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shadeking26
07-31-2009, 02:25 AM
Rapidash
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww190/shadeking26/rapidash.png
Summary
Rapidash is a pokemon whom is rather underrated and sees little notable usage. despite this she boast multiple powerful moves such as Flare Blitz, Megahorn, and has the ability to effectively utilize a Sunnybeamer combo with her greater than average speed, and decent special attack. She also works effectively as a support pokemon due to her ability to learn multiple status moves and Baton Pass. She has her faults though, and those lie in the fact that she has little with which to hit Rock Types with physically aside from Iron Tail. She also boasts the ability Flash Fire which gives her a nice immunity to Fire moves, most importantly Will-o-Wisp. She may have powerful moves but they lack overall coverage which causes her to be looked past when compared to Houndoom in UU and Heatran in OU. However when utilized correctly it can be an extremely omnipotent force that your opponent will never see coming.

Usual Counters

The more supportive sets usually lack a way to hit Rock types so a sturdy one like Golem is perfect. The offensive sets contain more coverage and are harder to take down. The Sunnybeamer is especially hard to counter however a bulky Fire type easily resists all of her attacks. The Choiced attacker can easily be countered with sufficiant prediction i.e. switch a Ghost into Double Kick or the Normal type move, switch Houndoom into Flare Blitz, etc.

Movesets
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Sunnybeamer
Nature: Hasty/Mild
EVs: 252 Sp. Atk/252 Spd/6 Sp. Def
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Life Orb/Heat Rock
Moves:
-Sunny Day
-Flare Blitz
-Megahorn
-Solarbeam

The gist of this set is to switch in on a move u can take, such as a weak Grass move like a -2 Leaf Storm, or any Choice-locked Fire move. If u are lucky to get a fire move u have hit the Holy Grail because u now have triple STAB and Flare Blitz to take advantage of it. Solarbeam kills the Water types which will try to switch in while Megahorn kills Grumpig in UU who will attempt to wall you with Thick Fat and scores super-effective hits on the numerous Psychic and Dark types in OU. Life Orb offers optimum power, but Heat Rock offers a longer sun duration and further use of Solarbeam and a superpowered Flare Blitz.
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww190/shadeking26/78.png
Double Status
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spd
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Focus Sash/Leftovers/Wide Lens
Moves:
-Hypnosis
-Will-o-Wisp
-Flare Blitz
-Megahorn

This set decides to use 2 of Rapidash status moves to disable the opponent's pokemon and harass them with powerful 120 bp moves. Hypnosis will be used most often however its shaky accuracy can be its undoing. Will-o-Wisp has a similiar problem. if one is desperate for higher accuracy then Toxic is an option though it is not recommended due to a lack of long-lasting effects. For items Rapidash has quite a few options. Focus Sash is mostly if she is used as a lead, Leftovers is for overall survivability, but Wide lens offers a 10% percent boost to the moves which can be the difference between a hit and a miss and as such is an option.
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww190/shadeking26/78.png
Pony of Choice
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spd
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Moves:
-Flare Blitz
-Megahorn
-Iron Tail/Double Kick
-Return/Double Edge/Quick Attack

Rapidash can make a potent Choice-User however her movepool is lacking in this department. Flare Blitz makes reliable STAB. Megahorn scores super-effective hits that none of her other moves will. Iron tail is for brute force against Rock-types however it has shaky accuracy, but Double Kick has the ability to hit through subs, and hit Steel super-effective, albeit at the cost of lower overall base power. Return is a reliable filler move, Double Edge can take its place but the numerous recoil moves may cause Rapidash an early death, Quick Attack can be used for revenge-killing but other pokemon usually fit this role better. Choice Band is recommended with a Jolly nature as it allows the most power, however Choice Scarf with an Adamant nature makes a relatively reliable revenge killer.
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww190/shadeking26/78.png
Baton Passin' Pony
EVs: 252 Atk/6 Def/252 Spd
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Leftovers/Focus Sash/Any Pinch Berry
Moves:
-Baton Pass
-Agility
-Substitute
-Flare Blitz

This is her other possibility for support. Baton Pass is an XD purification move and hence is incompatible with any of her egg moves. The only +2 stat she is able to pass is Speed however the pinch berries and substitute make her worthwhile. If you use the Focus Sash you should probably use a lead, Leftovers creates further survivability while a pinch berry will allow a further boost to be passed.

Rapidash is a powerful pokemon. Its powerful STAB will most likely do major damage to the opponent. Use it right and it will be a valuable ally in any battle you take it into.

Milos
07-31-2009, 02:28 AM
First of all, this is the standard format for analyses: http://teamuber.net/forum/showthread.php?t=4569 .

Second of all
Rapidash is a beautiful, powerful pokemon.

PLEASE do not include that.

That is all.

shadeking26
07-31-2009, 02:31 AM
i apologize i did not know there was a standard format i shall fix it