Is Charmander Good in X & Y Playthrough?
Sycamore's Fire gift in Lumiose City. Comes with Charizardite X or Charizardite Y depending on your version. Mega Charizard X becomes Fire/Dragon with AbilityTough Claws for raw physical power. Mega Charizard Y stays Fire/Flying and sets sun with AbilityDrought. Either path handles Ramos, Wulfric, and Wikstrom.
Charmander has the type edge here and should clean up Viola's team.
Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Grant's team.
Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Korrina's team.
Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Ramos's team.
Charmeleon has the type edge here and should clean up Clemont's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Valerie's team.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Olympia's team.
Charizard resists most of Wulfric's coverage and hits back hard.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Malva's team.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Wikstrom's team.
Charizard trades roughly evenly with Drasna's team.
Siebold's team hits Charizard's weaknesses hard.
Charizard has the type edge here and should clean up Diantha's team.
Charmander is given to you as a gift on Lumiose City at Lv 10. From Professor Sycamore. Received from Professor Sycamore at his lab in Lumiose City
Your Charmander should hit Level 16 before you reach Grant, at typical leveling pace.
Your Charmeleon should hit Level 36 before you reach Valerie, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Charmander in X & Y
Charmander is a gift in this game. Pick it up at Lumiose City — no wild encounters or spawn rates to deal with. The details below cover exactly when it becomes available.
How to Obtain Charmander in XY
Step 1Charmander ✓Lumiose CityLv.10Gift from NPCLimitedGift from Professor Sycamore
Step 2Evolve into CharmeleonBREEDINGAvailableLeave Charizard with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Charmeleon egg.
Step 3Evolve into Charizard
Charmander Weakness
Charmander is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Standard number of weaknesses for the Fire typing.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Ground, Rock |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
What is Charmander Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Charmander
 Simipour Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Simipour builds →Scald 2x133-159%KO Rock Tomb 2x76-90% | ||
 Cranidos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Cranidos builds →Rock Tomb 2x139-165%KO Bulldoze 2x92-110%KO | ||
 Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 2x120-141%KO Bulldoze 2x78-94% | ||
 Cubone Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Cubone builds →Bulldoze 2x75-88% Rock Tomb 2x49-59% | ||
 Solrock RockPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Solrock builds →Rock Tomb 2x114-135%KO Bulldoze 2x76-90% | ||
 Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Dig 2x124-146%KO Rock Tomb 2x62-74% | ||
 Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x161-189%KO Dig 2x68-82% | ||
 Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 2x167-197%KO Dig 2x147-174%KO Surf 2x71-84% | ||
Simipour Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Simipour builds →Surf 2x147-174%KO Dig 2x96-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x71-84% | ||
Aerodactyl Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Aerodactyl builds →Rock Tomb 2x113-134%KO Bulldoze 2x75-89% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Dig 2x124-146%KO Rock Tomb 2x62-74% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x161-189%KO Dig 2x68-82% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 2x167-197%KO Dig 2x147-174%KO Surf 2x71-84% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 12 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Lapras builds →Surf 2x130-154%KO Bulldoze 2x64-76% | ||
Simipour Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Simipour builds →Surf 2x147-174%KO Dig 2x96-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x71-84% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Dig 2x124-146%KO Rock Tomb 2x62-74% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x161-189%KO Dig 2x68-82% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 2x167-197%KO Dig 2x147-174%KO Surf 2x71-84% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 12 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Lapras builds →Surf 2x130-154%KO Bulldoze 2x64-76% | ||
Simipour Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Simipour builds →Surf 2x147-174%KO Dig 2x96-113%KO Rock Tomb 2x71-84% | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Dig 2x126-148%KO Rock Tomb 2x64-76% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x165-196%KO Dig 2x72-85% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rampardos builds →Rock Tomb 2x174-206%KO Dig 2x153-180%KO Surf 2x74-88% | ||
 Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Carracosta builds →Surf 2x131-155%KO Rock Tomb 2x120-142%KO Dig 2x107-126%KO | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Golduck builds →Surf 2x146-172%KO Dig 2x85-101%KO | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rampardos builds →Stone Edge 2x292-345%KO Dig 2x157-185%KO Surf 2x74-88% | ||
 Kabutops RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Kabuto (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Kabutops builds →Stone Edge 2x213-252%KO Dig 2x115-135%KO Surf 2x112-132%KO | ||
Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Carracosta builds →Stone Edge 2x202-239%KO Surf 2x133-158%KO Dig 2x110-129%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Dig 2x128-152%KO Stone Edge 2x108-127%KO | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x167-197%KO Dig 2x73-86% | ||
 Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Garchomp builds →Dig 2x189-224%KO Stone Edge 2x158-186%KO Surf 2x86-102%KO | ||
Cranidos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Cranidos builds →Head Smash 2x342-403%KO Dig 2x124-146%KO | ||
Kabutops RockWater | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Kabuto (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Kabutops builds →Stone Edge 2x214-253%KO Dig 2x114-135%KO Surf 2x111-132%KO | ||
Carracosta WaterRock | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tirtouga (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Carracosta builds →Aqua Tail 2x183-216%KO Stone Edge 2x204-239%KO Dig 2x109-128%KO | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x168-197%KO Dig 2x73-86% | ||
Rampardos Rock | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Cranidos (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rampardos builds →Head Smash 2x441-519%KO Earthquake 2x197-232%KO Surf 2x72-86% | ||
 Tyrantrum RockDragon | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrunt (Ambrette Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Tyrantrum builds →Head Smash 2x338-398%KO Earthquake 2x150-177%KO | ||
Garchomp DragonGround | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Garchomp builds →Earthquake 2x240-283%KO Stone Edge 2x160-188%KO Surf 2x86-101%KO | ||
Marowak Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Marowak builds →Earthquake 2x160-188%KO Stone Edge 2x106-126%KO | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Tyranitar builds →Stone Edge 2x247-290%KO Earthquake 2x164-194%KO Surf 2x99-117%KO | ||
In X & Y, Excadrill can KO Charmander with Earthquake (298-351%). Rhyperior threatens a KO with Earthquake (335-395%).
 Excadrill GroundSteel | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x298-351%KO Rapid Spin50-59% | ||
 Rhyperior GroundRock | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySolidrock ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Charmander View Rhyperior builds →Earthquake 2x335-395%KO Stone Edge 2x335-395%KO | ||
Charmander Evolutions
Three stages ahead. Charmander grows into Charmeleon, then pushes on to Charizard. Check the evolution methods below. For breeding, average hatch time with a decent partner pool via two egg groups. Evolving adds up to 225 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Charmander easily with 50 breeding partners from the Dragon and Monster egg groups. Pass egg moves like Air Cutter, Ancient Power, Beat Up and 11 more to offspring.
XY Charmander Best Moveset
Fire TermStab at 60 Sp. Atk still can't threaten anything, and AbilitySolar Power in 5-turn sun costs HP for a temporary boost. The moveset needs Charizard's stats. Two Mega forms changed the evolution's identity, but nothing helps this stage.
Best Build
Charmander best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Flare Blitz
- Flame Charge
- Outrage
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Charmander gets Air Cutter and Ancient Power exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 9 types rounds out the picture alongside Overheat and Flare Blitz.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
The flame on its tail indicates Charmander’s life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly.
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.
Charmander X & Y Guide
For X & Y, you can run Charmander through the first few routes without issues. 309 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Charmeleon as fast as you can.
Game Availability
One of the original 151, Charmander has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves