% from Primeape's Thunder and Double-Edge, the former of which can miss and the latter of which can grant relatively free entry to Xatu. Leftovers combined with Primeape often not wanting to stay in once Weezing has switched in means Weezing is able to heal off a lot of the damage it takes in the process, and Weezing can use Primeape’s presence to gain entry and fire off its own powerful attacks. Gloom takes far more damage from Double-Edge, but it has Moonlight to keep itself healthy enough to handle Primeape throughout the battle and has Stun Spore to paralyze Primeape. However, both Weezing and Gloom can slowly be worn down by Primeape over time, especially with Spikes on the field, and both hate paralysis from Thunder. Weezing and Gloom are also often tasked to handle other threats, such as Fearow and Octillery, respectively. While Gloom has Moonlight, it only has 8 PP, which can run out in longer games when it is tasked with repeatedly switching into Primeape and other threats like Octillery.
**Flying-types**: Xatu possesses a 4x resistance to Cross Chop and can hit Primeape for upwards of 80% with STAB Psychic. Fearow, meanwhile, does not resist Cross Chop but outspeeds Primeape and easily 2HKOes it with Drill Peck. Both Xatu and Fearow also run RestTalk to keep themselves healthy and stay able to handle Primeape throughout a game. However, Primeape’s Thunder is favored to 2HKO both Fearow and Hidden Power Electric Xatu, and if Thunder lands and paralyzes them as they switch in, Primeape can use Thunder again or use Rock Slide and easily knock them out; Primeape can also win the Speed tie against Xatu. Substitute also ensures Primeape gets an opportunity to land a Thunder instead of using Cross Chop as Xatu comes in. Despite this, Thunder still has a relatively high chance to miss and can result in Primeape doing nothing against Xatu and Fearow.
**Pineco**: Pineco resists Cross Chop, almost always avoids a 3HKO from Double-Edge, and is only 3HKOed by the inaccurate Thunder and Rock Slide. In return, it can use Primeape to set up Spikes or use Rapid Spin to clear away the Primeape trainer's Spikes. However, Primeape can freely set up a Substitute that Pineco typically has no way to break other than by sacrificing itself with Explosion, although it will still likely mean that Pineco can use both Spikes and Rapid Spin relatively easily.
**Status**: If Primeape is not running RestTalk, poison from Weezing and Gloom’s Sludge Bomb and Ninetales’s Toxic is incredibly limiting for Primeape’s staying power. Paralysis from Magnemite and Chinchou’s Thunder, Wigglytuff’s Body Slam, and Porygon’s Thunder Wave is also incredibly detrimental, especially because these Pokemon are all prime candidates for Primeape to come in on and threaten out, since Primeape needs its high Speed stat intact to make up for its frailty and take advantage of its great Attack stat and superb coverage.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beeorsomething.583728/
- Earlier versions written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gamer1234556.515642/ and https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/fnh.245982/
- Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/mrsoup.375193/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/juoean.486979/
- Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/autumn.384270/
Last edited:
