National Pokédex #0004
Charmander
First stage
View Charmander detailsPokémon Forms Guide
Charizard Forms and the Complete Charmander Evolution Line
Follow Charmander through Charmeleon to Charizard, then compare standard Charizard, Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y and Gigantamax Charizard by type, Ability, base stats, weaknesses and transformation method.
- National Pokédex
- #0006
- Introduced
- Generation I
- Permanent evolution stages
- 3
- Mega Evolutions
- 2
- Gigantamax forms
- 1
Quick Answer
Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16, and Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36. Charizard can temporarily become Mega Charizard X or Mega Charizard Y through Mega Evolution. A Charizard with the Gigantamax Factor can instead take on its unique Gigantamax appearance when Gigantamaxing in a supported game or mode.
- Permanent evolution
- Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard
- Temporary battle transformations
- Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y and Gigantamax Charizard
Charmander Evolution Line
The permanent evolution family has three stages. Charmander does not evolve directly into Charizard.
Level 16
National Pokédex #0005
Charmeleon
Middle stage
View Charmeleon detailsLevel 36
National Pokédex #0006
Charizard
Final standard evolution
View Charizard detailsMega Evolution and Gigantamax are temporary battle transformations of Charizard, not a fourth permanent evolution stage.
All Charizard Forms
This core list separates Charizard's standard form from its two Mega Evolutions and its unique Gigantamax form. Shiny and other battle states are explained separately below.
The final standard evolution of the Charmander family. Its Fire/Flying typing and regular Ability options are the basis for its Mega and Gigantamax transformations.
- Ability
- Blaze
- Hidden Ability: Solar Power
- BST
- 534
How it changes
Permanent evolution from Charmeleon at level 36
A Fire/Dragon Mega Evolution with Tough Claws and a much stronger physical profile, including higher Attack and Defense.
- Ability
- Tough Claws
- BST
- 634
How it changes
Mega Evolution with Charizardite X
A Fire/Flying Mega Evolution with Drought and a strong special-attacking profile led by its higher Special Attack.
- Ability
- Drought
- BST
- 634
How it changes
Mega Evolution with Charizardite Y
A Gigantamax transformation with a unique appearance and access to G-Max Wildfire. It keeps Charizard's typing, Ability options and ordinary base stats.
- Ability
- Blaze
- Hidden Ability: Solar Power
- BST
- 534
- Same base stats as Charizard
How it changes
Gigantamax a Charizard with the Gigantamax Factor
Exclusive G-Max Move
G-Max Wildfire
Charizard Forms Comparison
The table compares the four core entries from one data source. Gigantamax changes Charizard's battle scale and appearance but does not create a separate ordinary base-stat spread.
| Form | Type | Ability | HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed | BST | Transformation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard | FireFlying | BlazeHidden Ability: Solar Power | 78 | 84 | 78 | 109 | 85 | 100 | 534 | Permanent evolution from Charmeleon at level 36 |
| Mega Charizard X | FireDragon | Tough Claws | 78 | 130 | 111 | 130 | 85 | 100 | 634 | Mega Evolution with Charizardite X |
| Mega Charizard Y | FireFlying | Drought | 78 | 104 | 78 | 159 | 115 | 100 | 634 | Mega Evolution with Charizardite Y |
| Gigantamax CharizardSame base stats as Charizard | FireFlying | BlazeHidden Ability: Solar Power | 78 | 84 | 78 | 109 | 85 | 100 | 534 | Gigantamax a Charizard with the Gigantamax Factor |
Mega Charizard X raises Attack to 130 and Defense to 111, making its physical profile substantially different from standard Charizard.
Mega Charizard Y reaches 159 Special Attack and uses Drought, which makes it the more specialized special attacker and weather enabler.
Gigantamax Charizard retains Charizard's 534 BST. Its defining differences are the Gigantamax appearance, Dynamax HP mechanics and G-Max Wildfire—not a separate base-stat table.
