Charmander (Pokémon)
From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
| Charmander ヒトカゲ Hitokage | |
![]() Artwork from FR/LG | |
| National Dex | #004 |
|---|---|
| Johto Dex | #229 |
| Hoenn Dex | #206 |
| Sinnoh Dex | #— |
| Fiore Browser | R-140 |
| Almia Browser | R-137 |
| Type | Fire |
| Species | Lizard Pokémon |
| Height | 2′00″ (0.6m) |
| Weight | 18.7 lbs. (8.5kg) |
| Ability | Blaze |
| Egg groups | Monster |
| Dragon | |
| Time to hatch | 5,120 steps |
| Effort yield | 1 Spd |
| Exp. yield | 65 base exp. |
| Lv100 at | 1,059,860 exp. |
| Gender | 12.5% ♀ / 87.5% ♂ |
| Pokédex color | Red |
| Catch rate | 45 |
| |
Charmander (Japanese: ヒトカゲ Hitokage) is a Fire-type Pokémon. Along with Bulbasaur and Squirtle, it is one of three starter Pokémon the player receives at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen.
Charmander comes with the ability Blaze, which increases the power of Fire-type attacks by 50% once the Pokémon has less than one-third of its maximum HP.
Charmander evolves via level, into Charmeleon starting at Level 16, then into Charizard starting at Level 36.
Contents |
Biology
Physiology
Charmander is a reptilian creature resembling a bipedal salamander with some dinosaur qualities. Its most notable feature is the flame burning on the tip of its tail, which is there even at birth. It is said that if this flame goes out, the Pokémon dies, although this has never happened in the anime, manga, or video games. It could perhaps be distantly related to some Dragon-type Pokémon, and also Magmar, due to both Pokémon possessing a flame at the tips of their tails, but Charmander seems to only be closely related to its evolutions.
Despite the small size of its claws, they should be regarded with caution, since even they are strong and sharp enough that a Charmander can learn to use Slash.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Charmander can breathe fire, which allows them to use a wide range of Fire-type attacks. However, the strength of these are very closely connected to the strength and health of the Charmander, since it draws on the life force which fuels the flame on its tail to fuel the flames of its attacks. With time, it can learn powerful Fire-type techniques like Flamethrower and Fire Blast. It can even learn to breathe the blue flames of Dragon Rage, but Charmander can only use this move in the Second Generation games and beyond. It can also use the flame on its tail to attack by swinging it about. However, these attacks are usually weaker than those from the flames Charmander breathes.
Behavior
Charmander is easily the most mild-mannered of its evolution line. Its health and emotions can be easily read by paying attention to the flame on the tip of its tail. For example, if the flame grows suddenly, the Charmander is probably angered, and perhaps even using a Rage attack. It is scarce in the wild. Most are domestic Pokémon, raised to be distributed as starters by Professor Oak. As such, they are regarded as well-behaved Pokémon. It is often regarded as the most difficult Pokémon to start with because it has a disadvantage against the first two Gym Leaders in Kanto (Brock and Misty).
There are some who choose it anyway under the impression that it is stronger than Bulbasaur or Squirtle. However, while a Charmander can certainly grow to be a very powerful Pokémon, its strength in battle is very closely connected to its condition and health. Therefore, like a real fire, it must be tended to regularly and not strained or neglected. Most trainers shouldn't have a problem with this, though impatient ones who expect it to be very strong right off the bat will have severe difficulty raising this Pokémon. In Charmander the Stray Pokémon, a trainer named Damian abandoned his completely because of this. They are also stubbornly loyal. In that same episode, Charmander wouldn't move from the rock, because Damian told it to wait. Ash had to carry it because it refused to move, even in the rain.
Habitat
Charmander is rarely found in the wild. Sometimes they can gather in extremely hot areas, such as active volcanoes. They can also thrive in craggy mountains. They also dwell in rocky-heated Crags and caves along the coast of the Sevii Islands.Their final evolution, Charizard, also inhabits the Charicific Valley or near mountain chains. However they are found far more often in the ownership of trainers.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
Their diet is the usual omnivorous diet of a Pokémon. The few places where Charmander can be seen in the wild, they usually hunt and gather in small packs, and will call others over if any sort of food is found.
In the anime
In Charmander the Stray Pokémon, Ash, Misty, and Brock came across a Charmander which had been abandoned by its trainer, Damian, who only cared about strong Pokémon. At first, Charmander refused to leave the spot it was at, waiting for Damian to return. However, when a rainstorm picked up, Charmander grew ill and Ash took it to a Pokémon Center. Charmander realized that Damian was no good, and joined up with Ash. It has since evolved into Charmeleon and then Charizard.
Ritchie owned a Charmander named "Zippo" which debuted in A Friend In Deed. Sometime before the Whirl Islands story arc, Zippo evolved into a Charmeleon.
In Journey to the Starting Line, Gilbert was intended to start his journey as a Pokémon Trainer, but the trio of Kanto Starter Pokémon were scared off when Ash's Tauros stampeded through Professor Oak's house. Professor Oak, Tracey, Delia and Gilbert split up in order to find the three missing Pokémon. The Charmander was the first one to be found. Tracey attempted to save the Salamander Pokémon from falling in a river, but Mimey saved both of them by using Psychic to lift them on to dry land.
A Charmander also stars in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate! as the leader of Team Go-Getters.
In the manga
In Pokémon PiPiPi Adventure, the sickly trainer Peanut has an abrasive Charmander who is always getting into fights with other Pokémon.
In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi is given a Charmander as his starter Pokémon, while Shigeru chooses a Squirtle.
In the Pocket Monsters manga, Green (the rival) has a mischievous Charmander that goes along with whatever his trainer wants him to do. It tends to be very antagonistic toward Red's Clefairy.
Ash's Charmander is shown once or twice in the Electric Tale of Pikachu. Oddly enough, it appears to be an entirely different Charmander than the one owned by Damian, as Damian and his Charmander were reunited.
Pokémon Special
Charmander debuted in the first round of the Red, Green & Blue chapter, A Glimpse of the Glow, as one of Green's first Pokémon, likely received from his grandfather Professor Oak. It has since evolved into Charmeleon and then Charizard, and is part of his Gym team.
In the TCG
- Main article: Charmander (TCG)
Game data
Pokédex entries
| Gen | Game | Pokédex entry |
|---|---|---|
| I | Red | Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail. |
| Blue | ||
| Yellow | The flame at the tip of its tail makes a sound as it burns. You can only hear it in quiet places. | |
| Stadium | Even the newborns have flaming tails. Unfamiliar with fire, babies are said to accidentally burn themselves. | |
| II | Gold | The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly. |
| Silver | The flame on its tail indicates Charmander's life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly. | |
| Crystal | If it's healthy, the flame on the tip of its tail will burn vigorously, even if it gets a bit wet. | |
| Stadium 2 | The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly. | |
| III | Ruby | The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is enjoying itself. If the Pokémon becomes enraged, the flame burns fiercely. |
| Sapphire | The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is enjoying itself. If the Pokémon becomes enraged, the flame burns fiercely. | |
| Emerald | The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is happy, and blazes when it is enraged. | |
| FireRed | From the time it is born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame were to go out. | |
| LeafGreen | It has a preference for hot things. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail. | |
| IV | Diamond | The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If healthy, its tail burns intensely. |
| Pearl | The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If healthy, its tail burns intensely. |
Game locations
| Gen | Game | Rarity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Pokémon Red and Blue | One | Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town |
| Pokémon Yellow | One | Recieved from a trainer on Route 24 | |
| II | Pokémon Gold and Silver | None | Trade |
| Pokémon Crystal | None | Trade | |
| III | Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire | None | Trade |
| Pokémon Emerald | None | Trade | |
| Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen | One | Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town | |
| Pokémon Colosseum | None | Trade | |
| Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness | None | Trade | |
| IV | Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | None | Pal Park |
| Pal Park | Field |
In side games
| Game | Location |
|---|---|
| Pokémon Stadium | Gym Leader Castle |
| Pokémon Snap | Volcano |
| Pokémon Channel | Mt. Snowfall |
| Pokémon Trozei | Huge Storage 5 Mr. Who's Den |
| Pokémon Mystery Dungeon | Starter Pokémon Fiery Field (5F-8F) |
| Pokémon Ranger | Jungle Relic |
| Pokémon Ranger Batonnage | Ranger School Volcano Cave |
Base stats
| HP: | 39 | |
|---|---|---|
| Attack: | 52 | |
| Defense: | 43 | |
| Special: | 50 | |
| SpAtk: | 60 | |
| SpDef: | 50 | |
| Speed: | 65 |
The Special stat was used only in Generation I; it was later split into Special Attack and Special Defense.
Type effectiveness
| Weakness | Resistance | |
|---|---|---|
In Generation I, the effectiveness of Ice-type moves is 100.
Learnset
Charmander is capable of learning the following moves.
Moves in bold are damage moves to which STAB apply.
Moves in Italics aren't STAB for Charmander, but are for some/all evolutions.
By leveling up
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By TM/HM
By breeding
| Move | Type | Cat. | Father |
|---|---|---|---|
| AncientPower | | | Cranidos, Rampardos Shieldon, Bastiodon |
| Beat Up* | | | Ekans, Arbok Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking |
| Belly Drum | | | Snorlax |
| Bite | | | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise Ekans, Arbok Gyarados Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar Loudred, Exploud Seviper Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra |
| Crunch | | | Arbok Snorlax Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar Exploud Seviper Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence Turtwig, Grotle, Torterra Garchomp |
| Dragon Dance | | | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra Gyarados Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite Altaria |
| Dragon Rush | | | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite Gible, Gabite, Garchomp |
| Flare Blitz | | | Charizard |
| Metal Claw | | | Aron, Lairon, Aggron |
| Outrage | | | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite |
| Rock Slide | | | Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar |
| Swords Dance* | | | Cubone, Marowak Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior |
| *Indicates moves only available through chain breeding. | |||
By tutoring
| Move | Type | Cat. | Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam | | | FR | LG | E |
| Counter | | | FR | LG | E |
| Double-Edge | | | FR | LG | E |
| Mega Kick | | | FR | LG | E |
| Mega Punch | | | FR | LG | E |
| Mimic | | | FR | LG | E |
| Rock Slide | | | FR | LG | E |
| Seismic Toss | | | FR | LG | E |
| Substitute | | | FR | LG | E |
| Swords Dance | | | FR | LG | E |


