Primeape is known for his go-bananas hyper-aggressive rushdown game. Ape has one of the fastest buttons in the game in 5A, alongside consistent damage routes thanks to his great specials like Ape Rush and Fierce Upper. He has crazy pressure on block and a great comeback mechanic in Ape Rush. The result? A fast rushdown with the most explosive damage in the game.
Getting in to the opponent's zone is the key for Ape. He struggles against larger hitboxes and projectiles, although this can be mitigated with good play and an unhealthy amount of parries. Ape is also extremely fragile, and can't last very long in disadvantage state.
Primeape is a great pick for beginners and more experienced players alike; his explosive and expressive game brings delight to almost everyone--and defeat to the rest!
Playstyle
Primeape is a rushdown character who is very laughable at range, but a menace once he's up close and personal.
Pick if you like
Avoid if you dislike
Comeback Potential Primeape's 5B becomes more powerful the lower health he has, leading to explosive turnarounds off errant hits.
OTGs 28B lets Primeape tag extra damage into hard knockdowns such as throw, 2B and 6B.
Pocket-Sized Buttons While fast with great frame data, Primeape's itty bitty normals make it difficult to challenge at midrange or keep threats at bay.
Fast But Fragile Primeape has some of the lowest health/guard values in the game, increasing the risk of the options he chooses to close the distance.
Normals
5A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1
0
Mid
5AA, 3A, Special
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
6
3
14
-1 [+1]
-
Total: 22
Primeape swipes with their hand.
Primeape's fastest button, and most consistent combo starter.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
5AA
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1
0
Mid
3A, Special
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
6
3
16
-3 [-1]
-
Total: 24
Primeape swipes with their other hand.
Combo filler allowing Primeape more time to confirm 5A.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
4A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2
0
Mid
Special
Air Attack
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
11
10
13
0 [-5]
-
Total: 33
Primeape kicks above their head.
Go-to antiair normal.
Primeape's most damaging cancellable attack, ideal for punishes.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
6A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2, 2
1, 1
Mid
Special, C Cancel
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
8, 11
5, 6
15
9 [+4]
-
Total: 44
Primeape punches horizontally twice.
Only the first hit can be cancelled.
Primeape's best standard horizontal poke, but has a lot of recovery due to the second hit always coming out.
Guaranteed to be plus on block, but can push out a bit far to take advantage of those plus frames.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
2A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
3
0
Mid
-
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
12
19
11
+7 [-12]
-
Total: 41
Primeape launches forwards with a kick.
Incredible active frames makes this move much better when hit later into the animation.
Doing this attack from afar or as the opponent wakes up allows for pressure on block and combos on hit.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
3A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2
1
Low
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
10
10
34
+44 [-26]
-
Total: 53
Primeape delivers a sweeping kick.
Standard combo ender off 5AA, builds a bar of meter.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
j5A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
3
0
High
Special
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
11
15
6
+20 [+11]
-
Total: 31
Primeape performs a jumping kick.
Primeape's go-to jump-in.
Can cancel into jB for additional high hits, or to combo from an air-to-air.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
j8A
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
4
1
High
Special
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
9
18
6
+23 [+18]
-
Total: 32
Primeape performs a jumping punch.
Longer range horizontally and faster compared to j5A, albeit less rewarding as an air-to-air.
Unlike j5A this move can only cancel into jB on airborne opponents.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Specials
Ape Rush 5B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
1x, 1
0x, 1
Mid
624B
-
-
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
10, 5
5, 12
20
+5 [0]
-
Total: 51
Primeape swings their arms while running forward.
Scales off Primeape's current health, adding more hits the lower his vitality.
Combos into normals on counterhit, leading to explosive damage if catching the opponent mid-strike.
Safe on block, allowing Primeape to run RPS on an incorrect guess.
Fierce Upper 6B
The Griddy.
The Griddy.
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
4
1
Mid
jB, C Cancel
Air Attack
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
10
20
11
+55 [-25]
-
Total: 40
Primeape launches skyward.
Anti-air DP, as well as Primeape's strongest meterless combo ender.
Cancel into j.B costs one bar, but makes this uppercut plus on block.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Beat 'Em Up 2B
Jumpscare.
Jumpscare.
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
6
-
Unblockable
jB
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
27
∞
11
28 [n/a]
-
Total: 37
Primeape leaps forward, landing in a cloud of violence on a successful landing.
Can be aimed in mid-flight.
Can be cancelled into j.B mid-flight, meterlessly.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Skull Pound jB
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
4/2
2
High
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
24
∞
22
+35 [+15/+8]
-
Total: 45
Primeape slams the ground with their fists.
Completely kills his air momentum, sending Primeape to the ground.
Acts as an incredibly quick overhead/throw bait when done immediately after jumping.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
EX Moves
Savage Upper 623B
EX Griddy.
EX Griddy.
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2, 3
1, 1
Mid
(First Hit Only) C Cancel
Full
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
7
22
11
+55 [-25]
1
Total: 39
Primeape soars upwards, but cooler.
Primeape's only reversal.
Cancel into j.B costs one bar, but makes this uppercut plus on block.
Allows for combos when the move lands late in it's active frames, though this is not typically how the move is used.
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Furious Stomp 28B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
3
-
Mid
-
-
OTG
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
4
∞
11
+30 [n/a]
1
Total: 14
Primeape stomps repeatedly on the head of the opponent.
Only comes out when the opponent is in knockdown state. Only hits when opponent is in knockdown state.
Notably combos out of Forward & Back Throw, j.B, and Beat 'Em Up (2B).
Can combo off of 6B/623B if the move hits late enough.
Super
Rampage 624B
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
(1x7), 4
(1x7), 1
Mid
(Only Last Hit) C Cancel
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
44 [-40 Super Freeze]
21
19
+55 [-25]
2
Total: 83
Primeape beats his chest, then releases a flurry of punches.
Can be very strong in pressure, as it deals a lot of uninterruptable guard damage (barring the opponent does not have meter for burst).
Combos when cancelled from 4A and 6A(1).
Toggle Hitboxes
Toggle Hitboxes
Throws
Forward Throw 6C
Damage
Endurance Damage
Guard
Cancel
Invul
Property
2
-
Unblockable
-
-
Knockdown
Startup
Active
Recovery
Advantage
Cost
8
2
41
-
-
Total: 50
Primeape lifts the opponent above his head and tosses them.