You just beat Brock with a Mankey or a Butterfree. You've finally evolved that stubborn Chameleon at level 36. Now you’re staring at the move learner screen in Pokémon Fire Red, wondering if you should keep Ember or swap it for Flamethrower. It’s a classic dilemma. Most people think picking the strongest fire move is enough to carry them through the Elite Four, but they're usually wrong. Charizard is a beast, but it’s a fragile beast with some glaring weaknesses that Gen 3 mechanics don't always help.
Fire Red is a weird game. It’s a remake, but it sticks to the old-school rules where all Fire moves are special and all Rock or Flying moves are physical. This basically dictates how you have to build your Charizard moveset Fire Red style if you want to actually win without spamming Full Restores every turn.
The Problem With "Cool" Moves
We all love Blast Burn. It’s the signature move you get from Kimberly on Two Island. It has a massive 150 power. But honestly? It’s kind of a trap. Losing a turn in a high-stakes battle against Blue or Lorelei is a death sentence. While your Charizard is "recharging," a Lapras is definitely going to hit you with a 4x effective 10% chance-to-freeze Ice Beam.
👉 See also: Why Made to Order PJSK Merch is Actually Worth the Wait
Real expert players look at utility. You need a mix. Since Charizard is a Fire/Flying type, you’re looking at a base Special Attack of 109 and a base Attack of 84. That’s a significant gap. If you try to turn him into a purely physical attacker with Fly and Strength, you’re wasting his highest stat. But if you go all Special, you’re a sitting duck for specially defensive walls like Blissey or Snorlax.
The Reliable "Sweep" Build
If you want to just tear through the game, there is a specific set of moves that works 90% of the time. You need Flamethrower. Do not settle for Fire Blast unless you enjoy missing at the worst possible moment. Flamethrower is consistent. It has 95 power and 100 accuracy. You get it naturally at level 34, so there’s no reason not to have it.
Next, you need Dragon Claw. Wait, why? Because in Gen 3, Dragon moves are Special. Charizard’s high Special Attack makes Dragon Claw a perfect neutral coverage move. You find the TM for this in Victory Road. It hits almost everything in the game for at least neutral damage, which is huge when you run into Water types that resist your Fire stabs.
Then, there’s the flyer problem. Most people put Fly on Charizard because it’s convenient. It’s a 70-power physical move. It’s fine for getting around Kanto, but in a real fight, it gives the opponent a free turn to switch to a counter or set up a Reflect. If you really want a Flying move, Wing Attack is actually better for pure DPS because it hits every turn, though its power is lower.
Navigating the Physical/Special Split
It's important to remember that in 2004’s Fire Red, the physical/special split hadn’t happened yet. This is the biggest hurdle for new players. Every single Fire move uses your Special Attack stat. Every single Flying, Rock, and Ground move uses your Physical Attack stat.
This means Steel Wing—a move many people teach Charizard to cover his Rock weakness—actually uses his weaker 84 Attack stat. It’s still useful for hitting those pesky Golems or Rhydons, but don't expect it to one-shot them. You're better off using a move like Sunny Day to boost your Fire damage by 50% and weaken Water moves coming your way.
- Flamethrower: Your bread and butter. High PP, high accuracy.
- Dragon Claw: Your answer to everything that isn't a Steel type.
- Sunny Day: Essential for the Lorelei fight.
- Blast Burn / Overheat: Your "nuke" button. Use only if it's the final blow.
Why Movesets Depend on Your Nature
If you’re a casual player, you probably don't care about Natures. But if you’re trying to optimize, they matter a lot. A Modest nature boosts Special Attack and lowers Attack. If you have a Modest Charizard, forget about using moves like Earthquake or Fly in serious battles. You are a special sweeper.
On the flip side, an Adamant nature ruins your Special Attack. If you got stuck with an Adamant Charmander, you’re basically forced to use a physical build involving Earthquake (TM 26 from Giovanni) and Rock Slide. Rock Slide is a tutor move found in Rock Tunnel. It’s a pain to get, but it gives you a flinch chance that can save your life.
The Competitive Edge: Belly Drum?
There is a legendary "Belly Drum" set for Charizard. It’s high risk. High reward. You use Belly Drum, it cuts your HP in half, but it maxes out your Attack stat. If you pair this with a Salac Berry (which boosts speed when HP is low) and the move Substitute, you can technically wipe an entire team. However, in a standard Fire Red playthrough, getting a Salac Berry is nearly impossible without trading from Emerald or Ruby. Without the speed boost, a half-health Charizard is just a target.
Dealing with the Elite Four
Lorelei is the nightmare. Her Dewgong and Cloyster will eat Charizard alive. The secret? Don’t lead with him. Switch him in only after you’ve cleared the water threats. For Bruno, Charizard is a god. Wing Attack or Flamethrower will melt his Fighting types and his Onix duo.
Agatha is tricky because her Gengars are fast. This is where having Dragon Claw pays off. It hits them hard without worrying about their high physical defense or levitate. Finally, for Lance, it’s a Dragon-on-Dragon crime scene. If your Charizard is faster, Dragon Claw can put in work, but you’re usually better off letting a Lapras or Lorelei-counter handle the Dragonites.
Practical Steps for a Perfect Charizard
To get the most out of your starter, follow these specific steps during your Kanto journey.
👉 See also: Prey Kingdom Come: Why This Canceled Alien Sequel Still Hurts
First, keep Ember until you get Flamethrower. Don't waste the TM for Fire Blast early on. Second, save your Earthquake TM. Don't just slap it on Nidoking. Charizard with Earthquake is one of the few ways to deal with Electric types like Lt. Surge’s Raichu if you're in a pinch, or more importantly, Blue's Arcanine.
Third, visit the Move Reminder on Two Island. You’ll need two Tiny Mushrooms or one Big Mushroom. He can teach Charizard moves he might have missed or that you accidentally deleted, like Heat Wave (which is great in double battles, though those are rare in Fire Red).
Finally, check your hidden power. It’s a complicated mechanic based on IVs, but if you happen to get a Hidden Power Grass or Electric, you’ve hit the jackpot. It covers your Water and Rock weaknesses perfectly. Most players won't have the patience to breed for this, but it’s worth checking at the Celadon City hotel.
📖 Related: Is Warzone Shutting Down? What’s Really Happening in 2026
Go to the Move Tutor in Viridian City after beating the Elite Four if you want the ultimate move, but remember: consistency wins games, flashiness loses them. Stick to Flamethrower. Trust the math. Burn everything in your way.