[SET]
name: Physical Firium Z
move 1: Flame Charge
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: High Horsepower
move 4: Morning Sun / Wild Charge
item: Firium Z
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flame Charge is essential for Ponyta, allowing it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame and avoid being trapped and KOed by most variants of Diglett after a boost. Flare Blitz is a strong STAB move that also offers a very powerful Inferno Overdrive to let Ponyta wallbreak or sweep late-game. High Horsepower provides good coverage for Ponyta, letting it hit Pokemon like Onix, Mareanie, and Chinchou for super effective damage. Morning Sun recovery helps to mitigate Flare Blitz recoil and Stealth Rock damage and also pairs well with Flame Body, allowing Ponyta to continuously fish for a burn. Wild Charge is an alternate option that provides additional coverage for Ponyta to hit Pokemon like Staryu and Shellder harder than Ponyta's other moves.
Set Details
========
196 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Ponyta hit 19 Speed, outpacing Gastly and Speed tying with Staryu and Abra before using Flame Charge. 236 Attack EVs give Ponyta's attacks as much power as possible and let Ponyta net important KOs on Pokemon like Eviolite Foongus and Choice Scarf Mienfoo. The remaining EVs are put into Defense to reduce damage from physical attacks. Firium Z allows Ponyta to fire off a one-time 190-Base Power Inferno Overdrive, scoring KOs Ponyta would otherwise miss on Pokemon such as offensive Vullaby and 17 Speed Mienfoo after Stealth Rock damage. Electrium Z is an alternative option to break through Mareanie and Staryu, while Groundium Z can be used to hit Onix and Mareanie.
Usage Tips
========
Even without Eviolite, Ponyta is still moderately bulky and can come in on most neutral or resisted attacks and threaten the foe, though it is best for Ponyta to come in on a free switch to reduce its vulnerability to priority after chip damage. Be careful of doing so if you want to bluff a non-Z-Move set, since the lack of Eviolite may give it away to the opponent. Ponyta's typing and decent natural bulk allow it to come in on Pokemon like Spritzee and Foongus and begin threatening them. Flame Body can be used to pivot in on Mienfoo and threaten to burn it, as Ponyta takes little damage from Fake Out, Knock Off, and U-turn, although Ponyta should try to avoid switching in on High Jump Kick. Setting up with Flame Charge is important, as it allows Ponyta to outspeed Diglett and almost every Choice Scarf Pokemon. Flame Charge can be used on Pokemon Ponyta isn't particularly threatened by or Pokemon that it forces out like Foongus and Snivy. Inferno Overdrive is best used only after Onix faints, as Onix is extremely difficult for Ponyta to take on without a large amount of prior damage. Inferno Overdrive can also be used to KO a Pokemon Ponyta could not defeat with just Flare Blitz, like high HP Timburr or Mienfoo, if the opponent lacks a solid counter to Ponyta.
Team Options
========
Ponyta really appreciates entry hazard removal support from Pokemon like Staryu due to its vulnerability to every entry hazard, particularly Stealth Rock. Ponyta also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mudbray to weaken its targets and break Sturdy from Onix and Magnemite. A good switch-in to Rock- and Ground-types such as Snivy is greatly appreciated, since Ponyta can struggle to take them out without chip damage. Snivy in particular also provides Defog support for Ponyta. If not running Wild Charge, a Grass-type like Ferroseed or Foongus provides a useful switch-in to Staryu and other Water-types. Diglett works very well with Ponyta, since it can trap and KO the otherwise problematic Mareanie and Onix. Mienfoo is an excellent partner, as it can take on the Rock-types Ponyta needs chip damage for, lure in Spritzee, which Ponyta counters if running Morning Sun, and use U-turn to let Ponyta get in safely. Magnemite and Chinchou are also good partners for Ponyta, since their Volt Switch provides a relatively safe way to get Ponyta in, and they also threaten Water-types that stop Ponyta from sweeping.
name: Physical Firium Z
move 1: Flame Charge
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: High Horsepower
move 4: Morning Sun / Wild Charge
item: Firium Z
ability: Flame Body
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Flame Charge is essential for Ponyta, allowing it to outpace the entire unboosted metagame and avoid being trapped and KOed by most variants of Diglett after a boost. Flare Blitz is a strong STAB move that also offers a very powerful Inferno Overdrive to let Ponyta wallbreak or sweep late-game. High Horsepower provides good coverage for Ponyta, letting it hit Pokemon like Onix, Mareanie, and Chinchou for super effective damage. Morning Sun recovery helps to mitigate Flare Blitz recoil and Stealth Rock damage and also pairs well with Flame Body, allowing Ponyta to continuously fish for a burn. Wild Charge is an alternate option that provides additional coverage for Ponyta to hit Pokemon like Staryu and Shellder harder than Ponyta's other moves.
Set Details
========
196 Speed EVs and a Jolly nature let Ponyta hit 19 Speed, outpacing Gastly and Speed tying with Staryu and Abra before using Flame Charge. 236 Attack EVs give Ponyta's attacks as much power as possible and let Ponyta net important KOs on Pokemon like Eviolite Foongus and Choice Scarf Mienfoo. The remaining EVs are put into Defense to reduce damage from physical attacks. Firium Z allows Ponyta to fire off a one-time 190-Base Power Inferno Overdrive, scoring KOs Ponyta would otherwise miss on Pokemon such as offensive Vullaby and 17 Speed Mienfoo after Stealth Rock damage. Electrium Z is an alternative option to break through Mareanie and Staryu, while Groundium Z can be used to hit Onix and Mareanie.
Usage Tips
========
Even without Eviolite, Ponyta is still moderately bulky and can come in on most neutral or resisted attacks and threaten the foe, though it is best for Ponyta to come in on a free switch to reduce its vulnerability to priority after chip damage. Be careful of doing so if you want to bluff a non-Z-Move set, since the lack of Eviolite may give it away to the opponent. Ponyta's typing and decent natural bulk allow it to come in on Pokemon like Spritzee and Foongus and begin threatening them. Flame Body can be used to pivot in on Mienfoo and threaten to burn it, as Ponyta takes little damage from Fake Out, Knock Off, and U-turn, although Ponyta should try to avoid switching in on High Jump Kick. Setting up with Flame Charge is important, as it allows Ponyta to outspeed Diglett and almost every Choice Scarf Pokemon. Flame Charge can be used on Pokemon Ponyta isn't particularly threatened by or Pokemon that it forces out like Foongus and Snivy. Inferno Overdrive is best used only after Onix faints, as Onix is extremely difficult for Ponyta to take on without a large amount of prior damage. Inferno Overdrive can also be used to KO a Pokemon Ponyta could not defeat with just Flare Blitz, like high HP Timburr or Mienfoo, if the opponent lacks a solid counter to Ponyta.
Team Options
========
Ponyta really appreciates entry hazard removal support from Pokemon like Staryu due to its vulnerability to every entry hazard, particularly Stealth Rock. Ponyta also appreciates entry hazard support from Pokemon such as Mudbray to weaken its targets and break Sturdy from Onix and Magnemite. A good switch-in to Rock- and Ground-types such as Snivy is greatly appreciated, since Ponyta can struggle to take them out without chip damage. Snivy in particular also provides Defog support for Ponyta. If not running Wild Charge, a Grass-type like Ferroseed or Foongus provides a useful switch-in to Staryu and other Water-types. Diglett works very well with Ponyta, since it can trap and KO the otherwise problematic Mareanie and Onix. Mienfoo is an excellent partner, as it can take on the Rock-types Ponyta needs chip damage for, lure in Spritzee, which Ponyta counters if running Morning Sun, and use U-turn to let Ponyta get in safely. Magnemite and Chinchou are also good partners for Ponyta, since their Volt Switch provides a relatively safe way to get Ponyta in, and they also threaten Water-types that stop Ponyta from sweeping.
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