No. 0005 · Generation I · Flame Pokémon
リザードLizardo · From the English word 'lizard' (transliterated Rizādo); Lizardo is the official trademarked spelling
The Flame Pokémon · Fire type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Charmeleon
Everything you need to know about the Flame Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Between the cheerful little Charmander and the mighty, winged Charizard comes the awkward middle chapter, and Charmeleon plays it with attitude. The Flame Pokémon, #0005 in the National Pokédex, arrives the moment a Charmander reaches level 16 and swaps its predecessor's sunny nature for something altogether more smouldering. It stays that way until level 36, when it finally spreads its wings as Charizard.
Its scales have deepened to a dark red, with a cream belly running from the chest down. Blue eyes sit above a long snout with a slightly hooked tip, a single horn-like crest juts from the back of its head, and its long arms end in three wickedly sharp claws. Its short legs stand flat-footed on cream-soled feet, and at the tip of its long, powerful tail burns the family flame.
“It lashes about with its tail to knock down its foe. It then tears up the fallen opponent with sharp claws.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red (Japan), Green (Japan), FireRed, X & Legends: Z-A · 1996
That tail is a weapon as much as a lantern. When Charmeleon swings it, the air around it heats up to unbearable levels, and its favourite tactic is to knock a foe flat with a lash of the tail before tearing in with its claws. Hot-headed and barbaric by nature, it goes looking for fights, seems to enjoy tormenting its opponents and only calms down once it has won. A truly strong rival gets it so worked up that its flame flares a startling bluish white, and it may spout fire fierce enough to scorch everything around it.
Wild Charmeleon are rare, but they make their homes in rocky mountains, where their fiery tails shine in the dark like stars. And for all the bluster, there is a softer side once the fighting stops: it sometimes sleeps in a laid-back sprawl with its hands for a pillow, its battle fervour snuffed out completely until it wakes.
As the middle stage of one of the three original Kanto first partners, Charmeleon has been part of Pokémon since Red and Green in 1996, and its moody reputation was sealed on television when Ash's devoted Charmander evolved into a Charmeleon that greeted him with a faceful of flame. It has worn the label of the family's stroppy teenager ever since: no longer cute, not yet a dragon, and absolutely certain it knows best.
How big is Charmeleon?
At 1.1 m (3′07″) Charmeleon stands about as tall as a typical five-year-old, and at 19.0 kg (41.9 lb) it weighs about the same as one too, though with a great deal more fire in its temper.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Charmeleon's Pokédex entries
19 different entries across 44 games, from 1996 to 2023. Here is how the Pokédex has described Charmeleon over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
It lashes about with its tail to knock down its foe. It then tears up the fallen opponent with sharp claws.
Kanto Pokédex
When it swings its burning tail, it elevates the temperature to unbearably high levels.
Kanto Pokédex
Tough fights could excite this Pokémon. When excited, it may blow out bluish-white flames.
Kanto Pokédex
It appears to be very vicious. It attacks with razor-sharp claws and won't stop until the enemy is defeated.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
It is very hot-headed by nature, so it constantly seeks opponents. It calms down only when it wins.
Johto Pokédex
It has a barbaric nature. In battle, it whips its fiery tail around and slashes away with sharp claws.
Johto Pokédex
If it becomes agitated during battle, it spouts intense flames, incinerating its surroundings.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
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.
Hoenn Pokédex
When it swings its burning tail, it elevates the air temperature to unbearably high levels.
FireRed & LeafGreen Pokédex
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.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation IV
Charmeleon breaths a large ball of fire that can melt small pieces of Scrap Metal.
In the rocky mountains where Charmeleon live, their fiery tails shine at night like stars.
Sinnoh Pokédex
It attacks by spitting embers and blobs of fire.
It is very hotheaded by nature, so it constantly seeks opponents. It calms down only when it wins.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Pokédex
It attacks by spitting fire.
Generation VII
Tough fights could excite this Pokémon. When excited, it may breathe out bluish-white flames.
Let's Go Pokédex
Generation IX
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.
When it swings its burning tail, the temperature around it rises higher and higher, tormenting its opponents.
Rotom Phone (Scarlet & Violet)
It is very hotheaded by nature, so it constantly seeks opponents to battle against. Its aggression will not be quelled if it doesn’t win.
Rotom Phone (Scarlet & Violet)
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Charmeleon in the video games
Base stat total 405 · 24 core-series games · 30 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
Base stats have never changed since Generation II: 58/64/58/80/65/80, a total of 405. In Generation I Charmeleon had a single Special stat of 65; when Gold and Silver split Special in two, its Sp. Def stayed at 65 while its Sp. Atk jumped to 80, a 15-point boost to its firepower. Its spread is identical to Quilava's, stat for stat. Base friendship was 70 in Generations II–VII and has been 50 since Generation VIII. Base experience yield is 142; as a Medium Slow Pokémon it needs 1,059,860 Exp. to reach level 100.
Abilities
- Blazesince Gen III
Powers up Charmeleon's Fire-type moves when its HP is low (a third or less). - Solar PowerHidden abilitysince Gen V
Boosts Charmeleon's Sp. Atk by half in harsh sunlight, but it loses a little HP every turn while the sun blazes.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Fire Pokémon.
Generation I: Ice-type moves did normal damage to Fire types; the Ice resistance arrived in Generation II, together with the Steel type (and its resistance). The Fairy resistance applies from Generation VI, when the Fairy type was introduced.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 45
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 142
- Growth rate
- Medium Slow
- EV yield
- 1 Sp. Atk, 1 Speed
- Egg groups
- Monster, Dragon
- Egg cycles
- 20
- Colour
- Red
- Gender ratio
- 87.5% male
- Body shape
- bipedal with tail
Where to find Charmeleon
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Evolve Charmander (first partner from Professor Oak in Pallet Town)Pick Bulbasaur and your rival takes Charmander, which you face as a Charmeleon on the S.S. Anne and in Pokémon Tower. |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Evolve Charmander (first partner from Professor Oak in Pallet Town) |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Evolve Charmander (first partner from Professor Oak in Pallet Town)Choose Bulbasaur and your rival's Charmeleon turns up on the S.S. Anne and in Pokémon Tower before it becomes Charizard. |
| Yellow | 1998 | Evolve Charmander, a gift from a boy on Route 24 |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Not in the wild: trade from Red, Blue or Yellow via the Time Capsule, or evolve an event CharmanderA Charmeleon traded across from the first-generation games arrives holding a Bitter Berry. |
| Crystal | 2000 | Time Capsule trade, or evolve an event Charmander |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Trade, or evolve an event Charmander |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | Evolve Charmander (first partner from Professor Oak in Pallet Town)As in the originals, picking Bulbasaur means battling your rival's Charmeleon on the S.S. Anne and in Pokémon Tower. |
| Emerald | 2004 | Trade, or evolve an event Charmander |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Trade, or evolve an event CharmanderA Charmeleon migrated from a Game Boy Advance game turns up in Pal Park's Field area. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Trade, Pal Park (Field area), or evolve an event Charmander |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Evolve Charmander, a gift from Professor Oak in Pallet Town after defeating Red |
| Black & White | 2010 | Poké Transfer, or evolve a Charmander from a Pokémon Global Link event |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Poké Transfer, or evolve an event Charmander |
| X & Y | 2013 | Wild in the Friend Safari (Fire-type safaris)Or evolve the Charmander you can choose from Professor Sycamore at his lab in Lumiose City. |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Trade, or evolve an event Charmander |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Not obtainable in Alola: transfer only |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Evolve Charmander, found with the Island Scan on Route 3 (Melemele Island) on Sundays |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Evolve Charmander, wild on Routes 3 and 4 and in Rock Tunnel, or the one-off Charmander on Route 24 |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | Max Raid Battles in the Hammerlocke Hills and Lake of Outrage densThe Crown Tundra adds it to Dynamax Adventures in the Max Lair; and after you become Champion, Leon gives you a Charmander with the Gigantamax Factor at his house in Postwick. |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Evolve Charmander, found in the Grand Underground (Volcanic Cave, Sandsear Cave, Typhlo Cavern) after obtaining the National Pokédex |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Unobtainable |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Trade; The Indigo Disk (2023): evolve a Charmander from the Terarium's Savanna BiomeCharmander appears in the Savanna Biome once the Terarium Club has boosted its biodiversity. |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Evolve Charmander, a gift from Mable at the Pokémon Research Lab (Vert District) during Side Mission 22, or wild in Wild Zone 20 (Centrico Plaza)Mega Dimension DLC: Charmeleon itself roams Hyperspace Lumiose's 3★ and 4★ Fire-type and 4★ Flying-type wild zones. |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Super Smash Bros.
Charmeleon itself sits Super Smash Bros. out, but the rest of its family keeps the flame burning. Charmander was there from the very first game on the Nintendo 64, popping out of the building on the Saffron City stage to scorch anyone standing too close, and it returns to that job in Ultimate, which also makes it a spirit; in between, Brawl gave it a collectible trophy. Charizard does the heavy lifting: it is one third of the Pokémon Trainer's team with Squirtle and Ivysaur in Brawl, a solo fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, where its Final Smash Mega Evolves it into Mega Charizard X, and back with the Trainer in Ultimate, where the Triple Finish ends with Charizard's Fire Blast.
