POTW, Rapidash

[Blaziken]

Rapidash

Recently I’ve grown quite fond of Rapidash however that was only when I used it in the 4th generation. In the 3rd generation, Rapidash is quite similar to Entei, having a movepool that doesn’t fit its type or stats. It had limited potential then but after some major changes, Rapidash has become more of a force in the 4th generation. Rapidash is a pokemon that borders between the lines of UU and OU. It’s a bit too strong to be a UU but because of its disappointing movepool, it hasn’t really become a OU. However with a high speed stat and decent attacking stats, Rapidash isn’t that bad of a pokemon.

3rd Generation

Mixed Sweeper

Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Hasty/ Hardy

Attacks:
Charm
Fire Blast
Hypnosis
Quick Attack/ Iron Tail/ Bounce

As you can see from this set, Rapidash definitely has a limited movepool. But anyways, because of its high speed, Rapidash has the ability to annoy physical sweepers with Charm. Hypnosis is pretty much need in there to give Rapidash some extra sweeping time because it won’t last long with only average defenses at best. Fire Blast is its move that does the damage. I chose it over Flamethrower because Rapidash isn’t a pokemon that’s going to last long in battle and needs the extra power and because it has better accuracy than moves like Thunder which are similar to it. With its last attack, Iron Tail is not recommended but is there if you want to cover ground type pokemon. I’d recommend Quick Attack just to take on those Endure, Reversal/Flail combos. To summarize, Rapidash is very limited here.

Rating: 6/10

Baton Passer

Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Timid

Attacks:
Agility
Hypnosis/ Charm
Baton Pass
Fire Blast

Although not as good as a Jolteon, Rapidash Baton Passer isn’t too bad. Its quite reliable and has good uses after Baton Passing. Agility is really the only move to consider Baton Passing with. Hypnosis or Charm is there to cause trouble after finishing Baton Passing. Finally, Fire Blast is there to do some damage when needed. If you’re wondering how to get this form of Rapidash, you’ll need Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness and open the door to Rapidash’s heart in the game. When you do, it should know Baton Pass. A rare set but a pretty reliable one though.

Rating: 7/10

4th Generation

Physical Sweeper

Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Expert Belt/ Leftovers/ Life Orb
Nature: Jolly/ Adamant

Attacks:
Megahorn
Flare Blitz
Poison Jab
Hypnosis/ Charm/ Willo Wisp

As mentioned before, Rapidash has received a major boost in the 4th generation. With a higher physical attack but being a special type pokemon, Rapidash was overlooked quite a bit before but now with the consideration of some battle changes, Rapidash has now become very strong. Megahorn and Poison Jab are new attacks that Rapidash now knows for type coverage. Flare Blitz is quite risky but can pay off, especially with a decent attack stat, which Rapidash has. With its last move, its to shut down mainly physical sweepers. Willo Wisp is very risky but if it succeeds, you’ll gain a better benefit than you would’ve if you used Charm. However Charm is an almost no risk move. Hypnosis can completely shut down a sweeper for a certain amount of turns, depending on the moves it knows and its special ability. However Rapidash has now become very strong.

Rating: 8/10

Special Sweeper

Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Life Orb/ Leftovers
Nature: Modest/ Timid

Attacks:
Sunny Day
Fire Blast
Solar Beam
Hypnosis/ Charm/ Willo Wisp

Another pretty obvious set. Sunny Day to power up Fire Blast and to reduce the charge up time of Solar Beam. The last moves are the same with the last set, chose the one you want while considering the risks involved. A basic special sweeping Rapidash but it still has quite a low potential special movepool.

Rating: 6.5/10



Stats
Gender: 50% ♀ / 50% ♂
Type: Fire
Species: Fire Horse Pokemon
Height: 5’07”
Weight: 209lbs
Weaknesses: Ground (x2) Water (x2) Rock (x2)
Resistances: Grass (0.5) Steel (0.5) Bug (0.5) Ice (0.5) Fire (0.5)
Immunities: Fire (If with Flash Fire ability)
Pokedex Entries:
Diamond- It gallops at nearly 150mph. With its mane blazing ferociously, it races as if it were an arrow.
Pearl- It has astounding acceleration. From a standstill, it can reach top speed within 10 steps.
Evolution: Evolves from Ponyta at lv40.
Location: Evolve Ponyta
Abilities: Run Away- Makes escaping from wild pokemon more easier
Flash Fire- Resistant to fire attacks. If it takes a fire attack, the fire attack will boost its fire type power. This effect is also activated by Willo Wisp but depending on what type the pokemon hit by Willo Wisp is, the effect of Willo Wisp might or might not activate.
National Dex No.: 78
Popularity: Low-Medium
Generation Introduced: 1st
Anime Appearances: 6



Please discuss below.

