Charmander (Pokémon)

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Pokémon

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Charmander ヒトカゲ Hitokage #004
Art by Ken Sugimori from FireRed and LeafGreen
Type Fire ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Lizard Pokémon
Ability Blaze Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #004 Johto #234 Hoenn #206 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R-140 Almia R-137 Oblivia R-206 N-062
Height 2'00" Imperial 0.6 m Metric 2'00"/0.6 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 18.7 lbs. Imperial 8.5 kg Metric 18.7 lbs./8.5 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Red	Catch rate 45 (5.9%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 87.5% male, 12.5% female
Breeding Monster and Dragon groups 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 1 Base Exp.: 65 Battle Exp.: 651*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Charmander (Japanese: ヒトカゲ Hitokage) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Charmeleon starting at level 16, who evolves into Charizard at level 36.

Along with Bulbasaur and Squirtle, it is one of three starter Pokémon available at the beginning of Pokémon Red, Green, Blue, FireRed, and LeafGreen.

It is also available in Pokémon Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, after obtaining all sixteen badges and defeating Red.

Biology

Physiology

Charmander is an orange reptilian creature resembling a bipedal salamander with some dinosaur qualities, particularly like those of theropods. Charmander has four small fangs visible on its upper and lower jaws, a cream underside and an expansive cream coloration on the sole of its foot. Its most notable feature is the flame burning on the tip of its tail, which is there even at birth. It is said that if this flame goes out, the Pokémon dies, although this has never happened in the anime, manga, or video games.

Charmander has been described as cute in appearance, but despite this one may have to regard it with caution as its slashing claws are sharp and strong, and thus potentially dangerous.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Charmander can breathe fire, which allows them to use a wide range of Template:Type2 attacks. However, the strength of these are very closely connected to the strength and health of the Charmander, since it draws on the life force which fuels the flame on its tail to fuel the flames of its attacks. With time, it can learn powerful Fire-type techniques like Flamethrower and Fire Blast. It can even learn to breathe the blue flames of Dragon Rage. It can also use the flame on its tail to attack by swinging it about, or wield its small, yet sharp claws to use Slash. However, these attacks are usually weaker than those from the flames Charmander breathes.

Behavior

Charmander is easily the most mild-mannered of its evolution line. Its health and emotions can be easily read by paying attention to the flame on the tip of its tail. For example, if the flame grows suddenly, the Charmander is probably angered, and perhaps even using a Rage attack. It is scarce in the wild. Most are domestic Pokémon, raised to be distributed as starters by Professor Oak. As such, they are regarded as well-behaved Pokémon. It is often regarded as the most difficult Pokémon to start with because it has a disadvantage against the first two Gym Leaders in Kanto (Brock and Misty).

There are some who choose it anyway under the impression that it is stronger than Bulbasaur or Squirtle. However, while a Charmander can certainly grow to be a very powerful Pokémon, its strength in battle is very closely connected to its condition and health. Therefore, like a real fire, it must be tended to regularly and not strained or neglected. Most Trainers shouldn't have a problem with this, though impatient ones who expect it to be very strong right off the bat will have severe difficulty raising this Pokémon. A Trainer named Damian in Charmander the Stray Pokémon abandoned his completely because of this. They are also stubbornly loyal. In that same episode, Charmander wouldn't move from the rock, because Damian told it to wait. Ash had to carry it because it refused to move, even in the rain.

Habitat

File:Mountain.gif

Mountain Pokémon

Charmander is rarely found in the wild. Sometimes they can gather in extremely hot areas, such as active volcanoes. They can also thrive in craggy mountains or in rocky, heated crags and caves along the coast of the Sevii Islands. Their final evolution, Charizard, also inhabits the Charicific Valley or near mountain chains. However they are found far more often in the ownership of Trainers. It is normally native to Kanto.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Their diet is the usual omnivorous diet of a Pokémon. The few places where Charmander can be seen in the wild, they usually hunt and gather in small packs, and will call others over if any sort of food is found.

