
Is Charmeleon Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Charmeleon covers the gap between Charmander's early struggles and Charizard's payoff. AbilityBlaze means getting knocked low in a fight isn't always a loss. Handles Erika's gym and contributes against Koga. Evolves at 36 into the Charizard that justifies picking Fire against Brock.
Brock's team hits Charmander's weaknesses hard.
Misty's team hits Charmeleon's weaknesses hard.
Charmeleon trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Lorelei's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Charmander is available as a starter.
- After Brock
- TUTORNormalMega Kick12075%5
- LV 31FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- TM02DragonDragon Claw80100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Charmander should hit Level 16 before you reach Misty, at typical leveling pace.
- After Brock
- TUTORNormalMega Kick12075%5
- LV 34FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- TM02DragonDragon Claw80100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Charmeleon should hit Level 36 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 36)
- LV 36FireHeat Wave14390%10
- LV 36FireFlamethrower135100%15
- After Lt. Surge
- HM02FlyingFly13595%15
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Blaine
- TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
- After Giovanni
- TM50FireOverheat19590%5
- Post-Game
- TUTORFireBlast Burn22590%5
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Charmeleon in FireRed & LeafGreen
Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16. No wild encounters. If you picked the Fire starter, this is automatic by mid-game.
Catch Charmander at any of these 1 spot to eventually evolve into Charmeleon.
- 1Catch Charmander
- 2Evolve Charmeleonat Lv.16
- 3
How to Obtain Charmeleon in FRLG
Step 2Charmeleon ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave Charizard with a compatible partner at the Four Island Pokemon Day Care to receive a Charmeleon egg. Requires the Rainbow Pass to access Four Island.HOME TRANSFERNot TradeablePokemon HOME on Switch FireRed & LeafGreen is permanently deposit-only — once it launches, Charmeleon can be sent from this game into HOME, but never transferred in.
Step 3Evolve into Charizard
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Charmeleon Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Charmeleon
Squirtle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x135-159%KO Water Pulse 2x45-53% Rock Tomb 2x47-57% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x124-147%KO Water Pulse 2x41-49% Rock Tomb 2x45-53% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x71-86% Dig 2x41-49% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x114-135%KO Rock Tomb 2x61-73% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x135-159%KO Water Pulse 2x45-53% Rock Tomb 2x47-57% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x124-147%KO Water Pulse 2x41-49% Rock Tomb 2x45-53% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x71-86% Dig 2x41-49% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Geodude builds →Earthquake 2x114-135%KO Rock Tomb 2x61-73% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x110-130%KO Rock Tomb 2x37-44% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x104-122%KO Dig 2x37-44% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x102-121%KO Waterfall 2x65-78% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x132-156%KO Water Pulse 2x43-52% Rock Tomb 2x46-54% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x122-144%KO Water Pulse 2x40-47% Rock Tomb 2x42-49% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x123-145%KO Dig 2x38-46% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x112-132%KO Rock Tomb 2x38-46% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x104-123%KO Surf 2x78-92% | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x134-158%KO Surf 2x67-79% Rock Tomb 2x46-55% | ||
Nidoqueen PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoqueen builds →Earthquake 2x123-145%KO Surf 2x62-73% Rock Tomb 2x43-51% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x123-145%KO Dig 2x38-46% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x112-132%KO Rock Tomb 2x38-46% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x104-123%KO Surf 2x78-92% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift | ||
Nidoking PoisonGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Nidoking builds →Earthquake 2x134-158%KO Surf 2x67-79% Rock Tomb 2x46-55% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x119-140%KO Dig 2x36-43% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x105-124%KO Rock Tomb 2x36-43% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x102-121%KO Hydro Pump 2x94-112%KO | ||
Blastoise Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Blastoise builds →Surf 2x98-117%KO Earthquake 2x72-86% | ||
Dewgong WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodIcefall Cave Surfing | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x124-147%KO Dig 2x38-45% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x106-125%KO Hydro Pump 2x98-115%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x111-131%KO Rock Tomb 2x38-45% | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Omastar builds →Surf 2x130-153%KO Rock Tomb 2x46-54% Mud Shot 2x33-39% | ||
Rhydon GroundRock | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Rhydon builds →Earthquake 2x165-194%KO Rock Tomb 2x84-99% Surf 2x42-50% | ||
Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Suicune builds →Surf 2x106-125%KO Dig 2x43-51% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Vaporeon builds →Hydro Pump 2x157-185%KO Dig 2x38-45% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Gyarados builds →Earthquake 2x106-125%KO Hydro Pump 2x96-114%KO | ||
Omastar RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Omanyte (Cinnabar Island Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Omastar builds →Hydro Pump 2x164-193%KO Ancient Power 2x54-64% Mud Shot 2x32-38% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x110-130%KO Rock Tomb 2x37-44% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Pineco can KO Charmeleon with Explosion (85-100%).
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Pineco builds →Explosion85-100%KO Rapid Spin18-21% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Tangela builds →Giga Drain21-25% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemLeftovers NatureBrave Moves View Mawile builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemQuickclaw NatureImpish Moves View Duskull builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemNothing NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Charmeleon View Marshtomp builds →Hydro Pump 2x58-68% | ||
Charmeleon Evolutions
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
Breeding
Breed with Charmeleon to get Charmander eggs easily using 27 partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Beat Up, Belly Drum and 5 more.
FRLG Charmeleon Best Moveset
Fire middle stage heading toward Charizard. AbilityBlaze active but stats fall short of competitive demands. One evolution from the Sp. Atk and Speed that build a competitive moveset.
Best Build
Charmeleon best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Fire Blast
- Brick Break
- Hidden Power Ghost
- Belly Drum
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Without breeding, Charmeleon misses out on Ancient Power and Beat Up. That's 8 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Overheat and Fire Blast, with coverage across 8 types rounding things out.
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
It lashes about with its tail to knock down its foe. It then tears up the fallen opponent with sharp claws.
When it swings its burning tail, it elevates the air temperature to unbearably high levels.
Charmeleon FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
Charmander is the hardest starter for FireRed & LeafGreen if you want a Fire/Flying Pokemon on your team. Brock and Misty are brutal early gyms. Catch a Mankey on Route 22 or raise a Butterfree to bridge them. Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36 and gains Wing Attack flying coverage, then cleans house from Surge onward. Erika folds to Fire moves and Blaine falls to Slash crits. Sabrina is the toughest matchup with no Psychic counter on the team. Slash and Earthquake handle most of the Elite Four. Charizard cleans up Bruno, but Lance's dragons need a teammate.
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
- 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