Charizard Pokemon GO: Complete Guide, Best Moveset & Counters

Charizard is a popular Fire/Flying-type Pokemon in Pokemon GO. With a maximum CP of 2,889, Charizard is a solid choice for Ultra League battles and various raid encounters.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Charizard in Pokemon GO, including its stats, best moveset, counters, and tips for using it effectively in both PvE raids and PvP battles.

📊 Charizard Base Stats & Overview

Charizard (#006) is a Fire/Flying-type Pokemon from Generation 1.

Base Stats
Attack	223
Defense	173
Stamina	186
Total Stats	582
Max CP	2,889
Buddy Distance	3 km

With 223 Attack, 173 Defense, and 186 Stamina, Charizard has a total stat product of 582. While not the highest in any single stat, Charizard’s balanced stats make it versatile in various battle situations.

⚔️ Best Moveset for Charizard

Choosing the right moveset is crucial for maximizing Charizard’s potential in Pokemon GO. The optimal moveset varies depending on whether you’re using Charizard for raids, gym battles, or PvP.

Best Raid & Gym Moveset

For PvE content like raids and gym battles, you want moves that maximize DPS (Damage Per Second). The best Fire/Flying-type moves will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), increasing damage by 20%.

Best PvP Moveset

In PvP battles, energy generation and coverage moves become more important. You’ll want a fast move that charges energy quickly and charged moves that provide good type coverage.

🎯 Charizard Type Effectiveness

Understanding type effectiveness is crucial for both using Charizard effectively and knowing how to counter it. As a Fire/Flying-type Pokemon, Charizard has specific strengths and weaknesses.

⚠️ Weaknesses (Takes Super Effective Damage From)

Charizard is weak to: Water, Rock, Electric, Ice-type moves. When battling against Charizard, use Pokemon with these types to deal 1.6x (or 2.56x for double weaknesses) damage.

• Water – Deals increased damage
• Rock – Deals increased damage
• Electric – Deals increased damage
• Ice – Deals increased damage

🛡️ Resistances (Takes Reduced Damage From)

Charizard resists: Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, Fairy, Fighting, Ground-type moves. This means Charizard takes reduced damage (0.625x or less) from these attack types.

• Fire – Reduced damage
• Grass – Reduced damage
• Ice – Reduced damage
• Bug – Reduced damage
• Steel – Reduced damage
• Fairy – Reduced damage
• Fighting – Reduced damage
• Ground – Reduced damage

🏆 Charizard PvP Analysis

Charizard can be used in Pokemon GO’s GO Battle League PvP battles. Here’s how it performs in each league:

Great League (1500 CP Limit)

With a max CP of 2,889, Charizard would need to be under-leveled for Great League. Check if the stats at 1500 CP are competitive before investing resources.

Ultra League (2500 CP Limit)

Charizard can be used in Ultra League but won’t reach its full stat potential due to the 2500 CP cap.

Master League (No CP Limit)

Charizard is generally not recommended for Master League due to its lower max CP (2,889). Focus on other leagues instead.

⚔️ Charizard Raid Guide

Charizard is primarily used as a raid attacker rather than a raid boss. Here’s how to use it effectively in raids:

Using Charizard in Raids

When using Charizard as a raid attacker:

• Best against raid bosses weak to Fire-type moves
• Power up to at least level 30-35 for decent performance
• Ensure you have the optimal moveset for maximum DPS

🎯 Best Counters for Charizard

Whether you’re battling Charizard in raids, gyms, or PvP, knowing the best counters is essential for victory. Here are the top Pokemon to use against Charizard:

Top Counter Pokemon

The best counters exploit Charizard’s weaknesses to Water, Rock, Electric, Ice-type moves:

Pokemon	Type	Why It Works
Kyogre	Water	Best Water attacker with Waterfall + Hydro Pump
Swampert	Water/Ground	Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon is devastating
Gyarados	Water/Flying	Accessible and powerful Water attacker
Rampardos	Rock	Highest Rock DPS but glass cannon
Rhyperior	Ground/Rock	Bulky Rock attacker with Rock Wrecker
Tyranitar	Rock/Dark	Smack Down + Stone Edge

