Head to head

Charizard vs Gyarados

Gyarados has the higher base stat total (540 vs 534), Charizard is faster (base Speed 100 vs 81), and Gyarados’s Water moves hit Charizard for 2×, while Charizard’s own types do 1× damage to Gyarados.

Two large Kanto Pokémon, one of them a Flying-type, often compared by size and power.

Base stats side by side

Who has the edge?

Gyarados has the higher Attack (125 vs 84), has more bulk, counting HP, Defense and Sp. Def together (274 vs 241), and hits Charizard for 2× with its Water moves, but Charizard is faster (100 vs 81 base Speed) and has the higher Sp. Atk (109 vs 60).

Charizard is ahead on

• is faster (100 vs 81 base Speed)
• has the higher Sp. Atk (109 vs 60)

Gyarados is ahead on

• has the higher Attack (125 vs 84)
• has more bulk, counting HP, Defense and Sp. Def together (274 vs 241)
• hits Charizard for 2× with its Water moves

This compares base numbers and the type chart; it does not predict a winner. A real battle also depends on level, nature and EVs, the moves each one knows (a Pokémon does not always learn a move of its own type), held items, weather and terrain, and abilities (Charizard: Blaze, Solar Power; Gyarados: Intimidate, Moxie), so either one can come out ahead.

Who moves first?

At Level 50 with 252 Speed EVs, 31 IVs and a neutral nature, Charizard has 152 Speed and Gyarados has 133, so Charizard moves first when both use moves of the same priority and no item, ability, status or stat change gets in the way.

Type matchup, both ways

Charizard (Fire/Flying) attacking Gyarados

Fire ½×, Flying 1×. Using only its own types, Charizard hits Gyarados for ½× with Fire moves (not very effective) and 1× with Flying moves (normal damage).

Gyarados (Water/Flying) attacking Charizard

Water 2×, Flying 1×. Using only its own types, Gyarados hits Charizard for 2× with Water moves (super effective) and 1× with Flying moves (normal damage).

What hits each one for 2× or more

• Charizard: Water 2× (super effective), Electric 2× (super effective), Rock 4× (super effective).
• Gyarados: Electric 4× (super effective), Rock 2× (super effective).

The multipliers come from the 18×18 type chart; what a Pokémon can actually use depends on the moves it learns.

Abilities

Charizard

• 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.

Gyarados

• Intimidate. Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
• Moxie (hidden ability). Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.

Size, generation and evolution

Gyarados is taller (6.5 m vs 1.7 m for Charizard), and Gyarados is heavier (235 kg vs 90.5 kg for Charizard).

Charizard (#0006) is a Fire/Flying-type Flame Pokémon from Kanto, first seen in Generation 1, a starter Pokémon. Its evolution line is Charmander → Charmeleon → Charizard.

Gyarados (#0130) is a Water/Flying-type Atrocious Pokémon from Kanto, first seen in Generation 1. Its evolution line is Magikarp → Gyarados.

Keep exploring

• Open Charizard and Gyarados in the Compare tool
• Charizard and Gyarados Pokédex pages
• Fire/Flying weaknesses · Water/Flying weaknesses
• Speed tiers

More comparisons

• Venusaur vs Charizard
• Charizard vs Blastoise
• Charizard vs Typhlosion
• Charizard vs Blaziken
• Charizard vs Greninja
• Charizard vs Eevee
• Charizard vs Dragonite
• Charizard vs Garchomp
• Charizard vs Lucario
• Gyarados vs Lapras

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