Pokémon GO
Charmeleon has been in Pokémon GO since launch day in July 2016. A Charmander evolves into it for 25 Candy, and it takes another 100 to reach Charizard; as a buddy it earns Candy every 3 km. Its big moment came on 19 May 2018, when Charmander's first Community Day debuted Shiny Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard, and evolving during the event taught Charizard Blast Burn. Charmander headlined again on 17 October 2020, this time with Dragon Breath, and a Community Day Classic on 2 September 2023 offered both moves. Mega Charizard X and Y arrived with Mega Evolution on 27 August 2020, Dynamax Charmander joined the brand-new 1★ Max Battles on 10 September 2024, and Gigantamax Charizard followed on 26 October 2024. Charmeleon also turns up as a Shadow Pokémon, and
On the Volcano course, a Charmander caught in a Magmar's fiery attack evolves into Charmeleon on the spot, and another paces around a magma crater near the end. Knock that one in and out comes a Charizard.
There is no wild Charmeleon to catch: you earn one by evolving a Charmander you have already bagged.
Transfer your own Charmeleon from Red, Blue or Yellow, and Stadium's Pokédex sizes it up as 'very vicious'.
Its Pokédex text changes with the Game Boy cartridge you plug in: either the hot-headed Gold entry or the barbaric Silver one.
One of the twenty racers in this PC racing game, so Charmeleon finally gets a chance to burn rubber instead of foes.
A rare piece that turns up in Endless Level 4, Forever Level 50 and Mr. Who's Den.
Recruit one deep in Fiery Field (26F–29F) and it settles in the Mt. Cleft friend area, vowing: 'I'll KO foes with my burning tail!' And if the personality quiz rates you Hardy (as a boy) or Brave (as a girl), you start the adventure as Charmander.
Fiore Browser #141 lives in the Jungle Relic. Once captured, its Burn field move clears obstacles, and its fireballs can even melt Scrap Metal.
Prowls Giant Volcano and the deep floors of Dark Crater, waiting for an exploration team brave enough to recruit it.
Almia Browser #138, found spitting embers and blobs of fire in Volcano Cave.
Back in Giant Volcano and Dark Crater, including the Deep Dark Crater.
Found in the Fire Mountains (10F–20F) in Blazing Adventure Squad; Stormy and Light players can only get it through a linked save file.
Oblivia Browser #207 spits fire at Rangers on Faldera Island and in the Fire Temple.
Found in the fiery kingdom of Ignis, it evolves from Charmander once its Attack reaches 50 and into Charizard at 83, and forms its strongest bonds with the warlords Masakage and Yukimura.
One of the Kanto first partner family pins children could win in mini-games and use to decorate photos.
Beat Rainbow Park Stage 55 to catch it; its Burn skill leaves the foe burned. It is also on offer in Blau Salon Stage 413.
Guards the entrance as the boss of Furnace Mountain in the Ember Mountains.
Chat to it in Sahra Town and it signs up with a cheer: 'Adventure! I'm fired up! My tail is burning, too!'
Evolves from Charmander for 25 Candy, has starred in three Charmander Community Days and can wear a Pikachu visor.
One of the original 151 cube-shaped Pokémon on Tumblecube Island; start with Charmander and it will grow into a blocky Charmeleon.
Shows up in the tutorial and on several Seas, including the Charizard, Jirachi, Gengar, Mewtwo, Butterfree and Bulbasaur Seas.
Hatch a Charmander from an Egg to partner your own player character, and it can evolve into Charmeleon.
The Switch remake brings it back to Fiery Field, now from floor 20 to 29.
Charizard, a melee All-Rounder, starts every match as Charmander and spends its middle levels as Charmeleon. In the Legacy Trainer Showdown event, even Leon's Charizard had to evolve its way up.
A Snoozing-type ingredient specialist that brings back Bean Sausage, Warming Ginger and Fiery Herbs, with sleep styles such as Arm-Pillow Sleep and Loafing Sleep.
A Burn specialist that settles in warm Campsite habitats; it loves lots of fire, exercise and rides, and its favourite flavour is spicy.
Moves
In Red and Green, Charmeleon was a slow burner. Its level-up list was short and simple – Scratch, Growl, Ember, Leer, Rage and Slash – and it made trainers wait until level 42 for Flamethrower and 56 for Fire Spin. Gold and Silver taught it to pull a Scary Face and gave it a draconic streak with Dragon Rage, Diamond and Pearl added Fire Fang, and Black and White piled on Flame Burst and the wild, always-burning Inferno.
Sword and Shield turned the heat right up: Dragon Breath at level 12, Flamethrower by 30 and Flare Blitz – once only an Egg Move – as the big finish at 54. Scarlet and Violet keep that fiery kit, oddly without Fire Spin, while Legends: Z-A works in a crashing Dragon Rush. And for collectors, a Charmeleon evolved from one of Generation V's event Charmander can know Blast Burn, a move ordinary Charmeleon can't touch.
Signature moves
The first spark, and it never goes out: Ember sits in every Charmeleon level-up list ever made, and many list it twice – once at the start and again at level 7 or 9.
Those claws aren't just for show. Slash is the other ever-present, arriving anywhere from level 41 in Gold, Silver, Ruby and Sapphire to level 24 from Sword and Shield onwards.
The big flame of its middle years: level 42 in Red and Blue, 34 from Gold and Silver to FireRed and LeafGreen, and a much earlier 30 in Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet and Legends: Z-A.
A hint of the dragon it isn't: a TM in Red and Blue, a level-up move from Gold and Silver to Let's Go, then retired when Dragon Breath took its place in Sword and Shield.
A blazing bite that suits Charmeleon's temper. It arrived at level 28 in Diamond and Pearl and now lands at 19 in Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet.
Pure hot-headedness: only 50% accurate, but every hit leaves a burn. Charmeleon learns it at 54 from Black and White to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and at 48 in Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet.
Once an Egg Move – in Diamond and Pearl only a Charizard father could pass it down – it became Charmeleon's grand finale at level 54 in Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet and Legends: Z-A.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow9 level-up · 24 TM/HM
Charmeleon only turns up by evolving Charmander at level 16 – and in Red and Blue, picking Bulbasaur means your rival's Charmander grows into one too. Its TM list already hints at the brawler inside: Mega Punch, Submission, Seismic Toss and even Dragon Rage all fit in its claws.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 9 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 15 | Leer | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| 24 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| 33 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 42 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| 56 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 15 | 70 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Mega Punch | Normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 |
| TM03 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM05 | Mega Kick | Normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM08 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| TM09 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM10 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM17 | Submission | Fighting | Physical | 80 | 80 | 25 |
| TM18 | Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM19 | Seismic Toss | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM23 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM33 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM34 | Bide | Normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 120 | 85 | 5 |
| TM39 | Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM40 | Skull Bash | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM50 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bite | Gen II (breeding) |
| Defense Curl | Gen II (TM) |
| Fire Punch | Gen II (TM) |
| Headbutt | Gen II (TM) |
| Rock Slide | Gen II (breeding) |
| SmokeScreen | Gen II (level-up) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal11 level-up · 28 TM/HM · 7 egg · 1 tutor · 1 event
No Charmeleon lives in Gold, Silver or Crystal – it comes over from Red, Blue or Yellow through the Time Capsule, or grows from an event Charmander. Crystal's Move Tutor teaches it Flamethrower, and a Charmander from the Pokémon Center Mystery Egg or New York City Pokémon Center events keeps Crunch after evolving.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 7 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 13 | SmokeScreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| 27 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| 34 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| 41 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 48 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| 55 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 15 | 70 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | DynamicPunch | Fighting | Physical | 100 | 50 | 5 |
| TM02 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM03 | Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM08 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM13 | Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM20 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM24 | DragonBreath | Dragon | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Mud-Slap | Ground | Physical | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM35 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 120 | 85 | 5 |
| TM39 | Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM40 | Defense Curl | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM48 | Fire Punch | Fire | Special | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM49 | Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 10 | 95 | 20 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AncientPower | Rock | Physical | 60 | 100 | 5 | Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Beat Up | Dark | Special | 10 | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Arbok, Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax |
| Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Totodile, Croconaw and 4 more |
| Outrage | Dragon | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite |
| Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar |
| Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | Ekans, Arbok, Nidoking, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Snorlax (the father must have learned it in Red, Blue or Yellow) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 | Crystal |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Crunch | Evolve a Charmander from the Pokémon Center Mystery Egg (Japan) or New York City Pokémon Center events |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM) |
| Counter | Gen I (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM) |
| Leer | Gen I (level-up) |
| Mega Kick | Gen I (TM) |
| Mega Punch | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Seismic Toss | Gen I (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Submission | Gen I (TM) |
| Substitute | Gen I (TM) |
| Swords Dance | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Generation III · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed & LeafGreen12 level-up · 23 TM/HM · 8 egg · 20 tutor
Evolve your Charmander in FireRed or LeafGreen to get one; Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald only receive Charmeleon by trade or from an event Charmander. FireRed and LeafGreen swap Rage for a level-13 Metal Claw, and tutor moves come from FireRed and LeafGreen, Emerald and Pokémon XD.
