Despite being several generations old, Charizard is still a good addition to any team. Furthermore, with Generation 9’s new Terastallization gimmick, players can turn their Charizard into the dragon it was always meant to be. There are currently no Charmanders in the wild, so it is still a bit tricky to get a Charizard, though it is possible thanks to a recent Tera Raid event. Seeing it now highlights how much attention Game Freak is still giving the classic starter.

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Charizard Gets a Touch-Up in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Paldea’s wilderness is full of new critters for players to discover. In addition to the starters, there are already a few creatures that have become superstars. This includes powerful new additions like Tinkaton, as well as Pokemon like Scovillain that introduce never-before-seen type combinations. Some Pokemon from older generations have also been lucky enough to make the leap to Paldea, including beloved classics such as Psyduck and Primeape. Charizard also returns, though Game Freak has given the beast extra attention.

In prior Switch titles such as Sword and Shield, Charizard’s in-game model features the Fire/Flying-type monster hovering above the ground with its orange scales looking a little muted. In Scarlet and Violet, its look has been touched up. The creature now stands firmly on the ground and its orange skin is a little brighter. Its face has also been given additional detail, helping to seal its ferocious look. The result is that while it has the round shape that characterizes most Pokemon, it still looks like a fearsome foe. Only a handful of Pokemon have been lucky enough to have their in-game models significantly updated following Sword and Shield, and it shouldn’t be too surprising that this is one of the chosen few, as Charizard has been a favorite of fans and Game Freak for years.

Pokemon Loves Charizard

This is far from the only time Charizard has been given special attention, and it is easy to argue that the Pokemon has become overrepresented. In Pokemon X and Y, Charizard received two mega forms, a privilege not extended to the other Generation 1 starters. It also received a Gigantamax form in Sword and Shield, giving players even more reason to make use of it. Although it is not one of the Pokemon that received a paradox form thus far, the additional details its in-game model has received demonstrate that developers still have the beast on their minds. Fans can’t seem to get enough of Charizard, either. Pokemon TCG cards that feature the orange creature have historically been one of the most coveted, rivaling heavy hitters like Pikachu and Mewtwo. First-edition Charizard cards have been known to sell for as high as $420,000.

Charizard has become as much of a series mascot as Pikachu, which is why developers care about it so deeply. The Pokemon was made available for players to catch during a Tera Raid in December 2022. Once the newest generations have been linked to Pokemon Home, players should also be able to import any Charizards they have from prior generations, and it will undoubtedly continue to fill teams for years to come.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.

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