Charizard

Charizard
Official artwork of Charizard from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions.
Universe	Pokémon
Debut	Pokémon Red and Green Versions (1996)
Smash Bros. appearances	SSB Melee Brawl SSB4 Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Pokkén Tournament DX (2017)
Console/platform of origin	Game Boy
Species	Charizard
Gender	Varies
Place of origin	Kanto
Designed by	Atsuko Nishida
Voice actor	Shin'ichirō Miki
Article on Bulbapedia	Charizard (Pokémon)

Charizard (リザードン, Lizardon) is a fictional creature from the Pokémon series. It debuted in the series' first generation, and represents that generation as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl (via Pokémon Trainer) and Super Smash Bros. 4.

Character description

Charizard's original artwork from Pokémon Red and Blue.

Charizard is a Fire/Flying-type Pokémon resembling a European dragon and the final evolutionary form of Charmander. As Charmander, it is one of the Kanto region's three starter Pokémon. However, unlike in Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue Versions, Charmander is obtainable alongside its fellow Kanto starters Bulbasaur and Squirtle under special conditions in Pokémon Yellow Version. In Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, Charizard appears as a Ride Pokémon that helps the player travel between locations, replacing the Fly Hidden Machine from previous generations (although it is unobtainable as a regular Pokémon in Sun and Moon). Despite its design basis, Charizard normally lacks the Dragon-type given to most draconic and/or saurian Pokémon, but can become a Fire/Dragon-type through Mega Evolution; additionally, Super Smash Bros. 4 refers to it as a dragon on several occasions despite the type discrepancy. It is registered as #006 in the National Pokédex.

As Pokédex entries describe, Charizard breathes out fire that reaches incredible temperatures, hot enough to melt boulders and quickly melt glaciers weighing 10,000 tons, and it is said the temperature increases as it experiences harsh battles. When expelling a blast of super hot fire, its tail flame burns more intensely, and if it becomes furious, its tail flame flares up in a whitish-blue color. It is known to cause forest fires unintentionally. However, it never turns its fiery breath on any opponent weaker than itself unless ordered to do so. It flies about in search of powerful opponents, with its wings carrying it close to an altitude of 4,600 feet.

Through a combination of being the mascot of Pokémon Red Version and having a major role in the Pokémon anime, Charizard is one of the most popular Pokémon in the series. This was reflected in generation VI, where Charizard gained access to new transformations called Mega Evolutions. Like Mewtwo, and unlike most Pokémon who can also Mega Evolve, it has two Mega Evolved forms: if it is holding a Charizardite X, it becomes Mega Charizard X and if it is holding a Charizardite Y, it becomes Mega Charizard Y.

Many Charizard have appeared in the Pokémon anime, but the most prominently featured one has been Ash's Charizard. This Charizard is well-known for its character arc: having been abandoned by its original trainer as a Charmander, it was adopted by Ash Ketchum. While Charmander started out as a loyal and shy companion, as it evolved into Charmeleon and eventually Charizard, it developed a rebellious and disobedient streak, and only truly bonded with Ash and regained its loyalty when Ash saved its life when it was left out in the cold. Following this, Ash's Charizard would continue being a sporadic but loyal and powerful member of his team.

In Super Smash Bros.

Charizard
Charizard as a Pokémon release from a Poké Ball in Melee.
Games	SSB, Melee
Move	Flamethrower
Rarity	Common (SSB, Melee)

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

File:Charizard64.gif

Charizard in Super Smash Bros.

Charizard makes its first appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series as one of the thirteen Poké Ball Pokémon that appear in the original game. When summoned, it uses Flamethrower by rotating its head to the left and right, breathing fire upon any nearby opponents of the player who summoned it, until it disappears. Any character, excluding the summoner, will take damage from the stream of flames, as well as from making contact with Charizard itself. The flames can be reflected by Fox's Reflector, and absorbed by Ness' PSI Magnet. The flames hit consecutively, inflicting approximately 3% per hit, while touching Charizard itself inflicts 18%.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Charizard makes a very brief cameo appearance in the introduction sequence.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

Charizard reprises its role in the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, again utilizing Flamethrower as its attack. It is identical to the one in the first game, except that it is now rendered in full 3D, with the design being taken from Pokémon Stadium, like other Pokémon in the game. Compared to Smash 64, making contact with Charizard's body now deals an improved, 20% fire damage.

Charizard trophy in Melee.

As a Collectible Trophy

Charizard also appears as a trophy in this game, unlocked as one of the trophies that can be collected randomly throughout the various Single-player Regular Matches. It reads as follows:

It's hard to believe, but this massive Flame Pokémon evolves from the tiny Charmander. Not only can it fly at heights of over 4,500 feet, but its flaming breath is hot enough to reduce almost anything to ashes in seconds. The flames at the end of a Charizard's tail are said to be a fairly accurate barometer of its power.

