Giovanni's Persian

Giovanni's Persian サカキのペルシアン Sakaki's Persian

Giovanni's Persian

Debuts in Battle Aboard the St. Anne Caught at Unknown Gender Unknown* Ability Unknown Current location With Giovanni

This Pokémon is fully evolved.

Voice actor Japanese English As Persian Rica Matsumoto Rica Matsumoto Kate Bristol (SM062)

Giovanni's Persian (Japanese: サカキのペルシアン Sakaki's Persian) is a Pokémon owned by Giovanni. It was commonly seen outside of its Poké Ball.

In the anime

History

Original series

Persian and Giovanni

Giovanni's Persian debuted in Battle Aboard the St. Anne, when Jessie, James, and Meowth reported to Giovanni. Since then, it has always been seen either at Giovanni's side or in his lap.

In The Battle Of The Badge, the Team Rocket trio presented Misty's Togepi to Giovanni. He scolded the three for bringing him a useless Pokémon before his phone rang, alerting him to an emergency. Persian ran out of the room at this, which opened the door for Togepi to escape.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire

Persian briefly appeared in A Ruin with a View when Giovanni was talking to the Team Rocket trio over the phone. After the call ended, Giovanni was shown petting his Persian.

In Pearls are a Spoink's Best Friend, Persian appeared during a video call, sticking out its tongue in order to taunt Meowth.

After seeing a Coordinator's Persian in the Pacifidlog Town Contest Hall in Mean With Envy, Meowth remembered Giovanni's Persian pulling down its lower eyelid to taunt him and decided to help Jessie win the Pokémon Contest. During his performance in the Appeals Round, Meowth used Fury Swipes to make a sculpture of Giovanni and Persian out of a giant block of ice. He finished his performance by turning the Persian into a Meowth.

In The Scheme Team, Persian was beside Giovanni's side when the trio returned to the Team Rocket HQ to report the results of their operations in the Hoenn region.

Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl

In Two Degrees of Separation!, Persian was briefly shown sitting on Giovanni's lap while he was talking to Jessie, James, and Meowth over the videophone.

In Malice In Wonderland!, an illusory version of Persian created by a wild Mismagius was part of Meowth's fantasy. The Classy Cat Pokémon was shown being tossed away by Giovanni, who wanted Meowth to be his new pet.

In The Thief That Keeps on Thieving!, after the trio sent Giovanni a newly caught Yanma, Persian was seen being fed and petted by its Trainer while the computer ran an analysis of Yanma's Poké Ball.

In Memories are Made of Bliss!, Persian was seen lying on Giovanni's office while Matori informed Giovanni that she had contacted the trio and assigned them their new mission.

Pokémon the Series: Black & White

Persian preparing to battle Ash and Pikachu

In In the Shadow of Zekrom!, Persian was seen being petted by Giovanni. It later appeared at the end of Unrest at the Nursery! with its Trainer and Matori.

In the next episode, Persian was sent into battle against Ash's Pikachu and proved itself to be extremely powerful, taking an Iron Tail, then swiftly knocking Pikachu out with Power Gem. It briefly appeared in Farewell, Unova! Setting Sail for New Adventures! and The Dream Continues!.

Pokémon the Series: XY

In A Battle of Aerial Mobility!, Persian was seen being petted by Giovanni while Team Rocket contacted him about their arrival in Kalos.

In An Explosive Operation!, Persian watched Giovanni while Team Rocket contacted him about Team Flare.

Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon

In Acting True to Form! and Thank You, Alola! The Journey Continues!, Persian was being pet by Giovanni.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Meowth's one-sided rivalry with Persian

Persian appeared in a fantasy in the first Team Rocket Expedition which stands by the evils of love and truth segment.

In This Could be the Start of Something Big!, Persian was being pet by Giovanni.

Personality and characteristics

Meowth views this Persian as a rival. Persian is the beloved pet of the boss of Team Rocket, and Meowth wants to kick Persian out and take its place as Giovanni's beloved pet, or the "Top Cat", as he calls it. Meowth's hatred of his evolved form was not started by this Persian, but his anger manifests against it more often than against any other Persian. Persian is also shown to be very loyal to its Trainer, and has also played some role in Team Rocket operations, such as signaling the disguised Team Rocket Grunts to commence their raid on the St. Anne patrons.

