Is Rainbow Dash REALLY the fastest character in Equestria?

[Tetrakemy 221]

Yep, she's the fastest. She's the only one whose ever gone fast enough to do a sonic rainboom. 

 

 

So? So what?

 

She is the only Pony that has RAINBOWS as part of her body. Of course she is the only one who can make a Rainbow Boom.

 

Now, Add any other characters cutie mark to it and you have an X boom of their own. The academy training parter she had could easily make a Shockboom. 

[Fractured 2,684]

I think the Sonic Rainboom is a magical effect, not something that happens through speed alone. Rainbow Dash can only use it if she's going really fast,but she can choose not to use it even if she's going top speed. There's been many times she's been going full tilt but hasn't created one, like Secret of my Excess and Equestria Games.

[Justin_Case001 4,896]

A pissed off Fluttershy is potentially faster than Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie is potentially faster. So's Spitfire. Most of these had extraneous circumstances, though, so hard to say.

I thought about these sort of situations as well.  You can split hairs all day and think of situations where they defy logic, physics, and continuity.  For instance, in various episodes, when somepony is trying to escape from Pinkie, they will, seemingly, literally run around the world or something, and wherever they go, she's already there.  Does this mean Pinkie is the fastest pony alive?  Certainly not.  These montage type scenes are not to be taken as literal.  Just as spontaneous musicals are not actually happening in the sense that the characters are not actually singing in the context of the show.  It's for our benefit.  A pissed off Fluttershy can catch RD, but simply because the plot demands it.  But Fluttershy cannot break the sound barrier.  So, my opinion is that, yes, Rainbow is indeed the fastest pony in Equestria.

[NiceVillains 244]

Maud or Twilight when she had the other alicorn's magics are good competitors lol.

[---- 85]

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Edited June 10, 2018 by ----

[Rainbow Dash :... 0]

Yep. I don't care what you say, because what ever you say is invalid.

[Malinter 3,064]

Yep, she's the fastest. She's the only one whose ever gone fast enough to do a sonic rainboom. 

 

Thats not entirely true. The Sonic Rainboom is legendary.

 

If its a legend then that implies somepony else did it before. After all RD did not invent the Sonic Rainboom.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

It's fairly obvious that Lightning Dust is faster.

 

I mean, come on.

 

...that's my opinion at least

I always saw it that Rainbow Dash is faster, but a little less maneuverable. If their stats added up to 200 each, RD is 110 speed and 90 agility, while Lightning Dust is 100 speed and 100 agility. After all, LD has never done a sonic rainboom, but she managed to avoid the logs here, while RD clipped her wing.

 

[---- 85]

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Edited June 10, 2018 by ----

[Malinter 3,064]

I always saw it that Rainbow Dash is faster, but a little less maneuverable. If their stats added up to 200 each, RD is 110 speed and 90 agility, while Lightning Dust is 100 speed and 100 agility. After all, LD has never done a sonic rainboom, but she managed to avoid the logs here, while RD clipped her wing.

 

 

No. RD warned they should not go in together. RD had to adjust her course so as not to crash into LD but in doing so clipped her wing. had RD gone in first she would not have clipped her wing but LD would have crashed into her as LD is selfish and would not have corrected her course.

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

My rationale for Lightning Dust being faster is that in the first scene where she's flying (when Spitfire tells them all to fly laps) she equals or at a few times exceeds RD speed-wise; they're clearly racing each other in that scene, and, in my humble and highly biased opinion, LD seems to do better.

 

I'll concede them being equal on speed, but with LD still being superior in terms of agility.

I don't see that LD "does better" in that particular scene. And neither of them is the least bit out of breath afterwards, so it doesn't really seem like they were really trying their best to race each other. If they were sword fighters, it would be more of a trading of blows to test out the opponent, rather than a serious bout with both trying their best to bisect the other. Plus, the fact remains that Lightning Dust has yet to show that she can do any kind of supersonic flight, which Rainbow Dash has. Give me LD doing a Lightning Boom or what-have-you, and maybe I'll consider her equal to RD ito speed.

No. RD warned they should not go in together. RD had to adjust her course so as not to crash into LD but in doing so clipped her wing. had RD gone in first she would not have clipped her wing but LD would have crashed into her as LD is selfish and would not have corrected her course.

That was one example, and perhaps you're right, not the best chosen one. Still, earlier in that scene, LD was cornering much better than RD was.

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Edited June 10, 2018 by ----

[Malinter 3,064]

That implies that Rainbow Dash breaks the sound barrier when she does a Sonic Rainboom; regardless of what the name implies, that'd be physically impossible, so I treat it more as some kind of magical phenomenon. This is just diverging headcanon, though, so I won't hang on that point.

 

 

Rainbow does break the sound barrier when she does the rainboom as evidenced by the mach cone (though how she shatters the light spectum is a total mystery). However given that pegesi flight is magic based, the ability for a pegesi to do the sonic rainboom might be more than just speed.

 

RD did the rainboom first out of love of racing and the second time out of desire to save Rarity.

 

This makes sense because filly dash would be slower than adult dash, yet both achieve the Sonic Rainboom.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Shire Pony Malinter

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

That implies that Rainbow Dash breaks the sound barrier when she does a Sonic Rainboom; regardless of what the name implies, that'd be physically impossible, so I treat it more as some kind of magical phenomenon. This is just diverging headcanon, though, so I won't hang on that point.

 

I can't really argue your first point on them testing each other rather than actually competing, either, because that's a matter of opinion. That scene can be interpreted in all sorts of different ways, I'm sure. Lightning Dust, does, however, get ahead of her twice (I think?) and RD only gets ahead once. I don't see Rainbow Dash as the type to let herself get outdone even in a situation where they weren't actually racing.

 

That could be entirely unfounded, though, I'm going off of memory alone. p:

Listen to the way Pinkie describes it in Sonic Rainboom: "When a pegasus pony like Rainbow Dash gets going so fast... BOOM! A sonic boom and rainbow can happen all at once!" A sonic boom, by definition, occurs when something travels faster than the speed of sound. Fudging of physics via cartoon physics aside, it's seems intended to be the equivalent of a real life sonic boom, so yes, it IS breaking the sound barrier. I'm all for headcanon, but one can't use it to change the meaning of words to one's own liking.

 

But let's assume that it actually isn't literally supersonic. It's still an event based on reaching a certain speed. RD can reach that required speed, as far as we know, Lightning Dust can't.

 

This makes sense because filly dash would be slower than adult dash, yet both achieve the Sonic Rainboom.

How does that follow? Filly RD has smaller/weaker wings than adult Dash, but then, she also has much less mass to accelerate, and less drag due to being smaller. There's no reason to conclude she's in any way slower.

[Malinter 3,064]

LD could never achieve the rainboom as she is. When RD chased down Rarity, there was a chance at that speed RD might not be able to up up from it and slam into the ground.

 

LD could never risk her life like that until she cover comes her selfishness and lack of concern for others. After that. There's nothing else to say LD could not do a sonic rainboom.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Shire Pony Malinter

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

There's nothing else to say LD could not do a sonic rainboom.

By the same measure, neither is there anything to say she could. Assuming she's already fast enough, but is held back by her personality, is just assuming she's as fast as RD is, which is what the debate is trying to establish. You still need support for the assumption.

[Malinter 3,064]

By the same measure, neither is there anything to say she could. Assuming she's already fast enough, but is held back by her personality, is just assuming she's as fast as RD is, which is what the debate is trying to establish. You still need support for the assumption.

 

She is as fast. Both acknowledge each other as equals as they do the 500 laps together. Rainbow's original problem with LD wasn't even about speed but rank in the team. Not once does either of them even mention one being slower (or even better in fact) than the other (yet LD constantly gripes at the other teams being slow).

Edited August 6, 2014 by Shire Pony Malinter

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

She is as fast. Both acknowledge each other as equals as they do the 500 laps together. Rainbow's original problem with LD wasn't even about speed but rank in the team. Not once does either of them even mention one being slower (or even better in fact) than the other (yet LD constantly gripes at the other teams being slow).

Precisely. The scene is not intended to prove who is actually faster, or whether they are entirely equal in speed. The point is to show that Dash has found someone on a similar level to herself in terms of speed, a worthy rival, if you will. The scene is ambiguous. What would be entirely unambiguous is actually showing LD do a version of the sonic rainboom. And LD griping at the slower fliers shows that she is proud and a little condescending to those who aren't on a similar level to herself and RD. RD doesn't complain because she's a more mature, and a bit less driven. My point is that scene doesn't establish firmly and unambiguously who is faster, so you can't use it on it's own to conclude that they are equal in speed. 

[Fractured 2,684]

Precisely. The scene is not intended to prove who is actually faster, or whether they are entirely equal in speed. The point is to show that Dash has found someone on a similar level to herself in terms of speed, a worthy rival, if you will. The scene is ambiguous. What would be entirely unambiguous is actually showing LD do a version of the sonic rainboom. And LD griping at the slower fliers shows that she is proud and a little condescending to those who aren't on a similar level to herself and RD. RD doesn't complain because she's a more mature, and a bit less driven. My point is that scene doesn't establish firmly and unambiguously who is faster, so you can't use it on it's own to conclude that they are equal in speed. 

Again, it's unlikely a Sonic Rainboom is a measure of speed. She can do them going horizontally or from an incline, and there are times where's she's going full tilt and she doesn't do a Sonic Rainboom, like in Secret of My Excess. It's a magical effect; something she can do, but doesn't have to. It might actually be similar to the Sparkleboom, only with pegasus magic.

