Charizard, The Flame Pokémon. It spits fire that is hot enough to melt boulders. It may cause forest fires by blowing flames. Its wings can carry this Pokémon close to an altitude of 4,600 feet. It blows out fire at very high temperatures. This colossal, flame-winged figure of a Charizard was brought about by Gigantamax energy. The flame inside its body burns hotter than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit. When Charizard roars, that temperature climbs even higher. It is said that Charizard's fire burns hotter if it has experienced harsh battles.
Overview
Charizard returns in this generation as one of the most terrifying Dynamax Abusers in the game. All of the generational changes seem to be designed for Charizard to fix all of its problems. Heavy Duty boots makes Stealth Rock a non-issue. Max Airstream gives Charizard a reliable secondary STAB and patches up its lackluster speed. Max Flare sets up Sunny Day to fuel Charizard’s Solar Power and Max Overgrowth gives Charizard reliable coverage its long-standing Water and Rock type foes. Even the Isle of Armor’s Scorching Sands gives it Special Ground coverage it was sorely missing.
However, all is not good for the classic Fire starter. In Between Solar Power, potentially Life Orb, common weaknesses and its own lackluster defenses, Charizard’s bulk is pitiful. Additionally, Charizard’s speed is not that impressive until it gets a Max Airstream boost, so it struggles to find opportunities against faster opponents. Finally, while Charizard’s power while Dynamaxed is great, it almost requires Dynamax to be effective, so being forced to Dynamax another Pokémon can turn Charizard into dead weight.
Positives
Solar Power Boosted Fire Attacks are insanely strong, able to melt all but the sturdiest of sponges.
Good Base 100 Speed that can be further boosted with Max Airstream
Fantastic Dynamax/Gigantamax Abuser
Negatives
Poor Defenses, common weaknesses and HP being eaten by Solar Power make Charizard incredibly frail.
Liable to be outsped and OHKO’d by common faster threats
Reliant on Dynamax and Vulnerable to weather disruption.
Lost its Mega Evolutions
Movesets
Solar Flare
-Blast Burn
-Hurricane
-Solar Beam
-Scorching Sands
Item Attached: Heavy Duty Boots
Ability: Solar Power
EVs and Nature:
4 HP/ 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
DYNAMAX:
Charizard is meant to come in under sun, Dynamax or Gigantamax, and unleash a blistering Hurricane powered Max Airstream and then run through an enemies team in the late game, or open up holes for its teammates to capitalize on. Blast Burn is preferred to maximize the power of Max Flare or G-Max Wildfire… and both Dynamax and Gigantamax have their own merits. Gigantamax applies a field effect that provides a chunk of passive damage that enables Charizard and its allies to reach for KOs it would have otherwise miss. Max Flare, while lacking the immediate power, does harden Charizard against weather manipulation, enabling it to reset the Sun at will. Max Overgrowth is a vital coverage move, hitting Water and Rock types that resist Charizard’s Fire STABs hard. Max Quake gives Charizard additional coverage against Electric types, but most of them should fall to Solar Power boosted Fire STABs.
EVs and Items:
Max Speed and Special Attack as usual for a sweeper. Charizard fights and faints fast, so maximized power and speed are a must. Heavy Duty Boots are recommended so that Charizard’s timer isn’t cut short by Stealth Rock, but if you are confident or unconcerned regarding Stealth Rocks, a Life Orb can be considered for extra overall power. Choice Specs is good for out of Dynamax power, enabling Charizard to act as a one time nuke after Dynamax.
Partners:
Sun Setters are a near must for this set. Dynamax is such a short timer that Charizard struggles to afford the time to setup the sun. Groudon is best, thanks to its ability to switch into Electric and Rock moves and having physical offense to compliment Charizard’s special. Torkoal and Ninetails also deserve mention.
Chlorophyll sweepers also make excellent partners, able to abuse the same Sun as Charizard and can pivot into Water moves just fine, forming a reliable Fire Grass core. Venusaur excels, having excellent all around stats and access to Sleep Powder to give Charizard time to setup.
Water types make good partners too. Seismitoad and Gastrodon can pivot into any of Charizard’s weaknesses thanks to their typings and abilities and strike back, while also punishing attempts to setup Sand or Rain.
Countering Charizard
Tyranitar and Gigalith stand out as excellent Charizard checks -ruining its precious sun and getting a massive bulk boost thanks to their self-setup sand, while easily threatening with their Rock STAB. However, neither enjoys a Burn from Charizard’s Fire STAB or Scorching Sands.
Other weather setters also fare fairly well in at least blunting Charizard’s power. However the Hail setters can’t stomach Charizard’s Fire STABs and Hippowdon, Pelipper and Politoed can’t stomach a Max Overgrowth.
Revenge killing Charizard with a faster threat is also a reliable answer. Regieleki reliably outspeeds Charizard after an Airstream Boost and can OHKO with Life Orb boosted Thunderbolt. If Charizard hasn’t nabbed an Airstream boost, the pool of faster threats widens dramatically, including, but not limited to Thundurus, Zeraora, Keldeo, Tapu Koko, etc..
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Evolve Charmeleon
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Trade from Red/Blue/Yellow
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Evolve Charmeleon
Colosseum/XD:
Trade from FireRed/LeafGreen
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Trade from HeartGold/SoulSilver
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Charmeleon
Black/White:
Not in game
Black 2/White 2:
Not in game
X/Y:
Evolve Charmeleon
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X/Y
Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Charmeleon
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 7, Route 8, Route 10, Route 11, Route 12, Route 13, Route 14, Route 15, Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Route 19, Route 21, Route 22, Route 23, Route 24, Route 25
Sword/Shield:
Evolve Charmeleon
Max Raid Battles: Fields of Honor, Challenge Beach, Loop Lagoon, Potbottom Desert, Hammerlocke Hills
Gigantamax Raid Battles: Lake of Outrage
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Charmeleon
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Anime Appearences
