The Fire type starter from Pokémon’s first generation, Charmander has been a fan-favorite Pokémon since the franchise’s beginning. Alongside Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and of course Pikachu, it helped launch what would eventually become the largest media franchise in the entire world.
As one of the first starter trio, Charmander has been available in one way or another in most games since then, and its availability has only grown as fans grow more and more nostalgic for the early days of Pokémon. Every game has a slightly different way of giving the player a Charmander, but it almost exclusively is found in its base state. Players will need to work hard to get a Charmeleon and, eventually, the famous Charizard.
8 Generation I Introduced Charmander To The Franchise
The easiest way to get a Charmander in all of Pokémon is to simply start up a game of Red or Blue. Before their Pokémon journey begins, the player will be given the opportunity to choose from among Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle by Professor Oak in Pallet Town. Their rival will, of course, choose the one that has a type advantage over them.
In Pokémon Yellow, however, the player must progress to Route 24, which leads out of Cerulean City. In the northern part of this route, the player can find a trainer who will offer them a Charmander instead of battling them.
7 Generation II Made It Tough To Get A Charmander
The Generation II games did not yet have the nostalgia for Gen I that would make Charmander a must-include in later games. As such, it is extremely difficult to acquire a Charmander in Gold, Silver, or Crystal. Back in the early 2000s, players could gain a Charmander via various in-game and real-world events. A Charmander with the move Crunch was distributed over several weekends at the New York and Osaka Pokemon Centers.
Players can also use the Time Capsule, found on the second floor of every Pokémon Center, to trade a Charmander from a Generation I game. The Virtual Console releases of Gold, Silver, and Crystal used the 3DS’s wireless communication capabilities to simulate the Game Boy’s cable-based communication, making Charmander ostensibly available in those games as well.
6 Generation III Featured The First Remakes
Generation III marked the release of the first-ever Pokémon remakes with FireRed and LeafGreen. Just like in their predecessors, players can choose to start the game with a Charmander in both of these titles.
A level ten Charmander was available for Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed, and LeafGreen via a roughly two-week-long event in February of 2006. Pokémon could be traded between the new Gen III games and the remakes, which is the easier way to get ahold of a Charmander.
5 Generation IV Featured Birthday Giveaways And New In-Game Methods
Generation IV included a lot more event Pokémon giveaways than prior generations, including several contiguous events that ran for nearly four years. From July 20, 2007 to November 3, 2010, players in Japan could come to the Tokyo Pokémon Center within three days of their birthday and receive a special Charmander.
The Generation II remakes, HeartGold and SoulSilver added an opportunity to obtain a Charmander not present in the original games. If the player returns to Pallet Town after defeating Red, Professor Oak will offer them a choice from among the three original starters. Players who have obtained the National Dex in a Generation IV game will also be able use the Pal Park feature to migrate Pokémon from a Generation III cartridge to their Generation IV game.
4 Generation V Was Entirely Reliant On The Internet
As with prior generations, the Generation V games featured several location-based events that gave away Charmanders, but the online features of these games allowed for some extra ways to distribute the Gen I starter. The Pokémon Dream World was a tie-in browser-based game that players could connect to their Black, White, Black2, or White2 save files.
The Island of Dreams area of the site featured several pre-Generation V Pokémon that could be sent back to the game. The Poké Transfer service also allows transferring from Gen IV games. Unfortunately, these methods are not very helpful for anyone looking to use a Charmander in their Generation V playthrough.
3 Generation VI Turned On The Nostalgia Machine
Generation VI marked the first time the nostalgia for Generation I Pokémon really took off. Pokémon X and Y introduced Mega Evolution and used the Kanto starters to help demonstrate the concept. After defeating Professor Sycamore early on in the game, the player can choose one of the Gen I starters to add to their party and eventually Mega Evolve. A Charmander acquired in X or Y can be traded to Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire, which is the only way to get one in those games outside of a limited-time event in 2016.
2 Generation VII Had The Most Charmanders So Far
Pokémon Sun and Moon featured no way to acquire a Charmander outside of trading, though they did feature the Generation II starters via the Island Scan feature. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, however, added a bunch of extra Pokémon, Charmander among them.
Players will need to head to Melemele Island’s Route 3 on a Sunday, where they can get ahold of a level 12 Charmander with the Counter move. Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee and Let’s Go, Pikachu made it much easier to get a Charmander than in any game before, as they can be found on Route 3, Route 4, and the Rock Tunnel, as well as being gifted by a trainer on Route 24.
1 Generation VIII Features A Prominent Charizard, And A Charmander To Match
Like Generation VI before it, Generation VIII introduced a major new in-battle mechanic and used the Generation I starters to help demonstrate it. Charizard was the only Generation I starter to receive a Gigantamax from in the base game, with the other two not arriving until the Isle of Armor DLC. After becoming the Champion, the plater can visit Leon in Postwick and be gifted a Charmander capable of Gigantamaxing. Charmander and its evolved forms can also be found in Max Raid Dens in the Hammerlocke Hills and Lake of Outrage areas of the Wild Area.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl feature the Grand Underground, an area that can be accessed after getting the Explorer Kit in Eterna City. In the Grand Underground, Charmander can be found in the Volcanic Caves, Sandsear Caves, and Typhlo Cavern after the player has obtained the National Pokédex. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the first game in the entire Pokémon franchise where Charmander is completely unobtainable.
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