How to Play Mankey in Control Decks for the Pokémon TCG

In TCG ·

Mankey card art from Paldea Evolved, illustrated by Kurumitsu

Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Playing Mankey in Control Decks

When you look at a humble Basic Fighting-type like Mankey from the Paldea Evolved set, it’s easy to overlook its potential in a carefully tuned control shell. But this Common staple isn’t here to carry the game on raw power alone; it’s a tempo piece, designed to buy you crucial turns while you assemble disruption, draw, and resource denial. With 60 HP, a straightforward attack profile, and a modest retreat, Mankey fits the “bite-size pressure” philosophy that control decks rely on: keep the opponent guessing, slow their setup, and pivot to your higher-impact plays as the match advances ⚡🎴. The card is illustrated by Kurumitsu, and its Paldea Evolved branding anchors it in a modern, rotationally legal lineup that’s friendly to budget-conscious players too 💎🔥.

At a glance, the card’s data reads like a practical blueprint for how to deploy it on the table. It’s a Basic Fighting-type with 60 HP, a hallmark of many early-game bruisers. Its two attacks—Low Kick for 10 damage and Hang Down for 30—cost Fighting energy (and in the second case, a Colorless energy as well). In a control deck, you’re not aiming to KO everything with Mankey; you’re using it to trade efficiently, apply pressure on your opponent’s board, and stall long enough to deploy your sequence of disruption and draw. The evolution path into Primeape gives you a natural later-game target to upgrade into as your strategy matures. The card’s rarity is Common, which makes it a solid, affordable core piece for players building budget-friendly control lists 🌟.

Card at a glance

  • Set: Paldea Evolved (sv02)
  • Card number: 106
  • Type: Fighting
  • Stage: Basic
  • HP: 60
  • Attacks:
    • Low Kick — 10
    • Hang Down — 30 (Fighting + Colorless)
  • Retreat: 1
  • Regulation: G
  • Illustrator: Kurumitsu
  • Rarity: Common

The card’s pricing narrative is telling for new and returning players alike. In markets tracked by CardMarket, a typical Mankey from this set hovers around a few tenths of a Euro on average, with occasional dips into lower ranges and occasional spikes as demand ebbs and flows. That makes it an attractive option for control decks that want to stay lean on investment while still delivering consistent, tempo-based play. In other words: you get reliable board presence without breaking your budget ⚡💎.

Why Mankey fits a control plan

Control decks in the Pokémon TCG thrive on stalling the opponent’s engine while you assemble your own path to victory. Mankey’s role is twofold: first, it occupies valuable bench space and provides early game board presence with minimal energy investment; second, its two-attack suite gives you a flexible toolset for different matchups. Low Kick might be a quick, cheap ping to pressure the opponent’s damage output or stall a vulnerable retreat, while Hang Down offers a harder hit that can force your rival to rethink their setup or retreat plans. In practice, Mankey is the short, steady heartbeat of a larger, disruption-focused strategy — a reliable piece you don’t mind seeing on the field turn after turn ⚡🎨.

Because control decks hinge on card advantage and depleting your opponent’s options, you’ll pair Mankey with disruption supporters, tempo accelerants, and smart energy management. The modest energy cost of its primary attack allows you to attach efficiently while you deploy would-be lock supporters, Stadiums that gate certain plays, and draw engines that refill your hand. While you wait for the moment to upgrade to Primeape, Mankey’s presence keeps your opponent honest and slows their development—precisely the vibe control players chase in every match 💎🎴.

Attack plan and energy usage

In a control shell, you’ll usually aim to deploy Mankey early and stabilize the board. Use Low Kick to poke at key early targets without investing too heavily, then switch to Hang Down to apply heavier pressure when you’ve got the board under your terms. The 1 retreat cost helps you reposition Mankey toward your disruption engines or toward a safe opponent’s attacker waiting to be answered by your higher-HP pivots. Remember that Mankey can evolve to Primeape, a natural upgrade ladder as your deck transitions from tempo to late-game control completes 🎮.

Energy management is essential. Because Hang Down requires a Colorless energy in addition to Fighting, you want to ensure your energy lines stay balanced so you can keep cycling Mankey in and out of the active position. This also sets a clean stage for upgrading to Primeape, which can then anchor a more decisive late-game shutdown with a stronger presence on the bench and in the active position. The key is to use Mankey to force your opponent into suboptimal plays while your control package locks down their key accelerants, such as draw engines or searching tools 🔥.

Deck-building tips for budget and beyond

For budget-conscious players, start with 2–3 copies of Mankey to establish a dependable early-game plan. Pair them with a handful of disruption cards that slow the opponent’s setup — think cards that limit bench space, disturb hand size, or disable restoration options — while you assemble your draw engine and your eventual Primeape upgrade. Don’t forget to include a small, reliable line of energy acceleration so your attack costs stay manageable, letting you keep Mankey active longer. If you’re chasing a more polished version of the control archetype, bring in higher-HP attackers and a robust trainer line to ensure you can stall effectively through the mid-game and finish with a decisive Primeape pivot 💎⚡.

Artistically and availability-wise, Paldea Evolved continues to be a fertile ground for cost-efficient competitive choices. The Paldea-era artwork by Kurumitsu on this Mankey card adds a touch of character to your board, and the card’s image quality is a reminder of why this era remains popular for collectors and players alike 🎨🔥.

For collectors, the rarity and circulation of Common Mankey in Paldea Evolved make it a practical target for both deck-building and price-conscious collecting. As a non-rare centerpiece, it offers solid play value without inflating your investment, and its evolution into Primeape continues the narrative of a classic fighting-type line that resonates with long-time fans and new players alike 💎🎴.

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