STATUS: Added a revised Overview section, and added some information about Charmander's counters (IE, anyone with priority not named Ice Shard).
[Overview]
<p>Though one of Pokemon's most cherished and beloved characters, our friend Charmander is dreadfully outclassed in the Little Cup environment. As a Fire-type, it is surprisingly versatile, being among the only Pokemon of its type with access to such boosting moves as Dragon Dance as Swords Dance, as well as helpful coverage moves like Rock Slide and Dragon Claw. Unfortunately, despite these interesting perks, poor Charmander suffers a mediocre offensive stat spread and an appalling lack of priority, and therefore a massive weakness to priority itself. Overall, Charmander finds itself to be an inferior option when compared to such Pokemon as Magby, Houndour, and Bagon. </p>
[SET]
name: Dragon Dancer (3 Attacks)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Thunderpunch
move 4: Brick Break
item: Oran Berry
ability: Blaze
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 180 Atk / 12 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> </p>
[SET]
name: Dragon Dancer (Sub-Liechi)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Substitute
item: Liechi Berry
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 44 HP / 180 Atk / 12 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A different variation of the Dragon Dance set; it requires a little more setting up, but once it has, this Charmander caps out at 28 Attack and 25 speed, outspeeding the 24-speed scarfers and giving it a little extra punch. Since the tradeoff of Substitute for an attacking moveslot is necessary for this set to work, Dragon Claw will get you the best neutral coverage with Fire Punch. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> </p>
[Team Options]
<p></p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Charmander runs a decent Choice Scarf set with Overheat, Flamethrower, Hidden Power (Grass) and Rock Slide. The lattermost move is desirable for Charmander, as he is the only Fire-type with the move and it enables him to nail Houndour, Ponyta, and Mantyke switch-ins for super effective damage, but the set is outclassed for the most part by Scarf Houndour, who gets better neutral coverage with its own dual STAB, and Magby, who has the raw stats to sweep without needing a Choice Scarf.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Anyone with Aqua Jet is a capable counter to Charmander. Carvanha, Totodile, Kabuto, Buizel, Squirtle, and anyone else with the move pick Charmander off easily, especially since Charmander is bound to have taken passive damage in the form of Stealth Rock damage or Life Orb / Flare Blitz recoil, and for that matter, virtually any priority move is capable of finishing Charmander off, especially in the case of the Sub-Dragon Dance set.</p>
[Overview]
<p>Though one of Pokemon's most cherished and beloved characters, our friend Charmander is dreadfully outclassed in the Little Cup environment. As a Fire-type, it is surprisingly versatile, being among the only Pokemon of its type with access to such boosting moves as Dragon Dance as Swords Dance, as well as helpful coverage moves like Rock Slide and Dragon Claw. Unfortunately, despite these interesting perks, poor Charmander suffers a mediocre offensive stat spread and an appalling lack of priority, and therefore a massive weakness to priority itself. Overall, Charmander finds itself to be an inferior option when compared to such Pokemon as Magby, Houndour, and Bagon. </p>
[SET]
name: Dragon Dancer (3 Attacks)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Flare Blitz
move 3: Thunderpunch
move 4: Brick Break
item: Oran Berry
ability: Blaze
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 180 Atk / 12 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p> </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> </p>
[SET]
name: Dragon Dancer (Sub-Liechi)
move 1: Dragon Dance
move 2: Fire Punch
move 3: Dragon Claw
move 4: Substitute
item: Liechi Berry
ability: Blaze
nature: Jolly
evs: 44 HP / 180 Atk / 12 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>A different variation of the Dragon Dance set; it requires a little more setting up, but once it has, this Charmander caps out at 28 Attack and 25 speed, outspeeding the 24-speed scarfers and giving it a little extra punch. Since the tradeoff of Substitute for an attacking moveslot is necessary for this set to work, Dragon Claw will get you the best neutral coverage with Fire Punch. </p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p> </p>
[Team Options]
<p></p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Charmander runs a decent Choice Scarf set with Overheat, Flamethrower, Hidden Power (Grass) and Rock Slide. The lattermost move is desirable for Charmander, as he is the only Fire-type with the move and it enables him to nail Houndour, Ponyta, and Mantyke switch-ins for super effective damage, but the set is outclassed for the most part by Scarf Houndour, who gets better neutral coverage with its own dual STAB, and Magby, who has the raw stats to sweep without needing a Choice Scarf.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Anyone with Aqua Jet is a capable counter to Charmander. Carvanha, Totodile, Kabuto, Buizel, Squirtle, and anyone else with the move pick Charmander off easily, especially since Charmander is bound to have taken passive damage in the form of Stealth Rock damage or Life Orb / Flare Blitz recoil, and for that matter, virtually any priority move is capable of finishing Charmander off, especially in the case of the Sub-Dragon Dance set.</p>