What is a good moveset for Persian?

Question

This thread is for Kantonian Persian. For Alolan Persian, please go here.

If you have a good competitive moveset for Persian, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some detail, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Persian Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Answer 1

I love Persian so much. An evil genius cat that is the signature Pokémon of the Team Rocket leader, Giovanni. I have two sets, Physical and Special.

Physical:

Persian @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Play Rough
- Gunk Shot
- Knock Off

Fake Out is STAB and is boosted by STAB and Life Orb, essentially giving you a one turn 135 base power flinch move. Play Rough covers a lot of types, especially Fighting-types that can usually OHKO you. Gunk Shot covers Grass- and Fairy-types, and has quite a lot of power. Knock Off allows for Persian to cripple switch-ins with their item being removed. It also has great neutral coverage. This Persian has enough coverage for Fighting-, Dark-, Dragon-, Grass-, Fairy-, Psychic-, Ghost-types.

Special:

Persian @ Life Orb
Ability: Limber
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Hyper Voice
- Dark Pulse
- Thunderbolt / Power Gem

Set up with Nasty Plot and spam your coverage moves. Hyper Voice has a base power of 90 and allows you to bypass Substitutes. With Dark Pulse, you can damage Ghost-types that are immune to Hyper Voice and damage Psychic-types. You have a choice of either Thunderbolt or Power Gem for coverage. Thunderbolt nails Water- and Flying-types, while Power Gem allows you to hit Fire- and Ice-types for super effective damage. Limber is used because this Persian does not use weak moves.

Personally, I love using the Special set. You can catch so many people off guard.

Answer 2

Gen V

Persian (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Bite
- Aerial Ace
- Fake Out

A great lead, especially in NU. Start with Technician+STAB+Life Orb boosted Fake Out, a neutral hit can usually halve the health of the opponent. Taunt prevents Entry Hazard setting, or any other non-attacking move your opponent might use. Aerial Ace and Bite get boosted by Technician. Standard sweeper EVs.

Answer 3

Role: Annoying Piece of Crap

Persian (M) @ Bug Gem
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Fake Out
- Faint Attack
- U-turn

---

Well, here's the layout.

Start with STAB Fake Out with Technician Boost can pack quite a punch.

Then continue to sweep with Aerial Ace and Faint Attack, or go home with U-turn.

Bug Gem giving U-turn a boost like the technician moves.

Answer 4

Double/Triple battle

Persian (M) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Pulse
- Round
- Icy Wind
- Switcheroo

Persian runs completely different in multi-battles. While it has a poor Special Attack stat, Technician and Specs helps make up for that. Water Pulse gets that Technician boost and can hit any foe in a Triple battle. Round gets STAB, Technician boosted, and gets more powerful if you have other Pokemon using it. This can make Round very powerful indeed. Icy Wind gets boosted by Technician and hits multiple foes, lowering their Speed. Switcheroo is for if you get tired of Specs or want to cripple something.

Answer 5

Read fully before downvoting!

Now, for the set!

Persian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Hone Claws
- Aerial Ace
- Feint Attack

Alright lemme explain. I was thinking of suggesting Scratch which is OK with Technician which will get it boosted to 90. but then, doesn't 2 Normal-type moves seem reluctant? So I thought of this set! In PU and NU, this set will function fairly well, So Fake Out is to break those Sashes and gets a boost to 90! Then use Hone Claws, and proceed to attack. Aerial Ace and Feint Attack are both boosted to 90 BP with Technician. Aerial Ace also covers its only weakness: Fighting. Feint Attack over Knock Off because no more Technician boost! :'( Other than that though, this set works out good.

Hope this set brings victory to many!

Answer 6

My previous Swagger set, now with 50% more gimmick

Persian @ Normalium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Punishment
- Fake Out
- Swagger
- Aerial Ace

Explanation:

Punishment receives the 1.5x Technician boost only if Swagger's Atk boost isn't present.
Fake Out is boosted by Technician and can enable Breakneck Blitz.
Swagger raises the target's Atk by 2 and confuses it. Also, oddly enough, Ghost types aren't immune.
Aerial Ace is Technician-boosted coverage, mostly for Fighting types.

Comments

Wow ! Thats a so great set !

Answer 7

I got Persian for Pay Day, and for money making in Violet, lol.

Though outside of that, here's a movelist to try it in a more competitive atmosphere.

