Did you know that the original name of Charmander was “Hitokage”?
When I was a kid, one of the toughest decisions I had to make was choosing my starter Pokémon. Playing Pokémon Red, I ended up selecting Charmander as my first Pokémon.
While I won’t say that Charmander is the coolest compared to Squirtle or Bulbasaur, I also won’t deny it. However, I’ll share with you some interesting and informative facts about Charmander, so you can make your own decision!
Charmander is one of the three starter Pokémon in the 1996 Pokémon Red and Blue games released for the Game Boy.
Two years later, Pokémon Yellow was released, and players could start with Pikachu instead of selecting one of the original starter Pokémon. However, fans of Charmander could still acquire one from a non-playable character later in the game.
Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, remakes of the original games, also featured Charmander as a starter Pokémon when released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004.
In the Pokémon anime, Ash Ketchum, the show’s protagonist, acquires Charmander early on. Although Ash catches many Pokémon, Charmander is one of his most frequently used ones.
In the anime, Ash doesn’t actually catch Charmander. Instead, he and Brock find a Charmander in the wild that has been abandoned by its trainer for being too weak. The Charmander is weak, so Ash takes it to a Pokémon center to nurse it back to full health. When Charmander discovers what a true trainer’s love is like, it decides to let Ash catch it.
In the manga The Electric Tale of Pikachu, Ash’s Charmander has a different origin story. The trainer leaves the Charmander behind as he is injured and taken to the hospital. Ash already has his own Charmander in the manga.
When Charmander evolves into Charmeleon in the anime, its personality changes completely. Before evolving, Charmander was fiercely loyal to Ash for saving it from its previous abusive trainer. After evolving, it becomes stubborn and lazy, only fighting battles when it feels like it.
In the 2017 movie Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!, Ash’s Charmander behaves differently when it evolves. Upon evolving into Charmeleon, it recognizes Ash’s authority and becomes obedient and loyal.
Charmander is born with a flame at the tip of its tail, which represents its life force. When the flame goes out, Charmander dies. The size of the flame can also indicate its mood, growing in size when angry and flickering when happy. Ordinary water cannot extinguish its tail.
Charmander, a Fire-type Pokémon, has two sequential evolutions: Charmeleon and Charizard. It stands at two feet tall, making it the tallest of all starter Pokémon. In the video games, Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16 and then into Charizard at level 36. Interestingly, it was designed in such a way that it would be difficult to tell that it would eventually evolve into a Charizard. Charmander also has the longest name out of all unevolved starter Pokémon.
The artwork and game sprites for Charmander initially depicted it as having small spikes along its back. Over time, the spikes disappeared, which makes Charmander appear more friendly and juvenile. For a long time, depictions of Charmander were inconsistent, with the Pokémon sometimes having three fingers and sometimes three fingers and a thumb. This inconsistency lasted until Pokémon Black and White were released in 2010, from which point Charmander has had just three fingers.
Charmander was originally called Hitokage when the game was released in Japan. In an attempt to make Pokémon more interesting to American children, the names were changed to make them more descriptive. As such, Hitokage was renamed Charmander, combining the words “char” and “salamander,” as in a fire-salamander. The salamander that Charmander is named for is actually the mythical beast, rather than the actual lizard. In mythology, a salamander is a type of fire spirit, and as such, is immune to fire. This comparison makes much more sense when we look at Charmander.
The release of Pokémon X and Y saw a new evolution for Charmander. Within this particular game, it’s possible for a Charizard to evolve into a Mega Charizard for the length of a battle. This new evolution has different abilities and even different appearances depending on whether you are playing Pokémon X or Y.
Charmander is actually the weakest of the original three starter Pokémon. Anyone who wished for a Charizard had to tough it out for the first parts of the game. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Readers of popular video game review site IGN ranked Charmander as the 37th best Pokémon of all time.
Charmander’s direct predecessor in the Pokémon games is Cyndaquil, who we see in Pokémon Gold and Silver. The base stats for both Charmander, Cyndaquil, as well as their respective evolutions are identical. This trait is not shared with any following starter Fire-type Pokémon.
Finally, Charmander is featured a few times in the popular Nintendo Game Cube game Super Smash Bros. It’s possible to unlock an in-game trophy which represents Charmander. There’s also a stage in the game called “Saffron City,” in which Charmander can be seen.
One of the three starter Pokémon that can be caught in the popular game Pokémon GO is Charmander, along with Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Being born in the 90s, I grew up with Pokémon and when I reminisce about playing Pokémon Red on my Game Boy Color, I always remember the tough decision at the beginning of the game. Choosing Charmander was a no-brainer for me and I am happy with my decision as it remains one of the top starter Pokémon, especially when compared to the newer generations.
FAQ
1. What is Charmander?
Charmander is a Fire-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the original Pokémon Red and Green games. It is a small, bipedal lizard-like creature with a flame burning at the tip of its tail. It is known for its fierce loyalty to its trainer and its ability to evolve into a more powerful form.
2. What are Charmander’s strengths and weaknesses?
As a Fire-type Pokémon, Charmander is strong against Grass, Ice, Bug, and Steel-type Pokémon. However, it is weak against Water, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon. It is important to keep these strengths and weaknesses in mind when battling with Charmander.
3. What is Charmander’s evolution chain?
Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16, and Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36. These evolutions give Charmander access to more powerful moves and greater stats.
4. What is Charmander’s signature move?
Charmander’s signature move is “Ember,” which is a Fire-type move that has a chance of leaving the opponent burned. This move is learned at level 9 and is a staple in Charmander’s moveset.
5. What is Charmander’s role in competitive play?
Charmander is often used as a sweeper in competitive play, meaning it is meant to quickly take out the opponent’s Pokémon. Its access to moves like “Dragon Dance” and “Flare Blitz” make it a threat to many opponents.
6. How can you obtain Charmander in the Pokémon games?
In most Pokémon games, Charmander can be obtained as a starter Pokémon from the respective game’s Professor. It can also be found in the wild in certain areas in some games.
7. What is Mega Charizard X?
Mega Charizard X is a special form of Charizard that can be obtained through Mega Evolution. It is a Fire/Dragon-type Pokémon with increased stats and a different appearance.
8. What is Charmander’s personality like?
Charmander is known for its fierce loyalty to its trainer. It is also a bit stubborn and can be difficult to train at times. However, with patience and dedication, Charmander can become a powerful ally in battle.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.