Rapidash

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Rapidash
National Ponyta - Rapidash (#78) - Slowpoke Johto Ponyta - Rapidash (#202) - Cubone Sinnoh Ponyta - Rapidash (#091) - Bonsly
Japanese name	Gallop
Stage	Stage 1
Evolves from	Ponyta
Evolves to	None
Generation	First
Species	Fire Horse Pokémon
Type	Fire
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)
Weight	209 lb (95.0 kg)
Ability	Flash Fire/Run Away

Rapidash (ギャロップ, Gyaroppu^?, Gallop) are one of the 493 fictional species of Pokémon creatures from the multi-billion-dollar^[1] Pokémon media franchise – a collection of video games, anime, manga, books, trading cards and other media created by Satoshi Tajiri. The purpose of ギャロップ in the games, anime and manga, as with all other Pokémon, is to battle both wild Pokémon, untamed creatures encountered while the player passes through various environments, and tamed Pokémon owned by Pokémon trainers.^[2]

The name "Rapidash" is a portmanteau of the words rapid and dash, both references to its high speed ^[3]. It also contains ash, which may be a reference to its fire-type ^[4].

Rapidash resembles very much a real horse, although it also has a horn on its forehead, a reference to unicorns. Rapidash's head, lower back, and ankles are aflame with orange-red fire, which streams out to form an impression of a mane and tail. ^[5]

Contents 1 Biological characteristics 2 In the video games 3 In the animé 4 In the Pokémon Trading Card Game 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biological characteristics

In the Pokémon universe, Rapidash is usually seen in fields and plains, probably as a part of a herd. In its natural environment, a Rapidash canters around casually, not in a particularly high speed. ^[5] However, competition is deeply ingrained in a Rapidash's demeanor, especially if it relates to speed.^[6] If a Rapidash sees something that is currently moving faster than itself, such as a vehicle, it will try earnestly to outrun it.^[7] In such a state, the fire burning on Rapidash blazes at full power as it accelerates to speeds approaching 150 miles per hour in less than ten strides.^[5] At full gallop, its speed is such that its hooves scarcely touch the ground. Rapidash's hooves are harder than diamonds, like its pre-evoloutionary form, Ponyta.^[5]

[edit] In the video games

Rapidash can be evolved by raising Ponyta to level 40,^[8] but it can also be found in the wild. In Pokémon Gold, Silver and Crystal, at Mount Silver and in Route 28. In Pokémon FireRed, it can be found in Kindle Road and outside Mt. Ember. In Pokémon XD, it can be seen and captured in Citadark Isle.

Its attack and speed are both very high. Unfortunately, Rapidash is Fire type and mostly learns Fire-type attacks, limiting the opportunity to use one to the best of its ability. Rapidash can learn Solarbeam, which gives it an advantage over Ground and Water-type Pokémon, which are otherwise strong against it. Sunny Day enables it to use Solarbeam consecutively if necessary, while also making its Fire attacks stronger and Water-type attacks weaker. In FireRed and LeafGreen, it gains a new move it can learn by leveling-up called Bounce which work in a way similar to the moves Fly and Body Slam, as it is a two-turn attack like Fly and it may also cause a Paralyze condition like Body Slam (Note: Rapidash can also learn Body Slam from a move tutor in the game). It can also learn Flame Wheel and Double Kick as egg moves.

Other than the Hikozaru evolution line, Ponyta and Rapidash are the only fire types in the Shin'ou region Pokédex.

Rapidash are also found in the Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap in the Volcano Course. They will charge past the player’s vehicle at the very start, but if hit with Pokémon Food or Pester Balls, they will rear up and a quality photograph can be taken.

[edit] In the animé

The Pokémon anime series and films are a meta-series of adventures separate from the canon that most of the Pokémon video games follow (with the exception of Pokémon Yellow, a game based on the anime storyline). The anime follows the quest of the main character, Ash Ketchum^[9]—an in-training Pokémon Master—as he, May and Hikari (as well as several other companions^[9]) travel around the fictitious world of Pokémon along with their Pokémon partners, Pikachu, Blaziken,^[10] and Pochama.^[11]

In episode #33 (The Flame Pokémon-athon), a Ponyta Ash was riding in a race evolved into a Rapidash just in time to win, and won by an inch after running at 100/mph. It was shown in this episode that a Rapidash can activly choose not to burn a human rider, if it trusts the trainer. In episode #65 (Holiday Hi-Jynx), we learn that Santa Claus uses Rapidash to pull his sleigh instead of the reindeers used in our world's tradition (with the advent of new Pokémon, this job was reassigned to the more reindeer-like Stantler). Rapidash also appeared in the movies Mewtwo Strikes Back and Mewtwo Returns. In Mewtwo Strikes back one of the three trainers that had made it to New Island had one. After that Rapidash was cloned, and the same clone Rapidash appeared in Mewtwo Returns.

[edit] In the Pokémon Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game similar in goal to a Pokémon battle in the video game series; players must use cards (with individual strengths and weaknesses) in an attempt to defeat their opponent by "knocking out" all of his cards.^[12] The game was first published in North America by Wizards of the Coast in 1999, until Nintendo USA started publishing the series in 2003.^[13]

Most Rapidash cards are typical, Stage-1 Pokémon cards. ^[14] Rapidash appear in the Jungle, Team Rocket, Gym Challenge (as Blaine's Rapidash), Expedition, Aquapolis, and EX FireRed and LeafGreen sets.^[15]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Pokémon website
• Bulbapedia (a Pokémon-centric Wiki)’s article about Rapidash as a species
• Serebii.net’s 4th Gen Pokédex entry for Rapidash
• Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex entry, full of statistics analysis
• PsyPoke - Rapidash Pokédex entry and Usage Overview
• WikiKnowledge.net’s entry for Rapidash Previously hosted by Wikibooks