Taking over from MoltenKyurem, old skelly is here.
It's the cat's meow.
GP Approved: NatGeo (For Salemsectra), sirndpt
[Overview]
<p>The first thing you'll probably notice about Persian is that sweet base 115 Speed. Unfortunately, that's the only stat Persian has going for it, as the others are decidedly mediocre at best. However, this is not particularly worrying because its Speed stat helps it become an excellent scout. With access to Fake Out and U-turn, Persian can keep up constant momentum for your team. Nasty Plot is also a boon, transforming it into a powerful special sweeper. It might not look like much, but this kitty certainly has a few tricks up its sleeves.</p>
[SET]
name: Scout
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Taunt / Bite
move 4: Return
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Technician
Nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to keep the momentum on your side and scout out your opponents team. Fake Out always causes a flinch, racking up a bit of damage on the foe. A fast U-turn then gets an appropriate counter in against whatever your opponent has out. Taunt shuts down walls, which is useful for keeping entry hazards from chipping away at Persian's health each time it switches in. Bite can be used in place of it, however, as Technician boosts Bite's Base Power to 90, and it has a decent flinch chance. Return is used to finish off any weakened foes.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With a Jolly nature and the given EVs, Persian is as fast and as powerful as possible. A Life Orb is recommended for doing maximum damage, but a Silk Scarf is a usable alternative that doesn't cause recoil. Hypnosis can by used over a coverage move, but its accuracy leaves much to be desired. Feint can be used over Bite, but it has no flinch rate and leaves Persian walled by Ghost-types.</p>
<p>This set is best used on offensive teams that can take advantage of favorable match-ups. Set-up sweepers, such as Gorebyss, can boost as an opponent switches and snatch an opportunity to sweep. Given Persian's propensity for switching, a Rapid Spin user such as Armaldo or Cryogonal is advisable. As the constant U-turning will likely cause your opponent to switch as well, good Spikers, such as Garbodor and Cacturne, are also welcome additions to the team.</p>
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Swift
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though Persian's Special Attack might not look like much, but after a single Nasty Plot, it reaches 458. Swift gets a boost from Technician, giving it 135 Base Power after STAB. Water Pulse is great for hitting the Rock-types that resist Normal-type attacks, as well as getting neutral damage on any Ghost- and Steel-types; Frillish is the only common sight that resists the combination. Thunderbolt rounds out coverage, nailing Frillish and other bulky Water-types harder than Swift does.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Timid nature and 252 Speed EVs offers maximum Speed, and 252 Special Attack gets the most out of Persian's offenses; the remainder goes into Defense (why not HP?). The Technician ability is crucial, giving Swift and Water Pulse a Base Power of 90 before STAB is factored in. Life Orb is the attack of choice on most set-up sweepers, and Persian is no different. Hidden Power is an option to give Persian any type coverage it could need, and if given 60 Base Power, it gets the Technician boost as well.</p>
<p>Due to Persian's extreme frailty, dual screens support is definitely recommended. Mesprit, Audino, and Musharna are among the premier screeners in NU. As with most sweepers, entry hazards are very helpful in netting key KOs. Mesprit once again can be used for Stealth Rock, as can Bastiodon and Golem. Cacturne and Garbodor are useful for setting up Spikes, and the latter can set up Toxic Spikes as well.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Persian can utilize a Choice Band set, but it's power still leaves much to be desired. Night Slash can be used over Bite for a higher critical hit rate, but Bite will do more damage thanks to Technician and comes with a handy flinch rate. Foul Play uses the opponent's Attack stat to deal damage, but most of the Psychic- and Ghost-types that are weak to Dark-type attacks are specially inclined. Power Gem and Aerial Ace offer some coverage on the Nasty Plot set, but are generally inferior to the options listed. Icy Wind is an option to best hit Grass- and Dragon-types, and it lowers the opponents Speed. Knock Off can cripple Pokemon that rely heavily on their item, such as Choice Scarf and Eviolite users. Finally, Persian is capable of quickly setting up weather, should your team need that kind of support.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Pursuit users, such as Absol, Skuntank, and Sneasel, can quickly ruin Persian's flinch and flee tactics. Priority, especially Gurdurr's Mach Punch, can also put a quick end to any Persian set. Both Throh and Sawk make fine counters with their STAB Fighting-type assaults. Many Choice Scarf users can also outspeed and quickly OHKO Persian. Extremely bulky Pokemon, such as Weezing, have little to fear from Persian. Finally, Quagsire ignores any Nasty Plot boosts thanks to its ability, Unaware, and can easily wall any Persian without Hidden Power Grass.</p>
It's the cat's meow.
GP Approved: NatGeo (For Salemsectra), sirndpt
[Overview]
<p>The first thing you'll probably notice about Persian is that sweet base 115 Speed. Unfortunately, that's the only stat Persian has going for it, as the others are decidedly mediocre at best. However, this is not particularly worrying because its Speed stat helps it become an excellent scout. With access to Fake Out and U-turn, Persian can keep up constant momentum for your team. Nasty Plot is also a boon, transforming it into a powerful special sweeper. It might not look like much, but this kitty certainly has a few tricks up its sleeves.</p>
[SET]
name: Scout
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: U-turn
move 3: Taunt / Bite
move 4: Return
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Technician
Nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>This set aims to keep the momentum on your side and scout out your opponents team. Fake Out always causes a flinch, racking up a bit of damage on the foe. A fast U-turn then gets an appropriate counter in against whatever your opponent has out. Taunt shuts down walls, which is useful for keeping entry hazards from chipping away at Persian's health each time it switches in. Bite can be used in place of it, however, as Technician boosts Bite's Base Power to 90, and it has a decent flinch chance. Return is used to finish off any weakened foes.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>With a Jolly nature and the given EVs, Persian is as fast and as powerful as possible. A Life Orb is recommended for doing maximum damage, but a Silk Scarf is a usable alternative that doesn't cause recoil. Hypnosis can by used over a coverage move, but its accuracy leaves much to be desired. Feint can be used over Bite, but it has no flinch rate and leaves Persian walled by Ghost-types.</p>
<p>This set is best used on offensive teams that can take advantage of favorable match-ups. Set-up sweepers, such as Gorebyss, can boost as an opponent switches and snatch an opportunity to sweep. Given Persian's propensity for switching, a Rapid Spin user such as Armaldo or Cryogonal is advisable. As the constant U-turning will likely cause your opponent to switch as well, good Spikers, such as Garbodor and Cacturne, are also welcome additions to the team.</p>
[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Swift
move 3: Water Pulse
move 4: Thunderbolt
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Though Persian's Special Attack might not look like much, but after a single Nasty Plot, it reaches 458. Swift gets a boost from Technician, giving it 135 Base Power after STAB. Water Pulse is great for hitting the Rock-types that resist Normal-type attacks, as well as getting neutral damage on any Ghost- and Steel-types; Frillish is the only common sight that resists the combination. Thunderbolt rounds out coverage, nailing Frillish and other bulky Water-types harder than Swift does.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>A Timid nature and 252 Speed EVs offers maximum Speed, and 252 Special Attack gets the most out of Persian's offenses; the remainder goes into Defense (why not HP?). The Technician ability is crucial, giving Swift and Water Pulse a Base Power of 90 before STAB is factored in. Life Orb is the attack of choice on most set-up sweepers, and Persian is no different. Hidden Power is an option to give Persian any type coverage it could need, and if given 60 Base Power, it gets the Technician boost as well.</p>
<p>Due to Persian's extreme frailty, dual screens support is definitely recommended. Mesprit, Audino, and Musharna are among the premier screeners in NU. As with most sweepers, entry hazards are very helpful in netting key KOs. Mesprit once again can be used for Stealth Rock, as can Bastiodon and Golem. Cacturne and Garbodor are useful for setting up Spikes, and the latter can set up Toxic Spikes as well.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Persian can utilize a Choice Band set, but it's power still leaves much to be desired. Night Slash can be used over Bite for a higher critical hit rate, but Bite will do more damage thanks to Technician and comes with a handy flinch rate. Foul Play uses the opponent's Attack stat to deal damage, but most of the Psychic- and Ghost-types that are weak to Dark-type attacks are specially inclined. Power Gem and Aerial Ace offer some coverage on the Nasty Plot set, but are generally inferior to the options listed. Icy Wind is an option to best hit Grass- and Dragon-types, and it lowers the opponents Speed. Knock Off can cripple Pokemon that rely heavily on their item, such as Choice Scarf and Eviolite users. Finally, Persian is capable of quickly setting up weather, should your team need that kind of support.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Pursuit users, such as Absol, Skuntank, and Sneasel, can quickly ruin Persian's flinch and flee tactics. Priority, especially Gurdurr's Mach Punch, can also put a quick end to any Persian set. Both Throh and Sawk make fine counters with their STAB Fighting-type assaults. Many Choice Scarf users can also outspeed and quickly OHKO Persian. Extremely bulky Pokemon, such as Weezing, have little to fear from Persian. Finally, Quagsire ignores any Nasty Plot boosts thanks to its ability, Unaware, and can easily wall any Persian without Hidden Power Grass.</p>
