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Charmander (Pokémon)

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Revision as of 17:50, 9 October 2006 by Super Staff (talk | contribs)
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Pokémon
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Charmander
ヒトカゲ Hitokage
#004
004Charmander.png
Artwork from FR/LG
Type
Fire '
Category
Lizard Pokémon
Ability
Blaze
Exp. at Lv. 100
1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers
Kanto
#004 		Johto
#229 		Hoenn
#206 		Sinnoh
Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "?".
Regional Browser numbers
Height
2'00"
Imperial 		0.6 m
Metric
Weight
18.7 lbs.
Imperial 		8.5 kg
Metric
Dex color
Red
Catch rate
45 (5.9%)
Body style
BodyUnknown.png BodyUnknown.png
Blue-Striped
Footprint
 F004.png   F487O.png
Blue-Striped
Gender ratio
Gender unknown
Breeding
Monster and
Dragon groups 		1 cycles
(255 minimum steps)
EV yield
HP
0 		Atk
0 		Def
0 		Sp.Atk
0 		Sp.Def
0 		Speed
0
Base Exp.: 65 Battle Exp.: 651*

Charmander (Japanese: ヒトカゲ Hitokage) is a Fire-type Pokémon. Along with Bulbasaur and Squirtle, it is one of three starter Pokémon you can receive at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Pokémon Green, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon 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.

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 Pokèmon dies. It could perhaps be distantly related to some Dragon-type Pokémon, 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.

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.

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. However, because of the notoriously aggressive behavior of its evolutions as well as its type disadvantage against the first two Kanto Gym Leaders, it is often regarded as the most difficult Pokémon to start with.

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.

Habitat

Charmander is rarely found in the wild. Sometimes they can gather in extremely hot areas, such as active volcanoes, but overall 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 both debuted in EP078. Sometime before the Whirl Island Story Arch, Zippo evolved in Charmeleon.

In H014, 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 Prof. Oak's house. Prof. Oak, Tracey, Delia Ketchum, 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.

Charmander also stars in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon special as a member of Team Go-Getters.

In the manga

In Pokémon Special, one of Green's first Pokémon was a Charmander, likely received from his grandfather Professor Oak. It has since evolved into Charmeleon and then Charizard, and is part of his Gym team.

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.


In the TCG

Nine Charmander cards have been released.

Pokédex entries

Game Pokédex
Pokémon Red and Blue Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail.
Pokémon Pinball
Pokémon Trading Card Game Base Set
Team Rocket Many people find it cute and try to hold it, only to be burned by its tail.
Pokémon Yellow The flame at the tip of its tail makes a sound as it burns. You can only hear it in quiet places.
Pokémon Stadium Even the newborns have flaming tails. Unfamiliar with fire, babies are said to accidentally burn themselves.
Pokémon Gold The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly.
Pokémon Stadium 2
Pokémon Silver The flame on its tail indicates Charmander's life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly.
Pokémon Crystal If it's healthy, the flame on the tip of its tail will burn vigorously, even if it gets a bit wet.
Pokémon Ruby and 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.
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon LeafGreen It has a preference for hot things. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail.

Game locations

Game Rarity Location
Pokémon Red and Blue One Available as starter Pokémon from Professor Oak
Pokémon Yellow One Trainer on Route 24 gives it to you
Pokémon Gold and Silver None
Pokémon Crystal None
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire None
Pokémon Emerald None
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen One Available as starter Pokémon from Professor Oak
Pokémon Colosseum None
Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness None

In side games

  • Pokémon Stadium: A Charmander is one of the Pokémon which can be won after beating the Gym Leader Castle.
  • Pokémon Snap: Many Charmander appear at the Volcano. The first is seen with a Magmar. Throw it food, and it will be attacked by the Magmar, making it evolve into Charmeleon. Later, two Charmander are seen to the side of where a Moltres egg blocks the path. If they are thrown Pokémon food, they'll call more Charmander over, to a total of six Charmander.

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
39
99 - 146 188 - 282
52
51 - 114 98 - 223
43
43 - 104 81 - 203
60
58 - 123 112 - 240
50
49 - 112 94 - 218
65
63 - 128 121 - 251
Total:
309
 Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
  • This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 50.

Type effectiveness

Template:DP type effectiveness

Learnset

Template:Learnset introMoves in Italics aren't STAB for Charmander, but are for some/all evolutions.

By leveling up

Level Generation I Generation II Generation III
RB Y RSE FRLG
Start Scratch
Growl		 Scratch
Growl
Ember		 Scratch
Growl		 Scratch
Growl		 Scratch
Growl
7   Ember Ember
9 Ember      
13 Smokescreen Smokescreen Metal Claw Smokescreen
15 Leer    
19   Rage Smokescreen Rage
22 Rage    
25   Scary Face Scary Face
30 Slash    
31   Flamethrower Flamethrower
37   Slash Slash
38 Flamethrower    
43   Dragon Rage Dragon Rage
49 Fire Spin Fire Spin Fire Spin

By TM/HM

Number Generation I Generation II Generation III
TM01 Mega Punch Dynamicpunch Focus Punch
TM02   Headbutt Dragon Claw
TM03 Swords Dance Curse  
TM05 Mega Kick    
TM06 Toxic Toxic Toxic
TM08 Body Slam Rock Smash  
TM09 Take Down    
TM10 Double-Edge Hidden Power Hidden Power
TM11   Sunny Day Sunny Day
TM13   Snore  
TM17 Submission Protect Protect
TM18 Counter    
TM19 Seismic Toss    
TM20 Rage Endure  
TM21   Frustration Frustration
TM23 Dragon Rage Iron Tail Iron Tail
TM24   Dragonbreath  
TM27   Return Return
TM28 Dig Dig Dig
TM31 Mimic Mud-Slap Brick Break
TM32 Double Team Double Team Double Team
TM33 Reflect    
TM34 Bide Swagger  
TM35   Sleep Talk Flamethrower
TM38 Fire Blast Fire Blast Fire Blast
TM39 Swift Swift  
TM40 Skull Bash Defense Curl Aerial Ace
TM42     Facade
TM43     Secret Power
TM44 Rest Rest Rest
TM45   Attract Attract
TM48   Fire Punch  
TM49   Fury Cutter  
TM50 Substitute   Overheat
HM01 Cut Cut Cut
HM04 Strength Strength Strength
HM06     Rock Smash

By breeding

By tutoring

In Pokémon FireRed, Pokémon LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald:

In Pokémon Emerald Only:

Evolution

Template:EvoChart Box

Template:EvoChart Box

Template:EvoChart Box

Trivia

Origin

Charmander may have been inspired by the mythical salamanders, which were fire-spirits in the shape of lizards who were said survive in extreme heat or flames.

Name origin

Charmander is a combination of the words char, to burn, and salamander. Hitokage, on the other hand, comes from 火蜥蜴, which is also salamander. 火 hi and 蜥蜴 tokage separately means "fire lizard". Interestingly enough, this name is also a phrase in itself, 火と影 hi to kage, fire and shadows.

In other languages

  • German: Glumanda - Derives from Glut (ember) and Salamander.
  • French: Salamèche (Salamandre (Salamander) & Mèche (Match of a candle))
  • Korean: 파이리 Pairi
  • Chinese (Taiwan): 小火龙 Xíao Hűo Lóng
  • Chinese (Hong Kong): 小火龍 Xíao Hűo Lóng

External links

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