Charmeleon (Pokémon)

Charmeleon リザード Lizardo

Artwork from FR/LG

Type Species  Fire  Flame Pokémon Ability Exp. at 100 Blaze 1,059,860 Pokédex Kanto #005 Johto #235* Hoenn #207* Sinnoh #— Browser Fiore R-141 Almia R-138 Height Weight 3'07" 41.9 lbs. Pokédex color Footprint Body style Catch rate Red 45 Gender ratio   87.5% male   12.5% female Egg groups Egg cycles Monster, Dragon 21 (5355 steps*) EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 1 Sp.Def 0 Speed 1 Exp. 142 External links On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Charmeleon (Japanese: リザード Lizardo) is a Fire-type Pokémon.

It evolves from Charmander starting at level 16, and evolves into Charizard starting at level 36.

Biology

Physiology

Charmeleon is a bipedal, reptilian creature similar to Charmander. It has crimson scales that are much darker than that of the bright red Charmander. It has a tail with the tip burning with fire, a trait seen in many Fire-type Pokémon, especially the Charmander evolutionary line. Its skull has developed a horn-like protrusion to the rear and its mouth has elongated into a snout. Its front and back claws are far sharper and longer than Charmander.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Charmeleon can breathe fire. This fire is much hotter than Charmander's. This is a result of a larger flame burning at the tip of its tail than that of Charmander's.

It possesses incredibly large claws which it utilizes in its powerful Slash attack.

Behavior

Charmeleon tend to be stubborn, bad-tempered, and simply hot-headed. Due to their incredible power at such a low level, they can easily feel they are better than their trainers and will sometimes disregard attack commands. When tame, however, they are a formidable opponent and a loyal partner. Wild Charmeleon are ready to evolve when they begin to travel in different areas battling random opponents, and the flames on their tails begin to flash larger.

Habitat

Mountain Pokémon

Charmeleon are rare in the wild, but thrive in harsh environments such as craggy mountains and active volcanoes. Charmeleon also dwell in large numbers in abandoned mines and heated valleys.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Charmeleon when in the wild will hunt solitary much unlike Charmander who hunt in packs. Their diet consists that of the average omnivorous Pokémon diet.

In the anime

Major appearances

Ash's Charmeleon in the anime

Ash's Charmeleon

Ash's Charmander evolved into Charmeleon in March of the Exeggutor Squad. It quickly grew unruly and disobedient and evolved into Charizard soon after, in Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon.

Ritchie's Charmeleon (Zippo)

Zippo, Ritchie's Charmeleon.

Ritchie's Charmander, nicknamed Zippo, evolved into a Charmeleon off-screen and was first seen in its evolved form in A Parent Trapped.

Other

In The Crystal Onix, Mateo used a Charmeleon to make glass and battle the titular Crystal Onix.

Sam used a Charmeleon in Celebi: Voice of the Forest to battle Vicious.

A Charmeleon also appeared under the ownership of a trainer named Jimmy in Judgement Day.

Pokédex entries

In the manga

In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi has a Charmeleon that evolved from the Charmander he received from Professor Oak. It later evolves again into Charizard.

Pokémon Adventures

Charmeleon debuts in Onix is On!, part of the Red, Green & Blue chapter, battling in the Pewter Gym as one of Green's Pokémon, it evolved from Charmander sometime between The Secret of Kangaskhan and this round. It has since evolved into Charizard.

In the TCG

Main article: Charmeleon (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Stats

Base stats

Pokéthlon stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Charmeleon is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.

• Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.

Moves in Italics aren't STAB for Charmeleon, but are for some/all evolutions.

By leveling up

By TM/HM

By breeding

By tutoring

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
	Acquisition: Evolve
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Rare
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: -19%	Friend Area: Mt. Cleft
Phrases
51%-100% HP	I'll KO foes with my burning tail!
26%-50% HP	My health is down to half. My flame is weakening, too.
1%-25% HP	The flame on my tail is about to go out...
Level Up	Yes! Leveled up!
Pokémon Ranger
Group:  Fire	Loops: 5	Minimum Experience: 40
Poké Assist: ( Fire )	Field Move: (Burn ×2)	Maximum Experience: 60
"Charmeleon breaths a large ball of fire that can melt small pieces of Scrap Metal."
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: -10%	IQ Group: C
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Group:  Fire	Poké Assist: ( Fire )	Field Move: (Burn ×2)
"It attacks by spitting embers and blobs of fire."

Evolution

Unevolved Charmander  Fire

Level 16 →

First evolution Charmeleon  Fire

Level 36 →

Second evolution Charizard  Fire  Flying

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back

For other sprites and images, please see Charmeleon images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Charmeleon and Charizard share the same species name as Flareon, Moltres, and Infernape. They are all known as Flame Pokémon.
• Charmeleon is the only member of its evolution family which has not been represented in any way in the Super Smash Bros. series.
• Charmeleon is the only member of its evolutionary line to not have orange skin.
• Charmeleon and its evolution family are the only Pokémon who have flames as part of their bodies that do not go out naturally (with the Pokémon still being alive).

Origin

Charmeleon resembles a small dinosaur with remnants of Charmander's salamander-like appearance. Although its nomenclature suggests commonality with the chameleon, Charmeleon exhibits very few of the major physiologically distinguishing traits of the chameleon.

Charmeleon hasn't the specialized zygodactylic feet, separately mobile eyes, extrudable tongue, or the ability to change color like some members of the chameleon species.

The few characteristics it does share are the similarly looking snout, a prominent head crest (which resembles a small horn in its Generation I back sprite), and extensive use of its tail. Chameleons have prehensile tails used for climbing and grasping, while Charmeleon utilizes its tail as a weapon.

Name origin

Charmeleon's name is a portmanteau of the word char, to burn, and chameleon. Its Japanese name is the Katakana spelling of lizard.

In other languages

• German: Glutexo - A combination of Glut (ember, also the German translation for the move of the same name) and Echse (lizard).
• French: Reptincel - Most likely a combination of reptile and Étincelle (spark).
• Korean: 리자드 Rijadeu - Hangul spelling of Lizard.
• Chinese (Hong Kong and Taiwan): 火恐龍 Xíao Kông Lóng - "Fire dinosaur."

Related articles

• Ash's Charmeleon
• Zippo
• Blue's Charmeleon

External links

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.