Utility
Setup Sweeper
500High
105Fast
CTier

Rapidash doesn't stand out in any single area, but it gets the job done for in-game teams. Only weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. Been around since Gen 1. Known as the Fire Horse Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.

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.

Base Stats
500High
HP65
C
Attack100
B
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def80
C
Speed105
B
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Rapidash yields +2 Spe
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Details
Catch60Challenging•Medium Fast1M XP•1.7m / 5'07"•95kg / 209.4 lbs•175Base XP
Pokedex Entries

At full gallop, its four hooves barely touch the ground because it moves so incredibly fast.

Gold

With incredible acceleration, it reaches its top speed of 150 mph after running just ten steps.

Silver

Rapidash Weakness

Avg

Type-wise, Rapidash takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Rapidash leans offensive (base 100 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
WaterGroundRock
½xResisti
FireGrassIceBugSteel
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (4)i
GrassIceBugSteel
3Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-1
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Run AwayEnsures success fleeing from wild battles.
Flash FireProtects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
Flame BodyHAHas a 30% chance of burning attacking Pokémon on contact.
Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

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.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Ponyta
#077Ponyta
40
Level 40
Rapidash
#078Rapidash
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Ponyta
Fire
Rapidash
Fire
HP
50
65+15
ATK
85
100+15
DEF
55
70+15
SP.ATK
65
80+15
SP.DEF
65
80+15
SPE
90
105+15
BST
410D-Tier
500C-Tier+90
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Rapidash to get Ponyta eggs easily using 66 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Charm, Double Kick, Flame Wheel and 3 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 66·

utility options keeps opponents guessing about Rapidash's real targets. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn while flexible EVs EVs and a nature nature handle the stat profile. An ability ties it together.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Rapidash Moveset

  • Hidden Power Fighting
  • Fire BlastSTAB
  • CurseSetup
  • CharmUtility

Recommended Teammates

Scyther
ScytherDecent
Jumpluff
JumpluffDecent
Granbull
GranbullDecent

Breeding's the move. Charm and Double Kick give Rapidash options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Steel coverage already covers a decent range on top of Fire Blast and Flame Wheel. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
4010025Fire
Lv 1
Growl
—10040Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
—10030Normal
Lv 4
Growl
—10040Normal
Lv 8
Tail Whip
—10030Normal
Lv 13
Ember
4010025Fire
Lv 19
Stomp
6510020Normal
Lv 26
Fire Spin
357015Fire
Lv 34
Take Down
908520Normal
Lv 40
Fury Attack
158520Normal
Lv 47
Agility
——30Psychic
Lv 61
Fire Blast
120855Fire

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM03
Curse
——10Ghost
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM20
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
120855Fire
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM35
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM34
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM39
Swift
60—20Normal
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Charm
—10020Normal
Egg
Double Kick
3010030Fighting
Egg
Flame Wheel
6010025Fire
Egg
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Egg
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Egg
Thrash
12010020Normal

Tutor Moves

Rapidash can't learn any Tutor moves

Rapidash starts showing up in late-game routes at decent spawn rates across 6 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.

Where To Catch Rapidash in Gold & Silver

Ponyta is your first catch on the way to Rapidash. You'll find walking and trade encounters from Lv. 6-44 across 16 total spots in the chain.

  1. Ponyta
    Step 1Catch Ponyta
    Route 22
    GoldGrassLv.6RareEarlyRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Route 22
    SilverGrassLv.6RareEarlyRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Route 28
    SilverGrassLv.40CommonLateRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 28
    GoldGrassLv.40CommonLateRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Silver - Outside
    SilverGrassLv.42CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Silver - Outside
    GoldGrassLv.42CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 26
    GoldGrassLv.32UncommonLateRoute
    EASY
    Route 26
    SilverGrassLv.32UncommonLateRoute
    EASY
    Route 27
    SilverGrassLv.32RareLateRoute
    CHALLENGING
    Route 27
    GoldGrassLv.32RareLateRoute
    CHALLENGING
  2. Rapidash
    Step 2Rapidash ✓
    Route 28
    GoldGrassLv.42UncommonLateRoute
    EASY
    Route 28
    SilverGrassLv.42UncommonLateRoute
    EASY
    Mt. Silver - Outside
    SilverGrassLv.44UncommonLateCave
    EASY
    Mt. Silver - Outside
    GoldGrassLv.44UncommonLateCave
    EASY
    Pewter City
    GoldIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Gloom)
    LEGENDARY
    Pewter City
    SilverIn-game tradeLimitedCityTrade for (give Gloom)
    LEGENDARY
    or evolve from Ponyta (Step 1)

  • 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 setup sweeper.

  • Rapidash's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Rhydon (Ground), and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Rapidash's base 105 Speed lets it outpace many threats and strike first, which matters more than trying to tank hits.

  • Ponyta evolves into Rapidash at level 40. Rapidash is the final evolution in a 3-stage line starting from Ponyta. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Rapidash fills the setup sweeper role. It's leaning toward the physical side (base 100 Attack). Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • Rapidash appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Rapidash first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 20 games across 9 generations. It later gained a Galarian form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.