Every Charizard Trainer in the Pokemon Anime, Ranked

For generations, fans of all ages have been dazzled by the amazing world of Pokemon. Since the franchise’s debut in the late nineties, Pokémon media is no longer limited to just the mainline games. There are now spin-off games, manga volumes, and even a long-running anime that remains a childhood favorite for many anime fans worldwide.

One of the oldest and most popular Pokémon in the media is Charizard, the Flame Pokémon. This dragon-like Pokémon, though it is rare, has still appeared alongside many powerful Trainers in the anime. However, there are some Trainers that have become especially legendary thanks to their work alongside their Fire/Flying-type Pokémon friends.

Corey and Don Regain Their Confidence

Casey Helps the Duo With Their Own Goals

Corey Demario, a character of the day appearing in “Those Darn Electabuzz!”, encounters Pokémon Trainer Casey during her adventures in Pokémon Chronicles, a series of episodes depicting various side stories. Casey is shown to be a big fan of Corey, thanks to his past as a star player for the Electabuzz baseball team. However, following a shoulder injury, Corey gave up on the sport. It is later revealed that Corey’s shoulder has since healed, but he is afraid to continue his career.

Corey’s brother, Benny, is trying to take care of a Charizard named Don, who once belonged to Corey himself. However, like its former Trainer, Don lacks confidence, and is even too nervous to fly or use Fire-type moves. Thankfully for the two of them, Casey works hard to act as a cheerleader for both so that they may accomplish their dreams. In the end, Corey returns to his career as a baseball player, and Don is shown flying high in the sky above him as he regains his star status.

Clark Is Known as the “Conductor”

This Unique Trainer “Conducts” His Pokemon’s Moves

Ash’s adventures in the Hoenn region and beyond introduced him to many new Pokémon friends, including Grovyle, Swellow and Torkoal. As his team grows stronger, Ash soon becomes a contestant at the Ever Grande Conference. There, he meets several powerful opponents, including the Pokémon Trainer Clark. “The Conductor”, as Clark was called, used a baton to “conduct” his Pokémon’s moves, a majority of them being Fire-type moves.

Aside from his Quilava, Clark also had a Charizard in his roster. The two Fire-type Pokémon were used against Ash’s Grovyle and Glalie in a double battle, with both Pokémon at a severe disadvantage. Though Quilava was defeated by Grovyle, the Grass-type was defeated by Clark’s Charizard, thanks to its Fire-type and Flying-type moves. However, the Flame Pokémon was later defeated by Glalie after it used its Ice-type moves to confuse Charizard.

Trevor Is a Photographer as Well as a Trainer

Trevor Vows To Complete the Pokédex

Image via OLM

In Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, the player character, alongside their rival, depart on a journey with three other new Trainers. One of these new Trainers is Trevor, a boy from Lumiose City. Similar to the Gym Leader Viola, Trevor is a photographer as well as a Trainer. Aside from taking fantastic photos, Trevor is also adamant about filling in his Pokédex as soon as possible. Thus, he travels to meet as many new Pokémon as he can.

In the anime, Trevor receives a Charmander as his partner Pokémon from Professor Sycamore. Charmander, upon evolving into Charmeleon, became even more energetic to the point that it became aggressive. Thankfully, by the point it evolved into Charizard, it lost its aggressive streak but retained its fierce battling spirit. Later in the series, Trevor receives a Key Stone and Charizardite Y, allowing his partner Pokémon to Mega Evolve into Mega Charizardite Y.

Liza Watches Over the Charicific Valley

Liza Has Trained Many Charizard During Her Career

Image via OLM

Hidden away in the Johto region is the Charicific Valley, a legendary canyon where many Charizard live. Some Charizard simply stay at the valley to grow stronger, while others remain there for life in order to protect it. One permanent resident of the Charicific Valley is Charla, a female Charizard who works alongside her Trainer Liza. A tough and ambitious Trainer, Liza strongly believes that the key to helping a Pokemon become more powerful is mutual respect between it and its Trainer.

Aside from training Charla and several other Charizard, Liza became the temporary Trainer for Ash’s Charizard later on. Charizard, after both he and Ash noticed how he was a bit weaker compared to the Charizard in the valley, decided to remain there for a time in order to get stronger. During his stay with Liza, Charizard learned how to make use of several moves, and gained even better control of his Fire-type abilities. Charizard never forgot his time spent with Liza nor Charla, and remained a loyal friend to them both.

Kiawe Uses a Charizard as a Means of Transportation

The Flame Pokémon Was a Gift From Kiawe’s Grandfather

In the Generation VII games, Kiawe is the captain of the trial at the Wela Volcano Park on Akala Island. As one may expect from the location of his trial, Kiawe specializes in Fire-type Pokémon. However, in the Pokémon anime, Kiawe is instead a student at the Pokémon School on Melemele Island, where Ash attends during his stay in the Alola region. Like his game and manga counterparts, Kiawe still specializes in Fire-type Pokémon.

Kiawe’s partner Pokémon throughout the media are Turtonator and Marowak. However, he is also shown alongside a Charizard of his own, given to him by his grandfather as a gift. This relaxed Charizard is often shown to be an easygoing Pokémon, and even helps out Kiawe and his family with deliveries. However, it is also a very powerful Pokémon, capable of using intense Z-Moves such as Inferno Overdrive.

Alain Nearly Went Down a Dark Path

Alain Is Rarely Seen Without Mega Charizard X

Alain is first seen in the Pokémon anime via the Mega Evolution Specials, side stories relating to the main narrative in Pokémon the Series: XY. Prior to the start of the special episodes, Alain was Professor Sycamore’s assistant, as well as a trainer to a Charmander. However, a meeting with Lysandre would change his life and later drive him away from his position at Professor Sycamore’s laboratory. Since then, Alain and his Charizard have been traveling the Pokémon world, determined to understand the secrets of Mega Evolution.

Alain’s partner Pokémon, Charizard, is capable of Mega Evolving into Mega Charizard X. In this state, the Flame Pokémon takes on a drastically new appearance and becomes a Fire/Dragon-type, as opposed to a Fire/Flying-type. Even as Alain’s loyalty to Lysandre leads him to a near-tragic fate, Charizard, as well as Alain’s other allies, never give up on him. Following the fall of Team Flare, Alain and Charizard have turned over a new leaf and are continuing to battle together, even making it to the Masters Eight Tournament.

Leon Is the Champion of the Galar Region

Leon’s Charizard Is Capable of Gigantamaxing

Image via OLM

In Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, the player is introduced to Hop, the player character’s childhood friend and their main rival for the games. As the main character grew up with Hop, they are also familiar with Leon, Hop’s energetic older brother, who just so happens to also be the Galar Champion. Though Scorbunny, Grookey and Sobble are usually the starter Pokémon for new Trainers in Galar, Leon’s first Pokémon was a Charmander instead. In the present day, Leon’s Charizard is a force of nature and his loyal ace.

All Pokémon in the Galar region, at specific spots, are able to Dynamax, during which they grow in size and strength. However, a select few are born with the Gigantamax Factor, which gives them a unique design and exclusive moves. Leon’s Charizard is just one of these lucky few Pokémon, gaining wings made of fire whenever it transforms. It was also Ash and Pikachu’s final opponent in the Masters Eight Tournament, though it was defeated by the Mouse Pokémon after an incredibly fierce battle.

One of Friede’s Partner Pokémon Is a Charizard

Friede Has Known Charizard Longer Than Captain Pikachu

At the very start of Pokémon Horizons: The Series, new Pokémon Trainer Liko meets Friede, a Pokémon Professor with an adventurous spirit. So adventurous, in fact, that Friede helped found the Rising Volt Tacklers and even acted as its leader for a long period of time. After his sudden disappearance, the Rising Volt Tacklers temporarily disbanded until the former members reunited. He has since returned, but due to his dedication to space exploration, Friede has left the role of leader in Roy’s hands for the time being.

Friede has not one, but two partner Pokémon, the most recognizable being Captain Pikachu. However, Friede has traveled alongside his Charizard for even longer. Alongside its Trainer, Charizard disappeared to parts unknown, and was not heard of from until about a year later. They remain a formidable fighting duo, both in terms of battles on land and in the sky.

Mewtwo Created Clones of Several Powerful Pokemon

Ash’s Charizard Was Forced To Fight His Clone

After recovering traces of DNA belonging to the Mythical Pokémon Mew, Team Rocket’s scientists, under orders from Giovanni, work to create an enhanced clone known as Mewtwo. Upon waking up in the real world for the first time, Mewtwo is disgusted to learn of how its creators simply see it as a tool. Thus, the Psychic-type sets out on a path to destroy humanity, and any Pokémon who dare to aid them. In the mind of Mewtwo, only it deserves the title of a Pokémon Master.

Upon capturing several Pokémon, including Ash’s Charizard, Mewtwo uses its technology to create several clones. These Pokémon, including the clone Charizard, prove to be especially formidable Pokémon. It is only thanks to the sudden intervention of Ash that Mewtwo finally stops the brutal fighting and reflects on its actions. The last the audience sees of Mewtwo, and its clone Pokémon, is when they depart into the sky.