There are countless video game series that have reached monumental levels of popularity with their fandom, but Pokemon feels like a case that’s in a league entirely of its own. Pokemon itself has become its own industry, and while the property has broken off in many different directions, it’s the core series of games that are still the most important.

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Pokemon Sword and Shield for the Nintendo Switch is the latest entry in the series and it brings with it a lot of new features, as well as Pokemon, as players explore the Galar region. Many of these new Pokemon feel like natural fits and Perrserker is one such Generation VIII creature that’s already popular.

10 It’s Already Appeared In The Anime

Anime Pokemon Twilight Wings Perrserker Trainer Crowd
Pokemon Twilight Wings Perrserker Trainer Crowd

The Pokemon video games are incredibly popular, but the anime has grown to find just as large of an audience. The Pokemon anime has branched off in some interesting ways in more recent years. Pokemon: Twilight Wings is a new short-form Pokemon anime that airs independently of the core series. Twilight Wings highlights certain aspects of the series that the main anime can't. The episode "The Gathering of Stars" specifically celebrates the new Crown Tundra region of Galar. Perrserker makes its anime debut here, albeit just as one of many supporting Pokemon. It's still satisfying to see it get animated.

9 Perrserker Is Already Prominent In The Pokemon TCG

Pokemon Sword Shield TCG Perrserker Shiny Card
Pokemon TCG Perrserker Shiny Card

It's truly impressive how the Pokemon Trading Card Game has been able to grow and remain relevant over years. There's still a very devoted fan base and new sets still regularly release. Perrserker is one of the more recent Pokemon to be introduced in the series, yet it already has three separate cards that have been released across separate expansions. It’s a Pokemon that has already made a big connection with the TCG community and the new Sword and Shield-centric expansion sets are taking advantage of this.

8 Its Body Naturally Forms Into Armor

Pokemon Sword Shield Perrserker Roars
Pokemon Perrserker Roars

Pokemon are fascinating for not just their many different shapes and sizes, but also the creativity in how some fit in or take advantage of their surroundings. Perrserker is a Pokemon with a distinct look and it looks like it's wearing a Viking helmet and decked out in armor.

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In fact, all of this is natural and parts of Perrserker's limbs and head have hardened into the Pokemon's personal armor. This isn't just for show and it actually does work as a solid defense for the Pokemon.

7 It Lives To Fight

Pokemon Sword Shield Perrserker Battle Attack
Pokemon Perrserker Battle Attack

Sometimes looks can be deceiving with Pokemon or they're intentionally used as a way to intimidate other predatory Pokemon. However, Perrserker is a Pokemon that's just as wild and chaotic as it looks. Its Pokedex entry explicitly states that it "lives for the thrill of battle," but it’s nice to see that it’s such a dependable fighter. It’s a Pokemon that leads with its attack and defense stats, but it also possesses a very impressive Steel-Type moveset and battle ready appearance. It conveys the image of a powerful Pokemon.

6 There's Animosity Between It And Persian

Pokemon Sword Shield Perrserker Persian Galar
Pokemon Perrserker Persian Galar

Meowth is a Pokemon that's been around right from the start of the series and has always held a greater significance due to his heightened role within Team Rocket on the anime series. Meowth evolves into Persian, but Pokemon Sword and Shield decides to do something different with its Galarian Meowth, which instead evolves into Perrserker. Consequently, the ferocious and unruly Perrserker is very much the opposite of Persian's more regal and austere nature. The two Pokemon resent one another for these fundamental differences and how they both represent nightmare versions of each other.

5 Its Claws Have Naturally Formed Into Daggers

Pokemon Sword Shield Perrserker Claw Smash TCG Card
Pokemon Perrserker Claw Smash TCG Card

The way in which Pokemon change when they experience an evolution is always amazing because there are so many different directions that can be taken with the Pokemon's new appearance. Perrserker stays closer to Meowth's original look, but its cat-like features become more deadly as opposed to how Persian's appearance becomes more refined.

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A change that Perrserker experiences is that the Pokemon's claws grow longer and more durable to the point that they're essentially daggers. It's a whole other level of defense for the Pokémon beyond its heavy Steel-Type moveset.

4 It Sets An Interesting Precedent For Evolutions

Pokemon Sword Shield Gigantamax Perrserker Smug
Pokemon Gigantamax Perrserker Smug

The Pokemon series certainly hasn't struggled to come up with new and original Pokemon over the years. This includes entirely unique Pokemon, but also new evolutionary forms that come before and even after existing Pokemon. More recent games have also played around with Pokemon that have regional differences and there are plenty Galarian variants of old Pokemon that feel new. Perrserker, as well as Runerigus, are the first regional Pokemon that have a unique evolution from their base forms. This opens up many new opportunities for future Pokemon that could have even been alternate takes on old evolutions.

3 Its Hidden Ability Is Steely Spirit

Pokemon Sword Shield Perrserker Dances
Pokemon Perrserker Dances

The Pokemon games have grown in numerous ways since their debut, but one of the more entertaining developments is when new Pokemon types are worked into the universe. Not all of these new varieties are popular, but Steel-Types is one that's a natural fit. Perrserker is purely a Steel-Type and that's reflected in its moveset, but its abilities look more towards powering up Perrserker or its allies. This is also the case with the Pokemon's hidden ability, Steely Spirit, which powers up all of the Steel-Type attacks than anyone in its party uses. It’s the perfect Pokemon for Steel-Type fans.

2 It Can Be Found In The Wild

Pokemon Sword Shield Perrserker Trainer Battle
Pokemon Perrserker Trainer Battle

One of the biggest details about Perrserker is that the Pokemon's evolution from a Galarian Meowth comes as a bit of a surprise. That's a fun way to be introduced to the Pokémon, but there are actually some Perrserker out in the wild within Galar if players feel like cutting out a step. Perrserkers can be plentiful in certain areas, like Route 7, Route 9, and the Lake of Outrage. They're also present within the Stony Wilderness during Max Raid Battles, so it’s a Pokemon that’s a prime target for many players.

1 It Evolves From A Galarian Meowth

Pokemon Sword Shield Galarian Meowth Ready

Perrserker is a striking new Pokemon and a memorable addition from Pokemon Sword and Shield. Many of the new Pokemon introduced have original origins, but the surprising thing about Perrserker is that it evolves from the Galarian Meowth once the Pokemon reaches level 28. Consequently, there's no Galarian version of Persian and instead Perrserker is a very different glimpse of what Meowth can become. It’s a Pokemon that helps give regional variants a greater significance. The game doesn’t dig too deep into this, but it implies some things either about the biology of Galarian Meowths or the Galar region itself.

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