No form is universally best: legal availability, battle rules, team structure and the supported transformation mechanics differ by game.
Mega Charizard X vs Mega Charizard Y
Both Mega Evolutions have a 634 BST and the same base Speed, but their typing, Ability, offensive emphasis and defensive matchups differ.
Mega Charizard X
Mega Charizard Y
Typing
FireDragon
FireFlying
Ability
Tough Claws
Drought
Attack style
A mixed-capable Mega with much higher Attack and Defense; Tough Claws directly strengthens contact moves.
A special attacker with substantially higher Special Attack and improved Special Defense.
Defensive profile
Fire/Dragon removes the Fire/Flying combination's 4× Rock weakness and its Electric weakness, but introduces Ground and Dragon weaknesses and removes the Ground immunity.
Fire/Flying keeps a Ground immunity and useful Bug and Grass resistances, but remains 4× weak to Rock and is also weak to Water and Electric.
Weather interaction
It does not create weather through its Ability.
Drought creates harsh sunlight when it enters battle in rulesets where the Ability functions normally.
Mega Stone
Charizardite X
Charizardite Y
General use case
Choose it when a team benefits from physical pressure, Tough Claws and Fire/Dragon defensive traits.
Choose it when a team benefits from immediate special pressure, Drought or sunlight support.
Visual identity
A dark body, blue flames and a pronounced dragon-like silhouette distinguish it from standard Charizard.
It retains the orange coloration and flying-dragon outline while gaining a larger central horn and broader wings.
Which Mega Charizard should you choose?
Mega Charizard X better fits physical or contact-focused plans, while Mega Charizard Y better fits special offense and sunlight teams. The better choice depends on the supported game, battle rules, teammates and defensive needs rather than a universal ranking.
How to Get Each Charizard Form
The first two changes are permanent evolutions. Mega Evolution and Gigantamax require their own battle mechanics and are not available in every title.
Charmander → Charmeleon
Raise Charmander to level 16. The evolution is permanent.
Charmeleon → Charizard
Raise Charmeleon to level 36. Charizard is the family's final standard evolution.
Mega Charizard X
Use Mega Evolution with Charizard, a Key Stone and Charizardite X in a game or battle mode that supports this Mega Evolution.
Requirements: Charizard · Key Stone · Charizardite X
Mega Charizard Y
Use Mega Evolution with Charizard, a Key Stone and Charizardite Y in a game or battle mode that supports this Mega Evolution.
Requirements: Charizard · Key Stone · Charizardite Y
Gigantamax Charizard
Gigantamax an eligible Charizard with the Gigantamax Factor in a supported game or mode. Ordinary Dynamax does not produce the Gigantamax appearance or G-Max Wildfire.
Requirements: Charizard with the Gigantamax Factor · A supported Gigantamax battle
Availability varies by game. A Charizard can exist in a title even when Mega Evolution or Gigantamax is not supported there.
Charizard Types and Weaknesses by Form
These are defensive type matchups calculated with the site's shared type-effectiveness logic. Move effects, Abilities, items and temporary battle effects can modify the result.
Standard Charizard, Mega Charizard Y and Gigantamax Charizard share the same Fire/Flying defensive type matchups.
- Weak to
- Rock×4Electric×2Water×2
- Immune to
- Ground×0
Mega Charizard X's Fire/Dragon typing removes the 4× Rock weakness and Ground immunity found on the Fire/Flying forms.
- Resistant to
- Fire×0.25Grass×0.25Bug×0.5Electric×0.5Steel×0.5
- Immune to
- None
Are Shiny, Alpha, Dynamax and Terastallized Charizard Separate Forms?
These appearances or battle states should not be counted as additional permanent branches of the Charmander evolution line.
Shiny Charizard
Shiny Charizard is an alternate coloration, not a separate evolution. A Shiny Charizard can use supported transformation mechanics, but Shiny status does not create another core Charizard form.