Counter Strategy Tips

1. Prioritize Type Advantage: Use Pokemon with moves that are super effective against Charizard
2. Consider Bulk: Tankier counters can survive longer and deal more total damage
3. Watch for Coverage Moves: Charizard may have moves that counter its own counters
4. Weather Boost: Take advantage of weather conditions that boost your counter’s attacks

📍 How to Get Charizard in Pokemon GO

There are several ways to obtain Charizard in Pokemon GO:

• Wild Encounters: Charizard can spawn in the wild, especially in areas matching its type
• Eggs: May hatch from 3km eggs
• Evolution: Evolve from its pre-evolution using Candy
• Raids: Occasionally appears in raid battles
• Research Tasks: Complete field research for a chance to encounter
• Trading: Trade with friends

Shiny Charizard

Yes, Shiny Charizard is available in Pokemon GO! The shiny variant has a different coloration and is highly sought after by collectors. The shiny rate for wild encounters is approximately 1 in 500, though this can be boosted during special events like Community Days or Spotlight Hours.

Charizard Evolution

Check the Pokédex for complete evolution information including candy costs and special evolution requirements.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

💡 Pro Tips for Using Charizard

Here are some advanced strategies and tips to maximize Charizard’s potential in Pokemon GO:

1. IV Optimization

For raids and gym battles, prioritize Charizard with high Attack IVs (15 Attack is ideal). The Attack stat contributes most to damage output in PvE content.

For PvP battles, the ideal IVs depend on the league:

• Great League: Look for low Attack, high Defense and HP (0/15/15 is often ideal)
• Ultra League: Similar to Great League, optimize for stat product under 2500 CP
• Master League: Perfect 15/15/15 IVs are best since there’s no CP cap

2. Power Up Priority

Before investing Stardust and Candy into Charizard, consider:

• Do you have enough resources? (Powering to level 50 costs 296,000 Stardust and 296 Candy)
• Will this Pokemon fill a gap in your battle team?
• Are there better alternatives for the same role?
• Do you have the optimal moveset or need Elite TMs?

3. Team Composition

Charizard works best when paired with Pokemon that cover its weaknesses. As a Fire/Flying type weak to Water, Rock, consider adding team members that resist these types.

4. Weather Considerations

Take advantage of weather boosts:

• When catching: Weather-boosted Charizard spawns at higher levels (up to 35)
• When battling: Weather that boosts Fire moves increases your damage output
• When raiding: Spawn weather-boosted counters by raiding in appropriate weather

📚 Charizard in the Pokemon Franchise

Charizard first appeared in Generation 1 of the main Pokemon series. For more detailed lore and information about Charizard’s origins, check out Bulbapedia.

In Pokemon GO, Charizard was introduced as part of the Generation 1 Pokemon rollout. Being a Generation 1 Pokemon, Charizard has been available since the game’s launch in July 2016.

📊 How Charizard Compares

Let’s see how Charizard stacks up against other Fire-type Pokemon:

Stat	Charizard	Type Average	Rating
Attack	223	~180	⭐⭐⭐
Defense	173	~160	⭐⭐
Stamina	186	~170	⭐⭐
Max CP	2,889	~2,500	⭐⭐

🎯 Conclusion

Charizard is a versatile Fire/Flying-type Pokemon that can be a valuable addition to your Pokemon GO roster. With a max CP of 2,889 and solid base stats (223/173/186), it performs well in Ultra League PvP and can serve as a reliable raid attacker against appropriate targets.

Remember to:

• Optimize IVs based on your intended use (PvP vs PvE)
• Use the recommended moveset for maximum effectiveness
• Build a team that covers Charizard’s weaknesses
• Take advantage of weather boosts when possible

For more Pokemon guides and the complete Pokedex, visit our Pokemon GO Database. Check out our PvP Rankings for the current meta and Raid Guides for battle strategies.

Last updated: January 2026. Information based on the latest Pokemon GO game data.

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