Special
Balanced
DTier
80Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

You won't find a real weakness in Charmeleon's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Flame Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 2 Sp. Atk and Speed EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
Above
HP58
D
Attack64
C
Defense58
D
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed80
C
Total405
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.1 m
3'07"Small
Weight19.0 kg
41.9 lbsFeather
Base XP142
Average
Abilities
Blaze
Strengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Solar PowerHANot in game
Increases Special Attack to 1.5× but costs 1/8 max HP after each turn during strong sunlight.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe+1
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

It is very hotheaded by nature, so it constantly seeks opponents. It calms down only when it wins.

Charmeleon Weakness

Water, Ground, and Rock moves hit Charmeleon for super-effective damage. The Fire typing picks up 5 resistances to work with. Not too many gaps in the chart, 3 weaknesses to account for.

Charmeleon Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
Type ChartAvg
3Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-1
Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
WaterGroundRock
½xResist
FireGrassIceBugSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (4)
GrassIceBugSteel
How to Beat Charmeleon in HeartGold & SoulSilver (Best Counters)

In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Gyarados can KO Charmeleon with Waterfall (170-200%). Empoleon threatens a KO with Hydro Pump (196-231%). Gliscor's Earthquake also KOs at 126-148%.

Gyarados
Gyarados
WaterFlying
A
Recommended Build
AbilityIntimidate
ItemLeftovers
NatureAdamant
Moves
  • WaterfallSTAB
  • Dragon Dance
  • Earthquake
  • Ice Fang
Damage vs Charmeleon
Waterfall 2x
170-200%KO
Earthquake 2x
141-166%KO
Ice Fang
23-27%
View Gyarados builds →

HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution

Charmeleon sits between Charmander and Charizard in this three-stage line. Not the final form yet. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. So far, Sp.Atk got the biggest boost (+20 from Charmander). The final form adds another 129 stats on top. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Charmander
#004Charmander
16
Level 16
Charmeleon
#005Charmeleon
36
Level 36
Charizard
#006Charizard
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Charmander
Fire
Charmeleon
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
309D-Tier
405D-Tier+96
534B-Tier+129
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Utility
Special
Special

Breeding

Easy

Breed with Charmeleon to get Charmander eggs easily using 30 partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Beat Up, Belly Drum and 10 more.

Egg Groups
DragonMonster
Gender
♂87.5%♀12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
13moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradoscharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticvenusaurblastoisenidokingmeganiumferaligatrampharos
12 of 30·

HeartGold & SoulSilver Charmeleon Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Moves

Need something that threatens multiple types? Charmeleon's movepool delivers. Coverage across 11 types plus STAB from Overheat and Flare Blitz gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Ember
—4010025Fire
Lv 1
Growl
——10040Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
—4010035Normal
Lv 7
Ember
—4010025Fire
Lv 10
Smokescreen
——10020Normal
Lv 17
Dragon Rage
——10010Dragon
Lv 21
Scary Face
D—9010Normal
Lv 28
Fire Fang
D659515Fire
Lv 32
Slash
—7010020Normal
Lv 39
Flamethrower
C9510015Fire
Lv 43
Fire Spin
—357015Fire

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
D60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
——10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
D7510015Fighting
TM78
Captivate
——10020Normal
HM01
Cut
—509530Normal
TM28
Dig
D8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM02
Dragon Claw
D8010015Dragon
TM58
Endure+4
———10Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
C120855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
C9510015Fire
TM56
Fling
——10010Dark
TM01
Focus Punch-3
C15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
D—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
—6010015Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
D1007515Steel
TM83
Natural Gift
D—10015Normal
TM50
Overheat
B140905Fire
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM44
Rest
C——10Psychic
TM27
Return
D—10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
HM06
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
D609510Rock
TM43
Secret Power
—7010020Normal
TM65
Shadow Claw
D7010015Ghost
TM82
Sleep Talk
C——10Normal
HM04
Strength
D8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
——9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
C——30Normal
TM06
Toxic
C—8510Poison
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
C—7515Fire

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Ancient Power
D601005Rock
Egg
Beat Up
——10010Dark
Egg
Belly Drum
D——10Normal
Egg
Bite
D6010025Dark
Egg
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Egg
Crunch
D8010015Dark
Egg
Dragon Dance
C——20Dragon
Egg
Dragon Rush
—1007510Dragon
Egg
Flare Blitz
C12010015Fire
Egg
Metal Claw
—509535Steel
Egg
Outrage
C12010010Dragon
Egg
Rock Slide
D759010Rock
Egg
Swords Dance
C——30Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Fire Punch
C7510015Fire
Tutor
Fury Cutter
—109520Bug
Tutor
Headbutt
D7010015Normal
Tutor
Heat Wave
C1009010Fire
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Snore
D4010015Normal
Tutor
Swift
—60—20Normal
Tutor
Thunder Punch
D7510015Electric

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 3
Body Slam
D8510015Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
———40Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Gen 3
Dynamic Punch
D100505Fighting
Gen 3
Mega Kick
—120755Normal
Gen 3
Mega Punch
—808520Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
———10Normal
Gen 3
Rage
D2010020Normal
Gen 3
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting

How to Get Charmeleon in HeartGold & SoulSilver

You're catching Charmander first, not Charmeleon. Charmander appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.

How to Obtain Charmeleon in HeartGold & SoulSilver

  1. Charmander
    Step 1Catch Charmander
    Pallet Town
    SoulSilverGift from NPC Lv.5 City
    CommonEarly
    Gift from Professor Oak (post-Red)
    Pallet Town
    HeartGoldGift from NPC Lv.5 City
    CommonEarly
    Gift from Professor Oak (post-Red)
  2. Charmeleon
    Step 2Charmeleon ✓

Charmeleon Guide

  • At 405 BST, Charmeleon is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Charizard before bringing it to any serious fight.

  • In HeartGold & SoulSilver, watch for Starmie (Water), Golem (Ground), and Aerodactyl (Rock) when using Charmeleon. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

  • In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16. Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36. Charmeleon is a middle-stage evolution in the Charmander line.

  • Blaze strengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less. That's the one you want on Charmeleon. Solar Power is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses.

  • Charmeleon is a special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Speed tells the real story. Base 80 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Charmeleon appears in 21 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Charmeleon have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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