Shiny Mega Charizard Y: The Black Fire Drago Guide

Shiny Mega Charizard Y is a rare, powerful Pokémon form with distinct black body and blue flames. It has enhanced stats, the Drought ability, and is highly sought after by competitive players and collectors.

What is Shiny Mega Charizard Y?

Table of Contents

Shiny Mega Charizard Y represents one of the most visually striking and powerful Pokémon transformations in the franchise. As a shiny variant of the already impressive Mega Charizard Y, this Pokémon stands out with its distinct black body coloration and blue flames, making it instantly recognizable to fans and collectors alike. Mega Evolution, introduced in Generation VI of the Pokémon games, allows certain Pokémon like Charizard to temporarily evolve into more powerful forms during battle when holding specific Mega Stones.

Charizard, the final evolution of the starter Pokémon Charmander, has always been a fan favorite since the first generation of Pokémon games. When Game Freak introduced Mega Evolution, Charizard became one of the few Pokémon to receive two different Mega forms: Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. The shiny version of Mega Charizard Y maintains the same shape and abilities as its regular counterpart but features the distinctive black and blue color scheme that makes it highly desirable among players.

Origin and Design Features

The design of Shiny Mega Charizard Y builds upon the original Charizard while enhancing its draconic and fire-type features. While regular Mega Charizard Y has an orange body with cream-colored underside and blue wing membranes, the shiny variant displays a striking black body with a gray underside and distinctive blue flames emanating from its tail and mouth.

Mega Charizard Y’s appearance emphasizes its flying capabilities with larger wings featuring three pointed projections on each wing. Its head develops three pointed horns, with the middle horn being longer than the others. The Pokémon also gains a slimmer physique compared to regular Charizard, with a more streamlined neck and torso that enhances its aerial abilities.

The visual design of Shiny Mega Charizard Y reflects its increased power and special attack capabilities, with the blue flames signifying the intensity and unique nature of its fire-based attacks. This color variation makes it one of the most visually distinctive shiny Pokémon in the entire franchise.

How to Obtain Shiny Mega Charizard Y

Obtaining a Shiny Mega Charizard Y requires multiple steps and can be quite challenging due to the rarity factors involved. Players must first obtain a shiny Charmander, evolve it into Charizard, and then enable its Mega Evolution using the correct Mega Stone.

Finding a Shiny Charmander

The first step in obtaining Shiny Mega Charizard Y is acquiring a Shiny Charmander. There are several methods to obtain this rare Pokémon:

Random encounters: In the main series games, there’s approximately a 1/4096 chance (or 1/8192 in games before Generation VI) of encountering a shiny Pokémon in the wild. This makes randomly finding a Shiny Charmander extremely difficult.

Breeding with the Masuda Method: By breeding Pokémon from games of different language origins, players can increase the shiny odds to approximately 1/683 in newer games. This method requires patience but offers better odds than random encounters.

Chaining encounters: In certain games, repeatedly encountering the same species of Pokémon can increase the chances of finding a shiny variant.

Shiny Charm: Completing the Pokédex and obtaining the Shiny Charm item further increases the odds of encountering shiny Pokémon across all methods.

Special events: Occasionally, Nintendo distributes special event Pokémon, which might include Shiny Charmander or its evolutions.

Evolving to Charizard

Once a Shiny Charmander is obtained, it must be evolved into Charizard through the standard evolution process:

Charmander evolves into Charmeleon at level 16
Charmeleon evolves into Charizard at level 36

The shiny coloration will be maintained through each evolution stage, with Shiny Charizard displaying its distinctive black body instead of the regular orange coloration.

Obtaining the Mega Stone

To enable Mega Evolution, players need to obtain the Charizardite Y Mega Stone. The location of this item varies depending on the game:

In Pokémon X and Y, Charizardite Y can be found in Professor Sycamore’s office after defeating the Elite Four.