Moves used

Using Shadow Claw	Move First Used In Shadow Claw Meloetta and the Undersea Temple! Power Gem Meloetta and the Undersea Temple!
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the games

Giovanni also owns a Persian in Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. In Yellow, he uses it in all of the battles against him, while in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, it only participates in the first two battles and merely stands on his side during the Gym battle. Persian also appears in both rounds of Pokémon Stadium. Aside from its use in battle, Giovanni's Persian also has a brief appearance in the Viridian Gym as a portrait in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.

In the core series

Pokémon Yellow		Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
First and second battle (Rocket Hideout/Silph Co.)	Gym battle (Viridian Gym)	First battle (Team Rocket Hideout)	Second battle (Silph Co.)
Type: Normal Unknown Persian Lv.29/35 Scratch Normal   --       Growl Normal   --       Bite Normal   --       Pay Day Normal   --	Type: Normal Unknown Persian Lv.53 Screech Normal   --       Slash Normal   --       Fury Swipes Normal   --       Double Team Normal   --	Type: Normal Unknown Mega Stone: None Persian♂ Lv.35 Slash Normal Physical   --       Feint Normal Physical   --       Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Curse Unknown Status   --	Type: Normal Unknown Mega Stone: None Persian♂ Lv.39 Slash Normal Physical   --       Feint Normal Physical   --       Fake Out Normal Physical   --       Play Rough Fairy Physical   --

In the Stadium series

Pokémon Stadium
Round 1	Round 2
Type: Normal Unknown Persian Lv.50-100 Toxic Poison   --       Slash Normal   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       BubbleBeam Water   --	Type: Normal Unknown Persian Lv.50-100 Screech Normal   --       Slash Normal   --       Thunderbolt Electric   --       BubbleBeam Water   --

In other games

Pokémon Puzzle League

Persian was one of Giovanni's three Pokémon in Pokémon Puzzle League.

Pokémon GO

Persian is one of the Shadow Pokémon used by Giovanni, and the only one that has appeared in all of his party pools.

Pokémon Masters EX

Main article: Giovanni (Masters) → Persian

Giovanni forms a sync pair with Persian in Pokémon Masters EX.

Dex	Trainer		NDex	Pokémon		Type	Weakness	Role	EX role	Base potential	Availability
#074		Classic Giovanni	#0053		Persian♂	Normal	Fighting			★★★★☆☆EX	Sync Pair-Up Event

Artwork

Persian and Giovanni artwork from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

In the manga

How I Became a Pokémon Card

Persian in How I Became a Pokémon Card

The backstory of how Giovanni met Persian is revealed in the How I Became a Pokémon Card manga. He rescued it when he was a child.

Moves used

Using Screech	Move First Used In Screech The Injured Persian Scratch The Injured Persian
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Persian in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Persian in Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Persian was seen watching its owner in Ash vs. Gary as his anger faded away from remembering the giant Slowpoke that Team Rocket scientists created.

Movie adaptations

In Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution, Persian is seen briefly when Giovanni meets Mewtwo for the first time.

In the TCG

This listing is of cards featuring Giovanni's Persian in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Giovanni's Persian Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Giovanni's Persian		Gym Challenge		8/132	Challenge from the Darkness

• Persian also appears in the cards Giovanni's Scheme (XY-P Promo 277) and Giovanni's Charisma (Pokémon Card 151 207).

Merchandise

Team Rocket Gift Pack

The second gift pack, the Team Rocket Gift Pack (Japanese: ロケット団 ギフトパック), was released on December 19, 1997 and includes a number of Team Rocket themed items, with its eponymous TCG expansion released earlier on November 21, 1997. Like the first Gift Pack, the Rocket Gang Gift Pack includes two copies of a deck to allow two players to immediately jump into play. This deck, the Team Rocket Starter Deck, is an original creation found only in the pack. Also packaged is a set of damage counters, two Poison markers, two coins, two Team Rocket badges, a play mat, and a poster.

Product images:

Team Rocket Gift Pack	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
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The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins

Gym Challenge Theme Decks

The Gym Challenge expansion released the latter half of the Gym Leader themed Theme Decks on October 16, 2000. Featuring Sabrina, Koga, Blaine, and Giovanni, the four decks named after these Gym Leaders featured the Psychic-type, Grass-type, and Fire-type for the first three, and the Grass and Fighting-types for Giovanni. Each deck featured the standard rulebook, damage counters, and card list, while this time featuring an exclusive Alakazam coin.

Product images:

Giovanni	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins

20th Anniversary Festa merchandise

A large-scale event celebrating 20 years of the Pokémon Trading Card Game in Japan was held at Toki Messe, Niigata on October 10, 2016 and at the Nagoya Trade & Industry Center, Nagoya on October 23, 2016. Pop-up stores were present at both venues offering the latest products and exclusive 20th Anniversary merchandise, among which included premuim sleeves featuring booster pack artwork from the three expansions following the initial Expansion Pack: Pokémon Jungle, Mystery of the Fossils, and Rocket Gang. Each pack contained 64 sleeves:

Team Rocket Premium Gloss Sleeves (Japanese: デッキシールドプレミアム・グロス 拡張パック第4弾 ロケット団 Deck Shield: Premium•Gloss 4th Expansion Pack: Rocket Gang)

All attendees were given a special Full Art Pikachu promotional card. Attendees could also earn Play Points by participating in one or more corner events held at each venue and redeem them for prizes. Eligible corner events included the 20th Anniversary Battle, the Classic Battle, the Shōwa VS Heisei Battle, the Sylveon Girls Battle, the Shiftry Masters Battle, and the 3 on 3 Battle. At 2 Play Points, players could earn 1 of 8 Gym Badge promotional cards featuring the Kanto Gym Leaders at random. 4 Play Points could be redeemed for a Magikarp promotional card and 6 Play Points could be redeemed for a Mewtwo-EX promotional card. 12 Play Points gave players the choice to redeem either a Pikachu or Mew promotional card, both of which feature Mitsuhiro Arita's signature. Other prizes could be earned in the corner events as well: winning teams in the Shōwa VS Heisei Battle were awarded a Mirror Holofoil Teammates promotional card; players competing in the 20th Anniversary Battle who achieved 3 consecutive wins at the 'Premier Stage' were awarded 1 of 9 Original Era-inspired Holofoil Basic Energy cards at random; the top 3 players of the Sylveon Girls Battle and Shiftry Masters Battle were each awarded acrylic trophies; and the top 3 players in each age category of the 20th Anniversary Battle were awarded Victory Ring promotional cards.

Product images:

Team Rocket Premium Gloss Sleeves	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
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The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins

SV2a accessories

The release of Pokémon Card 151 on June 16, 2023 also saw numerous TCG accessories become available to purchase, many of which featured characters and Pokémon that debuted in the first generation games. Giovanni's Orders merchandise: These items feature a kantaro illustration of Team Rocket boss Giovanni and his team from Pokémon Yellow, which comprises Rhydon, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Persian, and Dugtrio. These items could only be purchased from Pokémon Centers and the Pokémon Center Online.

• Giovanni's Deck Case (Japanese: デッキケース サカキの指令 Deck Case: Sakaki's Order)
• Giovanni's Orders Sleeves (Japanese: デッキシールド サカキの指令 Deck Shield: Sakaki's Order)

Product images:

Giovanni's Orders Deck Case	Giovanni's Orders Sleeves	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins

Trivia

The poster in Team Rocket's base

• Giovanni's Persian seems intended to parallel other series in which the main villain owns a cat as a pet.
• Due to the focus on Pokémon native to the Unova region, Persian is the only pre-Generation V Pokémon not part of the main cast to appear in Pokémon the Series: Black & White physically until Roxie's Koffing in Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1, due to its cameo in In The Shadow of Zekrom!.
• Despite having appeared intermittently since Battle Aboard the St. Anne, Persian wasn't shown using any moves until Meloetta and the Undersea Temple!, 738 episodes later.
  • This was also the first time when Persian's Poké Ball was shown in the anime.
• In Pokémon Journeys: The Series, the Team Rocket trio's secret base in Vermilion City contains a wall poster of Giovanni with Persian torn off, referencing Meowth's rivalry with it.
• Persian is the only Pokémon in the anime that neither belongs to a main character or is a main character itself to appear in every series that featured Ash as a protagonist.

Related articles

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Persian.

References

Giovanni's Pokémon
On hand:	Persian
Status unknown:	Golem	Kingler	Kingler	Machamp	Rhydon	Cloyster
Escaped:	Mewtwo
Given away:	Koffing	Woobat	Yamask	Frillish	Amoonguss
Controlled:	Meloetta	Landorus	Tornadus	Thundurus
Origins only:	Charmander
Pocket Monsters only:	Hitmonlee	Hitmonchan
For Pokémon owned by the version of Giovanni that appears in Pokémon Adventures, see here; for a full list of Pokémon owned by the version of Giovanni that appears in the Pokémon Pocket Monsters series, see here

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.