Charizard's built around special offense. Sp. Atk leads the charge, HP pays for it. Tough to catch, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
It is said that Charizard’s fire burns hotter if it has experienced harsh battles.
It is said that Charizard’s fire burns hotter if it has experienced harsh battles.
Type-wise, Charizard takes extra damage from Rock, Water, and Electric. Watch out for Rock attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 6 resistances give it solid defensive coverage on top of that. With 78 HP and balanced defenses, Charizard can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Rock |
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Electric |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Fighting, Steel, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Grass, Bug |
| 0x (Immune) | Ground |
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Amoonguss builds →Sludge Bomb33-39% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Forretress builds →Rapid Spin12-15% Volt Switch 2x26-31% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityEartheater ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Orthworm builds →
| ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySnow Warning ItemLightclay NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Abomasnow builds →Blizzard43-51% Giga Drain7-8% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityShielddust ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Charizard View Ribombee builds →Moonblast24-28% | ||
Charizard is the final form in a three-stage chain from Charmander through Charmeleon. Breeding this form produces Charmander eggs (average hatch time). Evolving from Charmander gave Charizard the biggest boost in Sp.Atk (+49), bringing the total to 534 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Charizard to get Charmander eggs easily using 72 partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups.
This build takes hits and hits back. Heavy-Duty Boots provides hazard immunity on every switch-in, Blaze supports the gameplan, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs mean Charizard doesn't crumble to chip damage. Plus double STAB backing it up.
Best Build
Charizard best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Scorching Sands
- Flamethrower
- Hurricane
- Air Slash
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Heat Wave
- Air Slash
- Weather Ball
- Overheat
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Overheat
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Flame Charge
- Acrobatics
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Air Slash
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Special Sweeper Moveset
- Air Slash
- Flamethrower
- Overheat
- Heat Wave
Recommended Teammates
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Flame Charge
- Acrobatics
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Air Slash
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Moves
TMs define Charizard's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Blast Burn and Overheat, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it coverage across 9 types. That's where the options open up.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Stall teams hate this. Charizard can spread damage across 10 types, with Dragon and Normal punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Blast Burn and Overheat keeps the pressure honest on everything else.
Breeding's the move. Air Cutter and Ancient Power give Charizard options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 9 types already covers a decent range on top of Blast Burn and Overheat. The egg moves push it further.
Stall teams hate this. Charizard can spread damage across 10 types, with Dragon and Normal punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Overheat and Flare Blitz keeps the pressure honest on everything else.
No wild encounters for Charizard in Scarlet & Violet. Bring Charmander over from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond, then level through the stages. Each step in the chain is laid out below.
Charizard isn't available in the wild in Legends: Z-A. Start by transferring Charmander from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond. The evolution path from Charmander to Charizard is covered in the steps below.
Can't catch Charizard directly. Start with Charmander at moderate rates from the locations below, then evolve at level 36. The 3-stage chain from Charmander to Charizard is where the leveling time goes.
How to Obtain Charizard in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The path to Charizard starts with Charmander at Lv. 58-63 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch CharmanderSandsear CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 DesertPostPost-gameSandsear CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 DesertPostPost-gameTyphlo CavernBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameTyphlo CavernShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 CavePostPost-gameVolcanic CaveShining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 VolcanoPostPost-gameVolcanic CaveBrilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 VolcanoPostPost-game
Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
Step 3Charizard ✓
Charizard can't be caught in Sword & Shield. Transfer Charmander from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Charizard in Sword & Shield
Step 1Obtain Charmander
Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
Step 3Charizard ✓
Charizard has a 534 base stat total and ranks as B-Tier: a solid choice for the right team. It works best as a sweeper. Base 109 Sp. Atk is where it shines.
Yes. Charizard has two Mega forms: Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. Both hit 634 BST. X and Y push the build in different directions, so pick based on what your team needs. One Mega per battle.
Blaze is the go-to ability for Charizard. It strengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. Its hidden ability Solar Power can work in specific setups.
Charizard fills the sweeper role. It's a special attacker with base 109 Sp. Atk. Base 100 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Charizard first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 21 games across 10 generations. It later gained Mega X and Mega Y forms in Generation 6, a Mega form in Generation 7, and a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYMega XMega Y
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGigantamax
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves