You see it in the raid lobby. That black-and-blue dragon aesthetic. It’s easily one of the coolest designs Niantic ever brought over from the main series. But honestly? Most players are using Mega Charizard X Pokemon Go all wrong.
People see the Dragon typing and assume it’s the king of the mountain. It isn't. Not exactly. While Mega Charizard Y usually wins the raw damage contest, the X variant has a very specific, technical niche that most trainers ignore because they're too busy looking at the "Suggested" tab.
If you’ve ever felt like your Charizard was underperforming in a raid, or you’re wondering why the local pros keep a specific moveset on their black dragon, you’re in the right place. We’re going to tear down the myths and look at the actual math behind this beast.
Why Mega Charizard X Pokemon Go Is a Technical Choice
The biggest mistake you can make is treating Mega Charizard X like a generic Fire-type attacker. If you want Fire damage, you go with Y. It’s faster. It hits harder. It has higher CP.
So why even bother with X?
Typing.
When Charizard Mega Evolves into the X form, it loses its Flying type and picks up Dragon. This is a massive shift. Suddenly, those Electric-type moves that used to fry your lizard are barely a nuisance. Water moves? Neutral. Fire moves? Double resisted.
Basically, you use Mega Charizard X when you need a "tanky" offensive presence that can survive a boss's specific moveset while still boosting the rest of your team’s damage. It’s a support-carry hybrid.
The Stats That Actually Matter
Let's talk numbers, but keep it simple. At Level 50, this thing hits a Max CP of 4353.
Its Attack stat sits at 273. Defense is 213. Stamina is 186.
Compare that to Mega Charizard Y, which can soar past 5000 CP with an Attack stat of 319. See the gap? If you’re just looking for a "nuke," X isn't it. But if you’re fighting a Dragon-type boss like Zekrom that’s packing Electric moves, X stays on the field much longer.
The Moveset Trap: Don't Waste Your TMs
You’ve got to be careful with the moves here. Because Charizard has been around since the dawn of time (well, 2016), it has a library of "Legacy" moves that are hard to get.
If you want a Dragon-type attacker, you must have Dragon Breath. This is an Elite Fast Move. You can’t just use a regular TM to find it. Without it, you’re stuck with Fire Spin or Air Slash, which completely ruins the synergy of the Dragon typing.
For the Charged Move, Dragon Claw is the gold standard for X. It's spammy. You can fire it off constantly to chip away at shields in Rocket battles or just to keep the damage flowing in raids.
- Best Dragon Build: Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw
- Best Fire Build: Fire Spin + Blast Burn (though again, Y does this better)
- The "I don't have Elite TMs" Build: Fire Spin + Overheat (It’s... fine. Sorta.)
I’ve seen people try to run Outrage. Honestly? It’s too slow for Mega X. You want the agility of Dragon Claw.
Who Actually Wins? Mega Charizard X vs. The World
Raiding is where the nuance shows up. If you're going into a Mega Raid, you need to know who you're bringing.
Best Counters to Take It Down
If you are fighting a Mega Charizard X in a raid, don't bring Fire types. It’ll laugh at you. You want to exploit its three main weaknesses: Ground, Rock, and Dragon.
- Mega Rayquaza: Obviously. Dragon Tail and Outrage will melt Charizard X, but be careful—Charizard X's Dragon moves will hurt you right back.
- Primal Groudon: This is the safest bet. With Precipice Blades, Groudon deals massive damage and has the bulk to ignore most of what Charizard throws at it.
- Rampardos / Rhyperior: If you don't have the big Legendaries, go with the Rock-types. Smack Down and Rock Wrecker (for Rhyperior) are incredibly effective here.
I usually recommend a group of at least 3 high-level trainers. If you're under Level 40, bring 5 or 6 people. It’s a tanky boss.
The Shiny Hunt and Mega Energy
Let’s be real. Most of us want Mega Charizard X because it’s black.
To get a Shiny Mega Charizard X, you need to have a Shiny Charizard first. You can’t "catch" it in its Mega form. After the raid, you'll get a chance to catch a regular Charizard. If the stars align, it’ll be shiny.
As for the energy, it’s a grind. You usually get between 150 and 250 Mega Energy per raid depending on how fast you win. Since the first evolution costs 200 energy, you might need to do two raids. After that first time, the cost drops significantly, and eventually, it becomes free to evolve after a cooldown period.
Expert Strategy: The "Switch" Play
One thing I rarely see people talk about is using Mega Charizard X in the GO Battle League.
In Master League, it’s a bit of a spicy pick. It’s not meta-defining like Dialga, but it can catch people off guard. The Fire/Dragon combo is unique. You can resist the "Steel-heavy" meta while threatening Dragons with those fast-claw swipes.
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Just watch out for Ground types. Landorus will end your run very quickly.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're looking to add this to your roster, don't just jump into the next raid.
- Check your Charizard's IVs: Since Mega Evolution is an investment, make sure you're evolving a "Hundo" (100% IV) or at least something with 15 Attack.
- Save your Elite Fast TMs: If you don't have Dragon Breath, wait for a Community Day Classic event. Niantic often brings back these moves for free during evolution windows.
- Buddy Up: Once you've Mega Evolved a Charizard once, you can earn more Mega Energy by walking it as your buddy. You don't have to keep raiding if you're low on passes.
- Diversify: Build a Mega Charizard Y for raw Fire power first. Build the X variant second as your "specialist" for when you need those specific Dragon resistances.
Mega Charizard X is a masterpiece of design that requires a bit of a "brainy" approach to use effectively. It's not the strongest, but in the right weather (Windy or Sunny) and against the right boss, it’s an absolute game-changer for your raid team.