What is a good moveset for Primeape?
If you have a good competitive moveset for Primeape,post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.
Be sure to includefull set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated.Access the full list of guidelines here.
Primeape Pokédex and learnsetfor reference.
Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.
Gen V
Primeape (M) @ Life OrbAbility: Vital SpiritEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Close Combat- Stone Edge- Ice Punch- Thunder Punch
Again, standard sweeper. Life Orb boosts the power of your moves. Close Combat is STAB, all the other moves are type coverage. Vital Spirit stops the foe from putting you to sleep. Really, not much explanation is required here.
Gen 7 PU
Primeape @ Choice ScarfAbility: DefiantEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpeAdamant Nature
Close Combat is STAB that destroys Alolan Sandslash, Stoutland, Drampa, Aurorus, Kangaskhan, Regirock, Cryogonal, and Ferroseed. Despite the neutrality, staples Torterra and Eelektross do not want to switch in either. On the topic of switching, U-turn lets Primeape get out of bad situations, and with hazard support from Torterra, Mudsdale, Regirock, Alolan Sandslash, Ferroseed, and Qwilfish, Primeape can overwhelm its checks with not too much effort. This is further exacerbated by Defiant, which gives Primeape a free Swords Dance if hazards are Defogged, putting the enemy team in a lose-lose situation. Gunk Shot terrorizes Silvally-Fairy and Clefairy. Lastly, it levels the leaf-bearers living in the low tier, like Leafeon, Ludicolo, Abomasnow, and Servine. Earthquake covers Poison types, Ice Punch smacks Torterra, Seed Bomb destroys Jellicent.
Gen 8 BDSP RUPrimeape @ Choice Scarf / Choice BandAbility: DefiantEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Close Combat- Stone Edge- Poison Jab- U-turn
Close Combat is pretty powerful STAB that can chunk quite a bit of Pokemon in the tier. Stone Edge hits Flying-types like Moltres, Xatu, and Mantine super effectively. Poison Jab is used to 2HKO Granbull upon it switching in due to Defiant giving you a +1 attack boost. U-Turn is used to pivot out of bad matchups while chipping opposing Pokemon, and can let you bring in a teammate. Choice Scarf allows Primeape to act as a revenge killer and a late game cleaner, whereas Choice Band gives you more power to make your attacks hit harder.
Role: Physical SweeperPrimeape (M) @ Fire GemAbility DefiantEVs: 160 Atk / 96 SpA / 252 SpeRash Nature- Overheat- Close Combat- U-turn- Acrobatics
Okay, I really like this guy.
I’m not 100% sure about defiant boosts, but I’m pretty sure he gets them, but even without them, the set is still intact.
Overheat Deals good damage with the Fire Gem And gives Defiant boosts.
Close Combat is Hard hitting STAB and Defiant boosts.
And Acrobatics Is beastly after your Fire gem is Used.
While U-Turn is classically used to escape.
A good Physical Sweeper set I found:
Primeape (M) @ Expert BeltAbility: Vital SpiritEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Brick Break- U-turn- Dig- Rock Slide
Expert Belt works well with the strategy here. Evs are standard Physical Sweeper. Brick Break is STAB, and breaks screens. U-turn is coverage against Psychics, and helps you escape. Dig is just a good move, even though you have to wait two turns. However… When you use Dig, the foe switches to a Flying type to avoid damage. But with Rock Slide, you hit them super effective. Expert Belt helps here. Rock Slide also kills Bug types resisting the rest of the moveset.
Gen III
Primeape (M) @ Lum BerryAbility: Vital SpiritEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Cross Chop- Body Slam- Rock Slide- Earthquake
This Guy laughs at status with a Vital Spirit + Lum Berry Combo, he can’t be put to sleep, and you have to use any other status twice for it to last.Aside from That, Cross Chop is lower accuracy than other choices, but still probably the best if you want him to actually sweep effeciently, Rock Slide is great coverage for Fighting Types, and prior to Gen IV+ it was one of the best rock choices for any Pokemon needing a rock move.Body Slam gives some brute normal type damage, and can paralyze, which makes it superior to Return/Frustration to be honest. Last but not least, Earthquake gives amazing type coverage for this thing to sweep along, and it’s got a reliable 100 accuracy too!
