[SET]
name: Physical Utility
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: High Horsepower / Flame Charge
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Flame Charge
move 4: Morning Sun / Flame Charge
item: Eviolite / Berry Juice
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 Atk / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Ponyta's most powerful STAB option and hits everything that doesn't resist it for good damage, notably hitting Pokemon like Foongus very hard. High Horsepower is helpful for hitting Pokemon resistant to Flare Blitz, such as Onix and Mareanie. Will-O-Wisp is useful for halving the Attack of physical attackers such as Mienfoo and Mudbray, and Morning Sun is reliable recovery that allows Ponyta to sustain itself throughout a match as well as fish for Flame Body burns if it is not running Will-O-Wisp. Flame Charge is an option that provides Ponyta with an important boost in Speed, which allows it to outpace and KO non-Choice Scarf Diglett. Wild Charge is an option if Ponyta needs to be able to hit Vullaby and Staryu for more damage, but Ponyta struggles to find space for the move.
Set Details
========
196 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Ponyta to hit 19 Speed and outpace most of the unboosted metagame. 156 Defense EVs, 76 Special Defense EVs, and an Eviolite allow Ponyta to hit 21 / 21 defenses and usually avoid notable 2HKOs from powerful attacks like Alolan Grimer's Poison Jab, Pawniard's Knock Off, and defensive Vullaby's Brave Bird. An even bulkier spread of 236 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe with an Impish nature and Eviolite can be run to survive the metagame's strongest attacks, such as Reckless Mienfoo's High Jump Kick and Adamant Pawniard's Knock Off, but in return Ponyta no longer outspeeds Gastly and Doduo and cannot Speed tie with Abra and opposing Ponyta. Berry Juice is an alternative item that gives automatic recovery when Ponyta drops below 50% of its HP so that it can run a move other than Morning Sun, but this comes at the cost of a significant amount of bulk. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to provide Ponyta with notably better damage output, allowing it to 2HKO defensive Mienfoo and have a good chance to OHKO Foongus after Stealth Rock damage. Flame Body is the preferred ability, as it allows Ponyta to discourage foes like Mienfoo from freely using moves like U-turn and Fake Out by threatening to burn them on contact.
Usage Tips
========
Ponyta's Flame Body gives it the ability to check a number of physical attackers, which means one should feel free to liberally switch Ponyta into non-Rock- or Ground-type physical attacks. If Ponyta doesn't burn its foe upon switching in, it can make use of its good Speed to burn the foe with Will-O-Wisp and recover its health immediately afterward. Both Snivy and Spritzee are Pokemon that Ponyta is unthreatened by, though it should be wary of Snivy's Glare. Ponyta can threaten most teams with the combination of Will-O-Wisp, Flare Blitz, and High Horsepower, as most Pokemon that can switch into Ponyta's attacking moves are crippled by a burn.
If Diglett is on the opponent's team, Ponyta must be played more conservatively and shouldn't be switching in on foes that use pivoting attacks, such as Mienfoo and Vullaby, since they can easily bring Diglett onto the field to KO Ponyta. Ponyta should also only focus on spreading status rather than KOing foes, as it is likely to be weakened from Flare Blitz's recoil and even more susceptible to being revenge killed. Boosting its Speed with Flame Charge is also something Ponyta should attempt to do whenever possible when fighting against teams with Diglett, such as on forced switches, as it will then be able to outpace and KO non-Choice Scarf Diglett. Ponyta should also avoid switching into Stealth Rock, as it will be unable to tank hits as reliably.
Team Options
========
While Ponyta is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards, it especially hates Stealth Rock, which makes Pokemon capable of removing it such as Vullaby and Staryu ideal partners. Grass-types such as Foongus and Snivy are also good partners for Ponyta, as Ponyta's ability to lure in Water- and Rock-types gives it great synergy with these Pokemon. Snivy in particular is a fantastic teammate for Ponyta, since it can take on Pokemon like Onix, which can both force out Ponyta and set up Stealth Rock, and prevent entry hazards from staying on the field. Because Ponyta shouldn't be completely relied on to check Fighting-types, other Fighting-type checks such as Abra and Spritzee are very appreciated. Lastly, Shell Smash sweepers or other setup Pokemon like Scraggy appreciate Ponyta's ability to burn Pawniard and Fighting-type foes.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Merritt, 213064]]
- Quality checked by: [[Corporal Levi, 55063], [Nineage, 195129], [Quote, 21920]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Kris, 241023]]
name: Physical Utility
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: High Horsepower / Flame Charge
move 3: Will-O-Wisp / Flame Charge
move 4: Morning Sun / Flame Charge
item: Eviolite / Berry Juice
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 76 Atk / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flare Blitz is Ponyta's most powerful STAB option and hits everything that doesn't resist it for good damage, notably hitting Pokemon like Foongus very hard. High Horsepower is helpful for hitting Pokemon resistant to Flare Blitz, such as Onix and Mareanie. Will-O-Wisp is useful for halving the Attack of physical attackers such as Mienfoo and Mudbray, and Morning Sun is reliable recovery that allows Ponyta to sustain itself throughout a match as well as fish for Flame Body burns if it is not running Will-O-Wisp. Flame Charge is an option that provides Ponyta with an important boost in Speed, which allows it to outpace and KO non-Choice Scarf Diglett. Wild Charge is an option if Ponyta needs to be able to hit Vullaby and Staryu for more damage, but Ponyta struggles to find space for the move.
