Charmander (Pokémon)

This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Charmander (disambiguation).

**Charmander** (Japanese: **ヒトカゲ** *Hitokage*) is a Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

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

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

## Biology

Charmander is a bipedal, reptilian Pokémon with a primarily orange body and blue eyes. Its underside from the chest down and the soles of its feet are cream-colored. It has two small fangs visible in its upper jaw and two smaller fangs in its lower jaw. A fire burns at the tip of this Pokémon's slender tail and has blazed there since Charmander's birth. The flame can be used as an indication of Charmander's health and mood, burning brightly when the Pokémon is strong, weakly when it is exhausted, wavering when it is happy, and blazing when it is enraged. It is said that Charmander dies if its flame goes out. However, if the Pokémon is healthy, the flame will continue to burn even if it gets a bit wet and is said to steam in the rain.

Charmander can be found in hot, mountainous areas. However, it is found far more often in the ownership of Trainers. As shown in Pokémon Snap, Charmander exhibits pack behavior, calling others of its species if it finds food.

## In the anime

#### Major appearances

##### Ash's Charmander

Charmander physically debuted in *Charmander - The Stray Pokémon*, where Ash, Misty, and Brock found it after it was abandoned by its Trainer, Damian, who only cared about raising strong Pokémon. At first, Charmander refused to leave the spot it was at, believing Damian would return for it. 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 allowed Ash to catch it. It has since evolved into Charmeleon, and then Charizard.

Ash's Charmander also appeared in *I Choose You!*, which is set in a different continuity from the main series. In this continuity, it previously belonged to Cross and evolved into Charmeleon after defeating a Jigglypuff in battle. It later evolved into Charizard after battling Cross's Lycanroc.

##### Zippo

Ritchie owned a Charmander nicknamed Zippo, which debuted in *A Friend In Deed*. It would evolve into Charmeleon by its appearance in *A Parent Trapped!*.

##### Team Go-Getters

A Charmander starred in *Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters Out of the Gate!* as the leader of Team Go-Getters.

##### Alain's Charmander

A Charmander appeared in a flashback in *Mega Evolution Special I* as the unevolved form of Alain's Charizard.

##### Trevor's Charmander

Trevor's Charmander first appeared in *Summer of Discovery!*. It would evolve into Charmeleon by *A Legendary Photo Op!*, and then into Charizard during *A League of His Own!*.

##### Other

In *Journey to the Starting Line!*, Gilbert 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 to find the three missing Pokémon. The Charmander was the first one to be found.

In *A Six Pack Attack!*, a Charmander went with Professor Oak on his trip to Hoenn along with a Bulbasaur and Squirtle.

In *The Right Place and The Right Mime*, another Charmander was seen in Professor Oak's possession, along with another Bulbasaur and Squirtle.

In *The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!*, a Charmander was part of Professor Oak's demonstration of the Kanto starters during the Kanto Fair. Another Charmander was owned by the Kanto Fair Host. Seeing it inspired Ash to bring his Charizard back onto his team.

In *Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!*, Leon's Charizard was revealed to have been a Charmander in a flashback. Leon's Charmander appeared again in another flashback in *Meeting Up with the Monarch!*.

#### Minor appearances

Charmander made its debut in *Pokémon - I Choose You!*, where Ash dreamed about one as his prospective starter.

In *Battle Aboard the St. Anne*, multiple Charmander were aboard the St. Anne.

In *Hypno's Naptime*, a Charmander was in HopHopHop Town's Pokémon Center.

In *Pokémon Fashion Flash*, a Charmander was on Scissor Street.

In *The Ultimate Test*, a Charmander appeared as an image in the dubbed version, while another was owned by the Pokémon League Admissions Exam instructor.

In *The Breeding Center Secret*, a Charmander was seen evolving on TV for a commercial about Cassidy's and Butch's breeding center, while another one appeared in said center.

In *Pikachu's Vacation*, a Charmander was at the Pokémon Theme Park.

In *Friends to the End*, a Trainer's Charmander was at the closing ceremonies of the Indigo Plateau Conference.

A Charmander appeared in the Japanese credits of *Pikachu's Rescue Adventure*.

A starter Charmander appeared in a flashback in *Don't Touch That 'dile*.

A Charmander appeared in *Gonna Rule The School!*, under the ownership of the Pokémon Trainers' School. It was temporarily loaned to one of the school's underage students for use.

In *The Right Place and the Right Mime*, a Charmander was at Professor Oak's Laboratory.

In *Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade*, a Charmander was watching Meloetta's concert.

In a flashback in *I Choose You!*, a Charmander was chosen by Tierno as his starter Pokémon.

In *A Crowning Moment of Truth!*, a Trainer's Charmander attended the Wela Fire Festival‎.

In *Alola, Kanto!*, a wild Charmander was sleeping at Professor Oak's Laboratory.

A Trainer's Charmander appeared in *The Power of Us*.

A Trainer's Charmander appeared in the Where Are You Going, Eevee? segment at the end of *Lillier and the Staff!*. It reappeared during a flashback in *We Know Where You're Going, Eevee!*.

In *Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution*, a Charmander was at Old Shore Wharf.

In *Legend? Go! Friends? Go!*, a Charmander was one of the starter Pokémon Professor Cerise offered to Goh, but it was rejected.

A Charmander appeared in a fantasy alongside the other starter Pokémon in *Getting More Than You Battled For!*.

A Trainer's Charmander appeared in *Crowning the Chow Crusher!*.

A Trainer's Charmander appeared in *Sobble Spies a Stealthy Strategy!*.

#### Red's Charmander

In Pokémon Origins, a Charmander was one of the three Pokémon Professor Oak gave Red and Blue to choose from to start their journey, with Red choosing Charmander. It later evolved into a Charmeleon between *File 1: Red* and *File 2: Cubone* and then a Charizard between *File 2: Cubone* and *File 3: Giovanni*.

#### Other

In *File 1: Red*, a Charmander was seen in Professor Oak's introduction.

In *File 3: Giovanni*, a Charmander was seen at Silph Co., while another was seen in a flashback, under the ownership of Giovanni.

### Pokémon Generations

A Charmander appeared in the game intro-like opening sequence for *The Adventure*.

### Pokémon: Twilight Wings

 File:Firebreather Twilight Wings.png  In *Buddy*, a Firebreather's Charmander was seen alongside its Trainer as they were putting on a fire-breathing display for a crowd.

### GOTCHA!

A Charmander briefly appeared in GOTCHA!.

### Pokémon Evolutions

A Charmander briefly appeared in *The Discovery*, inside Professor Oak's Laboratory. It was seen playing with its fellow starter Pokémon.

### POKÉTOON

A Charmander appeared in *The Pancham Who Wants to Be a Hero*, where it was trapped in a cave.

### The Electric Tale of Pikachu

*Main article: Ash's Charmander*
Ash's Charmander makes a few appearances in The Electric Tale of Pikachu.

The capture of Ash's Charmander diverges considerably from the anime. In the manga, Damian 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.

### Magical Pokémon Journey

*Main article: Peanut's Charmander*
*Main article: Mandy (MPJ)*
In Magical Pokémon Journey, the sickly Trainer Peanut owns an aggressive Charmander. Peanut's Charmander first appears in *Charmander's Peanut*.

### Movie adaptations

A Charmander appeared in a flashback in ICYR1, under the ownership of Professor Oak.

### Pokémon Journeys: The Series

A Charmander appeared in a flashback in JNM13, under the ownership of Leon. It is now his Charizard in the present day.

### Pokémon - The Legend of the Dragon King

Akira owns a Charmander, as seen in LDK1. It evolved into a Charizard in the same chapter.

### Pokémon Adventures

#### Template:Chap

*Main article: Blue's Charmander*
Charmander debuted in *A Glimpse of the Glow*. It first appeared in Red's fantasy, then as one of Blue's first Pokémon, received from his grandfather Professor Oak. He has since evolved into Charmeleon before facing off against Brock of Pewter City, and then to Charizard before the Silph Co. battles against Team Rocket.

In *The Jynx Jinx*, a Charmander appeared as a silhouette when Green talked about Mew.

#### Template:Chap

*Main article: Salamè*
After X's Chespin, Marisso, lost to her in a battle, X decided to take her and named her Salamè in *Chespin Sows the Seeds of Change*. She later evolved into a Charmeleon alongside Marisso, who evolved into a Quilladin in PS577.

### Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All

A Charmander appeared in a background collage in *Catch the Poliwag!*.

A Charmander appeared in GDZ23.

A Charmander first appeared in GDZ33, under the ownership of a researcher.

### Pokémon Pocket Monsters

*Main article: Green's Charmander*
In Pokémon Pocket Monsters, Red's rival, Green, chose Charmander as his starter Pokémon. Green's Charmander is mischievous and has a rivalry with Red's Clefairy. Green'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.

Blue also owns a Charmander.

### Pokémon Zensho

*Main article: Satoshi's Charmander (Zensho)*
In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi chooses Charmander as his starter Pokémon.

## Other appearances

#### Trophy information

*"A Lizard Pokémon. It just downright likes hot stuff. The always-burning tail indicates its mood--waving gently when content and burning intensely when angry. If the tail were to go out, it would be the end of Charmander's life. Its tail is believed to emit steam when it rains. Charmander evolves into Charmeleon by leveling up."*

### *Detective Pikachu*

Multiple Charmander appeared in *Detective Pikachu*.

## Game data

### NPC appearances

* In PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure Charmander is one of Pikachu's best friends. After falling through the mysterious tunnel, he almost lands into a pool of molten lava only to be saved by the zone leader, Blaziken. He was then taken in as Blaziken's pupil and trained to become stronger. After he's been found, he journeys to the Meeting Place where he helps Piplup mend the balloon, and makes fireworks. He later accompanies Pikachu to the Sky Pavilion along with Piplup and Chikorita where he meets Mew. Once the Sky Prism has been restored, Charmander celebrates by firing off the fireworks he made.

### Game locations

#### Pokémon Global Link promotions

 **BW** | Global Link Charmander | Korean

### Held items

 Charizardite X Charizardite X (100%)

### Stats

#### Base stats

* 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**.

### Learnset

Charmander is available in Sword and Shield and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

#### By TM/TR

**SwSh**

**BDSP**

#### By breeding

**SwSh**

**BDSP**

#### By tutoring

 * **Bold** indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Charmander
* *Italic* indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Charmander
* Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

### Side game data

In Pokémon GO, Charmander can be obtained by completing 1/4 of the Special Research, *A Tale of Tails*.

### Sprites

File:004MS.png For other sprites and images, please see Charmander images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

## Trivia

 File:Niue Dollar Pokemon.png
* Niue released a one-dollar coin featuring Charmander as part of a commemorative promotion for the Pokémon franchise, with Charmander on one side and the nation's coat of arms on the other.
* In Generation I, on its sprite and first artwork, Charmander's "back" is depicted as having a small line of spikes. The spikes were not shown in the sprites and artwork of later generations. Blue's Charmander also had these spikes in the Pokémon Adventures manga, where the spikes were larger and easier to see. The spikes were also seen on Template:PPM's Charmander from the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga.
* Charmander, Cyndaquil, and their respective evolutionary lines have exactly the same base stats in the same distribution.
* Charmander's hand has an inconsistent number of fingers in its designs. The original sprites designed by Atsuko Nishida forPokémon Red and Greenfeatured three fingers, while the artwork Ken Sugimori drew based on those sprites had four fingers. Currently, the Trading Card Game, anime (including movies and specials), artwork unrelated to games and merchandise use the three-fingered hand design; while the 3D models and the artwork based on those (such as the ones made for Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!) feature the four-fingered hand design.

### Origin

 Bulbanews Bulbanews has an article related to this subject: ***On the Origin of Species: Charmander***  Charmander's design was based on Charizard in such a way that it was surprising to see it evolving into the latter Pokémon. In particular, Charmander was designed as a lizard, possibly referencing the mythical salamander (as opposed to the real-world amphibian of the same name that inspired its mythical counterpart). This salamander was a fire spirit capable of surviving in extreme heat or flames, and it is sometimes creatively rendered or interpreted in the shape of a lizard. As Charizard is based on a European dragon, Charmander's lizardlike design seems to reference how Western dragons in folklore are heavily inspired by lizards and other reptiles, as well as how various types of lizards are likened to (and named after) dragons due to this connection. Its bipedal design resembles a baby therapod dinosaur.

#### Name origin

Charmander may be a combination of *char* (to burn) and *salamander*.

Hitokage may be a combination of 火 *hi* (fire) and 蜥蜴 *tokage* (lizard), forming together the word 火蜥蜴 *hitokage* (mythical salamander).

## Related articles

* Red's Charmander
* Blue's Charmander
* Salamè
* Zippo
* Charla
* Alain's Charmander
* Trevor's Charmander
* Peanut's Charmander
* Mandy (MPJ)
* Green's Charmander
* Team Go-Getters
* Starter Pokémon
* Partner Pokémon (Mystery Dungeon)

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *The Origin Story of Pikachu*

## External links

* Article on Wikipedia

de:Glumanda es:Charmander fr:Salamèche it:Charmander ja:ヒトカゲ zh:小火龙