Charizard (SSB4)

Charizard in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	Pokémon
Other playable appearance	in Brawl
Availability	Starter
Final Smash	Mega Evolution

“	Charizard Fires It Up!	”
—Introduction Tagline

Charizard (リザードン, Lizardon) returns as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. 4. It was revealed with Greninja in a trailer during the April 8th, 2014 Super Smash Bros. Direct.

Charizard is once again voiced by Shinichiro Miki, who provided new voice clips that resemble its cries from the anime.

Changes from Brawl

Charizard has received a mix of buffs and nerfs from Brawl, but its cons heavily counter its pros. Most notably, the removal of gliding has made Charizard's recovery much worse. Its new side special Flare Blitz is not enough to compensate due to its situational use for recovering, but has great effect in free-for-alls, making its foes unable to react out of the move. The rest of its moveset has been rebalanced in other ways: its faster attacks (such as jab, neutral aerial and forward tilt) are slightly weaker, and many of its KO moves are strengthened at the cost of speed. As a heavyweight character, Charizard benefits greatly from the addition of rage, particularly with its post-1.0.8 patch up throw; in fact, the recoil from Flare Blitz is something of a double-edged sword, as it can bring Charizard into rage mode sooner. Charizard is now its own fighter, no longer being a part of Pokémon Trainer. Charizard is said to work best as a punishing-type character, using its stronger yet slower attacks to take advantage of openings and flaws in the opponent's play.

However, custom moves address some of Charizard's shortcomings; Dragon Rush replaces Charizard's situational Flare Blitz with a high-pressure rushdown option with less lag and no recoil that cannot be blocked by opponents when recovering, while Fly High drastically improves its vertical recovery. Additionally, the 1.0.8 patch has drastically improved two of Charizard's most useful moves as well as its grab game. Its jab combo connects more reliably and its neutral air is much faster, sped up just enough to autocancel out of a shorthop (greatly increasing its utility in spacing). Its up throw now has far more knockback, making it one of the strongest kill throws in the game (comparable to even Mewtwo) although it is easier to mitigate with DI due to the trajectory. Additionally, its down throw has been repurposed as a combo throw, occasionally leading into a kill with up aerial.

Despite the large amount of buffs, they are not enough to compensate for the intensity of the few major nerfs received as Charizard has overall decreased damage output (especially with Rock Smash) and some of its attacks are less reliable (e.g. down tilt, back aerial). As a result, it is commonly agreed that Charizard has not improved significantly from its changes in SSB4 apart from the removal of the Trainer's stamina mechanic. Charizard has little to no tournament representation, and was considered one of the poorest characters in the game in early SSB4 competitive play. While the 1.0.8 patch buffs have made it a slightly more balanced character, it is still considered underused overall due to its laggy, punishable attacks, ironically poor aerial mobility, and poor vertical recovery, especially if customs are off. However, players (such as Bloodcross) have recently been able to show some dominance in Charizard's meta game even without customs, causing debate on how effective it can be.

Aesthetics

• Charizard's skin appears to be a brighter orange and its proportions are more in-line with its recent three-dimensional appearances in the Pokémon franchise. It is noticeable, as Charizard's fangs are smaller than they were in Brawl; its proportions are similar to how it appeared in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y.
• Charizard now flaps its wings while dashing.
• Without Pokemon Trainer, all of Charizard's victory poses have changed.

Attributes

• Charizard is heavier (110 → 115).
• Charizard walks significantly faster (0.7 → 1.2).
• Charizard dashes faster (1.8 → 2.0).
• Charizard's air speed is lower (0.987 → 0.87).
• Charizard's traction has been moderately decreased (0.055 → 0.04), going to the 2nd worst, right above Luigi.
• Without Pokemon Trainer, Charizard is no longer affected by stamina.
• Type effectiveness no longer applies, thus removing Charizard's water weakness and grass resistance. While this is a buff overall due to no characters having grass attacks, the amount of water attacks is still minimal (as most of Greninja's water-based attacks are instead Slash), and unlike in Brawl, none of them are KO moves.
• Charizard, along with Pit and Meta Knight, can no longer glide, hindering its recovering potential.

Ground attacks

• Neutral attack and forward tilt deal 1% less damage.
• Neutral attack is significantly faster.
• Forward tilt is slightly faster.
• Down tilt is slower, deals 2% less damage and has lost its KO power.
• Forward smash is now a single hit attack that is stronger, and the move has more horizontal range.
• Losing its multi-hit properties means forward smash deals 5% less damage.
• Down smash now sends opponents horizontally and is stronger.

Air attacks

• Neutral aerial deals less damage and knockback.
• Neutral aerial now deals consistent damage throughout and is significantly faster, now autocanceling after a shorthop.
• Forward aerial is now a claw slash that deals greater damage and knockback.
• Back aerial deals 1% more damage, has greater reach and is significantly stronger, KOing earlier than some smashes.
• Back aerial has added start-up, no longer auto-cancels in a short hop and has more landing lag.
• Up aerial has an altered animation, provides partial intangibility, deals 3% more damage and is significantly stronger.
• Up aerial has added start-up and has lost its lingering hitbox.
• Down aerial has an added lingering sourspot that is significantly weaker with horizontal knockback. This gives Charizard a new edgeguarding option and a few more followup options when aerially fighting opponents, but makes it easier to punish at lower percentages.

Throws/other attacks

• Charizard has a new up throw similar to Kirby's up throw, possibly being based on Seismic Toss or Sky Drop. The new throw deals the same damage and less knockback but can combo into a forward aerial on most characters under 30%. It was drastically buffed in terms of knockback in the 1.0.8 update, now being the strongest up throw, outshining even Mewtwo's, and one of the strongest throws in the game.
• As of the 1.0.8 update, Charizard's down throw has significantly reduced knockback, making it a much better combo starter. It can no longer reliably KO, but this was compensated for in the same patch with Charizard's up throw.

Special moves

• With no need for Pokémon Change, Charizard has a new side special: Flare Blitz, which is an extremely powerful but laggy attack with recoil damage. It also gives Charizard a new horizontal recovery option.
• Rock Smash is now Charizard's down special instead of a side special.
• Starting frame 5, Rock Smash now grants Charizard 22 frames of launch resistance.
• Rock Smash (including its shards) deals less damage and knockback.
• Fly grants more vertical distance. The first few hits also link together better and the final hit is much stronger.
• Charizard's new Final Smash involves Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X.

