[OVERVIEW]
Persian is the most threatening lead in the tier, thanks to its amazing speed, solid damage output, and access to Thief and Hypnosis. Many of the tier's physically bulky pokemon, such as Weezing and Graveler, do not run Rest and Sleep Talk, meaning that they cannot be used to stomach Persian's hits. The pokemon that do run Rest Talk, such as Xatu, Octillery, and Dewgong, generally struggle to take repeated Double-Edges, especially with Screech, and are massively crippled by Thief. As such, Persian is very capable of getting its team to a great start, breaking open holes in the opposing team for its fast offensive partners, such as Dugtrio and Fearow, to clean up. Persian can also act as a solid late game cleaner with Rest Talk, while giving it defensive utility against Xatu, Dewgong, and Chinchou.
However, Persian has poor bulk and lacks resistances, meaning if it doesn't run Rest Talk, it doesn't provide much defensive utility for its team. This can make its lead set somewhat difficult to fit onto teams. As a fast Rest Talk normal type, it also struggles to compete with Fearow, who is much stronger and can revenge kill Primeape and doesn't care at all about Pineco. Persian's main advantage is its lack of an ice and electric weakness, making it better at taking on Dewgong and resting Xatu, but it struggles to match Fearow's power. Lastly, Persian's Hypnosis has poor accuracy, meaning that it can sometimes thud as a lead due to failing to hit it.
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Thief
move 3: Hypnosis
move 4: Screech
item: No item
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Double-Edge is Persian's strongest STAB. It's used over Return, since lead Persian doesn't care as much about its longevity and needs to dish out as much damage as possible. Double-Edge recoil can also make Persian KO itself and thus, end the turn, which can prevent an opponent from healing with Rest. Thief cripples Rest Talk pokemon that try to absorb its Hypnosis, like Xatu, Dewgong, and Octillery, as well as normal resistant pokemon and Weezing. Hypnosis shuts down certain bulky pokemon like Graveler, Sudowoodo, and Weezing who don't often run Rest Talk. Screech is a great move for Persian to click when out of KO range or on a predicted Rest while preventing pokemon like Dewgong from Rest looping it.
Team Options
====
This Persian set fits best on fast paced offensive teams. As such, Pineco is a mandatory partner for this set, as it further enables the offensive threats Persian so often gets paired with. Dugtrio is a fantastic partner as it heavily appreciates the likes of Xatu, Octillery, and Dewgong getting crippled by its Thief. Other major offensive threats, like Xatu, Fearow, and Stantler all capitalize on the momentum Persian generates very well. Octillery takes advantage of the rock types in the tier, who wall Persian once Hypnosis is used.
[SET]
name: Rest Talk
move 1: Double-Edge
move 2: Thunder
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: No item
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
This set aims to stick around in the midgame to throw off powerful Double-Edges. It differentiates itself from Fearow with its lack of an Ice or Electric weakness, making it better against Dewgong, Chinchou, and resting Xatu. Rest Talk is necessary to stay alive over the course of the game, while Thunder is the prefered coverage move, to guarantee good Sleep Talk rolls against Xatu, Octillery, and Dewgong.
Team Options
====
Fearow is a fantastic partner for this set, as the two pair up to overwhelm the tiers rock types and physically bulky pokemon like Weezing. Fearow also loves Persian's ability to switch into Dewgong, as Fearow, as well as many of the teammates Fearow finds itself with, are weak to Dewgong. Other offensive pokemon that hate Dewgong, such as Xatu, Octillery, and Dugtrio, appreciate Rest Talk Persian for that reason. Octillery is especially nice with Persian since it punishes the rock types, while Xatu punishes Graveler and Pupitar for clicking Earthquake. Pineco is great for Persian to enable the offensive teams it finds itself on. Stantler, alongside Persian and Fearow, can make for a team style that aims to overwhelm the opponent with normal types attacks.
Other Options
====
Bubblebeam is an option on both sets to deal with the rock types. However, on the lead set, the rock types rarely switch into Persian unless it already used Hypnosis on something else. On the Rest Talk set, it gives Persian terrible Sleep Talk odds against Xatu and Dewgong. Screech overall has far more utility on both sets. A set of Substitute/Screech/Double-Edge/and Bubble Beam can be used to mimic Dugtrio, while having the crucial advantage of a lack of a water or ice weakness. However, Dugtrio's resistances and ability to hit more things super effectively makes it a far superior choice for such a set.
Checks and Counters
====
**Pineco**: Lead Pineco with Miracle Berry avoids Hypnosis and only gets 3HKOed, allowing it to use Persian as an opportunity to get up Spikes. Persian's Rest Talk set can also have issues with Pineco, due to only 3HKOing it.
**Rest Talk users**: Rest Talk users like Xatu, Octillery, and Dewgong can absorb Hypnosis from Persian and generally do big damage to it back. However, all of them hate losing their leftovers to Thief.
**Magnemite**: Magnemite resists Double-Edge, isn't weak to the rare Bubblebeam, and cleanly 2HKOs Persian with Thunder. Magnemite is notable for being the only normal resist to commonly run Rest and Sleep Talk, meaning it can even absorb Hypnosis from Persian.
**Rock types**: Without Bubblebeam, Persian struggles to dent the rock types of the tier very hard. However, they all get shut down by Hypnosis and also hate Thief, as it makes them susceptable to being worn down and broken past by the normal types they are supposed to check, like Fearow, Wigglytuff, and Persian itself. They can however, lure in Persian's Hypnosis to hit a Rest-talker and then wall it afterwards.
**Dugtrio**: Although it cannot switch in, Dugtrio outspeeds Persian and can revenge kill a weakened Persian.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gabraltar.573149/
- Quality checked by: https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beeorsomething.583728/, [username2, userid2]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1], [username2, userid2]]
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