Is Charmander Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Charmander is available in Grand Underground hideaways. Fire-types are scarce in Sinnoh, so Charizard fills a genuine gap. The grind to evolve it is softened by the permanent Exp. Share.
Roark's team hits Charmander's weaknesses hard.
Charmander has the type edge here and should clean up Gardenia's team.
Charmander trades roughly evenly with Maylene's team.
Crasher Wake's Pokemon outpace and outclass Charmander here.
Charmander trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Charmander trades roughly evenly with Byron's team.
Charmander has the type edge here and should clean up Candice's team.
Volkner's team hits Charmander's weaknesses hard.
Charmander has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.
Bertha's team hits Charmander's weaknesses hard.
Charmander trades roughly evenly with Flint's team.
Charmander trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Cynthia's team hits Charmander's weaknesses hard.
Charmander cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
How to Get Charmander in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
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.
Where To Catch Charmander in BDSP
To get Charmander, start by catching Charmander through walking encounters at Lv. 58-63. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Charmander ✓Sandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassPost-gameTyphlo CavernLv.58-63CavePost-gameVolcanic CaveLv.58-63CavePost-game
Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
Step 3Evolve into Charizard
Charmander Weakness
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 |
What is Charmander Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Charmander
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x110-131%KO Rock Slide 2x56-67% | ||
 Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x144-169%KO Stone Edge 2x144-169%KO | ||
 Phanpy Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Phanpy builds →Earthquake 2x123-146%KO Rock Slide 2x64-77% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Onix builds →Earthquake 2x103-123%KO Stone Edge 2x103-123%KO | ||
 Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x137-161%KO Rollout 2x37-44% | ||
Cubone Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Cubone builds →Earthquake 2x117-139%KO Rock Slide 2x61-73% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
 Buizel Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Buizel builds →Surf 2x110-132%KO Rock Tomb 2x56-68% | ||
 Shellos Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Shellos builds →Surf 2x105-124%KO Mud-Slap 2x20-24% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x158-188%KO Stone Edge 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x158-188%KO Rock Tomb 2x79-94% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Surf 2x144-171%KO Stone Edge 2x108-128%KO | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x133-158%KO Bulldoze 2x68-81% Rollout 2x35-42% | ||
 Donphan Ground | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Donphan builds →Earthquake 2x219-258%KO Stone Edge 2x146-172%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x158-188%KO Stone Edge 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x106-125%KO Dig 2x61-72% Rollout 2x25-31% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x158-188%KO Dig 2x106-125%KO Rock Tomb 2x79-94% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x133-158%KO Dig 2x89-106%KO Rollout 2x35-42% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Gastrodon builds →Earthquake 2x163-192%KO Surf 2x144-171%KO Stone Edge 2x108-128%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x153-180%KO Stone Edge 2x101-120%KO | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x101-120%KO Dig 2x60-71% Rollout 2x24-28% | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Golduck builds →Surf 2x144-169%KO Dig 2x84-99% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x153-180%KO Dig 2x101-120%KO Rock Tomb 2x78-92% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x128-152%KO Dig 2x86-101%KO Rollout 2x33-40% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x154-181%KO Stone Edge 2x102-121%KO | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x100-119%KO Dig 2x59-70% Rollout 2x24-29% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Golduck builds →Surf 2x143-168%KO Dig 2x86-101%KO | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x154-181%KO Dig 2x102-121%KO Rock Tomb 2x76-90% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x131-155%KO Dig 2x87-103%KO Rollout 2x33-40% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x152-179%KO Stone Edge 2x101-120%KO | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x99-118%KO Dig 2x59-70% Rollout 2x24-29% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Golduck builds →Surf 2x141-167%KO Dig 2x81-97% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x152-179%KO Dig 2x101-120%KO Rock Tomb 2x76-91% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x128-152%KO Dig 2x86-101%KO Rollout 2x33-39% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x152-179%KO Stone Edge 2x101-120%KO | ||
Azumarill WaterFairy | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Azurill (Great Marsh Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Azumarill builds →Surf 2x99-118%KO Dig 2x59-70% Rollout 2x24-29% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Golduck builds →Surf 2x141-167%KO Dig 2x81-97% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x152-179%KO Dig 2x101-120%KO Rock Tomb 2x76-91% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x128-152%KO Dig 2x86-101%KO Rollout 2x33-39% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x235-278%KO Stone Edge 2x157-185%KO Surf 2x85-101%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x158-186%KO Stone Edge 2x105-124%KO | ||
 Rhydon GroundRock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x235-278%KO Stone Edge 2x235-278%KO Surf 2x55-65% | ||
 Sudowoodo Rock | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Sudowoodo builds →Head Smash 2x281-331%KO Earthquake 2x126-148%KO | ||
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x235-278%KO Dig 2x126-148%KO Rock Slide 2x118-139%KO | ||
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Urshifu can KO Charmander with Close Combat (188-221%). Excadrill threatens a KO with Earthquake (216-254%). Rhyperior's Earthquake also KOs at 184-217%.
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Urshifu builds →Close Combat188-221%KO Sucker Punch110-129%KO U Turn37-43% | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandrush ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x216-254%KO Rapid Spin36-43% | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemWeakness Policy NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rhyperior builds →Earthquake 2x184-217%KO Avalanche18-22% | ||
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 30 breeding partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups. Pass egg moves like Air Cutter, Ancient Power, Beat Up and 11 more to offspring.
BDSP Charmander Best Moveset
Fire pre-evo with hidden AbilitySolar Power boosting Sp. Atk by 50% in sun at HP cost per turn. 60 Sp. Atk can't use the boost at this stage. The moveset is non-functional. Two evolutions from Charizard where the sun damage reaches another level.
Best Build
Charmander best EVs are HP and Sp. Atk
Utility Moveset
- Body Slam
- Brick Break
- Acrobatics
- Ancient Power
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
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
The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If the Pokémon is healthy, its tail burns intensely.
Charmander Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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.
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