Set Details
========
196 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature allow Ponyta to hit 19 Speed and outpace most of the unboosted metagame. 156 Defense EVs, 76 Special Defense EVs, and an Eviolite allow Ponyta to hit 21 / 21 defenses and usually avoid notable 2HKOs from powerful attacks like Alolan Grimer's Poison Jab, Pawniard's Knock Off, and defensive Vullaby's Brave Bird. An even bulkier spread of 236 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe with an Impish nature and Eviolite can be run to survive the metagame's strongest attacks, such as Reckless Mienfoo's High Jump Kick and Adamant Pawniard's Knock Off, but in return Ponyta no longer outspeeds Gastly and Doduo and cannot Speed tie with Abra and opposing Ponyta. Berry Juice is an alternative item that gives automatic recovery when Ponyta drops below 50% of its HP so that it can run a move other than Morning Sun, but this comes at the cost of a significant amount of bulk. The remaining EVs are invested in Attack to provide Ponyta with notably better damage output, allowing it to 2HKO defensive Mienfoo and have a good chance to OHKO Foongus after Stealth Rock damage. Flame Body is the preferred ability, as it allows Ponyta to discourage foes like Mienfoo from freely using moves like U-turn and Fake Out by threatening to burn them on contact.
Usage Tips
========
Ponyta's Flame Body gives it the ability to check a number of physical attackers, which means one should feel free to liberally switch Ponyta into non-Rock- or Ground-type physical attacks. If Ponyta doesn't burn its foe upon switching in, it can make use of its good Speed to burn the foe with Will-O-Wisp and recover its health immediately afterward. Both Snivy and Spritzee are Pokemon that Ponyta is unthreatened by, though it should be wary of Snivy's Glare. Ponyta can threaten most teams with the combination of Will-O-Wisp, Flare Blitz, and High Horsepower, as most Pokemon that can switch into Ponyta's attacking moves are crippled by a burn.
If Diglett is on the opponent's team, Ponyta must be played more conservatively and shouldn't be switching in on foes that use pivoting attacks, such as Mienfoo and Vullaby, since they can easily bring Diglett onto the field to KO Ponyta. Ponyta should also only focus on spreading status rather than KOing foes, as it is likely to be weakened from Flare Blitz's recoil and even more susceptible to being revenge killed. Boosting its Speed with Flame Charge is also something Ponyta should attempt to do whenever possible when fighting against teams with Diglett, such as on forced switches, as it will then be able to outpace and KO non-Choice Scarf Diglett. Ponyta should also avoid switching into Stealth Rock, as it will be unable to tank hits as reliably.
Team Options
========
While Ponyta is vulnerable to all forms of entry hazards, it especially hates Stealth Rock, which makes Pokemon capable of removing it such as Vullaby and Staryu ideal partners. Grass-types such as Foongus and Snivy are also good partners for Ponyta, as Ponyta's ability to lure in Water- and Rock-types gives it great synergy with these Pokemon. Snivy in particular is a fantastic teammate for Ponyta, since it can take on Pokemon like Onix, which can both force out Ponyta and set up Stealth Rock, and prevent entry hazards from staying on the field. Because Ponyta shouldn't be completely relied on to check Fighting-types, other Fighting-type checks such as Abra and Spritzee are very appreciated. Lastly, Shell Smash sweepers or other setup Pokemon like Scraggy appreciate Ponyta's ability to burn Pawniard and Fighting-type foes.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Merritt, 213064]]
- Quality checked by: [[Corporal Levi, 55063], [Nineage, 195129], [Quote, 21920]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Kris, 241023]]
Last edited:
