Let's be real for a second. Everyone wants the black dragon. It’s easily one of the coolest designs in the entire franchise, and when Mega Evolution first dropped in Pokemon Go, the hype for Mega Charizard X was through the roof. Blue flames, Dragon-typing, that edgy aesthetic—it’s got it all.
But here is the thing. If you're just using it because it looks cool, you’re probably dragging your raid group down. Or at the very least, you're missing out on some massive damage numbers.
Honestly, Charizard is a weird one because it has two Mega forms. Most Pokemon are lucky to get one. This dual-path system creates a lot of confusion, and frankly, a lot of people just default to the "cool black one" without checking the stats. It’s a classic trap.
The Dragon Typing: A Double-Edged Sword
The biggest draw of Mega Charizard X in Pokemon Go is the type change. You lose the Flying type and pick up Dragon. This is huge. Suddenly, that 4x weakness to Rock that usually makes Charizard fold like a lawn chair? Gone.
It becomes a Fire/Dragon hybrid.
That means it only takes neutral damage from Water moves too. If you’re fighting a boss with Water coverage, X is actually safer than Y. But—and this is a big but—it gains a weakness to Ground and Dragon.
In a Raid environment, being a Dragon-type means you’re often walking into a room full of bosses that also breathe Dragon moves. If you aren't careful, your shiny Mega will get deleted by a single Outrage before you even get a second Blast Burn off.
Base Stats and the "Y" Problem
Let’s look at the numbers, though I won't bore you with a spreadsheet. Mega Charizard Y has an Attack stat of 319. Mega Charizard X sits at 273.
That is a massive gap.
If you are using Charizard as a Fire-type attacker, Mega Charizard Y is strictly better in almost every single scenario. It hits harder, it has higher DPS (Damage Per Second), and it boosts other Fire types just as well. So why even bother with X?
The answer lies in its niche. X is a specialist. It’s the "budget" Dragon Mega if you don't have Mega Rayquaza or Mega Garchomp powered up. It provides a Dragon-type damage boost to everyone else in the raid. If you're running a lobby full of Salamence and Dragonite, your Charizard X is making them 30% stronger just by existing on the field.
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The Moveset You Actually Need
If you want to make charizard x pokemon go worth the Mega Energy, you have to commit to the bit. You can't just run Fire Spin.
- The Dragon Build: You need Dragon Breath (Fast) and Dragon Claw (Charged).
- The Hybrid Build: Fire Spin and Blast Burn is the "standard," but again, Y does this better.
Dragon Breath is an Elite Fast TM move. Yeah, it’s annoying. You have to spend a rare resource or wait for a special event. But without it, Charizard X is just a mediocre Fire type with a fancy coat of paint. With it? It becomes a spammy, aggressive Dragon that can bait shields in PvP or chip away at Raid bosses while boosting the heavy hitters.
Blast Burn is non-negotiable for any Charizard. If your Zard doesn't have it, don't even bother Mega evolving it for serious battles. Use an Elite Charged TM. It’s the best Fire move in the game, period.
Is It Viable in the Master League?
Short answer: Sorta.
Long answer: Mega Evolution in the GO Battle League only happens during special "Mega Master League" events. In those windows, X has a very specific role. It’s one of the few Dragons that isn't terrified of Fairy types because its Fire half resists them.
You can actually stay in against a Togekiss or a Zacian and not just instantly die. That’s a utility that Mega Rayquaza doesn't have. It’s also great for catching people off guard. Most players expect a Dragon to run away from a Charmer; Charizard X stays in and starts throwing Blast Burns.
How to Get Enough Mega Energy
Don't spend your energy the second you get 200. That’s the rookie move.
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The first time you evolve a specific Charizard, it costs a lot. After that, there’s a cooldown. If you wait for the cooldown to reset (usually a few days), the next evolution is free.
You can speed this up by walking. If you’ve Mega evolved a Charizard once, every time you walk with any Charmander, Charmeleon, or Charizard as your buddy, you earn Mega Energy.
- Raid Hard: When Mega Charizard X is in the raid rotation, do as many as possible. The faster you win, the more energy you get.
- Research Tasks: Keep an eye out for "Power up Pokemon 10 times" or similar tasks that specifically offer Charizard energy.
- The Buddy System: This is the most consistent way. Once you’re "in the system," you never really need to raid for energy again if you’re a high-volume walker.
The Verdict: When to Go Black and Blue
Look, I love the X form. It’s iconic. It’s the Pokemon that beat Mewtwo in the Origins anime. But in Pokemon Go, you have to be tactical.
Use Mega Charizard X when you are in a Raid where the boss is weak to Dragon, and you want to boost your friends' Dragon-type attacks. Or use it when the boss has Electric or Water moves that would wreck Mega Charizard Y.
If you just need raw Fire damage to melt a Mega Abomasnow or a Metagross? Switch over to Y.
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Next Steps for Your Charizard:
Check your Charizard's moves right now. If it doesn't have Blast Burn, wait for the next Team GO Rocket event or Community Day Classic to evolve a new one, or bite the bullet and use an Elite TM. If you’re planning to use the X form as a Dragon attacker, start saving that Elite Fast TM for Dragon Breath. Finally, make sure you've Mega evolved at least one Charizard to "Level 3" (Max Level) by evolving it frequently; the XL Candy bonus you get for catching other Fire and Dragon types while it's active is the real endgame reward.