Team Spotlight: Perish Trap! It took me a while to write this up...
SlowHomie@AndyBakesYT
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Aug 26, 2026
~3 min read
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Team Spotlight: Perish Trap!
It took me a while to write this up because I am not a Perish Player. It’s been on the rise but I genuinely didn’t understand why
But after a week I think I know why Perish is back in a big way. So let’s dive in to this unique archetype (1/11)
It took me a while to write this up because I am not a Perish Player. It’s been on the rise but I genuinely didn’t understand why
But after a week I think I know why Perish is back in a big way. So let’s dive in to this unique archetype (1/11)
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There are two flavors of Perish that are really popping off right now
The 1st is a Rain Perish team pioneered by @MeninoJardim
The 2nd is Altaria Perish pioneered by @ddee_ssbu & @MrRishiTTV
Both teams are very real and are seeing success on ladder and tournaments (2/11)
The 1st is a Rain Perish team pioneered by @MeninoJardim
The 2nd is Altaria Perish pioneered by @ddee_ssbu & @MrRishiTTV
Both teams are very real and are seeing success on ladder and tournaments (2/11)
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To understand why Perish is doing so well right now we need to understand the typical “Perish Flow Chart”
T1 Fake Out + Perish Song
T2 Protect + Protect
T3 Swap Gengar out and self Parting Shot back into Gengar
T4 Protect + Protect
T5 Click Perish and run the clock out (3/11)
T1 Fake Out + Perish Song
T2 Protect + Protect
T3 Swap Gengar out and self Parting Shot back into Gengar
T4 Protect + Protect
T5 Click Perish and run the clock out (3/11)
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What can stop this plan?
1. A board with 2 Pokémon that can OHKO Gengar
2. A board with 2 Pokemon that can OHKO Incin
3. Strong Ghost Pokemon + Careful Swapping
4. Armory tail + Strong Attackers
4. Timely flinches
5. Big Damage and Tailwind last turn of Perish Song (4/11)
1. A board with 2 Pokémon that can OHKO Gengar
2. A board with 2 Pokemon that can OHKO Incin
3. Strong Ghost Pokemon + Careful Swapping
4. Armory tail + Strong Attackers
4. Timely flinches
5. Big Damage and Tailwind last turn of Perish Song (4/11)
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Well when you look at some of the teams that were extremely popular for the early part of Reg M-A and you see stuff like:
~Big 6 with Tailwind + Floette, Zard, Garchomp, Gambit and Basculegion
~Charizard + Aerodactyl + Garchomp + Farig + Gambit
And Perish Trap is tricky (5/11)
~Big 6 with Tailwind + Floette, Zard, Garchomp, Gambit and Basculegion
~Charizard + Aerodactyl + Garchomp + Farig + Gambit
And Perish Trap is tricky (5/11)
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And it’s not that Perish Trap ~can’t~ beat those teams. You just have to make lots of calls
The biggest enemy of Perish Trap IMO is the mental stamina that’s required to play it at the highest level
And when people have tools to beat Perish or expect it that’s much harder(6/11)
The biggest enemy of Perish Trap IMO is the mental stamina that’s required to play it at the highest level
And when people have tools to beat Perish or expect it that’s much harder(6/11)
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But, when the metagame slows down Perish can tear through it
Take example @marc0fier0’s win at Turin Special event. That Tournament was dominated by Delphox + Flotte set up teams. Aka teams without explosive T1 offense. Perish Trap food
Let’s look at the metagame rn (7/11)
Take example @marc0fier0’s win at Turin Special event. That Tournament was dominated by Delphox + Flotte set up teams. Aka teams without explosive T1 offense. Perish Trap food
Let’s look at the metagame rn (7/11)
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~Delphox + Blastoise protect the President
~Toxapex Charizard Y
~Sun + Rain Teams
~Staraptor Sand
These teams are slower and more reliant on repositioning their mons than previous “Top Teams” —and many rely on having the right weather
Perish + Weather is well positioned (8/11)
~Toxapex Charizard Y
~Sun + Rain Teams
~Staraptor Sand
These teams are slower and more reliant on repositioning their mons than previous “Top Teams” —and many rely on having the right weather
Perish + Weather is well positioned (8/11)
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Let’s talk the Edu team:
Rain combos really well with Perish because you can use it to slow down ZardY’s offense. Swampert can also blow through unprepared teams with fast immediate offense
And in the end game if you eliminate the right two mons Arch is near unstoppable (9/11)
Rain combos really well with Perish because you can use it to slow down ZardY’s offense. Swampert can also blow through unprepared teams with fast immediate offense
And in the end game if you eliminate the right two mons Arch is near unstoppable (9/11)
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Let’s talk the Ddee/Rishi team
You know how you can deal with Sun + Rain? Just deny both!
Altaria is a perfect match for Perish Song because it gets Perish Song, turns off weather, is Bulky, and gets moves like Will o Wisp, Roost, Fire Spin etc. It’s hard to remove (10/11)
You know how you can deal with Sun + Rain? Just deny both!
Altaria is a perfect match for Perish Song because it gets Perish Song, turns off weather, is Bulky, and gets moves like Will o Wisp, Roost, Fire Spin etc. It’s hard to remove (10/11)
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I think both of these teams are viable - the question is if anyone will bring them to Worlds
If you’re preparing for Worlds or a Champion Tier run you should be prepared for Perish!
And if you’re brave and built different, Perish Trap just might be your golden ticket!
If you’re preparing for Worlds or a Champion Tier run you should be prepared for Perish!
And if you’re brave and built different, Perish Trap just might be your golden ticket!