The Lizard Pokemon. Charmander is Red & Blue's toughest starter pick since Fire is weak to the first Gym, but raising one into Charizard is worth the struggle.
299HP39Attack52Defense43Speed65Sp.Def50Sp.Atk50
Charmander
Charmeleon
Charizard
Weak to
Special
Balanced
65Speed · Below Avg

Is Charmander Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

The hardest starter to get going. The first two gyms actively punish Fire typing, and Charmander's frailty makes even neutral fights risky early on. The payoff comes after the third gym when Charmeleon starts outpacing most opponents. By the time you reach Charizard, the rough start is a distant memory.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTGGGEEGEEGTECharmanderStarterBrockGym 1CharmeleonEvolveMistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4CharizardEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Charmander's defenses.

Even
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Risky
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's team hits Charmeleon's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Even
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Good

Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

You Win
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
You Win
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Charizard trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Charizard trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

You Win
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
You Win
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Even
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

Even
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Even
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Charizard trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Charizard trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Even
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Tough

Lance's team hits Charizard's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Charizard trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Even
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStomp
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 63
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Risky
Charizard
Lv 65
FireFlying
Blaze
RageSlashFire BlastFire Spin

Starter

Starter Pokemon
Type
Fire
Tier
E

Charmander is available as a starter at Lv 5.

View Charmander locations

Evolve Charmander to Charmeleon

Level 16
Type
Fire
Tier
E

Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at Level 16. Your Charmander should hit Level 16 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

Evolve Charmeleon to Charizard

Level 36
Type
FireFlying
Tier
C

Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at Level 36. Your Charmeleon should hit Level 36 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Charmander in Red & Blue

One of three starters Professor Oak offers in Pallet Town at level 5. Taking Charmander locks out Bulbasaur and Squirtle for the whole run. None appear in the wild.

1 location to catch Charmander

How to Obtain Charmander in RB

  1. Charmeleon
    Step 2Evolve into Charmeleon
  2. Charizard
    Step 3Evolve into Charizard

Charmander Weakness

Charmander is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fire typing.

Charmander Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Bug
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Charmander Weak Against

Vulnerable
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Charmander Strong Against

3Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score-1
2xStrong
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Charmander

C

Charmander Evolutions

Charmander evolves into Charizard, but can't breed. At 299 stats as a Fire type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 235 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Charmander
Fire
Charizard
FireFlying
HP
39
58+19
78+20
ATK
52
64+12
84+20
DEF
43
58+15
78+20
SP.ATK
60
80+20
109+29
SP.DEF
50
65+15
85+20
SPE
65
80+15
100+20
BST
309E-Tier
405E-Tier+96
534C-Tier+129
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Utility
Special
Special
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Charmander Best Moveset

Pre-evolution Fire-type doing less with the same moves Charizard uses at twice the Special stat. Evolve before competing.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Charmander
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • FlamethrowerSTAB
  • Fire SpinSTAB
  • EmberSTAB
  • Fire BlastSTAB

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Charmander learns Fire Blast and Flamethrower naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Fighting and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Growl
A—10040Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
—4010035Normal
Lv 9
Ember
B6010025Fire
Lv 15
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 22
Rage
D2010020Normal
Lv 30
Slash
A7010020Normal
Lv 38
Flamethrower
B14210015Fire
Lv 46
Fire Spin
B527015Fire

TM Moves

All 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
D8510015Normal
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
D—10020Fighting
HM01
CutS.S. Annebadge 2
—509530Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM23
Dragon RageRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
D—10010Dragon
TM38B180855Fire
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
D808520Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D808025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
A——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM03
Swords DanceSilph Co.badge 5
C——30Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Charmander can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP39
F
Attack52
D
Defense43
D
Sp. Atk50
D
Sp. Def50
D
Speed65
C
Total299
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.6 m
Weight8.5 kg
Base XP62
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Charmander Red & Blue Guide

  • For Red & Blue, you can run Charmander through the first few routes without issues. 299 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.

Explore

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