[OVERVIEW]
Rapidash outspeeds most of the tier and boasts a ton of power through its great Attack and a strong STAB move in Flare Blitz. Combine that with great coverage and access to healing via Morning Sun, and Rapidash becomes a versatile and fast threat in PU that can outspeed key threats like Simisage, Swanna, and Dodrio. However, Rapidash can get worn down easily by entry hazards and chip damage from its own attacks, gets consistently stopped by walls such as Frillish and Machoke, is outsped by even faster threats like Zebstrika and Purugly, and faces stiff competition by other Fire-types like Monferno and Simisear, so the horse can sometimes struggle to find solid success in PU.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Morning Sun
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Drill Run / Will-O-Wisp
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Morning Sun increases longevity by healing off recoil damage as well as other chip damage from sources like entry hazards. Wild Charge is for hitting Water-types such as Swanna and Huntail, and Drill Run is for hitting Rock-types such as Rampardos as well as Stunfisk. Will-O-Wisp can be used over Drill Run as an additional utility option for hindering threats like Dodrio and Stoutland as well as spreading chip damage, but the loss of Drill Run makes taking on certain walls like Stunfisk much harder. Leftovers is the preferred item to shore up Rapidash's constant chip damage and increase longevity, but Life Orb can also be used to secure certain 2HKOs on key threats like Frillish.
Rapidash tends to collect a lot of recoil damage from Flare Blitz and Wild Charge, so additional chip damage from sources like entry hazards can make a significant difference in how long Rapidash is in play. Following that, entry hazard control such as Tentacool and Natu make for good partners. Rapidash also attracts common Water-type switch-ins like Frillish as well as certain other physical walls like Stunfisk and Machoke, so Pokemon that counter these threats like Vileplume, Torterra, and Beheeyem also work as teammates. Rapidash excels in clearing out Grass- and Steel-types like Vileplume and Bronzor, so Pokemon like Zebstrika and Gabite also appreciate having it around. Rapidash also tends to coax in common revenge killers such as Zebstrika and Jumpluff, so having walls of your own in the wings such as Stunfisk and Bronzor can also be useful.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Rapidash outspeeds most of the tier and boasts a ton of power through its great Attack and a strong STAB move in Flare Blitz. Combine that with great coverage and access to healing via Morning Sun, and Rapidash becomes a versatile and fast threat in PU that can outspeed key threats like Simisage, Swanna, and Dodrio. However, Rapidash can get worn down easily by entry hazards and chip damage from its own attacks, gets consistently stopped by walls such as Frillish and Machoke, is outsped by even faster threats like Zebstrika and Purugly, and faces stiff competition by other Fire-types like Monferno and Simisear, so the horse can sometimes struggle to find solid success in PU.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Flare Blitz
move 2: Morning Sun
move 3: Wild Charge
move 4: Drill Run / Will-O-Wisp
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Flash Fire
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Morning Sun increases longevity by healing off recoil damage as well as other chip damage from sources like entry hazards. Wild Charge is for hitting Water-types such as Swanna and Huntail, and Drill Run is for hitting Rock-types such as Rampardos as well as Stunfisk. Will-O-Wisp can be used over Drill Run as an additional utility option for hindering threats like Dodrio and Stoutland as well as spreading chip damage, but the loss of Drill Run makes taking on certain walls like Stunfisk much harder. Leftovers is the preferred item to shore up Rapidash's constant chip damage and increase longevity, but Life Orb can also be used to secure certain 2HKOs on key threats like Frillish.
Rapidash tends to collect a lot of recoil damage from Flare Blitz and Wild Charge, so additional chip damage from sources like entry hazards can make a significant difference in how long Rapidash is in play. Following that, entry hazard control such as Tentacool and Natu make for good partners. Rapidash also attracts common Water-type switch-ins like Frillish as well as certain other physical walls like Stunfisk and Machoke, so Pokemon that counter these threats like Vileplume, Torterra, and Beheeyem also work as teammates. Rapidash excels in clearing out Grass- and Steel-types like Vileplume and Bronzor, so Pokemon like Zebstrika and Gabite also appreciate having it around. Rapidash also tends to coax in common revenge killers such as Zebstrika and Jumpluff, so having walls of your own in the wings such as Stunfisk and Bronzor can also be useful.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bella.567483/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Last edited:
