Ash's Charizard: Difference between revisions

'''Ash's Charizard''' (Japanese: '''サトシのリザードン''' ''Satoshi's Lizardon'') was the fourth {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} that {{Ash}} {{pkmn2|caught}} in the [[Kanto]] [[region]], and his fifth overall.

[[File:Damian Charmander.png|thumb|250px|left|As a Charmander, with Damian]]

Charmander originally belonged to a boastful {{pkmn|Trainer}} named [[Damian]]. However, in ''[[EP011|Charmander - The Stray Pokémon]]'', Damian grew tired of Charmander being weak and abandoned it, leaving it on a rocky outcrop and telling it that he would come back later. Charmander's health deteriorated, but it was able to resist capture by {{Ash}} twice before explaining to {{AP|Pikachu}} that it was waiting for Damian. Later, Ash met Damian and learned that he never planned to return for it. Outraged but mostly concerned for Charmander, who was now stuck out in the rain loyally awaiting Damian, {{an|Brock}}, Ash, and {{an|Misty}} rushed to its rescue, with Brock carrying it to the [[Pokémon Center]] while Ash sheltered the little remaining tail flame with his coat.

Despite the care shown to it, Charmander was unwilling to remain at the Pokémon Center and returned to the rock where it had been staying. However, it came across {{TRT}}, who had stolen Pikachu. Charmander ordered them to return Pikachu, and when they ignored it, it blasted them with Flamethrower to send them running away, leaving behind Pikachu. Ash invited Charmander to join them, but Damian turned up with a bunch of Poké Balls and said that he had abandoned Charmander on purpose in order to allow it to toughen up. Damian threw a Poké Ball at it, but Charmander deflected the ball in defiance. Having seen Damian's character, Charmander staunchly refused to return, and when Damian threatened to crush it with all of his other Pokémon, it attacked Damian with a Flamethrower attack alongside Pikachu, who used {{m|Thunder Shock}}. Damian fled and Charmander happily joined Ash's team instead.

[[File:Ash Charmander.png|thumb|250px|As a Charmander]]

Charmander immediately became one of Ash's main Pokémon, being used in the [[EP012|very next episode]] as a torch to help Ash through the caves. Also, it joined with a group of other Charmander on the [[S.S. Anne|St. Anne]] in ''[[EP015|Battle Aboard the St. Anne]]'' to repel {{tc|Team Rocket Grunt}}s. In ''[[EP023|The Tower of Terror]]'', Ash sent it out to lead the way through the haunted tower, but it was terrified of the {{type|Ghost|ghosts}} and Ash recalled it after it became paralyzed by {{TP|Sabrina|Haunter}}'s {{m|Lick}}.

The most costly incidence of Charizard's disloyalty was in the battle against [[Ritchie]] during the [[Indigo Plateau Conference|Indigo League]] in ''[[EP079|Friend and Foe Alike]]''. Down to one Pokémon, Ash called Charizard into battle against [[Zippo]], and surprisingly decided to battle and force Zippo to flee from a far superior Flamethrower, causing Ritchie to recall it and concede the round. However, when [[Sparky]] came out, Charizard condescendingly stomped the ground and flapped its wings against the little Pikachu before going to sleep, refusing to battle. Due to this, Ash lost the round and Ritchie advanced to the next round.

Ash took Charizard with him to the [[Orange Archipelago|Orange Islands]], despite its refusal to obey him. Ash had noticeably stopped trying to use it in battles, although in the episode ''[[EP093|Navel Maneuvers]]'', Charizard, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur were used in the second round of the match between Ash and [[Danny]]. Charizard was initially unwilling to participate, and Danny nearly won. However, Charizard inadvertently helped when it tried to use Flamethrower on Ash but missed and carved an ice pillar into a sled. This meant Ash won the round and was able to continue the match.

Charizard was also used in Ash's Orange League battle against {{OBP|Drake|Orange League}} in ''[[EP112|Enter the Dragonite]]''. Charizard defeated Drake's {{p|Electabuzz}} by blocking its electricity with Fire Spin and knocking it out with Seismic Toss. It also fought {{TP|Drake|Dragonite}}, but was hit by a powerful {{m|Water Gun}} and then {{m|slam}}med into the ground. After a clash of Dragon Rages, Charizard fainted, but its attacks had begun to wear Dragonite down, paving the way for Pikachu to finish it off and give Ash the victory. Charizard was inducted into the Orange Islands Hall of Fame with Ash's other Pokémon.

[[File:ValleyShipping.png|thumb|250px|With Charla]]

Charizard also accompanied Ash on his journey to the Johto region, although it became apparent that it was unfairly superior to most of Ash's early competition. This was shown especially in ''[[EP118|The Double Trouble Header]]'', where {{an|Casey}}'s {{p|Pidgey}} was beaten by Charizard exhaling and {{p|Rattata}} was defeated merely by bouncing of Charizard's stomach. A single Flamethrower beat {{TP|Casey|Chikorita}} and allowed Charizard to win in the sweep, despite the disapproval of Misty and Brock. Team Rocket later capitulated on Casey's frustration, calling Charizard an illegal choice by Ash.

Charizard was then used in Ash's fight against {{jo|Harrison}} in ''[[EP271|Playing with Fire!]]'', where it came out against [[Harrison's Blaziken]]. Charizard's aerial advantage was negated by Blaziken's powerful legs and ability to maneuver in midair. Each Pokémon hit hard blows on the other, and their Flamethrowers were shown to be equal in power. Blaziken even managed to get up after a devastating Seismic Toss, while Charizard took a {{m|Blaze Kick}} to the neck and continued on. A fiery clash between Flamethrower and Dragon Rage knocked both Pokémon down, but only Blaziken could get up, eliminating Ash from the tournament. Charizard once again returned to Charicific Valley, and it was later revealed that it had injured Blaziken so badly that Harrison had to rest his primary battler in the next round, which contributed to his loss.

In ''[[AG136|The Symbol Life]]'', it returned for Ash's first {{Gdis|Battle Frontier|III}} battle, where it took on [[Noland's Articuno]] at the {{gdis|Battle Factory|III}}. Ash and Charizard flew together, where Charizard demonstrated a far improved Flamethrower and that it had learned {{m|Dragon Breath}}. In battle, it showed that it was a match even for the legendary Pokémon, using Flamethrower to burn through {{m|Ice Beam}} and strike Articuno. However, Articuno did not take much damage from Flamethrower or Dragon Breath, blinding Charizard with {{m|Mist}} and then knocking it to the ground with Steel Wing. Articuno then inflicted serious damage with {{m|Water Pulse}} and froze Charizard's wing tip, crippling its movements. Finally, Charizard used Overheat, which it had just learned, to melt the ice, then it caught Articuno as it tried to use Steel Wing and struck with a Seismic Toss. Charizard collapsed, but managed to get up just as Articuno passed out, giving Ash and Charizard the victory.

Charizard also battled alongside Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle in a four-on-four battle against {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}'s Pokémon in ''[[AG189|Gathering the Gang of Four!]]''. It went up against {{p|Dusclops}}. Charizard had been training since its battle with Articuno and learned Steel Wing, but was put at a disadvantage when Dusclops used {{m|Confuse Ray}} and {{m|Mean Look}}, forcing Charizard to keep battling in its baffled state, all the while taking damage from {{m|Will-O-Wisp}}. Finally, Charizard snapped out of its confusion and attacked with Dragon Breath, wearing both Pokémon down. However, an attempt to use Seismic Toss to finish the match cost Ash dearly, as the {{type|Ghost}} simply dissipated and re-emerged safely at a distance, where a single {{m|Shadow Punch}} took Charizard out and put Ash at a supreme disadvantage. However, Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle managed to win the battle and the Brave Symbol. After the match against Brandon, Charizard returned to Charicific Valley.

[[File:Pikachu and Charizard.png|thumb|250px|Charizard reuniting with Pikachu]]

In ''[[BW116|The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!]]'', Ash and {{ashfr}} visited a [[Kanto Fair|Kanto-based festival]], where one of the presentations featured the local [[starter Pokémon]], involving a live action show with a Charmander. This made Ash remember his own Charmander, prompting him to tell {{an|Iris}}, {{an|Cilan}}, and {{an|N}} the story of how he first met his Charmander, and how it eventually became Charizard and won many battles with it until it was left behind in the Charicific Valley. Filled with a desire to see his old friend again, Ash called Professor Oak, who, in exchange for [[Ash's Unfezant]], sent Charizard over to him. While being introduced to Iris, Cilan, N, and their Pokémon, Charizard immediately started a fiery rivalry with [[Iris's Dragonite]], which encouraged Ash and Iris to have a battle with their two stubborn Pokémon. During the battle, Charizard was shown to have learned Wing Attack, Slash, and Dragon Tail. It quickly gained the upper hand as not even Dragonite's Dragon Rush was able to hurt it, while Dragonite was taking serious damage from Charizard's Dragon Tail. Before it could be settled, the battle was called off by N. Ash then corrected Iris's misconception that Charizard was a {{type|Dragon}}, upsetting her since she had wanted to train one as well.

