The Pig Monkey Pokemon. A Red version exclusive. Mankey's Fighting type can help against Brock early, and it evolves into Primeape at level 28.
295HP40Attack80Defense35Speed70Sp.Def35Sp.Atk35
Mankey
Primeape
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
70Speed · Below Avg

Is Mankey Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

Red version only. Fighting types are rare this early, and Mankey gives you a real answer to Brock right from Route 22. Fragile but hits hard. Primeape is the goal.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTGTETGGGGEEEBrockGym 1MankeyCatchableMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4PrimeapeEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Mankey's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Avoid
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Mankey's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Mankey has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Even
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Mankey's defenses.

Risky
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Risky
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Primeape trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Risky
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Tough

Sabrina's team hits Primeape's weaknesses hard.

Avoid
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
Risky
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Primeape has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

Easy KO
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
Easy KO
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Primeape has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Even
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

Primeape has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.

Easy KO
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Primeape has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Primeape trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Primeape trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Primeape trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Avoid
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Even
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Catch Mankey on Route 5 (walking, Lv 10-16, common).

View Mankey locations

Evolve Mankey to Primeape

Level 28
Type
Fighting
Tier
E

Mankey evolves into Primeape at Level 28. Your Mankey should hit Level 28 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Mankey in Red & Blue

The Red counterpart to Blue's Meowth, common across four central routes. Mankey fills that grass on the Red side, and Blue trainers have to trade for one.

Red Exclusive: Trade with Blue for Meowth. See every Red & Blue version exclusive

4 locations to catch Mankey

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 2
Badge 3

Where To Catch Mankey in RB

Mankey is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 10-20 across 4 total spots in the chain.

  1. Primeape
    Step 2Evolve into Primeape

Not landing the catch? Calculate Mankey catch rates for Red & Blue by ball, status, and HP.

Mankey Weakness

Mankey is weak to Flying and Psychic. Not many exploitable gaps in the Fighting typing defensive chart. Mankey's Fighting typing only leaves 2 gaps to cover.

Mankey Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Flying, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Bug, Rock
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Mankey Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
2Resist
0Immune
Score-2
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Mankey Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
1Immune
Score-2
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Mankey

Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
B
Butterfree
Butterfree
BugFlying
C
Spearow
Spearow
NormalFlying
C
Pidgey
Pidgey
NormalFlying
D
Zubat
Zubat
PoisonFlying
D

Mankey Evolutions

Mankey evolves into Primeape, but can't breed. At 295 stats as a Fighting type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 160 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Mankey
Fighting
Primeape
Fighting
HP
40
65+25
ATK
80
105+25
DEF
35
60+25
SP.ATK
35
60+25
SP.DEF
45
70+25
SPE
70
95+25
BST
305E-Tier
455E-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Mankey Best Moveset

Fighting pre-evolution with 80 Attack and 70 Speed, not terrible but the Fighting type is a liability when Psychic dominates the top. Physical attacks toward Primeape while hoping to avoid Psychic matchups.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Mankey
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • SubmissionSTAB
  • Karate ChopSTAB
  • DigCoverage
  • Body Slam

Moves List

Most of Mankey's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Submission and Karate Chop, but Normal and Ground and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
—4010035Normal
Lv 15
Karate Chop
S5010025Normal
Lv 21
Fury Swipes
—188015Normal
Lv 27
Focus Energy
———30Normal
Lv 33
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting
Lv 39
Thrash
—12010020Normal

TM Moves

All 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
S8510015Normal
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
D—10020Fighting
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
C120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
D808520Normal
TM35
MetronomePokémon Labbadge 6
D——10Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM16
Pay DayRoute 12badge 5
D4010020Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM48D759010Rock
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
S1208025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
D1107010Electric
TM24D9510015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Mankey can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP40
D
Attack80
C
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def35
F
Speed70
C
Total295
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight28.0 kg
Base XP61
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

Extremely quick to anger. It could be docile one moment then thrashing away the next instant.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Mankey Red & Blue Guide

  • In Red & Blue, for a casual playthrough, Mankey works as a placeholder. Fighting coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Primeape. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Mankey appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Mankey have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Explore

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