Is Charmander Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
The hardest starter choice in FRLG and the most rewarding by the end. Brock and Misty both have the type advantage, so the opening gyms are a grind. AbilityBlaze adds a low-health Fire boost the originals never offered, making those early fights slightly less brutal. Everything opens up after Misty. Charizard runs through Erika, Koga, and most of the E4.
Brock's team hits Charmander's weaknesses hard.
Misty's team hits Charmeleon's weaknesses hard.
Charmeleon trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Charmander is available as a starter at Lv 5.
- After Brock
- TUTORNormalMega Kick12075%5
- LV 31FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- TM02DragonDragon Claw80100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Charmander should hit Level 16 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.
- After Brock
- TUTORNormalMega Kick12075%5
- LV 34FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- TM02DragonDragon Claw80100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Charmeleon should hit Level 36 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 36)
- LV 36FireHeat Wave14390%10
- LV 36FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Lt. Surge
- HM02FlyingFly13595%15
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- Post-Game
- TUTORFireBlast Burn22590%5
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Charmander in FireRed & LeafGreen
Starter gift from Professor Oak in Pallet Town, level 5. Pick Charmander over Bulbasaur and Squirtle. No wild Charmander exists anywhere in FRLG.
1 location to catch Charmander
How to Obtain Charmander in FRLG
Step 1Charmander ✓
Step 2Evolve into CharmeleonBREEDINGAvailableLeave Charizard with a compatible partner at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Charmeleon egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.HOME TRANSFERNot TradeablePokemon HOME on Switch FireRed & LeafGreen is permanently deposit-only — once it launches, Charmeleon can be sent from this game into HOME, but never transferred in.
Step 3Evolve into Charizard
Charmander Weakness
Charmander is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fire typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Charmander Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Charmander
 Squirtle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x184-216%KO Water Pulse 2x63-74% Rock Tomb 2x63-74% | ||
 Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x170-202%KO Water Pulse 2x53-65% Rock Tomb 2x58-70% | ||
 Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x100-119%KO Dig 2x53-65% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x153-181%KO Rock Tomb 2x81-98% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x184-216%KO Water Pulse 2x63-74% Rock Tomb 2x63-74% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x170-202%KO Water Pulse 2x53-65% Rock Tomb 2x58-70% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x100-119%KO Dig 2x53-65% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x153-181%KO Rock Tomb 2x81-98% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x156-184%KO Rock Tomb 2x53-63% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x146-171%KO Dig 2x53-63% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x146-171%KO Waterfall 2x90-107%KO | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x186-219%KO Water Pulse 2x60-71% Rock Tomb 2x63-74% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x170-201%KO Water Pulse 2x56-66% Rock Tomb 2x57-69% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x173-204%KO Dig 2x56-67% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x159-188%KO Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x150-177%KO Surf 2x110-131%KO | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x192-227%KO Surf 2x95-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x65-77% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x176-208%KO Surf 2x87-103%KO Rock Tomb 2x60-72% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x173-204%KO Dig 2x56-67% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x159-188%KO Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x150-177%KO Surf 2x110-131%KO | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x192-227%KO Surf 2x95-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x65-77% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x169-200%KO Dig 2x53-63% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x153-181%KO Rock Tomb 2x52-61% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x147-174%KO Hydro Pump 2x131-156%KO | ||
 Blastoise Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Blastoise builds →Surf 2x139-164%KO Earthquake 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodIcefall Cave Surfing | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x176-208%KO Dig 2x54-65% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x154-181%KO Hydro Pump 2x139-163%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x159-187%KO Rock Tomb 2x54-63% | ||
 Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Omastar builds →Surf 2x183-216%KO Rock Tomb 2x64-76% Mud Shot 2x47-56% | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x237-279%KO Rock Tomb 2x120-142%KO Surf 2x60-70% | ||
 Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Suicune builds →Surf 2x150-177%KO Dig 2x61-72% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 2x224-263%KO Dig 2x54-64% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x154-182%KO Hydro Pump 2x137-162%KO | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Omastar builds →Hydro Pump 2x232-273%KO Ancient Power 2x78-92% Mud Shot 2x47-56% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x160-188%KO Rock Tomb 2x54-64% | ||
Charmander Evolutions
Three stages ahead. Charmander grows into Charmeleon, then pushes on to Charizard. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. Evolving adds up to 225 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Charmander easily with 27 breeding partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups. Pass egg moves like Ancient Power, Beat Up, Belly Drum and 5 more to offspring.
FRLG Charmander Best Moveset
Two evolutions from Charizard, with AbilityBlaze boosting Fire moves at low HP. Nothing competitive at base stats this low. The moveset at this stage is just passing through.
Best Build
Charmander best EVs are Speed and Sp. Atk
Utility Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Dragon Dance
- Double Edge
- Dragon Claw
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Charmander gets Ancient Power and Beat Up exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 8 types rounds out the picture alongside Overheat and Fire Blast.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
From the time it is born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame were to go out.
It has a preference for hot things. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail.
Charmander FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
Charmander is the hardest starter for FireRed & LeafGreen if you want a Fire/Flying Pokemon on your team. Brock and Misty are brutal early gyms. Catch a Mankey on Route 22 or raise a Butterfree to bridge them. Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36 and gains Wing Attack flying coverage, then cleans house from Surge onward. Erika folds to Fire moves and Blaine falls to Slash crits. Sabrina is the toughest matchup with no Psychic counter on the team. Slash and Earthquake handle most of the Elite Four. Charizard cleans up Bruno, but Lance's dragons need a teammate.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Charmander has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves