Charizard: Best Moveset, Weaknesses & Counters, Stats, and Evolution
The world of Pokémon has been a growing phenomenon since 1996, when the first pair of video games came out in stores. Pokémon started off as a video game series and although new creatures are primarily introduced in the video games, the anime series has become as popular as the video games. As of December 2021, there are almost 900 individual Pokémon identified by the PokéDex and in this article, we are going to tell you everything you need to know about one of them – Charizard.
Charizard is a dual Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon first introduced in Generation I of the core video games. It is the second and final evolution form of Charmander. Charmander first evolves into Charmeleon, which, in turn, evolves into Charizard. Charizard has two Mega Evolutions and a Gigantamax Form as well. It is weak to Rock-, Electric-, and Water-type moves, and is super effective against Grass-, Bug-, and Ice-type Pokémon.
In this article, we are going to tell you all the information you’ll need if you want to breed a Charizard in any of the games. You’ll find out about its type, its powers, its strengths and weaknesses, its evolutions, and its moves. We’re going to focus on both the core games, as well as other popular video games based on the Pokémon franchise.
Best moveset
In the Pokémon GO videogame, the best moves for your Charizard are Fire Spin and Blast Burn if you’re battling Pokémon in Gyms. Namely, this moveset gives you the highest total DPS and is, likewise, the best moveset for PVP battles. The official description for Fire Spin reveals the following: “The target becomes trapped within a fierce vortex of fire that rages for four to five turns”; as for Blast Burn, the attack is described as follows: “The target is razed by a fiery explosion. The user can’t move on the next turn.”
Weaknesses and Counters
As a dual Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon, Charizard is weak against Rock-, Electric-, and Water-type moves, and is super effective against Grass-, Bug-, and Ice-type Pokémon. It is immune to Ground-type moves. It receives normal damage from Normal-, Flying-, Poison-, Ghost-, Psychic-, Ice-, Dragon-, and Dark-type moves.
Powers and Abilities
Charizard’s Stats, based on the most recent available data, are:
Stats | Base Stats | Min- | Min | Max | Max+ | Min- | Min | Max | Max+ |
HP | 70 | 145 | 177 | 281 | 344 | ||||
Attack | 110 | 117 | 130 | 162 | 178 | 230 | 256 | 319 | 350 |
Defense | 70 | 81 | 90 | 122 | 134 | 158 | 176 | 239 | 262 |
Special Attack | 115 | 121 | 135 | 167 | 183 | 239 | 266 | 329 | 361 |
Special Defense | 70 | 81 | 90 | 122 | 134 | 158 | 176 | 239 | 262 |
Speed | 90 | 99 | 110 | 142 | 156 | 194 | 216 | 279 | 306 |
In Pokémon GO, Charizard has a Base Stamina of 186, a Base Attack of 319, and a Base Defense of 212.
As for its abilities, they are:
- Blaze: Powers up Fire-type moves when the Pokémon’s HP is low.
- Solar Power: Boosts the Sp. Atk stat in harsh sunlight, but HP decreases every turn. (Hidden Ability)
- Tough Claws: Powers up moves that make direct contact. (Mega Charizard X)
- Drought: Turns the sunlight harsh when the Pokémon enters a battle. (Mega Charizard Y)
Evolutions
Charizard was first introduced in Generation I as the second and final evolution of Charmander. Charmander first evolved into Charmeleon, starting at Level 25, and then into Charizard. Now, while Charizard has no Regional Variants, it does have a total of two Mega Evolutions (when exposed to Charizardite X, it evolves into Mega Charizard X; the same goes – roughly – for Charizardite Y Mega Charizard Y) and a Gigantamax Form.
In Pokémon GO, Charizard is also obtained by first evolving Charmander into Charmeleon, for which you need 25 Charmander Candy, and after that, Charmeleon into Charizard, for which you need 100 Charmander Candy. In order to Mega Evolve your Charizard, you need 200 Mega Charizard Candy for each of the two versions respectively.
Moves
As of Generation VIII, the movies that Charizard can learn are:
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Charizard
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Charizard
- × indicates a move that cannot be used in Generation VIII
By leveling up
Level | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
1 | Air Slash | Flying | Special | 75 | 95% | 15 |
1 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
1 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90% | 10 |
1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100% | 35 |
1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 40 |
1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100% | 25 |
1 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 20 |
Evo. | Air Slash | Flying | Special | 75 | 95% | 15 |
12 | Dragon Breath | Dragon | Special | 60 | 100% | 20 |
19 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95% | 15 |
24 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
30 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100% | 15 |
39 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 10 |
46 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85% | 15 |
54 | Inferno | Fire | Special | 100 | 50% | 5 |
62 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100% | 15 |
By TM
TM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
TM00 | Mega Punch | Normal | Physical | 80 | 85% | 20 |
TM01 | Mega Kick | Normal | Physical | 120 | 75% | 5 |
TM03 | Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100% | 15 |
TM05 | Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100% | 15 |
TM06 | Fly | Flying | Physical | 90 | 95% | 15 |
TM08 | Hyper Beam | Normal | Special | 150 | 90% | 5 |
TM09 | Giga Impact | Normal | Physical | 150 | 90% | 5 |
TM11 | Solar Beam | Grass | Special | 120 | 100% | 10 |
TM13 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85% | 15 |
TM15 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100% | 10 |
TM21 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM22 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90% | 10 |
TM24 | Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100% | 15 |
TM25 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TM26 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 10 |
TM30 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90% | 25 |
TM31 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 15 |
TM34 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | —% | 5 |
TM37 | Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100% | 10 |
TM38 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85% | 15 |
TM39 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
TM40 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | —% | 20 |
TM41 | Helping Hand | Normal | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TM43 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100% | 15 |
TM46 | Weather Ball | Normal | Special | 50 | 100% | 10 |
TM48 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95% | 15 |
TM59 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100% | 10 |
TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100% | 15 |
TM68 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95% | 15 |
TM76 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100% | 15 |
TM78 | Acrobatics | Flying | Physical | 55 | 100% | 15 |
TM81 | Bulldoze | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100% | 20 |
TM92 | Mystical Fire | Fire | Special | 75 | 100% | 10 |
TM94 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100% | 40 |
TM95 | Air Slash | Flying | Special | 75 | 95% | 15 |
TM97 | Brutal Swing | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100% | 20 |
TM99 | Breaking Swipe | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 100% | 15 |
TR00 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TR01 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100% | 15 |
TR02 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100% | 15 |
TR10 | Earthquake | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100% | 10 |
TR15 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85% | 5 |
TR20 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR24 | Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100% | 10 |
TR26 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR27 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
TR31 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75% | 15 |
TR32 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
TR36 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90% | 10 |
TR41 | Blaze Kick | Fire | Physical | 85 | 90% | 10 |
TR43 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | 90% | 5 |
TR47 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
TR51 | Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | —% | 20 |
TR55 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100% | 15 |
TR62 | Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100% | 10 |
TR64 | Focus Blast | Fighting | Special | 120 | 70% | 5 |
TR85 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | —% | 30 |
TR88 | Heat Crash | Fire | Physical | — | 100% | 10 |
TR89 | Hurricane | Flying | Special | 110 | 70% | 10 |
By transfer from another generation
Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
Aerial Ace | Flying | Physical | 60 | —% | 20 |
Air Cutter | Flying | Special | 60 | 95% | 25 |
Bide × | Normal | Physical | — | —% | 10 |
Block | Normal | Status | — | —% | 5 |
Captivate × | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 20 |
Celebrate | Normal | Status | — | —% | 40 |
Confide | Normal | Status | — | —% | 20 |
Curse | Ghost | Status | — | —% | 10 |
Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95% | 30 |
Defense Curl | Normal | Status | — | —% | 40 |
Defog | Flying | Status | — | —% | 15 |
Double Team | Normal | Status | — | —% | 15 |
Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100% | 15 |
Dragon Rage × | Dragon | Special | — | 100% | 10 |
Dynamic Punch | Fighting | Physical | 100 | 50% | 5 |
Echoed Voice | Normal | Special | 40 | 100% | 15 |
Fissure | Ground | Physical | — | 30% | 5 |
Flame Burst × | Fire | Special | 70 | 100% | 15 |
Flame Charge | Fire | Physical | 50 | 100% | 20 |
Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100% | 20 |
Frustration × | Normal | Physical | — | 100% | 20 |
Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 40 | 95% | 20 |
Fury Swipes | Normal | Physical | 18 | 80% | 15 |
Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 15 |
Hidden Power × | Normal | Special | 60 | 100% | 15 |
Hold Hands | Normal | Status | — | —% | 40 |
Hone Claws | Dark | Status | — | —% | 15 |
Howl | Normal | Status | — | —% | 40 |
Incinerate | Fire | Special | 60 | 100% | 15 |
Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100% | 30 |
Mimic | Normal | Status | — | —% | 10 |
Mud-Slap | Ground | Special | 20 | 100% | 10 |
Natural Gift × | Normal | Physical | — | 100% | 15 |
Ominous Wind × | Ghost | Special | 60 | 100% | 5 |
Power-Up Punch | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100% | 20 |
Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100% | 30 |
Rage × | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100% | 20 |
Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | —% | 20 |
Return × | Normal | Physical | — | 100% | 20 |
Roar | Normal | Status | — | —% | 20 |
Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100% | 15 |
Roost | Flying | Status | — | —% | 10 |
Sandstorm | Rock | Status | — | —% | 10 |
Secret Power × | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100% | 20 |
Seismic Toss | Fighting | Physical | — | 100% | 20 |
Skull Bash | Normal | Physical | 130 | 100% | 10 |
Sky Drop × | Flying | Physical | 60 | 100% | 10 |
Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100% | 15 |
Submission | Fighting | Physical | 80 | 80% | 20 |
Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85% | 15 |
Tailwind | Flying | Status | — | —% | 15 |
Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85% | 20 |
Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90% | 10 |
Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100% | 20 |
In Pokémon GO, Charizard can learn Fire Spin, Air Slash, Ember, Wing Attack, and Dragon Breath as Fast Attacks, and Fire Blast, Dragon Claw, Overheat, Blast Burn, Flamethrower, and Return as Charged Attacks. Some of these attacks depend on when you caught and evolved your Charizard, as they are event-only attacks.