By level-up
| RSE | FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 7 | 7 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| N/A | 13 | Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 |
| 13 | 20 | SmokeScreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 20 | N/A | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| 27 | 27 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| 34 | 34 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| 41 | 41 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 48 | 48 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 55 | 55 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 15 | 70 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| TM02 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Special | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 120 | 85 | 5 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM50 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 140 | 90 | 5 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| HM06 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 20 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AncientPower | Rock | Physical | 60 | 100 | 5 | Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Beat Up | Dark | Special | 10 | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Arbok, Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax |
| Bite | Dark | Special | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Totodile, Croconaw and 8 more |
| Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Gyarados, Altaria |
| Outrage | Dragon | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite |
| Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Rhyhorn, Rhydon (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | FRLG, Emerald |
| Defense Curl | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 | Emerald |
| Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| DynamicPunch | Fighting | Physical | 100 | 50 | 5 | Emerald |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Fire Punch | Fire | Special | 75 | 100 | 15 | Emerald |
| Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 10 | 95 | 20 | Emerald |
| Mega Kick | Normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 | FRLG, Emerald |
| Mega Punch | Normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 | FRLG, Emerald |
| Mimic | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Mud-Slap | Ground | Physical | 20 | 100 | 10 | Emerald |
| Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | FRLG, Emerald |
| Seismic Toss | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | Emerald |
| Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | Emerald, XD |
| Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Emerald |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | FRLG, Emerald |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver11 level-up · 35 TM/HM · 13 egg · 8 tutor · 2 event
In HeartGold and SoulSilver you can evolve the Charmander Professor Oak hands over after you beat Red, while Diamond, Pearl and Platinum only get Charmeleon by trade or from an event Charmander. Fire Fang arrives at level 28, and Japan's Birthday Charmander gifts (2007 to 2010) pass on Quick Attack and Howl.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 7 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 10 | SmokeScreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 17 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 21 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| 28 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 32 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 39 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| 43 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 15 | 70 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| TM02 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 120 | 85 | 5 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 50 | 80 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM50 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 140 | 90 | 5 |
| TM56 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM61 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 75 | 15 |
| TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM78 | Captivate | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM83 | Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| HM06 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AncientPower | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon |
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | 10 | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Nidoran♂ (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Totodile, Croconaw and 13 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Chikorita (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Arbok, Snorlax, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar and 9 more |
| Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Gyarados, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Altaria |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp |
| Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Charizard |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Aron, Lairon, Aggron |
| Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite |
| Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar |
| Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | Rhyhorn (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Fury Cutter | Bug | Physical | 10 | 95 | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 | HGSS |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 100 | 90 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Mud-Slap | Ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| ThunderPunch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Quick Attack | Evolve a 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010 Birthday Charmander (Japan) |
| Howl | Evolve a 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010 Birthday Charmander (Japan) |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Defense Curl | Gen III (tutor) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| DynamicPunch | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mega Kick | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mega Punch | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Rage | Gen III (level-up) |
| Seismic Toss | Gen III (tutor) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 213 level-up · 33 TM/HM · 13 egg · 8 tutor · 4 event
Charmeleon reaches Black, White, Black 2 and White 2 through Poké Transfer or by evolving an event Charmander. Flame Burst and the all-or-nothing Inferno join its level-up list, and a Charmeleon evolved from the Sticker Promotional or Korean Egg Charmander keeps Blast Burn – a move it could never learn otherwise.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 7 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 10 | SmokeScreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 17 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 21 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 32 | Flame Burst | Fire | Special | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| 39 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 43 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| 50 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| 54 | Inferno | Fire | Special | 100 | 50 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Hone Claws | Dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM02 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 95 | 100 | 15 |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 120 | 85 | 5 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 50 | 80 | 10 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Flame Charge | Fire | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM49 | Echoed Voice | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM50 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 140 | 90 | 5 |
| TM56 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM59 | Incinerate | Fire | Special | 30 | 100 | 15 |
| TM61 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 75 | 15 |
| TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM94 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AncientPower | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon |
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Nidoran♂ (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Totodile, Croconaw and 17 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Chikorita, Scraggy (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Arbok, Snorlax, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar and 15 more |
| Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Gyarados, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Altaria and 3 more |
| Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Swablu, Altaria, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus and 3 more |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp, Deino, Zweilous and 1 more |
| Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Charizard |
| Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | Scraggy, Scrafty |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Aron, Lairon, Aggron |
| Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Deino and 2 more |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Pledge | Fire | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 | BW, B2W2 |
| Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 100 | 90 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| ThunderPunch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| False Swipe | Evolve a Sticker Promotional Egg Charmander (Japan) or Korean Egg Charmander |
| Block | Evolve a Sticker Promotional Egg Charmander (Japan) or Korean Egg Charmander |
| Blast Burn | Evolve a Sticker Promotional Egg Charmander (Japan) or Korean Egg Charmander |
| Acrobatics | Evolve a Sticker Promotional Egg Charmander (Japan) or Korean Egg Charmander |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Defense Curl | Gen III (tutor) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| DynamicPunch | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Fury Cutter | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Headbutt | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Howl | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Mega Kick | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mega Punch | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Quick Attack | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Rage | Gen III (level-up) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM) |
| Seismic Toss | Gen III (tutor) |
| Swift | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire13 level-up · 38 TM/HM · 14 egg · 8 tutor · 1 event
Wild Charmeleon live in Fire-type Friend Safaris in X and Y, or you can evolve the Charmander Professor Sycamore gives you in Lumiose City; Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire get it only by trade or from an event Charmander. Air Cutter becomes an Egg Move here, but only from a parent that learned it in an earlier generation.
By level-up
| XY/ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 7 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 10 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 17 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 21 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 32 | Flame Burst | Fire | Special | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| 39 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 43 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 50 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| 54 | Inferno | Fire | Special | 100 | 50 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Hone Claws | Dark | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM02 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 | |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | ||
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM43 | Flame Charge | Fire | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM49 | Echoed Voice | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM50 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 | |
| TM56 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | |
| TM59 | Incinerate | Fire | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM61 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 | |
| TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM94 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | XY |
| TM94 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| TM98 | Power-Up Punch | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| HM01 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 | |
| HM04 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| HM06 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | Charizard, Dragonite, Swablu, Altaria, Tropius, Salamence (the parent must have learned it in an earlier generation) | |
| Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Amaura, Aurorus |
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Nidoran♂ (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Totodile, Croconaw and 21 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Chikorita, Scraggy (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Arbok, Gyarados, Snorlax, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Larvitar, Pupitar and 19 more |
| Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Gyarados, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Altaria and 3 more |
| Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Ampharos, Swablu, Altaria, Axew, Fraxure and 9 more |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp, Deino, Zweilous and 1 more |
| Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Charizard |
| Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | Scraggy, Scrafty |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Aron, Lairon, Aggron |
| Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Deino and 3 more |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
| Fire Pledge | Fire | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | XY, ORAS |
| Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | ORAS |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | ORAS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Celebrate | Evolve the 2016 World Championships Charmander |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Acrobatics | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Blast Burn | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Block | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Body Slam | Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Defense Curl | Gen III (tutor) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Dynamic Punch | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| False Swipe | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Fury Cutter | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Headbutt | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Howl | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Mega Kick | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mega Punch | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Quick Attack | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Rage | Gen III (level-up) |
| Seismic Toss | Gen III (tutor) |
| Swift | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon13 level-up · 30 TM/HM · 14 egg · 8 tutor
In Sun and Moon, Charmeleon has to be brought in from another game, but in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon you can evolve a Charmander found through Island Scan on Route 3. The Ultra games' tutors add Dragon Pulse, Fire Punch, Heat Wave and more.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 7 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 10 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 17 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 21 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 28 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 32 | Flame Burst | Fire | Special | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| 39 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 43 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 50 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| 54 | Inferno | Fire | Special | 100 | 50 | 5 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM02 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Flame Charge | Fire | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM49 | Echoed Voice | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM50 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 |
| TM56 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM61 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | Charizard, Dragonite, Swablu, Altaria, Tropius, Salamence (the parent must have learned it in an earlier generation) | |
| Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon, Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Amaura, Aurorus |
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Nidoran♂ (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax, Kommo-o |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Totodile, Croconaw and 21 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Nidoran♂, Rhyhorn, Chikorita, Mudkip, Scraggy (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Arbok, Gyarados, Snorlax, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Larvitar, Pupitar and 19 more |
| Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Gyarados, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Altaria and 6 more |
| Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Ampharos, Swablu, Altaria, Axew, Fraxure and 12 more |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp, Deino, Zweilous and 1 more |
| Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Charizard, Marowak |
| Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | Scraggy, Scrafty |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Aron, Lairon, Aggron |
| Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Axew, Fraxure, Haxorus, Druddigon, Deino and 7 more |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
| Fire Pledge | Fire | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | SM, USUM |
| Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | USUM |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | USUM |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | USUM |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Acrobatics | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Blast Burn | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Block | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Body Slam | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Celebrate | Gen VI (event Charmander) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Cut | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Defense Curl | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Dig | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Dragon Breath | Gen II (TM) |
| Dynamic Punch | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| False Swipe | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Fury Cutter | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Headbutt | Gen II (TM), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Hone Claws | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Howl | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Incinerate | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Leer | Gen I (level-up) |
| Mega Kick | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Mega Punch | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Power-Up Punch | Gen VI (TM) |
| Quick Attack | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Rage | Gen I (level-up, TM), Gen II (level-up), Gen III (level-up) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Rock Smash | Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM/HM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Seismic Toss | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Strength | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Submission | Gen I (TM) |
| Swift | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! · Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!12 level-up · 19 TM/HM
Catch a Charmander on Route 3, Route 4 or in Rock Tunnel, or receive the one on Route 24, and evolve it. There's no breeding or move tutoring here, but these games give Charmeleon a one-off Fury Swipes at level 20 – a move it learns in no other level-up list.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 4 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 9 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 13 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 20 | Fury Swipes | Normal | Physical | 18 | 80 | 15 |
| 26 | Dragon Rage | Dragon | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| 33 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| 39 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 46 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM05 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM07 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM08 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM09 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM10 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| TM11 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM12 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM13 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM15 | Seismic Toss | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM19 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| TM22 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| TM23 | Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM27 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM31 | Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| TM34 | Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 |
| TM37 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| TM39 | Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 |
| TM46 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 |
Generation VIII · Sword & Shield, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl12 level-up · 75 TM/HM · 22 egg · 1 tutor
In Sword and Shield, Charmeleon appears in Max Raid Battles in Hammerlocke Hills and the Lake of Outrage, or you can evolve the Charmander Leon gives you after you become Champion; in Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, evolve a Charmander from the Grand Underground once you have the National Pokédex. Dragon Rage is gone – Dragon Breath takes over at level 12 – and Charmeleon can't be found in Legends: Arceus.
By level-up
| SwSh/BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 12 | Dragon Breath | Dragon | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 19 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 24 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 30 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 37 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 42 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 |
| 48 | Inferno | Fire | Special | 100 | 50 | 5 |
| 54 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM00 | Mega Punch | Normal | Physical | 80 | 85 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM01 | Mega Kick | Normal | Physical | 120 | 75 | 5 | SwSh |
| TM03 | Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM05 | Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM13 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM15 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM21 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM22 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM24 | Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM25 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TM26 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM31 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM34 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | SwSh |
| TM37 | Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM38 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM39 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | SwSh |
| TM40 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TM41 | Helping Hand | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TM43 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM46 | Weather Ball | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM48 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM59 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM68 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM76 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TM78 | Acrobatics | Physical | 55 | 100 | 15 | SwSh | |
| TM94 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | SwSh |
| TR00 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TR01 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR02 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR15 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 | SwSh |
| TR20 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR24 | Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR26 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR27 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | SwSh |
| TR31 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR32 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR36 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR43 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 | SwSh |
| TR47 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR51 | Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | SwSh |
| TR55 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | SwSh |
| TR62 | Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
| TR85 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | SwSh |
| TM01 | Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM02 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM10 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 | BDSP |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | BDSP |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM23 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM28 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM31 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | BDSP |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM38 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 | BDSP |
| TM39 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | BDSP | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | BDSP |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM50 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 | BDSP |
| TM54 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | BDSP |
| TM56 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM59 | Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM61 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM65 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM75 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | BDSP |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | BDSP |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | BDSP |
| TM93 | Cut | Normal | Physical | 50 | 95 | 30 | BDSP |
| TM96 | Strength | Normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
| TM98 | Rock Smash | Fighting | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | BDSP |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Tyrunt, Tyrantrum, Amaura, Aurorus |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Lickitung, Lickilicky, Snorlax, Kommo-o |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Gyarados, Snorlax, Larvitar, Pupitar, Tyranitar and 29 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Chewtle, Drednaw |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Vibrava, Flygon, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp and 6 more |
| Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Vibrava, Flygon, Milotic, Salamence, Druddigon and 6 more |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Aron, Lairon, Aggron, Druddigon, Duraludon |
| Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | Dragonite, Noibat, Noivern, Flapple | |
| Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard (the parent has to come from the Grand Underground already knowing it) | |
| Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon |
| Beat Up | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | Ekans, Arbok, Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Lickitung, Lickilicky, Snorlax |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Snorlax, Totodile and 20 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Nidoran♂, Nidorino, Nidoking, Rhyhorn, Rhydon, Rhyperior, Chikorita, Bayleef and 1 more (chain breeding: the father must itself have learned it as an Egg Move) |
| Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | Arbok, Gyarados, Snorlax, Totodile, Croconaw, Feraligatr, Larvitar, Pupitar and 13 more |
| Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | Horsea, Seadra, Kingdra, Gyarados, Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Flygon and 1 more |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Vibrava, Flygon, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp |
| Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Vibrava, Flygon, Milotic, Salamence |
| Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Aron, Lairon, Aggron |
| Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Flygon, Bagon, Shelgon, Salamence |
| Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | Dragonite |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Pledge | Fire | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | SwSh |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Aerial Ace | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Air Cutter | Gen VI (breeding), Gen VII (breeding) |
| Bide | Gen I (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Blast Burn | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Block | Gen V (event Charmander) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Celebrate | Gen VI (event Charmander) |
| Confide | Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Cut | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Defense Curl | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Double Team | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Dragon Rage | Gen I (TM), Gen II (level-up), Gen III (level-up), Gen IV (level-up), Gen V (level-up), Gen VI (level-up), Gen VII (level-up); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Dynamic Punch | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Echoed Voice | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Flame Burst | Gen V (level-up), Gen VI (level-up), Gen VII (level-up); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Flame Charge | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Focus Punch | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (breeding), Gen VI (breeding, tutor), Gen VII (breeding, tutor) |
| Frustration | Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Fury Cutter | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Fury Swipes | Gen VII (level-up) |
| Headbutt | Gen II (TM), Gen IV (tutor), Gen VII (TM) |
| Hidden Power | Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Hone Claws | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Howl | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Incinerate | Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Leer | Gen I (level-up) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Power-Up Punch | Gen VI (TM) |
| Quick Attack | Gen IV (event Charmander) |
| Rage | Gen I (level-up, TM), Gen II (level-up), Gen III (level-up); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Return | Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Rock Smash | Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM/HM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen VI (TM); can't be used in Sword and Shield |
| Seismic Toss | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen VII (TM) |
| Skull Bash | Gen I (TM) |
| Strength | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM) |
| Submission | Gen I (TM) |
| Swagger | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
| Toxic | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM), Gen VI (TM), Gen VII (TM) |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet11 level-up · 45 TM/HM · 8 egg
Charmeleon arrives in Scarlet and Violet by trade, or by evolving a Charmander from the Terarium's Savanna Biome in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero once its biodiversity has been boosted. Curiously, it is the only member of its family that can't learn Fire Spin by levelling up – TM024 fills the gap.
By level-up
| SV | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scratch | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 |
| 1 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| 1 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 12 | Dragon Breath | Dragon | Special | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| 19 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| 24 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| 30 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 |
| 37 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| 48 | Inferno | Fire | Special | 100 | 50 | 5 |
| 54 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM001 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 | |
| TM006 | Scary Face | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 | |
| TM007 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM008 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM024 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 35 | 85 | 15 | |
| TM025 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM032 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM036 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM038 | Flame Charge | Fire | Physical | 50 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM043 | Fling | Dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 | |
| TM044 | Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 | |
| TM047 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM049 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM055 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM057 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 | |
| TM058 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM061 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM066 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM067 | Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM068 | Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM070 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM078 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM085 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM086 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 | |
| TM088 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM100 | Dragon Dance | Dragon | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM103 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM107 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | 85 | 15 | |
| TM108 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM115 | Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM118 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | |
| TM125 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM130 | Helping Hand | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM141 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | 85 | 5 | |
| TM144 | Fire Pledge | Fire | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM156 | Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM157 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | 90 | 5 | |
| TM158 | Focus Blast | Fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 | From Version 2.0.1 |
| TM165 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM171 | Tera Blast | Normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM172 | Roar | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| TM192 | Focus Punch | Fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM193 | Weather Ball | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM207 | Temper Flare | Fire | Physical | 75 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM222 | Breaking Swipe | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 100 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Cranidos, Rampardos, Shieldon, Bastiodon |
| Belly Drum | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Snorlax, Kommo-o |
| Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | Squirtle, Wartortle, Blastoise, Ekans, Arbok, Gyarados, Snorlax, Totodile and 37 more |
| Counter | Fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | Chewtle, Drednaw |
| Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | 75 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Vibrava, Flygon, Gible, Gabite, Garchomp and 6 more |
| Dragon Tail | Dragon | Physical | 60 | 90 | 10 | Dratini, Dragonair, Dragonite, Vibrava, Flygon, Salamence, Jangmo-o, Hakamo-o and 8 more |
| Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 | Goodra (Hisuian) |
| Metal Claw | Steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 | Duraludon, Archaludon |
Pokémon Legends: Z-A · Legends: Z-A11 level-up · 32 TM/HM
Evolve the Charmander Mable gives you at the Pokémon Research Lab or one from Wild Zone 20. Legends: Z-A swaps PP for cooldowns, so some numbers differ from the main series; here Charmeleon starts with Tackle instead of Scratch and picks up Dragon Rush at level 42.
By level-up
| Learn | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | — | — |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 4 | Ember | Fire | Special | 40 | — | — |
| 8 | Smokescreen | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 12 | Dragon Breath | Dragon | Special | 60 | — | — |
| 17 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| 20 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 20 | — | — |
| 24 | Slash | Normal | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| 30 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | — | — |
| 42 | Dragon Rush | Dragon | Physical | 100 | — | — |
| 54 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | — | — |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM002 | Dragon Claw | Dragon | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| TM005 | Roar | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM010 | Brick Break | Fighting | Physical | 75 | — | — |
| TM012 | Rock Slide | Rock | Physical | 75 | — | — |
| TM014 | Fire Fang | Fire | Physical | 65 | — | — |
| TM017 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM023 | Thunder Punch | Electric | Physical | 75 | — | — |
| TM025 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| TM027 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | — |
| TM028 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 | — | — |
| TM029 | Fire Punch | Fire | Physical | 75 | — | — |
| TM030 | Swords Dance | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM033 | Body Slam | Normal | Physical | 85 | — | — |
| TM035 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM036 | Rock Tomb | Rock | Physical | 60 | — | — |
| TM038 | Fire Blast | Fire | Special | 110 | — | — |
| TM050 | Overheat | Fire | Special | 130 | — | — |
| TM057 | Will-O-Wisp | Fire | Status | — | — | — |
| TM061 | Shadow Claw | Ghost | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| TM062 | Flamethrower | Fire | Special | 90 | — | — |
| TM068 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | — | — |
| TM072 | Fire Spin | Fire | Special | 20 | — | — |
| TM075 | Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | — | — |
| TM085 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM087 | Iron Tail | Steel | Physical | 100 | — | — |
| TM093 | Outrage | Dragon | Physical | 120 | — | — |
| TM102 | Focus Blast | Fighting | Special | 120 | — | — |
| TM104 | Flare Blitz | Fire | Physical | 120 | — | — |
| TM109 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| TM114 | Flame Charge | Fire | Physical | 50 | — | — |
| TM120 | Ancient Power | Rock | Special | 60 | — | — |
| TM122 | False Swipe | Normal | Physical | 40 | — | — |
04Ash's Charmeleon & friends
Charmeleon in the anime
Debut EP043The March of the Exeggutor Squad · Ash’s loyal Charmeleon, its battle record, and 7 other trainers who raised one.
Charmeleon's anime career began with a bang – quite literally. The moment Ash's loyal Charmander evolved at the end of The March of the Exeggutor Squad (EP043), the new Charmeleon spun round and torched its Trainer's face, and it spent its brief time on Ash's team as the show's first great rebel: flattening a timid Paras it had been told to go easy on, refusing to lift a claw against an army of Fossil Pokémon and finally evolving into Charizard purely to settle a grudge with an Aerodactyl (EP046). Three episodes were all it took to turn Ash's sweetest Pokémon into his most stubborn.
Away from Ash, Charmeleon is often the stage you meet on the road to Charizard – but it has had some brilliant moments of its own. Ritchie's Zippo, Trevor's short-fused partner and a young Professor Oak's trusty battler all gave it real roles, while flashbacks reveal that Alain, Leon, Friede and Pokémon Origins' Red raised their famous Charizard through the same fiery middle stage. Add a glassblower's furnace assistant and a Charmeleon swapped for a golden Magikarp, and it is clear this hot-headed lizard has never been short of character.
Ash's Charmeleon
Trainer profile
Ash Ketchum
- Caught in
- EP011Charmander – The Stray Pokémon
- First aired
- 10 June 1997 (Japan) · 22 September 1998 (US)
- Where
- Route 24, Kanto
- Status
- Now a Charizard – and still one of Ash's Pokémon, back in his rotation after years of training away from the team
- Japanese name
- サトシのリザード
- Moves used
- Flamethrower
- How it joined
- Abandoned on a rock by its boastful Trainer Damian, the Charmander waited loyally in the rain until Ash and his friends rescued it – and once Damian admitted he had never meant to come back, it chose Ash instead.
Personality
Charmeleon is the moment Ash's sweetest Pokémon hit its rebellious phase. The Charmander that once sat in a rainstorm waiting for a Trainer who would never return became, overnight, proud, hot-headed and openly contemptuous of Ash – scorching him in the face more than once and steamrolling opponents he had asked it to spare. It was not cruel so much as convinced it had outgrown its Trainer, and it would fight only when its own pride was on the line. Even then, a flicker of the old loyalty survived: the Charizard it became still caught Ash when he fell.
Before it was ever a Charmeleon, Ash's Fire-type was the most devoted member of his team. Left on a rock by its boastful Trainer Damian, the little Charmander sat out a storm waiting for a master who had no intention of returning, and only joined Ash once Damian admitted as much (EP011). For the next stretch of Kanto it was the team's torch and its trusty flamethrower – burning through Erika's Weepinbell at the Celadon Gym (EP026) and toppling Koga's Golbat with Ember and Fire Spin to win the Soul Badge (EP032).
Its evolution came on a carnival night that went wrong in every possible way. A struggling stage magician, Melvin, used his Exeggcute's Hypnosis to make Ash help him catch a whole herd of Exeggutor – and when the herd hypnotised itself and stampeded towards the town, Charmander's Flamethrower, joined at last by Melvin's own fire trick, threw up a wall of flame that stopped the march. The effort pushed Charmander over the edge and it evolved into Charmeleon on the spot (EP043).
Ash barely had time to cheer. The brand-new Charmeleon's very first act was to turn round and blast its Trainer in the face with fire – the first hint that the eager Charmander he knew had gone for good (EP043).
A week later the hint became a problem. Asked to battle a girl named Cassandra and go easy on her timid Paras, so it could gain enough confidence to evolve, Charmeleon did the exact opposite: it hit Paras with a full-power Flamethrower and a smack of its tail until it fled in tears, then scorched Ash for trying to rein it in. Sent out again, it torched Team Rocket for good measure and closed in for the finish – only for a terrified Paras to jab it in the stomach, evolve into Parasect and put it to sleep with Spore (EP044).
Cassandra's grandmother put her finger on what had changed. When a Pokémon's strength outgrows its Trainer's skill, she explained, it stops respecting orders – and Ash would not win Charmeleon back until he had grown as a Trainer himself. It was the first time Ash had ever tried to lose a battle on purpose, and his own Pokémon flatly refused to let him (EP044).
Ash left Charmeleon in its Poké Ball after that – it sat out The Song of Jigglypuff entirely (EP045) – and only called on it again when he was trapped beneath Grampa Canyon with Team Rocket and a crowd of revived Fossil Pokémon. Charmeleon would not lift a claw. Then an Aerodactyl swooped in, bowled it over and knocked it flat before it could strike back, and when the Aerodactyl carried Ash off, Charmeleon and Pikachu leapt aboard – only to be shaken loose as it burst out of the canyon (EP046).
That humiliation did what no command could. Taunted by the Aerodactyl from its clifftop perch, Charmeleon boiled over with rage and evolved into Charizard. Ash thought it had evolved to rescue him; in truth it only wanted its rematch. Still, when Jigglypuff's song sent everyone – Aerodactyl included – tumbling into sleep, Charizard covered its ears, caught the falling Ash and set him down before nodding off itself. The rescue was real; the disobedience came along for the ride (EP046).
Charmeleon lasted just three episodes, but its attitude shaped Charizard's next chapter. The new Charizard loafed through Ash's battle at the Cinnabar Gym (EP058) and curled up for a nap rather than face Ritchie's Pikachu at the Indigo Plateau Conference, costing Ash the match (EP079), before an icy defeat in the Orange Islands finally forged a real bond between them. It later stayed behind to train at Charicific Valley in Johto and has returned for some of Ash's biggest battles ever since – from the Battle Frontier to Unova (BW116) – and it remains one of his Pokémon today.