Double/Triple battle
Primeape (M) @ Life Orb / Flying GemAbility: DefiantEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Assurance- Earthquake- Close Combat- Acrobatics / Rock Slide / Aerial Ace
Assurance gets good coverage along with the other moves and gets more powerful when it hits a Pokemon already damaged, great for multi-battles. Earthquake hits multiple Pokemon. Close Combat is STAB. The final move is your choice. Acrobatics is the best move, as it does great damage, gives good coverage, and can hit any foe in a Triple Battle. However, to make best use of it will require a Gem (Flying is best). So you might want to not use Acrobatics in favor of a Life Orb. Rock Slide hits multiple Pokemon, but does not get as good of coverage as Flying. Aerial Ace is weaker than Rock Slide, but it gets slightly better coverage and can hit any foe in a Triple Battle. Defiant works great as Intimidate is a common ability. So, you’ll get +1 Attack from Intimidate.
Primeape (M) @ Focus BandAbility: Anger PointEVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpeAdamant Nature- Reversal- Bulk Up- Beat Up- Stone Edge
Beat Up: well, if you have 6 Pokemons, gonna be pretty badass
Primeape has a pretty low Hp-defense, so everybody tends to go for a 1HKO, and that’s how this thing works.
Just make sure you have enough speed, Bulk-up on the very first turn, then Reversal/Stone edge your way to victory. Replace Adamant with Jolly if your Berserk-ape has trouble dealing with speedy-sweepers.
Gen 7 PUPrimeape @ Normalium ZAbility: DefiantEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Close Combat- Throat Chop- Bulk Up- Encore
Z-Encore set. Encore is for Z-Encore, which locks opposing Pokemon into using one move, and raises your speed by one stage. It’s best to use it on a Pokemon using a status move like Stealth Rock. Close Combat is STAB. Throat Chop is for coverage against psychic and ghost types. Bulk Up is for boosting your attack and can be used after using Encore.
Gen 9 RU Physical-Attacking Lead
Primeape @ EvioliteAbility: DefiantTera Type: GhostEVs: 252 Atk / 20 SpD / 236 SpeAdamant Nature- Drain Punch- Bulk Up- Rage Fist- Stealth Rock
Rage Fist time! Start with a SR, then Bulk Up and Rage Fist to your heart’s content. Drain Punch for STAB and recovery. The recovery, Eviolite, and BU make the set especially bulky, always a plus for a lead. Tera Ghost for spinblocking against common spinners such as Cryogonal and Rage Fist STAB, and the 236 Speed and Adamant nature maximize attack while outspeeding Timid Choice Specs Sylveon. Make sure to send out Defiant against common defoggers such as Altaria (especially) and the Oricorios.
Primeape @Black Glasses/Toxic OrbAbility: Anger PointEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe or 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpeTimid / Jolly / Adamant Nature- Thunderbolt / Acrobatics / Aerial Ace- Thief / Knock Off- Stomping Tantrum- Toxic
{Yes I know Timid lowers Attack but here me out here.}
Timid boost speed so you have a good fast Primeape. It’s good for competitive battling using Thief if you are not using any items {Which powers up Acrobatics} and steal your opponent items such as Leftovers or Choice Scarf. Thunderbolt covers one of its two weakness and if you’re not running a Timid, but rather Adamant then using Knock-off better and you can run with your own items with Aerial Ace.
Stomping Tantrum does better than Earthquake, when teamed up with Toxic. Using Toxic twice [second one will fail] will power up Stomping Tantrum. The downside is that there are so many ways of countering that combo.
You can counter number four however if you are in a double battle. Use moves from your ally that locks in your Primeape in place. [Sticky Web/Mean Look/etc,.]
