Charizard

See Charizard (SSBB) for fighter info.

Charizard
Official artwork of Charizard.
Universe	Pokémon
Debut	Pokémon (1998, Red/Blue) (1999, Yellow)
Smash Bros. appearances	SSB Melee Brawl SSB4 Ultimate
Console/platform of origin	Game Boy

Charizard, also known as Lizardon (リザードン, Rizādon) in Japan, is a Poké Ball Pokémon in both Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. It also appears as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl via Pokémon Trainer.

Charizard is notable in that it is the first (and currently only) new playable character in the series to have made its debut as a significant in-game character prior to Brawl. While several of the newcomers, including Squirtle, appeared in Melee as trophies, Charizard is the only one that can lay claim to having played an important role in the previous games as a Poké Ball Pokémon.

Creature description

Charizard
Games	SSB, SSBM
Move	[[bulbapedia:Flamethrower (move)|Flamethrower]]
Rarity	Common (SSB, SSBM) Rare (Pokémon)

Charizard is an orange fire-breathing hybrid. It is a Fire/Flying-type Pokémon. In the original Pokémon game Pokémon (Red, Blue, the GBA remake, LeafGreen, FireRed), Charmander (which evolves into Charmeleon, which ultimately evolves into Charizard), is one of three choosable starter Pokémon (it is unavailable as a starter in the Yellow version, but is obtained during normal gameplay). Charizard was also a prominent character in the early seasons of the Pokémon anime.

In the anime, Ash, the main character, owned a Charizard having raised it from a Charmander. He later gave it up to let it train with a caretaker in Charicific Valley. This Charizard was one of the most powerful non-legendary Pokémon seen in the series, and appeared in many seasons.

On the other side, Charizard is well-known for its rare and overpowered card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game released in the Base Set. It is considered the best card ever created, doing 100 damage, while only one card would survive to that attack (the Chansey from the same set) however, in later sets, cards with more HP were released. Individual Charizard cards were sold up to as much as $150, but were dropped out of the current modified format.

In Super Smash Bros.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

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 its trademark Flamethrower attack, 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 attack can be reflected by Fox's Reflector.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Charizard returned for Melee in these roles:

File:Charizard copy.jpg

Charizard in SSBM.

As a Poké Ball Pokémon

Charizard reprises its role in the sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, again utilizing Flamethrower as its attack. Aside from a graphical update, the Charizard in Melee is identical to the one in the first game.

As a trophy

Charizard also appears as a trophy in this game, unlocked as one of the 100+ trophies that can be collected randomly during normal play, such as in the Trophy Lottery and 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

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

File:CharizardSSBB.jpg

As a playable character

Main article: Charizard (SSBB)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl marks the third appearance of Charizard in the series, its first as a playable character. As one of the three Pokémon used through Pokémon Trainer (the other two being Squirtle and Ivysaur), Charizard retains its Flamethrower move, delegated as its standard special attack. It functions in a manner similar to Bowser when he is using his Fire Breath attack.

Trophy Info

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 Gold/Sliver

Trivia

Ironically in Brawl, Charizard can swim in water, yet it's one of the very few characters with the shortest swim times.