Battle record
| Episode | Opponent | Context | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP044The Problem with Paras | Cassandravs Paras | Casual – a training battle Ash meant to loseIgnores the order to go easy: a full-power Flamethrower and a tail smack send Paras running off in tears, and Ash gets scorched for intervening. | Won |
| EP044The Problem with Paras | Team Rocketvs Jessie, James and Meowth | Team RocketBurns the trio when they pop up to cheer Paras on, then sends them flying with a swipe of its tail. | Won |
| EP044The Problem with Paras | Cassandravs Paras → Parasect | Casual – rematchA desperate jab from Paras drops it; Paras evolves into Parasect and puts it to sleep with Spore. | Lost |
| EP046Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon | Wildvs Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto and Kabutops | Wild – trapped in the caves under Grampa CanyonRefuses to fight at all; the Fossil Pokémon only retreat because an Aerodactyl is coming. | Interrupted |
| EP046Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon | Wildvs Aerodactyl | Wild – inside the cavesBowled over and knocked flat before it can land a hit; it then clings to Aerodactyl as it carries Ash away. | Lost |
| EP046Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon | Wildvs Aerodactyl | Wild – rematch on the clifftopTaunted by Aerodactyl, it evolves into Charizard mid-battle; Jigglypuff's song puts everyone to sleep before the fight is settled. | Interrupted |
Why didn’t it evolve?
Ash's Charmander became a Charmeleon in EP043, when its Flamethrower helped stop the Exeggutor stampede and the hard-won battle tipped it over the edge. The middle stage barely lasted: just three Japanese broadcasts later (EP046, 28 May 1998) Charmeleon evolved again – not to save Ash, as he first believed, but out of pure wounded pride after an Aerodactyl knocked it flat and then mocked it from a clifftop. That makes Charmeleon by far the shortest-lived stage of Ash's Charizard, and the one that set its temper for years to come.
Key episodes
Ash’s Charmeleon trivia
- Ash's Charmeleon appears in just three episodes – EP043, EP044 and EP046. The Song of Jigglypuff (EP045) is the only episode of its run in which it never appears.
- The Problem with Paras (EP044) is the only episode in which Ash's Charizard appears solely as a Charmeleon.
- In the US, The March of the Exeggutor Squad was the last episode shown in syndication, so viewers were left with a freshly evolved, fire-breathing Charmeleon for almost four months – until The Problem with Paras launched the show on Kids' WB! on 13 February 1999.
- Its evolution in EP043 marked the first time one of Ash's Pokémon evolved in the same episode as another character's – Melvin's Exeggcute evolved into Exeggutor that day too.
- The Problem with Paras is the first time Ash deliberately tries to lose a battle – and his Charmeleon is the one that refuses to play along.
- Shin-ichiro Miki has voiced every stage of Ash's Charizard in Japanese; in the English dub, Charmeleon was voiced by Eric Stuart.
- Footage from its Charmeleon episodes was reused in flashbacks in The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion! (BW116), when Charizard came back to Ash in Unova.
- In the alternate world of Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, Ash's Charmeleon is a completely different character: once Cross's Charmander, it evolves after beating a Trainer's Jigglypuff, never disobeys, and evolves into Charizard in the middle of a rematch with Cross's Incineroar.
Other trainers’ Charmeleon
First seen: EP078A Friend in Deed
Evolved: EP221A Parent Trapped!
Ritchie – the Trainer so often compared to Ash, right down to a team that mirrors Ash's first catches – brought a Charmander called Zippo to the Indigo Plateau Conference, where it even squared up to Ash's Charizard before retreating from its stronger Flamethrower (EP079). When the two friends met again in the Whirl Islands, Zippo had become a Charmeleon (EP221). It teamed up with Ash's Cyndaquil against Butch and Cassidy's headband-boosted Hitmontop and Houndour, but a powerful Flamethrower forced Ritchie to recall it; next time out, its flames helped heat the bars of the cage holding the young Lugia, Silver, so they could be cooled, cracked and smashed (EP222). It went on to star in Pokémon Chronicles, scorching Butch's Mightyena and Cassidy's Sableye with Fire Spin to rescue Professor Oak – singeing the professor's hair along the way (HS08) – and helping to chase a demolition crew away from a Pokémon Center (HS13).
- EP221A Parent Trapped! · vs Hitmontop and Houndour Lost
- HS08Oaknapped! · vs Mightyena and Sableye Won
- HS13Celebi and Joy! · vs Scyther, Machoke, Rhydon and Pinsir Won
First seen: XY039Summer of Discovery!
Evolved: XY086A Legendary Photo Op!
Trevor's first partner from Professor Sycamore spent Summer Camp as a bouncy, battle-hungry Charmander (XY039–XY042), but when Ash's group ran into it again on Mt. Molteau it had become a Charmeleon with a temper to match – it greeted Pikachu, Dedenne and even its own Trainer with Flamethrowers (XY086). Ash guessed it just wanted a battle, and it gave Fletchinder a proper fight with Fire Spin, Flamethrower and Dragon Claw before a Steel Wing knocked it out, after which it was noticeably calmer. Trevor credited it with winning his Bug Badge, and it later tried and failed to calm a furious Moltres. It was at his side again as he photographed a Lairon (XY090), and by the Lumiose Conference it had grown into a Charizard that could Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard Y (XY125).
- XY086A Legendary Photo Op! · vs Fletchinder Lost
- XY086A Legendary Photo Op! · vs Gourgeist and Inkay Interrupted
- XY086A Legendary Photo Op! · vs Moltres Lost
First seen: M04Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest
The fourth film's big twist is that Sammy, the boy whisked through time by Celebi, is a young Professor Oak – so Pallet Town's famous professor once battled with a Charmeleon. Sammy winds open an old-fashioned Poké Ball to send it out against the Iron-Masked Marauder's Sneasel, and it handles the Dark-type comfortably before finishing it off with a Headbutt.
- M04Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest · vs Sneasel Won
First seen: XYS01Pokémon: Mega Evolution Special I
Evolved: XYS02Pokémon: Mega Evolution Special II
Alain met his Charizard as a Charmander while working as one of Professor Sycamore's assistants, and it was a Charmeleon by the time the pair set off to hunt for Mega Stones. Its middle stage appears in flashback in Mega Evolution Special II: Alain calls Sycamore about its evolution, then meets Lysandre in the ruins where he hoped to find a Charizardite – the meeting that earned him his Mega Ring and Charizardite X. Along the way Charmeleon also lost a battle to Lysandre's Pyroar. It evolved into Charizard some time after Alain received his Mega Ring, becoming the Mega Charizard X that went on to win the Lumiose Conference.
First seen: JN012Flash of the Titans!
Evolved: JN043Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!
Leon's Charizard was his very first Pokémon and the first on his team to evolve. As a Charmander it lost Leon's first-ever battle, to his friend Sonia's Rookidee (JN129), and it had become a Charmeleon during the childhood adventures the pair shared – a form seen in flashback when Sonia tells Goh how she and Leon drifted apart once his talent turned him into a Champion (JN043).
First seen: HZ001The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One)
Evolved: HZ150
Friede's Charizard – the only one of his Pokémon without a nickname – started life as a wild Charmander that dreamed of flying. A flashback to his school days shows the young tinkerer's homemade hang glider and goggles catching its eye; the cheeky Charmander swiped the goggles and ran off to try its luck at flying, and after Friede caught it following yet another fall, he asked it to come with him. His teacher Lucca handed him the Poké Ball to make it official, and Charmander grew through Charmeleon into Charizard until the two could finally fly together (HZ150).
First seen: PO01File 1: Red
Evolved: PO02File 2: Cubone
Red chose Charmander as his first partner in Professor Oak's lab (PO01), and by File 2: Cubone it had evolved into Charmeleon following his Cerulean Gym battle with Misty. In Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower it faced the restless ghost of a Marowak killed by Team Rocket, attacking again and again to no avail (PO02). In File 3: Giovanni it breezed past Erika's Grass-types to win Red's fourth Badge, then evolved after his victory over Koga into the Charizard that took the deciding battle against Giovanni's Rhydon (PO03).
- PO02File 2: Cubone · vs Marowak's ghost Unknown
- PO03File 3: Giovanni · vs her Grass-type Pokémon Won
Featured episodes
- EP087The Crystal OnixMateo, a glassblower in search of inspiration, works his furnace with the help of his Charmeleon. When the legendary Crystal Onix shrugs off his Cloyster, Charmeleon dodges its Rock Throw and engulfs it in Flamethrower and Fire Spin until it faints – and Mateo, inspired at last by his own reflection in its glassy body, lets it swim away uncaught.
- AG092Judgment Day!On Bomba Island, Jimmy's Charmeleon – which he got by trading a golden Magikarp he had stumbled upon to an old man – hauls heavy boxes alongside his Ivysaur and Wartortle. When Team Rocket's mecha snatch all three, the newly evolved Blastoise frees Charmeleon and Ivysaur with Hydro Pump, and Flamethrower, Razor Leaf and Hydro Pump send the trio blasting off.
More appearances
- EP057The Breeding Center Secret A Charmeleon appears in the TV advert for Butch and Cassidy's breeding centre, shown evolving from Charmander and on into Charizard.
- PK01Pikachu's Vacation A Charmeleon can be spotted at the Pokémon Theme Park.
- AG191Once More With Reeling! Two Coordinators bring Charmeleon to the Terracotta Contest.
- DP010Not on MY Watch Ya Don't! A Charmeleon makes a brief appearance.