Persian@Silk Scarf/Life Orb/Loaded Dice or Choice Band
Tera: Normal
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 ATK, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Ability: Technician
- Fake Out/Switcheroo (if Choice Banded)
- Fury Swipes
- Thunder Wave/Pain Split/Physical Move
- Bite

Fury Swipes becomes pretty strong with Technician + STAB -- however, its accuracy does hurt.

That said, with Technician it becomes one of Persian's strongest moves. For example, its power becomes 27 with Technician, with STAB it becomes 40.5, and with Choice Band it is 60.75, or if Tera-STAB (the x2 multiplier instead of x1.5) the outcome is 81, for a move that hits twice at the minimum (resulting, with Choice Band, in 121 regular power/162 Terastallized power) or 5 hits at its maximum (303/405).

Switcheroo is there for the Choice Band set to punish non-offensive Pokemon and can force switch outs, which can then net you a free Twave or a free attack.

If not Choice Banded, we have the option for the classic Technician/STAB boosted Fake Out, with a smaller boost from the Life Orb or the Silk Scarf instead.

Pain Split helps recover life while simultaneously bringing down opponent's life (which synergizes a bit with Life Orb), or instead there's room to explore with a physical move of your choosing, like Play Rough, for a more all out attack strategy and to round out type coverage.

Bite to, both, hit Ghost types, and can also synergize with a Twave set for a para-flinch strat.

The final option is to run a loaded dice as an alternative to the Silk Scarf/Life Orb items which trades in their power ceiling for more consistency, since Loaded Dice guarantees you hit 4-5 times instead of 2-5.

To make things easy, here's a summary below with the Min & Max for each item for how they play out.

Silk Scarf: 48.6/hit, Min 97.2, Max 243
Silk Scarf (Tera-STAB): 64.8/hit, Min 129.6, Max 324
Life Orb: 52.65/hit, Min 105.3, Max 263.25
Life Orb (Tera-STAB): 70.2/hit, Min 140.4, Max 351
Loaded Dice: 40.5/hit, Min 162 (4 hits), Max 202.5
Loaded Dice (Tera-STAB): 54/hit, Min 216 (4 hits), Max 270
Choice Band: 60.75/hit, Min 121.5, Max 303.75
Choice Band (Tera-STAB): 81/hit, Min 162, Max 405

Regardless of the set, it always seems like you're taking a gamble sorts (especially with 80% accuracy), which I also thought was in theme with a Pokemon that seems fitting in a casino setting, lol. Either way, its kind of a fun set that tries to make use of Persian's Technician

Answer 8

Gen III

Persian (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Limber
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Body Slam
- Mud-Slap
- Iron Tail

---

Shadow Ball Covers the Ghost-types mainly, but does a number on Psychic- as well, and with Alakazam being a major threat, that's nice to have.

Body Slam is STAB with the paralysis chance, which makes it more worth while than Frustration or Return.

Mud Slap is generally a pain to fight against with Choice Band, making it do damage, with the speed to go first and use it several times, it hurts a decent amount, while lowering accuracy has a high chance.

Iron Tail is for high powered coverage, I would have different choices for this slot, but Persian doesn't have anything better in his movepool.

Answer 9

Persian (M) @ Normal Gem
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Bite
- Aerial Ace / Body Slam
- U-turn

Comments

Errm... Bite?

Answer 10

Persian (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Swift
- Water Pulse
- Thunderbolt

Answer 11

Persian @ Silk Scarf / Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Swift
- Power Gem
- Foul Play

Answer 12

Persian (F) @ Wide Lens
Ability: Limber
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hypnosis
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Dream Eater

Hypnosis puts your enemy to sleep, and with the Wide Lens it has more accuracy (only 10%, but still). Nasty Plot sharply increases Special Attack. Dark Pulse boosted by Nasty Plot is a deadly move. When your enemy is sleeping you can heal yourself and do a great amount of damage with Dream Eater.

Answer 13

If you think Last Resort is a bad move, try this:

Persian @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Toxic
- Protect
- Last Resort

Fake Out is STAB and makes the opponent flinch on the first turn. Toxic is for badly poisoning the opponent. Protect is for stalling. Last Resort is powerful STAB once the other moves have been used.

So, after using this set, Last Resort still probably isn't the best move. But it's always fun to watch something get smacked by it!

Answer 14

I absolutely love this set

Persian @Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Nasty Plot
- Swift
- Shock Wave
- Water Pulse / Icy Wind

When your opponent sees Persian, they will think that you'll go for Fake Out, so they'll switch into their Wall/tank/Ghost-type. But that's when you use Nasty Plot. After that, you pretty much have won the game (unless your opponent has priority such as Mach Punch).

