Charmeleon is a bipedal, reptilianPokémon. It has dark red scales and a cream underside from the chest down. It has blue eyes and a long snout with a slightly hooked tip. On the back of its head is a single horn-like protrusion. It has relatively long arms with three sharp claws. Its short legs have plantigrade feet with three claws and cream-colored soles. The tip of its long, powerful tail has a flame burning on it. The temperature rises to unbearable levels if Charmeleon swings its tail.
Charmeleon has a vicious, hotheaded nature and will constantly seek out opponents. Strong opponents excite this Pokémon, causing it to spout bluish-white flames that torch its surroundings. Charmeleon enjoys tormenting the opponents it fights. However, it will relax once it has won a battle. It is rare in the wild but can be found in mountainous areas. As shown in Pokémon Sleep, Charmleon is known to sleep with a laid-back posture, using its hands as a pillow.[1] Its fierce fervor disappears when it sleeps. Charmeleon has four different sleep styles it sleeps in: Arm-Pillow Sleep, Seated Sleep, Loafing Sleep, and Atop-Belly Sleep.
It is very hot-headed by nature, so it constantly seeks opponents. It calms down only when it wins. (Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) It has a barbaric nature. In battle, it whips its fiery tail around and slashes away with sharp claws. (Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Charmeleon mercilessly destroys its foes using its sharp claws. If it encounters a strong foe, it turns aggressive. In this excited state, the flame at the tip of its tail flares with a bluish white color.
Without pity, its sharp claws destroy foes. If it encounters a strong enemy, it becomes agitated, and the flame on its tail flares with a bluish white color.
Charmeleon mercilessly destroys its foes using its sharp claws. If it encounters a strong foe, it turns aggressive. In this excited state, the flame at the tip of its tail flares with a bluish white color.
Apparently, Charmeleon sometimes sleeps in a very laid-back posture when relaxed, using its hands as a pillow. It seems its battle fervor completely wears off when it sleeps.
Charmeleon also appeared in I Choose You!, which is set in a different continuity from Pokémon the Series. In this continuity, it previously belonged to Cross and evolved from Charmander after defeating a Jigglypuff in battle. It later evolved into Charizard while battling Cross's Incineroar. Unlike its main series counterpart, this Charmeleon never had obedience issues.
A Charmeleon appeared in The Crystal Onix, under the ownership of Mateo, who would commonly use it to make glass. It was also used to battle the titular Crystal Onix, during which it set it alight and defeated it.
In The Breeding Center Secret, a Charmeleon was part of a TV advertisement for Cassidy and Butch's breeding center, in which it evolved from a Charmander and then into Charizard.
Charmeleon, the Flame Pokémon and the evolved form of Charmander. Charmeleon knocks down opponents with its tail, then defeats them using razor-sharp claws.
Charmeleon debuted in Onix is On!, where it was seen battling in the Pewter Gym as one of Blue's Pokémon. He evolved from Charmander sometime between The Secret of Kangaskhan and this chapter. When Red and Blue collided in Celadon City, Red mistakenly picked up the Poké Ball of Blue's Charmeleon, but he managed to give it back to Blue later. He has since evolved into Charizard with Blue's intense training and became even more powerful, assisting in the defeat of both the Team Rocket triads Koga and Sabrina.
In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi has a Charmeleon that evolved from the Charmander he received from Professor Oak in PZ04. It later evolves again into Charizard.
In Japanese, Flareon has the category ほのおポケモン Honō Pokémon (Flame Pokémon), while the other four Pokémon share the category かえんポケモン Kaen Pokémon (Flame Pokémon).
Charmeleon, Quilava, and their respective evolutionary lines have exactly the same base stats in the same distribution.
In Generation IX, Charmeleon and its evolved form are unable to learn Metal Claw via TM, but its pre-evolved form can.
Similarly, Charmeleon cannot learn Fire Spin by level up, while its evolutionary relatives can.
Concept and development
Charmeleon, along with its evolutionary relatives, was designed by Atsuko Nishida.[2][3]
Design variations
In Pokémon Red and Green, Charmeleon's sprites depict it with what appears to be a keratinous horn, which is more clearly seen on the back sprite. The front sprite in Japanese Pokémon Blue shows Charmeleon with a dark red crest instead of a white horn, which was also carried over to the localized Generation I games.
Origin
Charmeleon may be based on lizards, as its name suggests. It could also be based on mythical fire salamander, as salamanders and lizards are very similar. The crest on its head resembles that of the dinosaur Parasaurolophus.
Name origin
Charmeleon may be a combination of char (to burn) and chameleon.
Lizardo may be derived from the transcription of the English word lizard.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Bitter Berry (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Charmeleon images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