- JN136This Could be the Start of Something Big! A Trainer's Charmeleon makes a brief appearance.
- HZ130Hamber's Moonlight Battle A Trainer's Charmeleon, under the influence of the Strong Sphere, battles a Luxio.
- HZ136Stellar Finale A Trainer's Charmeleon makes a brief appearance.
Beyond the main series
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- Charmeleon has no walk-on part before its big moment: its very first appearance in the anime is Ash's Charmander evolving (EP043).
- Two of the anime's most memorable Charmeleon share the same short fuse. Ash's flamed him in the face the moment it evolved (EP043), and Trevor's greeted its own Trainer with a Flamethrower on Mt. Molteau (XY086).
- Professor Oak once owned a Charmeleon: in Celebi: The Voice of the Forest, the time-travelling Sammy – a young Samuel Oak – beats the Iron-Masked Marauder's Sneasel with it.
- Jimmy's team in Judgment Day! (AG092) is a full set of Kanto first partners in their middle stages – Ivysaur, Charmeleon and Wartortle – and he got his Charmeleon by trading away a golden Magikarp.
- In the English dub of The Crystal Onix (EP087), Mateo calls for Ember but his Charmeleon uses Fire Spin; in the Japanese version he calls Fire Spin all along.
- Trevor's Charmeleon was drawn standing on its toes with no pads on its feet, unlike other Charmeleon – a quirk that disappeared when it evolved into a Charizard with ordinary padded feet.
- Many of the anime's star Charizard – Ash's, Trevor's, Alain's, Leon's, Friede's and Pokémon Origins' Red's – have been shown as Charmeleon, though for Alain, Leon and Friede only in flashbacks.
- Trevor's Charmeleon is the subject of the dub's Who's That Pokémon? in A Legendary Photo Op! (XY086), and of Serena's Pokédex entry in the same episode.
“Charmeleon, the Flame Pokémon. It has razor-sharp claws and its tail is exceptionally strong.”
Ash's Pokédex (Dexter) · EP043
05On the big screen
Charmeleon in the movies
3 films, 1 Pikachu short and 1 special featuring Charmeleon.
Charmeleon's film career is short but surprisingly personal. Its cinema debut came in Celebi: Voice of the Forest (2001), where Sammy, the boy who grows up to be Professor Oak, uses his Charmeleon to see off the Iron-Masked Marauder's Dark Sneasel. Its biggest role is in I Choose You! (2017), which rewrites Ash's Charmander story: abandoned by Cross, it evolves into a Charmeleon that loses to Cross's Incineroar, then turns the tables by evolving into Charizard in the rematch on Mount Tensei, and without the attitude problem it had on TV.
Elsewhere it's a face in the crowd: one of the Pokémon at the theme park in the first Pikachu short, Pikachu's Vacation (1998), and part of the all-species parade at the start of Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice (2012). It sat out Mewtwo Returns, The Legend of Thunder!, Detective Pikachu and the rest of the Pikachu shorts.
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest
M04 · 2001
Sammy's Charmeleon
Charmeleon's big-screen debut belongs to Sammy, the boy who travels through time with Celebi. When the Iron-Masked Marauder's Dark Scizor and Dark Sneasel corner the group in the forest after Misty twists her knee, Sammy unscrews an old-fashioned metal Poké Ball and out comes Charmeleon. It gets the better of Sneasel and finishes it off with Headbutt, while Ash's Bayleef takes on Scizor. The twist? Sammy grows up to be Professor Oak, so this is the Charmeleon the Professor raised as a boy.
Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice
M15 · 2012
Cameo in the all-species intro
The opening sequence parades every species discovered before Generation VI (Genesect excepted), so Charmeleon gets its moment in the line-up alongside the rest of the Charmander family.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
M20 · 2017
Ash's Charmeleon (abandoned as a Charmander by Cross)
The 20th-anniversary retelling gives Charmeleon a brand-new back story. Ash and Verity find a Charmander waiting in the pouring rain in Viridian Forest, dumped by the ruthless Trainer Cross for being 'weak'; once it is back on its feet in Sorrel's cave, it joins Ash and evolves after beating a Trainer's Jigglypuff. As a Charmeleon it is badly beaten by Cross's Incineroar, which grows stronger every time it takes a hit, but in the rematch on Mount Tensei it evolves into Charizard mid-battle and wins with Flamethrower. Unlike its TV counterpart, this Charmeleon never goes through a rebellious phase, and it even uses Seismic Toss, a move the games don't give the line until Charizard.
Pikachu shorts
- PK01Pikachu's Vacation (1998) · A Charmeleon at the Pokémon Theme Park
A Charmeleon is among the Pokémon enjoying a day at the Pokémon Theme Park in the very first Pikachu short, which played in cinemas ahead of Mewtwo Strikes Back. It's strictly a background part: the family limelight goes to Ash's Charizard, who gives chase when Pikachu and Raichu tread on its tail.
TV specials
- Pocket Monsters TV Special: Masara Town Arc Recap – The Big Match! Fire Pokémon Battle!! (2000)
This Japan-only clip show, the second of three recap specials released on rental-only VHS in 2000, rewinds through Ash's first four Gym battles and the highlights of his Kanto journey from Pokémon Scent-sation! (EP026) to Bad to the Bone (EP073). Ash's Charmander, Charmeleon and Charizard all turn up in the reused footage.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Charmeleon in the Pokémon TCG
61 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Charmeleon has been smouldering away in the Pokémon TCG since day one. It was in Japan's very first set, the Expansion Pack of October 1996, and reached English players in Base Set in January 1999: an 80 HP Stage 1 by Mitsuhiro Arita, with Slash and a Flamethrower that burns off a Fire Energy every time. It has never had an ex, EX, GX or V card of its own, but it has gathered some real characters along the way: Team Rocket's 50 HP Dark Charmeleon and its all-or-nothing Fireball, Blaine's Charmeleon from Gym Challenge, and a Delta Species Charmeleon that swapped fire for lightning in EX Crystal Guardians. Later cards taught it new tricks, from Burning Fighter, which digs Fire Energy out of your deck as it evolves, to Flare Veil, which shrugs off attack effects. Its HP has climbed from 50 to 110, and Secret Rare versions in EX Dragon, EX Team Rocket Returns and Stormfront kept collectors on the hunt.
The art has grown up alongside it. Arita's Base Set illustration has had a long life: it came back in Evolutions, and he redrew it himself for Stormfront's retro Secret Rare. Ken Sugimori painted Blaine's Charmeleon and the EX Team Rocket Returns card, and Kagemaru Himeno drew both Dark Charmeleon and the Crystal Guardians card. Newer cards tell stories. Akira Komayama's Legendary Treasures Charmeleon singes a Swablu by accident, his Generations card shows a boy deep in conversation with his Charmeleon, and Ryota Murayama set the Obsidian Flames card in front of the Glaseado Gym. Shiny Charmeleon glows in Hidden Fates and Paldean Fates, miki kudo painted 151's Illustration Rare, and Pokémon TCG Pocket keeps adding more, from kantaro's Genetic Apex card to Jerky's Illustration Rare in Deluxe Pack: Mega.
Cards to know
- Base Set 24/102 — Mitsuhiro Arita's original Charmeleon, whose Flamethrower costs a Fire Energy every time. Collectors hunt for Unlimited copies with a heart-shaped red ink blot on its hip.
- Team Rocket 32/82 (Dark Charmeleon) — A 50 HP troublemaker whose Fireball either roars for 70 or does nothing at all, and the only way to evolve into Dark Charizard.
- EX Crystal Guardians 30/100 (Charmeleon δ) — A Lightning-type Charmeleon: the Delta Species twist swaps its flames for a Thunder Jolt.
- Stormfront 102/100 — Twelve years after his 1996 original, Mitsuhiro Arita redrew his own Charmeleon for a retro Secret Rare.
- Legendary Treasures 18/113 — Charmeleon's most awkward moment: its tail flame singes a passing Swablu, and the story carries on in the Swablu card.
- Generations RC4/RC32 — The middle chapter of a boy-and-his-starter story. Its flavour text reads: "My precious friend who is always with me. I have so many things I want to tell you."
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Japan-exclusive cards
Other regional releases
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Charmeleon (Base Set 24 art, Mitsuhiro Arita), card A07, from the Colosseum booster pack; one copy is in the Charmander & Friends Deck, the starter deck Dr. Mason offers you, and in the Auto Deck Machine's Charmander and Companions Deck. Sprite: TCG1 A07 Charmeleon.png (64×48).
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Charmeleon (Base Set 24 art, Mitsuhiro Arita), card A12, in the Beginning Pokémon pack. Sprite: TCG2 A12 Charmeleon.png (64×48).
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Dark Charmeleon (Kagemaru Himeno), card G07, in the We Are Team Rocket pack. Sprite: TCG2 G07 Dark Charmeleon.png (64×48).