Answer 15

Persian @ Razor Claw
Ability: Limber
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Hone Claws
- Slash
- Shadow Claw
- Night Slash

All these different high critical hit ratio moves are also boosted with Hone Claws and the critical hit ratio boost from Persian's Razor Claw. Not to mention that, since each move is a different type, this moveset covers almost every type. See, all these moves besides Hone Claws have a high critical hit ratio by themselves. Not to mention Persian boosting it with Razor Claw. Add that with Hone Claws upping its damage Attack, meaning massive damage. With Speed as high as this, too, you can move first most of the time.

Answer 16

Physical Set

Persian @ Normal Gem
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Fury Swipes / Scratch
- Aerial Ace
- Knock Off

Special Set

Persian @ Expert Belt
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Swift
- Icy Wind
- Shock Wave
- Water Pulse

Answer 17

Persian (F) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Swift
- Shock Wave
- Water Pulse
- Nasty Plot

Swift is STAB that doesn't miss, with 90 base power because of Technician. Shock Wave is the same as Swift, but not STAB. Water Pulse is the same as Shock Wave, but with a 20% chance of confusing foes. Nasty Plot should make you a threat.

You can also try this:

Persian (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Swift
- Shock Wave
- Water Pulse
- Nasty Plot

For setting up Nasty Plot, probably three times. Swift is STAB that doesn't miss, with 90 base power because of Technician. Shock Wave is the same as Swift, but not STAB. Water Pulse is the same as Shock Wave, but with a 20% chance of confusing foes. Nasty Plot should make you a threat.

Answer 18

Persian (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Swift
- Water Pulse
- Nasty Plot
- Hypnosis / Attract

Answer 19

Persian (M) @ Silk Scarf / Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature / Adamant Nature
- Hypnosis / Taunt
- Fake Out
- Feint
- U-turn / Bite

This role is mostly supporter, the fast Hypnosis is a great gift but the accuracy is a problem. You can choose Taunt for stopping hazards setting Pokemon or annoyer Pokemon in general.

The combination of Fake Out and Feint let you play some mental games with your foe , if your opponent predict you will use Fake Out and use Protect and similar moves, the next turn you can U-turn and switch in a good counter, then send Persian again but this time use Feint in your foe that will think you will be use Fake Out again, then break his/her protect and attack.

Feint is a weak move but with Technician and STAB become a move with enough power to be decent, priority + 2 and the plus to able broken Protect and similar moves.

If you use a Technician Persian, don't remove Feint, it is the attack that differentiates Persian from similar Pokemon like Ambipom and Purugly that can run a similar set.

You also can use an Adamant Nature and boost the cat's power, and still be fast enough to outspeed speed base 95 Pokemon with a speed boosting nature, and with two priority move you can attack first even to Pokemon that outspeed Persian.

Persian is frail, some good teammates are Pokemon with Intimidate like Arcanine and Salamance. If Ghost-type Pokemon are a trouble for you, you can replace U-turn for Bite.

Persian (M) @ Fairinium
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Charm
- Fake Out
- Return / Shadow Claw
- Play Rough

This set take advantages from the two Fairy moves Persian can learn :

Z-Charm turn this little cougar in a physical wall reducing your opponent attack two stages and raising his defense 1 stage.

Twinke Tackle inflict massive damage to commons Dragon-types like Garchomp and also Fighting-type Pokemon that want to threat Persian.

Shadow Claw rounds his coverage against Ghost-types, is preferred over Night Slash for hitting Gardevoir, Tapu Lele and Mimikyu super effectively. You can also ditch the Ghost coverage and choice more power with a STAB Return.

Unnerve is the prefered ability , you can stop Gluttony Alolan Muk and other berry reliant Pokemon.
Limber is a option if you want keep that very good speed.

Answer 20

Let's be honest. Persian isn't a good Normal-type, as only its base Speed is good. As a result, it is outlcassed by other Normal-types. For people who really want to use Persian, here is a set to try out.

Persian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Thunderbolt
- Hyper Voice
- Dark Pulse

Explanation: The ability Unnerve is to prevent Pokemon from eating move weakening berries. The item Focus Sash is to help Persian setup at least one Nasty Plot. After you use Nasty Plot, proceed to doing damage. Dark Pulse is for when you're up against a Ghost-type. Hyper Voice is STAB. Thunderbolt is for type coverage.