Charmeleon (Pokémon)

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

**Charmeleon** (Japanese: **リザード** *Lizardo*) is a Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It evolves from Charmander starting at level 16 and evolves into Charizard starting at level 36.

## Biology

Charmeleon is a bipedal, reptilian Pokémon. It has dark red scales and a cream underside from the chest down. It has blue eyes and a long snout with a slightly hooked tip. On the back of its head is a single horn-like protrusion. It has relatively long arms with three sharp claws. Its short legs have plantigrade feet with three claws and cream-colored soles. The tip of its long, powerful tail has a flame burning on it. The temperature rises to unbearable levels if Charmeleon swings its tail.

Charmeleon has a vicious nature and will constantly seek out opponents. Strong opponents excite this Pokémon, causing it to spout bluish-white flames that torch its surroundings. However, it will relax once it has won a battle. It is rare in the wild, but it can be found in mountainous areas.

## In the anime

#### Major appearances

##### Ash's Charmeleon

Ash's Charmander evolved into Charmeleon in *March of the Exeggutor Squad*, which also marked the species' debut. He quickly grew unruly and disobedient. He evolved into Charizard soon after in *Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon*.

Charmeleon 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 from Charmander after defeating a Jigglypuff in battle. It later evolved into Charizard after battling Cross's Lycanroc. Unlike its main series counterpart, this Charmeleon never had obedience issues.

##### Zippo

Ritchie's Charmander, nicknamed Zippo, evolved into a Charmeleon sometime prior to the events of *A Parent Trapped!*.

##### Alain's Charmeleon

A Charmeleon appeared in a flashback in *Mega Evolution Special II* as the pre-evolved form of Alain's Charizard.

##### Trevor's Charmeleon

Trevor's Charmeleon appeared in *A Legendary Photo Op!*, having evolved from a Charmander. It would evolve into Charizard by *A League of His Own!*.

##### Other

A Charmeleon appeared in *The Crystal Onix*, under the ownership of Mateo, who would commonly use it to make glass. It was also used to battle the titular Crystal Onix, during which it set it alight and defeated it.

A Charmeleon appeared in *Celebi: The Voice of the Forest*, under the ownership of Sam. It was used to battle the Iron-Masked Marauder's Sneasel and won.

In *Judgment Day*, Jimmy's Charmeleon helped its Trainer with a variety of odd jobs on Bomba Island. Charmeleon was later targeted by Team Rocket in one of their schemes, but it was rescued by Jimmy's newly-evolved Blastoise.

#### Minor appearances

In *The Breeding Center Secret*, a Charmeleon was part of a TV advertisement for Cassidy and Butch's breeding center, in which it evolved from a Charmander and then into Charizard.

In *Pikachu's Vacation*, a Charmeleon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.

In *Once More With Reeling!*, a Coordinator's Charmeleon participated in the Terracotta Contest.

A Charmeleon appeared in *Not on MY Watch Ya Don't!*.

In *Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!*, Leon's Charizard was revealed to have been a Charmeleon in a flashback.

#### Red's Charmeleon

Red's Charmander evolved into a Charmeleon some time after Red beat Misty but before he faced Lt. Surge between *File 1: Red* and *File 2: Cubone*. It later evolved into a Charizard after Red defeated Koga between *File 2: Cubone* and *File 3: Giovanni*.

#### Other

In *File 1: Red*, a Charmeleon was one of the Pokémon seen in Professor Oak's introduction.

## In the manga

### Pokémon Adventures

 File:X Salame Charmeleon.png
*Main article: Blue's Charmeleon*
*Main article: Salamè*
Charmeleon debuted in *Onix is On!*, where it was seen battling in the Pewter Gym as one of Blue's Pokémon. He evolved from Charmander sometime between *The Secret of Kangaskhan* and this round. When Red and Blue collided in Celadon City, Red mistakenly picked up the Poké Ball of Blue's Charmeleon, but he managed to give it back to Blue later. He has since evolved into Charizard with Blue's intense training and became even more powerful, assisting in the defeat of both the Team Rocket triads Koga and Sabrina.

A Charmeleon appeared at the Battle Pike in *Moving Past Milotic*.

Multiple Charmeleon were used by Team Galactic Grunts in *Exit Empoleon* and *Cooling Off Heatran*.

X's Charmander, Salamè, evolved into a Charmeleon alongside Marisso, who evolved into a Quilladin, in PS577.

### Pokémon anime novelization series

Jet's Charmeleon appeared in Race to Danger.

### Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys

A Charmeleon appeared in *Let's Aim For The Goal!*, under the ownership of Firebreather Takeo.

### Pokémon Zensho

*Main article: Satoshi's Charmeleon (Zensho)*
In Pokémon Zensho, Satoshi has a Charmeleon that evolved from the Charmander he received from Professor Oak in PZ04. It later evolves again into Charizard.

## Game data

### 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 **65**.

### Learnset

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

#### By a prior evolution

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

### Sprites

File:005MS.png For other sprites and images, please see Charmeleon images on the Bulbagarden Archives.

## Trivia

* In English, the category "Flame Pokémon" is shared by Charmeleon, Charizard, Flareon, Kantonian Moltres, and Infernape.
	+ In Japanese, Flareon has the category ほのおポケモン *Honō Pokémon* (Flame Pokémon), while the other four Pokémon share the category かえんポケモン *Kaen Pokémon* (Flame Pokémon).
* Charmeleon, Quilava, and their respective evolutionary lines have exactly the same base stats in the same distribution.

### Origin

Charmeleon may be based off lizards, as its name suggests.

#### Name origin

Charmeleon may be a combination of *char* (to burn) and *chameleon*.

Lizardo may be derived from the transcription of the English word *lizard*.

## Related articles

* Red's Charmeleon
* Blue's Charmeleon
* Salamè
* Zippo
* Alain's Charmeleon
* Trevor's Charmeleon
* Satoshi's Charmeleon (Zensho)
* Starter Pokémon

## External links

de:Glutexo
es:Charmeleon
fr:Reptincel
it:Charmeleon
ja:リザード
zh:火恐龙