Stats & Training
Rapidash's built around mixed offense. Speed leads the charge, HP pays for it. Moderately hard to find, worth 2 Speed EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It gallops at nearly 150 mph. With its mane blazing ferociously, it races as if it were an arrow.
It has astounding acceleration. From a standstill, it can reach top speed within 10 steps.
Rapidash Weakness
Type-wise, Rapidash takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Flash Fire grants an additional Fire immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Rapidash leans offensive (base 100 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
In Diamond & Pearl, Flygon can KO Rapidash with Earthquake (135-159%). Swampert threatens a KO with Earthquake (117-137%). Aerodactyl's Stone Edge also KOs at 140-165%.
 Flygon GroundDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x135-159%KO Outrage81-96% U Turn15-18% | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Swampert builds →Earthquake 2x117-137%KO Ice Beam13-15% Waterfall 2x93-110%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Aerodactyl builds →Earthquake 2x93-110%KO Stone Edge 2x140-165%KO | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | C | |
Ground is super effective against RapidashView Garchomp → | ||
Diamond & Pearl Evolution
Rapidash is the evolved form of Ponyta. Breeding produces Ponyta eggs, and they're average hatch time. Evolving from Ponyta gave Rapidash the biggest boost in HP (+15), bringing the total to 500 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Rapidash to get Ponyta eggs easily using 131 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Charm, Double Kick, Double-Edge and 4 more.
Diamond & Pearl Rapidash Best Moveset
Bug coverage keeps opponents guessing about Rapidash's real targets. Life Orb provides extra damage on every hit for a health trade while max Attack and Speed EVs and Jolly nature handle the stat profile. Flashfire ties it together.
Best Build
Rapidash best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Megahorn
- Morning Sun
- Sunny Day
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Charm and Double Kick give Rapidash options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Overheat and Flare Blitz. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Rapidash in Diamond & Pearl
You're catching Ponyta first, not Rapidash. Ponyta appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Rapidash in Diamond & Pearl
To get Rapidash, start by catching Ponyta through walking encounters at Lv. 13-28. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PonytaRoute 206DiamondGrass Lv.14 RouteCommonEarlyNightRoute 206DiamondGrass Lv.14-16 RouteCommonEarlyRoute 206PearlGrass Lv.14-16 RouteCommonEarlyRoute 211 - WestDiamondGrass Lv.13 RouteUncommonEarlyRoute 211 - WestPearlGrass Lv.13 RouteUncommonEarlyRoute 210 - SouthPearlGrass Lv.18-20 RouteCommonMidRoute 210 - SouthDiamondGrass Lv.18-20 RouteCommonMidRoute 215DiamondGrass Lv.21-22 RouteCommonMidMorning/dayRoute 215PearlGrass Lv.21-22 RouteCommonMidMorning/dayRoute 214DiamondGrass Lv.23-24 RouteCommonMidRoute 214PearlGrass Lv.23-24 RouteCommonMidRoute 215DiamondGrass Lv.21-22 RouteUncommonMidNightRoute 215PearlGrass Lv.21-22 RouteUncommonMidNightRoute 211 - EastDiamondGrass Lv.26-28 RouteUncommonMidMorning/dayRoute 211 - EastPearlGrass Lv.26-28 RouteUncommonMidMorning/dayRoute 211 - EastPearlGrass Lv.26-28 RouteRareMidNightRoute 211 - EastDiamondGrass Lv.26-28 RouteRareMidNight
Step 2Rapidash ✓
Rapidash Guide
In Diamond & Pearl, Don't let Rapidash's 500 base stat total fool you. Flash Fire is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it C-Tier as a sweeper. Flare Blitz with Life Orb is the standard set.
In Diamond & Pearl, Run Flash Fire on Rapidash. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Rapidash also gets Run Away and Flame Body, but they don't compare. With base 105 Speed, Flash Fire gives Rapidash an edge before opponents can react.
In Diamond & Pearl, Rapidash fills the sweeper role. It's a physical attacker with base 100 Attack. Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In Diamond & Pearl, the best way to handle Rapidash: Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.
Game Availability
Rapidash first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 20 games across 10 generations. It later gained a Galarian form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves