Ash's Charizard: Difference between revisions

The rise in battle experience reached its peak in ''[[EP043|March of the Exeggutor Squad]]'', where it single-handedly stopped a large number of rampaging {{p|Exeggutor}}. Subsequently, Charmander [[Evolution|evolved]] into {{p|Charmeleon}}.

In ''[[EP044|The Problem with Paras]]'', it was revealed that Charmeleon had lost its loyalty to Ash, attacking a {{p|Paras}} when Ash was trying to deliberately lose in order to help {{p|Paras}} evolve. [[Cassandra]]'s grandmother explained that Charmeleon's skill level had exceeded Ash's, and therefore it did not respect him anymore. Ironically a rampaging Charmeleon was stopped when Paras, desperately trying to avoid punishment, jabbed at it with a claw. After evolving into {{p|Parasect}}, it put Charmeleon to sleep with {{m|Spore}} and allowed Ash to recall it. Cassandra's grandmother warned Ash that he needed to learn to control Charmeleon.

Ash stopped using his disobedient Charmeleon, but tried again in ''[[EP046|Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon]]'' to repel wild Fossil Pokémon, which it refused to do. When an {{p|Aerodactyl}} swooped past knocking Charmeleon over, Charmeleon proudly fought back but was unable to do anything. It then jumped up and grabbed the escaping Aerodactly's tail and followed it into the open air, but was shaken off. Angry, Charmeleon evolved into {{p|Charizard}} and flew after Aerodactly to avenge its injured pride. It managed to catch Ash and put him on the ground, but retained its disobedience.  

Charizard's disloyalty began to cost Ash in the business end of his journey, throwing away a round with [[Blaine]] in ''[[EP058|Riddle Me This]]'', as Charizard simply loafed off and allowed {{p|Rhydon}} an easy win with {{m|Horn Drill}}. In ''[[EP059|the next episode]]'', Charizard refused to help damn the volcano, but changed its mind after seeing Blaine's powerful {{TP|Blaine|Magmar}} contributing. After working together, the duo were left with a burning desire to test each other's strength. Blaine permitted a battle at the peak of the volcano, and the two seem evenly matched. Magmar drops Charizard into the lava, but Charizard regains the upper hand by dazing Magmar with an aerial submission and then knocking it out with its powerful {{m|Seismic Toss}}.

While there, it took the role of bodyguard for Liza's Charizard, [[Charla]], and the two seem to have struck up a [[ValleyShipping|romantic relationship]]. Liza occasionally visits the [[Dragon's Den|Dragon's Valley]] in [[Blackthorn City]] alongside the two Charizard. One such visit was in ''[[EP253|Great Bowls of Fire!]]'' coincidentally occurred when Ash was there for his final [[Johto]] gym battle. Charizard helped Ash, Clair, Pikachu and {{TP|Clair|Dragonair}}  calm the wild {{p|Dragonite}} that was rampaging in the Dragon Holy Land.  

In ''[[EP254|Better Eight Than Never]]'', Charizard battled against Clair's Dragonair in his rematch with her by causing the water in the gym's pool to evaporate with its {{m|Flamethrower}} and {{m|Fire Spin}}, thus depriving Dragonair of its protection. It then caught Dragonair with Seismic Toss and used Fire Spin to create a flaming twister to wear down Dragonair's defences before it hit the ground and was knocked out. Ash surprised Liza by sending it back for training, knowing that Charizard belongs in the Valley.

Ash later used Charizard in the [[Silver Conference]] during his fight against [[Gary Oak]] in ''[[EP270|Can't Beat the Heat!]]'', as Brock had made a late night call to Liza requesting Charizard for the battle. [[Gary's Blastoise]] and {{p|Scizor}} cut Ash's team down to only Charizard who had to fight three opponents single-handedly. It managed to match Scizor's speed and took advantage of its significant type advantage, blasting Scizor with Flamethrower. Despite Gary's Golem's weight preventing Charizard from using its Seismic Toss, Charizard overcame it with a powerful Dragon Rage. Charizard struggled against Blastoise, as it had supreme defensive capabilities and could keep Charizard at bay with Hydro Pump. Thinking outside the square, Charizard superheated the field and forced Blastoise to cool the molten rock. This created a huge steamcloud and allowed Charizard to seize Blastoise at close range. Blastoise could still use {{m|Withdraw}} to dodge Dragon Rage, so Charizard hurled Blastoise into the ground with Seismic Toss, taking Blastoise out and leaving Ash as the winner.

==Personality and characteristics==

{{bulbanews|Personality & Development: Ash's Charizard}}

The emotional turmoil of being abandoned by Damian defined Ash's Charizard whilst it was a Charmander. Despite the scorn it received from Damian, it remained loyal to him, convinced that it had a good relationship where in fact none existed. Even when made to sit through a rain storm in hunger and fatigue, loyalty never wavered and Charmander almost lost its life doing so. Even kindness from Ash and Brock was not enough to show him Damian's true nature, and only a violent confrontation revealed to him the unhealthy nature of his and Damian's relationship. Charmander struggled with this abandonment, as seen in ''[[EP017|Island of the Giant Pokémon]]'', it became discouraged when {{AP|Bulbasaur}} suggested that Ash had abandoned them all.

===Moves improvised===

*'''Aerial Submission''' was used by Charizard in ''[[EP059|Volcanic Panic]]''. Charizard spins while flying, causing damage to [[Blaine's Magmar]], who was clinging on to Charizard.

*'''Flaming Seismic Toss''' was used in ''[[EP254|Better Eight Than Never]]'' which is a combination of Charizard's {{m|Seismic Toss}} and {{m|Fire Spin}} along with {{TP|Clair|Dragonair}}'s {{m|Dragon Rage}}.