Persian‘s Glaring Weakness: Fighting-Type Attacks

As an experienced Pokemon Go trainer, I‘m often asked – what is Giovanni‘s Persian weak against? The answer is simple: Fighting-type attacks. As a Normal-type, Persian takes super effective damage from Fighting moves, making Lucario, Machamp and other heavy-hitting fighters excellent counters.

In this in-depth guide, I‘ll cover exactly why Fighting types excel against Giovanni‘s pesky cat, the best Pokemon and moves to counter Persian, and key tips to quickly defeat this tricky foe. Let‘s dive in!

Why Fighting Moves Destroy Persian

As a pure Normal type, Persian lacks meaningful resistances found with other types like Fire, Water or Electric. This makes Fighting‘s super effective damage incredibly valuable, as seen in this type chart:

No wonder Fighting types dominate Persian – they deal a whopping 160% bonus damage while Ghost attacks do absolutely nothing! This is why veterans like myself always keep a roster of potent Fighting counters ready.

Best Counters For Giovanni‘s Persian

Speaking of counters, what Pokemon and moves work best against this troublesome Normal type? From energy generation to brute force, I‘ve highlighted top options below:

Lucario

• Counter + Power-Up Punch/Aura Sphere
• Generates energy quickly
• STAB boosts Fighting damage further

Machamp

• Counter + Dynamic Punch/Cross Chop
• Spammable charged moves
• Less durable but hits very hard

Conkeldurr

• Counter + Dynamic Punch
• Tankier alternative to Machamp

Breloom

• Counter + Dynamic Punch
• Grass typing resists Persian‘s Normal moves

I‘d also keep an eye out for rare Fighting mega evolutions like Mega Lopunny as they can really put the hurt on with increased stats and same type attack bonus (STAB).

According to Pokemon Go Hub and GamePress, additional top counters include Buzzwole, Melmetal, and shadow variants of existing fighters. Their sheer brute force can overwhelm Persian despite lacking a type advantage.

Calculating Damage Numbers

To demonstrate different counters‘ potential against Persian, I‘ve compiled estimated damage output over 50 seconds in this handy table (results may vary based on IVs, levels, dodging, etc):

We see STAB Fighting moves output considerably higher totals compared to even the heavier hitting Shadow Machamp. This demonstrates why seasoned Pokemon Go trainers stubbornly rely on specialized type counters – they reliably get the job done!

Key Persian Battle Tips and Strategies

Now that we‘ve covered ideal counters, here are my top tips for tackling Giovanni‘s Persian:

Bait Out Both Shields Early

Persian has access to charged moves like Foul Play, Power Gem and Play Rough that can pressure backline Pokemon. I like to sacrifice my lead Lucario or Machamp by baiting shields early with weak moves like Power-Up Punch. This gives your next fighter breathing room to damage Persian before it unleashes a charge move.

According to PvPoke, common Persian movesets include:

• Scratch + Foul Play
• Feint Attack + Power Gem
• Scratch + Play Rough

Knowing these sets let you predict incoming damage and react accordingly.

Don‘t Save Energy Before Knocking Out

Unlike PvP battles, it‘s often correct to spend all energy before knocking out Persian as Giovanni usually waits to send out his next Pokemon. Any unused energy gets discarded, so you want to pressure Persian down ASAP!

Overwhelm With Sheer Bulk

While they lack a type advantage, ultra bulky Pokemon can simply outlast Persian through raw stats. For example, Lugia and Cresselia leverage their mountainous defense stats to wall Persians weaker attacks. I call this the "sumo wrestler" strategy!

Through type advantage or simply durability, dedicated counters can reliably overwhelm this tricky Normal type cat. Just stay alert once Persian gets knocked out!

Rewarding Post-Battle Encounters

Ah yes, the exciting rewards that await after finally defeating the Giovanni gauntlet! They include:

• 3,000 Stardust and 3 random item bundles
• Chance to catch the featured Shadow legendary Pokemon

Featured Shadow Legendary Encounters

• February 2023 – Shadow Registeel
• January 2023 – Shadow Latios/Latias
• Dec 2022 – Shadow Lugia
• Nov 2022 – Shadow Articuno

According to official Niantic statements, Giovanni‘s legendary prize pool rotates roughly every 2 to 3 months. So if a certain shadow legendary catches your eye, act fast! They tend to disappear as mysteriously as they appear.

With perfect IV shadow legendaries furnishing battle teams with unmatched power, it‘s easy to see why defeating Giovanni becomes priority #1 whenever he resurfaces!

And it all starts with overcoming his troublemaking Persian. I hope this guide better equips you to send this pesky cat packing and claim your well earned rewards. Time to fight on, Pokemon GO trainers!