Leon's Charizard - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokmon encyclopedia

Leon's Charizard (Japanese: ダンデのリザードン Dande's Lizardon) is Leon's main partner Pokémon in the games, anime, and the Pokémon Adventures manga.

In the games

Charizard is Leon's main partner Pokémon in the games. It took part in the Gym Challenge alongside Leon when he was ten years old, and they claimed victory in the Champion Cup on their first attempt. Since that victory, Leon and Charizard remained unbeaten in both League and exhibition matches until they were defeated by the player during the events of Pokémon Sword and Shield. Charizard can be first seen during the game's introductory cutscene with Leon, having an exhibition match against Raihan and his Duraludon. The player first meets Chairzard in person in Wedgehurst with his Trainer. Throughout the game, Charizard is commonly seen alongside Leon outside of battle. Due to Leon's poor sense of direction, he often gets lost, and having to rely on Charizard to lead him to his destination.

During the battle against Eternatus, Charizard is the final Pokémon Leon uses to wear it down before attempting to capture it. Just before Eternatus breaks out of Leon's Poké Ball, Charizard uses the last of its energy to shield the player and Hop from the blast.

Leon's signature pose is called the Charizard pose, named after his Charizard.

In battles with or against the player, Leon will Gigantamax Charizard at the first opportunity. When battling the player in the Battle Tower, Leon will always use Charizard on his team.

In the spin-off games

Pokémon Masters EX

Event image for the Champion Time event, where Leon and Charizard debuted Main article: Leon (Masters) → Charizard

Leon forms a sync pair with Charizard in Pokémon Masters EX. The pair were the first Master Sync Pair added to the game, debuting on February 26, 2021. Charizard was given the ability to Gigantamax on Feburary 18, 2023.

Pokémon Mezastar

A promotional tag featuring Charizard was packaged with the Pokémon Dynamax Band, released on February 11, 2021. Charizard later appeared in Pokémon Mezastar as one of Leon's Pokémon. Charizard also appeared as an opponent in an event that recreated the Masters Eight Tournament that ran from October 27 to November 21, 2022. Upon beating Leon, the player can receive a Support Pokémon Ticket based on Charizard.

As an opponent

Disks

Pokémon UNITE

Charizard appears in Pokémon UNITE alongside Leon as an enemy Trainer to fight during the Legacy Trainer Showdown event between September 9, 2022 and October 6, 2022. The battle took place on Theia Sky Ruins. His Charizard starts the battle as Charmander and can evolve to Charmeleon and then Charizard during the battle. It has the same moves and Ability as other Charizard in the game.

Charizard also appears alongside Leon in the recurring Solo Challenge event, also in Theia Sky Ruins. In this event, Charizard never wears Holowear. Additionally, replacing the display of the Unite License on the pre-battle splash screen, Leon and Charizard use a special Unite Snapshot depicting them with two-dimensional artwork. Notably, the background for that Unite Snapshot can be obtained for use by the player through the event, but Charizard is absent from it.

In the anime

Main series

As a Charmander during Leon's childhood

Pre-series

Leon obtained Charizard as a Charmander when he was young, it being his first Pokémon. It accompanied him and Sonia on their journey when they became Trainers. In a flashback in A Flood of Torrential Gains!, it is shown that Charmander was used in Leon's first Pokémon battle against Sonia's Rookidee, where Charmander was defeated.

Sometime after that, Charmander evolved into a Charmeleon, and at some point, it evolved again into a Charizard.

In another flashback shown in Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!, it was shown that Charizard was with Leon when he became the Champion of the Galar region.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

Charizard debuted in Flash of the Titans!, where it was used to battle Lance and his Red Gyarados. Despite the type disadvantage, Charizard put up an incredible fight, during which both Pokémon Dynamaxed. In the end, after an intense battle, Charizard defeated Gyarados and emerged victorious, cementing Leon's spot as the Monarch of the World Coronation Series.

Charizard and Leon against Lance and Gyarados

In the next episode, Charizard and Leon battled Ash and his Pikachu in an unofficial match. After both Pokémon Gigantamaxed, Charizard won using its G-Max Wildfire after being hit by a super effective G-Max Volt Crash from Pikachu. After the battle, Leon thanked Charizard for the work and told Ash that the next battle they have will be an official one.

In Toughing It Out!, Charizard went up against Raihan and his Duraludon. After a close match, with both Pokémon Gigantamaxing, Charizard ultimately won the battle.

In Sword and Shield: Slumbering Weald!, Charizard saved Ash and his Pokémon by defeating a Centiskorch that had Gigantamaxed unexpectedly and was rampaging in a small town in Galar. After Centiskorch was defeated, Charizard carried Leon across the region to deal with other Pokémon that had unexpectedly Gigantamaxed. The first Pokémon they encountered was a huge Pangoro.

In Sword and Shield: The Darkest Day!, Leon initially used Charizard to battle a Gigantamax Coalossal along with Ash's Pokémon while flying over a coal mine. However, Leon decided to switch to Dragapult so he could end the battle before it did any more damage.

In Sword and Shield: From Here to Eternatus!, Charizard took on Eternatus during the Darkest Day crisis. The battle continued in Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!, where Charizard finally managed to gain the upper hand and weaken Eternatus enough that Leon could throw an Ultra Ball. However, when Eternatus broke out of the ball, Charizard shielded Ash's Pikachu and Lucario as well as Goh's Cinderace from the blast, causing it to take serious damage. This forced Leon to recall Charizard to its Poké Ball.

In Meeting Up with the Monarch!, Leon used Charizard to battle Flint and his Infernape in a World Coronation Series match that it won without much difficulty. Later, Leon used Charizard in the first stage of his training with Ash, flying and dodging several trees that they found on the way and then climbing a waterfall. Charizard was seen again when Leon and Ash meet up with Sonia and Goh.

Charizard battling Alain's Charizard

In Curtain Up! Fight the Fights!, Leon used Charizard as his second Pokémon in his Masters Eight Tournament battle against Alain. It was briefly used to battle Alain's Charizard before battling Malamar, which it defeated. Charizard battled Alain's Charizard once more and, despite Alain Mega Evolving his Charizard, emerged the victor.

In It's Champion Time!, Charizard was one of the three Pokémon Leon used in his Masters Eight Tournament match against Diantha. Charizard battled Mega Gardevoir and despite Gardevoir using its Psychic move to control G-Max Wildfire to its advantage, Charizard was able to win after Leon made Charizard use another G-Max Wildfire to bust through the combination attack and strike Gardevoir. This allowed him to advance to the finals of the tournament.

Charizard against Pikachu in the finals

During preparations for the Full Battle between Leon and Ash in A Flood of Torrential Gains!, Charizard and Hop stayed with Leon in the locker room. Leon reminisced about his past as a child and the emotions he felt when battling with Charmander. In Paring Pokémon While Parrying!, Charizard was the sixth Pokémon Leon used in the battle, where it faced Ash's Pikachu. During the battle, Leon immediately Gigantamaxed Charizard, which caused Charizard to start gaining the upper hand in the battle. After Charizard's G-Max Wildfire clashed with Pikachu's 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, cancelling out both moves while Charizard returned to its normal size and form, Eternatus ended up reawakening and appearing at Wyndon Stadium.

In Partners in Time!, Charizard was recalled in favor of Cinderace, which Leon Gigantamaxed; however, Charizard returned to the match after Pikachu defeated Cinderace. Initially gaining the upper hand in battle, Charizard and Pikachu found themselves at their limits when Leon commanded Charizard to merge with its moves, thus gaining a power overload. After a violent exchange of blows between Pikachu and Charizard, it seemed that Charizard had finally managed to defeat his opponent. Still, Pikachu woke up with more force, and both Pokémon decided to define the last blow with all or nothing. With both Pokémon at their limit, Charizard was finally defeated after both collided with each other. After the battle, Charizard joined its Trainer in congratulating Ash and Pikachu on their battle and victory in the Masters Eight Tournament.

Personality and characteristics

Charizard and Leon preparing to high five

As in the games, Charizard is Leon's ace, being used in virtually all of Leon's battles in the current World Coronation Series season without a single defeat until facing Ash. Charizard is also a powerful Pokémon, being able to defeat Pokémon belonging to Champions, such as Lance's Gyarados and Diantha's Gardevoir. Charizard is shown using a wide variety of moves, changing up its move set between battles to catch opponents off guard regardless of how much they prepared. After winning a battle, Charizard has a habit of firing a Flamethrower into the sky.

Charizard is very close with Leon, as seen when it gave its Trainer a high five after their victory over Lance. Charizard has been shown to share many of its Trainer's personality traits, as seen in Meeting Up with the Monarch!, where Charizard was having fun during flight training with Leon and Ash. In addition, Leon has a car modeled after Charizard.

As Leon's first partner Pokémon, Charizard has been with him since the beginning of his journey and was present at different times in his Trainer's life. Leon often uses Charizard as a means of transport to get around between places. According to Leon in Just a Scone's Throw From Here!, he relies on Charizard to help him with his his poor sense of direction.

Charizard is also protective of other Pokémon, as seen in Sword and Shield... The Legends Awaken!, when it shielded Ash's Lucario and Goh's Cinderace from Eternatus, resulting in it taking damage.

Appearance

See also: Gigantamax

As a Charmander	As a Charmeleon	As a Charizard	As a Gigantamax Charizard

Moves used

Using Air Slash

Using Flare Blitz

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Max Moves and G-Max Moves used

Using Max Knuckle

Using Max Wyrmwind

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Moves improvised

Picture	First Used In	Moves Involved	Partnered With
	Partners in Time!	Fire Blast	None
	Description: Similar to Dragonite Meteor, Charizard merges with Fire Blast, causing its body to become cloaked in a gigantic 大-shaped flame before charging at the opponent. When using this attack, Charizard assumes a more reddish-colored form, much like its Gigantamax form. This was used in the final clash between Charizard and Pikachu in the Masters Eight Tournament finals.

Voice actors

Pokémon: Twilight Wings

Charizard appeared in Letter, where it and Leon battled Bea and her Machamp in a televised battle in Wyndon Stadium. The Champion and his partner eventually emerged victorious. Charizard later appeared with Leon in a brief flashback Chairman Rose had while meeting John, a fan of Leon's.

In Training, Bea thought she saw Charizard in the Wild Area, only to realize it was actually a Rhydon. In Buddy, Hop watched a recording of one of Leon's battles with Charizard.

In Sky, Charizard was Leon's last Pokémon in his battle against Raihan, going up against his Gigantamaxed Duraludon. Charizard unleashed a G-Max Wildfire; however, Duraludon held back the inferno with Max Guard.

In The Gathering of Stars, Leon used Charizard in a battle against Mustard's Mienshao. The battle was well-balanced, and Mustard called it off before either Pokémon could deal much damage.

Moves used

Using Slash

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

G-Max Moves used

Using G-Max Wildfire

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Pokémon Evolutions

Before the events of The Champion, Leon used Charizard as a last resort to face Eternatus. However, Leon failed to capture the Gigantic Pokémon, and Charizard was taken out of commission protecting Victor and Hop. During preparations for the Championship match against Victor, Charizard tried to lift Leon's spirits, as he was still shaken from the previous battle.

Personality and characteristics

Similar to its counterpart in the main anime, Charizard is protective of others, putting itself at risk to protect Hop and Victor. Charizard is also seen to have a strong bond with his Trainer.

Charizard is kept in an Ultra Ball.

Moves used

Using Fire Blast

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

GOTCHA!

Charizard alongside Leon and his other Pokémon in GOTCHA!

Charizard briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, battling Victor/Gloria's Cinderace.

Moves used

G-Max Moves used

Using G-Max Wildfire

A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

In the manga