Primeape or Annihilape: Which is the better Mankey evolution in Pokemon GO PvP?

During the Pokemon GO Mankey Community Day in November 2024, many trainers have been catching and evolving their Mankey into Primeape and Annihilape. However, the question that concerns many of them is which evolution line is better for the PvP formats of the GO Battle League.

Usually, the final evolution of any monster is powerful to use and can be put into action to emerge victorious. But Annihilape, which has higher combat power than Primeape and Mankey, has been an especially dominant Fighting- and Ghost-type critter in battles. As such, trainers have been wanting to train it for Pokemon GO PvP.

Keeping this in mind, we have prepared an analytical article to measure the prowess of Annihilape and Primeape to determine which of the two trainers should utilize in PvP modes.

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Stat spread and moves of Primeape and Annihilape in Pokemon GO PvP

Details of Primeape

• Max Combat Power (CP): 2586
• Attack: 207
• Defense: 138
• Stamina: 163
• Weaknesses: Fairy-, Flying-, and Psychic
• Resistances: Bug-, Dark-, and Rock
• Fast Moves: Low Kick, Karate Chop, and Counter
• Charged Moves: Cross Chop, Ice Punch, Night Slash, Rage Fist, Low Sweep, and Close Combat

Details of Annihilape

• Max Combat Power (CP): 3695
• Attack: 220
• Defense: 178
• Stamina: 242
• Weaknesses: Fairy-, Flying-, Psychic-, and Psychic
• Resistances: Bug-, Poison-, Rock-, Fighting-, and Normal
• Fast Moves: Low Kick and Counter
• Charged Moves: Ice Punch, Night Slash, Low Sweep, Close Combat, and Shadow Ball

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What makes Primeape a better pick than Annihilape for Pokemon GO PvP?

A picture of Primeape in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Although Annihilape has a higher CP and an impressive stat spread that allows it to strike, defend, and protect itself from opponents, Primeape has great Fast and Charged Moves. For PvE battles, Annihilape is undoubtedly a lethal force and can annihilate most monsters that come in its path. But, since it lacks the Fast Move Karate Chop, it can’t do so in the PvP format.

Trainers have to teach Karate Chop to Primeape by using Elite Charged TMs. Yet, Niantic has not made any provision whatsoever for Annihilape to learn these moves. So, until the Rage Monkey Pokemon can learn them, it has no hope of becoming a strong battler in Pokemon GO PvP.

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Rating of Primeape and Annihilape in Pokemon GO PvP

Annihilape and Primeape from the anime. (Image via The Pokemon Company)

First and foremost, we will take a look at where Primeape is rated in the GO Battle League according to the information gathered from PvPoke:

• Ranks #2 in the Great League
• Ranks #3 in the Ultra League
• Ranks #221 in the Master League
• Ranks #365 in the Master Premier
• Ranks #15 in the Willpower Cup
• Ranks #4 in the Retro Cup

Ranking of Annihilape in the GO Battle League:

• Ranks #36 in the Great League
• Ranks #25 in the Ultra League
• Ranks #48 in the Master League
• Ranks #8 in the Master Premier
• Ranks #20 in the Willpower Cup
• Ranks #43 in the Retro Cup

Upon comparing the above data, we can conclude that Primeape is more useful for battles in Pokemon GO PvP. Therefore, players are advised to teach their Primeape the Karate Chop Fast Move.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Pokemon Type Calculator
• Pokemon Go Evolution Calculator