Charizard - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

Charizard Movesets in Other Games
SV	SWSH

This is a strategy guide for using Charizard in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Charizard, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Charizard - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle	Gigantamax Charizard

Basic Information for Charizard

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Charizard
Abilities
Blaze	Powers up Fire-type moves in a pinch
Solar Power (Hidden)	In sunshine, Sp.Atk is boosted but HP decreases.

Charizard Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
78	84	78	109	85	100

Best Nature for Charizard

Best Natures
Timid (+Spd, -Atk)	Modest (+SpAtk, -Atk)

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Charizard

Dynamax Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values	HP 153 / Def 98 / Sp.Atk 161 / Sp.Def 106 / Spd 167
Ability	Solar Power
Held Item	Weakness Policy / Life Orb / Expert Belt
Moveset	・Blast Burn ・Hurricane ・Solar Beam ・Dragon Pulse

Thanks to Dynamaxing, Charizard is able to take hits even from attacks it is weak to, and by using Max Flare it's able to put its Hidden Ability, Solar Power, to good use. Solar Power provides a Special Attack boost in harsh sunlight, which Max Flare provides, allowing Charizard to dish out massive damage without needing a turn to set up a boosting move. And with Max Airstream on deck too, Charizard can boost its Speed to ensure it attacks first, making it a menace of a Special Attacker.

Other Viable Moves

Flamethrower	For those who don't trust Fire Blast's low accuracy. The power drop hurts, but this is the way to go if you definitely want to land a hit.
Air Slash	A Flying-type move used primarily as Max Airstream.
Scorching Sands	A Ground-type move that gives Charizard coverage against Heatran.
Will-O-Wisp	For facing down Charizard's weak point, Physical attackers, after its Dynamax runs out. Helpful for switching out into another Pokemon.

Gigantamax Build

Nature	Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread	Sp.Atk 252 / Sp. Def 4 / Spd 252
Final Stat Value	HP 153 / Def 98 / Sp Atk. 161 / Sp Def. 106 / Spd 167
Ability	Blaze or Solar Power
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Blast Burn ・Hurricane ・Solar Beam ・Dragon Pulse

This build focuses around Charizard's ability to deal massive damage witth G-Max Wildfire with a Life Orb and added damage over time. Regardless of type, Charizard can put out plenty of damage with any of its moves while Gigantamaxed.

Other Viable Moves

Flamethrower	For those who don't trust Fire Blast's low accuracy. The power drop hurts, but this is the way to go if you definitely want to land a hit.
Air Slash	A Flying-type move used primarily as Max Airstream.
Scorching Sands	A Ground-type move that gives Charizard coverage against Heatran.
Will-O-Wisp	For facing down Charizard's weak point, Physical attackers, after its Dynamax runs out. Helpful for switching out into another Pokemon.

How to Use Charizard Effectively

A Special attacker who rules in the harsh sunlight

Charizard's Hidden Ability Solar Power allows it to deal damage it normally would not be able to given its Base Stats. In Sword & Shield, Max Flare allows it to set up harsh sunlight automatically, and Max Airstream allows it to boost its speed, making Charizard able to set itself up to sweep without needing the support of its team.

Counters for Charizard

Weakness

Hit hard with super effective moves

As a Fire/Flying-type Pokemon, Charizard is weak to the comparatively common attacking types Rock and Electric. Its 4x weakness to Rock-type moves in particular makes Charizard susceptible to one-hit knockouts even in its Dynamax form.

Pokemon	Description
Zapdos	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Easily KOs Charizard with STAB super effective Thunderbolt ・Defensive variants can paralyze Charizard with Discharge Moveset & Best Build for Zapdos
Nihilego	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Easily KOs Charizard with Meteor Beam ・A popular lead POkemon that gets stronger thanks to Beast Boost Moveset & Best Build for Nihilego
Landorus (Therian Forme)	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Offensive variants can easily KOs Charizard with Stone Edge Moveset & Best Build for Landorus
Rhyperior	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Easily KOs Charizard even after Dynamax or Gigantamaxing with Stone Edge ・Can survive Charizard's Solar Beam with Assault Vest and its Solid Rock Ability Moveset & Best Build for Rhyperior
Primarina	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Liquid Voice Ability allows it to use Hyper Voice to easily KO Charizard ・Can survive Charizard's Solar Beam with Assault Vest Moveset & Best Build for Primarina
Dracozolt	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Choice Scarf variants easily outspeeds Charizard and KOs it with boosted Bolt Beak ・Needs to watch out for Charizard's Dragon-type coverage moves Moveset & Best Build for Dracozolt

Change the Weather to cool its fury

When Charizard is out of the harsh sunlight, it can't use its full power. Using another weather-changing Dynamax move or a Pokemon with a weather-based Ability can turn the tides of battle.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Its Ability Sand Stream can change the Weather to Sandstorm, weakening Charizard and raising its own Special Defense ・Can deal 4x super effective damage with Rock-type Moves Tyranitar Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
Hippowdon	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Its Ability Sand Stream can change the Weather to Sandstorm, weakening Charizard and raising its own Special Defense ・Can deal 4x hazard damage (50% max HP) with Stealth Rock if used before Charizard switches in

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle ## Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Tier List		Best Builds		Series 10 List of Contenders
Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

Best Builds for Returning Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for Returning Pokemon
Mimikyu	Wash Rotom	Gyarados
Ferrothorn	Aegislash	Excadrill
Tyranitar	Hydreigon	Heat Rotom
Arcanine	Mamoswine	Toxapex
Togekiss	Cloyster	Durant
Snorlax	Charizard	Sylveon
Lucario	Hippowdon	Umbreon
Conkeldurr	Quagsire	Gastrodon
Lapras	Whimsicott	Rhyperior
Goodra	Haxorus	Glaceon
Mow Rotom	Type: Null	Gengar
Milotic	Gardevoir	Flygon
Chandelure	Lanturn	Torkoal
Bisharp	Seismitoad	Silvally
Butterfree	Primarina	Incineroar
Blastoise	Decidueye	Venusaur
Darmanitan	Alolan Ninetales	Gothitelle
Crawdaunt	Clefable	Reuniclus
Kommo-o	Terrakion	Cobalion
Virizion	Noivern	Fan Rotom
Toxicroak	Pelipper	Jellicent
Celebi	Clefairy	Hitmontop
Diggersby	Ditto	Raichu
Hawlucha	Shiftry	Tsareena
Ludicolo