#0005 · Kanto · Generation 1 · starter

Charmeleon

Flame Pokémon · Fire-type

Charmeleon is a Fire-type Pokémon, the Flame Pokémon, number 5 (#0005) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 1.1 m tall and weighs 19 kg.

Charmeleon is the hot-headed middle stage of the Charmander line, a Fire type with a horn-like crest and a tail flame that heats the air around it. It is never happier than when it is picking a fight.

How to pronounce Charmeleon

Charmeleon is pronounced char-MEE-lee-un. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Charmeleon said out loud:

In Japanese it is リザード (Lizardo).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Charmeleon is a bipedal reptile with dark red scales, a cream underside, blue eyes and a long, slightly hooked snout. A single horn-like crest sits on the back of its head. It is 1.1 m tall and weighs 19 kg. Swinging its flaming tail raises the surrounding temperature to unbearable levels, and a tough opponent excites it so much that it breathes bluish-white flames.

Behaviour

Charmeleon constantly looks for opponents and only calms down after a win; the Pokédex says it enjoys tormenting the foes it fights. One entry says that in the rocky mountains where it lives, the tail flames glow at night like stars. In Pokémon Sleep it dozes with its hands as a pillow, and all its fierceness drains away.

Habitat

Mountains, according to the Pokédex habitat list. It is rare in the wild.

Powers

Charmeleon slashes with its claws, fires Ember and Dragon Breath and bites with Fire Fang. It has Blaze, with Solar Power hidden. Base Special Attack and Speed of 80 make it a quick special attacker that has not finished growing.

Name origin

Charmeleon likely combines 'char' (to burn) with 'chameleon'. The Japanese name Lizardo (リザード) comes from the English word 'lizard'.

Design inspiration

Atsuko Nishida designed it with the rest of the line. The name points to a lizard, but it could equally be the mythical fire salamander, and its crest resembles that of the duck-billed dinosaur Parasaurolophus.

Evolution notes

Evolves from Charmander at level 16 and into Charizard at level 36. Its category, Flame Pokémon, is shared in English with Charizard, Flareon, Kantonian Moltres and Infernape.

In the games

The rival Blue's Charmander becomes a Charmeleon that he uses on the S.S. Anne and in Pokémon Tower, in Red and Green (Red and Blue outside Japan), where the species first appeared. In Scarlet and Violet and Legends: Z-A you get one by evolving Charmander.

In the anime

Ash's Charmander evolved in 'The March of the Exeggutor Squad' and immediately stopped listening to him. In 'The Crystal Onix', a glass-maker named Mateo uses his Charmeleon's flames to melt glass.

Fun facts

• Charmeleon and Johto's Quilava have identical base stats, as do their whole lines.
• In Red and Green its sprite had a pale horn, but the Japanese Blue sprite swapped it for a dark red crest, and that version reached the rest of the world.
• In Generation IX, Charmander can learn Metal Claw from a TM but Charmeleon and Charizard cannot.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Charmeleon (Pokémon) · Serebii: Charmeleon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 58
• Attack: 64
• Defense: 58
• Sp. Atk: 80
• Sp. Def: 65
• Speed: 80

Charmeleon’s base stat total is 405. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk and Speed.

Type matchups

What is Charmeleon weak to?

Charmeleon takes extra damage from Water (2×), Ground (2×), Rock (2×) moves.

It resists Fire (½×), Grass (½×), Ice (½×), Bug (½×), Steel (½×), Fairy (½×).

Evolution

What does Charmeleon evolve from?

Charmeleon evolves from Charmander at level 16.

How does Charmeleon evolve?

Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36.

The whole family: Charmander, Charmeleon, Charizard.

Abilities

• Blaze: Strengthens Fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
• Solar Power (hidden ability): Increases Special Attack to 1.5× but costs 1/8 max HP after each turn during strong sunlight.

Moves

Moves Charmeleon learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (45)

Charmeleon can learn 45 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Scary Face, Protect, Fire Fang, Fire Spin, Facade, Swift, Rock Tomb, Flame Charge, Fling, Dragon Tail, Endure, Sunny Day, Dig, False Swipe, Brick Break, Shadow Claw, Body Slam, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Sleep Talk, Dragon Claw, Rest, Rock Slide, Swords Dance, Dragon Dance, Substitute, Will-O-Wisp, Crunch, Dragon Pulse, Heat Wave, Flamethrower, Helping Hand, Fire Blast, Fire Pledge, Outrage, Overheat, Focus Blast, Flare Blitz, Tera Blast, Roar, Focus Punch, Weather Ball, Temper Flare, Breaking Swipe.

Egg moves (8):Ancient Power, Belly Drum, Bite, Counter, Dragon Rush, Dragon Tail, Iron Tail, Metal Claw.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 87.5% male, 12.5% female.
• Egg groups: Monster, Dragon.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 1 Sp. Atk and 1 Speed effort values.
• Base experience yield: 142.

Pokédex entries

If it becomes agitated during battle, it spouts intense flames, incinerating its surroundings. (Crystal, Shield)

It has a barbaric nature. In battle, it whips its fiery tail around and slashes away with sharp claws. (Silver, SoulSilver, Sword)

Tough fights could excite this Pokémon. When excited, it may breathe out bluish-white flames. (Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)

Charmeleon mercilessly destroys its foes using its sharp claws. If it encounters a strong foe, it turns aggressive. In this excited state, the flame at the tip of its tail flares with a bluish white color. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

When it swings its burning tail, it elevates the air temperature to unbearably high levels. (LeafGreen, Y)

It lashes about with its tail to knock down its foe. It then tears up the fallen opponent with sharp claws. (FireRed, X)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Taller than 54% of all Pokémon (1.1 m).
• Heavier than 40% of all Pokémon (19 kg).
• Base stat total 405, ranked #605 of 1,025.
• One of 81 Fire-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 97 red Pokémon.
• Number 5 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 59 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 11 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Charmeleon (Pokémon), Serebii: Charmeleon (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (char-MEE-lee-un): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Fire-type Pokémon · Kanto region guide · Blaze ability · Solar Power ability · Compare Charmeleon · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 1 Fire-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Red Pokémon list · Monster egg group · Dragon egg group · Pokémon that start with C · Lizard Pokémon

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