SSB64 Icon.png
SSBM Icon.png
SSBB Icon.png
SSB4 Icon.png
SSBU Icon.png

Charizard

From SmashWiki, the Super Smash Bros. wiki
Revision as of 20:15, July 16, 2016 by Darthrai (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigationJump to search
For fighter info, see Charizard (SSBB) and Charizard (SSB4).
Charizard
Charizard
PokemonSymbol.svg

Official artwork of Charizard from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen Versions.

Universe Pokémon
Debut Pokémon Red and Green Versions (1996) Japan
Smash Bros. appearances SSB
Melee
Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance Pokémon GO (2016)
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 can be released from a Poké Ball in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. It also appears as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl via Pokémon Trainer along with Squirtle and Ivysaur and as a standalone character in Super Smash Bros. 4.

Character description

Charizard's original artwork from Pokémon Red & Green versions.
Charizard's original artwork from Pokémon Red and Blue.

Charizard is a Fire/Flying-type Pokémon resembling a European dragon. In Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue, their remakes Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Pokémon X and Y, Charmander (which evolves into Charmeleon at level 16, which ultimately evolves into Charizard at level 36), is one of three available Kanto starter Pokémon (it is unavailable as a starter in Pokémon Yellow Version, but is obtained during normal gameplay). Despite its design basis, Charizard normally lacks the "Dragon" elemental type given to most dragonlike 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.

As Pokédex entries throughout every Pokémon RPG 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 Red version mascot 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.

In Super Smash Bros.

Charizard
Charizard Pokeball SSBM.png
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 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 flames can be reflected by Fox's Reflector, and absorbed by Ness's PSI Magnet. The flames hit consecutively, dealing about 3% damage each one, and touching Charizard deals about 16%.

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 from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
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

Main article: Charizard (SSBB)

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 through Pokémon Trainer (the other two being Squirtle and Ivysaur), Charizard retains its Flamethrower move, delegated as its neutral special move. It functions in a manner similar to Bowser when he is using his Fire Breath attack.

Trophy

Charizard trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
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.
Game Boy: Pokémon Red/Blue
GB Advance: Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen

Sticker

Name Game Effect Character(s)
Charizard Pokémon series TypeIcon(Hand).pngTypeIcon(Foot).png Attack +10 PikachuHeadSSBB.pngJigglypuffHeadSSBB.pngPokémonTrainerHeadSSBB.pngLucarioHeadSSBB.png
Brawl Sticker Charizard (Pokemon series).png
Charizard
(Pokémon series)

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Charizard as it appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.
source
Charizard in SSB4.
Main article: Charizard (SSB4)

Charizard returns in Super Smash Bros. 4 as a playable character. However, in Smash 4, Charizard is a standalone character, unlike in Brawl, where it was one of Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon. Its Rock Smash is now down special, replacing Pokémon Change, while it gained a new side special: Flare Blitz. It also has a new Final Smash where it Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard X.

Charizard ranks 49th out of 56 characters on the tier list, placing it within I tier. The most beneficial change Charizard received in the transition from Brawl to SSB4 was the removal of stamina, as a result of no longer being tied to Pokémon Trainer. Rock Smash now grants Charizard super armor, increasing its usefulness. Despite being a heavyweight, Charizard has a fast running speed and above average walk speed, helping slightly with approach. However, Charizard has significant issues. SSB4 removed gliding, worsening Charizard's recovery notably. While its new special move, Flare Blitz, is rather powerful, it causes recoil damage to Charizard, with 5% added from just initiating the move, and a further 5% from a successful hit. Despite its uses as a strong KO attack and decent horizontal recovery, the extra 5% of damage is still suffered even when it hits an opponent's shield, not only needlessly adding to Charizard's damage percentage, but also resulting in high endlag, making the attack very punishable and mostly only useful for recovery and hard reads. While originally regarded as one of the worst characters in SSB4, Charizard received some helpful buffs in game updates. 1.0.6 increased Fly's knockback, improving its KO power, 1.0.8 improved up and down throw, increasing the former's KO power and the latter's decreased knockback allowing opportunities for follow-ups, and several other moves had their endlag reduced through the various updates. Overall, although Charizard is somewhat better now compared to the early days of SSB4, it has not seen much success in tournaments. However, its current tier placement and viability are currently debated, due to the buffs brought upon by update patches making up for some weaknesses to an extent.

Trophies

Charizard
North America 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!
Europe 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.)
North America 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...
Europe 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.

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's and Alain's when they use Dragon Tail and Dragon Claw, respectively.
    • The animation of its up throw is similar to Ash's and Red's when they use Seismic Toss.
    • It can use Fire Blast and Blast Burn like Red's and Alain's, respectively.
      • However, this Charizard can only use Fire Blast while Mega Evolved.
    • It can Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X like Red's 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-ichiro Miki, who voiced both Ash's and Red's Charizard.
  • 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 that can lay claim to having played an actual in-game role in the previous games.
  • Charizard is currently the heaviest playable Pokémon in the Super Smash Bros. series. Many Pokémon that appeared in Super Smash Bros. are either middleweight (such as Lucario) or lightweight (such as Pikachu).
  • 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 is 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 (apart from Mewtwo, whose German name is slightly altered to "Mewtu").