One of the most popular Pokemon, Charizard has always been a pretty strong Pokemon but has never had in success due to being average, which was until it was gifted with Two Mega Evolutions, both of which have allowed Charizard to actually become a real threat, so let's talk about Charizard and see what exactly it can do. Hope you enjoy and let's begin.
Base Stats & Typing
Charizard
Before Mega Evolving, Charizard's base stats are very poor. Looking at its defenses, Charizard would need a lot of help that would simply not be beneficial enough to make a difference. Its only redeemable qualities are its Sp. Attack and Speed which means it could be an offensive threat.
Mega Charizard X
Upon Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X, it gains a massive Attack increase which allows it to be a major physical threat. The Defense stat increase, with a larger increase to its Defense stat and a minor increase to its Sp. Defense stat, which thanks to its Fire and Dragon typing which only gives it weaknesses to Rock, Dragon, and Ground-types, all primarily physical moves, can be beneficial to Charizard. It also gains the Tough Claws ability which boosts the power of its contact moves by 30% which allows Mega Charizard X to be an even bigger offensive threat which is also thanks to moves that will be discussed later.
Mega Charizard Y
Upon Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard Y, two things to note is its insanely high Sp. Attack stat and its newly acquired Drought ability to set the sun. Decent increase to both of its defensive stats but a larger boost to its Sp. Defense stat makes Mega Charizard Y frailer than its X counterpart, but it also means that Mega Charizard Y does need more support to properly succeed.
Before Mega Evolving, Charizard's base stats are very poor. Looking at its defenses, Charizard would need a lot of help that would simply not be beneficial enough to make a difference. Its only redeemable qualities are its Sp. Attack and Speed which means it could be an offensive threat.
Mega Charizard X
Upon Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X, it gains a massive Attack increase which allows it to be a major physical threat. The Defense stat increase, with a larger increase to its Defense stat and a minor increase to its Sp. Defense stat, which thanks to its Fire and Dragon typing which only gives it weaknesses to Rock, Dragon, and Ground-types, all primarily physical moves, can be beneficial to Charizard. It also gains the Tough Claws ability which boosts the power of its contact moves by 30% which allows Mega Charizard X to be an even bigger offensive threat which is also thanks to moves that will be discussed later.
Mega Charizard Y
Upon Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard Y, two things to note is its insanely high Sp. Attack stat and its newly acquired Drought ability to set the sun. Decent increase to both of its defensive stats but a larger boost to its Sp. Defense stat makes Mega Charizard Y frailer than its X counterpart, but it also means that Mega Charizard Y does need more support to properly succeed.
Notable Moves
Mega Charizard X
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Mega Charizard Y
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Flare Blitz
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Heat Wave
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Dragon Claw
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Flamethrower
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Protect
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Hidden Power [Ground]
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Dragon Dance
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Solar Beam
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Fire Punch
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Overheat
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Thunder Punch
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Tailwind
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Tailwind
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Mega Charizard X is a prime example of a physical attacker and thanks to its Tough Claws ability, all moves used on this Pokemon are given a boost thanks to its ability. Its main choice in fire moves depends on the player. Flare Blitz is a very strong attack but does deal recoil based on damage dealt which will be more thanks to Tough Claws. Fire Punch is also given the boost, but since it doesn't deal recoil, it's very consistent damage. Dragon Claw is a very consistent dragon type STAB move and is great for dealing with opposing dragons like Salamence and Garchomp. Dragon Dance allows Charizard to increase its attack and speed to become an even bigger threat, which can be very dangerous. Thunder Punch is the only coverage move seen on Charizard due to the rise in Misty Terrain lowering the power of its dragon moves, which can hit the main setter in Tapu Fini. Tailwind is great for speed control and allows it to support its teammates.
Mega Charizard Y
Mega Charizard Y is the more popular of the two, which is one you'll see more often than its counterpart. This Charizard has a lot of choices in fire type moves which can do an insane amount of damage in the Sun. Heat Wave is a strong spread move to hit both targets, Flamethrower is its consistent single-target attack, and Overheat can be seen as its "nuke" to KO most Pokemon that can survive Flamethrower and Heat Wave in the Sun. Solar Beam in the sun is appealing to threaten water types like Tapu Fini, Rotom-Wash, and Suicune. Hidden Power [Ground] is mainly used to threaten Heatran, a Pokemon Charizard can't damage without it. Tailwind is great for speed control.
Sample Set #1: Physical Sweeper
Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 44 HP / 220 Atk / 36 Def / 20 SpD / 188 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz / Fire Punch
- Dragon Claw / Thunder Punch
- Dragon Dance
- Protect
This is a modified version of a Mega Charizard X used by James Baek (@JamesWBaek) on his YouTube channel linked here. The main change I made was to the EV Spread which was to allow this Charizard to survive Earthquake from Adamant Landorus-Therian since Landorus can be an issue for Charizard. After a Dragon Dance, this Charizard can outspeed opposing Mega Salamence and threaten a KO with Dragon Claw. The moveset should depend on personal preference. If you want a consistent fire type move but are worried about the recoil damage, then I suggest Fire Punch but if you aren't, then Flare Blitz is the right answer. For the second slot, Dragon Claw is a strong dragon attack but if most of your Charizard's time on field is going to be spent in Misty Terrain where its power will be halved, then Thunder Punch is the right answer as it can threaten Tapu Fini and even KO it after the boost from using Dragon Dance. Dragon Dance and Protect are essentially mandatory on Charizard to boost its stats and defend against attacks.
Sample Set #2: Special Sweeper
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 60 SpA / 44 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Solar Beam
- Overheat / Flamethrower
- Protect
This second set is for Mega Charizard Y includes the most standard moves that Charizard was found using all the way back in VGC 2014. The combination of these moves can break through the vast majority of Pokemon in the format barring Heatran which this Charizard cannot touch in the slightest. Having both Heat Wave and Overheat allows Charizard to break through most Pokemon since, for example, Aegislash and Mega Kangaskhan can be trained to survive, but you can use Flamethrower instead if you're worried about the Sp. Attack drops from Overheat. Heat Wave, but actually ends up falling a helpful amount of the time to Overheat, which can be very valuable. Thanks to its ability in Drought, you do have the option to use Solar Beam for a really strong Grass-type move that can hit Pokemon like Rotom-Wash and Tapu Fini, two Pokemon Charizard can't really damage without it among the popular Water-type Pokemon in the format.
The EV Spread is one that is a very interesting one that I recommend. With the HP and Defense EVs, you can survive -1 Rock Slide from Jolly 252 Attack Terrakion as well as the spread move Rock Slide from Adamant 252 Attack Landorus-Therian if its a spread move. the Sp. Defense EVs gives this Charizard a 25% chance to survive Thunderbolt from Timid 252 Sp. Attack Tapu Koko in Electric Terrain, which can be very valuable to keep in mind. The speed allows this Charizard to outspeed neutral nature base 70's, mainly Breloom and Bisharp, and the rest of the points are in Sp. Attack for general power, but you can take out of it to improve the roll, which the 2nd sample set will show just how you can do this.
Sample Set #3: Covering Mega Charizard Y's Bases
Charizard-Mega-Y @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 20 SpA / 84 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower / Heat Wave
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Protect
This set is nearly identical to the very set, but it has 2 main changes. The goal of this Charizard is while it's on the field, to eliminate its bad match-ups too as many Pokemon as possible. The EV Spread remains the same in surviving -1 Rock Slide from Jolly Terrakion, Rock Slide from Adamant Landorus-Therian, and outspeed neutral nature Bisharp and Breloom, but the added points into Sp. Defense allows Charizard to survive a Timid Thunderbolt from Tapu Koko out of the electric terrain.
The moves are simple in covering your bases. You have a strong and consistent fire type move in either Flamethrower or Heat Wave to abuse the power fire type moves get from the sun thanks to Drought, Solar Beam for the grass coverage Charizard needs to beat water types on its own, and the final move is Hidden Power [Ground] which is specifically for Heatran as, without it, Charizard has no way to beat Heatran.
The moves are simple in covering your bases. You have a strong and consistent fire type move in either Flamethrower or Heat Wave to abuse the power fire type moves get from the sun thanks to Drought, Solar Beam for the grass coverage Charizard needs to beat water types on its own, and the final move is Hidden Power [Ground] which is specifically for Heatran as, without it, Charizard has no way to beat Heatran.
Partners for Charizard
Sun Abusers
Venusaur and Lilligant both pairs well with Mega Charizard Y due to both having the Chlorophyll ability which doubles its speed under Sun. This is helpful as access to Sleep Powder means they can put troubling Pokemon to sleep. Its grass type moves can also help threaten problematic Water-types. Lilligant can use After You to allow Charizard to attack directly after it thanks to its amazing speed under Sun.
Ground Types
Mega Charizard Y's flying typing allows Landorus-T to freely use Earthquake alongside it with no fear of Charizard taking damage. It also provides the Intimidate ability to help Charizard take hits.
Passive Support
Both Tapu Bulu and Cresselia provide passive support for both of Charizard's Mega Evolutions. Tapu Bulu can provide the Grassy Terrain to allow Mega Charizard X to take Earthquake better from the ground types that give it trouble and it's grass moves can help against the Rock and Ground that give it trouble. Cresselia's vast arsenal of support moves can help Mega Charizard Y with Skill Swap to reset the Sun and Moonlight to regain a large amount of health under Sun.
How to beat Charizard
Rock Slide Users
Both of Charizard's Mega Evolutions don't enjoy dealing with Rock moves, especially Rock Slide. Landorus-T with a Choice Scarf can use a fast Rock Slide for a chance to KO. Excadrill and Tyranitar under Sand are especially annoying as Excadrill can out-speed it and threaten a KO while Tyranitar under Sand isn't threatened at all since Solar Beam has to spend a turn charging up. Terrakion can guarantee a KO with Rock Slide unless it's Intimidated.
Electric Types
These are the 4 most common Electric-types which can pose a huge issue for Mega Charizard Y. Tapu Koko, Thundurus-T, and Mega Manectric can out-speed and KO Charizard while Zapdos is bulky enough to survive a hit and threaten a KO with Thunderbolt or its Z-move equivalent.
Rain Teams
Rain teams are a nightmare for Charizard. In the rain, its fire type moves are weakened to the point where the damage they deal is laughable, and having to take a strong water type move which can threaten a KO makes it hard for Charizard to spend multiple turns on the field against them, forcing it to switch out to either set the sun if its Mega Charizard Y or if its Mega Charizard X, wait for the rain to go away.
Walling Mega Charizard Y
As said before, Heatran can safely switch in on Charizard's big fire moves and Solar Beam to safely 1v1 it but is only threatened by Hidden Power [Ground]. Hydreigon and Mega Salamence both resist its fire type moves and can threaten with big Dragon-type moves.
Alternative Options for Charizard
Mega Charizard X
Both known in the past for being very strong Dragon Dance users, Mega Salamence and Dragonite can use the move to increase their attack and speed to become even bigger offensive threats.
Mega Charizard Y
As the only Drought user in the game, Torkoal can also threaten with big fire type moves under Sun like it was able to do in VGC 2017. Thanks to its very slow speed, Torkoal can be seen as the Trick Room version of Charizard.
Thanks to its versatility in moves, stats, and great options for utility, Mega Charizard Y has proven to be a very strong Pokemon that will need to be prepped for throughout the 2018 season. Although it's very one-dimensional in use, Mega Charizard Y does provide some niche uses that can allow it to succeed in the format. I hoped you enjoyed this guide. Check back to the Nimbasa City Post for more VGC content and hope to see you soon!
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