Is Rapidash Good in Diamond & Pearl Playthrough?
Rapidash at 40 is the non-starter Fire option. Handles Aaron, Byron, and Candice through Fire. AbilityFlash Fire absorbs Fire for an immunity. If Chimchar isn't your starter, Rapidash is likely on your team by default. Sinnoh gives you no other choice.
Roark's team hits Ponyta's weaknesses hard.
Ponyta has the type edge here and should clean up Gardenia's team.
Ponyta has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Ponyta trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Ponyta trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Ponyta has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Rapidash resists most of Candice's coverage and hits back hard.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Rapidash has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Bertha's team.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Rapidash has the type edge here and should clean up Lucian's team.
Rapidash resists most of Mars's coverage and hits back hard.
Rapidash has the type edge here and should clean up Jupiter's team.
Rapidash resists most of Saturn's coverage and hits back hard.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Catch Ponyta
Catch Ponyta on Route 206 (walking, Lv 14-16, common).
Recommended Moves
- After Gardenia
- TM35FireFlamethrowerPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Veilstone Game Corner
- TM22GrassSolar BeamPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 10Veilstone Department Store
- HM04NormalStrengthPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 15Lost Tower
- LV 28NormalTake DownPower 90Accuracy 85%PP 20
- After Fantina
- TM23SteelIron TailPower 100Accuracy 75%PP 15Iron Island
- LV 38FireFire BlastPower 180Accuracy 85%PP 5
- LV 48FireFlare BlitzPower 180Accuracy 100%PP 15
- Post-Game
- TM50FireOverheatPower 210Accuracy 90%PP 5Stark Mountain
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
Evolve Ponyta to Rapidash
Ponyta evolves into Rapidash at Level 40. Your Ponyta should hit Level 40 before you reach Candice, at typical leveling pace.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 40)
- LV 40FireFire BlastPower 180Accuracy 85%PP 5
- LV 40BugMegahornPower 120Accuracy 85%PP 10
- After Gardenia
- TM35FireFlamethrowerPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Veilstone Game Corner
- TM68NormalGiga ImpactPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Game Corner
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Veilstone Department Store
- TM22GrassSolar BeamPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 10Veilstone Department Store
- LV 58FireFlare BlitzPower 180Accuracy 100%PP 15
- Post-Game
- TM50FireOverheatPower 210Accuracy 90%PP 5Stark Mountain
- TM42NormalFacadePower 70Accuracy 100%PP 20Survival Area
How to Get Rapidash in Diamond & Pearl
Rapidash has no encounter pin in Sinnoh. Level a route Ponyta to 40, an easy in-game evolution that skips the need for any stone or trade.
Wild Rapidash may be holding when caught:
Shuca Berry (5% chance) Held: Consumed when struck by a super-effective Ground-type attack to halve the damage.Catch Ponyta at any of these 5 spots to eventually evolve into Rapidash.
Encountered via tall grass encounters
- 1Catch Ponyta
- 2Evolve Rapidashat Lv.40
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6How to Obtain Rapidash in DP
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 206Lv.14-16GrassRate 45%DayRoute 206Lv.14-16GrassRate 35%MorningRoute 206Lv.14-16GrassRate 25%NightRoute 211 - WestLv.13GrassRate 10%Route 210 - SouthLv.18-20GrassRate 50%DayRoute 215Lv.21-22GrassRate 40%DayRoute 214Lv.23-24GrassRate 35%Morning/dayRoute 210 - SouthLv.18-20GrassRate 30%Morning/nightRoute 215Lv.21-22GrassRate 30%MorningRoute 214Lv.23-24GrassRate 25%NightRoute 215Lv.21GrassRate 20%NightRoute 211 - EastLv.26-28GrassRate 15%Morning/dayRoute 211 - EastLv.27-28GrassRate 5%Night
- Step 2Rapidash ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Ponyta egg.
How to Get Shiny Rapidash in Diamond & Pearl
Rapidash evolves from Ponyta, so chain that shiny on Route 206 or Route 210 by day at 1 in 200 and evolve it up. Compare Shiny Rapidash odds across every game
Diamond & Pearl Shiny Rapidash Calculator
3 MethodsThe best route is PokeRadar Chain at full boosts, about 1 in 200 on each try. Tune it below.
PokeRadar Chain: Chain shaking-grass patches without breaking the combo. The rate peaks at a chain of 40.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 22-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 58-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 139-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 460-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Planning a longer hunt? Set up Rapidash in the Diamond & Pearl Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.
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)
What is Rapidash Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Rapidash
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x89-105%KO Rock Slide 2x46-54% | ||
 Empoleon WaterSteel | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Piplup (Lake Verity Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Empoleon builds →Surf 2x101-119%KO Earthquake 2x64-76% Rock Slide 2x49-58% | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x103-122%KO Rock Slide 2x51-61% | ||
 Sandslash Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Sandslash builds →Earthquake 2x107-127%KO Rock Slide 2x55-65% | ||
 Torterra GrassGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Torterra builds →Earthquake 2x114-135%KO Rock Slide 2x58-68% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Hearthome City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x98-116%KO Dig 2x41-49% | ||
 Azumarill Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x61-73% Dig 2x35-41% Rollout 2x15-18% | ||
 Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x123-146%KO Rock Slide 2x62-74% | ||
 Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x117-138%KO Rock Slide 2x59-70% Water Pulse 2x31-36% | ||
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
 Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Golduck builds →Surf 2x89-105%KO Dig 2x50-59% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Obtain MethodGreat Marsh Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Quagsire builds →Earthquake 2x94-111%KO Surf 2x66-78% Rock Slide 2x47-56% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Gastrodon builds →Surf 2x85-100%KO Earthquake 2x92-108%KO Rock Slide 2x47-56% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Rapidash View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x103-122%KO Rock Slide 2x77-92% | ||
Rapidash Evolutions
Rapidash is the evolved form of Ponyta. Breeding produces Ponyta eggs, and they take an average time to hatch. 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 Field egg group. Notable egg moves include Charm, Double Kick, Double-Edge and 4 more.
DP Rapidash Best Moveset
105 Speed outruns a solid chunk of the field, and the physical/special split means MoveFlare Blitz now hits off 100 Attack as a true physical Fire option. AbilityFlash Fire turns incoming Fire into a free power boost. The moveset has speed and power, but 25% MoveStealth Rock damage per switch limits longevity.
Best Build
Rapidash best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Megahorn
- Morning Sun
- Sunny Day
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
24 of 27 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
Base Stats
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 Diamond & Pearl Guide
In Diamond & Pearl, Rapidash plays as a sweeper. It outspeeds most threats, so it can pressure opponents before they move.
Yes. Galarian Rapidash is a regional variant with different typing and a reworked stat spread. Introduced in Gen 8. Plays completely differently from the original.
In Diamond & Pearl, Jolly is the go-to nature for Rapidash. That's +Speed / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the sweeper role.
Game Availability
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Rapidash.
Keep playing · Diamond & PearlDiamond & Pearl Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Diamond & Pearl Tier List