Pokémon counters guide

Best Counters for Charmander

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Charmander.

Fire
Charmander Pokémon sprite

Charmander

#0004

Quick answer

Charmander is best pressured by Water, Ground, and Rock-type attacks at 2x damage. Because there is no 4x weakness, defensive safety, Speed, and raw stats matter more.

Best move types

Water×2Ground×2Rock×2

Top weaknesses (3)

Water×2Ground×2Rock×2

Type matchup table

Water type iconWater2x
Ground type iconGround2x
Rock type iconRock2x
Normal type iconNormal1x
Electric type iconElectric1x
Fighting type iconFighting1x
Poison type iconPoison1x
Flying type iconFlying1x
Psychic type iconPsychic1x
Ghost type iconGhost1x
Dragon type iconDragon1x
Dark type iconDark1x
Fire type iconFire0.5x
Grass type iconGrass0.5x
Ice type iconIce0.5x
Bug type iconBug0.5x
Steel type iconSteel0.5x
Fairy type iconFairy0.5x

Recommended practical counters

Arcanine-Hisui Pokémon sprite

Arcanine-Hisui

#0059

Bulky switch-in
FireRock
  • Deals 2x damage with Rock-type attacks
  • Has STAB Rock-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Fire 0.25x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
Best typeRock×2

Safe into Fire 0.25x

115 offense · 90 Speed

Tyranitar Pokémon sprite

Tyranitar

#0248

Bulky switch-inStrong physical attacker
RockDark
  • Deals 2x damage with Rock-type attacks
  • Has STAB Rock-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Fire 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
  • Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety
Best typeRock×2

Safe into Fire 0.5x

134 offense · 61 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Water×2Ground×2Rock×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Water type pageGround type pageRock type page

Counter notes for Charmander

  • Charmander is a Fire Pokémon with 65 base Speed and stronger special attack (60 Sp. Atk). Water, Ground, and Rock attacks all work offensively, but safer counters are usually the ones that reduce risk from its own STAB types.
  • Charmander has several 2x weaknesses rather than a single 4x weakness, so the best counters are the ones that can hit it super-effectively while also reducing the risk from Fire STAB.
  • Known abilities include Blaze and Solar Power. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
  • Avoid counters that are weak to Fire unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
  • Charmander does not need a separate alternate-form note for the standard National Dex matchup shown here.

What not to use

Fire×0.5Grass×0.5Ice×0.5Bug×0.5Steel×0.5Fairy×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Charmander weakness chartCharmander PokédexFire countersWater type pageGround type pageRock type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Charmander?

Charmander is best countered by Pokémon that can use Water, Ground, and Rock (2x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Fire STAB attacks. Because there is no 4x weakness, Speed, bulk, and offensive stats matter more when choosing the actual Pokémon.

What type is best against Charmander?

Water, Ground, and Rock are the strongest attacking types against Charmander, dealing 2x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Charmander super-effectively?

Charmander has 3 super-effective attacking options: Water, Ground, and Rock. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Fire STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Charmander counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Charmander?

Avoid relying on Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

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