Ponyta is a Fire-Type Pokémon in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl that can evolve into Rapidash under the right conditions. Players will need to evolve Ponyta if they want to acquire Rapidash, as Rapidash cannot be caught as a wild Pokémon in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
To evolve Ponyta in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, players first need to find and capture one. The first time Ponyta can be encountered in the wild is Route 211, which is east of Eterna City. They can be found in the patch of grass at the base of Mt. Coronet. Though this is the first time players can encounter Ponyta, they are fairly rare at this location. As players progress through the story in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl and defeat Eterna City’s gym leader, Gardenia, they will gain access to Route 206. Often referred to as Cycling Road, Route 206 is home to wild Ponyta, and, here, they will more commonly spawn than they do on Route 211.
Another location in which players can find Ponyta in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl is the grass along Route 210, which lies between Solaceon Town and Celestic Town in the Sinnoh region. They are fairly common at the southern part of Route 210 during afternoon hours. Ponyta can also be found along Route 214 and Route 215, with Route 215 being the final opportunity to catch a wild Ponyta as players leave Veilstone City.
Evolving Ponyta in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
To evolve Ponyta into Rapidash in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, players will need to get it to level 40. This can involve quite a lot of grinding, as most Ponyta caught in the wild, especially at the earlier locations, will be low level. The level requirement for obtaining a Rapidash is higher than most other Pokémon in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.
Ponyta will continue to level up as long as it remains in a player’s party. EXP share grants experience points, which are used to level Pokémon, to all Pokémon in a player’s party regardless of which Pokémon participated in the battle or wild Pokémon encounter. Ponyta is often a useful Pokémon to have in a party, as it is one of the few Fire-Types in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Having a Fire-Type may be especially useful as players travel the snowy route to the Snowpoint City and battle the Ice-Type gym leader, Candice.
An alternative method to obtain Rapidash that does not require a level 40 Ponyta is to give Ponyta Rare Candy. Players can acquire a Rare Candy in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl by speaking with Professor Rowan’s assistant in Eterna City. Using Surf, a hidden move that can be used in the overworld, players can find three Rare Candy along Route 214, Route 218, and Route 224. Solaceon Ruins, Stark Mountain, and Wayward Cave are other locations at which players can find Rare Candy.
A final method to obtain Rapidash is to trade with another player. While Ponyta is not a Pokémon that evolves with trading, a player can receive a Rapidash via trade with another player in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Players can visit a Pokémon Center and head up the stairs to the left to begin a trade, either using local play or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl are now available on the Nintendo Switch.