Status said:
Ponyta
[Overview]
<p>Ponyta immediately stands out as an offensive threat with its extremely high Speed and Attack stats. With access to powerful moves such as Flare Blitz and Wild Charge, Ponyta can do serious damage to almost anything it's up against. As if this weren't enough, Ponyta boasts something that most Pokemon in Little Cup lack: raw power. Unlike setup sweepers such as Scraggy, Ponyta's power is immense from the second it is sent out to the second it falls, which makes Ponyta one of the most threatening Pokemon in existence. A solid ability in Flash Fire lets Ponyta switch into any Fire-type attack and benefit from it, giving it many chances to switch in unharmed and boosted. However, Ponyta still has some flaws. Fire typing isn't all that great defensively with three weaknesses, including a weakness to Rock, which means it will take heavy damage from Stealth Rock. All-in-all, Ponyta is an amazing Pokemon who will almost always perform its role effectively.</p>
[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Wild Charge
move 3: Return
move 4: Morning Sun / Flame Charge
item: Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>When holding a Life Orb, Ponyta becomes one of the most threatening Pokemon in Little Cup. With a blazing fast Speed stat of 19, it outspeeds most of the metagame and can KO enemies with a powerful Life Orb boosted Flare Blitz and Life Orb. Ponyta got the new addition of Wild Charge in the fifth generation, which means it can finally hit bulky Water-types as hard as it needs to. Wild Charge also hits Flying-types for less recoil than Flare Blitz. Return finishes off the coverage chain, hitting all but Pokemon that are both Ground- and Rock- types. The best move in the last slot will usually be Morning Sun; it allows Ponyta to heal on Pokemon that will switch or use Protect on it, namely Ferroseed, who will almost always Protect to waste the PP of Flare Blitz. Morning Sun is also amazing as it heals off all the recoil Ponyta will take from Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, and Life Orb. However, using Flame Charge in the last slot is an option to outspeed the very few Pokemon who are faster than Ponyta, namely Diglett and Choice Scarf Chinchou. Flame Charge is also an alternative to Flare Blitz against Ferroseed to raise Ponyta's Speed, as well as avoid taking the recoil Flare Blitz would give. Agility is another option in the last slot for added Speed, but Flame Charge is usually preferred due to the damage it deals and its ability to hit through Taunt.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Bounce provides identical coverage when used over Return, although it's weaker. It usually isn't the best choice as Ponyta doesn't need paralysis to outspeed most of the metagame, and it draws in Rock-types. Ponyta has access to Double-Edge, which is a stronger alternative to Return, but leaving Ponyta unable to attack without taking recoil. Return usually is better because it. Although this set is based on the power Life Orb gives, Oran Berry can be used to soften the effect of recoil.While normally of much lesser value to Ponyta, Iron Tail can wreck Rock-types and, Substitute is always welcome on a fast offensive Pokemon to block status users, as alternatives to Return.</p>
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Wild Bolt
move 3: Return
move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Iron Tail
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flare Fire
nature: Jolly
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>While holding a Choice Scarf, Ponyta's already excellent Speed stat of 19 skyrockets to 28, outspeeding all of unboosted Little Cup as well as most boosted Pokemon, most notably Choice Scarf Mienfoo and Gastly. Once more Flare Blitz is Ponyta's best choice for main STAB and hits like a truck. However, the one thing that makes Ponyta run a choice set exceptionally is its new and improved coverage. With the addition of Wild Charge, Ponyta can rip through bulky Water-types hoping to get a nice, warm massage from Flare Blitz, most notably Frillish, who is 2HKOed on the switch in. Hidden Power Grass and Iron Tail are both good moves for Ponyta that can hit Rock-types harder than anything else.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>While Stealth Rock is usually not too much of a problem for Ponyta as it's rare in Little Cup, Ponyta will be severely hindered if it is on the field, especially considering the SR damage in tandem with Scarf Ponyta's frequency of locking into recoil moves, inability to use Morning Sun, and reliance on switching in order to change attacks. Staryu with Rapid Spin and Cottonee with Taunt are good examples of Pokemon that can keep Stealth Rock off of the field. While you want Stealth Rock off your side of the field, having it on the opposing side is a huge boon for Ponyta. It helps it get some notable KOes such as a OHKO on Mienfoo.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Agility can be used instead of Flame Charge if you value the extra Speed over power, but Ponyta will usually not need it. If you aim to use Quick Attack on Ponyta, Fire Blast is the best legal STAB move, so a mixed set can be used with Quick Attack, Fire Blast or Overheat, Wild Charge, and Hidden Power Grass. It also has access to status inflicting moves such as Hypnosis and Will-O-Wisp, and can use them to some success, although Ponyta is usually valued for its raw power. Ponyta has access to Double-Edge if Return isn't strong enough, although it makes recoil even rougher.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Pokemon that are both Rock and Ground such as Rhyhorn and Geodude can set up on Ponyta with Rock Polish, or out-right OHKO it. Diglett can come in on Wild Charge, trap Ponyta with Arena Trap, and OHKO it with Earthquake. Because of the amount of recoil Ponyta takes, good priority users such as Croagunk can revenge kill it easily. Stealth Rock and Spikes build up residual damage on Ponyta and make its life extremely hard.</p>
[Dream World]
<p>Ponyta receives Flame Body as a Dream World ability. While this isn't a bad ability by any means, Flash Fire is of more benefit as the extra power gets Ponyta a few KOs such as a OHKO on bulky Grimer.</p>
