Mixed
Balanced
61Speed · Below Avg

Is Chimchar Good in Platinum Playthrough?

Fire starter and the most popular pick in Sinnoh for good reason. Fire/Fighting Infernape at 36 handles Roark, Gardenia, Byron, Candice, Aaron, and Lucian. Fantina at the third gym is neutral. The widest coverage of any starter across the reordered gym circuit.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEGEGESSGGGGEEChimcharStarterRoarkGym 1MonfernoEvolveGardeniaGym 2FantinaGym 3MayleneGym 4Crasher WakeGym 5InfernapeEvolveByronGym 6CandiceGym 7VolknerGym 8AaronE4BerthaE4FlintE4LucianE4CynthiaChamp*
Roark
Gym 1
Even

Chimchar trades roughly evenly with Roark's team.

Even
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
Stealth RockRock Throw
Even
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
Stealth RockRock ThrowScreech
Even
Cranidos
Lv 14
Rock
Mold Breaker
HeadbuttPursuitLeer
Gardenia
Gym 2
Good

Monferno has the type edge here and should clean up Gardenia's team.

Easy KO
Turtwig
Lv 20
Grass
Overgrow
Grass KnotRazor LeafSunny DayReflect
You Win
Cherrim
Lv 20
Grass
Flower Gift
Grass KnotLeech SeedMagical LeafSafeguard
Even
Roserade
Lv 22
GrassPoison
Natural Cure
Grass KnotMagical LeafPoison StingStun Spore
Fantina
Gym 3
Even

Monferno trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.

Even
Duskull
Lv 24
Ghost
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Will O WispPursuitShadow SneakFuture Sight
Even
Haunter
Lv 24
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Shadow ClawSucker PunchHypnosisConfuse Ray
Risky
Mismagius
Lv 26
Ghost
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Shadow BallPsybeamMagical LeafConfuse Ray
Maylene
Gym 4
Good

Monferno has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.

You Win
Meditite
Lv 28
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Drain PunchConfusionRock TombFake Out
You Win
Machoke
Lv 29
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopRock TombStrengthFocus Energy
You Win
Lucario
Lv 32
FightingSteel
Steadfast
Drain PunchForce PalmMetal ClawBone Rush
Crasher Wake
Gym 5
Even

Monferno trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 33
WaterFlying
Intimidate
WaterfallBrineBiteTwister
Even
Quagsire
Lv 34
WaterGround
Damp
Mud ShotRock TombWater PulseYawn
Even
Floatzel
Lv 37
Water
Swift Swim
BrineIce FangCrunchAqua Jet
Byron
Gym 6
Strong

Infernape resists most of Byron's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Magneton
Lv 37
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
Flash CannonThunderboltTri AttackMetal Sound
You Win
Steelix
Lv 38
SteelGround
Rock Head
Flash CannonIce FangEarthquakeSandstorm
Easy KO
Bastiodon
Lv 41
RockSteel
Sturdy
Metal BurstStone EdgeIron DefenseTaunt
Candice
Gym 7
Strong

Infernape resists most of Candice's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Sneasel
Lv 40
DarkIce
Inner Focus
SlashAerial AceFaint AttackIce Shard
Easy KO
Piloswine
Lv 40
IceGround
Oblivious
AvalancheStone EdgeEarthquakeHail
Easy KO
Abomasnow
Lv 42
GrassIce
Snow Warning
AvalancheWood HammerWater PulseFocus Blast
You Win
Froslass
Lv 44
IceGhost
Snow Cloak
BlizzardDouble TeamShadow BallPsychic
Volkner
Gym 8
Good

Infernape has the type edge here and should clean up Volkner's team.

You Win
Jolteon
Lv 46
Electric
Volt AbsorbImmune to Electric attacks
Thunder WaveCharge BeamIron TailQuick Attack
You Win
Raichu
Lv 46
Electric
Static
Charge BeamFocus BlastSignal BeamQuick Attack
You Win
Luxray
Lv 48
Electric
Rivalry
Ice FangThunder FangCrunchFire Fang
You Win
Electivire
Lv 50
Electric
Motor DriveImmune to Electric attacks
Thunder PunchFire PunchQuick AttackGiga Impact
Aaron
Elite Four
Good

Infernape has the type edge here and should clean up Aaron's team.

You Win
Yanmega
Lv 49
BugFlying
Speed Boost
Air SlashBug BuzzU TurnDouble Team
Easy KO
Scizor
Lv 49
BugSteel
Swarm
Iron HeadX ScissorNight SlashQuick Attack
Easy KO
Vespiquen
Lv 50
BugFlying
Pressure
Attack OrderDefend OrderHeal OrderPower Gem
You Win
Heracross
Lv 51
BugFighting
Swarm
MegahornClose CombatNight SlashStone Edge
You Win
Drapion
Lv 53
PoisonDark
Battle Armor
X ScissorCross PoisonIce FangAerial Ace
Bertha
Elite Four
Good

Infernape has the type edge here and should clean up Bertha's team.

Easy KO
Whiscash
Lv 50
WaterGround
Oblivious
Earth PowerAqua TailZen HeadbuttSandstorm
Even
Gliscor
Lv 53
GroundFlying
Hyper Cutter
EarthquakeIce FangFire FangThunder Fang
You Win
Golem
Lv 52
RockGround
Rock Head
EarthquakeFire PunchThunder PunchSandstorm
You Win
Rhyperior
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning RodImmune to Electric attacks
EarthquakeRock WreckerMegahornAvalanche
You Win
Hippowdon
Lv 52
Ground
Sand Stream
EarthquakeStone EdgeCrunchYawn
Flint
Elite Four
Good

Infernape has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.

Easy KO
Houndoom
Lv 52
DarkFire
Early Bird
FlamethrowerSludge BombDark PulseSunny Day
Even
Flareon
Lv 55
Fire
Flash FireImmune to Fire attacks
OverheatGiga ImpactQuick AttackWill O Wisp
Even
Rapidash
Lv 53
Fire
Run Away
Flare BlitzSolar BeamBounceSunny Day
Even
Infernape
Lv 55
FireFighting
Blaze
Flare BlitzThunder PunchMach PunchEarthquake
Even
Magmortar
Lv 57
Fire
Flame Body
FlamethrowerThunderboltSolar BeamHyper Beam
Lucian
Elite Four
Even

Infernape trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.

Even
Mr Mime
Lv 53
PsychicFairy
Soundproof
PsychicThunderboltReflectLight Screen
Even
Espeon
Lv 55
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicShadow BallQuick AttackSignal Beam
You Win
Bronzong
Lv 54
SteelPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
PsychicGyro BallEarthquakeCalm Mind
Even
Alakazam
Lv 56
Psychic
Synchronize
PsychicEnergy BallFocus BlastRecover
Even
Gallade
Lv 59
PsychicFighting
Steadfast
Drain PunchPsycho CutLeaf BladeStone Edge
Cynthia
Champion
Even

Infernape trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.

Even
Spiritomb
Lv 58
GhostDark
Pressure
Dark PulsePsychicSilver WindShadow Ball
You Win
Roserade
Lv 58
GrassPoison
Natural Cure
Energy BallSludge BombToxicExtrasensory
Even
Togekiss
Lv 60
FairyFlying
Hustle
Air SlashAura SphereWater PulseShock Wave
Easy KO
Lucario
Lv 60
FightingSteel
Steadfast
Aura SphereExtreme SpeedShadow BallStone Edge
Even
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
SurfIce BeamMirror CoatDragon Pulse
Risky
Garchomp
Lv 62
DragonGround
Sand Veil
Dragon RushEarthquakeFlamethrowerGiga Impact
Starter
Starter Pokemon
Type
Fire
Tier
E

Chimchar is available as a starter at Lv 5.

View Chimchar locations

Recommended Moves
  • From Start
    • TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
    • LV 17FireFlame Wheel90100%25
  • After Gardenia
    • TM28GroundDig80100%10
  • After Fantina
    • TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
  • After Crasher Wake
    • HM04NormalStrength80100%15
    • LV 41FireFlamethrower135100%15
  • After Byron
    • HM08NormalRock Climb9085%20
  • After Candice
    • TUTORNormalUproar90100%10
Evolve Chimchar to Monferno
Level 14
Type
FireFighting
Tier
C

Your Chimchar should hit Level 14 before you reach Gardenia, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves
  • From Start
    • TM01FightingFocus Punch225100%20
  • After Roark
    • TM31FightingBrick Break113100%15
    • LV 19FireFlame Wheel90100%25
  • After Fantina
    • TM52FightingFocus Blast18070%5
    • TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
    • LV 36FightingClose Combat180100%5
  • After Byron
    • TM35FireFlamethrower135100%15
    • LV 49FireFlare Blitz180100%15
Evolve Monferno to Infernape
Level 36
Type
FireFighting
Tier
S

Your Monferno should hit Level 36 before you reach Byron, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves
  • From Start
    • TM01FightingFocus Punch225100%20
  • After Fantina
    • TM52FightingFocus Blast18070%5
    • TM38FireFire Blast16585%5
    • TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
  • After Maylene
    • TM68NormalGiga Impact15090%5
    • LV 41FightingClose Combat180100%5
  • After Byron
    • TM35FireFlamethrower135100%15
    • LV 57FireFlare Blitz180100%15

How to Get Chimchar in Platinum

No searching required for Chimchar. You receive it at Route 201 from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.

