Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026
Charizard
Say it: CHAR-ih-zard
Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand
Charizard is the big Fire-and-Flying dragon from the Charmander family (Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard). In Pokémon GO you usually evolve a Charmander up, or catch one from raids and events. Fire and Flying moves help against Grass, Bug, Ice, and Fighting foes — but watch out for Water, Electric, and Rock. Its best special move is often Blast Burn from Community Day (or an Elite TM). It can also Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X or Y when you have the right Mega Energy.
Say it: CHAR-ih-zard
Charizard (#006) is a Fire / Flying Pokémon in Pokémon GO — the final form of the Kanto Charmander line. Trainers use it for Fire-type raids (especially Mega Charizard Y), flexible charged coverage with Dragon Claw, and occasional Great/Ultra League teams when it has Community Day moves. Against Charizard, lead with Water, Electric, or Rock. Stats, type chart, moves, and counter picks below use our Game Master snapshot.
Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).
Pokédex notes
Charizard is the final form of the Charmander line (Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard): a Fire / Flying dual type famous from the main games and still useful in Pokémon GO. Use it as a Fire raid attacker (especially after Mega Evolving to Mega Charizard Y), a flexible PvP pick when it has Community Day moves (Wing Attack + Blast Burn), or a buddy while you farm Mega Energy. Dragon Claw gives coverage into Dragon and other neutrals. Watch Water, Electric, and Rock when Charizard is on the other side.
Where in GO: Evolve Charmander / Charmeleon with Candy; also raids, eggs, Field Research, Community Day, Mega raids, and seasonal Fire events
Fun fact: Blast Burn is Charizard’s signature Community Day charged move — if you missed the event, an Elite Charged TM can still teach it. Mega Charizard X and Y each need their own Mega Energy.
Invest tip: Priority Community Day move: Blast Burn (Elite Charged TM if you missed the event). Wing Attack is the preferred PvP fast move when available. For raids, Fire Spin + Blast Burn or Overheat is the usual Fire DPS kit. Save Elite TMs for high-IV or Shadow copies you actually power up. Mega Y before Mega X for most Fire raid days.
Type matchups
- Fire moves hit Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel hard.
- Flying moves hit Grass, Fighting, and Bug hard.
When Charizard is your opponent, Water, Electric, Rock hits hard.
Full type matchup guide →Mega Evolution
Charizard can Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X (Fire / Dragon) or Mega Charizard Y (Fire / Flying). Each form needs Candy plus its own Mega Energy (X energy vs Y energy). Y is the usual Fire raid mega and boosts Fire attackers in the lobby; X trades Flying for Dragon and fits different raid and PvP roles.
Full Mega Evolution guide →GO base stats
From Game Master snapshot — IVs, buddy, and power-ups change real battle stats.
- Attack
- 223
- Defense
- 173
- Stamina
- 186
Weak to
Resists
Best Pokémon to use against it
When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.
Recommended
Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.
- 1. Primal Kyogre · beats Water
Waterfall + Origin Pulse — Primal lobby boost
- 2. Shadow Kyogre · beats Water
Waterfall + Origin Pulse
- 3. Mega Swampert · beats Water
Water Gun + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 4. Kyogre · beats Water
Waterfall + Origin Pulse
- 5. Shadow Kingler · beats Water
Bubble + Crabhammer
- 6. Shadow Feraligatr · beats Water
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 7. Kingler · beats Water
Bubble + Crabhammer
- 8. Swampert · beats Water
Water Gun + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 9. Feraligatr · beats Water
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 10. Samurott · beats Water
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 11. Gyarados · beats Water
Waterfall + Aqua Tail
- 12. Empoleon · beats Water
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
Budget
Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.
- 1. Kingler · beats Water
Bubble + Crabhammer
- 2. Gyarados · beats Water
Waterfall + Aqua Tail
- 3. Vaporeon · beats Water
Water Gun + Aqua Tail
- 4. Feraligatr · beats Water
Waterfall + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 5. Swampert · beats Water
Water Gun + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 6. Clawitzer · beats Water
Water Gun + Crabhammer
- 7. Floatzel · beats Water
Water Gun + Aqua Jet
- 8. Seismitoad · beats Water
Mud Shot + Hydro Pump
- 9. Carracosta · beats Water
Water Gun + Hydro Pump
- 10. Blastoise · beats Water
Water Gun + Hydro Cannon · Elite TM
- 11. Wailord · beats Water
Water Gun + Surf
- 12. Golisopod · beats Water
Waterfall + Aqua Jet
Recommended moves
Game Master “moves in GO” lists the always-available TM pool. Blast Burn and Wing Attack are Community Day exclusives — unlock with an Elite TM if you missed the event window.
Fast
- Wing Attack · Community Day / Elite TM
PvP
- Fire Spin · Standard
Raids / default
- Air Slash · Standard
Legacy pool
Charged
- Blast Burn · Community Day / Elite TM
Best Fire nuke
- Dragon Claw · Standard
Coverage / bait
- Overheat · Standard
Raid Fire DPS
- Fire Blast · Standard
Backup
- Air Cutter · Standard
Usually skip
Moves in GO
Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.
Fast
- fire spin
- air slash
Charged
- fire blast
- dragon claw
- overheat
- air cutter
PvP league ranks (family snapshot)
- Great League · rank #491 of 954 · CP 1486
Fire Spin + Overheat
- Ultra League · rank #338 of 747 · CP 2497
Fire Spin + Overheat
- Master League · rank #261 of 1023 · CP 3266
Fire Spin + Overheat
In your Collect
Name match only (text). Cards you have saved in Card Nexus Collect — not official art.
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Open Collect →Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).
Raid attacker roles
Fire-type shortlist
- Mega Charizard Y — Fire Spin + Blast Burn
- Shadow Charizard — Fire Spin + Blast Burn
- Charizard — Fire Spin + Blast Burn
Recommended vs these bosses
In the Competitive Guide
- Ch. 4: Best Raid Attackers by Type
…lse Shadow Kyogre Kingler / Gyarados Bubble + Crabhammer / Aqua Tail Fire Reshiram / Mega Charizard Y Fire Fang + Fusion Flare / Blast Burn Shadow Charizard Darmanitan Fire Fang + Overheat …
- Ch. 7: Recommended Movesets
…IVs Tinkaton Fairy Wind Gigaton Hammer Play Rough GL / UL top meta; dominant in 2026 meta Charizard Wing Attack Blast Burn* Dragon Claw GL / UL; Blast Burn is a Community Pokémon Fast Move …
- Ch. 10: Stardust, Investment & Seasonal Strategy
…non (Elite Charged TM if missed) - Metagross — Meteor Mash (Elite Charged TM if missed) - Charizard — Blast Burn (Elite Charged TM if missed) - Dragonite — Draco Meteor (now more widely ava…
- Ch. 17: Rocket Leaders & Giovanni
…**Tyrunt** (Rock / Dragon) | | 2 | Slowbro · Golurk · Steelix | | 3 | Scizor · Alakazam · Charizard | **Suggested team:** Swampert (Water Gun / Hydro Cannon) · Charizard (Fire Spin / Blast …
- Ch. 20: Lucky Pokémon & Family Trades
When lucky status matters for trades and Stardust savings.
- Ch. 21: Best Friends & Lucky Friends
Friendship steps for raid bonuses and lucky trades.
- Ch. 24: Type Matchups — Full Guide
…er. ## Why types matter in Pokémon GO Every Pokémon has one or two **types** (for example Charizard is Fire / Flying). Moves also have types. When a move’s type is **strong** against the de…
- Ch. 25: Mega Evolution — Full Guide
…ega page. This chapter is the full how-to. ## What you need 1. The base Pokémon (example: Charizard). 2. Enough **Candy** for that species. 3. Enough **Mega Energy** for that Mega form. 4. …
Related species
Also named in the same guide chapters (text only).