Explore Shiny PokémonAlpha Charizard
An Alpha Charizard was officially distributed for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Alpha status marks an unusually large and powerful individual rather than a separate species form or another permanent stage in the Charmander evolution line, so it is not counted among this guide's four core appearances.
Dynamax Charizard
Ordinary Dynamax enlarges Charizard without giving it the unique Gigantamax appearance or G-Max Wildfire. Dynamax and Gigantamax are related mechanics, but they are not interchangeable.
Terastallized Charizard
Terastallization changes a Pokémon's battle typing according to its Tera Type. It is a temporary battle mechanic rather than a new Charizard evolution or permanent species form.
Charizard Form Availability by Mechanic
This mechanism-level view avoids implying that every Charizard form works in every game. It focuses on the main-series systems represented on this page.
Standard Charizard
Generation I evolution family
Evolve Charmeleon at level 36
- Temporary battle change
- No
- Changes type
- No
- Changes ordinary base stats
- Not applicable
Mega Evolution
Generation VI battle mechanic
Use the matching Mega Stone and a Key Stone in a supported title or mode
- Temporary battle change
- Yes
- Changes type
- Mega Charizard X changes to Fire/Dragon; Mega Charizard Y remains Fire/Flying
- Changes ordinary base stats
- Yes
Gigantamax
Generation VIII battle mechanic
Gigantamax an eligible Charizard with the Gigantamax Factor
- Temporary battle change
- Yes
- Changes type
- No
- Changes ordinary base stats
- No—ordinary base stats remain Charizard's
Charizard Forms FAQ
What is the full Charmander evolution line?
The permanent evolution line is Charmander, then Charmeleon, then Charizard. Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y and Gigantamax Charizard are temporary battle transformations of Charizard, not additional permanent stages.
What level does Charmander evolve?
Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16.
What level does Charmeleon evolve into Charizard?
Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36. Charmander cannot skip Charmeleon and evolve directly into Charizard.
How many forms does Charizard have?
Charizard has three main alternate form entries: Mega Charizard X, Mega Charizard Y and Gigantamax Charizard. Including standard Charizard, this guide compares four core appearances. Shiny coloration, Alpha status, ordinary Dynamax and Terastallization are explained separately because they are not additional permanent stages in the Charmander evolution line.
Does Charizard have two Mega Evolutions?
Yes. Charizard can Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X with Charizardite X or Mega Charizard Y with Charizardite Y in games and modes that support those transformations.
What is the difference between Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y?
Mega Charizard X is Fire/Dragon, has Tough Claws and emphasizes physical pressure. Mega Charizard Y remains Fire/Flying, has Drought and emphasizes special offense and sunlight support.
Is Mega Charizard X a Dragon type?
Yes. Mega Charizard X is Fire/Dragon. Standard Charizard, Mega Charizard Y and Gigantamax Charizard are Fire/Flying.
Is Mega Charizard Y a Dragon type?
No. Mega Charizard Y is Fire/Flying, the same type combination as standard Charizard.
Is Gigantamax Charizard stronger than Mega Charizard?
There is no universal comparison because Mega Evolution and Gigantamax use different rules and are not always available in the same game or format. Gigantamax Charizard keeps Charizard's ordinary base stats, while Mega Charizard X and Y have separate 634 BST spreads.
Is Shiny Charizard a separate form?
Shiny Charizard is an alternate coloration rather than a separate evolution. It is not counted as another permanent Charizard form on this page.
Can every Charizard Gigantamax?
No. In games that support Gigantamax, the Charizard must have the Gigantamax Factor or receive it through a supported in-game method. Ordinary Dynamax does not automatically become Gigantamax.
Does Charmander evolve directly into Charizard?
No. Charmander first evolves into Charmeleon at level 16, and Charmeleon then evolves into Charizard at level 36.
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