Charizard

**Charizard** (リザードン, *Lizardon*) is a starter Pokémon from the *Pokémon* series. It debuted in the series' first generation as Kanto's final stage Fire-type starter Pokémon, and is present as a playable character in *Super Smash Bros. Brawl* (via Pokémon Trainer), *Super Smash Bros. 4*, and *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* (again via Pokémon Trainer). Charizard is a dual Fire/Flying-type saurian Pokémon based on dragons, and is categorized within the Pokédex at #006 as the "Flame Pokémon". It is the final evolutionary form of Charmander, after having evolved from Charmeleon at level 36 onward. Despite its design basis, Charizard is not a Dragon-type in its base form. However, it becomes a Fire/Dragon-type upon Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X; additionally, *Super Smash Bros. 4* and *Ultimate* refer to it and treat it as a dragon on several occasions in spite of its standard typing. As Charmander, it is one of the Kanto region's three starter Pokémon. However, unlike in *Pokémon Red*, *Green*, and *Blue*, Charmander is obtainable alongside its fellow Kanto starters Bulbasaur and Squirtle under special conditions in *Pokémon Yellow Version*, and relatively early on in *Pokémon X and Y*. In *Pokémon Sun*, *Moon*, *Ultra Sun* and *Ultra Moon*, Charizard appears as a Ride Pokémon that helps the player travel between locations, replacing the Fly Hidden Machine from previous generations (although it is unobtainable without transferring or trading in *Sun* and *Moon*). As Pokédex entries describe, Charizard breathes out fire that reaches incredible temperatures, hot enough to melt boulders and quickly melt glaciers weighing 10,000 tons, and it is said the temperature increases as it experiences harsh battles. When expelling a blast of super hot fire, its tail flame burns more intensely, and if it becomes furious, its tail flame flares up in a whitish-blue color. Charizard is known to cause forest fires unintentionally. However, a wild Charizard will never turn its fiery breath on any opponent weaker than itself. It flies about in search of powerful opponents, with its wings carrying it close to an altitude of 4,600 feet. Thanks to being the mascot of *Pokémon Red Version* and a member of its species having a major role in the *Pokémon* anime as one of Ash Ketchum's most powerful Pokémon, Charizard is one of the most popular Pokémon in the series. This was reflected in Generation VI, where Charizard gained access to new transformations called Mega Evolutions. Unlike most Pokémon who can also Mega Evolve (besides of Mewtwo), it has two Mega Evolved forms: it becomes Mega Charizard X while holding a Charizardite X, whereas holding a Charizardite Y results in it becoming Mega Charizard Y. In Generation VIII, Charizard (alongside all other Pokémon) no longer has access to Mega Evolutions, but it gains a new form, that being Gigantamax Charizard. During the transformation, it also gains access to the move G-Max Wildfire. Charizard sports average statistics all around, with relatively high Speed and Special Attack. Its standard ability is Blaze, available to every Fire type starter Pokémon, which increases the power of Fire type attacks when the Pokémon has low HP, while its Hidden Ability is Solar Power, which increases Special Attack under harsh sunlight at the cost of a few HP. Mega Evolution aguments its stats and changes its abilities; Mega Charizard X sports an high Attack statistic and the ability Tough Claws, which increases the power of moves that make contact, while Mega Charizard Y has an impressive Special Attack and the ability Drought, which summons harsh sunlight. These changes significantly improve Charizard's performance in battle. Many Charizard have appeared in the *Pokémon* anime, but the most prominently featured one has been Ash's Charizard. This Charizard is well-known for its character arc: having been abandoned by its original trainer as a Charmander, it was adopted by Ash Ketchum. While Charmander started out as a loyal and shy companion, as it evolved into Charmeleon and eventually Charizard, it developed a rebellious and disobedient streak, and only truly bonded with Ash and regained its loyalty when Ash saved its life when it was left out in the cold. Following this, Ash's Charizard would continue being a sporadic but loyal and powerful member of his team. In other media, Charizard is frequently a signature Pokémon for the various incarnations of Red, as the mascot of *Pokémon Red* and one of the fully-evolved starter Pokémon of Kanto. In the mainline game series, Red consistently uses Charizard on his teams as an NPC, and *Pokémon Origins* depicts Charizard as Red's signature Pokémon. This is reflected in the *Super Smash Bros.* series, where the male playable Pokémon Trainer, himself an incarnation of Red, uses Charizard as his party's only fully-evolved Pokémon. His female counterpart, Leaf, has not used Charizard or any member of its evolutionary line in prior media, making her appearance as the female Pokémon Trainer in *Ultimate* the first instance of such.