[Akai]

How do you get Megahorn? It's not a level or TM/HM attack. Breeding?

Megahorn seems like a waste of an attack, since most of what it's strong against, Rapidash's other attacks can do just as good.

Can you make a moveset for a Ponyta? I have one in my Pearl, and hate Rapidash, so I won't evolve her.

[Blaziken]

You actually have to have a Heart Scale. Go to the move relearner guy in Pastoria City. Rapidash should learn Megahorn that way. It makes sense because I think now most pokemon with an obvious horn now knows Megahorn.

[Alexi8945]

I think Rapidash got stronger mainly because it's the only avaliable fire-type besides the chimchar line. XP I myself was quite pleased with how Rapidash improved in the 4th gen.

I think Megahorn on Rapidash is actually useful, especially if you're against a dark-type. Since most bug pokemon's stats usually suck, it's nice to have a back-up bug move to handle any lingering dark-types.

[Akai]

You actually have to have a Heart Scale. Go to the move relearner guy in Pastoria City. Rapidash should learn Megahorn that way. It makes sense because I think now most pokemon with an obvious horn now knows Megahorn.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about Heart Scales. I rarely use them.

I still don't understand how or why Rapidash can use it. I know it has a horn, but it's a Bug-type move, on a Fire Pokemon? That's like Blastoise learning Fire Punch. It doesn't make sense to me. :(

[Alexi8945]

but it's a Bug-type move, on a Fire Pokemon?

Try not to think of it in types, but anatomically. Rapidash has a huge horn, a very big horn. Ome might even call it a mondohorn. It's huge! So why not have it learn a move like Megahorn? If the attack were perhaps a normal attack, it would make more sense. But this is Pokemon! How many people will give you free potions or TMs for walking into their homes uninvited?

[Akai]

How many people will give you free potions or TMs for walking into their homes uninvited?

How many people let you enter their house uninvited at all? Haha.

I guess. Megahorn was originally Heracross's big attack, right.
Ok. I guess ol' Rapi' can have it. Both Ponyta and Rapidash have a weak movepool anyway.
They need this.

[Alexi8945]

Well, Heracross needs to share. XP I see the Ponyta line as so neglected in this fandom. Maybe that's why it's the only other fire option in the 4th gen. It's fine for now, but if weird things start to happen, like Tauros being able to learn it, then I'll get worried. XP

[Akai]

Ponyta and Rapidash are sadly overlooked. If only some new moves could be made for them... like... Stampede (Normal move). It could do more damage the faster the Pokemon. It'll work. Tauros could have it too, and any other "herd" Pokemon.

[Alexi8945]

Actually, what I think would be cool would be a new HM called "Ride" or something, sort of like a stampede in battle, but you could move faster out of battle, so it would be like a bike, but with a pokemon. Sort like a Surf for land. And then there could be a minigame incorporated for it, like a little racing game. I think that'd be cool.

Let's all fight for Ponyta's rights!

[Akai]

Cool idea. It'll kinda be like Harvest Moon. It'll be something to try, but what other Pokemon can you use it on? It'll have to be a Pokemon you can get on and not kill. (Sorry, Pikachu, haha) I'm still thinking "herd" Pokemon, like Tauros and Stantler.

[Blaziken]

They surprisingly don't know. Its probably because Rapidash had such a poor movepool in the previous generations and the creators wanted to make Rapidash more useable. With Tauros it already had Earthquake and Stantler has different possibilites but Rapidash had very little moves to support its stats.

[Akai]

Yeah. I totally agree. Tauros can learn some good moves, Earthquake, Ice Beam, SolarBeam, and Thunderbolt.

Stantler has a small reserve of Psychic attacks to make it awesome.

Poor Rapidash. It really needs to get it's due. I really think it should learn ExtremeSpeed, since it is suppose to be the "fastest" Pokemon, right?