Later, in ''[[BW121|Team Plasma and the Awakening Ceremony!]]'', Charizard was sent out alongside the rest of Ash's team to help Ash and N dig up to the surface of the {{an|White Ruins}} after they had fallen into a pit. Charizard cleverly improvised a spinning Dragon Tail to help {{AP|Krookodile}} {{m|dig}} through the earth that {{AP|Oshawott}} had softened with {{m|Hydro Pump}}. While battling Team Plasma again, Charizard withstood many of Team Plasma's attacks before Pignite came to its aid. The two then launched an incredibly powerful double Flamethrower at Team Plasma's Pokémon. However, when Colress turned his mind control machine on them, Charizard was quickly recalled to its Poké Ball along with Ash's other Pokémon.

In ''[[BW136|A Pokémon of a Different Color!]],'' Charizard and Iris's Dragonite set off to search for Clair's Dragonite, who had been separated from Clair on an [[Cave Island|island]] in the Decolore Archipelago. After Iris's Dragonite found Clair's, Charizard brought the group over to them, only to find the pair squabbling. Although Charizard attempted to stop the fighting, the two Dragonite knocked it away. Later on, Charizard continued to unsuccessfully act as a peacemaker. Ash eventually thanked it for trying and returned Charizard to its Poké Ball.

Charizard was reunited with all of Ash's Unova Pokémon at [[Professor Oak's Laboratory]] in ''[[BW142|The Dream Continues!]]''. It joined the others in a group attack on Team Rocket with its Flamethrower to send them blasting off for the last time in the ''Best Wishes'' series. Charizard was left at the lab before Ash set off for the [[Kalos]] region. It later posed with the rest of Ash's Pokémon in a group photo with him.

Charizard reappeared in a flashback in ''[[SM042|Alola, Kanto!]]''.

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

The emotional turmoil of being abandoned by Damian defined Charizard when 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 and Ash and Brock showing true kindness towards it, its loyalty never wavered and Charmander almost lost its life doing so. Only a violent confrontation revealed to it the unhealthy nature of and its relationship with Damian. 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.

During its training on the Charicific Valley, Charizard has been shown to have significantly matured while retaining its fiery nature and fierce battling spirit. This was shown in ''[[BW136|A Pokémon of a Different Color]]'', where it attempted to act as a peacemaker between Clair's and Iris's Dragonite, despite failing.

{{anmov/h|fire|flying|Ash {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 9}}|0=Charmander Leer|1=Charmander Rage|2=Charmander Skull Bash|3=Charizard Ember|4=Charizard Fire Spin|5=Charizard Dragon Rage|6=Charizard Overheat|7=Charmander Rage hit|8=Charmeleon Flamethrower}}.png|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 9}}|0=Leer<br/>as a Charmander|1=Rage as<br/> a Charmander (Part 1)|2=Skull Bash<br/>as a Charmander|3=Ember|4=Fire Spin|5=Dragon Rage|6=Overheat|7=Rage as<br/> a Charmander (Part 2)|8=Flamethrower as<br/> a Charmeleon}}|image2=Ash Charizard {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 9}}|0=Wing Attack|1=DragonBreath|2=Seismic Toss|3=Flamethrower|4=Steel Wing|5=Take Down|6=Submission|7=Slash|8=Dragon Tail}}.png|caption2=Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 9}}|0=Wing Attack|1=Dragon Breath|2=Seismic Toss|3=Flamethrower|4=Steel Wing|5=Take Down|6=Submission|7=Slash|8=Dragon Tail}}}}

{{anmov|fire|Flamethrower|EP011|Charmander – The Stray Pokémon|rec=yes}}

{{anmov/f|flying|x=yes}}

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[[File:Ash Charizard M20.png|thumb|250px|Ash's Charizard in ''I Choose You!'']]

[[File:Ash Charmander M20.png|thumb|250px|left|As a Charmander]]

Finally reaching the Raizen Mountains, Ash tried to place his [[Rainbow Wing]] atop Rainbow Rock. He was stopped by Cross however, who wanted to take the Rainbow Wing for himself. Ash battled Cross again, once again using his Charmeleon against Cross and his Incineroar. In the midst of a fierce battle, Charmeleon evolved into Charizard, and this time, it managed to defeat it. Distraught of losing against his former Pokémon, Cross started to realize the error in his ways.

{{anmov/h|fire|flying|Ash {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 3}}|0=Charmeleon Seismic Toss|1=Charmeleon Slash|2=Charizard Dragon Rage}} M20.png|Using {{#switch: {{#expr: {{#time: U}} mod 3}}|0=Seismic Toss<br>as a Charmeleon|1=Slash<br>as a Charmeleon|2=Dragon Rage}}}}

{{anmov|fire|Flamethrower|M20|I Choose You!}}