(This is my first analysis, laugh if you wish)
QC: Magnemite / Montsegur /
GC: /
Skeleton.
Overview
########
+ One of the only PU Physical Sweeping Fire Types. It has more speed than Heatmor and Flareon, and more Attack than Heatmor, and Simisear, as well as Ninetales.
+ Solid Agile Wallbreaker.
+ Great Speed (What really sets it apart from other Fire Types) and Good Attack.
+ A useful ability in Flash Fire.
+ Faster than its bulkier and harder-hitting rival, Flareon.
+ Able to damage Water Types with Wild Charge.
+ Outstanding Type Coverage.
- Weakness to Stealth Rock, as well as Recoil Moves, which means Rapidash will likely be knocked out quickly.
- Not very bulky, therefore easy to revenge kill.
- Not as much Physical Attack as Flareon.
- Not nearly as much bulk as other PU Fire Types such as Ninetales, and Flareon.
- Compared to Heatmor, Ninetales, and Simisear, it has very low Special Attack.
- Unlike Heatmor, Ninetales, and Simisear, it has to rely on recoil moves like Flare Blitz and Wild Charge to do damage.
Physical Attacker
########
Name: Physical Attacker
Move 1: Flare Blitz
Move 2: Wild Charge
Move 3: Low Kick
Move 4: Drill Run
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Choice Band / Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is STAB that combines well with Flash Fire and gives off major damage.
Wild Charge can stop Water types, such as Pelipper.
Drill Run is good for Camerupt, as well as other Flash Fire users and Fire Types in general.
Low Kick is there for Rock Types, as well as bulky Pokemon like Lickilicky and Zweilous.
If Morning Sun is to be used, it should only be used with Life Orb, because Morning Sun isn't a move you want to be locked into.
Set Details
========
Jolly Nature allows it to outspeed Base 100 Max Speed Pokemon such as Dodrio, and Ninetales, as well as the base 101 Simipour.
Choice Band is there to give Rapidash the power it desperately needs, as its attack is good at best, and Choice Band Powers up an already monstrous Flare Blitz.
Life Orb does prevent the locking of moves, but it will take down Rapidash rather quickly due to its weakness to Stealth Rock, Recoil from Flare Blitz, and general frailty. Along with that, Choice Band provides more power for Rapidash.
Life Orb though isn't too bad, as Stacking of Recoil isn't too crucial considering Rapidash's frailty anyways and Life Orb gives you the option to switch moves.
Flame Plate can be used to bluff the Choice Band while not taking Life Orb Damage and still getting off a powerful Flare Blitz.
Usage Tips
========
Remove Pokemon that resist Fire before you want to try and sweep with Rapidash (especially things like Flash Fire users), so Rapidash can sweep without fear of immunities or resistances to Fire.
Rapidash's other coverage moves are best used earlier when predicting switch-ins that resist Fire, such as Pelipper, Golem, and Carracosta.
A super powerful Flare Blitz is something Rapidash is quite well known for, making it predictable and one may be in a tough position if one switches out into a check for Flare Blitz.
Send out Rapidash when predicting a Fire Type move for a Flash Fire Boost.
Rapidash is a very good switch in for Defensive Ghost types that run Will-O-Wisp, such as Gourgeist, and Misdreavus.
Rapidash is frail, and won't live many attacks, it's generally NOT a safe switch in to take Attacks.
Team Options
========
Defog is important to remove rocks, which Rapidash is weak to (really any hazard, but Rocks are a big one). Good Examples include Togetic, Swanna, Prinplup, and Pelipper.
Avalugg is a rather good teammate for Rapidash, because it can remove entry hazards without getting rid of their own entry hazards.
Entry hazards are advised to be set up so Rapidash can OHKO/2HKO Pokemon after them. Examples include Aurorus (only with Flare Blitz), Tangela, and Beheeyem.
Poliwrath works well with Rapidash since it can take a Physical Hit well, and it resists Rock and Water, which are 2 of Rapidash's weaknesses.
Grass Types such as Leafeon, and Serperior are solid teammates (especially Leafeon since it has a decent Attacking stat) because they help Rapidash with their resistance to Water, and Ground, as well as their super effective attacks on Water, Ground, and Rock.
Other Options
########
Megahorn brings a whopping Base 120 power, but doesn't have too much coverage outside of Psychic types, which can usually be taken down by a Flare Blitz.
Baton Pass can also work for keeping momentum.
The combination of Sunny Day and Solarbeam is also available because Rapidash has a better chance to KO Pokemon such as Golem, Barbaracle, and Carracosta with it.
One could use Choice Scarf on Rapidash to outspeed threats such as Sneasel, Tauros, and Purugy, but it isn't reccomended because its Attacks will not be very powerful if it does run Choice Scarf.
Will-O-Wisp is usable to help Rapidash take Physical Hits and/or cripple Physical Attackers.
Checks & Counters
########
**Rock Types** such as Carbink, Barbaracle, Golem, and Carracosta can live at least one hit of any move of Rapidash's, and can counter back with a super effective stab. Carracosta and Barbaracle are also able to set up on it with Shell Smash if Rapidash is locked into Flare Blitz.
**Defensive Pokemon** such as Wartortle, Stunfisk, and Hippopotas have the ability to ruin Rapidash's day by surviving an Attack from Rapidash, and then retaliating to KO Rapidash.
**Bulky Water Types** such as Eviolite Wartortle and Poliwrath can take at least one hit of anything of Rapidash's and retaliate with STAB super effective Water types
**Faster Pokemon** such as Tauros, Purugly, Serperior, Sneasel, Raichu and Floatzel have the ability to outspeed Rapidash, and either hit it with a Super Effective Move, STAB Move, or all of the above.
**Priority Moves**, specifically Aqua Jet, get to hit the frail Rapidash before it can respond, perhaps even resulting in a KO.
**Residual Damange** will poke into Rapidash quite quickly due to its weakness to Stealth Rock (trouble with any hazard really), and its constant use of Recoil Moves.
QC: Magnemite / Montsegur /
GC: /
Skeleton.
Overview
########
+ One of the only PU Physical Sweeping Fire Types. It has more speed than Heatmor and Flareon, and more Attack than Heatmor, and Simisear, as well as Ninetales.
+ Solid Agile Wallbreaker.
+ Great Speed (What really sets it apart from other Fire Types) and Good Attack.
+ A useful ability in Flash Fire.
+ Faster than its bulkier and harder-hitting rival, Flareon.
+ Able to damage Water Types with Wild Charge.
+ Outstanding Type Coverage.
- Weakness to Stealth Rock, as well as Recoil Moves, which means Rapidash will likely be knocked out quickly.
- Not very bulky, therefore easy to revenge kill.
- Not as much Physical Attack as Flareon.
- Not nearly as much bulk as other PU Fire Types such as Ninetales, and Flareon.
- Compared to Heatmor, Ninetales, and Simisear, it has very low Special Attack.
- Unlike Heatmor, Ninetales, and Simisear, it has to rely on recoil moves like Flare Blitz and Wild Charge to do damage.
Physical Attacker
########
Name: Physical Attacker
Move 1: Flare Blitz
Move 2: Wild Charge
Move 3: Low Kick
Move 4: Drill Run
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Choice Band / Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is STAB that combines well with Flash Fire and gives off major damage.
Wild Charge can stop Water types, such as Pelipper.
Drill Run is good for Camerupt, as well as other Flash Fire users and Fire Types in general.
Low Kick is there for Rock Types, as well as bulky Pokemon like Lickilicky and Zweilous.
If Morning Sun is to be used, it should only be used with Life Orb, because Morning Sun isn't a move you want to be locked into.
Set Details
========
Jolly Nature allows it to outspeed Base 100 Max Speed Pokemon such as Dodrio, and Ninetales, as well as the base 101 Simipour.
Choice Band is there to give Rapidash the power it desperately needs, as its attack is good at best, and Choice Band Powers up an already monstrous Flare Blitz.
Life Orb does prevent the locking of moves, but it will take down Rapidash rather quickly due to its weakness to Stealth Rock, Recoil from Flare Blitz, and general frailty. Along with that, Choice Band provides more power for Rapidash.
Life Orb though isn't too bad, as Stacking of Recoil isn't too crucial considering Rapidash's frailty anyways and Life Orb gives you the option to switch moves.
Flame Plate can be used to bluff the Choice Band while not taking Life Orb Damage and still getting off a powerful Flare Blitz.
Usage Tips
========
Remove Pokemon that resist Fire before you want to try and sweep with Rapidash (especially things like Flash Fire users), so Rapidash can sweep without fear of immunities or resistances to Fire.
Rapidash's other coverage moves are best used earlier when predicting switch-ins that resist Fire, such as Pelipper, Golem, and Carracosta.
A super powerful Flare Blitz is something Rapidash is quite well known for, making it predictable and one may be in a tough position if one switches out into a check for Flare Blitz.
Send out Rapidash when predicting a Fire Type move for a Flash Fire Boost.
Rapidash is a very good switch in for Defensive Ghost types that run Will-O-Wisp, such as Gourgeist, and Misdreavus.
Rapidash is frail, and won't live many attacks, it's generally NOT a safe switch in to take Attacks.
Team Options
========
Defog is important to remove rocks, which Rapidash is weak to (really any hazard, but Rocks are a big one). Good Examples include Togetic, Swanna, Prinplup, and Pelipper.
Avalugg is a rather good teammate for Rapidash, because it can remove entry hazards without getting rid of their own entry hazards.
Entry hazards are advised to be set up so Rapidash can OHKO/2HKO Pokemon after them. Examples include Aurorus (only with Flare Blitz), Tangela, and Beheeyem.
Poliwrath works well with Rapidash since it can take a Physical Hit well, and it resists Rock and Water, which are 2 of Rapidash's weaknesses.
Grass Types such as Leafeon, and Serperior are solid teammates (especially Leafeon since it has a decent Attacking stat) because they help Rapidash with their resistance to Water, and Ground, as well as their super effective attacks on Water, Ground, and Rock.
Other Options
########
Megahorn brings a whopping Base 120 power, but doesn't have too much coverage outside of Psychic types, which can usually be taken down by a Flare Blitz.
Baton Pass can also work for keeping momentum.
The combination of Sunny Day and Solarbeam is also available because Rapidash has a better chance to KO Pokemon such as Golem, Barbaracle, and Carracosta with it.
One could use Choice Scarf on Rapidash to outspeed threats such as Sneasel, Tauros, and Purugy, but it isn't reccomended because its Attacks will not be very powerful if it does run Choice Scarf.
Will-O-Wisp is usable to help Rapidash take Physical Hits and/or cripple Physical Attackers.
Checks & Counters
########
**Rock Types** such as Carbink, Barbaracle, Golem, and Carracosta can live at least one hit of any move of Rapidash's, and can counter back with a super effective stab. Carracosta and Barbaracle are also able to set up on it with Shell Smash if Rapidash is locked into Flare Blitz.
**Defensive Pokemon** such as Wartortle, Stunfisk, and Hippopotas have the ability to ruin Rapidash's day by surviving an Attack from Rapidash, and then retaliating to KO Rapidash.
**Bulky Water Types** such as Eviolite Wartortle and Poliwrath can take at least one hit of anything of Rapidash's and retaliate with STAB super effective Water types
**Faster Pokemon** such as Tauros, Purugly, Serperior, Sneasel, Raichu and Floatzel have the ability to outspeed Rapidash, and either hit it with a Super Effective Move, STAB Move, or all of the above.
**Priority Moves**, specifically Aqua Jet, get to hit the frail Rapidash before it can respond, perhaps even resulting in a KO.
**Residual Damange** will poke into Rapidash quite quickly due to its weakness to Stealth Rock (trouble with any hazard really), and its constant use of Recoil Moves.
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