In the anime

Major appearances

Charmander in the anime

Ash's Charmander

In Charmander the Stray Pokémon, Ash, Misty, and Brock came across a Charmander which had been abandoned by its Trainer, Damian, who only cared about strong Pokémon. At first, Charmander refused to leave the spot it was at, waiting for Damian to return. However, when a rainstorm picked up, Charmander grew ill and Ash took it to a Pokémon Center. Charmander realized that Damian was no good, and joined up with Ash. It has since evolved into Charmeleon, and then Charizard.

Ritchie's Charmander

Ritchie owned a Charmander named Zippo, which debuted in A Friend In Deed. Sometime before the Whirl Islands story arc, Zippo evolved into a Charmeleon.

Other

In Journey to the Starting Line, Gilbert was intended to start his journey as a Pokémon Trainer, but the trio of Kanto Starter Pokémon were scared off when Ash's Tauros stampeded through Professor Oak's house. Professor Oak, Tracey, Delia and Gilbert split up in order to find the three missing Pokémon. The Charmander was the first one to be found.

File:Charmandergogotters.png

Charmander from the Team Go-Getters

A Charmander stars in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate! as the leader of Team Go-Getters.

Minor appearances

Charmander was mentioned in the first episode of the anime, Pokémon - I Choose You!, as one of the three starter Pokémon new Trainers in Pallet Town can choose from. Ash dreamed of owning one, although it was his last choice of a starter coming after Squirtle and Bulbasaur. However, when he arrived at Oak's lab, he found out it was too late, as another Trainer who started the same day had already taken it.

A Charmander was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.

Another Charmander was seen with Professor Oak in A Six Pack Attack! along with a Bulbasaur and Squirtle. Another was seen in The Right Place and The Right Mime, along with another Bulbasaur and Squirtle.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP011 Charmander Ash's Pokédex Charmander. A flame burns on the tip of its tail from birth. It is said that a Charmander dies if its flame ever goes out. EP025 Rage Ash's Pokédex Charmander's special attack, Rage. It gains more power the more it is attacked. It will continue to fight until its opponent falls.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Main article: Blue's Charizard

File:Green's Charmander.png

Charmander as it appears in Pokémon Adventures

Charmander debuted in the first round of the Red, Green & Blue arc, A Glimpse of the Glow, as one of Blue's first Pokémon, received from his grandfather Professor Oak. It has since evolved into Charmeleon before facing Brock of Pewter City, and then to Charizard before the Silph Co. battles against Team Rocket. The major powerhouse of his team with its newly learned Blast Burn attack, its battle skills (able to defeat Red's Poliwhirl easily even before evolving) are complimented by its fast flight, for which it was traded to Red during the FireRed & LeafGreen arc. It is worth noting that, as Charmeleon, it was accidentally traded to Red many years earlier.

In The Electric Tale of Pikachu manga

Main article: Ash's Charizard

Ash's Charmander makes a few appearances in the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu.

The capture of Ash's Charmander diverges considerably from the anime. In the manga, Damion seems to have abandoned his Charmander at the beginning of the chapter Pikachu's Excellent Adventure, but it turns out that he had just been injured and went to the hospital.

Ash is shown to own a Charmander despite this, his own Charmander first appears in You Gotta Have Friends. Ash's Charmander's capture is not shown in the manga, instead, when Charmander first appears from its Poké Ball, it is simply stated that "Ash has been busy since the last comic".

Ash's Charmander reappears as a Charizard in the chapter The Indigo Finals at the Indigo Plateau Conference. In this chapter, Charizard battles Charley, Ritchie's own Charizard.

In the Magical Pokémon Journey manga

Main article: Peanut's Charmander

In Magical Pokémon Journey, the sickly Trainer Peanut owns an agressive Charmander. Peanut's Charmander first appears in the chapter Charmander's Peanut.

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga

Main article: Kai Midorikawa's Charizard

In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga series, Isamu Akai's rival, Kai Midorikawa, chose Charmander as his starter Pokémon. Kai's Charmander is mischievous and has a rivalry with Isamu Akai's Clefairy.

Kai's Charmander has evolved into Charizard. It seems to be able to skip the Charmeleon stage, as it was seen evolving directly into Charizard. Although it has devolved back to the Charmander stage, it currently seems to have permanently evolved back into Charizard.

In the Pokémon Zensho manga

In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi chooses Charmander as his starter Pokémon, while Shigeru chooses a Squirtle.

In the TCG

Main article: Charmander (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail. Blue Yellow The flame at the tip of its tail makes a sound as it burns. You can only hear it in quiet places. Stadium Even the newborns have flaming tails. Unfamiliar with fire, babies are said to accidentally burn themselves.
Generation II Gold The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly. Silver The flame on its tail indicates Charmander's life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly. Crystal If it's healthy, the flame on the tip of its tail will burn vigorously, even if it gets a bit wet. Stadium 2 The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly.
Generation III Ruby {{{rubydex}}} Sapphire {{{sapphiredex}}} Emerald The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is happy, and blazes when it is enraged. FireRed From the time it is born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. Its life would end if the flame were to go out. LeafGreen It has a preference for hot things. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail.
Generation IV Diamond The fire on the tip of its tail is a measure of its life. If healthy, its tail burns intensely. Pearl {{{pearldex}}} Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold The flame on its tail shows the strength of its life force. If it is weak, the flame also burns weakly. SoulSilver The flame on its tail indicates Charmander's life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly.
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue One Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow One Received from a trainer on Route 24
Generation II Gold Silver None Time Capsule Crystal None Time Capsule
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen One Starter Pokémon from Professor Oak in Pallet Town Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl None Pal Park, Trade Platinum None Pal Park, Trade HeartGold SoulSilver One Reward from Professor Oak after defeating Red Pal Park Field Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Volcano
Pokémon Stadium	Gym Leader Castle
Pokémon Channel	Mt. Snowfall
Pokémon Trozei!	Huge Storage 5 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Starter Pokémon Fiery Field (5F-8F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Starter Pokémon Giant Volcano (1F-19F) Dark Crater (B1-B10)
Pokémon Ranger	Jungle Relic
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Ranger School Volcano Cave
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs	Faldera Island Flame Temple
Pokémon Rumble	Fiery Furnace

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Bitter Berry (100%)
Yellow*
Stadium*		Normal Box (100%)*	Gorgeous Box (100%)*
Events*		Lucky Egg (100%)

Stats

Base stats

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

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 3/3 ★★★	Power 1/5 ★☆☆☆☆
Skill 3/4 ★★★☆	Stamina 1/3 ★☆☆
Jump 3/3 ★★★	Total 11/18 ★★☆

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 2× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water 2× Grass ½× Electric 1× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Notes: In Generation I, the effectiveness of  Ice-type  moves is 1×.

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | fire | style="background:#E62829" |  fire 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Charmander | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

|- style="background:#EF7374" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an Evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available. |} |}

TCG-only moves

Move	Card	Set
Slam	Charmander	McDonald's Pokémon-e Minimum Pack

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball     Acquisition: Catch		Pokémon Pinball RS  N/A  Not available		Pokémon Trozei!    Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 11.7% Friend Area: Mt. Cleft Phrases 51%-100% HP My flame's small, but I'll do my best! 26%-50% HP My health is down to half. The flame is getting small, too. 1%-25% HP My flame is about to go out... Level up I leveled up. The flame on my tail grew bigger, too. Partner phrases 51%-100% HP The fire on my tail's blazing! Let's go for it, <name>! 26%-50% HP It's getting tougher... 1%-25% HP My fire's about to go out... <name>, help... Level up Yay! I leveled up!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time, Explorers of Darkness, and Explorers of Sky Body size: 1 Recruit rate: 8.2% IQ group: C
Pokémon Ranger Group:  Fire  Poké Assist: ( Fire ) Field move: (Burn ×1) Loops: 3 Min. exp.: 25 Max. exp.: 39 Browser entry   Charmander shudders while breathing fire. It is the very picture of vitality.
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia Group:  Fire  Poké Assist: ( Fire ) Field move: (Burn ×1) Browser entry   It attacks by spitting embers.
Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs Group: Poké Assist: Field move:  Fire  ( Fire ) Past ( Normal ) (Burn ×1) Past (Electrify ×1) Browser entry   This Pokémon does not have a browser entry.
Pokémon Rumble N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed			Pokémon Rumble Blast N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed N/A Not Available Defense Speed
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Strong: {{{Park2strong}}} Weak: {{{Park2weak}}} PokéPark Pad entry: This Pokémon has no PokéPark Pad entry.
Pokémon Conquest HP: Move: {{{ConquestMove}}} Attack: Ability 1: {{{ConquestAbility1}}} Defense: Ability 2: {{{ConquestAbility2}}} Speed: Ability 3: {{{ConquestAbility3}}} Does not evolve. Range: 0 Perfect Links: {{{ConquestLink}}}

