Charmander

Charmander (/ˈtʃɑːrmændər/), known in Japan as Hitokage (Japanese: ヒトカゲ), is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon media franchise, and the first form of its respective evolutionary line, which includes Charmeleon and its final form Charizard. First introduced in the 1996 video games Pokémon Red and Blue, it has appeared in multiple games including Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, as well as various merchandise.

Classified as a Fire-type Pokémon, Charmander is one of the three first Pokémon available in the first games, alongside the Grass-type Pokémon Bulbasaur and Water-type Squirtle, which it is strong and weak to, respectively. It is an orange bipedal lizard with a flaming tail. In addition to its video game appearances, it also appears in the Pokémon TV series as one of protagonist Ash Ketchum's earliest Pokémon after saving it. When this Charmander evolves, it begins to disobey Ash, only becoming loyal again after Ash saves it as a Charizard.

Charmander has been generally well received, considered among the most popular Pokémon species as well as one of the best Starter Pokémon. Its popularity was attributed in part to Charizard's design, a similarly popular Pokémon. It is notably a difficult Pokémon to choose in Red and Blue due to its typing having early-game disadvantages to opponents.