Rapidash (Update)

Alan · Jul 24, 2010

Hey QC/C+C/UU/whatever. I reserved rapidash is the uu reservatoin thread, and nobody said no, so i'm doing it. Rapidash is a p cool mon, but doesnt get love. Its page is also shit. So I'm updating it. This is my first real update since sds took breloom, so be gentle. 9.9

i changed a few things:
-the evs on the mix set, gives it more power as well as only outpacing base 95, instead of mismagius and scyhter; the only other base 105s in uu
-this analysis looks like an adv page. X( So I am going to work on making some new sets for this guy to to play with, i dont think it was updated since dp.
-removed choice set since it requires too much support. i will test it more though
-removed baton pass set according to: [14:07:37] <@Eo> I don't see the bp set as viable (P.S. Eo take me off ignore on irc. -.-)
-removed the "[Teammates and Counters]" part from each set.
-put in [SET COMMENT] tags
-applied grammar changes suggested by calentaro

STATUS: Needs QC review and proofreading.

http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/rapidash

[Overview]

At first glance, Rapidash may seem like a run-of-the-mill Fire-type who is outclassed by Arcanine and Ninetales, but this is not entirely true. Rapidash plays rather uniquely. It has a few support options, blazingly fast Speed (pardon the pun), an immunity to Fire-type attacks thanks to its Flash Fire ability, and respectable offensive stats. Despite Rapidash's limited movepool, it can still be a valuable asset to any team.

[SET]
name: Standard Pony
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Megahorn / Return
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Morning Sun
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers / Wide Lens
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

One of Rapidash's best assets is its access to Will-O-Wisp and Hypnosis, which allows it to take out its counters and support its team. These two moves pair wonderfully with Rapidash's above average Speed. Flare Blitz is Rapidash's strongest STAB move, and coming off of Rapidash's base 100 Attack stat, will hurt anyone who doesn't resist it. Megahorn differentiates Rapidash from other Fire-types. While the type coverage may seem redundant, Megahorn helps against bulky Water-type switch-ins, especially Slowbro and Slowking. Return is also an option if you are concerned about opposing Fire-types.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs allow Rapidash to speed tie with Scyther and Mismagius, while 252 Attack EVs let Rapidash deal as much damage as possible. If you aren't concerned about Mismagius and Scyther, you can opt to run a slightly bulkier spread of 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe. 84 HP EVs give Rapidash 292 HP, allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock an extra time and slightly increase its overall bulk. 176 Speed EVs allow Rapidash to outpace all positive natured base 95s. The rest of the EVs are placed into Attack. Other options include Hidden Power Grass, which allows Rapidash to take out Rhyperior, Kabutops, and Omastar. Toxic is also a decent option in the last slot, as it allows Rapidash to cripple some hard counters like Milotic and Moltres.

Due to Rapidash's Stealth Rock weakness and Spikes vulnerability, a Rapid Spinner would do well as a teammate. Blastoise works well as it can switch into bulky Water-types; in return, Rapidash can take the odd Grass-type attack aimed at Blastoise. Kabutops is also an acceptable spinner if you wish to go for a more offensive approach. In general, anyone who benefits from weakened physical attackers is a great partner for this set. Sceptile and Venusaur are good teammates for Rapidash, as they can come in on the bulky Water-types who Rapidash lures out and set up with Swords Dance or Substitute. Other Grass-types, such as Leafeon and Tangrowth, can work with this set as well. Special walls such as Milotic and, to a lesser extent, Chansey benefit from burned physical attackers.

The counters for this set are essentially the same as the counters for every other Fire-type Pokemon: fast Earthquake users and strong Water-types. Aqua Jet Azumarill can counter this set, provided it doesn't get burned. Fire-types can do a pretty good job of taking on this set since they are immune to Will-O-Wisp and resist Flare Blitz and Megahorn. However, they should be wary of Hypnosis. Milotic is a great counter for this set; RestTalk variants work especially well since they can Rest off the burn inflicted by Will-O-Wisp. Rock-type Pokemon can also counter this set with ease. While most of them do not enjoy being burned, Omastar can take the burn and KO from the special side.

[SET]
name: Mixed Rapidash
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Megahorn
move 4: Hypnosis / Will-O-Wisp
ability: Flash Fire
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 80 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Rapidash's decent base 80 Special Attack, respectable base 100 Attack, and high base 105 Speed mean that it is perfectly capable of running an efficient mixed set. Fire Blast is Rapidash's most powerful special attack, while Hidden Power Grass hits bulky Water-types for decent damage and OHKOes Omastar. Megahorn takes out would-be walls, such as Slowking and Grumpig, who can take on Fire Blast and Hidden Power Grass without breaking a sweat. Naive is the preferred nature because it allows Rapidash to run more EVs in Attack while maintaining some more physical bulk, which can pay off if you use Will-O-Wisp as the final move. Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp can both fit in the last slot, as they allow Rapidash to cripple its counters.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

If you don't wish to take away from Rapidash's Special Defense, a Mild nature is useable with an EV spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe. With this alternate EV spread, however, you will lose out on some important 2HKOs, such as on Slowking and Grumpig. Morning Sun is a possible option over Will-O-Wisp or Hypnosis if you wish to increase Rapidash's longevity. Those are really the only other options for this set; poor Rapidash was cursed with an extremely small movepool.

Rapidash's Stealth Rock weakness limits its ability to switch in, so a Rapid Spinner such as Kabutops or Blastoise will benefit this set greatly. Strong Grass-types such as Sceptile, Venusaur, Leafeon, and company can all benefit from Rapidash's tendency to lure out bulky Water-types, essentially getting a free turn to attack or set up. Other Fire-types can also benefit from this set because of its ability to weaken opposing Water-types.

The counters for the above set apply for this set as well. Specially defensive Donphan can survive a Hidden Power Grass or Fire Blast and easily OHKO back with Earthquake, but cannot switch in on either of the aforementioned attacks, as it will be 2HKOed. Milotic fears nothing from this set and can strike back with a super effective Surf or Hydro Pump. Azumarill and Feraligatr can switch in and take Rapidash out with Aqua Jet. Dugtrio can also be used to revenge kill this set, but cannot switch in on any of Rapidash's moves.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Baton Pass / Iron Tail
item: Choice Band
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

At first, this set may seem odd; in most people's minds, a Pokemon with a Stealth Rock weakness and a fairly limited movepool is not going to be the first candidate for a choice set. Rapidash appears to be outclassed by Arcanine, but it can scout the opponent's switch-in with Baton Pass, something Arcanine cannot do. Megahorn is also a pretty neat move; with a whopping 120 Base Power, it will deal a chunk of damage to most Water-type switch-ins and dent Houndoom as well. Iron Tail may seem like a strange option, as it lacks STAB and has poor coverage. However, it will do a good amount of damage to Kabutops, Omastar, Rhyperior, and other Rock-types.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

The EVs are pretty straightforward: max Attack and max Speed to hit as hard and as fast as possible. The choice between Baton Pass and Iron Tail in the last slot is dependent on how you wish to play Rapidash. If you want to play conservatively and use Rapidash to scout your opponent's team, then Baton Pass is an ideal option. However, if you wish to be more aggressive, then Iron Tail is an excellent choice. Choosing between a Jolly or an Adamant nature is also a tough decision; an Adamant nature gives Iron Tail a chance to 2HKO Rhyperior, but a Jolly nature will let Rapidash speed tie with max Speed Mismagius and Scyther.

Quick Attack is also a decent option if you wish to pick off weakened, faster threats and pinch Berry users, but doesn't have much use outside of that. Double Kick is also a somewhat viable option, but using it means that Mismagius can switch in on two of Rapidash's attacks for free and proceed to set up.

As with every other Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon in the game, a Rapid Spinner makes a wonderful teammate for Rapidash. This is especially true with a Choice set since switching will be more common. Blastoise is a decent option since it can take on most Water-types who Rapidash lures in. Donphan is also a good choice, as it can switch in on the bulky Rock-types who come in on Rapidash. Kabutops is a good option if you want a more offensive approach. Leafeon is a good teammate because it can come in on Rhyperior and get a free Swords Dance on the switch. Offensive Milotic is also a good partner since it can take advantage of the Water-types who Rapidash lures in. As far as counters go, Stealth Rock will wear down Rapidash very quickly, as will sandstorm or hail damage. Spikes further bring down Rapidash's miniscule HP stat; this problem is compounded by the fact that many common Spikes users can set up on Rapidash. Milotic fears nothing on this set and easily shrugs off any damage with Recover. Feraligatr can also set up on this set and force it out. Regirock and Rhyperior can cause problems for this set, as they are able to set up if Rapidash is using an ineffective move.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Substitute
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

Thanks to Pokemon XD, Rapidash can use Baton Pass to pass boosts to its teammates or to scout for counters. After an Agility boost, nobody will outspeed Rapidash, allowing it to execute its Baton Pass with incredible speed. Generally speaking, Rapidash will not be able to pass both Substitute and Agility, as it is rather frail and its Substitutes will easily be broken. Flare Blitz gives Rapidash some sort of attack so it cannot be shut down by Taunt users.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

There really are no other options for Rapidash. You could go with a Timid nature and Fire Blast instead of Flare Blitz, but Flare Blitz is almost always a better option because of its higher accuracy. Unfortunately, you cannot use Morning Sun or Hypnosis with Baton Pass on Rapidash because of breeding conflictions stemming from the fact that Baton Pass is only available on XD.

Leftovers is an excellent item choice, but if you wish to take full advantage of Baton Pass, a pinch Berry may be equipped to pass an extra boost. To activate the Berry safely, Rapidash can first use Agility, and then Substitute down to 25% health. The pinch Berry strategy should be used late-game, however, as it only has one shot to work and is more successful when you know your opponent's team.

 Bulky, offensive Water-types are excellent recipients because of Rapidash's tendency to lure out Water-types. Milotic is a great choice because of its natural bulk and strong attacking moves. Azumarill is also a good option if you are looking for a physical recipient. Leafeon, Venusaur, Tangrowth, and basically any other offensive Grass-type are also good options since they can take the Water-type attacks aimed at Rapidash and proceed to outspeed and possibly OHKO said Water-type.

Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes all hinder Rapidash's attempts to Baton Pass effectively, so a Rapid Spinner would be a very welcome teammate. Claydol is a decent option as it resists Stealth Rock and is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but shares a Water-type weakness with Rapidash. Blastoise is a pretty solid option as well because of its decent bulk and resistance to Water-type moves. Donphan and Hitmontop can also be used, but their poor special bulk leaves them vulnerable against bulky Water-types.

Phazers and Hazers shut down this set and strategy. The most threatening of these Pokemon is Milotic, who can take Rapidash's Flare Blitz and OHKO back with Surf. Aqua Jet users, such as Kabutops and Azumarill, can OHKO Rapidash before it can pass its boosts. Bulky Taunt users such as Drapion also mess up this set by preventing Rapidash from using Baton Pass.

[Team Options]

Grass- and Electric-types have excellent offensive synergy with Rapidash, setting up on the Water- and Rock-types who wall it. Venusaur is an excellent candidate due to its excellent coverage and access to Swords Dance. Leafeon is also a good partner due to its access to Swords Dance and high Attack stat. Mixed Rapidash can help Fire-type sweepers by wearing down their counters, allowing them to sweep more easily late-game.

The best teammates for Rapidash are bulky Water- and Grass-types. A defensive Ludicolo is almost the perfect partner, resisting Rapidash's Ground- and Water-type weaknesses; however, be careful about switching Ludicolo into Stone Edge or Rock Slide. Blastoise and Donphan are also good partners for Rapidash because of their ability to take hits well and spin away entry hazards. Specs Blastoise also works well with Rapidash to help clear away Water- and Rock-types with Hidden Power Grass and Hydro Pump, respectively.

[Other Options]

There isn't much else Rapidash can do that Arcanine or Ninetales can't. Rapidash is capable of running a SunnyBeamer set, but other Fire-types can generally do this better. Rapidash also has access to Bounce and Toxic for spreading paralysis or Toxic stalling, respectively. However, these sets are not particularly effective since Rapidash is forced out rather easily and cannot afford to switch in many times due to its Stealth Rock weakness. Rapidash also learns Poison Jab, but Megahorn is generally a better choice.

[Counters]

Earthquake from anyone with a respectable Attack stat will KO or cripple Rapidash. Specially defensive Donphan is an excellent counter, as it can shrug off anything Rapidash has to throw at it. Dugtrio is also a good option, but can't switch in on Rapidash safely. Thanks to its ability, however, it can trap and OHKO Rapidash with Earthquake. Slowbro can take on the Standard Pony set, but can be 2HKOed by Hidden Power Grass from the mixed set. Milotic is generally going to be the best answer to any and all Rapidash sets. With its natural bulk and respectable Special Attack, it can switch in on almost any move, take advantage of any status inflicted onto it, and OHKO with STAB Surf. Arcanine can also counter Rapidash well since it resists all of Rapidash's attacks.

Anyone with a STAB Aqua Jet will also make Rapidash think twice about staying in. Azumarill is an excellent candidate for this due to its natural bulk and massive Attack stat. Feraligatr and Kabutops can also take on Rapidash, but the latter should be careful about switching into Hidden Power Grass.

breh · Jul 25, 2010

Having used Rapidash (rather unsuccesfully, unfotunately) a while back, I have a bit of advice. First, in the counters section of Double Status, you may wish to say that it's effectively walled by rock types. While most do not enjoy being burned, they can still do a good deal of damage regardless of the attack drop due to rapidash's crap defence. Omastar can also attack from the special side and takes virtually nothing from its attacks... lol I'm pretty sure burn does more to it than megahorn (though it's rarely seen outside lead)

Mixdash looks OK, but why are you running those weird 176 speed evs? You should either be running max (tie with timid manectric, who you can likely OHKO due to frailty, despite crappy special attack and tie with mismagius.. though you won't be doing anything to it without flare blitz... you can try to sleep it, with a 30 % chance of success if they're running Substitute and max speed) or 216 (which gives 330... outruns all base 100s... Raichu and Nintales are the most important here). EDIT: NVM, screwed up natures when doing calcs for speed xD

Also Wisp should be unslashed IMO... if you use it, you're using something that Arcanine can do better (sure it doesn't get megahorn, but bug coverage is nothing too special and it is really only useful against psychic types like slowbro (who it doesn't hit for much anyway and gets KOd in return by surf), as most dark types have either a secondary typing (spiritomb, houndoom, and Drapion) or poor defenses (absol) while arcanine has strong priority in its place and can use support moves effectively (I.E. toxic for bulky waters))

The main problem that I had when using Rapidash was that it was too easily walled and that its main usefulness was putting things to sleep. Flare Blitz does not hit for all that much, even with Rapidash's good 100 base attack. To put its lackluster attack into perspective, it has the same attacking stats as Vileplume, just switched around.

Also last T/C paragraph:

This basically includes (get rid of it) Floatzel (is Floatzel really worth mentioning? I don't think I've seen more than 10 Floatzel on the ladder), Azumaril, Kabutops are all pokemon that should have no problems countering this set.

Towelie · Jul 25, 2010

The evs (as he explained) are to outspeed base 95s (arcanine, drapion, houndoom, leafeon!, and uxie) and speed ties are gay so thats why speed is maxed, and extra attack is always nice.

Alan · Jul 25, 2010

I'll change Floatzel to Gatr since its more common. I was (still am) tired when i wrote this so i just thought of mons that got aqua jet and floatzel came to mind first lol. i will mention that the first set is walled by rock types. im not sure about unslashing will-o-wisp. it is always nice to slowly wear down an opponent with status but ill leave the final decision up to qc members.

edit: i played with cb rapidash today, its actually good. im not sure how good/bad it is compared to cb arcanine.

with a flash fire boost, which is easy to lure out with leafeon or another grass type, its stab cb flare blitz did 85% to donphan. still stopped by milotic and sr weak but imma add it in. its physical movepool kinda sucks though but gotta do what you gotta do.

would it be worth it to mention a sunny beamer set? I know we probably don't want the DP pages to like adv pages where every grass and fire type that got access to sunny day and solarbeam had a sunny beamer set but its possible. just some things. ill edit in a cb set later today/tonight.

breh · Jul 25, 2010

Again, CB seems to defeat the point because it makes it inferior to arcanine, who has admittely lower speed but higher everything else and a SpA as good as rapidash's attack... meaning it doesn't have to be full physical and can still do damage to rhyperiors with HP grass while still having sky high attack...

Speaking of which, band is Rhyperior setup fodder, isn't it? Unless it gets a lucky burn off Flare Blitz, you just let it get up a sub or +2 speed

Plus sunnybeam seems redundant... on every sunny day team that I've seen there's already one to three grass types ready to lauch off STAB solarbeams from much higher special attack... no point in having it use it, nor using it on a sunny day team IMO... Arcanine is more suited to this task, as on SD teams sleep moves are high in number and have higher accuracy than hypnosis (in the form of sleep powder), which is really Rapidash's calling card. On the flipside, Arcanine offers priority, a stronger flare blitz, and better defenses.

PK Gaming · Jul 26, 2010

Good analysis Alan, but i've got a slight nitpick with your first analysis. You mention that Miltank as a potential base 100 that can potentially outspeed when running the alternative EV spread. Miltanks rarely run max speed so I don't see much point in giving them a mention.

Alan · Jul 26, 2010

Breludicolo said:
Again, CB seems to defeat the point because it makes it inferior to arcanine, who has admittely lower speed but higher everything else and a SpA as good as rapidash's attack... meaning it doesn't have to be full physical and can still do damage to rhyperiors with HP grass while still having sky high attack...

Speaking of which, band is Rhyperior setup fodder, isn't it? Unless it gets a lucky burn off Flare Blitz, you just let it get up a sub or +2 speed

Plus sunnybeam seems redundant... on every sunny day team that I've seen there's already one to three grass types ready to lauch off STAB solarbeams from much higher special attack... no point in having it use it, nor using it on a sunny day team IMO... Arcanine is more suited to this task, as on SD teams sleep moves are high in number and have higher accuracy than hypnosis (in the form of sleep powder), which is really Rapidash's calling card. On the flipside, Arcanine offers priority, a stronger flare blitz, and better defenses.

I have never tried CB Arcanine but I really liked Rapidash. Basically you just hit Megahorn and something takes a lot of damage. I really only used Flare Blitz after I was low on HP. I think I will just list a SunnyBeamer set in OO or something. Iron Tail if, you predict right, will also help keep Rhyperior in check since it does ~45% on average so it can't set up really, but it will fuck you up with Earthquake.

PK Gaming said:
Good analysis Alan, but i've got a slight nitpick with your first analysis. You mention that Miltank as a potential base 100 that can potentially outspeed when running the alternative EV spread. Miltanks rarely run max speed so I don't see much point in giving them a mention.

Yeah I guess. I never really thought about that. lol X[

Alan · Jul 31, 2010

bump.

removed baton pass set cause eo said its not good. i played around with it but i got bored with testing it and it wasnt all too impressive.

also if a QC member wants to look at this. that'd be grand. sry for double post etc.

Eo Ut Mortus · Aug 9, 2010

Okay, first off, I didn't exactly mean to take down the BP set when I said that. That was meant as a pre-test assumption.

Some comments (I haven't tested anything except for the first yet; don't be hasty in adding / deleting sets unless you test them)

Double status:

Focus Sash is pretty counter-productive even if you use the first set as a lead because Rapidash is really fast and because you have Flare Blitz; just drop it.

It's really hard to switch Rapidash in; I'm thinking this set should be used exclusively in the lead position.

So I think the set should look like this (mainly just reordered the moves):

@ Leftovers / Wide Lens
-Hypnosis
-Flare Blitz
-Will-O-Wisp
-Megahorn / Return

Potential other options: Morning Sun and Toxic (haven't tested, will do so). Probably over one of the last options; you have hardly any chance to beat bulky Waters with Megahorn anyway.

Mixed set: This is extremely outdated. Nobody uses Grumpig anymore, for instance. Hidden Power Grass is a 3HKO on Milotic, so it's probably not worth it. Drop.

Baton Pass: This might actually be useful depending on what you're passing to. Plus, not many Pokemon can Baton Pass + Recover

Choice Band / Offensive LO:

Maybe something like this:

-Flare Blitz
-Megahorn
-Return
-Iron Tail / Baton Pass

SunnyBeamer:

-Sunny Day
-Flare Blitz / Fire Blast
-SolarBeam
-Morning Sun

Theorymon, will test.

So in summary:

-drop Focus Sash on the first set
-re-order the moves
-drop mixed set
-more to come

Alan · Aug 10, 2010

I played around with the CB set a little bit (albeit on Pokemon Online) and its pretty good I reckon. I used Double-Edge/Flare Blitz/Megahorn/Iron Tail. Also, the Baton Pass set works well when passing to bulky LO milotic since rapidash brings in bulky waters and milotic `dgf about them.

edit: if anyone cares about the team i used (i know its pretty suck but whatever) here it is:

Ambipom (M) @ Silk Scarf Trait: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- U-turn
- Pursuit
- Low Kick

Rapidash (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Flare Blitz
- Iron Tail
- Megahorn
- Frustration

Blastoise (M) @ Choice Specs
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 64 HP / 192 Spd / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Focus Blast

Leafeon (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Leaf Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Double-Edge
- Leaf Blade
- Quick Attack
- Swords Dance

Donphan (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Atk / 8 Spd / 188 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Assurance
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin

Swellow (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Quick Attack
- Facade

Towelie · Aug 10, 2010

Why is Baton Pass not the first slash on CB.... Scouting your counters is so much more vital than using one of the shittiest attacking types in the game. Ya, it hits Rhyperior, but who wants to be locked into a Steel-type, Non STAB move with shitty accuracy.

Eo Ut Mortus · Aug 11, 2010

Okay so:

Double Status:

-Drop Focus Sash. Useless with Flare Blitz, plus it doesn't help much against any lead.
-I don't think this set should emphasize double status as much. I mean, it's an okay strategy, but seeing as a subset of Rapidash's common switch-ins actually enjoy switching into Will-O-Wisp (Fire-types and Milotic), it's not usually a good idea to blindly Will-O-Wisp without having sufficiently scouted the full team. It also has a few situational uses, like 1 v 1 certain Pokemon, but those don't occur too often. For these reasons, I believe Will-O-Wisp should be the last option, and the set should be renamed (Hypnosis maybe?)
-Slash Morning Sun with Will-O-Wisp.
-Mention Hidden Power Grass in set comments for Rhyperior and Kabutops. Don't think it's really worth it to go mixed, though.
-Mention Toxic for bulky Water-types and Fire-types like Moltres and Arcanine.

[SET]
name: rename the set
move1: Hypnosis
move2: Flare Blitz
move3: Megahorn / Return
move4: Will-O-Wisp / Morning Sun
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers / Wide Lens
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[mention HP Grass in set comments]

Mixed Rapidash:

I probably dismissed this too quickly (Grumpig mention...). It has some merit (HP Grass KOes Rhyperior) but I haven't tested it yet.

Choice Band:

The reason Baton Pass wasn't the first option was because I was just typing out a potential moveset...

Anyway, this set is fine; Baton Pass is very good.

-Flare Blitz
-Return
-Megahorn
-Baton Pass / Iron Tail

Baton Pass:

Actually not that bad. You're not going to end up passing both Agility and Substitute unless your opponent has a bad team / is not good, though.

name: Baton Pass
move1: Agility
move2: Baton Pass
move3: Flare Blitz
move4: Substitute
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

-Emphasize that your recipient must be able to deal with Milotic, who is the #1 threat to this set. I had decent success with BD / Encore Poliwrath, who could Encore Surf and then Belly Drum. Ludicolo sort of worked, too. There are probably other okay choices, including Toxicroak and Sceptile.
-There might be a better EV spread.

Sunny Day
-Mention in OC or something.

Make the OP reflect these changes and after I evaluate the mixed set I will approve this.

Death Phenomeno · Aug 11, 2010

Eo Ut Mortus said:
name: Baton Pass
move1: Agility / Substitute
move2: Baton Pass
move3: Flare Blitz
move4: Hypnosis / Morning Sun

Baton Pass is an illegal move with Rapidash's Egg Moves (which include Hypnosis and Morning Sun), since it's a Purification move from XD.

Eo Ut Mortus · Aug 11, 2010

Shoddy allowed it, but I should've checked the legality seeing as the illegal learnsets aren't fully updated. Thanks. Not sure how effective the set is now, seeing as Morning Sun afforded it quite a bit of longevity.

Flashrider57 · Aug 15, 2010

Props for doing Rapidash! The update looks good. Just one thing: Personally, I think it would be better if there was a unified Teammates section and a unified Counters section to ease things up. Other than that, good job.

Alan · Aug 15, 2010

Flashrider57 said:
Props for doing Rapidash! The update looks good. Just one thing: Personally, I think it would be better if there was a unified Teammates section and a unified Counters section to ease things up. Other than that, good job.

?__? I don't even know how thats relevant. I have to follow the layout given to me, which requires seperate Teammates and Counters sections. Not to mention combining them would be way tl;dr.

Flashrider57 · Aug 15, 2010

Alan said:
?__? I don't even know how thats relevant. I have to follow the layout given to me, which requires seperate Teammates and Counters sections. Not to mention combining them would be way tl;dr.

Oh. I was thinking of the layout that I've seen on analyses, which has a single Teammates section and one for Counters. I'll check it now.

EDIT: Now I see what you're talking about. My mistake.

Alan · Aug 31, 2010

bump its been like 2 weeks since i updated the OP and nobody has looked at this. :(

iDunno · Aug 31, 2010

God this is a long analysis. You may want to think about taking off a set. I did my best in proofreading and by god there was a lot to proofread. Btw you only need one counters and teammates section at the end. Don't let me know I wasted my time and look at these lol.

