Moves

When used with Normalium Z, Hold Hands is used to give Charizard a boost in all stats, allowing it to act as a setup sweeper. Fire Blast is Charizard's primary STAB move and can break past Pokemon like Steelix and Dhelmise, as well as some neutral targets like Xatu and Rotom at +1. Flamethrower is an option over Fire Blast for more accuracy, especially if Focus Blast is opted for over Air Slash, but the drop in power can be notable, missing out on some OHKOs like Xatu and maximum HP Rotom. Focus Blast is used to break past Miltank, Guzzlord, and Incineroar more easily, although it has issues with accuracy. Air Slash can be used over Focus Blast as a secondary STAB move to break past Fire-resistant Pokemon like Incineroar and Hariyama, as well as being a more accurate move to use against frail targets like Whimsicott with the additional bonus of causing flinches that can potentially allow Charizard to beat Pokemon that it would normally struggle with like Druddigon. Hidden Power Grass is used to beat Rhydon and Seismitoad and deal decent damage to Regirock, and it is also Charizard's best option to hit other Water-types like Slowking if using Focus Blast over Air Slash. Roost can be used to give Charizard more sustainability, allows it to use its defensive typing to be more potent and proactive early-game, and pairs nicely with Toxic Spikes; however, missing out on hitting Rock-types and Seismitoad means Hidden Power Grass is preferred. If Roost is used, Air Slash should always be chosen, as Charizard would be completely walled by Pokemon like Vaporeon and Slowking.

Set Details

Normalium Z is used so that Charizard can use Z-Hold Hands. The investment into HP and Special Defense allows Charizard to take a Hydro Vortex from Slowking with the Z-Hold Hands boost, and the Speed investment and Timid nature allows Charizard to outspeed Houndoom and everything slower than it. The rest of the EVs are put into Special Attack for more power. Blaze is the preferred ability over Solar Power, as the extra power when in range of Blaze can secure KOs like Golbat after Stealth Rock damage and Palossand. Charizard needs to be shiny to use Hold Hands.

Usage Tips

Generally, Charizard's Z-Move is best preserved for late-game when its checks like Druddigon and Guzzlord have been sufficiently weakened to the point where Charizard can potentially pull off a sweep. Thus, early-game, it is usually better to just fire off attacks; however, if Roost is chosen, Charizard can play a lot more aggressively early-game due to its increased sustainability. Similarly, in a matchup where Charizard can potentially sweep, it is best to not recklessly switch it into opposing attacks, especially if Stealth Rock is up, as a weakened Charizard is a lot more vulnerable to priority and taking damage from a Pokemon it can't OHKO. However, as Charizard is a fairly good switch-in to Pokemon like Rapid Spin Dhelmise, it is sometimes OK to switch it in early-game. When setting up, scouting for moves that could potentially threaten Charizard like Roar and Toxic from Steelix and Stone Edge on Torterra is advised.

Team Options

Strong entry hazard removers like Xatu, Rotom, and Blastoise are mandatory partners due to Charizard's vulnerability to Stealth Rock. With Charizard, two forms of removal are usually preferred because it's so imperative for Stealth Rock to be off the field. Grass-types like Whimsicott and Decidueye are good partners because they can take advantage of Charizard's Rock- and Water-type checks. Earthquake Sceptile is notable, as it can also lure in and KO some of Charizard's checks like Delphox. Dark-types, mainly Sneasel and Guzzlord, are good partners; Guzzlord can come in on Slowking, whereas Sneasel can Pursuit trap Slowking and remove Vaporeon's Leftovers with Knock Off. Charizard can form a Fire-type core with Pokemon like Magmortar and Incineroar, as they can help wear down each other's shared checks like Rhydon. Special wallbreakers like Alolan Exeggutor and Heliolisk can help chip down opposing Pokemon to put them in range of Charizard's attacks. Toxic Spikes users like Garbodor and Weezing also pair nicely with Roost Charizard because the hazard can allow Charizard to wear down and win against foes it otherwise has trouble with like non-Toxic Audino.