Speed and Sp. Atk carry most of Charmander's stat budget. HP's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If the Pokémon is healthy, its tail burns intensely.
The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If the Pokémon is healthy, its tail burns intensely.
Charmander is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fire typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
Excadrill can KO Charmander with Earthquake (283-334%). Urshifu threatens a KO with Close Combat (181-213%). Hippowdon's Earthquake also KOs at 200-236%.
 Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x283-334%KO Rapid Spin47-56% | ||
 Urshifu FightingDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemFocus Sash NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Urshifu builds →Close Combat181-213%KO Sucker Punch106-124%KO | ||
 Hippowdon Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x200-236%KO | ||
 Toxapex PoisonWater | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Toxapex builds →
| ||
 Garganacl Rock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPurifyingsalt ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves View Garganacl builds →
| ||
Three stages ahead. Charmander grows into Charmeleon, then pushes on to Charizard. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners 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 72 breeding partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups.
Find one free turn for Dragon Dance and Charmander can run through teams. Adamant nature leans physical, Solarpower supports the sweep, and the remaining moves stops anything from walling it cleanly.
Best Build
Charmander best EVs are Speed and Attack
Utility Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Ancient Power
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Tera Blast
- Focus Blast
Recommended Teammates
Special Attacker Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Facade
- Flare Blitz
- Will O Wisp
Recommended Teammates
Utility Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Ancient Power
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Dragon Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Tera Blast
- Focus Blast
Special Attacker Moveset
- Flamethrower
- Facade
- Flare Blitz
- Will O Wisp
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
TMs carry this one. Charmander learns Overheat and Flare Blitz naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Dragon and beyond give it real matchup play.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
TMs carry this one. Charmander learns Overheat and Flare Blitz naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Dragon and beyond give it real matchup play.
Egg moves make a real difference. Charmander gets Air Cutter and Ancient Power exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 9 types rounds out the picture alongside Overheat and Flare Blitz.
Flamethrower and Inferno bring the raw damage. But Charmander also picks up coverage across 10 types from TMs, making it tough to find a safe switch. You're not locked into one angle here.
Charmander doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Charmander can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Bring it over from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond instead. The encounter info below covers the source games.
6 encounter spots for Charmander at moderate rates starting from endgame routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Best Locations to Catch Charmander in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Which version you're playing matters for Charmander. 6 walking spots at Lv. 58-63 spread across Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
Charmander doesn't appear in Sword & Shield. Transfer it from Red, Yellow, or Brilliant Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Charmander becomes Charmeleon at level 16, then Charizard at level 36. Straight three-stage line with no branching.
Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16. Early evolution, you'll hit it before the third gym in most games.
You can run Charmander through the first few routes without issues. 309 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Charmeleon as fast as you can.
Charmander shows up in 21 games, making it one of the more widely available Pokemon in the series. First catchable in Legends: Z-A, most recently in Yellow and Red & Blue.
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 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 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
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