[RainbowDashie2000 117]

Well you can say she is the fastest flyer

[Sunny Fox 5,952]

Again, it's unlikely a Sonic Rainboom is a measure of speed. She can do them going horizontally or from an incline, and there are times where's she's going full tilt and she doesn't do a Sonic Rainboom, like in Secret of My Excess. It's a magical effect; something she can do, but doesn't have to. It might actually be similar to the Sparkleboom, only with pegasus magic.

According to Pinkie, it's definitely a matter of speed: "When a pegasus pony like Rainbow Dash gets going so fast... BOOM! A sonic boom and rainbow can happen all at once!" A sonic boom itself is based on speed. Twilight was also present, and didn't object to Pinkie's definition.

 

While I agree that pegasus flight is a form of magic, it's certainly not the same as unicorn magic, where it's consciously directed. It's more of a passive form that is automatically activated when a pegasus flies. And just like some unicorns have stronger magic than others, it's possible that some pegasuses have stronger magic than others and therefore a higher top speed. Rainbow Dash still needs to reach a certain speed, whether she's using physical power or magical power to reach it.

 

As for the scene you mentioned in Secret of my Excess, she wasn't going at sonic rainboom speeds because she had Fluttershy with her, and both of them were carrying the cloak to catch Spike and Rarity. Of course, RD could have done a sonic rainboom and presumably caught both Rarity and Spike, the same way she did in Sonic Rainboom, but she chose to get Fluttershy to help her. Also, she waited for Fluttershy to start making an effort herself before she turned on more speed.

 

 

 

 

[galaxysquid 2,122]

Well, we haven't really explored ALL of Equestria yet. 

 

Maybe there's a secret mystery pegasus somewhere. 

Ooo~

Plot Twists.

[Stiles Stilinski 48]

Yes. There is no proof anywhere in Equestria that she isn't. *Burns proof*

[Fractured 2,684]

According to Pinkie, it's definitely a matter of speed: "When a pegasus pony like Rainbow Dash gets going so fast... BOOM! A sonic boom and rainbow can happen all at once!" A sonic boom itself is based on speed. Twilight was also present, and didn't object to Pinkie's definition.

 

While I agree that pegasus flight is a form of magic, it's certainly not the same as unicorn magic, where it's consciously directed. It's more of a passive form that is automatically activated when a pegasus flies. And just like some unicorns have stronger magic than others, it's possible that some pegasuses have stronger magic than others and therefore a higher top speed. Rainbow Dash still needs to reach a certain speed, whether she's using physical power or magical power to reach it.

 

As for the scene you mentioned in Secret of my Excess, she wasn't going at sonic rainboom speeds because she had Fluttershy with her, and both of them were carrying the cloak to catch Spike and Rarity. Of course, RD could have done a sonic rainboom and presumably caught both Rarity and Spike, the same way she did in Sonic Rainboom, but she chose to get Fluttershy to help her. Also, she waited for Fluttershy to start making an effort herself before she turned on more speed.

 

 

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I believe it's activated at a certain speed, but not necessarily her top speed. The fact that she can do it against gravity means she can't be going her fastest anyway. It would make more sense this way; no doubt she was going her fastest in Equestria games, as well as in Flight to the Finish, Mysterious Mare Do Well,etc. Even running from Pinkie Pie, she didn't waste Ponyville or the Apple Orchards; if it was something she couldn't control, she'd probably have killed somebody by now.

[GameytheGeemer 147]

I think that everypony is forgetting the most obvious candidates to be faster than Rainbow Dash... Princess Cadence, Celestia, and Luna.

 

There isn't much evidence to say that they are, I'll grant you that, but it's made clear that Twilight, when she had all the alicorn magic, was exponentially faster than Rainbow when she was trying for a normal travel speed.

 

So, we it would stand to reason that Cadence (who was originally a pegasi) would be able to fly about 20% (Celestia and Luna taking up about 75% of that being the magic that makes up the 4) of that as cruising speed, so if she were able to fly as fast, or faster, than Rainbow Dash.

 

Unfortunately, we won't be able to see that, because of their ability to control their powers for the populace so they don't cause massive collateral damage and death tolls.

 

WARNING, PHYSICS HEADCANON AHEAD, MIXED WITH REAL PHYSICS

 

That said, Pinkie, with her ability to effectively teleport, as seen in Maud Pie (When she evaporates herself), she is clearly moving far beyond the speed of light, again, as shown by her ability to move unseen in all directions, but is moving so fast that the universe can't run a collision check (Think how you can clip through walls in games) on her, allowing for teleportation through 'solid' mater.

 

This is canon that she's much faster than Rainbow, as she can move faster than light, as seen in Griffon the Brushoff, Party of One, and Maud Pie.