One of Gen 1's fastest Fire types, Rapidash's Speed and Special outshine Arcanine competitively at A-Tier, making it Yellow's top pure Fire sweeper.
500HP65Attack100Defense70Speed105Sp.Def80Sp.Atk80
Ponyta
Rapidash
Weak to
Special
Setup Sweeper
105Speed · Fast

Is Rapidash Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Fast and hits hard enough for the Fire slot, but the competition in Yellow is steep. Charizard, Arcanine, and Ninetales all do the job too. Rapidash fits best on teams that skipped the Charmander gift and passed on Growlithe. A solid Pokemon that arrives to a crowded field.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadETTGSEEEEEETEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4PonytaCatchableRapidashEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Even

Ponyta trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Even
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's team hits Ponyta's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's typing presses Ponyta's defenses.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Ponyta has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

You Win
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
You Win
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
You Win
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Strong

Rapidash resists most of Koga's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Risky
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Giovanni's team.

Even
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Even
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Risky
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Even
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's team hits Rapidash's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Risky
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catch Ponyta

Available after Badge 4
Type
Fire
Tier
E

Catch Ponyta on Route 17 (walking, Lv 28-32, uncommon).

View Ponyta locations

Evolve Ponyta to Rapidash

Level 40
Type
Fire
Tier
A

Ponyta evolves into Rapidash at Level 40. Your Ponyta should hit Level 40 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 40)
    • LV 40FireEmberPower 60Accuracy 100%PP 25
    • LV 40NormalStompPower 65Accuracy 100%PP 20
  • After Misty
    • TM08NormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15S.S. Anne
  • After Lt. Surge
  • After Erika
    • TM40NormalSkull BashPower 100Accuracy 100%PP 15Safari Zone
    • LV 47NormalTake DownPower 90Accuracy 85%PP 20
  • After Blaine

How to Get Rapidash in Yellow

No wild Rapidash anywhere, so a Ponyta from that one fire-route has to reach level 40 and change over.

Catch Ponyta at any of these 1 spot to eventually evolve into Rapidash.

Encountered via tall grass encounters

  1. 1
    Catch Ponyta
  2. 2
    Evolve Rapidashat Lv.40
Badge 4

How to Obtain Rapidash in Y

  1. Rapidash
    Step 2Rapidash ✓

Rapidash Weakness

Type-wise, Rapidash takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. Rapidash leans offensive (base 100 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.

Rapidash Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Bug
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Rapidash Weak Against

Vulnerable
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Rapidash Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score-1
2xStrong
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Rapidash

Omastar
Omastar
RockWater
C
B
Sandslash
Sandslash
Ground
C
Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Gyarados
Gyarados
WaterFlying
B

Rapidash Evolutions

Ponyta's chain leads to Rapidash (at level 40). A Fire type at 500 stats, sitting in the Undiscovered group. 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

2 Forms
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
410E-Tier
500A-Tier+90
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Rapidash Best Moveset

105 Speed puts it ahead of most threats, and 100 Attack makes MoveBody Slam and MoveHyper Beam the stronger offensive options over MoveFire Blast from 80 Special. The physical moves outperform the Fire TermStab in raw output. Fast enough to choose which damage type finishes the target.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Rapidash
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Fire SpinSTAB
  • Body Slam
  • StompCoverage
  • Fire BlastSTAB

Moves List

TMs define Rapidash's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Fire Blast and Ember, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal coverage. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
D6010025Fire
Lv 1
Growl
D—10040Normal
Lv 1
Stomp
B6510020Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 30
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 32
Stomp
B6510020Normal
Lv 35
Growl
D—10040Normal
Lv 39
Fire Spin
B527015Fire
Lv 47
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 55
Agility
A——30Psychic

TM Moves

All 16 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B8510015Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM38A180855Fire
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A150905Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B10010010Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06A—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Rapidash can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
High
HP65
C
Attack100
B
Defense70
C
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def80
C
Speed105
B
Total500
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.7 m
Weight95.0 kg
Base XP175
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Speed training target
Pokedex Entry

Just loves to run. If it sees something faster than itself, it will give chase at top speed.

Pokemon Yellow

Rapidash Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, Rapidash plays as a setup 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.

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.

Explore

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