Persian

Persian, The Classy Cat Pokémon. It has a high opinion of itself, although not to the same extent as the Alolan Persian. It’s quite difficult to make friends with this Pokémon. It has a violent temperament. It will attack anything that looks it in the eye. Its sharp claws inflict deep wounds.

Overview

On this week's adventure our heroes from the Pokémon of the Week staff bring you a special report from inside Team Rocket's very own secret headquarters. That's right we'll be talking about the Viridian City Gym Leader's and Team Rocket Boss' favorite pet Pokémon, give it up for Persian! It's really fast for its format topping out at Base 115 speed, and it has access to the Technician ability and fantastic offensive movepool. Its defenses and bulk are terrible though, so in singles formats it functions mostly as a glass cannon / late game sweeper. It does have a lot of support moves to play around with too though like Taunt, Fake Out, Knock Off and so many others..but we're gonna get out of here before any Team Rocket Grunts wise up and spot us.
Positives
+ High Base 115 Speed + Since it's a pure normal type it only has one major weakness which is fighting moves + Has a great ability in Technician and a great movepool to take advantage of it like Swift, Icy Wind, Shockwave, and Water Pulse

Negatives
- the rest of its stats aren't that great ranging from Base 60 to Base 70

Abilities

Limber: The Pokémon cannot be Paralysed while having this ability. It's a nice ability, but it's really niche and Technician is way more useful.
Technician: Moves with a base power of 60 or less are boosted in power by 50%. This is your most consistent ability, and it provides a nice offensive boost on top of that so Technician should always be your ability of choice on regular Persian.
Hidden Ability: (Available through transfer)
Unnerve: The opponent Pokémon will never use their held Berry while the Pokémon is in battle. Opponents in S.O.S. Battles are more likely to call for help. It's useful, but again it's only useful in certain situations. You want to use Technician.

Movesets

Giovanni's Pet

- Hyper Voice
- Hidden Power Ghost
- Water Pulse
- Nasty Plot
Item Attached: Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs and Nature:
252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP
Timid Nature

Hyper Voice is your main Stab, and will allow you to deal out good neutral damage to most things as well as hit through substitute. Swift can also be used to as it has the same power with Technician and never misses as well. Hidden Power Ghost provides strong coverage against the likes of Gourgeist and Mr. Mime. Water Pulse provides good coverage against things like Golem and Piloswine. Last but not least is Nasty Plot to help boost Persian's special attacks whenever you can get one in.

Other Options

- Thunderbolt: An alternate coverage option if your team has trouble with Water Types. You could also use Shock Wave as well since they have the same Power thanks to Technician, but you lose out on the potential paralysis chance.
- Icy Wind: Another alternate coverage option. Comes with the added bonus of lowering your enemy's speed.
- Taunt : a Fast Taunter/Anti Lead like Persian can be useful on any team, but other 'mons in lower singles formats can perform that role better and it can't afford to sacrifice a moveslot for it

Countering Persian

Well you won't need to call those meddling twerps and their Pikachu to cross off Persian. There's any of a number of ways given how frail it's. Fighting Types like Poliwrath can take pretty much any unboosted attack our boss' Persian can dish out and KO it. Then there's common's Choice Scarf users like Rotom F and and fast 'mons like Zebstrika that are even faster than Persian and can KO it with ease because of how frail its defenses are. It'll have trouble going up against any Special Wall too like Regice that'll wear you down and take advantage of Persian's frailty.

Alolan Corner

Alolan Persian, The Classy Cat Pokémon. Its round face and smooth coat—softer than the most high-class velvet—have made this a very popular Pokémon in Alola. It looks down on everyone other than itself. Its preferred tactics are sucker punches and blindside attacks.

Overview

Well Persian was one of the other lucky few that received a region exclusive forme, and a cute fat head to go along with it. I mean real talk I can't decide if it's hilarious or adorable, but I seriously love Alolan Persian. It's definitely an improvement from Giovanni's pet. It comes with a brand new Dark Type instead of Normal, and brand new ability called Fur Coat which helps bridge part of the gap in its frail defenses by halving the damage of all physical Moves. Fur Coat is seriously a godsend. It does come with a lot more weakness though now that it's not just a pure boring Normal Type from Kanto anymore, so you'll need to watch out for Bug and Fairy Types in addition to the same old Fighting Types.
Positives
+ New Dark Typing which is a much better Stab than Normal
+ Awesome New Fur Coat Ability which halves the damage of all physical moves on our friend Persian
+ Higher Special Attack, it's still not great but every bit helps
+ Same Great Base 115 Speed

Negatives
- it's still hella frail and wishes it had more power. Although Fur Coat helps bridge the gap ALOT
- has some extra weaknesses to in addition to Fighting Type now thanks to its new typing
- lacks reliable recovery moves

Abilities

Fur Coat: Halves the damage from physical moves onto this Pokémon. It's a great ability for a Pure Dark Type, and allows Persian to function in a team support role instead of just a glass cannon.
Technician: Moves with a base power of 60 or less are boosted in power by 50%. It's just as good on Alolan Persian as it's on regular Kanto Persian, but Alola Persian prefers to act in a more supportive role than just all out offense so Fur Coat is what you should take most of the time.
Hidden Ability: (Available)
Rattled: Speed is raised by one stage when the Pokémon is hit by a Bug-type, Ghost-type or Dark-type move. A Speed boost would be nice if Persian needed it, but in most cases it doesn't. At least not more than it needs Fur Coat.

Movesets

Garfield and Friends

- Taunt
- Toxic
- Foul Play
- Parting Shot
Item Attached: Darkinium Z
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Spe / 4 Def
Jolly Nature

Taunt is there to shut down your enemy's bulky walls like Umbreon, and make it easier for you and your squad to whittle down their HP. Toxic is there to wear down your enemy's team, and it's the only thing you really do to Kommo-o who will walk all over you otherwise and is immune to the effects of your Parting Shot because of its Soundproof ability. Foul Play is your Stab and your only attack on this set, and will allow you to hit physical attackers hard. Last but not least is Parting Shot which allows you to lower your enemies offensive prowess and switch out, and if you activate Darkinium Z with it you'll be able to heal one of your squadmates to full health one time as well.

Other Options

- Assault Vest: If you choose to strap an Assault Vest over Alolan Persian's Fur Coat it'll make it much more effective Tank, but you'll have to lose all your support moves and Z Parting Shot is Alolan Persian's main selling point so overall I don't recommend using Assault Vest.
- U-turn: Some 'mons like Kommo-o are immune to its Parting Shot because of its Soundproof ability, so U-turn COULD be used as an alternate pivot instead but you'd have to get rid of Toxic or Taunt and those support moves are way more helpful to your team than U-turn is going to be.

VGC, Double, & Triple Battle Options

Persian was typically nowhere to be found in past VGC seasons, but Sun and Moon gifted Giovanni's pet with a new Alolan form. Alolan Persian comes with a different typing and a great ability. With an amazing support movepool, Alolan Persian has had good success on many teams in VGC 2017 so far. A fast Fake Out and a variety of ways to disrupt opposing Pokemon makes Alolan Persian a top choice to support your team.

Fat Cat

-Fake Out
-Foul Play
-Parting Shot
-Taunt / Snarl
Item Attached: Mago Berry
Ability: Fur Coat
EVs and Nature:
28 HP / 64 Def / 164 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Timid Nature

Fur Coat is a great defensive ability that makes Persian very bulky on the physical side. Max speed with a Timid or Jolly nature ensures that Persian outspeeds Modest Tapu Koko. A Timid nature is preferred if running Snarl to do a little more damage, but Jolly is an option if you do not and want your Fake Out to do a little more damage. Mago Berry (or any other "pinch" berry that heals 50% and will not confuse your Pokemon) can greatly increase the cat's longevity, giving it even more turns to disrupt. The defensive EVs on this set ensures that Persian can live a spread-damage Dazzling Gleam from Timid Life Orb Tapu Koko, and that Sacred Sword from Jolly Kartana at -1 attack is a 4HKO, thanks to the Mago Berry.

Fake Out is one of Alolan Persian's biggest selling points as a support Pokemon. Foul Play does big damage against strong physical type attackers, and is great since it does not require Persian to invest in any attack. Parting Shot is a great support move, lowering a target's attack and special attack by one stage each, which increases your team's ability to take attacks, and give your team momentum with what you switch in. Taunt can stop Trick Room or other setup strategies, while Snarl lowers both opponents' special attack by one.

Other Options & Team Ideas

-Darkinium Z can pair with a few moves in Persian's arsenal, but Parting Shot is the most common one used. Z-Parting Shot will fully heal the Pokemon who switches in after Persian uses the move.
-Roseli Berry and Assault Vest are two lessor used items for Alolan Persian, but can allow it to take a fairy-type attack from Tapu Koko or Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, among other attacks.
-Feint breaks Protect and can pick off Pokemon at low HP or who have survived on a Focus Sash.
-Quash is a very good support move to help slower teammates and make the target attack last.
-Snatch is especially great for stealing Tailwinds from Pokemon like Drifblim or Mandibuzz.
-Charm lowers the target's attack by two stages, severely hindering physical attackers.
-Roar can ruin setup Pokemon like Evoboost Eevee, and prevent Trick Room from Pokemon who may be holding a Mental Herb and are immune to your first Taunt.
-Protect is still the best move in doubles to keep Pokemon safe from damage, stall out speed control, or weaken Z-moves, but it may be tough to fit on Persian's set.
-Toxic can weak down bulky Pokemon like Porygon2 over time.
-Flatter is an interesting gimmick to use on your own Tapu Fini with its Misty Terrain active, but unfortunately it only raises special attack by 1 stage (unlike Swagger, which raises attack by two stages).

-Trick Room teams appreciate Alolan Persian's fast Fake Out to help Trick Room go up. Parting Shot (whether the Z version or not) can then help a sweeper cleanly switch in on an opponent at lowered attack.
-Any other setup Pokemon appreciate the Fake Out support, and Fake Out can disrupt opposing setups too. Pokemon that setup with moves like Calm Mind or Curse especially appreciate the support from Persian with moves like Parting Shot and Snarl to make them even bulkier.
-Psychic Terrain can prevent Persian from using Fake Out, so terrain control can be useful.
-Intimidate support, especially from Arcanine, works great to increase you team's bulk. Persian can use Parting Shot into a teammate with Intimidate, lowering the opponent's attack by two stages and gaining momentum.

Countering Alolan Persian

Well it's got a fat head and a new Type, but Alolan Persian isn't anymore invincible than its cousin from the Kanto Region. Kommo-o will be your biggest headache in life because it's ability Soundproof neutralizes your Parting Shot and it's part Fighting Type on top of that and can turn around and KO you out of the match. There's not much you can really do if you go up against that except use Toxic and switch in another squadmate to wear it down. Then there's pesky Fairy Types, and most of them are special oritented so your Fur Coat won't help you out against them and Alolan Persian is just as frail as Kanto Persian and with Dark Type it'll be crushed by Fairy Types like Diancie and Gardevoir. Emboar and Heracross will really bruise you up to with their Fighting Moves even if you're using Fur Coat and take you down. There's many others, but those are the most common ones. Good luck.


Locations in Games

Red/Blue/Yellow:
Evolve Meowth (Blue, Green)
Trade from Green or Blue (Red/Yellow)

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Evolve Meowth (Emerald)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen/Emerald/XD (Ruby/Sapphire)

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Bond Bridge, Canyon Entrance, Cape Brink, Five Isle Meadow, Kindle Road, Ruin Valley, Seavault Canyon, Treasure Beach, Water Path

Colosseum/XD:
Evolve Meowth (XD)
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen/Emerald (Colosseum)

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Meowth

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 7, Cerulean Cave (SoulSilver)
Trade from Diamond/Pearl/Platinum/SoulSilver (HeartGold)

Black/White:
Trade from Black 2/White 2

Black 2/White 2:
Evolve Meowth

X/Y:
Trade from Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire

Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Mirage Island

Sun/Moon:
Evolve Meowth

Animé Appearences

Persian has made multiple appearances in the anime. Most notably, Giovanni has one as his partner Pokémon

# -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics
15 Battle Aboard the St. Anne Battle On The St. Anne Pics
17 The Island of Giant Pokémon Island of Enormous Pokémon!?! Pics
21 Bye-Bye Butterfree Bye Bye Butterfree Pics
44 The Problem with Paras Paras And Parasect Pics
57 The Breeding Center Secret The Secret of the Breeding Center Pics
63 The Battle of the Badge Viridian Gym! The Last Badge! Pics
64 It's Mr. Mimie Time Mr. Mime and the Pokémon Circus Pics
67 Showdown at the Poke Corral Dueling with the Rival! Oak's Laboratory Pics
68 The Evolution Solution Slowpoke Evolving Into Slowbro Pics
M1 Mewtwo Strikes Back Mewtwo's Counterattack Pics
72 Go West, Young Meowth Why Meowth Can Speak Pics
84 A Scare in the Air Airship Mishap!? Pics
101 The Mandarin Island Miss Match Lorelei of the Elite Four! Ice Duel! Pics
159 The Fortune Hunters Pokemon Fortune-Telling?! Headlines! Pics
171 Beauty and the Breeder Sayonara Vulpix! Beauty Contest! Pics
233 Due's and Don'ts Team Rocket and Delibird! Pics
246 Enlighten Up! Slowpoke's Knowledge! Ash's Knowledge! Pics
278 A Ruin With A View Ancient Pokémon and Mysterious Teams! Pics
289 All Things Bright and Beautifly! Contest! Beautifly's Magnificent Battle! Pics
P6 Gotta Dance The Secret Base of the Dancing Pokémon Pics
C13 Training Daze! Team Rocket! Origin of Love and Youth! Pics
355 Pearls Are A Spoink's Best Friend !?! Spoink's Lost Object!? Pics
392 Mean With Envy Disorderly Melee! Pokémon Contest - Pacifidlog Convention! (Part One) Pics
403 Saved by the Beldum Start The Preliminaries! Morrison Appears!! Pics
409 The Scheme Team! Scott & The Battle Frontier! Pics
444 What I Did For Love Decisive Game! May VS Brock! Pics
470 Two Degrees of Seperation! Find Pikachu! Route 202! Pics
511 Malice in Wonderland! Mismagius! Escape From Nightmare! Pics
548 Thief That Keeps On Thieving The Yanma Capture Operation! Pics
659 Memories Are Made of Bliss Memories are Pearl! Friendships are Diamond! Pics
660 In The Shadow of Zekrom! To the Unova Region! Zekrom's Shadow!! Pics
756 Unrest at the Nursery! Pokémon Nursery School Uproar! Rufflet & Vullaby! Pics
757 Meloetta and the Undersea Temple Meloetta and the Abyssal Temple! Pics
784 Farewell, Unova! Setting Sail for New Adventures! Farewell Unova! Setting Sail Once Again!! Pics
M16 Genesect & The Legend Awakened Extremespeed Genesect: Mewtwo Awakens Pics
803 Dream Continues! My Dream: Pokémon Master! Pics
806 A Battle of Aerial Mobility! Froakie VS Fletchling! Air Maneuver Battle!! Pics
910 An Explosive Operation The Explosive Land's Wrath! Operation: Capture Zygarde!! Pics
946 Loading the Dex! Good Rotomorning, I am the Rotomdex, Roto! Pics
950 That's Why Litten is a Scamp! The Marketplace Wanderer, Litten! Pics
955 The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair! The Extracurricular Lesson is on Mareanie?! Pics
999 Let Sleeping Pokémon Lie! A Strong Sleeper: Komala's Secret Pics
1005 Acting True to Form! The Dark Meowth is Alolan Meowth!? Pics
1020 Guiding an Awakening! Nanu's Grand Trial! The Awakening of Lycanroc! Pics
1024 A Young Royal Flame Ignites! The Young Flame of Alola! The Birth of Royal Ash!! Pics
1026 Dummy, You Shrunk the Kids! Ash Becomes Tiny Pics
1033 Securing the Future! Connect to the Future! The Legend of the Blinding One!! Pics
1035 Turning the Other Mask! Kukui Up Against the Wall! A Second Masked Royal!! Pics
1042 We Know Where You're Going, Eevee! Where is Eevee Going? To the End of the World for the Sake of a Meeting! Pics
1073 Battling Besties! Mallow & Lana! A Fully Powered Battle of Friendship!! Pics
1083 Z-Move Showdown! Guzzlord Attacks! Decisive Z-Move Battle!! Pics
1089 Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues! Thank You, Alola! Respective Departures!! Pics
1109 Dreams are Made of These! Go Towards Your Dream! Ash and Goh!! Pics
1123 Solitary and Menacing! Bea, the Lone Warrior! The Grapploct Menace!! Pics
1184 The Good, The Bad, and The Lucky! Farewell! The Wandering Team Rocket Pics
1225 These Could be the Start of Something Big! Ash and Goh! Setting Off Anew!! Pics