Welcome!! It's the return of SSJ4 Gogeta!(In other words, it's me again!) I have another Card Comparison for you. Today it's Persian vs. Dark Persian. Here we go:

     Persian looks kinda nice. Its Pounce attack can deal 30 damage on turn 2 if you're playing Double Colorless Energy cards. But Persian ain't as good as it seems.

   Why?! All y'all ask me why it isn't as good as it seems. First off, you're better off sticking with the Jungle Meowth by itself(with Kangaskhan's help) because you evolve him just to do 30 damage at most and prevent 10 damage unless they retreat. His 70 HP is okay, but still low. Scratch is bad for its cost. His only major uses are his free retreat cost and resistance to Psychic Poke'mon and his ability to stall time if they have a Poke'mon with a high retreat cost active. The third use is very situational, though. If, however, they play decks with 3 or 4 retreat cost, they just might have messed up if they see Persian out there( with the exception of Rain Dance decks.).

     This is why I say Persian is too weak an evolution. The attacks are pitifully weak for an evolution and his 70 HP is too low for a Stage 1.

Rating:**I(this is a 2 1/2 Star Rating, meaning very poor)( What can I say? This guy's not a strong evolution at all.)

 

Now we have Dark Persian to look at:

    Dark Persian still has low HP,even worse than his Jungle counterpart, but still it's not exactly a big problem since it happens to all Team Rocket cards.

   He still has the same free retreat cost and Psychic resistance as the original, which is good.

   Now let's look closer at Dark Persian. Yeah, his attacks are still pitifully weak for an evolution and even worse than the original's. Let's just say that he doesn't look so tough. Honestly though, he's tougher than he looks, better than the original.

  I know, you'll all bash me for this one, but his attacks are unseen danger in the late game. Fascinate looks bad since unlike Ninetales' Lure Attack, you have to get heads to do the switch-off. Still, it can win you the game if you get "heads". How, you ask? First, you flip "heads", and then you pick a Poke'mon with a retreat cost of 3 or 4, and you force it out. Make sure you use a Super Energy Removal or 2 on that Poke'mon first. This way, if you get "heads", then retreating isn't exactly an option for the opponent. Now I know, you'll all say "What if they use a Switch?!". Here's how that can be worked around: Dark Vileplume's Hay Fever power keeps all Trainer cards from being played so they can't Switch. This will surely be useful in the late game. Okay, I know " What about Muk and Dark Arbok?" If you use Aerodactyl, then they won't come. Here's how you can get Dark Vileplume after playing Aerodactyl:

1. Use Goop Gas Attack

2. Play Dark Vileplume

3. Use Fascinate and hope for the best.

   With that said, Fascinate is a powerful attack that works to your advantage.

  Now we look at his other move, Poison Claws. This is pathetic on a Stage 1 in the way of damage, but it can do more damage to the Defending Poke'mon later. After you Fascinate your opponent(with Dark Persian) use Poison Claws to create a surprise tactic and poison the Poke'mon you forced out. If you keep using it, you'll do damage quickly and win the game because your opponent will "deck" if they're unable to retreat and can't defend themselves effectively. Or, if you prefer not to use Aerodactyl and Dark Vileplume to help Dark Persian, use Energy Removal, Super Energy Removal, Energy-removing Poke'mon like Dark Vaporeon and Poliwrath, and Dark Muk. With a couple Dark Muks in your deck, the Poke'mon you "Fascinated" will have a tough time retreating.

   Although he doesn't look like it, Dark Persian is better than the original. I am not, repeat, am not saying that he is a wonderful card, because he ain't no wonderful card. He's only average.

  In a deck, you should use him and the Jungle Meowth because the TR Meowth can't compare to his Jungle counterpart. With that said, e-mail me at keane.fam@rcn.com.

P.S.: Dark Persian's Rating:***I(a 3 1/2 Star Rating)(Like I said, only average, but still an improvement over the original)

P.P.S.: Question: Who's better, Persian or Dark Persian?

  The answer: Dark Persian!!!!!!

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