Just a skeleton to start with ==General== *Speedy Gonzales *Frailer than 50 Cent's integrity without Eviolite *Powerful Fire-type STAB *Flame Body and Flash Fire are both good *Decent Coverage *Can die fast ==My Little Life Orb== Ponyta (F) @ Life Orb Trait: Flash Fire EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Flare Blitz - Wild Charge - Morning Sun - Frustration / Return *Very powerful *Good coverage on waters with Wild Charge *Can keep itself alive with Morning Sun *Frustration is filler because I despise Hypnosis *When do you see Life Orbs outside of Murkrow these days :o ==Geryon the Timesteed== Ponyta (M) @ Eviolite Trait: Flame Body EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Flare Blitz - Morning Sun - Sunny Day / Will-O-Wisp - Wild Charge *Much more longevity than the previous set due to Eviolite *Flare Blitz does what it always does *Wild Charge for Water-types *Sunny Day increases Flare Blitz's powers while easing Ponyta's water troubles as well as boosting some potential sweepers if your team is that way inclined. *Will-O-Wisp cripples physical attackers and allows Ponyta to take on a number of threats more effectively, such as Mienfoo *Flame Body gives extra burn chances that can make a big difference, also prevents Porygon from tracing your Flash Fire ==Other Options== *Hypnosis *Special Attacks *Will-O-Wisp *Various random coverage moves like Double Kick *Flame Charge can boost Ponyta's speed if you predict a switch or upon finishing off a weakened foe. Morning Sun or extra coverage is usually preferred however. ==Checks and Counters== *Stealth Rock *Rock-types in general, especially Tirtouga *Pokémon with big physical bulk and no Fire weakness *Strong priority can significantly shorten life. *Porygon can trace Flash Fire and cripple with Twave or just kill outright *Snover is destroyed directly but hail causes Ponyta pain and reduces its recovery. *Chinchou is immune to Wild Charge but it takes a decent chunk from Frustration/Return Still Very Rough Skeleton, suggestions is what I am fishing for.
If you want to bolster Ponyta's speed, expecting a switch, use Flame Charge over Morning Sun. Aesthetic-wise, slash Return with Frustration. :D
The eviolite set with Flame Body is really good, and imo deserves a mention. Sunny Day should be in OO (or on Evio set). It nullifies Ponyta's Water weakness while increasing Morning Sun's recovery. Mention Porygon in C&C as it can trace Flash Fire and cripple it with TWave. Splash Plate Tirtouga should be in C&C as Aqua Tail/Jet can KO LO Ponyta. As should most water-types be especially Chinchou. I'll check again later.
I know Mylo has pretty much said this now but I went to the trouble to type it last night (it wouldn't let me post it then for some reason). Frail? Look again Ponyta has very decent defenses combined with an Evolite and morning sun. Sunny day is worth a slash on that set as it removes hail that prevents morning sun from healing while also powering up Ponyta's strongest move and providing a buffer against water types allowing him to survive several hits he wouldn't otherwise. I strongly recomend a bulkier set to be added as well as it's one of the primer pivots in the metagame today and one of my personal favourite sets. Ponyta (F) @ Eviolite Trait: Flame Body EVs: 236 Atk / 76 SDef / 196 Spd Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk) - Flare Blitz - Morning Sun - Frustration/Sunny Day/Will-O-Wisp - Wild Charge/Sunny Day This set gets 21 special defense which along with its high speed lets it beat a variety of special threats sunny day/willowisp can provide team support while flame body allows it to switch into U-Turners and threaten them with a potential burn.
Iirc Ponyta has the highest BST of any unevolved LC Pokemon (apart from those that never evolved until they got an evolution, such as Scyther). Might be worth a mention?