In Ruby & Sapphire, 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. Fire Blast with Leftovers is the standard set.

What is Rapidash weak to?

In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.

What is the best ability for Rapidash?

In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.

What role does Rapidash play in battle?

In Ruby & Sapphire, Rapidash fills the sweeper role. It's a special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

What counters Rapidash?

In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.

Rapidash - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Sweeper

CTier

105Speed · Fast

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.

Base Stats

High

HP65

Attack100

Defense70

Sp. Atk80

Sp. Def80

Speed105

Total500

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging60 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height1.7 m

Weight95.0 kg

Base XP175

Abilities

Run AwayRare

Ensures success fleeing from wild battles.

Flash FireTop Pick

Protects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.

Flame BodyHANot in game

Has a 30% chance of burning attacking Pokémon on contact.

Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2

Speed training target

Pokedex Entries

RAPIDASH usually can be seen casually cantering in the fields and plains. However, when this POKéMON turns serious, its fiery manes flare and blaze as it gallops its way up to 150 mph.

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.

Rapidash Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel

Type ChartAvg

3Weak

5Resist

1Immune

Score-1

Gen III Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Water Ground Rock

½xResist

Fire Grass Ice Bug Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Fire

STAB (4)

Grass Ice Bug Steel

How to Beat Rapidash in Ruby & Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Ruby & Sapphire, Aerodactyl can KO Rapidash with Rock Slide (154-182%). Starmie threatens a KO with Surf (108-127%). Forretress deals 79-94% with Explosion.

Aerodactyl RockFlying	A
Recommended Build AbilityRockhead ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves Earthquake Rock Slide Double Edge Hidden Power Flying Damage vs Rapidash Earthquake 2x 137-161%KO Rock Slide 2x 154-182%KO Double Edge 82-96% View Aerodactyl builds →
Starmie WaterPsychic	A
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves Rapid Spin Ice Beam Thunderbolt SurfSTAB Damage vs Rapidash Rapid Spin 13-15% Ice Beam 18-21% Thunderbolt 36-42% Surf 2x 108-127%KO View Starmie builds →
ForretressThreatens with Spikes, sturdy guarantees survival, walls physical sets BugSteel	B
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves SpikesHazard Rapid Spin Explosion Earthquake Damage vs Rapidash Rapid Spin 16-19% Explosion 79-94% Earthquake 2x 64-75% View Forretress builds →

Ruby & Sapphire 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

2 Forms

#077Ponyta

Level 40

#078Rapidash

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Ponyta

Fire

Rapidash

Fire

65+15

ATK

100+15

DEF

70+15

SP.ATK

80+15

SP.DEF

80+15

SPE

105+15

BST

410D-Tier

500C-Tier+90

ROLE

Balanced

Sweeper

TYPE

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Rapidash to get Ponyta eggs easily using 102 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Charm, Double Kick, Double-Edge 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)

Ruby & Sapphire Rapidash Best Moveset

Click Baton Pass, bring in a teammate, repeat. Rapidash's pivot game is backed by Leftovers for passive recovery each turn and flexible EVs. Flashfire works in the background while the remaining moves covers bad matchups.

Best Build

Situational pick

Special Attacker

Ability

Flash Fire

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Rapidash

Timid+SPE

Rapidash best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Def

SpA

SpD

Spe

Special Attacker Moveset

Fire BlastSTAB
Sunny DaySTAB
Solar Beam
Baton Pass

Recommended Teammates

DugtrioDecent

HeracrossDecent

StarmieDecent

Moves

Breeding's the move. Charm and Double Kick give Rapidash options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Flying coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Overheat and Fire Blast. 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 5

Growl

——10040Normal

Lv 9

Tail Whip

——10030Normal

Lv 14

Ember

—4010025Fire

Lv 19

Stomp

C6510020Normal

Lv 25

Fire Spin

—357015Fire

Lv 31

Take Down

C908520Normal

Lv 38

Agility

D——30Psychic

Lv 40

Fury Attack

—158520Normal

Lv 50

Bounce

—85855Flying

Lv 63

Fire Blast

S120855Fire

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

S120855Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

C9510015Fire

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM23

Iron Tail

C1007515Steel

TM50

Overheat

B140905Fire

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM22

Solar Beam

A12010010Grass

HM04

Strength

—8010015Normal

TM11

Sunny Day

A——5Fire

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Egg

Charm

——10020Normal

Egg

Double Kick

—3010030Fighting

Egg

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Egg

Flame Wheel

—6010025Fire

Egg

Hypnosis

B—6020Psychic

Egg

Thrash

—12010020Normal

Tutor Moves

Rapidash can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Rapidash in Ruby & Sapphire

No wild encounters for Rapidash in Ruby & Sapphire. Bring Ponyta over from Red, Yellow, or Platinum, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.

How to Obtain Rapidash in Ruby & Sapphire

Step 1Obtain Ponyta
Catch in the wild in:
FireRedWalking · Kindle Road
Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire to continue the evolution chain.
Also found in:
Red Yellow Gold Crystal Diamond Platinum
Train until Level 40
Step 2Rapidash ✓

Rapidash Guide

In Ruby & Sapphire, 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. Fire Blast with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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 Ruby & Sapphire, Rapidash fills the sweeper role. It's a special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Base 105 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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

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