• Pokémon Red & Blue, 9/98 (GB)

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Charizard in Brawl

As a playable character

Super Smash Bros. Brawl marks the third appearance of Charizard in the series, and its first as a playable character. As one of the three Pokémon used by Pokémon Trainer (the other two being Squirtle and Ivysaur), Charizard retains Flamethrower, which is used as its neutral special move and functions almost identically to Bowser's Fire Breath.

Trophy

The Charizard trophy in Brawl.

Charizard

A Flame Pokémon. Its fiery breath is hot enough to burn up rocks, and its wings let it fly up to 4,600 feet into the air. It's a proud Pokémon that will never use its flame breath on an opponent weaker than itself. The flame on its tail is a barometer of how much vitality it has remaining. Its signature move, Flamethrower, is a reliable technique.

: Pokémon Red/Blue

: Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen

Sticker

Name	Game	Effect	Character(s)
Charizard	Pokémon series	Attack +10

Charizard (Pokémon series)

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Charizard in SSB4.

Charizard returns in Super Smash Bros. 4 as a playable character. However, in SSB4, Charizard is a standalone character, unlike in Brawl, where it was one of Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon. To reflect this, Pokémon Change has been replaced by a new side special move, Flare Blitz, while Rock Smash has been reassigned to being its down special move. Charizard also has a new Final Smash, which consists of it undergoing Mega Evolution to become Mega Charizard X.

The most beneficial change Charizard received in the transition from Brawl to SSB4 was the removal of stamina, which came about as a result of no longer being tied to Pokémon Trainer. Rock Smash now grants Charizard super armor, increasing its usefulness. Despite being a super heavyweight, Charizard has above average walking speed and one of the fastest dashing speeds in the game, which help with its approach. However, Charizard has significant issues. SSB4 removed gliding, which considerably worsened Charizard's recovery in the process. While its new special move, Flare Blitz, is rather powerful, it deals recoil damage to Charizard, with 5% added from just initiating the move, and another 5% from a successful hit. Despite its uses as a strong KO attack and decent horizontal recovery option, the recoil damage is still received even when it hits an opponent's shield. It also results in high ending lag, making it very punishable when used unwisely.

While originally regarded as one of the worst characters in SSB4, Charizard received some helpful buffs in game updates. Update 1.0.8 improved its up and down throws by significantly improving the former's KO potential and re-purposing the latter from a KO attack into a very useful combo starter. Most noticeably, update 1.1.5 improved its aerial presence by increasing its air speed and decreasing its aerials' ending lag, as well as strengthening its already powerful back aerial and Flare Blitz. Overall, Charizard is noticeably better compared to how it was during the early days of SSB4. This has resulted in it achieving much greater success at regional tournaments, and slightly improved results in national tournaments. As such, opinions on Charizard's viability have notably improved over the game's lifespan, which is reflected in its rise from the bottom-tier to its current low-tier ranking of 45th out of 58 on the tier list, placing it in E tier.

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!

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.

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  Classic (3DS)

• 

  Classic (Wii U)

• CharizardAllStarTrophy3DS.png

  Alt. (3DS)

• 

  Alt. (Wii U)

Trivia

• Like Mewtwo and Lucario, Charizard is, as of Super Smash Bros. 4, largely based on a particular member of its species depicted in the anime. In Charizard's case, it draws inspiration from Ash's Charizard, Red's Charizard and Alain's Charizard:
  • The animations of its neutral attack's first two hits are similar to Red's when repeatedly using Slash against Mewtwo.
  • The animations of its neutral and forward aerials are identical to Ash and Alain's when they use Dragon Tail and Dragon Claw, respectively.
  • The animation of its up throw is similar to Ash and Red's when they use Seismic Toss.
  • It can use Fire Blast (albeit only via Mega Evolution) and Blast Burn like Red and Alain's, respectively.
  • It can Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X like Red and Alain's.
  • It has an idle pose that sees it turn its head and spit out an ember like Ash's did during its disobedient phase.
  • It is voiced by Shin'ichirō Miki, who voiced both Ash and Red's.
• Charizard is the first playable character in the series to have made its debut as a significant non-playable in-game character in the games prior to its playable debut. Initially, it was a Pokémon summoned from Poké Balls in Super Smash Bros. and Melee, before becoming playable in Brawl. It is also currently the only Pokémon to have become a playable character in a later game after being a Poké Ball Pokémon in prior games.
  • While several other newcomers appeared in Melee and Brawl as trophies, Charizard is the first one to have played an actual in-game role in the previous games.
• Charizard is the only heavyweight Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. series.
• Charizard is one of two playable characters to appear in every game of the series who was not playable in every iteration, the other being King Dedede.
  • Coincidentally, both became playable characters in Brawl.
• Charizard and Mewtwo are the only playable Pokémon with different names in different languages that keeps the same voice clips in all regional versions of the Super Smash Bros. series.
• As Mega Charizard X, Charizard is the only dual-typed Pokémon to utilize same-type attack bonus, due to its ability to use Fire Blast and Dragon Rush.