Evolution

Unevolved Charmander  Fire

Level 16 →

First Evolution Charmeleon  Fire

Level 36 →

Second Evolution Charizard  Fire  Flying

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

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

Trivia

• In the film Austin Powers in Goldmember, in the scene where the 'Godzilla' moves about destroying everything, an actor in the foreground, wearing a Charmander suit, and another actor, in the background wearing a Pikachu suit, can be seen trying to move away from the ensuing chaos.
  • In the US T.V show, Malcolm in the Middle, a Charmander doll can be seen sitting on the bed in some episodes, along with a Squirtle doll.
• Charmander is the first Template:Type2 Pokémon and the first single-type Pokémon in National Pokédex order.
• In the first generation, Charmander's "back" is depicted as having a small line of spikes. The spikes were not shown in the sprites of later generations. Charmander also had these spikes in the Pokémon Adventures manga, the spikes were larger and easier to see. The spikes were also seen on Kai Midorikawa's Charmander from the Pocket Monsters manga. This spike can also be seen on the Green Charmander sprite.
• Charmander appears in the fewest anime episodes of any Kanto starter Pokémon; it only appears when owned by Ash, Ritchie, and in numerous other minor appearances. The other two starters, Bulbasaur and Squirtle, have been owned by other main characters.
• Charmander is the tallest of the Fire-type starters.
• Charmander is the only Fire-type starter that is in the Monster Egg Group.
• It is possible that Charmander's tail flame may be more resilient than a regular flame, as it has withstood being frozen in Ice attacks and hit by Water-type attacks in the games without death. Also, some Pokédex entries state Charmander's tail flame as "producing steam" when it rains, while a flame of the size of Charmander's tail would normally be put out by rain.
• Charmander and its evolution family are the only Pokémon who have flames as part of their bodies that do not go out naturally (with the Pokémon still being alive).

Origin

Charmander may have been partially inspired by the salamander, an amphibian bearing a slender body, short nose, and a long tail; it exhibits other physical lizard-like characteristics. The salamander and Charmander themselves may have been inspired by the mythological creature of the same name, the salamander; fire-spirits who survive in extreme heat or flames, sometimes creatively rendered and interpreted to be in the shape of lizards.

Name origin

Charmander is a portmanteau of the words char, to burn, and salamander. Hitokage, on the other hand, comes from 火蜥蜴, which is also salamander. 火 hi and 蜥蜴 tokage separately means "fire lizard."

In other languages

• German: Glumanda - Derived from Glut (ember, also the German translation for the move of the same name) and Salamander.
• French: Salamèche - From Salamandre (salamander) and mèche (wick).
• Korean: 파이리 Fili - Derived from the English words fire (파이어) and lizard (리자드).
• Chinese (Hong Kong and Taiwan): 小火龍 Xiǎo Hǔo Lóng - "Little fire dragon".
• Spanish Charmander

Related articles

• Ash's Charmander
• Zippo
• Peanut's Charmander
• Kai Midorikawa's Charmander
• Blue's Charmander

External links

• Charmander Fan, the fanlisting for Charmander

Notes

First partner trios

Kanto

Bulbasaur

Charmander

Squirtle

Johto

Chikorita

Cyndaquil

Totodile

Hoenn

Treecko

Torchic

Mudkip

Sinnoh

Turtwig

Chimchar

Piplup

Unova

Snivy

Tepig

Oshawott

Kalos

Chespin

Fennekin

Froakie

Alola

Rowlet

Litten

Popplio

Galar

Grookey

Scorbunny

Sobble

Paldea

Sprigatito

Fuecoco

Quaxly

See also: List of the player's first Pokémon • Pikachu (Yellow) • Partner Pokémon (LGPE) • Hisui first partner Pokémon

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Pokémon

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