Charizard

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Origin and Early Training

Arceus gives Charmander to Xiao Yan upon bringing him into the Pokémon world, promising that the Pokémon will face future hardships alongside him. Charmander immediately leaps affectionately into Xiao Yan’s arms and accepts capture 1.

At Professor Oak’s summer camp, Charmander helps defend a child attacked by Ekans. Later, he battles a Beedrill swarm while Xiao Yan protects Serena. A Beedrill cuts his right shoulder after his strength begins to fail, but he continues trying to protect Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan steps in front of him before Arceus intervenes; Professor Oak subsequently treats Charmander’s injuries 2 3.

During the following three years, Charmander evolves into Charmeleon. Before setting out, he defeats Gary’s Wartortle using Smokescreen and Slash 4. His first Gym challenge proves much more dangerous: Brock’s Onix inflicts fractures near vital organs, leaving his tail flame dangerously weak. Nurse Joy heals him and warns Xiao Yan against reckless battling 5.

Charmeleon later helps Xiao Yan capture Pikachu and defeats Ash’s Butterfree and Pidgeotto despite paralysis. At the Cerulean Gym, Xiao Yan deliberately fields him against Starmie to train him around water, but recalls him when Starmie drags him into the pool 6 7 8.

Team Rocket Headquarters and Entei’s Rescue

Charmeleon defeats Team Rocket Pokémon while Xiao Yan rescues Elder Fuji and protects Xiao Lan. During the headquarters assault, defeating Magnemite triggers his evolution into Charizard; the remaining grunts clear a path for Xiao Yan 16 17 18.

On the top floor, Charizard shields Xiao Yan from Giovanni’s Nidoqueen. Xiao Yan freezes in fear and fails to direct him, allowing Nidoqueen to knock Charizard into broken masonry. After Giovanni recruits Xiao Yan, Team Rocket personnel heal Charizard with potions 18 19.

During the mission to capture Entei, Charizard burns a grunt to ashes after the man kicks a little girl. He initially retreats in fear when Giovanni sends out Nidoqueen again. After Nidoqueen’s Hyper Beam brings him down, Xiao Yan cushions his fall with his own body and reassures him. Charizard responds with an enraged Fire Blast that defeats Nidoqueen 19.

The victory prompts Giovanni to free Entei and disband Team Rocket. Xiao Yan calls Charizard the rescue’s “real hero” and lets him rest rather than immediately battle Entei 19 20.

Kanto Travels

Charizard repeatedly rescues Xiao Yan during the journey: he catches him beneath a cliff near Saffron City and later frees him from an Aerodactyl’s claws before catching him in midair 21 33.

At the Rainbow Gym, Charizard knocks out Koga’s Venomoth with a single Flamethrower. In the Safari Zone, he battles a Pokémon Hunter’s Salamence while Kaiser protects an injured Dragonair. Charizard also dives to catch Bagon during the battle, then defeats Salamence with a Dragon Rush and Flamethrower combination 26 28.

After Arceus and Ho-Oh depart, Charizard remains among the six Pokémon Xiao Yan selects for further training. He participates in the Cycling Road battle against the street racers, using Fire Blast alongside the rest of the team 29 30.

Mega Evolution Attempts and the Indigo League

On Cinnabar Island, Xiao Yan repeatedly attempts to Mega Evolve Charizard. Neither Charizard’s Mega Stone nor Xiao Yan’s Key Stone reacts, and the pair continue trying until nightfall 38.

In the Indigo League final, Charizard faces Gary’s Blastoise, continuing the rivalry between their original partners. He survives Surf and a close-range Hydro Pump, then carries Blastoise into the clouds for Seismic Toss. Blastoise grabs him during the descent, causing both Pokémon to fall and become unable to battle. The final ends in a draw, making Xiao Yan and Gary co-champions 45.

Searching for Mewtwo

Charizard initially pursues Mewtwo above Viridian Forest and evades Swift, but cannot keep pace when Mewtwo disappears into the clouds 39.

After Mewtwo escapes Professor Oak’s laboratory, Charizard carries Xiao Yan and Pikachu across Kanto in search of him. At the Cinnabar Island cabin, he blocks Mewtwo’s Swift with Flamethrower, shielding both companions. Although ready to fight, he stands down when Xiao Yan insists that they are comrades 46.

Prism Tower and Mega Charizard X

In Kalos, Charizard carries Xiao Yan after Professor Sycamore’s rampaging Mega Garchomp. Atop Prism Tower, he takes a Hyper Beam aimed at Xiao Yan and falls from the tower. Xiao Yan jumps after him 48.

As the fall appears to freeze in time, Xiao Yan sees memories of the Charmander plush his parents gave him for his seventh birthday. He recognizes Charizard as that companion, which had stayed with him through his parents’ deaths and his subsequent hardships. Their stones resonate when Xiao Yan reaches out and vows that they will survive together 48.

Mega Charizard X returns Xiao Yan to the tower and defeats Mega Garchomp with a blue-flamed Fire Punch. He carries Xiao Yan on his back and Garchomp in his claws to safety, then reverts before being recalled 48.

Appearance

Charizard is described as powerfully built when he first evolves 18.

• Wings: Used for aerial travel, dives, and carrying opponents into the sky 28 45.
• Claws: Used to grip and transport Garchomp after the Prism Tower battle 48.
• Tail flame: Represents his life and vitality; it nearly goes out after Onix’s attack as Charmeleon but remains fierce during the League final 5 45.
• Mega Charizard X: Has a black body and blue flames emerging from both corners of his mouth 48.

Personality

Charizard is affectionate toward Xiao Yan from their first meeting. As Charmander, he leaps into his arms; later, he joins the other Pokémon crowding around their Trainer for attention 1 22.

His protectiveness persists even when he is badly wounded. He continues defending Xiao Yan against Beedrill, blocks Nidoqueen without receiving an order, and takes Mega Garchomp’s Hyper Beam in Xiao Yan’s place 3 18 48.

He is not immune to fear: as Charmeleon, he backs away from Brock’s enormous Onix, and as Charizard, he initially recoils from Nidoqueen after their first encounter. Xiao Yan’s reassurance and willingness to protect him help him face Nidoqueen again 5 19.

Charizard is eager to battle Ash’s Charizard, but remains responsive to Xiao Yan’s restraint. When ordered not to fight Mewtwo, he calms down and waits for instructions 33 46.

Abilities & Skills

Fire Techniques

• Ember: Used from his Charmander stage. Knocks Beedrill from the air and defeats Ash’s Butterfree; repeated use heats the Cerulean Gym pool enough to evaporate Water Gun 2 3 7 8.
• Flamethrower: Defeats Magnemite, Venomoth, and Salamence; also blocks Mewtwo’s Swift 18 26 28 46.
• Fire Spin: Traps Nidoqueen and restricts Blastoise’s movement. Neither confinement is absolute: Nidoqueen fires Hyper Beam from within it, while Blastoise extinguishes it with Water Gun 19 45.
• Fire Blast: Defeats Nidoqueen after colliding with Thunder Punch; also counters Salamence’s Hyper Beam and is used against the street racers 19 28 30.
• Fire Punch: As Mega Charizard X, delivers a blue-flamed punch that knocks out Mega Garchomp and ends its transformation 48.

Dragon Techniques

• Dragon Rage: Deals a stated fixed 40 points of damage. Charmeleon successfully uses it against Pikachu despite being paralyzed 6.
• Dragon Pulse: Used against the Pokémon Hunter’s Salamence, colliding with Fire Blast 28.
• Dragon Rush: Strikes Salamence at high speed before Charizard finishes it with Flamethrower 28.

Close Combat and Disruption

• Smokescreen and Slash: Combined to defeat Gary’s Wartortle before Xiao Yan leaves Pallet Town 4.
• Scary Face: Lowers Pikachu’s speed by one stage, enabling Charmeleon to land Slash 6.
• Seismic Toss: Carries Blastoise into the air and throws him downward; used twice in the Indigo League final 45.
• Mega Kick: Lands an overhead strike on Blastoise while its attention is elsewhere 45.

Flight and Rescue

• Carries Xiao Yan across obstacles and on long-distance searches, including the search for Mewtwo across Kanto 30 46.
• Performs controlled dives and catches, rescuing Bagon and Xiao Yan from falls 21 28 33.
• Uses sharp turns to evade aerial attacks, although his ordinary form cannot keep up with Mewtwo 39.

Mega Evolution

• Requires resonance between the Mega Stone on his collar and the Key Stone on Xiao Yan’s bracelet 38 48.
• Possessing both stones is insufficient by itself: repeated training attempts fail before the Prism Tower crisis 38.
• First succeeds when Xiao Yan recognizes their lifelong connection and resolves to survive the fall together 48.
• The transformation ends after the battle; Charizard returns to his ordinary form 48.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Poké Ball — Given to Xiao Yan by Arceus; Charmander voluntarily enters it at their first meeting 1.
• Mega Stone collar — Worn during the unsuccessful Cinnabar Island trials and the successful Prism Tower transformation. Its paired Key Stone is on Xiao Yan’s bracelet 38 48.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Trainer and lifelong companion. Each repeatedly risks injury to protect the other; their bond ultimately awakens Mega Evolution 3 19 48.
• Arceus — Gives him to Xiao Yan and intervenes when the Beedrill battle leaves Charmander badly wounded 1 3.
• Professor Oak — Treats Charmander after the summer-camp attack and provides the laboratory where he trains with Xiao Yan for three years 3 17.
• Pikachu — Teammate initially captured with Charmeleon’s help. Later accompanies Charizard and Xiao Yan during the search for Mewtwo 6 46.
• Gary’s Blastoise — Longstanding rival, first faced as Wartortle and later as Xiao Yan’s final opponent in the Indigo League championship match 4 45.
• Giovanni’s Nidoqueen — Initially overwhelms and frightens him; defeated in their rematch after Xiao Yan shields Charizard from a fall 18 19.
• Ash’s Charizard — A separate Charizard whom he meets after the Ancient Pokémon incident; both immediately appear eager to fight 33.

Notable Quotes

“It's fine. Go ahead and fight with peace of mind. No matter how many times you fall, I will catch you.”
— Xiao Yan, after cushioning Charizard’s fall during the Nidoqueen rematch 19

“So we've been together ever since that moment. I'll be counting on you from now on too. Right now, we're going to survive this together!”
— Xiao Yan, immediately before Charizard’s first successful Mega Evolution 48