Summary
Pokemon GOwill be introducing Annihilape, the final evolution of Mankey, on January 19. Its upcoming release will mark the latest step in Niantic’s efforts toaddScarlet and Violetcreatures toPokemon GO, which the studio started doing in September.
Out of all thecross-gen evolutions thatPokemon Scarlet and Violetintroduced in late 2022, Annihilape ended up being one of the most popular ones. That’s largely because the third form of Mankey proved to be an immensely capable choice for raids due to its access to high-powered attacks like Close Combat and damage-boosting moves in the vein of Focus Energy.
Some 14 months following its release, the hard-hitting pocket monster is now primed for its mobile debut, with Niantic justconfirmingthatPokemon GOplayers will be able to obtain Annihilape starting next Friday, January 19. As predicted,this Paldean creature will have a different evolution method inPokemon GO, with Niantic deciding to lock it behind the requirement to defeat 30 Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon in battle while having Primeape equipped as a Buddy. Evolving a shiny Primeape will yield a shiny Annihilape, which is slightly darker but still extremely similar to the regular version of the “rage monkey Pokemon,” as it’s classified in the mainline games.
How To Get Annihilape in Pokemon GO
For comparison,evolving Primeape into Annihilape inPokemon Scarlet and Violetwas a bit easier, as the creature would automatically start evolving as soon as it used Rage Fist 20 times. Since that move is first learned at level 35, mostScarlet and Violetplayers were able to get their hands on an Annihilape or three before long. While battling works completely differently inPokemon GO, beating 30 Ghost- or Psychic-type creatures in Niantic’s mobile game will ostensibly take longer than just using spamming Primeape’s signature move.
Granted,Pokemon GOwon’t require players to actually use the Primeape that they intend to evolve in battle. Doing so is also not recommended for taking on Psychic creatures, which tend to make short work of Fighting types such as Mankey and Primeape. Players who are still missing a Mankey or Primeape will have an easier time of getting them between January 19 through January 24. Specifically, Niantic is planning 3-star Primeape raids, boosted Mankey spawn rates, and Mankey-rewarding Field Research Tasks during this period.
Annihilape is only the second-ever Fighting/Ghost-type Pokemon after Marshadow, which was introduced in the Generation 7 games back in 2016. While it features one additional weakness to Ghosts compared to its devolutions, its dual typing also makes it the bane of other Fighting types, which are frequently encountered in competitive play across all games,Pokemon GOvery much included.
WHERE TO PLAY
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