#77 - #78: Ponyta & Rapidash

Official art of Ponyta (left) and Rapidash (right).

OMG OMG OMG, DID SOMEONE SAY UNICORNS???

Yeah, I don't care about unicorns.

Rapidash is awesome though, so let's see what this thing is all about. It is the evolved form of Ponyta, who is really nothing special. Okay, its hooves are said to be ten times harder than diamond, but that's only a good thing for Ponyta. We can't go collect them hooves, PETA will have our heads for that. It can jump over Ayers Rock and the Eiffel Tower, but who says Rapidash can't do it better? Besides, newborn Ponyta can't even stand properly and only strengthen overtime while chasing its parents, very much like real-life newborn foals. I guess Rapidash can do everything that Ponyta can do, just better. And on top of that, it can even run 150 miles per hour while barely touching the ground, reaching its top speed in only ten steps. The faster it goes, the longer its blazing manes become and the brighter they sparkle.

Shiny Ponyta and Rapidash both have some of the best shiny
forms created by Game Freak.

Ponyta's flavor may not be that interesting compared to Rapidash's, but it and its evolution are definitely some of the most graceful Pokémon in existence. Not surprising, as horses are often seen as noble animals since humans use them for transport. The image of Ponyta and Rapidash's gracefulness is only enhanced by their shiny forms, which are some of the best ones out there. Normally, Ponyta and Rapidash both have normal orange-red flames as manes. This suggests that they're based on the fiery steeds in mythology, such as those belonging to the Greek god Helios, or Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi from Norse mythology. These horses are ridden by Dagr (meaning 'day') and Nótt ('night') respectively, and Ponyta and Rapidash's shiny forms only make us wonder whether they are based on those mythological horses: shiny Ponyta have blue flames (day?), while shiny Rapidash are blessed with gray flames (night?). One thing is for sure: while some shiny Pokémon are downright ugly, Ponyta and Rapidash only look more beautiful than their regular forms. I love them. Not as much as shiny Ninetales, but I love them nonetheless.

Potential Mega evolution of Rapidash? I'd support a flaming
Pegasus Pokémon for sure. 

But a shiny is nothing when it cannot fight, right? Well, don't worry: Rapidash is actually a competent Pokémon to use competitively. It's got excellent attack and speed and somewhat medicore defenses. They're not terrible, but I think Rapidash is supposed to be a glass cannon and has to hit hard and fast, so you'd better invest EVs in speed and attack and give it a Choice Band or Life Orb. Flash Fire is the preferred ability, as it absorbs other fire-type moves and gives Rapidash a boost in its own fire-type moves in return, while its moveset should consist of Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, Drill Run and Will-O-Wisp. Be careful, because the first two moves cause recoil damage on Rapidash and wear it down easily (especially when combined with a Life Orb). Poison Jab, Megahorn, Bounce, Iron Tail and Low Kick are also solid options for Rapidash if you know or suspect what you're about to face and want to use other moves instead of Drill Run and/or Wild Charge (and let's be honest: two recoil moves, especially when Rapidash doesn't even receive STAB from one of them, is a little redundant for such a frail Pokémon, don't you think?).

In the end, Rapidash doesn't even look as much like a unicorn as I made you believe at the beginning of this entry. I love everything about it, though: its characteristics, the fact that it is based on mythological horses, its fighting capabilities, its diverse movepool (but how the hell does it get Poison Jab?)... However, it is its shiny form that makes me give it and its pre-evolution Ponyta a perfect rating. I am starting to understand why the human race regards horses as noble creatures.

Rating: 5/5