Moveset

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			3%	Charizard slashes twice with its claws, followed by a smack with its right wing.
			4%
			5%
Forward tilt			10% (flame), 7% (tail)	Charizard sweeps its tail forward. The move is stronger if it connects with the fiery tip of Charizard's tail, so be sure to space it properly when you use it.
Up tilt			8%	Charizard stabs upward with both of its wings.
Down tilt			10%	Charizard headbutts forward at the ground in front of it. Good horizontal knockback.
Dash attack			11% (clean), 8% (late)	Charizard slides forwards and raises one leg for a sliding kick.
Forward smash			17% (clean, late body), 14% (late head)	Charizard sweeps its head forward from bottom to top. Charizard is invincible during the first 5 active frames of this attack, even when hitting explosive items.
Up smash			5% (hit 1), 11% (hit 2)	Charizard bats upward with both of its wings, hitting twice. First hit does not link very well into the second.
Down smash			16%	Charizard stomps the ground once with both feet, causing the ground to erupt from either side of it.
Neutral aerial			10% (flame), 7% (tail)	Charizard spins its entire body in a somersault, hitting with its tail.
Forward aerial			11% (early, clean arm), 12% (clean tip)	Charizard slashes in front of it.
Back aerial			10% (body), 13% (tail), 15% (flame)	Charizard swings its tail backwards. Very strong, with similar power to King Dedede's dash attack, but has high landing lag.
Up aerial			13%	Charizard headbutts upward.
Down aerial			14% (clean), 8% (late)	Charizard stomps downward with one of its feet. A powerful spike.
Grab			—	Charizard grabs its opponent with its mouth.
Pummel			2%	Charizard bites the opponent.
Forward throw			10%	Charizard spins the opponent once with its mouth, then throws them forward.
Back throw			10%	Charizard throws the opponent backwards with its mouth. Doesn't have much ending lag, meaning that Charizard can pursue a thrown opponent with a dash immediately after, or even a shorthop/fullhop Flare Blitz in some cases.
Up throw			8% (hit 1), 3% (throw)	Charizard jumps with the foe skyward to the upper blast line, then drops down with them against the floor. Similar to Kirby's. Drastically increased knockback as of the 1.0.8 update, and it is now the strongest up throw in the game (though DI is more effective against it than Mewtwo's), reliably KOing under 130%.
Down throw			1% (loop hits), 1% (throw)	Charizard sets its opponent on the floor, and then breathes fire on them. Does poor damage, but has high knockback and can KO enemies at high percents. Deals severely reduced knockback as of the 1.0.8 update, which is a buff overall due to it becoming a combo starter.
Forward roll Back roll Spot dodge Air dodge		—	—
Techs		—	—
Floor attack (front) Floor getups (front)			7%	Swings tail backwards, then headbutts forward.
Floor attack (back) Floor getups (back)			7%	Gets up performing a half-circle claw swipe.
Floor attack (trip) Floor getups (trip)			5%	Similar to the back floor attack.
Edge attack Edge getups			8%	Gets up and headbutts.
Neutral special	Default	Flamethrower	2% (clean), 1% (late)	Charizard spits repeated flames that gradually weaken if the attack is held, similar to Bowser's Fire Breath. Unlike Fire Breath, Flamethrower's far hitboxes will still make the opponent flinch.
	Custom 1	Fire Fang	2% (flames), 8% (finish)	A short-range fire-breathing attack that hits quickly. Releasing the button finishes the move with a small explosion.
	Custom 2	Fireball Cannon	3% (clean), 2% (late)	Fires distinct balls of fire that travel far and will not weaken over time, but does less damage than Flamethrower. More start-up lag, and must fire 3 balls of fire before the move can end.
Side special	Default	Flare Blitz	4% (collision), 15% (explosion)	Charizard does a very powerful dashing tackle that causes recoil damage at the beginning of the move and again on contact. Has heavy armor (14%).
	Custom 1	Blast Burn	4% (collision), 5% (explosion loop), 9% (explosion last)	A slower, shorter ranged version of Flare Blitz that deals more damage to both Charizard and its opponent. Has heavy armor (14%).
	Custom 2	Dragon Rush	1.2% (per hit)	Does multiple hits with less power overall, but Charizard takes no recoil damage and will not stop moving if it hits an opponent.
Up special	Default	Fly	5% (hit 1), 2% (loop hits), 4% (last hit)	Charizard rises upward while performing a corkscrew. The final hit has great knockback. Has super armor.
	Custom 1	Rising Cyclone	4% (hit 1), 2% (loop hits), 6% (last hit)	Recovery distance is reduced, but Charizard can suck in opponents and launch them. Has super armor.
	Custom 2	Fly High	0%	Deals no damage, but has an increased vertical distance. Has super armor.
Down special	Default	Rock Smash	14% (headbutt), 3% (fragments)	Charizard pulls out a giant rock and headbutts it, breaking it into pieces. Has super armor.
	Custom 1	Sinking Skull	10% (ground), 12%/9% (air)	Charizard headbutts the opponent, causing them to get stuck in the floor.
	Custom 2	Rock Hurl	8% (headbutt), 2% (fragments)	The rock fragments fly further than Rock Smash, but deal less damage. Has super armor.
Final Smash		Mega Charizard X	2% (charge loop), 10% (charge last), 5% (blast collision), 1% (blast loop), 5% (blast last)	Charizard transforms into its powerful Mega Evolution from Pokémon X. Similar to Super Dragon, Charizard consistently hovers around the stage. It has two attacks: Dragon Rush, a physical one where it spins in any given direction, and a projectile, allowing Charizard to shoot Fire Blasts at opponents.

Taunts

• Stomps and roars to the sky, while flapping its wings.
• Stomps and growls, and also flaps its wings once.
• Stomps violently.

On-Screen Appearance

Charizard is released from a Poké Ball, then stomps.

Victory Fanfare

A small excerpt of the music that would play on the title screen of Pokémon Red, Blue and Green Versions, a track which would go on to become the Pokémon Main Theme, which also appears as a standalone track in Brawl. It is shared with Pikachu, Lucario, Jigglypuff, Greninja and Mewtwo.

In Competitive Play

Official Custom Moveset Project

Character	Custom sets available
Charizard	1311	1313	1331	1333	1113
	1211	1213	3311	2311	1321

Notable players

•  Trela
•  Bloodcross

Reveal Trailer

<youtube>xEJBPMcbRkk</youtube>

Trophies

Charizard

The iconic Fire/Flying-type Pokémon. Charizard's scorching breath can melt anything in its path. It soars through the air, seeking only worthy foes to test itself against. In Smash Bros., Charizard unleashes the destructive Flare Blitz special move— a move so strong, it even injures the user!

Charizard, a Fire- and Flying-type Pokémon, can burn through anything with the flames it breathes. It is constantly on the lookout for powerful opponents. And where better to find them than in this game? Its huge build and special moves mean it can inflict massive damage, and its Flare Blitz is so powerful, it even hurts Charizard itself!

: Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue (09/1998)

: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (10/2013)

Charizard (Alt.)

Charizard's Flamethrower attack can be sustained by holding the button. The flames will gradually die, but a short break will recharge them. Charizard's down special Rock Smash crushes a rock and hits foes with the pieces. Charizard won't flinch while crushing, but others can break the rock...

When using Charizard's Flamethrower move, hold the button to keep breathing fire. The flames gradually die down, but you just need to rest for a bit before doing it again. If you get hit while you're using the down special Rock Smash, you won't flinch, but someone else can break the rock instead, making your attack fail.

: Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue (09/1998)

: Pokémon X and Pokémon Y (10/2013)

Mega Evolution (Charizard)

In this powerful Final Smash, Charizard Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard X and takes to the air. In this form, it can charge violently in any direction or shoot horizontal blasts of fire that launch foes. Mega Charizard X isn't invulnerable, though-in fact, taking damage will actually reduce the time you can stay transformed.

For this powerful Final Smash, Charizard Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard X and takes to the air. In this form, it can charge violently in any direction and shoot horizontal blasts of fire that launch foes. Mega Charizard X isn't invulnerable, though - taking attacks will reduce the length of time it stays transformed.

• 

  Classic (3DS)

• CharizardAllStarTrophy3DS.png

  Alt. (3DS)

• 

  Classic (Wii U)

• 

  Alt. (Wii U)

• 

  Mega Charizard X

Update history

1.0.4

• Five frames of intangibility have been added to Charizard's head in certain situations.
• Dragon Rush (Side-B Custom 3) now does 11% damage instead of 15%.
• Some properties of what appear to be the headbutt in Rock Hurl and Flamethrower have been adjusted.

1.0.6

• Up Throw now does 8% (hit 1), 3% (throw) instead of 6% (hit 1), 2% (throw)
• Flare Blitz now hurts Charizard 1% more. 5% for no collision, 10% for collision instead of 4% and 9% respectively.
• Forward Air sweet and sour spot hitboxes switched.
• Fly knockback increased
• Down tilt has less startup and endlag.

1.0.8

• Jab combo connects more reliably.
• Forward air's hitbox is larger and lasts longer
• Up throw has significantly more knockback, making it a kill throw.
• Down throw has significantly less knockback, making it a combo starter at low percents but a less reliable KO move. It is a buff overall due to up throw giving Charizard another kill throw in the same patch.

Alternate costumes

Gallery

• 

  Charizard's splash art.

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  Charizard's amiibo

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  Charizard and Pikachu atop a cliff, overlooking various Pokémon.

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  Charizard's new aerial attack, slashing Mario in the air.

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  Charizard using Flare Blitz.

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  Landing lag of back air.

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  Defending against Mario's F.L.U.D.D.

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  Footstool jumping on Yoshi

• 

  Sidestepping against Little Mac's attack

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  Being attacked by Greninja

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  Striking a pose

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  Under the sleep effects of Bellossom's attack with Lucario

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  Glaring at Kirby after copying Charizard's Flamethrower

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  In front of the Prism Tower in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  With Pikachu

• 

  Mega Charizard X

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  Lucario, Charizard, Greninja, and Pikachu.

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  Charizard using Flare Blitz, along with knockback recoil.

Trivia

• Charizard is the first veteran in Smash 4 to receive splash art and a unique pose (that is, different from the pose in its official artwork) in its introduction, the others being Mewtwo, Lucas, and Roy. It is also the first veteran to be introduced as a challenger in a trailer (although, Captain Falcon was confirmed in a trailer, but he received no formal introduction in it).
• Charizard knows 6 official Pokémon attacks (4 in its standard moveset and 2 when it Mega Evolves during its Final Smash) in Smash 4, which is impossible in the main series Pokémon games, where the maximum is four. Apart from Flamethrower, Rock Smash, Flare Blitz and Fly, which are its special moves, it also uses Fire Blast and Dragon Rush during its Final Smash.
  • This number is increased to 8 if one includes custom moves, as two of Charizard's custom moves are Fire Fang and Blast Burn.
• In the PAL version of the 3DS version, one of the tips about Rock Smash refers to Charizard using masculine pronouns: "Right before smashing a rock, Charizard gets super armor, meaning he won't even flinch if he's attacked!"