Persian – Pokémon TCG Highlander

Nimble with hunting and high disruption skills, Persian walks into Highlander with an agenda to cause havoc and help your team win the game.

Strategy Points:

• “Thick Skin” is a highly sought after Poké-Body in Highlander. With so many Special Condition-based strategies, having full immunity allows Persian to keep an eye on disruption and key knock out plays, all while being able to freely retreat without falling Asleep or being Paralyzed.
• “Sharpen Claws” works wonders after a Judge, Red Card, Iono, or N used on the opponent. This also will boost the damage of “Feint Attack”, meaning that any Pokemon with 70 HP or less can be knocked out next turn.
  • Minun Level X’s “Negative Dynamo” adds an additional discard here, while “Search the Premises” from Gumshoos will allow you to look at your opponent’s hand for each discarded card.
• “Feint Attack” is a reliable way to check upcoming threats and Knock Out ones on the run. Something to consider is that this move has shred properties, allowing it to bypass a plethora of effects that would otherwise protect or help defend these targets.
  • You can run Shield or Stone Energy to alleviate the added 10 damage Persian will take next turn.
• Though their only forms of dealing damage (without access to their respective Pre-Evolution attacks) doesn’t apply Weakness or Resistance, it’s important to consider that:
  • Regular Persian will receive an HP boost from Aspertia City Gym while “Tri Gold Shout” from Dodrio – Level X will increase “Feint Attack” to deal 70 damage to Pokémon-EX.
  • Alolan Persian will get the defensive benefits of “Moonlight Veil” from Umbreon, while Devoured Field grants 10 more damage for “Feint Attack.”
• “Pickup Power” from Meowth is an effective recovery attack, allowing for crucial Energy retrieval plays, both basic and special. “Bite” can be easily modified with Strong or Special Darkness Energy as early as your first turn.
• “Nasty Plot” from Alolan Meowth grants you an opportunity to get a crucial card as early as your first turn. From a crucial draw supporter like Cynthia to a “1-of” like Assault Vest or Cessation Crystal, the searched card will have the aid of shuffle armor to increase assurance in play on the next turn. “Scratch” can be modified by Special Darkness Energy and Devoured Field.
• Persian – Level X:
• “Regal Collection” allows for a lot of rare recovery combos, including:
  • Float Stone + Triple Acceleration Energy for a burst of mobility into a burst of damage with Pokémon like Silvally or Bouffalant.
  • Splash Energy + Energy Retrieval to potentially recycle back an entire attacker to your hand.
  • V Guard Energy + Assault Vest for a minus 70 defensive punishment set up against Pokémon using Special Energy Cards.
• “Claw of Punishment” is often dealing the bonus 20 damage due to the average turn playing a Supporter. The upside is that a turn without a Supporter (which could be due to “Sharpen Claws” here) can be an indicator of consistency winding down on the opponent. The same can be said for the plus 10 Energy bonus and an indicator of an opponent that might not be able to stream momentum if they can’t.