Most of you will already know the move Foul Play, a move that uses the opponent's Attack stat for its power. Sounds great, but unfortunately, the primary Pokemon capable of using it, are Pokemon with high Attack themselves, leaving it outclassed by Crunch or Sucker Punch. However, there is one Pokemon which is perfect for Foul Play: Persian.
Often overlooked for faster or bulkier supporters (don't even think of using it offensively), Persian is one of the many Never Used Pokemon. However, he has something that separates him from most Pokemon with his Base Stats: Foul Play. It allows him to use the opponents own power to its own advantage and act as an effective counter to frail sweepers or a surprise counter to attackers trying to use Persian as a set-up Pokemon.
Persian
Ability: Technician/Limber. Both are usable, with Technician powering up Fake-Out and Limber preventing the crippling paralysis. Limber is usually preferred, since Fake Out won't be used much on a set around Foul Play. Unnerve is pretty useless, especially with the lack of the Salac Berry in the 5th gen.
Item: Because Foul Play benefits from the items you carry, including Life Orb and Choice Band, the offensive items are preferred. Choice Band is the best: it powers up the moves you use, can be given to the opponent with Switcheroo to cripple opponents and it can hide this set, as it relies on surprise. Choice Scarf can also be used, but the loss of power can be deadly to a frail Pokemon as Persian. Life Orb is not as good, because it will immediatly warn the opponent that something's fishy, losing the element of surprise. Focus Sash can be used to ensure survival, but again, the loss of power and Persian's weakness to all entry hazards can make Focus Sash useless when Persian switches in.
Nature/EVs: Jolly is the best, as Speed is important on this set. Adamant can be used too, but the loss of Speed can be deadly. The EVs are also simple: 252 Speed must be used at all times. With max Speed, it can outspeed all but 8 Pokemon in the UU, all but 2 in the RU and all but 2 in the OU (Deoxys-S is faster and Persian is tied with Starmie). And even in its own tier, the hugh NU, only 5 outspeed Persian. The other 252 EVs can be used for max Attack to power up Persian's other moves, or HP to provide some more survivability. The last 4 EV can be used on Attack if running 252 HP or on HP if running max Attack.
Moveset:
Foul Play
Fake Out
Switcheroo
U-Turn
Foul Play is the main move of this set, being the perfect counter to frail physical sweepers. Fake Out can be used to keep the set hidden and wait for the right moment to reveal the surprise. Switcheroo can be used when Persian lost its usefulness to cripple a special sweeper or wall as a last effort. U-Turn can be used like Fake Out to keep the set hidden and to scout. It can also hit some Dark Pokemon for nice damage, like Shiftry and Zoroark.
Other options:
It's a shame Hypnosis can't be used alongside Foul Play, nor can any of the 4th gen Tutor moves like Icy Wind. Taunt is another option, but is useless on a Choice Band set. Persian doesn't have a lot of options alongside Foul Play.Shadow Claw hits nothing U-Turn and Foul Play can't. Aerial Ace lacks power, even with Technician.
Checks and Counters:
Persian is frail, meaning most priority moves will do a lot of damage. Many other Pokemon can counter Persian with ease: Pokemon with high Defense, Pokemon with low Attack, Special sweepers, faster Pokemon, ya, really a lot... Fighting Pokemon have high Attack, but resist Foul Play, just like Steel and Dark Pokemon. Steel Pokemon wall Persian completely, resisting everything it has, but must be careful if not carrying a Choice Band.
Tiers:
Persian can function in all tiers, as long as there are frail physical sweepers. It has a niche in the Ubers, as, with a Choice Scarf, it can outspeed Deoxys and Deoxys-A and OHKO them with Foul Play. Latios, Latias, Celebii and Giratina also take some nice damage.
Ok, this is my first time I wrote a suggestion like this, so I hope it worked out pretty good! :D
Often overlooked for faster or bulkier supporters (don't even think of using it offensively), Persian is one of the many Never Used Pokemon. However, he has something that separates him from most Pokemon with his Base Stats: Foul Play. It allows him to use the opponents own power to its own advantage and act as an effective counter to frail sweepers or a surprise counter to attackers trying to use Persian as a set-up Pokemon.
Persian
Ability: Technician/Limber. Both are usable, with Technician powering up Fake-Out and Limber preventing the crippling paralysis. Limber is usually preferred, since Fake Out won't be used much on a set around Foul Play. Unnerve is pretty useless, especially with the lack of the Salac Berry in the 5th gen.
Item: Because Foul Play benefits from the items you carry, including Life Orb and Choice Band, the offensive items are preferred. Choice Band is the best: it powers up the moves you use, can be given to the opponent with Switcheroo to cripple opponents and it can hide this set, as it relies on surprise. Choice Scarf can also be used, but the loss of power can be deadly to a frail Pokemon as Persian. Life Orb is not as good, because it will immediatly warn the opponent that something's fishy, losing the element of surprise. Focus Sash can be used to ensure survival, but again, the loss of power and Persian's weakness to all entry hazards can make Focus Sash useless when Persian switches in.
Nature/EVs: Jolly is the best, as Speed is important on this set. Adamant can be used too, but the loss of Speed can be deadly. The EVs are also simple: 252 Speed must be used at all times. With max Speed, it can outspeed all but 8 Pokemon in the UU, all but 2 in the RU and all but 2 in the OU (Deoxys-S is faster and Persian is tied with Starmie). And even in its own tier, the hugh NU, only 5 outspeed Persian. The other 252 EVs can be used for max Attack to power up Persian's other moves, or HP to provide some more survivability. The last 4 EV can be used on Attack if running 252 HP or on HP if running max Attack.
Moveset:
Foul Play
Fake Out
Switcheroo
U-Turn
Foul Play is the main move of this set, being the perfect counter to frail physical sweepers. Fake Out can be used to keep the set hidden and wait for the right moment to reveal the surprise. Switcheroo can be used when Persian lost its usefulness to cripple a special sweeper or wall as a last effort. U-Turn can be used like Fake Out to keep the set hidden and to scout. It can also hit some Dark Pokemon for nice damage, like Shiftry and Zoroark.
Other options:
It's a shame Hypnosis can't be used alongside Foul Play, nor can any of the 4th gen Tutor moves like Icy Wind. Taunt is another option, but is useless on a Choice Band set. Persian doesn't have a lot of options alongside Foul Play.Shadow Claw hits nothing U-Turn and Foul Play can't. Aerial Ace lacks power, even with Technician.
Checks and Counters:
Persian is frail, meaning most priority moves will do a lot of damage. Many other Pokemon can counter Persian with ease: Pokemon with high Defense, Pokemon with low Attack, Special sweepers, faster Pokemon, ya, really a lot... Fighting Pokemon have high Attack, but resist Foul Play, just like Steel and Dark Pokemon. Steel Pokemon wall Persian completely, resisting everything it has, but must be careful if not carrying a Choice Band.
Tiers:
Persian can function in all tiers, as long as there are frail physical sweepers. It has a niche in the Ubers, as, with a Choice Scarf, it can outspeed Deoxys and Deoxys-A and OHKO them with Foul Play. Latios, Latias, Celebii and Giratina also take some nice damage.
Ok, this is my first time I wrote a suggestion like this, so I hope it worked out pretty good! :D
