Ahoy there, fellow swashbucklers! I'm NOT Guybrush Threepwood, but if you're reading this, you're ready to tackle the challenge that is the art of Monkey Kombat. I know what you're thinking: "But ‘NOT Guybrush’, how can I possibly hope to master this ridiculous mini-game?" Well, buckle your swash and get ready, because I'm here to guide you through it.

Mastering Monkey Kombat might seem daunting at first, but with the right approach and some Voodoo Jerky Pretzels, you’ll find it’s not too difficult. I’ll start by explaining the basics, because no one wants to fight like a dairy farmer forever.

Monkey Kombat features five unique stances. Each stance has a specific name and corresponding button combination:

• Drunken Monkey (DM)
• Charging Chimp (CC)
• Bobbing Baboon (BB)
• Gimpy Gibbon (GG)
• Anxious Ape (AA)


To move from one stance to another, you need to perform specific moves. Each move consists of a combination of three buttons… or monkey calls! Check them out below:

• OOP!
  
• ACK!
  
• CHEE!
  
• EEK!

These combinations won’t be given to you and are different on each play through, so it’s up to the player to find out and write down which combinations will swap your current stance to another!

For example, in MY playthrough, OOP! ACK! CHEE! swaps me from Drunken Monkey (DM) to Anxious Ape (AA).

This combination will also swap me BACK FROM Anxious Ape (AA) to Drunken Monkey (DM)!

Top Tip! Use the same three monkey calls to stay in the same stance if you don’t need to swap!


To win a Monkey Kombat match, you must switch to a stance that defeats your opponent’s current stance. Discover these winning stances through trial and error during gameplay.

To defeat your opponent, successfully deplete your enemy's bananas to zero!

As you battle, watch the stances and moves used by your opponents. Record these in a notebook or a spreadsheet. It’s okay if you lose a few games, it’s completely normal and the recommended way of learning how to switch to new stances!

Top Tip! Even if you lose, swap to another stance you already know so that your opponent will switch to a new stance to beat you! Make notes!


You can battle as many monkeys as you need to familiarise yourself with the button combinations and transitions. Just like that Mancomb Seepgood guy that can hold his breath for 10 minutes - practice is key!

Walk into the clearing to find your practice monkeys. To try again after a battle, walk out of the clearing and you'll see another monkey wander back in from the map! Head back into the clearing and you'll be able to try again!




Use a Reference Sheet!

Create a reference cheat sheet to help you memorise the transitions during battles. This can speed up your learning process. Use the example cheat sheet below and fill it out as you play.


Full reference sheet to give you an idea what it should look like!
Blank reference sheet above. Save the image or print it out if you prefer!

Top Tip! It’s useful to note that one stance always beats two other stances!

By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to mastering Monkey Kombat in Escape from Monkey Island. I hope you found it useful and good luck! May the best monkey win!