The artists behind the cards
- Mitsuhiro Arita — 5 artworks (Base Set 24, EX Dragon 99, Charmeleon δ in EX Crystal Guardians, the POP Series 5 Charmeleon δ, the redrawn Stormfront 102); his Base Set art also returns in Evolutions
- Ken Sugimori — 2 (Blaine's Charmeleon in Gym Challenge, EX Team Rocket Returns 110)
- Kagemaru Himeno — 2 (Dark Charmeleon in Team Rocket, EX Crystal Guardians 29)
- Akira Komayama — 2 (Legendary Treasures 18, Generations RC4)
- Kouki Saitou — 2 (EX FireRed & LeafGreen 31, the Shiny Paldean Fates 110)
- kodama, Shin Nagasawa and Shiburingaru — 1 each (Dragon Majesty 2, Hidden Fates 8, Pokémon GO 9), all reused in TCG Pocket
- One artwork each: Tomokazu Komiya, Kyoko Umemoto (Japan only), Midori Harada, Atsuko Nishida, Sumiyoshi Kizuki, Masakazu Fukuda, kawayoo, Ayaka Yoshida, nagimiso, SATOSHI NAKAI, Ryota Murayama, GIDORA, miki kudo, kirisAki, Tonji Matsuno, Uninori, Teeziro, Julie Hang, Dsuke (Mainland China only)
- TCG Pocket originals: kantaro (Genetic Apex), Souichirou Gunjima (Shiny), DOM (Crimson Blaze), whomor Inc. (Shiny), Jerky (Illustration Rare)
07On the page & beyond
Charmeleon in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
In print, Charmeleon's longest run belongs to Blue. In Pokémon Adventures it is his partner from the Pewter Gym onwards: a Gastly takes control of it in the Pokémon Tower, it cuts Koga's Arbok in two, and it spends three grumpy days on loan to Red after a Poké Ball mix-up in Celadon City. Years later the same series gave X's Salamè a whole arc about nerves, as the Charmeleon who was scared of Mega Evolution finally evolves and Mega Evolves in the fight with Xerosic. Pokémon Zensho's Satoshi has the most gallant one of all: it ties up Lt. Surge's Electabuzz with a barbed-wire fence and wins Erika's respect by putting out the fire it started on her kimono.
Some manga skip it altogether, though. Green's Charmander jumps straight to Charizard in Anakubo's Pocket Monsters, and Ash's Charmander in The Electric Tale of Pikachu evolves off-panel without a Charmeleon ever appearing. On the shelf it stars in Scholastic's novel of Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, battles the Crystal Onix in Secret of the Pink Pokémon and fights beside Sammy in the Pokémon 4Ever novel. It's on the cover of the very first Pokémon soundtrack CD, shares a Pokérap line with Wartortle, dances through the Japanese ending Meowth's Party and, in 2026, got its own 30th-anniversary logo.
Manga
Books
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Charmeleon trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Charmeleon such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Charmeleon's English name sets two ideas alight: 'char', to scorch or burn, and 'chameleon', the famously colour-changing lizard. It is a neat fit for a Pokémon whose scales have changed from Charmander's sunny orange to a deep red, even if it never actually blends into the background. The name keeps the family pattern going, too, from Charmander's 'salamander' to Charizard's 'lizard'. Its Japanese name, Lizardo (リザード, Rizādo), comes straight from the English word 'lizard' – so the lizard the English name saves for Charizard turns up one stage early in Japan.
Design origins
Charmeleon, like the rest of its family, was designed by Atsuko Nishida. Its look borrows from lizards, as its name hints, and perhaps from the salamander of myth, the creature said to live in fire, which makes sense given how closely salamanders and lizards resemble each other. The curved crest at the back of its head recalls the long, swept-back crest of the dinosaur Parasaurolophus. Even that crest has a history: in the original Red and Green sprites it looked like a pale, keratin-like horn, but the redrawn front sprite in the Japanese Blue version gave it a dark red crest instead, and that version carried over to the Generation I games released outside Japan.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | リザード Lizardo | From the English word 'lizard' |
| French | Reptincel | From reptile and étincelle (spark) |
| German | Glutexo | From Glut (ember) and Echse (lizard), or from exotherm (exothermic) |
| Spanish | Charmeleon | Same as the English name |
| Italian | Charmeleon | Same as the English name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Charmeleon | Same as the English name |
| Korean | 리자드 Rizard | From the English word 'lizard' |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 火恐龍 / 火恐龙 Huǒkǒnglóng | From 火 (fire) and 恐龍 (dinosaur) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 火恐龍 Fóhúnglùhng | From 火 (fire) and 恐龍 (dinosaur) |
| Russian | Чармелеон Charmeleon | Transcription of the English name |
| Bulgarian | Чармилиън Charmiliŭn | Transcription of the English name |
| Hebrew | צ'רמיליון Charmilion | Transcription of the English name |
| Hindi | चार्मिलियन Cārmiliyan | Transcription of the English name |
| Lithuanian | Žavelijonas | Adapted from the English name |
| Thai | ลิซาร์โดะ Lisado | Transcription of the Japanese name |
Did you know?
- In English, 'Flame Pokémon' is shared by Charmeleon, Charizard, Flareon, Kantonian Moltres and Infernape. In Japanese, Flareon stands apart as the Honō Pokémon, while the other four are Kaen Pokémon.
- Charmeleon and Quilava have exactly the same base stats in exactly the same spread, and the match runs right through their families: Charmander mirrors Cyndaquil and Charizard mirrors Typhlosion.
- In Generation IX, Charmeleon and Charizard cannot learn Metal Claw from a TM, even though Charmander can.
- Also in Generation IX, Charmeleon is the only member of its family that cannot learn Fire Spin by levelling up.
- In Red and Green its sprites gave it what looks like a pale horn; the Japanese Blue version redrew it with a dark red crest, which became the standard look.
- Choose Bulbasaur in Red, Blue, FireRed or LeafGreen and your rival's Charmander becomes the Charmeleon you face on the S.S. Anne and in Pokémon Tower.
- A Charmeleon traded from Red, Blue or Yellow into Gold, Silver or Crystal arrives holding a Bitter Berry.
- In Pokémon Snap, the Volcano's Charmander evolves into Charmeleon after a Magmar hits it with fire, and knocking a Charmeleon into the magma crater turns it into Charizard.
- In Pokémon Conquest, evolution has nothing to do with levels: Charmander becomes Charmeleon when its Attack reaches 50, and Charmeleon becomes Charizard at 83.
- Its Pokémon Ranger Browser entry claims Charmeleon's fireballs can melt small pieces of Scrap Metal.
- Shiny Charmeleon debuted in Pokémon GO on 19 May 2018, during the very first Charmander Community Day.
- When Leon battled players in Pokémon UNITE's Legacy Trainer Showdown (September–October 2022), his Charizard started as Charmander and had to evolve through Charmeleon mid-match.
- Charmeleon is one of the twenty playable racers in the 2005 PC game Pokémon Team Turbo.
- Its first trading card, Base Set's Charmeleon, attacks with Slash and Flamethrower, both moves the real Charmeleon can learn. Mitsuhiro Arita redrew the card for a Stormfront retro reprint, a secret rare numbered 102/100.
- Ash's Charmander evolved into Charmeleon in the anime episode that marked the species' debut, and its first act was to blast Ash in the face.
- In Pokémon 4Ever (Celebi: Voice of the Forest), the boy Sammy sends out a Charmeleon – and Sammy turns out to be a young Professor Oak, so Kanto's top Pokémon expert once had one of his own.
- In Pokémon Adventures, X's Charmander, Salamè, evolved into Charmeleon at the same moment as his Chespin-line partner Marisso became Quilladin.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Charmeleon
Test yourself
Professor Oak's Kanto Quiz: BeginnerProfessor Oak has a few questions before you set foot in the tall grass. How well do you know the region where it all began?Take the quiz →
Who's That Pokémon? Kanto: BeginnerIt's the classic challenge! Can you name these original 151 Pokémon from their silhouettes alone?Take the quiz →
Indigo League Anime: IntermediateGrab your cap and set off on Ash's very first adventure. How much do you remember from the Indigo League days?Take the quiz →Ash & Pikachu Anime: BeginnerFrom his first step out of Pallet Town to the top of the world, how well do you know Ash and Pikachu's legendary journey?Take the quiz →
Pokémon Horizons Anime: BeginnerAll aboard for a brand-new adventure! See how well you know Liko, Roy and the crew of Pokémon Horizons: The Series.Take the quiz →
Pokémon Movies: IntermediateFrom a mysterious island showdown to a city where people and Pokémon live side by side, how well do you know Pokémon on the big screen?Take the quiz →From the archive: Gengar’s Online Pokédex
Before this page, Pokémon Dungeon was home to Gengar’s Online Pokédex, the classic fan Pokédex for Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal by Curtis Alumbaugh (Gengar) with Ian Alumbaugh (Haunter). Its Charmeleon entry is preserved in full, with its original art, moves and locations.
Further reading
Pokémon and all related names, artwork, sprites, screenshots and card images are © Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. and The Pokémon Company, used here for fan commentary. Images via the Bulbagarden Archives. Page updated 24 October 2026.