Alan said:
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/rapidash

[Overview]
At first glance, Rapidash seems like a run-of-the-mill Fire-type, whom is outclassed by Arcanine and Ninetales outclass. This is not entirely true. Rapidash plays rather uniquely. in that it has a few options to support its team,. Its is blazingly fast (pardon the pun) and it has respectable offensive stats. Rapidash's Flash Fire ability also gives it an immunity to Fire-type attacks. One of Rapidash's biggest drawbacks is its limited movepool. However Although this is true, it can still be a valuable asset to any team.

[SET]
name: Standard Horse (I guess???)
move1: Hypnosis
move2: Flare Blitz
move3: Megahorn / Return
move4: Will-O-Wisp / Morning Sun
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers / Wide Lens
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

One of the best assets of Rapidash is its access to Will-O-Wisp and Hypnosis Will-O-Wisp and Hypnosis are two of Rapidash's best assets that which allow it to take out its counters and support its team as well. These two moves pair wonderfully well with its above average base Speed. Flare Blitz is Rapidash's most powerful STAB move, which, and coming off of Rapidash's 100 Attack stat, it is rather powerful is rather powerful with its base 100 Attack stat. Megahorn is unique to Rapidash, when it is compared to other Fire-types. Rapidash is unique from other fire types in that it has Megahorn. While the type coverage seems reduntant, it will can help when predicting a bulky water switch-in (notably Slowbro or Slowking). Especially against Slowbro or Slowking. Return is also an option if you are concerned about opposing Fire-types opposing fire-types are a problem.

[Additional Comments]
A Jolly Nature and 252 Speed EVs will allow Rapidash to speed-tie with Scyther and Mismagius, and 252 Attack EVs will allow Rapidash to do as much damage as possible. If you are less concerned about Mismagius and Scyther, you can opt to run a slightly bulkier spread of 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe. 84 HP will gives you produces an HP Stat of 292, which is a magic Stealth Rock number. and This will increase your overall bulk, by a slight amount. 176 Speed will outpaces all positive natured base 95s. 248 Attack is a result of making HP a magic Stealth Rock number. The rest of the EVs are put into the attack stat. Other Options include Hidden Power Grass, which will allow you to takes out Rhyperior, as well as Kabutops, and Omastar., and Toxic is also a decent option in the last slot as it will allow you to cripple some big counters like Milotic and Moltres.

[Teammates and Counters]

Due to Rapidash's Stealth Rock weakness and Spikes vulnerability, a Rapid Spinner would does well on the same team. Blastoise works well as it can switch in to bulky waters and Rapidash can take the odd Grass-type attack. Blastoise is a good choice with its resistance to water and weakness to Grass that Rapidash covers. Kabutops is also an acceptable spinner if you wish to go for a more offensive approach. In general, Anything that benefits from weakened physical attackers is a great partner for this set. Many set-up sweepers will be are able to take advantage of a weakened team. Sceptile is a great partner for this set. It can come in on the bulky waters that Rapidash lures out, and set up a Swords Dance or a Substitute. Venusaur also works well in being able to do the same thing in this respect. Most other Many Grass-types that require set up can partner work with this set as well, namely Leafeon, and Tangrowth, Sceptile, and Venusaur. Special Walls such as Milotic and to a lesser extent, Chansey, to a lesser extent, also work well because they benefit from burned physical attackers.

Counters for this set are essentially the same as the ones for every other Fire-type Pokemon.: Fast Earthquake users and strong Water-types. Aqua Jet Azumaril can counter this set, providing it doesn't get burned from Will-O-Wisp. Fire-types can do a pretty good job of taking on this set, being immune to Will-O-Wisp and Flare Blitz and resisting Megahorn with their immunity to burn and their resistances to Fire and Bug attacks, but however they should be weary of Hypnosis. Swellow can take advantage of this set by abusing the burn status and actually make use of it via its Guts ability. Milotic is also a great counter for this set, especially RestTalk variants, who gain a Defense boost thanks to Marvel Scale and can Rest off the Burn. Milotic is a great counter to this set because of Marvel Scale, which lets the burn from Will-O-Wisp boost its Defense stat. RestTalk variants do especially well because they can get rid of the burn with Rest. Rock-type Pokemon can also counter this set 100%. While except most of them do not necessarily enjoy a Burn., Despite this, Omastar can take the burn and KO back from the special side.

[SET]
name: Mix Rapidash
move1: Fire Blast
move2: Hidden Power Grass
move3: Megahorn
move4: Hypnosis / Will-O-Wisp
ability: Flash Fire
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 80 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe

Rapidash's respectable average base 80 Special Attack and average respectable base 100 Attack combined with its high Speed mean makes it is an perfectly capable of running an effiecient efficient mixed set attacker. Fire Blast is its most powerful Special attack., Hidden Power Grass will hits bulky waters for as much as possible Super Effective damage, and will OHKOing Quagsire., and Megahorn can take out would-be walls, like Slowking, and Grumpig,who can take on sponge Fire Blasts and Hidden Power Grasses all day long. Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp allows Rapidash to cripple its counters. Naive is a the preferred nature because you are able to it warrants running more EVs in attack, as well as allowing him to keep some more retaining physical defense, which can pay off if Will-O-Wisp is the final move. Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp will allow you to cripple counters.

[Additional Comments]
If you don't wish to take away from Rapidash's defenses, A Mild nature is useable an option if you do not wish to take away from Rapidash's defenses, but it requires and an EV Spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe is the recommended EV spread. With this alternate EV spread, you will lose out on some important 2HKO's, such as on Slowking, and Grumpig, and even less to Slowbro. Morning Sun is a possible option over Will-O-Wisp or Hypnosis, if you wish to prolong Rapidash's life longevity. Thats Those are really the only other options for this set, this poor guy really has a small movepool.

[Teammates and Counters]
Rapidash has a Stealth Rock weakness which will limit its ability to switch in, so a rapid spinner will benefit this set greatly. Blastoise and Kabutops are good options. Strong Grass-types such as Sceptile, Venusaur, Leafeon and company can all benefit from this because of Rapidash's tendency to lure out bulky waters allowing them essentially a free attack or turn of set up. Other Fire-types can also benefit from this because of the ability of this set to weaken opposing water pokemon. (See above counters section)

As with the above set, the same counters apply. Fast or sturdy Earthquakers are no match for this set. Specially Defensive Donphan can survive a Hidden Power Grass and Fire Blast and easily OHKO back with Earthquake, however Donphan will not be able to switch in either of the aformentioned attacks. Milotic fears nothing from this set and can strick back with a Super Effective Surf or Hydro Pump. Azumaril or Feraligatr can switch in and take Rapidash out with an Aqua Jet. Dugtrio can also be used to revenge kill this set, but cannot really switch in to anything.(not proofreading the same paragraph twice)

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move1: Flare Blitz
move2: Megahorn
move3: Double-Edge
move4: Baton Pass / Iron Tail
item: Choice Band
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

At first, this set may seem odd,: a Choice Band Pokemon with a Stealth Rock weakness and a fairly limited movepool is not going to be the first candidate for a choice set in most peoples minds cases. It also appears to be outclassed by Arcanine. However, with access to Baton Pass, it Rapidash can reliably scout for enemy Ground-types such as Dugtrio, which is something Arcanine cannot do. Megahorn is also a pretty neat move,. coming With a whopping base 120 base power it will can do quite a chunk of damage to most Water-type switch ins, and and also dents Houndoom pretty well. Iron Tail my seem like a strange option, an unSTAB move with an underpowered attacking type, but it will do a good amount to Kabutops/Omastar switch ins and Rhyperior as well as other Rock-types.FAIL

[Additional Comments]
The EVs themselves are pretty straightforward,: Max Attack and max Speed to hit as hard and as fast as possible. The choice between Baton Pass and Iron Tail in the last slot is dependent on how you wish to play Rapidash, if you want to play conservatively and use it to scout your opponent, then Baton Pass is the ideal option, but if you wish to be more aggressive, then Iron Tail is an excellent fail choice. Jolly or Adamant is also a tougher decision, The choice between a Jolly and Adamant nature is a tough one. An Adamant Iron Tail coming from Adamant Rapidash has a chance to 2HKO Rhyperior, whereas one from Jolly Rapidash will can not,. but Jolly will lets you Rapidash speed tie with max Speed Mismagius and Scyther, though.

Quick Attack is also a decent option if you wish to pick off weakened faster threats or pinch berry users, but it doesn't have much use outside of that. Double Kick is also a somewhat viable option, however but it will give you that gives Rapidash 2 attacks that Mismagius can switch in on and set up on.

[Teammates and Counters]
As with every other Stealth Rock weak pokemon in the game, a Rapid Spinner is appreciated greatly, especially with a Choice Set where switching will be more common. Blastoise is a decent option since it can take on most water-types that Rapidash lures in, Donphan is also a decent choice. Kabutops is a good option if you want a more offensive approach. Leafeon is a good teammate because it can set force out Rhyperior and get a free Swords Dance in. Offensive Milotic is also a good partner since it can take advantage of Water-types being lured in. As far as counters go, Stealth Rock will wear down Rapidash very fast as will sand or hail being in play. Spikes further bring down Rapidash's miniscule HP stat and many common spikers can get them up against Rapidash. Miltoic fears nothing in this set bar a Choice Band Double-Edge, but it can shrug it off with Recover. Feraligatr can also set up on this set or at the very worst switch it out. Regirock and Rhyperior can also cause problems for this set being able to set up if Rapidash is using the incorrect move.(Once again not bothering)

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move1: Agility
move2: Baton Pass
move3: Flare Blitz
move4: Substitute
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Thanks to Pokemon XD Rapidash got gets the move Baton Pass, which is nifty for helping out any team in need of an Agility boost as well as scouting for counters. With an agility Boost +2 from Agility, nothing will outspeeds Rapidash allowing it to fire off its baton pass with near impunity incredible speed. Generally speaking, you will not be passing won't be able to pass both Substitute and Agility at the same time, as Rapidash is rather frail and its substitutes will are broken easily be broken. Flare Blitz will gives Rapidash some sort of an attack option so it cannot be stopped by Taunt Mismagus or Drapion and as well as other Taunters. The move that is chosen to be Baton Passed is entirely dependent on the recipient.

[Additional Comments]
There really are no other options for Rapidash, Rapidash honestly has no other options for this set. You could go opt for a Timid nature and run Fire Blast instead of Flare Blitz, but Flare Blitz is almost always a better option because of its accuracy. Unfortunately, you cannot use Morning Sun or Hypnosis with Baton Pass on Rapidash because of breeding conflictions limitations and Baton Pass only being available on XD.

Leftovers is an excellent item choice, but if you wish to take full advantage of Baton Pass, a Pinch Berry may be equipped to pass an extra boost,. as Using Agility and then Substituting down to activate the a pinch berry is not a terrible strategy. This strategy should be used late game though after you know your opponent's team, as it only has one shot to work and works well after you know your opponents team.

[Teammates and Counters]
Offensive water types with some bulk behind them are excellent recipients because of how Rapidash lures out Water-types from the opponent. Milotic is a great choice because of its natural bulk and strong attacking moves. Azumarill is also a good option if you are looking for a physical recipient. Leafeon, Venusaur, Tangrowth and pretty much any other offensive Grass-type is also a good option since they resist the impending Surf and will outspeed and possibly OHKO said Water-type.

Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes all hinder Rapidash's attempts to Baton Pass, and its ability to pass multiple times per match. So a Rapid Spinner would be very welcome on any team. Claydol is a decent option as it resists all these but it shares a common weakness with Rapidash in water moves. Blastoise is a pretty solid option as well because of its decent bulk and resistance to Water-type moves. Donphan and Hitmontop can also be used, but their low special bulk hurts them against incoming water moves.(omg same thing)

PHazer and Hazers alike can shut down this set and strategy. The most threatening of which is Milotic who can take on Flare Blitz and OHKO back with Surf. Aqua Jet users such as Kabutops and Azumaril prevent anything from being passed with their priority to bypass speed boosts. Bulky Taunt users such as Drapion also mess up this set, preventing Baton Pass from being used.

[Team Options]
The best partners that will benefit from Rapidash's presence are set up Grass-types or Electric-types, due to its ability to lure in Water- and Rock-type opponents. Venusaur is an excellent candidate for this due to its excellent coverage and access to Swords Dance. Leafeon is also a good partner with its access to Swords Dance and high base Attack stat. Fire-type teammates will also benefit late game from having Mixed Rapidash on their team, to wear down counters and let them sweep better.

The best teammates for Rapidash are bulky Water-types and Grass-types. A defensive Ludicolo is almost the perfect partner, resisting Rapidash's Ground- and Water-type weakness, but should be careful about opposing Stone Edges or Rock Slides. Blastoise Donphan is also a good partner for Rapidash because of their ability to take hits well and spin away entry Hazards. Specs Blastoise also works well with Rapidash to help clear away Water-types and Rock-types with Hidden Power [Grass] and Hydro Pump, respectively.

[Other Options]
There isn't much elseRapidash can do that Arcanine or Ninetales can't do better. As with most other Fire-types, Rapidash is capable of running a SunnyBeamer set, but generally speaking, there are other Fire-types or Grass-types that can do this better. Rapidash also has access to Bounce and Toxic if you care to make a Toxic stalling set or want to try to spread paralysis, but its Stealth Rock weakness really mitigates switch-ins in a metagame where Rhyperior and Steelix are common limits the amount of times Rapidash can switch in. It Rapidash also learns Poison Jab, if you want to use it, but Megahorn is generally a the better choice in most cases.

[Counters]
Earthquake from anything with a respectable Attack stat will KO or cripple Rapidash. Special Defense Donphan is an excellent choice as it can shrug off anything Rapidash has to throw at it. Dugtrio is also a good option, but it can't really switch in. Thanks to its ability, however, it will be able to trap and OHKO with Earthquake. Slowbro can take on the Dual Status set, but can be 2HKO'd by Hidden Power Grass in the mixed set. Milotic is generally going to be your best answer to any and all Rapidash sets. With its natural bulk and respectable Special Attack, it can switch in on almost anything, take advantage of any status infliced onto it, and OHKO with a STAB Surf. Arcanine can also counter Rapidash well with either of its abilities, since it resists all of its attacks, but can't really do much back.(saaaaame thiiing)

Anything with a STAB Aqua Jet will also make Rapidash think twice about staying in. Azumaril is an excellent candidate for this, due to its natural bulk and its ability which further boosts its attack stat. Feraligatr and Kabutops can also take on Rapidash, but the latter should be careful about switching into Hidden Power Grass.(uuuugh you only needed one counters section)

Alan · Sep 15, 2010

hi

applied changes/bump. thanks.

Bluewind · Sep 17, 2010

Seems good to go (acutally, it's been a while since it was already good to go). Anyways:

QC Approved 1/2

Fuchsia because real men use fuchsia.

breh · Sep 17, 2010

Yeah this is good enough due to the new "pokemon do what they do best" rule... I'm surprised this isn't in AA yet..

Anyway, maybe add toxic somewhere? I know all pokemon have it, but pokemon that draw in milotic (I.E. pretty much every fire type) are great users of it ( I mean that it shouldn't be associated with the terrible non-stab bounce but should instead be used on its own)

Heysup · Sep 19, 2010

approved 2/2

uragg · Sep 21, 2010

removals in red
additions in blue
some comments in parentheses

[Overview]
At first glance, Rapidash may seem like a run-of-the-mill Fire-type, who is outclassed by Arcanine and Ninetales., but this is not entirely true. Rapidash plays rather uniquely. It has a few support options to support its team, it's blazingly fast Speed (pardon the pun), an immunity to Fire-type attacks thanks to its Flash Fire ability, and it has respectable offensive stats. Flash Fire ability also gives it an immunity to Fire-type attacks. One of Despite Rapidash's biggest drawbacks is its limited movepool. However, it can still be a valuable asset to any team.

[SET]
name: Standard Pony
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Megahorn / Return
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Morning Sun
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers / Wide Lens
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
 One of the Rapidash's best assets of Rapidash is its access to Will-O-Wisp and Hypnosis, which allows it to take out its counters and support its team as well. These two moves pair wonderfully with its above average base Speed. Flare Blitz is Rapidash's most powerful strongest STAB move, which and is rather powerful with its base 100 Attack stat. Megahorn is unique to differentiates Rapidash, when it is compared to from other Fire-types. While the type coverage may seem redundant, Megahorn will helps against when predicting a bulky Water-type switch-ins,. especially against Slowbro and Slowking. Return is also an option if you are concerned about opposing Fire-types.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs will allow Rapidash to speed-tie with Scyther and Mismagius, while 252 Attack EVs let Rapidash deal as much damage as possible. If you are less concerned about Mismagius and Scyther, you can opt to run a slightly bulkier spread of 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe. 84 HP EVs will give Rapidash an HP Stat of 292, which is a magic Stealth Rock number. allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock an extra time and will slightly increasing its overall bulk, by a slight amount. 176 Speed EVs mean that Rapidash will outpace all positive natured base 95s. 248 Attack is a result of making HP a magic Stealth Rock number The rest of the EVs are placed into Attack. Other options include Hidden Power Grass, which will allow Rapidash to take out Rhyperior, as well as Kabutops, and Omastar. Toxic is also a decent option in the last slot, as it allows Rapidash to cripple some hard counters like Milotic and Moltres.

Due to Rapidash's Stealth Rock weakness and Spikes vulnerability, a Rapid Spinner would do well as a teammate. Blastoise works well as it can switch into bulky Water-types; in return, Rapidash can take the odd Grass-type attack aimed at Blastoise. Kabutops is also an acceptable spinner if you wish to go for a more offensive approach. In general, anything that benefits from weakened physical attackers is a great partner for this set. Many set-up sweepers will be able to take advantage of a weakened team. (I don't feel like this is necessary and it seems out of place/awkward here) Sceptile and Venusaur are great partners for this set., as they can come in on the bulky Water-types that Rapidash lures out, and set up with Swords Dance or a Substitute. Venusaur also works well in being able to do the same thing in this respect. Most Other Grass-types such as Leafeon and Tangrowth that require set up can work with this set as well, namely Leafeon, and Tangrowth. Special walls such as Milotic and, to a lesser extent, Chansey also benefit from burned physical attackers.

The counters for this set are essentially the same as the counters for every other Fire-type Pokemon.: fast Earthquake users and strong Water-types. Aqua Jet Azumarill can counter this set, providing it doesn't get burned. Fire-types can do a pretty good job of taking on this set, since they are immune to Will-O-Wisp and Flare Blitz and resist Flare Blitz and Megahorn,. However,they should be wary of Hypnosis. Swellow can take advantage of this set by abusing the burn status and actually make use of it via its Guts ability. (I don't think Swellow is going to try to switch in on Rapidash) Milotic is also a great counter for this set,; especially RestTalk variants, work especially well since they can Rest off the burn who gain a Defense boost thanks to Marvel Scale and can Rest off the Burn. Rock-type Pokemon can also counter this set 100%. While most of them do not necessarily enjoy being burned, Omastar can take the burn and KO back from the special side.

[SET]
name: Mixed Rapidash
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Megahorn
move 4: Hypnosis / Will-O-Wisp
ability: Flash Fire
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 80 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Rapidash's respectable base 80 Special Attack, and average base 100 Attack, and combined with its high base 105 Speed mean that it is perfectly capable of running an efficient mixed set. Fire Blast is its most powerful special attack., Hidden Power Grass hits bulky Water-types for decent damage as much as possible, and will OHKOes Quagsire. Megahorn can take out would-be walls, such as Slowking, and Grumpig, who can take on Fire Blast and Hidden Power Grass all day long. Naive is the preferred nature because it allows Rapidash are able to run more EVs in Attack while as well as allowing him to maintaining some more physical bulk, which can pay off if you use Will-O-Wisp is as the final move. Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp can both fit in the last slot, as they will allow Rapidash to cripple its counters.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
 If you don't wish to take away from Rapidash's Special Defense, a Mild nature is useable and with a recommended EV spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe is the recommended EV spread. With this alternate EV spread, however, you will lose out on some important 2HKOs, such as Slowking, and Grumpig, and even less to Slowbro. Morning Sun is a possible option over Will-O-Wisp or Hypnosis, if you wish to prolong Rapidash's longevity. Those are really the only other options for this set,; this poor horse really has a small movepool.

Rapidash's has a Stealth Rock weakness which will limits its ability to switch in, so a Rapid Spinner such as Kabutops or Blastoise will benefit this set greatly. Blastoise and Kabutops are good options. Strong Grass-types such as Sceptile, Venusaur, Leafeon, and company can all benefit from this because of Rapidash's tendency to lure out bulky Water-types, allowing them essentially getting a free turn to attack or turn of set up. Other Fire-types can also benefit from this set because of the its ability of this set to weaken opposing Water-types pokemon.

The counters for the above set apply for this set as well As with the above set, the same counters apply. Fast or sturdy Earthquakers are no match for this set. Specially defensive Donphan can survive a Hidden Power Grass or a Fire Blast and easily OHKO back with Earthquake, however Donphan will not be able to but cannot switch in on either of the aformentioned attacks. Milotic fears nothing from this set and can strike back with a super effective Surf or Hydro Pump. Azumarill and Feraligatr can switch in and take Rapidash out with an Aqua Jet. Dugtrio can also be used to revenge kill this set, but cannot really switch in on anything.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Baton Pass / Iron Tail
item: Choice Band
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
At first, this set may seem odd,:; in most people's minds, a Choice Band Pokemon with a Stealth Rock weakness and a fairly limited movepool is not going to be the first candidate for a choice set in most peoples minds. It also Rapidash appears to be outclassed by Arcanine, but it can scout the opponent's switch-in with Baton Pass, however, with access to Baton Pass, it can reliably scout for enemy Ground-types such as Dugtrio, something Arcanine cannot do. Megahorn is also a pretty neat move,.; coming with a whopping base 120 Base Power, it will do quite a chunk of damage to most Water-type switch ins, and dent Houndoom pretty well. Iron Tail may seem like a strange option, as it lacks STAB and has poor coverage. an unSTAB move with an underpowered attacking type, However, it will do a good amount to Kabutops, Omastar, switch ins and Rhyperior, and as well as other Rock-types.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
The EVs themselves are pretty straightforward,: max Attack and max Speed to hit as hard and as fast as possible. The choice between Baton Pass and Iron Tail in the last slot is dependent on how you wish to play Rapidash,. If you want to play conservatively and use it to scout your opponent, then Baton Pass is an ideal option. However, if you wish to be more aggressive, then Iron Tail is an excellent choice. Choosing between a Jolly or an Adamant nature is also a tough decision,;an Adamant nature gives Iron Tail has a chance to 2HKO Rhyperior, whereas Jolly will not, but a Jolly nature will let you speed tie with max Speed Mismagius and Scyther.

Quick Attack is also a decent option if you wish to pick off weakened, faster threats and pinch Berry users, but it doesn't have much use outside of that. Double Kick is also a somewhat viable option, but using it will means thatgive you 2 attacks that Mismagius can switch in on two of Rapidash's attacks for free and proceed to and set up on.

As with every other Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon in the game, a Rapid Spinner for Rapidash is greatly appreciatedgreatly,. This is especially true with a Choice set since where switching will be more common. Blastoise is a decent option since it can take on most Water-types that Rapidash lures in,. Donphan is also a good choice, as it can switch in on the bulky Rock-types that come in on Rapidash. Kabutops is a good option if you want a more offensive approach. Leafeon is a good teammate because it can set force out come in on Rhyperior and get a free Swords Dance on the switch. Offensive Milotic is also a good partner since it can take advantage of the Water-types being that Rapidash lures in. As far as counters go, Stealth Rock will wear down Rapidash very fast, as will sand or hail damage being in play. Spikes further bring down Rapidash's miniscule HP stat; this problem is compounded by the fact that and many common Spikers can get them set up on Rapidash. Milotic fears nothing in this set bar a Choice Band Double-Edge, but it can and easily shrugs it off any damage with Recover. Feraligatr can also set up on this set or at the very worst switch and force it out. Regirock and Rhyperior can also cause problems for this set, as they are able to set up if Rapidash is using the incorrect an ineffective move.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Substitute
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Pokemon XD, Rapidash got the move can use Baton Pass to pass boosts to its teammates or to scout , which is nifty for helping out any teamas well as scouting for counters. After an Agility boost, nothing will outspeed Rapidash, allowing it to fire off its Baton Pass with incredible speed. Generally speaking, Rapidash will not be able to pass both Substitute and Agility at the same time, as it is rather frail and its Substitutes will easily be broken. Flare Blitz gives Rapidash some sort of an attack so it cannot be stopped by Taunt Mismagus or Drapion and other Taunters. The move that is chosen to be Baton Passed is entirely dependent on the recipient.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
There really are no other options for Rapidash,. You could go with a Timid nature and run Fire Blast instead of Flare Blitz, but Flare Blitz is almost always a better option because of its accuracy. Unfortunately, you cannot use Morning Sun or Hypnosis with Baton Pass on Rapidash because of breeding conflictions and stemming from the fact that Baton Pass is only being available on XD.

Leftovers is an excellent item choice , but, if you wish to take full advantage of Baton Pass, a pinch Berry may be equipped to pass an extra boost,. as To activate the Berry safely, Rapidash can first use Agility and then Substitute down to 25% health activate a berry is not a terrible strategy. The pinch Berry strategy should be used late game though, as it only has one shot to work and works better when you know your opponents team.

Offensive Water-types with some bulk behind them are excellent recipients because of Rapidash's tendency to lure out because of how lures out Water-types from the opponent. Milotic is a great choice because of its natural bulk and strong attacking moves. Azumarill is also a good option, if you are looking for a physical recipient. Leafeon, Venusaur, Tangrowth, and pretty much any other offensive Grass-type are also a good options since they resist can take the impending Surf Water-type attacks aimed and Blastoise and will proceed to outspeed and possibly OHKO said Water-type.

Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes all hinder Rapidash's attempts to Baton Pass effectively, and its ability to pass multiple times per match. so a Rapid Spinner would be very welcome on any team. Claydol is a decent option as it resists Stealth Rock and is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, all these but it shares a common Water-type weakness with Rapidash in water moves. Blastoise is a pretty solid option as well because of its decent bulk and resistance to Water-type moves. Donphan and Hitmontop can also be used, but their low special bulk leaves them vulnerable against bulky Water-typeshurts them against incoming water moves.

Phazers and Hazers alike can shut down this set and strategy. The most threatening of these Pokemon is Milotic, who can take on Flare Blitz and OHKO back with Surf. Aqua Jet users such as Kabutops and Azumarill can OHKO Rapidash before it can pass its boosts prevent anything from being passed with their priority to bypass speed boosts. Bulky Taunt users such as Drapion also mess up this set, by preventing Rapidash from using Baton Pass from being used.

[Team Options]
Grass- and Electric-types have excellent offensive synergy with Rapidash, setting up on the Water- and Rock-types that wall Rapidash.The best partners that will benefit from Rapidash's presence are set up Grass-types or Electric-types, due to its ability to lure in Water- and Rock-type opponents. Venusaur is an excellent candidate for this due to its excellent coverage and access to Swords Dance. Leafeon is also a good partner, with its access to Swords Dance and high base Attack stat. Fire-type teammates will also benefit late game from having Mixed Rapidash can help Fire-type sweepers by wearing down their counters, allowing them to sweep more easily late game on their team, to wear down counters and let them sweep better.

The best teammates for Rapidash are bulky Water- and Grass-types. A defensive Ludicolo is almost the perfect partner, resisting Rapidash's Ground- and Water-type weaknesses, but should be careful about opposing switching into Stone Edge or Rock Slide. Blastoise and Donphan are also a good partners for Rapidash because of their ability to take hits well and spin away entry hazards. Specs Blastoise also works well with Rapidash to help clear away Water- and Rock-types with Hidden Power Grass and Hydro Pump, respectively.

[Other Options]
There isn't much else Rapidash can do that Arcanine or Ninetales can't do. As with most other Fire-types, Rapidash is capable of running a SunnyBeamer set, but generally speaking, there are other Fire-types or Grass-types that can generally do this better. Rapidash also has access to Bounce and Toxic if you care to make for spreading paralysis or a Toxic stalling set or want to try to spread paralysis, respectively. but its Stealth Rock weakness really mitigates switch-ins in a metagame where Rhyperior and Steelix are common. (uh...this sentence doesn't really make much sense lol. I tried to rewrite it for what I think you were trying to say, change it around if you want.) However, these sets are not particularly effective since Rapidash is forced out rather easily and cannot afford to switch in many times due to its Stealth Rock weakness. It also learns Poison Jab, if you want to use it, but Megahorn is generally a better choice.

[Counters]
Earthquake from anything with a respectable Attack stat will KO or cripple Rapidash. Specially defensive Donphan is an excellent counter, as it can shrug off anything Rapidash has to throw at it. Dugtrio is also a good option, but it can't really switch in. Thanks to its ability, however, it will be able to trap and OHKO Rapidash with Earthquake. Slowbro can take on the Standard Pony set, but can be 2HKOed by Hidden Power Grass from the mixed set. Milotic is generally going to be the best answer to any and all Rapidash sets. With its natural bulk and respectable Special Attack, it can switch in on almost anything, take advantage of any status inflicted onto it, and OHKO with a STAB Surf. Arcanine can also counter Rapidash well with either of its abilities, since it resists all of Rapidash's attacks, but can't really do much back (ExtremeSpeed does pretty well).

Anything with a STAB Aqua Jet will also make Rapidash think twice about staying in. Azumarill is an excellent candidate for this, due to its natural bulk and its ability which further boosts its massive Attack stat. Feraligatr and Kabutops can also take on Rapidash, but the latter should be careful about switching into Hidden Power Grass.

good writeup alan, but a proofread wouldn't hurt before you post the set =).

GP CHECK 1/2

STAMPED

Snorlaxe · Sep 24, 2010

GP CHECK 2/2

pink is grammar edits
blue is prose edits

[Overview]
At first glance, Rapidash may seem like a run-of-the-mill Fire-type who is outclassed by Arcanine and Ninetales, but this is not entirely true. Rapidash plays rather uniquely. It has a few support options, blazingly fast Speed, an immunity to Fire-type attacks thanks to its Flash Fire ability, and respectable offensive stats. Despite Rapidash's limited movepool, it can still be a valuable asset to any team.

[SET]
name: Standard Pony
move 1: Hypnosis
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Megahorn / Return
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Morning Sun
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers / Wide Lens
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
One of Rapidash's best assets is its access to Will-O-Wisp and Hypnosis, which allows it to take out its counters and support its team. These two moves pair wonderfully with Rapidash's above average Speed. Flare Blitz is Rapidash's strongest STAB move, and coming off of Rapidash's base 100 Attack stat, will hurt anyone who doesn't resist it. Megahorn differentiates Rapidash from other Fire-types. While the type coverage may seem redundant, Megahorn helps against bulky Water-type switch-ins, especially Slowbro and Slowking. Return is also an option if you are concerned about opposing Fire-types.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
A Jolly nature and 252 Speed EVs allow Rapidash to speed tie with Scyther and Mismagius, while 252 Attack EVs let Rapidash deal as much damage as possible. If you aren't concerned about Mismagius and Scyther, you can opt to run a slightly bulkier spread of 84 HP / 248 Atk / 176 Spe. 84 HP EVs give Rapidash 292 HP, allowing it to switch into Stealth Rock an extra time and slightly increase its overall bulk. 176 Speed EVs allow Rapidash to outpace all positive natured base 95s. The rest of the EVs are placed into Attack. Other options include Hidden Power Grass, which allows Rapidash to take out Rhyperior, Kabutops, and Omastar. Toxic is also a decent option in the last slot, as it allows Rapidash to cripple some hard counters like Milotic and Moltres.

Due to Rapidash's Stealth Rock weakness and Spikes vulnerability, a Rapid Spinner would do well as a teammate. Blastoise works well as it can switch into bulky Water-types; in return, Rapidash can take the odd Grass-type attack aimed at Blastoise. Kabutops is also an acceptable spinner if you wish to go for a more offensive approach. In general, anyone who benefits from weakened physical attackers is a great partner for this set. Sceptile and Venusaur are good teammates for Rapidash, as they can come in on the bulky Water-types who Rapidash lures out and set up with Swords Dance or Substitute. Other Grass-types, such as Leafeon and Tangrowth, can work with this set as well. Special walls such as Milotic and, to a lesser extent, Chansey benefit from burned physical attackers.

The counters for this set are essentially the same as the counters for every other Fire-type Pokemon: fast Earthquake users and strong Water-types. Aqua Jet Azumarill can counter this set, provided it doesn't get burned. Fire-types can do a pretty good job of taking on this set since they are immune to Will-O-Wisp and resist Flare Blitz and Megahorn. However, they should be wary of Hypnosis. Milotic is a great counter for this set; RestTalk variants work especially well since they can Rest off the burn inflicted by Will-O-Wisp. Rock-type Pokemon can also counter this set with ease. While most of them do not enjoy being burned, Omastar can take the burn and KO from the special side.

[SET]
name: Mixed Rapidash
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Megahorn
move 4: Hypnosis / Will-O-Wisp
ability: Flash Fire
item: Life Orb
nature: Naive
evs: 80 Atk / 252 SpA / 176 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Rapidash's respectable base 80 Special Attack, average base 100 Attack, and high base 105 Speed mean that it is perfectly capable of running an efficient mixed set. Fire Blast is Rapidash's most powerful special attack, while Hidden Power Grass hits bulky Water-types for decent damage and OHKOes Quagsire. Megahorn takes out would-be walls, such as Slowking and Grumpig, who can take on Fire Blast and Hidden Power Grass without breaking a sweat. Naive is the preferred nature because it allows Rapidash to run more EVs in Attack while maintaining some more physical bulk, which can pay off if you use Will-O-Wisp as the final move. Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp can both fit in the last slot, as they allow Rapidash to cripple its counters.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
If you don't wish to take away from Rapidash's Special Defense, a Mild nature is useable with an EV spread of 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe. With this alternate EV spread, however, you will lose out on some important 2HKOs, such as on Slowking and Grumpig. Morning Sun is a possible option over Will-O-Wisp or Hypnosis if you wish to increase Rapidash's longevity. Those are really the only other options for this set; poor Rapidash was cursed with an extremely small movepool.

Rapidash's Stealth Rock weakness limits its ability to switch in, so a Rapid Spinner such as Kabutops or Blastoise will benefit this set greatly. Strong Grass-types such as Sceptile, Venusaur, Leafeon, and company can all benefit from Rapidash's tendency to lure out bulky Water-types, essentially getting a free turn to attack or set up. Other Fire-types can also benefit from this set because of its ability to weaken opposing Water-types.

The counters for the above set apply for this set as well. Specially defensive Donphan can survive a Hidden Power Grass or Fire Blast and easily OHKO back with Earthquake, but cannot switch in on either of the aformentioned attacks, as it will be 2HKOed. Milotic fears nothing from this set and can strike back with a super effective Surf or Hydro Pump. Azumarill and Feraligatr can switch in and take Rapidash out with Aqua Jet. Dugtrio can also be used to revenge kill this set, but cannot switch in on any of Rapidash's moves.

[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Megahorn
move 3: Double-Edge
move 4: Baton Pass / Iron Tail
item: Choice Band
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
At first, this set may seem odd; in most people's minds, a Pokemon with a Stealth Rock weakness and a fairly limited movepool is not going to be the first candidate for a choice set. Rapidash appears to be outclassed by Arcanine, but it can scout the opponent's switch-in with Baton Pass, something Arcanine cannot do. Megahorn is also a pretty neat move; with a whopping 120 Base Power, it will deal a chunk of damage to most Water-type switch-ins and dent Houndoom as well. Iron Tail may seem like a strange option, as it lacks STAB and has poor coverage. However, it will do a good amount of damage to Kabutops, Omastar, Rhyperior, and other Rock-types.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
The EVs are pretty straightforward: max Attack and max Speed to hit as hard and as fast as possible. The choice between Baton Pass and Iron Tail in the last slot is dependent on how you wish to play Rapidash. If you want to play conservatively and use Rapidash to scout your opponent's team, then Baton Pass is an ideal option. However, if you wish to be more aggressive, then Iron Tail is an excellent choice. Choosing between a Jolly or an Adamant nature is also a tough decision; an Adamant nature gives Iron Tail a chance to 2HKO Rhyperior, but a Jolly nature will let Rapidash speed tie with max Speed Mismagius and Scyther.

Quick Attack is also a decent option if you wish to pick off weakened, faster threats and pinch Berry users, but doesn't have much use outside of that. Double Kick is also a somewhat viable option, but using it means that Mismagius can switch in on two of Rapidash's attacks for free and proceed to set up.

As with every other Stealth Rock-weak Pokemon in the game, a Rapid Spinner makes a wonderful teammate for Rapidash. This is especially true with a Choice set since switching will be more common. Blastoise is a decent option since it can take on most Water-types who Rapidash lures in. Donphan is also a good choice, as it can switch in on the bulky Rock-types who come in on Rapidash. Kabutops is a good option if you want a more offensive approach. Leafeon is a good teammate because it can come in on Rhyperior and get a free Swords Dance on the switch. Offensive Milotic is also a good partner since it can take advantage of the Water-types who Rapidash lures in. As far as counters go, Stealth Rock will wear down Rapidash very quickly, as will sandstorm or hail damage. Spikes further bring down Rapidash's miniscule HP stat; this problem is compounded by the fact that many common Spikes users can set up on Rapidash. Milotic fears nothing on this set and easily shrugs off any damage with Recover. Feraligatr can also set up on this set and force it out. Regirock and Rhyperior can cause problems for this set, as they are able to set up if Rapidash is using an ineffective move.

[SET]
name: Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Flare Blitz
move 4: Substitute
ability: Flash Fire
item: Leftovers
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to Pokemon XD, Rapidash can use Baton Pass to pass boosts to its teammates or to scout for counters. After an Agility boost, nobody will outspeed Rapidash, allowing it to execute its Baton Pass with incredible speed. Generally speaking, Rapidash will not be able to pass both Substitute and Agility, as it is rather frail and its Substitutes will easily be broken. Flare Blitz gives Rapidash some sort of attack so it cannot be shut down by Taunt users.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
There really are no other options for Rapidash. You could go with a Timid nature and Fire Blast instead of Flare Blitz, but Flare Blitz is almost always a better option because of its higher accuracy. Unfortunately, you cannot use Morning Sun or Hypnosis with Baton Pass on Rapidash because of breeding conflictions stemming from the fact that Baton Pass is only available on XD.

Leftovers is an excellent item choice, but if you wish to take full advantage of Baton Pass, a pinch Berry may be equipped to pass an extra boost. To activate the Berry safely, Rapidash can first use Agility, and then Substitute down to 25% health. The pinch Berry strategy should be used late-game, however, as it only has one shot to work and is more successful when you know your opponent's team.

Bulky, offensive Water-types are excellent recipients because of Rapidash's tendency to lure out Water-types. Milotic is a great choice because of its natural bulk and strong attacking moves. Azumarill is also a good option if you are looking for a physical recipient. Leafeon, Venusaur, Tangrowth, and basically any other offensive Grass-type are also good options since they can take the Water-type attacks aimed at Rapidash and proceed to outspeed and possibly OHKO said Water-type.

Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes all hinder Rapidash's attempts to Baton Pass effectively, so a Rapid Spinner would be a very welcome teammate. Claydol is a decent option as it resists Stealth Rock and is immune to Spikes and Toxic Spikes, but shares a Water-type weakness with Rapidash. Blastoise is a pretty solid option as well because of its decent bulk and resistance to Water-type moves. Donphan and Hitmontop can also be used, but their poor special bulk leaves them vulnerable against bulky Water-types.

Phazers and Hazers shut down this set and strategy. The most threatening of these Pokemon is Milotic, who can take Rapidash's Flare Blitz and OHKO back with Surf. Aqua Jet users, such as Kabutops and Azumarill, can OHKO Rapidash before it can pass its boosts. Bulky Taunt users such as Drapion also mess up this set by preventing Rapidash from using Baton Pass.

[Team Options]
Grass- and Electric-types have excellent offensive synergy with Rapidash, setting up on the Water- and Rock-types who wall it. Venusaur is an excellent candidate due to its excellent coverage and access to Swords Dance. Leafeon is also a good partner due to its access to Swords Dance and high Attack stat. Mixed Rapidash can help Fire-type sweepers by wearing down their counters, allowing them to sweep more easily late-game.

The best teammates for Rapidash are bulky Water- and Grass-types. A defensive Ludicolo is almost the perfect partner, resisting Rapidash's Ground- and Water-type weaknesses; however, be careful about switching Ludicolo into Stone Edge or Rock Slide. Blastoise and Donphan are also good partners for Rapidash because of their ability to take hits well and spin away entry hazards. Specs Blastoise also works well with Rapidash to help clear away Water- and Rock-types with Hidden Power Grass and Hydro Pump, respectively.

[Other Options]
There isn't much else Rapidash can do that Arcanine or Ninetales can't. Rapidash is capable of running a SunnyBeamer set, but other Fire-types can generally do this better. Rapidash also has access to Bounce and Toxic for spreading paralysis or Toxic stalling, respectively. However, these sets are not particularly effective since Rapidash is forced out rather easily and cannot afford to switch in many times due to its Stealth Rock weakness. Rapidash also learns Poison Jab, but Megahorn is generally a better choice.

[Counters]
Earthquake from anyone with a respectable Attack stat will KO or cripple Rapidash. Specially defensive Donphan is an excellent counter, as it can shrug off anything Rapidash has to throw at it. Dugtrio is also a good option, but can't switch in on Rapidash safely. Thanks to its ability, however, it can trap and OHKO Rapidash with Earthquake. Slowbro can take on the Standard Pony set, but can be 2HKOed by Hidden Power Grass from the mixed set. Milotic is generally going to be the best answer to any and all Rapidash sets. With its natural bulk and respectable Special Attack, it can switch in on almost any move, take advantage of any status inflicted onto it, and OHKO with STAB Surf. Arcanine can also counter Rapidash well since it resists all of Rapidash's attacks.

Anyone with a STAB Aqua Jet will also make Rapidash think twice about staying in. Azumarill is an excellent candidate for this due to its natural bulk and massive Attack stat. Feraligatr and Kabutops can also take on Rapidash, but the latter should be careful about switching into Hidden Power Grass.

good job overall. a few grammar and prose issues, but hopefully i nipped what was left.

Rapidash (Update)

Alan

breh

強いだね

Towelie

Alan

breh

強いだね

PK Gaming

Persona 5

Alan

Alan

Eo Ut Mortus

Elodin Smells

Alan

Towelie

Eo Ut Mortus

Elodin Smells

Death Phenomeno

I'm polite so just for clarity, when I'm cross I

Eo Ut Mortus

Elodin Smells

Flashrider57

Alan

Flashrider57

Alan

iDunno

Alan

Bluewind

GIVE EO WARSTORY

breh

強いだね

Heysup

uragg

Walking the streets with you in your worn-out jeans

Snorlaxe

2 kawaii 4 u

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)