Charizard (SSB4): Difference between revisions

Fittingly for a super heavyweight, Charizard boasts an array of strong KOing options and impressive endurance, which are supplemented by [[rage]] and its varied recovery, respectively. It also boasts a potent grab game that allows for combos; KO set-ups; and even KOing outright; Charizard's up throw, in particular, is the second strongest throw of any kind in the game. Lastly, Charizard's overall mobility is quite fast for a super heavyweight. Its [[walk]]ing and [[dash]]ing speeds are among the fastest in the game, while a number of its moves boast minimal start-up lag alongside respectable utility.

In the early stages of ''SSB4''{{'}}s metagame, Charizard endured very poor tournament representation and results, to the point of widely being considered the single worst character in the game. However, thanks to consistently receiving very useful buffs via game updates over ''SSB4''{{'}}s lifespan, Charizard's tournament presence, particularly in regional tournaments outside of North America, has considerably improved at a very gradual pace. As a result, it has managed to rise from initially being at the middle of the bottom-tier to currently being in the lower portion of the mid-tier, which reflects the general consensus of its tier status even prior to its tier reassessment.

Charizard's greatest strength is its KO potential: thanks to its plethora of KOing options, it can easily and/or reliably KO opponents either on the ground or in the air. Sweetspotted forward smash, sweetspotted back aerial, and Flare Blitz are Charizard's strongest attacks: while near the [[edge]] of {{SSB4|Final Destination}}, each of them KO middleweights below 85% and 75% in {{for3ds}} and {{forwiiu}}, respectively. Alternatively, Charizard possesses a few safer, albeit somewhat weaker KOing options in sweetspotted forward tilt; up tilt; down smash; sweetspotted forward aerial; up aerial; up smash and up throw.

Out of these weaker KOing options, up smash and up throw are the most effective. Up smash hits grounded and aerial opponents on frame 6 and 7, respectively; deals respectable damage; and reliably KOs either grounded or aerial opponents. Conversely, up throw is the second strongest throw of any kind in the game (surpassed only by {{SSB4|Ness}}' back throw), which enables it to KO reliably, even without the aid of a [[platform]].

*{{buff|Sweetspotted forward tilt has increased base knockback (35 → 40), slightly improving its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Due to its initial hitbox being removed, forward smash deals less damage (22% → 17% (clean/late body)/14% (late head)) and has a shorter duration (frames 22-29 → 22-24). However, its knockback was somewhat compensated (40 (base)/98 (growth) → 60/94).}}

*{{change|Charizard no longer slides when performing a running up smash. This hinders its approach potential but makes it connect more reliably although Charizard could perform a stationary running up smash in ''Brawl'' by performing a [[DACUS]].}}

*{{nerf|Up smash has a shorter duration (frames 6-21 → 6-22) and no longer has [[Priority#Transcendent priority|transcendent priority]].}}

*{{nerf|Forward aerial has a shorter duration compared to the previous forward aerial (frames 9-16 → 8-11).}}

*{{change|Back aerial's animation has slightly changed. Charizard now swings its tail in a more pronounced motion. When coupled with its re-positioned hitboxes, this significantly improves its range. However, this new animation increases its start-up (frame 7 → 14); ending (frame 42 → 46); and landing lag (22 frames → 24), and removes its ability to auto-cancel with a short hop.}}

*{{buff|Charizard has a new side special, [[Flare Blitz]]. It is a [[Flame|fiery]], corkscrew tackle that deals respectable damage; propels Charizard horizontally; and grants 30 frames of [[armor]] that can withstand a maximum of 15%.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral aerial's hitbox sizes decreased|4u/4u/4u/4u|3.5u/3u/1.5u/3.5u, its start-up lag increased: frame 8 → 9, and its duration decreased: frames 8-28 → 9-25.}}

*{{buff|Down tilt received a [[wind]]box that [[Wind#Pushing attacks|pushes]] opponents inward, removing its blind spot.}}

|neutraldesc=Two alternating slashes with its claws, followed by swinging one of its wings upward. Thanks to its impressive damage output, minimal start-up lag, very high knockback growth and deceptively long range, it is reliable for damage racking and spacing. Its second hit can be [[jab cancel]]ed into down tilt, a grab, or [[Fly]], although the opponent can potentially evade these follow-ups with proper [[directional influence]]. In comparison, its last hit launches opponents at differing angles: the wing's inner portion launches them vertically, whereas its tip launches them horizontally. Due to these strengths, it is considered one of the most effective neutral attacks in the game.

|ftiltdesc=Swings its tail forward. It can be angled, has long range, and its sweetspot is at the [[Flame|flaming]] tip of Charizard's tail. When sweetspotted, it is one of the strongest forward tilts in the game. Its sweetspot KOs middleweights at 122%/111% (''3DS''/''Wii U''). Due to it hitting on frame 11 and having 29 frames of ending lag, however, it is punishable.

|utiltdesc=Hunches in order to thrust its wings upward. It hits on frame 9 and has very high knockback growth for a tilt attack. These traits make it a fairly fast, yet capable KOing option, as it KOs middleweights at 135%/126% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') from anywhere on Final Destination. Thanks to its long vertical range and Charizard's hurtbox not covering its wings, it is also a safe anti-air attack. However, it is Charizard's least damaging tilt attack, and has fairly minimal horizontal range.

|dtiltdesc=A battering ram. It has a [[wind]]box that hits on frame 7, which makes it deceptively fast. It is also a [[semi-spike]], which makes very useful for edge-guarding. Despite its decent damage output, its base knockback and knockback growth are both below-average, which make it unsuited for KOing.

|fsmashdesc=Rears back its head and then performs a lunging headbutt. It is very strong, as its sweetspots KO middleweights at 70%/61% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the edge of Final Destination. It also renders Charizard [[Intangibility|intangible]] throughout its duration. Due to it hitting on frame 22 and having 45 frames of ending lag, however, it is very punishable.

|usmashdesc=Rears back in order to swing its wings upward twice in an overhead fanning motion. Due to it hitting aerial and grounded opponents on frame 6 and 7, respectively, it is Charizard's fastest smash attack. Thanks to its long vertical range and Charizard's hurtbox not covering its wings, it is also a very useful anti-air attack. Despite being Charizard's weakest smash attack, it is still strong enough to KO reliably. Its second hit KOs middleweights at 118%/114% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') from anywhere on Final Destination. Despite its animation, its first hit can [[Lock|jab reset]] opponents behind Charizard, yet its hits do not connect together well behind Charizard, and its first hit has minimal horizontal range against aerial opponents. Its 27 frames of ending lag also make it punishable.  

|dairdesc=A [[Stomp (archetype)|stomp]]. Its sweetspot is a very powerful [[meteor smash]]. In comparison, its sourspot launches opponents either diagonally or at the [[Sakurai angle]]. Due to it hitting on frame 18 and having 33 frames of landing lag, however, it is very punishable. Its sourspot is also much less effective than its sweetspot in regard to edge-guarding.

|ssdefdesc=[[bulbapedia:Flare Blitz (move)|A fiery, corkscrew tackle]]. It is very powerful, as it KOs middleweights at 81%/69% (''3DS''/''Wii U'') while near the edge of Final Destination. In addition to its offensive potential, it covers an impressive amount of horizontal distance and grants [[armor]] on frames 23-53 that can withstand a maximum of 15%. However, it is very risky to use: it deals 5% [[recoil damage]] both at its beginning and on contact, and is very unsafe on shield because of its extreme amount of overall lag and how it forces Charizard into a [[Tumbling|tumble]] that cannot be [[tech]]ed. When used unwisely, its impressive horizontal distance can also result in an inadvertent self-destruct when used near an edge.

|ssc1desc=A fiery, corkscrew tackle that concludes with [[bulbapedia:Blast Burn (move)|a powerful explosion]]. It deals significantly more damage, has higher knockback and launches opponents vertically, which enables it to KO middleweights at 75% from anywhere on Final Destination in the ''3DS'' version. Like Flare Blitz, it grants armor that can withstand a maximum of 15%. However, it travels slower, covers much less distance, and deals more recoil damage (6% at its beginning and 10% on contact).

|ssc2desc=[[bulbapedia:Dragon Rush (move)|A corkscrew tackle]]. It has less start-up lag, does not deal recoil damage, and its loop hits drag opponents along during the tackle, all of which make it safer than Flare Blitz and Blast Burn. However, its damage output and knockback are lower than Flare Blitz and Blast Burn's, which result in it having minimal KO potential in comparison. It also covers very slightly less distance than Flare Blitz. Due to its strengths outweighing its weaknesses, however, it is Charizard's most effective custom move.

|usc1desc=[[Wind#Pulling attacks|Vacuums]] opponents and launches them. Its last hit is also much stronger, as it KOs middleweights at 86% from anywhere on Final Destination in the ''3DS'' version. Like Fly, it grants super armor at its beginning. However, it has more start-up lag and covers much less distance.

|dsc1desc=A downward headbutt. It has less start-up lag, [[Bury|buries]] grounded opponents, and meteor smashes aerial ones. However, its lack of a boulder results in it having a much lower overall damage output, less range, and no super armor. In addition, only its sweetspot is a meteor smash, whereas its sourspot very weakly launches aerial opponents diagonally.  

|dsc2desc=Grants super armor beginning on frame 1 and has more vertical range, thanks to the boulder's fragments flying much farther. However, it deals less damage, the fragments have slightly less horizontal range, and the boulder lacks KO potential.

|fsdesc=[[bulbapedia:Mega Evolution|Mega Evolves]] into Mega Charizard X. As Mega Charizard X, it can fly freely around the stage, similarly to [[Super Dragon]]. Unlike Super Dragon, Mega Charizard X has super armor and flinch resistance instead of [[invincibility]], and receiving damage will shorten its duration. Pressing the attack and special attack buttons causes Mega Charizard X to use Dragon Rush and [[bulbapedia:Fire Blast (move)|Fire Blast]], respectively. Compared to the Dragon Rush custom move, Mega Charizard X's Dragon Rush possesses longer range, the ability to propel Mega Charizard X in any given direction, and actual KO potential thanks to its higher damage output and knockback. In comparison, Fire Blast is a fiery projectile that covers slightly more than the entirety of Final Destination and hits multiple times, with its last hit possessing KO potential. Dragon Rush and Fire Blast's last hits KO middleweights at 108% and 123%, respectively, while near the edge of Final Destination in the ''3DS'' version.

Upon the initial release of ''SSB4'', Charizard was poorly perceived by the majority of players due to its very sluggish moveset, predictable and exploitable recovery, very slow air speed, and susceptibility to combos. This negative perception was further enforced due to it already being considered one of the worse members of Pokemon Trainer's team in ''Brawl'', with some players even viewing it as being heavily nerfed since ''Brawl'' even after losing its partner characters, {{SSBB|Squirtle}} and {{SSBB|Ivysaur}}. It would fail to shake this perception until update [[1.0.6]], with its representation throughout most of ''SSB4''{{'}}s lifespan being notoriously poor in spite of its consistent popularity within its home series.

Beginning with update [[1.0.8]], however, Charizard began to receive consistent and substantial buffs from game updates. Although these buffs noticeably improved its KO potential, combo game, frame data, and mobility to the point that some players argued in favor of Charizard becoming somewhat viable, it was still widely attested that these buffs were not sufficient enough to significantly improve its representation and results, though the general consensus no longer considered it a candidate for the worst character in the game. As a result, Charizard was ranked 49th on the first [[tier list]], confirming its status as a bottom-tier character.  

Despite this placement, Charizard's viability became heavily contested ever since update [[1.1.5]], thanks to its sporadic instances of success and strengths as a character. Numerous professionals, including {{Sm|ZeRo}} and {{Sm|ESAM}}, believed Charizard to be somewhat viable and labeled it as a potential low-tier or even mid-tier character. This perception persisted into the second tier list, but was not reinforced by the second tier list itself, as Charizard was ranked 51st and thus placed at the top of the bottom-tier. Despite this, many players kept arguing in favor of Charizard's viability. {{Sm|MkLeo}}, in particular, has even claimed that Charizard can fare well against top-tier characters, due to having some niche matchups against some of them, like {{SSB4|Cloud}}. Arguments in favor of Charizard's viability were further supplemented by its tournament results slowly, but noticeably improving, with dedicated players such as {{sm|Chuck Nasty}}, {{sm|Sharpy}} and {{sm|Serge}} even winning regional tournaments while exclusively using it.  

Thanks to its newfound success, Charizard was ranked 45th on the third tier list, which reassessed it as a low-tier character. International players such as {{Sm|Tosshi}}, {{Sm|Fire}} and {{Sm|SilentDoom}} would also achieve significant wins and results while using Charizard, such as the latter placing 25th at [[B.E.A.S.T 7]] while using both Charizard and Cloud. Although Charizard's results in North America have been more sparse than other regions, they eventually improved in a similar manner; numerous players have achieved notable placements at national tournaments while exclusively using Charizard, such as {{sm|Bloodcross}} and Sharpy placing 17th and 33rd, respectively, at [[CEO Dreamland]], and Chuck Nasty placing 13th at [[Low Tier City 5]]. Thanks to this steady amount of tournament success, Charizard has been ranked 43rd on the fourth and current tier list, which has reassessed it as a mid-tier character.