How to Obtain Chimchar in Pt

  1. Chimchar
    Step 1Chimchar
    Route 201
    Lv.5Gift from NPC
    Limited
    Starter choice
  2. Monferno
    Step 2Evolve into Monferno
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave Infernape with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Monferno egg.
  3. Infernape
    Step 3Evolve into Infernape

Chimchar Weakness

Type-wise, Chimchar takes extra damage from Water, Ground, and Rock. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Chimchar Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Ground, Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel
Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

What is Chimchar Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Chimchar Strong Against

4Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score0
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Chimchar

Chimchar Evolutions

Chimchar is the start of a three-stage chain. It evolves into Monferno first, then eventually reaches Infernape. For breeding, average hatch time with a massive partner pool via two egg groups. Evolving adds up to 225 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Chimchar
Fire
Monferno
FireFighting
Infernape
FireFighting
HP
44
64+20
76+12
ATK
58
78+20
104+26
DEF
44
52+8
71+19
SP.ATK
58
78+20
104+26
SP.DEF
44
52+8
71+19
SPE
61
81+20
108+27
BST
309D-Tier
405D-Tier+96
534B-Tier+129
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Mixed

Breeding

Easy

Breed Chimchar easily with 131 breeding partners from the Ground and Humanshape egg groups. Pass egg moves like Blaze Kick, Counter, Double Kick and 7 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
10moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosgardevoirinfernapegalladerhydonlopunnydewgongcacturne

Pt Chimchar Best Moveset

Fire at 58 in both Attack stats and 61 Speed. AbilityBlaze boosts Fire moves at low HP. The moveset previews Infernape's mixed power but can't compete. Infernape is two evolutions away.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Blaze
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Chimchar
Timid+SPE

Chimchar best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Stealth Rock
  • EndeavorCoverage
  • Vacuum Wave
  • OverheatSTAB

Moves List

Stall teams hate this. Chimchar can spread damage across 12 types, with Normal and Flying punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Overheat and Fire Blast keeps the pressure honest on everything else.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 7
Ember
6010025Fire
Lv 9
Taunt
C10020Dark
Lv 15
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 17
Flame Wheel
9010025Fire
Lv 23
Nasty Plot
C20Dark
Lv 25
Torment
D10015Dark
Lv 31
Facade
D7010020Normal
Lv 33
Fire Spin
527015Fire
Lv 39
Slack Off
C10Normal
Lv 41
Flamethrower
C14210015Fire

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
D6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
D7510015Fighting
TM08
Bulk Up
C20Fighting
TM78
Captivate
10020Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM28
Dig
D8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
C10Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
C180855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
C14210015Fire
TM56
Fling
D10010Dark
TM01
Focus Punch-3
C15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
D10020Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
D10020Grass
TM10
Hidden Power
D6010015Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
D1007515Steel
TM83
Natural Gift
D10015Normal
TM50
Overheat
S210905Fire
TM17
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
HM08
Rock Climb
908520Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM65
Shadow Claw
D7010015Ghost
TM82
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM76
Stealth Rock
S20Rock
HM04
Strength
D8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
C5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
C30Normal
TM12
Taunt
C10020Dark
TM41
Torment
D10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
C8510Poison
TM89
U-turn
D7010020Bug
TM61
Will-O-Wisp
C7515Fire

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Blaze Kick
C1279010Fire
Egg
Counter-5
D10020Fighting
Egg
Double Kick
3010030Fighting
Egg
Encore
C1005Normal
Egg
Fake Out+3
D4010010Normal
Egg
Fire Punch
C11210015Fire
Egg
Focus Energy
30Normal
Egg
Heat Wave
C1509010Fire
Egg
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Egg
Thunder Punch
D7510015Electric

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Endeavor
S1005Normal
Tutor
Fire Punch
C11210015Fire
Tutor
Gunk Shot
D120705Poison
Tutor
Heat Wave
C1509010Fire
Tutor
Helping Hand+5
20Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Rollout
309020Rock
Tutor
Snore
D4010015Normal
Tutor
Swift
6020Normal
Tutor
Thunder Punch
D7510015Electric
Tutor
Uproar
9010010Normal
Tutor
Vacuum Wave+1
S4010030Fighting

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP44
D
Attack58
D
Defense44
D
Sp. Atk58
D
Sp. Def44
D
Speed61
C
Total309
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight6.2 kg
Base XP62
Abilities
Blaze
Strengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

It is very agile. Before going to sleep, it extinguishes the flame on its tail to prevent fires.

Pokemon Platinum

Chimchar Platinum Guide

  • In Platinum, Chimchar does the job early-game if you need a Fire type on your team. Evolve it into Monferno before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Chimchar first appeared in Diamond & Pearl and has been available in 12 games across 7 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.

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