Alolan Persian Movesets & Competitive Sets

Parting Shot in combination with Alolan Persian's fantastic Speed and good Fur Coat-boosted bulk allows it to function as an effective bulky pivot. Foul Play threatens physical attackers, notably setup sweepers such as Rapidash and Silvally-Poison. Toxic wears down Pokemon that don't fear Alolan Persian's attacks such as Alcremie and Tangela, but Taunt can be used to prevent entry hazards from setters such as Qwilfish and Uxie and disrupt recovery attempts from walls such as Miltank and Articuno. Knock Off cripples almost every switch-in, notably strong counters such as Clefairy and Gurdurr. Alolan Persian fits best on offensive teams as a way to generate momentum and setup opportunities, although defensive teams can also make use of its pivoting capabilities. Wallbreakers and setup sweepers such as Kangaskhan and Jynx make good partners due to their ability to muscle through walls Alolan Persian struggles with such as Clefairy and Altaria; in turn it provides them with safe entry. In particular, Rotom is an especially good partner due to the duo's type synergy and effective pivoting. Entry hazard setters such as Piloswine and Qwilfish also greatly appreciate Alolan Persian's ability to safely get them on the field. Other walls such as Altaria and Tangela benefit from Alolan Persian crippling targets such as Gurdurr and Sawk, which makes checking them easier, and bringing pivot support with Parting Shot, which also weakens opposing attackers. In return, these walls make up for Alolan Persian's lack of reliable recovery and mediocre bulk.

Alolan Persian is an uncommon Choice Scarf user able to outspeed some of the fastest boosted threats like Klinklang after a Shift Gear, Silvally after a Flame Charge, and Shiftry under sun. Switcheroo lets Alolan Persian debilitate a foe with its Choice item, which can be quite helpful to break through some walls like Alcremie, Gurdurr, and Poliwrath. Also, unlike many other Choice Scarf + Trick / Switcheroo users like Rotom, Gourgeist-S, and Manectric, Alolan Persian still outspeeds the entire unboosted tier besides Accelgor without its Choice Scarf, meaning it can often afford to lose the Choice Scarf. Foul Play is the main STAB move, as it doesn't rely on Alolan Persian's low Attack and lets it nail threats like Swords Dance-boosted Silvally formes and Choice Scarf Gourgeist-. Knock Off is a far weaker STAB move, but it can remove useful items like Choice Scarf from Rotom, which normally doesn't expect to get outsped by Alolan Persian and tries to chip it with Volt Switch. However, note that Knock Off has bad synergy with Switcheroo, and it shouldn't be used on checks Alolan Persian has given a Choice Scarf to. Fur Coat with maximum HP investment allows Alolan Persian to switch into physical attackers like Rapidash and Thwackey. Choice Scarf Alolan Persian fits mostly in offensive teams looking to improve their matchup against other offensive teams. Slow and strong wallbreakers like Lycanroc-N, Jynx, and Alolan Dugtrio appreciate safely coming through Parting Shot. Other defensive pivots like Clefairy, Articuno, and Uxie also make for great partners, defensively checking Alolan Persian's checks like Fighting-types and special attackers. Offensive pivots like Thwackey, Rotom, and Silvally formes can also form VoltTurn cores with Alolan Persian to slowly chip down the opposing team. This works especially well with the support of Spikes users such as Qwilfish and Froslass.

Alolan Persian can take the role of a strong Technician Beat Up user when put in the Attack slot. Technician Beat Up, when paired with a high Attack god such as Kyurem-B, becomes a powerful nuke, capable of 2HKOing most of the metagame. Knock Off is a strong secondary STAB option if a few of Alolan Persian's teammates are KOed or statused, while Gunk Shot and Switcheroo compete for the third slot. Gunk Shot is an option to hit Clefable and other Fairy-types, while Switcheroo can be used to cripple potential switch-ins such as Mandibuzz and Clefable. Parting Shot gives Alolan Persian another option to avoid common switch-ins, maintaining momentum and bringing in a teammate to threaten the opponent. Black Glasses can be used if you value being able to change moves, while Choice Band boosts Alolan Persian's damage output even higher, including Gunk Shot. A strong Attack donation is required to break common physical walls, so it should be paired with gods such as Calyrex-I, Zekrom, and Kyurem-B. Due to Beat Up's unique Base Power mechanics, Technican Alolan Persian fits best on dedicated teams that seek to maximize its Base Power. This includes avoiding teammates with low Attack stats like Clefable and Slowking. If Alolan Persian is not using Gunk Shot, it should be paired with a strong Steel- or Poison-type to break common Fairy walls such as Tapu Fini and Clefable; Nihilego and Kartana all work well. To make Beat Up as potent as possible, Alolan Persian should be paired with multiple strong physical attackers, such as Rillaboom, Galarian Zapdos, and Buzzwole. Landorus-T is a very good match thanks to its ability to deal with Zamazenta-C and Zeraora, which outspeed and OHKO Alolan Persian with ease. Choice Scarf Kartana is another common partner, being able to clean up after opposing physical walls have been weakened and also serve as a switch-in to Tapu Koko. Pairing Alolan Persian with special attackers such as Tapu Koko, Blacephalon, and Volcanion is also needed to bypass possible walls such as Zamazenta-C and Iron Defense Skarmory. These special attackers also have a high Attack, boosting the power of Beat Up. Spikes and Stealth Rock are also useful to pair with this set to help it pick up more KOs, so setters such as Cloyster and Landorus-T make good partners.

Paired with a Choice Scarf, Alolan Persian becomes a potent revenge killer for balance teams looking to shore up their weakness to threatening setup sweepers and physical attackers such as Rayquaza, Weavile, and Kartana. Foul Play is Alolan Persian's primary attacking move, threatening to OHKO almost every physical sweeper at +1 or +2, while Knock Off gives it a less setup reliant way to make progress while also removing key items off of common switch-ins such as Clefable and Ferrothorn. Switcheroo lets Alolan Persian trade its Choice Scarf to its opponent, crippling an opposing wall or preventing a setup sweeper from ever setting up. Parting Shot rounds out its movepool, giving Alolan Persian a strong pivoting move that outspeed much of the relevant metagame, including Choice Scarf users like Kartana and Blacephalon. The EV spread reflects this, with maximum HP and Speed investment important to maintain Alolan Persian's role as a strong revenge killer while maximizing its bulk. Choice Scarf Alolan Persian fits best on offense and balance teams that appreciate its ability to emergency check the multitude of physical sweepers in the metagame; however, its lack of recovery makes it more suited to offensive teams. Because Alolan Persian is weak outside of Foul Play, it requires a team with strong wallbreakers to be effective. Kyogre and Rayquaza pair well with it due to their monstrous power and appreciation of Alolan Persian's pivoting ability. Alolan Persian cannot threaten many of the tier's special attackers such as Tapu Koko; pairing it with another Choice Scarf user such as Buzzwole can be helpful to maintain offensive pressure. Alolan Persian also cannot check many of the tier's Fighting-types such as Urshifu-R and Buzzwole, so pairing it with a switch-in for these Pokemon such as Clefable is a good idea.

Alolan Persian with Fur Coat and a Defense donation is a bulky pivot, able to take most neutral physical attacks comfortably while also maintaining momentum for its team with its high Speed and support moves in Parting Shot and Knock Off. Knock Off lets Alolan Persian take a more aggressive role, removing Leftovers and Rocky Helmet from common physical walls such as Ferrothorn and Skarmory and Heavy-Duty Boots from offensive Pokemon that might switch in like Tapu Koko. Parting Shot is a valuable pivoting move that makes it easier to bring in its teammates due to the attack drops provided. Toxic or Taunt can be used in the third slot depending on what your team values more. Toxic cripples common checks such as Tapu Koko and Buzzwole, while Taunt is useful in denying recovery from walls like Skarmory. This EV spread maximizes Alolan Persian's utility, with maximum Speed investment outspeeding key threats like Kartana, which it threatens with Foul Play. Heavy-Duty Boots is preferred over other items, as it maximizes Alolan Persian's role as a defensive pivot, letting it switch in as often as it can. Heavy-Duty Boots Alolan Persian fits best on balance and offensive teams that appreciate its role compression as a bulky fast pivot. Alolan Persian can take advantage of donations from various gods, with Fur Coat benefitting from any increase in Defense. One good partner is Groudon, which donates a hefty Defense stat while also checking common Alolan Persian switch-ins like Tapu Koko. Good receivers to pair with it include other Tapu Koko checks such as Gastrodon, as well as defensive Fairy checks including Ferrothorn and Heatran. As Alolan Persian can't properly deal with Fighting-types like Buzzwole, teammates that can deal with them like Landorus-T and Tornadus-T are necessary. Consistent entry hazard removal, such as from the Rotom formes and Landorus-T, is helpful to pair with Alolan Persian, as it wants to check common Knock Off users such as Weavile and Bisharp. Rotom-W, in particular, is a good pairing as it also resists Fire and Steel, checking strong attackers such as Victini and Necrozma-DM. Rillaboom is also a good partner, as it gives passive recovery to Alolan Persian with Grassy Terrain.

Moves Fake Out disables an opponent for a turn to allow Alolan Persian's ally to get a head start. Snarl is Alolan Persian's main move in the set, as when combined with the Assault Vest, Alolan Persian gets good mixed bulk. This gives it more staying power, changing its role from a supporting pivot to a check to special attackers. Foul Play is Alolan Persian's best offensive option with the lack of offensive investment and can do solid damage to physical attackers like Garchomp, Kartana, and Alolan Marowak. Feint expands on the set's supportive ability and is best paired with a powerful attacker to surprise and break through a Protect user as well as break Focus Sashes. U-turn provides an option for pivoting, though the low damage output makes it underwhelming. Set Details Maximum Speed investment allows Alolan Persian to hit threats with Foul Play or Snarl before they strike back, and the defensive EVs give solid bulk and cause Download to give Porygon2 an Attack boost. Assault Vest boosts its Special Defense to usable levels, making it somewhat bulky when combined with Snarl. Fur Coat gives it enough physical bulk to complement its special bulk. Usage Tips This set focuses more on keeping Alolan Persian in play as opposed to pivoting. That being said, don't be afraid to switch it out either when Alolan Persian has little to do or when doing so would create a better matchup, as this allows you to use Fake Out again. Fairy types are a significant threat, so you should carry a good Poison-type, such as Alolan Muk or Nihilego, or Steel-type, such as Celesteela or Kartana, to deal with them. As Snarl is Alolan Persian's most useful move, make sure it gets plenty of chances to use it. Try to send it out more as a check to special attackers than a lead; it works really well when the foe is at a disadvantage and cannot switch. Feint, though it requires a lot of prediction, can be used to finish off a threat with a teammate. It's especially useful in combination with Z-Moves. Foul Play is largely an emergency move, as it lacks power against most of the metagame. However, it can be useful against foes like Alolan Marowak and Kartana, or if you need more offensive presence to secure a win. Team Options As this Alolan Persian set is less mobile, it is much more important to find a partner that can exert offensive pressure to take advantage of Snarl, Fake Out, and Feint. Setup sweepers like Gyarados and Snorlax appreciate the Fake Out to immediately set up as well as increased special bulk through Snarl. Physically bulky offensive Pokemon like Tapu Bulu and Gigalith can use the Snarl support to become well-rounded powerhouses and put immediate pressure on the opposing team. Powerful Z-Move users like Kommo-o and Araquanid appreciate Feint, as it allows their Z-Moves to go off without a hitch.

Moves Parting Shot allows Alolan Persian to switch to a better matchup and weaken something dangerous. Z-Parting Shot also heals an injured ally. Fake Out ruins the opponent's plans on the first turn and allows you to either have a teammate set something up or get a head start with damage. Parting Shot allows Alolan Persian to do this multiple times in a game. Foul Play is Alolan Persian's only reliable damage option, and while it struggles to do much to special attackers, it can do good damage to physical ones like Kartana and Alolan Marowak. Snarl lowers the foes' Special Attack stats, allowing Alolan Persian and its partner to better take hits. It also breaks Focus Sash and can force switches. Taunt allows Alolan Persian to stop the use of Trick Room, Tailwind, Protect, and other status moves, shutting down supporters and often scoring a free turn. Feint breaks through Protect, allowing Alolan Persian's teammate to strike them. However, it requires some predicting. Set Details Most of Alolan Persian's EVs are in Speed to Speed creep Tapu Koko that lack a Speed-boosting nature. 156 EVs are in HP for general bulk. The rest is in Special Defense to make Porygon2's Download boost its Attack. Fur Coat is the only usable ability, boosting Defense to high enough of a level that Alolan Persian can take some hits. Darkinium Z makes it a good pivot that can heal a bulkier attacker. Usage Tips It's best for Alolan Persian to adopt a hit-and-run playstyle, using Fake Out, then whatever support moves are deemed important, and finally retreating with Parting Shot. This way, Alolan Persian can frequently provide Fake Out support and avoid being KOed for a while despite poor Special Defense. Use Fake Out and then Parting Shot on either the Pokemon that is the most threatening or the one that you want to knock out right away. It also helps to target Pokemon that often do not run Protect. As Parting Shot allows Alolan Persian to switch in on most of the metagame, it can make for a good lead to scout the opponent and find a good matchup with the bonus of weakening the foes' offenses. Be more apt to switch out Alolan Persian's weakened teammates if they are in a bad matchup rather than sack them outright. A well-timed Z-Parting Shot can put them back in the game if they find a better matchup. Team Options Alolan Persian needs something to counter Fairy-types and switch into the island guardians. Celesteela is bulky enough to take all but Electric-type attacks, while Alolan Muk can generally deal massive damage to Fairy-types and has reasonable bulk. Kartana and Nihilego can both take on Fairy-types with their high Speed and super effective STAB moves. Alolan Persian also needs something reliably bulky to switch out to after using Parting Shot. Celesteela can again work to deal with Fairy- and Bug-types, and so can other Steel-types like Magnezone. Tapu Fini has good mixed bulk and resists incoming Fighting-type moves. Assault Vest Goodra, though sharing a weakness to Fairy, can take many of the special attacks Alolan Persian can't and knock out Fairy-types with Sludge Bomb. Intimidate users work well too, as the Attack drop enhances the bulk of your team more than the effect of Parting Shot alone. Alolan Persian usually wants to be with something that can use the Fake Out support, like other support Pokemon such as Alolan Ninetales and Tailwind setters as well as frail attackers such as Pheromosa and Tapu Koko. It can also work with bulky attackers to bolster their bulk with Snarl and Parting Shot.