Is Ponyta Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
The Ponyta you find in Galar is actually the Galarian form, a pure Psychic type exclusive to Shield. Kantonian Fire Ponyta needs a transfer. Galarian Ponyta struggles against Allister's Ghost gym, but evolving into Rapidash adds Fairy typing and flips the script against Piers and Raihan. Worth raising to Rapidash before the later gyms.
Ponyta resists most of Milo's coverage and hits back hard.
Ponyta trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Ponyta trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Ponyta has the type edge here and should clean up Bea's team.
Ponyta has the type edge here and should clean up Opal's team.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Rapidash has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Rapidash has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Rapidash trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Ponyta on Glimwood Tangle (walking, Lv 34-36). All Weather.
Your Ponyta should hit Level 40 before you reach Gordie, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Galarian Ponyta in Sword & Shield
A solid number of locations for Galarian Ponyta with moderate rates across late-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Ponyta in SwSh
To get Ponyta, start by catching Ponyta through walking encounters at Lv. 34-65. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Ponyta ✓Glimwood TangleLv.34-36GrassShieldRate 10%All WeatherGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%OvercastGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%SandstormGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%ThunderstormGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%Normal WeatherGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%RainingGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%Intense SunGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%SnowstormGlimwood TangleLv.34-37OverworldShieldRate 10%Heavy FogGlimwood TangleLv.34-36OverworldShieldRate 10%SnowingOld CemeteryLv.60-65OverworldShieldRate 10%Heavy FogAvailable in-game· 2 pathsPick one
Ponyta Weakness
Bug, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Ponyta for super-effective damage. Not too many gaps in the chart, 3 weaknesses to account for.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
What is Ponyta Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Ponyta
 Stunky PoisonDark | C | |
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Nuzleaf builds →Payback 2x59-70% Astonish 2x27-32% | ||
 Golett GroundGhost | D | |
 Drifloon Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Drifloon builds →Shadow Ball 2x77-91% Brutal Swing 2x39-46% | ||
 Purrloin Dark | D | |
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
 Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x92-110%KO Lick 2x27-32% Pin Missile 2x24-28% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x156-184%KO Crunch 2x58-69% | ||
 Skuntank PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Skuntank builds →Sucker Punch 2x96-113%KO Hex 2x43-52% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x94-111%KO Lick 2x28-33% Pin Missile 2x24-29% | ||
 Malamar DarkPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Inkay (Bridge Field Surfing) | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x158-186%KO Crunch 2x59-70% | ||
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x131-154%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x90-107%KO Lick 2x26-32% Pin Missile 2x23-28% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x152-179%KO Sucker Punch 2x79-93% | ||
 Drapion PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Drapion builds →Night Slash 2x90-107%KO Bug Bite 2x52-62% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x132-157%KO | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x92-108%KO Lick 2x27-32% Pin Missile 2x23-27% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x153-181%KO Sucker Punch 2x79-94% | ||
Drapion PoisonDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Drapion builds →Night Slash 2x92-108%KO X-Scissor 2x70-83% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x138-163%KO Shadow Claw 2x80-95% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x140-165%KO Shadow Claw 2x82-97% | ||
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x95-113%KO Shadow Claw 2x63-75% Pin Missile 2x23-28% | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x157-185%KO Sucker Punch 2x82-97% Shadow Claw 2x82-97% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x162-191%KO Shadow Claw 2x80-95% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x159-188%KO Shadow Claw 2x78-92% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x150-177%KO Shadow Claw 2x88-104%KO | ||
 Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Bisharp builds →Throat Chop 2x142-167%KO Shadow Claw 2x82-97% Fury Cutter 2x47-56% | ||
 Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Hydreigon builds →Crunch 2x122-144%KO U-turn 2x71-84% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x162-191%KO Leech Life 2x91-108%KO Shadow Claw 2x80-95% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x125-147%KO U-turn 2x71-84% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x159-188%KO Shadow Claw 2x78-92% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x150-177%KO Shadow Claw 2x88-104%KO | ||
Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Bisharp builds →Throat Chop 2x142-167%KO Shadow Claw 2x82-97% Fury Cutter 2x47-56% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x162-191%KO Leech Life 2x91-108%KO Shadow Claw 2x80-95% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x125-147%KO U-turn 2x71-84% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x159-188%KO Shadow Claw 2x78-92% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x150-177%KO Shadow Claw 2x88-104%KO | ||
Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Bisharp builds →Throat Chop 2x142-167%KO Shadow Claw 2x82-97% Fury Cutter 2x47-56% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Dragapult can KO Ponyta with Shadow Ball (193-227%). Genesect threatens a KO with U-turn (145-171%). Hydreigon's Dark Pulse also KOs at 224-264%.
 Dragapult DragonGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Dragapult builds →Draco Meteor156-183%KO U Turn 2x71-83% Shadow Ball 2x193-227%KO Flamethrower72-85% | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Genesect builds →U Turn 2x145-171%KO | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Ponyta View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x224-264%KO Draco Meteor182-214%KO Flamethrower84-99% | ||
Ponyta Evolutions
Ponyta is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Rapidash. Check the evolution method below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 90 total stats over Ponyta. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Ponyta easily with 152 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
SwSh Ponyta Best Moveset
Fire TermStab from the physical side with 85 Attack and 90 Speed gives this pre-evo some punch, but not enough for a competitive moveset. AbilityFlash Fire absorbs Fire attacks for free, wasted on something too fragile to switch in. Evolve into Rapidash for better numbers.
Best Build
Ponyta best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- High Horsepower
- Wild Charge
- Quick Attack
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Ponyta's coverage across 8 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Future Sight and Psychic for same-type damage. Take Down and Psychic are the payoff moves.
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
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Its small horn hides a healing power. With a few rubs from this Pokémon's horn, any slight wound you have will be healed.
This Pokémon will look into your eyes and read the contents of your heart. If it finds evil there, it promptly hides away.
Ponyta Sword & Shield Guide
At 410 BST, Ponyta is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Rapidash before bringing it to any serious fight.
Run Away ensures success fleeing from wild battles. That's the one you want on Ponyta. Anticipation is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Pastel Veil works too if your team needs something different.
Ponyta is a physical attacker with base 85 Attack. Speed tells the real story. Base 90 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
In Sword & Shield, For a casual playthrough, Ponyta works as a placeholder. Psychic coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Rapidash. That's where the stats start mattering.
Game Availability
Available since Red & Blue, Ponyta appears in 20 games spanning 10 generations. Beyond its original form, it gained a Galarian form in Generation 8.
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 7LGPE
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