http://s1.zetaboards.com/The_Little_Cup_Forum/topic/1543092/1/
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/ponyta
Just posting what I have done so far. I'm working on this with Bloo, so his stuff will be put in once it has been finished. School is really getting in the way, so I'll do whatever I can to get this finished.
Fuzznip: Choiced Sweeper, Agility Sweeper, Opinion, Team Options, Counters.
Bloo: Mixed Priority Attacker, Other Options, Mixed Scarf, EVs.
Status: COMPLETE! (needs proofreading)
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[SET]
name: Choiced Sweeper
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Return
move 3: Iron Tail
move 4: Double Kick
item: Choice Band / Choice Scarf
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Ponyta’s small movepool really hinders this set’s effectiveness, but it should never be looked down upon because of this. Even though Ponyta lacks strong physical attacks, this flaming pony still has potential to become a very dangerous threat on the field with its fantastic base 90 Speed and high base 85 Attack.</p>
<p>With a Choice Band, Flare Blitz becomes one of the strongest attacks in LC, having enough power to OHKO defensively frail Pokemon like Aipom and Gastly. If Ponyta gets the chance to activate its Flash Fire ability and is carrying a Choice Band, Flare Blitz becomes ridiculously powerful, having enough power to actually 2HKO the standard wall Munchlax even when it has consumed its Oran Berry. Return becomes Ponyta’s second strongest attacking option due to its lackluster movepool, but it's definitely a great attack to use against Pokemon that resist Ponyta’s Flare Blitz. Iron Tail hits the Rock-types that will love to switch in on Ponyta to absorb Flare Blitz or Return, such as Geodude and Onix. Lastly, Double Kick is a great attack to use against Pokemon like Kabuto, Houndour, Munchlax, and Shieldon for super effective damage.</p>
<p>Since a Flash Fire boosted Flare Blitz can OHKO basically anything, it’s worth using a Pokemon that have a big Fire-type weakness to draw in Fire attacks, allowing Ponyta to switch into them and gain a huge amount of Fire-type power. Bronzor is a superb example at this, due to the fact is only has one weakness to Fire-type attacks, meaning the opponent will definitely attempt to destroy it with a Fire attack. Also, Bronzor can set up Stealth Rock to aid Ponyta in getting more KOs and can easily switch in on Ground- and Rock-type attacks aimed at Ponyta, meaning Bronzor and Ponyta make a great combo. Houndour and Pokemon that have the Flash Fire ability can be quite scary since they can easily absorb Flare Blitz from Ponyta and convert it for a huge amount of Fire-type power for their own, allowing them to rip holes in your own team. Munchlax is a superb switch-in towards Houndour because of its ability Thick Fat, and it can proceed to destroy Houndour with Earthquake, erasing it from the picture.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Scarf
move1: Flare Blitz
move2: Hypnosis / Return
move3: Overheat
move4: HP Grass
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Lonely / Naive
evs: 36 HP / 240 Atk / 196 Spe
ivs: 30 Atk / 30 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Ponyta is a great candidate for utilizing Choice Scarf thanks to its excellent Attack and respectable Special Attack. With Choice Scarf and a neutral Speed nature, Ponyta reaches 27 Speed, tying at worst with Choice Scarf Gastly, while outrunning Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Houndour, making Ponyta a potent revenge-killer.</p>
<p>Flare Blitz is your main STAB move, forcing out Pokemon such as Bronzor, Snover, and Oddish, while dealing an immense amount of damage to the majority of other Pokemon that reside in Little Cup. Hidden Power Grass is an absolute necessity, as without it, Ponyta is walled by Rock-types such as Kabuto and Omantye. With Hidden Power Grass, Ponyta can OHKO both of the aforementioned Pokemon, making it an excellent move to use on this set. With Overheat, Ponyta can strike the Pokemon that come in expecting a physical attack, only to be scorched by a blazing Overheat. With Return, Ponyta can dish out respectable amounts of damage to the Pokemon that resist the combination of Fire- and Grass-type moves, such as Houndour, who can come in on Ponyta's Fire-type attacks due to its ability, Flash Fire. Return also has the additional benefit of hitting Munchlax, who resists Flare Blitz and Overheat due to its ability, Thick Fat. Hypnosis is an alternative over Return, as it gives Ponyta the opportunity to possible put an opponent to sleep. However, Hypnosis's unreliable 60% accuracy, makes it a risky option, making Return the superior choice.</p>
<p>When using this set, it is recommended to use a Pokemon with a gaping Fire-type weakness alongside Ponyta. Thanks to Ponyta's ability, Flash Fire, it can come in on any Fire-type move with impunity, making Ponyta's Fire-type attacks absurdly strong. For this reason, Bronzor makes for an excellent partner alongside Ponyta. Bronzor attracts Fire-types such as Houndour and Magby, allowing Ponyta to switch in and absorb the incoming Fire-type attack with Flash Fire and proceed to dish out immense amounts of damage to your opponents. Bronzor also has the additional benefit of being immune to Ground-type attacks and resisting Rock, which Ponyta is weak to. Bronzor can also set up Stealth Rock to aid Ponyta in scoring more KO's, making Bronzor and Ponyta excellent teammates. Pokemon that have Flash Fire, such as Houndour can prove quite troublesome for Ponyta, as they can easily come in on a locked Flare Blitz or Overheat and proceed to rip through your team. Due to this, it is paramount to have a switch in against the aforementioned Pokemon. Munchlax deserves a mention as it resist Houndour's Fire-type moves, thanks to Thick Fat, and can threaten Houndour with a super effective Earthquake.</p>
[SET]
name: Mixed Priority Sweeper
move1: Fire Blast
move2: Return
move3: Quick Attack
move4: Hidden Power Grass
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Hasty
evs: 36 HP / 240 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With an excellent base 85 Attack, a lighting fast base 90 Speed, a respectable base 65 Special Attack stat coupled with decent defenses, Ponyta can act as a fluent mixed sweeper, capable of dealing an immense amount of damage to most Pokemon that reside in Little Cup. This set allows Ponyta to act as an eloquent sweeper without the restrictions that Choice Scarf and Choice Band hold on it, while maintaining the power needed to score certain KOs when equipped with Life Orb, which Ponyta would otherwise miss out on without the power boost provided by Life Orb.</p>
<p>Fire Blast is Ponyta's main STAB move for this set, causing respectable amounts of damage to most Pokemon, scorching Pokemon such as Bronzor, Paras, Magnemite, Snover, and Treecko. Hidden Power Grass complements Fire Blast by hitting Rock-types such as Rhyhorn and Onix and Water-types such as Wooper who try to absorb Fire Blast. Quick Attack is incredibly useful, as it can pick off weakened adversaries. Coming from Ponyta's high Attack stat and further boosted by Life Orb, Quick Attack can be used to dispose of faster Pokemon with ease, making Ponyta a great revenge killer and a check against fast frail threats like Elekid and Diglett. Return gives Ponyta a more powerful Normal-type attack, allowing it to deal consistent damage to Pokemon who resist Fire Blast and have lopsided defenses, such as Mantyke.</p>
<p>Life Orb adds to the massive damage potential of this set, as the 30% power boost offers Ponyta the opportunity to OHKO many Pokémon it otherwise wouldn't be able to. However, it detracts from Ponyta's HP every time it attacks. As such, Oran Berry is a decent alternative over Life Orb on this set, as it allows Ponyta to replenish its health when below 50% of health. However, you'll realize that Ponyta will miss out on those necessary OHKOs or 2HKOs that Life Orb provides, making Life Orb the preferred choice over Oran Berry.</p>
<p>A Hasty nature is recommended as it boosts Ponyta's Speed stat without hindering its Special Attack or Attack stat. The EVs focus on Ponyta's Attack stat, allowing it to dish out as much damage as possible with its physical moves of Return and Quick Attack. Additionally, a Speed-boosting nature with 196 EVs invested into Speed ensures that Ponyta ties with Meowth, Aipom, Gligar, and even opposing Ponyta.</p>
<p>As with most of the other sweeping sets, Ponyta appreciates outside support in weakening its counters, most notably Rock-types that pack super effective moves against it, such as Kabuto. Munchlax can also prove troublesome to this set, as it resists Fire Blast due to Thick Fat while threatening Ponyta with a super effective Earthquake. Houndour can switch into Fire Blast with impunity due to Flash Fire and threaten Ponyta with a STAB Sucker Punch. Ponyta must to be wary of Mantyke as well, since it can generally survive all of Ponyta's attacks; however, after Stealth Rock damage, Return can give Mantyke trouble. Diglett can potentially revenge kill Ponyta, destroying it with a STAB Earthquake. For this reason, entry hazard support is an extremely viable option to consider when using this set, as they prevent most of Ponyta's counters from switching in repeatedly. Stealth Rock allows you to reduce the effectiveness of Houndour and Mantyke switch-ins, as they will be deprived 25% of its health each time it switches in. Spikes support is particularly useful in weakening grounded Pokémon that give Ponyta trouble, such as Kabuto, who resists Return and Fire Blast while threatning Ponyta with a STAB Aqua Jet. Despite sharing a ground weakness with Ponyta, Omantye is a good option for providing Spikes support, as it can threaten Houndour and Diglett (to a certain extent) with Surf and set up Spikes relatively well. Bronzor is another good option for providing Stealth Rock support, as it complements Ponyta well type-wise; Bronzor can take the Ground- and Rock-type attacks aimed at Ponyta while Ponyta can take Fire-type attacks directed at Bronzor and gain a Flash Fire boost, making Fire Blast absurdly strong.</p>
[SET]
name: Agility Sweeper
move1: Flare Blitz
move2: Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
move3: Double Kick
move4: Agility
item: Life Orb / Oran Berry
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Lonely
evs: 236 Atk / 236 SpA / 36 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Ponyta is seen as a very fast sweeper thanks to its very high base 90 Speed, but why would one want to use Agility on something that is already fast? The reason is because after an Agility boost, Ponyta reaches an insanely high Speed stat of 32, allowing it to outpace practically everything in the LC metagame. It’s definitely a force to be reckoned with because of its excellent offensive stats and a high-powered STAB Flare Blitz.</p>
<p>Sadly, Ponyta really lacks a good movepool to make use of its great offensive stats. For this reason, this set will be taking advantage of both special and physical attacks, making it more effective as a sweeper. Flare Blitz is the main choice in the means of a strong, high-powered STAB attack, and can easily decimate Pokemon that are defensively frail, like Meowth. Ponyta becomes devastatingly powerful with Flare Blitz if it has the chance to switch into a Fire-type attack to activate its Flash Fire ability, skyrocketing its power. Double Kick is a nice attack to put the hurt on Houndour and Munchlax, the former always trying to switch into a Flare Blitz to boost its own Fire-type attacks, while the latter resisting Flare Blitz and retaliating back with Earthquake. Either Hidden Power type is used for more type coverage and hitting things that cause Ponyta trouble super effectively. Gligar doesn’t mind switching into Ponyta because of its excellent physical defense and can easily threaten Ponyta with Earthquake, making Hidden Power Ice a primary option to avoid this problem. Not only does it get rid of the flying scorpion, but it hits other Ground-types super effectively, as many of them boast high Defense and won’t mind switching into Ponyta's physical attacks at all, like Hippopotas. On the other hand, Hidden Power Grass hits Water-types that will attempt to absorb Flare Blitz, like Chinchou, and also hits the aforementioned Ground-types super effectively. So it’s really up to personal preference, if you want Gligar out of the picture or the Water-types that can cause a bit of problems.</p>
<p>Due to the fact that Ponyta doesn’t need to use much Speed, its EV spread is devoted to increase its offensive prowess. With max Attack and max Special Attack, Ponyta reaches a great Attack stat of 19 and a decent Special Attack stat of 16, giving it all the power to deal massive amounts of damage. Since Life Orb recoil and Flare Blitz recoil can add up quickly, Oran Berry can be used as an alternative item. Not only does this help Ponyta set up Agility and remain healthy, it allows Ponyta to recover some of the lost HP from Flare Blitz.</p>
<p>This set does fall under a big problem; when Ponyta is up against strong priority users. With its frail Defense stat, many priority users can potentially KO Ponyta, like Mach Punch Magby, Aqua Jet Buizel, and Sucker Punch Houndour. To deal with these kinds of problems, it’s best to pack Pokemon that can counter the majority of priority users. Gligar can handle Magby easily thanks to its great defensive bulk and having Earthquake, and it can also switch in on Houndour as it uses Sucker Punch against Ponyta, then proceed to finish it off with Earthquake. Paras is an excellent Pokemon to take on Buizel thanks to Dry Skin, allowing it to absorb Water-type attacks for health. Not only that, but Paras also resists Ponyta’s Ground weakness by 4x, making Paras a prime candidate to use as a teammate. Entry hazard support is definitely recommended, as it really aids Ponyta in getting KOs that it wouldn’t normally get. Stealth Rock and Spikes are probably going to be the most helpful, as they scrape off health immediately on the switch-in, unlike Toxic Spikes which takes several turns. Gligar and Bronzor are excellent Pokemon at setting up Stealth Rock, the former having a great typing and Speed, while the latter boasting fantastic overall bulk. There aren’t many viable Spikes users in LC, but there are some that are quite decent at setting them up, particularly Omanyte. Omanyte has has a great Defense stat and access to Knock Off and Rapid Spin, meaning that it can remove Oran Berries from Pokemon like Munchlax and can remove Stealth Rock which really hinders Ponyta’s effectiveness.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>When using Ponya, it’s worth noting that it’s a great idea to take advantage of its fantastic ability, Flash Fire. Not only will it skyrocket Ponyta’s Fire-type attacks, but it will become one of the strongest, if not the strongest, attackers in the Little Cup metagame, firing off insanely powerful Flare Blitz and Fire Blast attacks. A good way to guarantee a Flash Fire boost is by using Pokemon with an eye-popping Fire weakness, such as Bronzor and Snover. Bronzor only has a weakness to Fire-type attacks, so it will definitely attract Pokemon with Fire-type moves. Bronzor also boasts an immunity to Ground-type attacks and a resistance to Rock-type attacks, both of which Ponyta is weak to. Although Snover has multiple weaknesses, its dreadful 4x Fire weakness will tend to lure in Pokemon holding Fire-type moves. Not only that, but Snover’s typing allows it to resist Ponyta’s Water- and Ground-type weaknesses.</p>
<p>Since Ponyta is used as a sweeper, it will definitely appreciate having entry hazard support, particularly Spikes and Stealth Rock as they chip off health instantly, unlike Toxic Spikes which takes multiple turns to deal a decent amount of damage. The reason for using entry hazard support is because it gives Ponyta the chance to turn its 2HKOs into OHKOs. Bronzor is mentioned again as a perfect Pokemon to set up Stealth Rock because of its excellent overall bulk and resistance to Ponyta’s Ground- and Rock-type weaknesses. Omanyte, although not forming much synergy, is one of the most reliable Spikes supporter. It has excellent Defense, reasonable typing, and access to support moves like Knock Off and Rapid Spin. Speaking of Rapid Spin, removing entry hazards that your opponent has set up is definitely a great idea due to the fact that Ponyta carries an unhelpful Stealth Rock weakness. The removal of them will allow Ponyta to switch in without scraping off a quarter amount of its health, and it gives it the oppurtinity to fire off more Flare Blitz attacks.</p>
<p>When it comes to sweeping, Ponyta encounters several problems; bulky Pokemon and priority users. Munchlax is the most notable switch-in to Ponyta because of Thick Fat and it’s great bulk, leading it to finishing off Ponyta with Earthquake. Bulky Rock-, Ground-, and Water-types can be seen to be troublesome as well. Onix and Hippopotas are commonly used against Ponyta because of their high Defense, allowing them to net OHKOes with Earthquake. Chinchou and Mantyke won’t mind switching into Ponyta either, threatening it with Surf. Although, all of the aforementioned threats can be harmed (or possible KOed) if Ponyta uses Hidden Power Grass (excluding Munchlax and Mantyke). To deal with these bulky threats, Gligar can easily take care of Onix and Hippopotas, setting up Swords Dance in their face and proceeding to decimate them with Earthquake. Grass-types like Snover and Paras can threaten bulky Waters with their STAB Grass-type attacks, but the latter should watch out for Ice-type moves. With priority users, ones with high offensive power can definitely hurt Ponyta, particularly Aqua Jet Buizel and Sucker Punch Houndour. Buizel can be dealt with by using Chinchou and Paras, the former destroying it with Thunderbolt, while the latter crippling it (or the switch-in) with Spore or just finishing it off with Seed Bomb. Munchlax and Gligar can switch into Houndour as it uses Sucker Punch, giving both of them the opportunity to score OHKOes with Earthquake and having the bulk to withstand Sucker Punch.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>With access to status-inducing moves such as Will-O-Wisp, Hypnosis, and Toxic, Ponyta can effectively pull off a double-status set reasonably well. With Ponyta's blistering Speed, it can quickly put a foe to sleep then burn or poison the incoming Pokemon with Will-O-Wisp or Toxic, respectively. Ponyta's common switch-ins like Onix, Rhyhorn, and Kabuto, absolutely hate being poisoned or burned, making Toxic and Will-O-Wisp respectable options for wearing down and crippling the aforementioned Pokemon.</p>
<p>Double-Edge is an alternative over Return to hit Pokemon who resist Fire-type attacks harder, however, the recoil damage given from it makes it an unattractive choice since Life Orb, Stealth Rock, and recoil damage from both Double-Edge and Flare Blitz will wear down Ponyta quickly. Flamethrower is a reliable option over Fire Blast if you dislike the imperfect accuracy that Fire Blast has. Flamethrower's perfect accuracy could be the difference between winning and losing a game. Keep in mind that Ponyta really appreciates the extra power that Fire Blast provides.</p>
<p>Overheat is an alternative over Fire Blast on mixed attacking sets. Overheat has a slightly higher base power than Fire Blast, making it a viable option. On choiced sets, Fire Blast is usually preferred over Overheat as Overheat will force you to switch out on the following turn due to the Special Attack drop, meaning Ponyta will take more damage from Stealth Rock the next time it comes back in. Fire Blast also deals more damage than Overheat over the course of two turns, making it the superior option for sweeping. Flame Wheel is an option over Flare Blitz on physical attacking sets if you dislike the recoil damage given from Flare Blitz. Also, if you use Flame Wheel, you are then able to use Quick Attack as it isn't an illegal move combination, unlike Flare Blitz and Quick Attack.</p>
<p>With Sunny Day support, Ponyta makes for a rather effective SunnyBeam user. SolarBeam gives Ponyta a more powerful Grass-type attack to hit Rock- and Water-types with. Sunny Day also powers up Ponyta's main Fire-type moves of Flare Blitz and Fire Blast to phenomenal levels, making them extremely dangerous attacks. Despite having low PP, Bounce can be used to strike Fighting-types such as Machop super effectively. Bounce's 30% chance to inflict paralysis may also come in handy as well, making it a decent option on most sets.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Since Ponyta is usually seen running an offensive set, its EVs should focus on increasing its offensive stats. Physical and Mixed attacking sets should max Attack and Speed, as this allows Ponyta to sweep to the best of its ability. 196 Speed EVs are invested on all sets bar Agility, as they allow Ponyta to tie Pokemon such as Meowth, Aipom, and Gligar. The remainder of the EVs are invested into HP, as it gives Ponyta a little more durability. On Agility sets, Ponyta does not need much Speed; as such, max Attack and Special Attack are invested, as it allows Ponyta to dish out massive amounts of damage to the Pokemon that reside in Little Cup.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Ponyta's lacking movepool and illegal move combinations really hold it back from its potential to become a devastating sweeper. Ponyta would definitely benefit from a larger selection of attacks, but it does have a few decent moves it can use to make use of its excellent offensive stats, most notably Flare Blitz. Possessing a lightning-fast base 90 Speed makes Ponyta one of the fastest Fire-types in LC (Magby can tie it), and its fabulous base 85 Attack makes it the most powerful Fire-type available, especially once it fires off death-inducing Flare Blitz attacks. Even though Ponyta's attack choices are greatly hindered, it should never be looked down upon, since this blazing pony might just cause the opponent to go up in flames.<p>
[Counters]
<p>Ponyta’s lackluster movepool leaves it with slightly poor coverage, opening it up to a number of counters. Not to mention that it’s terrible Stealth Rock weakness can be used to your advantage.</p>
<p>Bulky Pokemon are capable of withstanding moves that Ponyta throws at them, and can retaliate back with a KO. Munchlax, Onix, Hippopotas, Chinchou, and Mantyke are prime examples of Pokemon that can counter Ponyta because of their great bulk and having moves that hit Ponyta super effectively.</p>
<p>Omanyte and Kabuto boast a 4x resistance towards Fire-type moves, allowing them to destroy Ponyta with Surf and Aqua Jet, respectively. It should be noted that the former should be wary of Hidden Power Grass, and the latter as well on the switch.</p>
<p>Strong priority users like Houndour and Buizel can definitely be seen as potential revenge killers. Houndour can switch into Ponyta’s Fire-type attacks to activate Flash Fire, while still being able to KO Ponyta with Sucker Punch. Buizel’s Fire-type resist gives it many opportunities to switch into Ponyta and threatening it with a deadly Aqua Jet.</p>
