How to Get Charmander in Pokémon Sword (Complete Player Guide – 2025)

If you’re playing Pokémon Sword and wondering, “Where do I get Charmander?” — you’re not alone. Charmander is one of the most requested Pokémon because eventually, it evolves into Charizard — a crowd-favorite, battle-worthy, and Gigantamax-capable monster.

But, unlike Pikachu or Wooloo, you can’t just walk into the Wild Area and see Charmander roaming around. The method is not obvious — which is why many players miss it.

This guide is written as if a gamer is talking to you, answering real questions you would actually search while playing — and walking you through every scenario.

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🎮 First — Does Charmander Even Exist in Pokémon Sword?

Yes — Charmander is available in Pokémon Sword.
BUT — you cannot:
❌ Catch it in tall grass
❌ Encounter it randomly
❌ Receive it early-game

You can:
✔ Get it as a gift from Champion Leon
✔ Catch it via Max Raid Battles
✔ Trade with players
✔ Breed it infinitely once you have one

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🥇 Method 1 — Getting Charmander From Leon (The Guaranteed & Official Way)

🧭 When does this become available?

You must complete the entire main storyline — up until you defeat Leon and see the game credits.

📍 After the final cutscene ends:

• You’ll be sent back home (Postwick)
• SAVE your game to avoid accidentally repeating credits accidentally

🗺️ Step-by-Step Walkthrough:

1️⃣ Open your map — go to Postwick (your hometown)
2️⃣ Walk down the hill → enter Hop & Leon’s house
3️⃣ Go upstairs → look in Leon’s room
4️⃣ On the floor, you’ll see a Poké Ball with a note
5️⃣ Click A, pick it up → You now OWN Charmander 🎉

📝 It will be Level 5, letting you raise it fully to Charizard your way.

🎁 What makes Leon’s Charmander special?

• It is officially gifted (collectible value)
• Comes with pre-selected IVs better than wild spawns
• Can evolve into Gigantamax Charizard once fully evolved & fed Max Soup (Isle of Armor DLC)

💡 Gamer Tip:
Before evolving, use an Everstone if you want Charmander to stay cute for pictures or Pokédex purposes!

Also Read: How to Get Zacian in Pokémon Sword ?

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⚔️ Method 2 — Max Raid Battles (Only Way to Catch One Naturally)

This method is optional, useful if:

• You want multiple Charmanders
• You want to Shiny hunt
• You aren’t done with the storyline, but want one early

🔍 Where to search in Wild Area:

Charmander appears rarely in Fire-type dens, especially:

• Lake of Outrage
• Bridge Field
• Motostoke Riverbank

⚠️ Spawn Chance: Low — expect ~1–3% on non-event days.

⛏ Strategy to increase spawn odds:

Tip	Why it helps
Use a Wishing Piece	Forces a den to activate
Change system date (soft reset method)*	Refreshes dens
Join online raid lobbies	If others find Charmander — you enter battle instantly

*Note: Time-skip resets are a known trick among players, but use them carefully to avoid berry tree limits.

🧑‍🎤 Can Charmander Gigantamax?

No — Charmander itself cannot.
Only Charizard can Gigantamax, and even then — only certain Charizards (event-based or fed Max Soup).

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🤝 Method 3 — Trading (Fastest If You’re Early-Game)

If you’re still stuck at Route 3 and people around you are showing off Charizards — don’t quit. Just trade.

🔓 How to trade in Sword:

1️⃣ Press Y → open Y-Comm
2️⃣ Click Link Trade
3️⃣ Enter code: 0047 0047 (popular Charmander-sharing code)
4️⃣ Connect to the internet → wait for a trainer

🎉 Many breeders give Charmanders away for free.

Best Places to Ask for Trades:

• Reddit r/pokemontrades
• Discord servers
• Surprise Trades (random — low chance, but sometimes lucky)

🧠 Gamer Tip:
Ask for a female Charmander — easier for breeding varieties later.

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🥚 Method 4 — Breed Your Own Charmander Army

Once you have at least ONE Charmander, you never need to hunt again.

🏪 Where to breed:

• Nursery on Route 5
• Nursery in Wild Area (Bridge Field)

⚙️ How to breed:

1️⃣ Put a female Charmander + Ditto inside nursery
2️⃣ Ride around on a bike → eggs will appear
3️⃣ Take egg → walk/cycle until it hatches
4️⃣ Repeat → infinite Charmanders

🎯 How to breed competitive Charmander:

Use items:

Item	Function
Destiny Knot	Passes 5 IVs
Everstone	Locks nature like Modest/Timid
Flame Body Pokémon (Carkol/Coalossal)	Halves egg-hatching time

🟡 Bonus: Breeding = best method for Shiny Charmander
Chance improves if you use the Masuda Method (foreign Ditto + Charmander).

Also Read: How to Get Rolycoly in Pokémon GO

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🔥 Is Getting Charmander Worth It in Sword?

Yes — especially because Charizard is STILL meta-relevant.

📊 Why gamers pick Charizard:

• High Special Attack
• Access to great competitive moves
• Excellent for Max Raid farming
• With Gigantamax — G-Max Wildfire melts teams

Beginner-friendly moveset example:

• Flamethrower – safe fire STAB
• Air Slash – flinch + flying coverage
• Solar Beam – works in Dynamax form in 1 turn
• Dragon Pulse – anti-dragon coverage

Suggested Held Items:

• Wise Glasses
• Charcoal
• Life Orb (late-game competitive)

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🏁 Final Thoughts

If you’re just starting Pokémon Sword or want to relive the magic of evolving this classic Fire-type into a roaring Charizard, getting Charmander should be at the top of your list. The guaranteed gift from Leon makes it easier than ever, and once you have even one, you can breed, trade, or battle your way to a fully powered Charizard team.

🔥 So finish the main storyline → go upstairs in Leon’s house → grab that Poké Ball → and begin your journey with Charmander once more.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions