
What’s the matter with that crazy cat?!
[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Iron Head
move 2: Close Combat
move 3: U-turn
move 4: Lash Out / Seed Bomb
item: Choice Band
ability: Tough Claws / Steely Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Perrserker is a threatening wallbreaker thanks to its powerful Choice Band-boosted Iron Head. Close Combat OHKOes Coalossal and targets Steel-type Pokemon resistant to Iron Head like Klinklang, Galarian Stunfisk, and opposing Perrserker. It also offers strong neutral coverage. U-turn pivots out of Pokemon Perrserker has difficulty breaking through, such as Poliwrath and Gurdurr, while simultaneously chipping them. Lash Out is the preferred last move since it nails Rotom and incoming Qwilfish, which would otherwise wall it completely. Alternatively, Seed Bomb is Perrserker's best option against Poliwrath, Wishiwashi, and Stunfisk, and it avoids the latter from paralyzing it with Static. Tough Claws strengthens all listed moves besides Seed Bomb, making Close Combat a pseudo-secondary STAB move that hits Steel-resistant Pokemon harder, while Steely Spirit boosts Iron Head's power to frightening levels.
Perrserker's low Speed and high Attack make it a great slow wallbreaker for VoltTurn teams. Pivots such as Rotom formes, Alolan Persian, Wishiwashi, and Uxie can help it get on the field safely. In return, Perrserker can threaten passive Pokemon like Miltank, Clefairy, and Articuno. Perrserker also gets revenge killed easily by Fire- and Fighting-types like Rapidash, Ninetales, and Sawk, so Pokemon like Wishiwashi, Poliwrath, and Tangela are appreciated to handle them. Clerics such as Miltank and Alcremie can allow Perrserker to pivot more freely against Flame Body and Static Pokemon, like Rapidash, Coalossal, and Stunfisk.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Substitute
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Substitute
move 3: Iron Head
move 4: Close Combat
item: Leftovers
ability: Steely Spirit
nature: Adamant
evs: 140 HP / 252 Atk / 116 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Leftovers Perrserker forgoes Choice Band's immediate power to get more longevity as a wallbreaker. The combination of Substitute and Swords Dance exploits foes that rely on status or utility moves to damage it, such as Tangela, Articuno, and Uxie. Close Combat provides coverage against Steel-types, such as Klinklang, opposing Perrserker, and Galarian Stunfisk. The EV spread allows it to outspeed standard Alcremie while preventing Tangela, Uxie, and non-Flamethrower Altaria from breaking its Substitute.
Perrserker should enter the field against Pokemon that cannot affect it much, such as Altaria, Klinklang, and Eldegoss, though it should scout for coverage moves. It should come in through a teammate that has fainted or by pivoting through VoltTurn cores. Examples of such pivots are Wishiwashi, Clefairy, and Rotom formes. Clerics like Altaria and Alcremie allow Perrserker to wallbreak more should it get statused; Altaria is especially notable for covering Perrserker's defensive weaknesses. Physical cleaners, like Sawk and Gourgeist-S, take advantage of Perrserker weakening walls like Clefairy and Altaria to sweep late-game more easily.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Assault Vest set capitalizes on Perrserker's resistances and checks Pokemon like Alcremie, Frosmoth, and Appletun more reliably, though Perrserker will miss out on a lot of power.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Water-types**: Water-types like Poliwrath, Wishiwashi, and Qwilfish don't take much damage from Iron Head and U-turn and can safely switch into Perrserker. The former two can deal massive damage to it with their STAB moves, while the latter can freely set up Spikes or paralyze it with Thunder Wave. However, Poliwrath and Wishiwashi need to be careful of switching into a Choice Band-boosted Close Combat or Seed Bomb, while Qwilfish should be wary of switching into Lash Out.
**Electric-types**: Electric-types like Stunfisk, Rotom formes, Manectric, and Raichu can take advantage of Perrserker's low Speed and special bulk while resisting its STAB move. Stunfisk also deters its pivoting with Static, and the Rotom formes can pivot against it with Volt Switch or burn it with Will-O-Wisp. However, only Stunfisk can reliably switch in repeatedly.
**Fire-types**: Rapidash and Ninetales outspeed and OHKO Perrserker with their Fire-type STAB moves while resisting Perrserker's STAB move. Rapidash also deters it with Flame Body, which can cripple its offensive capabilities. However, both of them can get OHKOed by Choice Band-boosted Close Combat.
**Fighting-types**: A healthy Gurdurr is bulky enough to stomach a Choice-Band boosted Iron Head; it can then retaliate with its STAB moves. While Sawk and Silvally-Fighting cannot directly switch into Perrserker, they outpace and can OHKO it with their STAB moves.
**Faster Wallbreakers**: Pokemon like Alolan Dugtrio, Basculin, and some Silvally formes can outspeed and KO Perrserker with some prior chip damage, though none of them want to directly switch into any of its attacks.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[5Dots, 543866]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tuthur, 369076], [Jett, 226429]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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