In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, it can be obtained from an old man in Jagged Pass after defeating the Elite Four.

In Pokémon Sun and Moon, it’s available at the Battle Tree for 64 BP (Battle Points).
In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, it can be purchased at the Battle Royal Dome for 64 BP.

Once the Mega Stone is obtained, it must be given to Charizard to hold as an item. During battle, the player can then trigger Mega Evolution once per battle, transforming Charizard into Mega Charizard Y.

Stats and Battle Capabilities

Shiny Mega Charizard Y is not just visually impressive but also a formidable battler with significant stat improvements and a powerful ability that makes it a threat in competitive play.

Base Stats Comparison

When Charizard Mega Evolves into Mega Charizard Y, it receives substantial stat boosts. Here’s how the stats change:

HP: Remains at 78
Attack: Increases from 84 to 104 (+20)
Defense: Increases from 78 to 78 (no change)
Special Attack: Increases from 109 to 159 (+50)
Special Defense: Increases from 85 to 115 (+30)
Speed: Increases from 100 to 100 (no change)
Total: Increases from 534 to 634 (+100)

The most significant improvement is in Special Attack, which increases by 50 points, making Mega Charizard Y an extremely powerful special attacker. The boost to Special Defense also improves its survivability against special attacks.

The Drought Ability

One of the most important aspects of Mega Charizard Y is its ability. Upon Mega Evolution, Charizard’s ability changes to Drought, which automatically summons harsh sunlight when it enters battle. This weather effect provides several benefits:

Boosts the power of Fire-type moves by 50%
Weakens Water-type moves by 50%
Enables Solar Beam to be used in a single turn instead of charging
Activates abilities like Chlorophyll and Solar Power

The Drought ability synergizes perfectly with Mega Charizard Y’s high Special Attack and Fire typing, allowing it to deal devastating damage with Fire-type special attacks like Fire Blast and Flamethrower.

Recommended Movesets

For competitive play, Mega Charizard Y typically runs special attacking movesets that take advantage of its high Special Attack stat and the Drought ability:

Fire Blast/Flamethrower: The primary STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move, boosted by Drought
Solar Beam: Becomes a one-turn move in sunlight, providing excellent coverage against Water-types
Air Slash/Hurricane: Provides STAB Flying-type coverage
Focus Blast/Ancient Power: For coverage against Rock-types or other threats

For EVs (Effort Values), players typically maximize Special Attack and Speed, with the remaining points in HP or Special Defense for better survivability:

252 EVs in Special Attack
252 EVs in Speed
4 EVs in HP or Special Defense

Timid nature (+Speed, -Attack) is usually preferred to ensure Mega Charizard Y outspeeds as many opponents as possible while maximizing its special attacking capabilities.

Competitive Usage and Tier Placement

Shiny Mega Charizard Y has seen significant usage in competitive Pokémon battling across various formats and generations since its introduction.

Smogon Tier History

In the Smogon competitive battling community, Mega Charizard Y has typically been classified in the OU (Overused) tier, making it one of the stronger Mega Evolutions available. Its tier placement has varied slightly across different generations:

Generation VI (X/Y, ORAS): OU tier
Generation VII (Sun/Moon, Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon): OU tier
Generation VIII (Sword/Shield): With Mega Evolution absent, Charizard relied on its Gigantamax form instead

The consistent OU placement reflects Mega Charizard Y’s effectiveness in competitive play, with its combination of high Special Attack, good Speed, and the powerful Drought ability making it a threat that teams need to prepare for.

Strengths in Competitive Play

Mega Charizard Y brings several strengths to competitive battles:

Immediate weather control through Drought
Extremely high Special Attack stat
Good Speed tier at base 100
Access to diverse special attacking moves
Ability to counter Grass, Bug, Steel, and Ice-type Pokémon effectively
Solar Beam becomes a one-turn move, providing coverage against Water-types

Weaknesses and Counters

Despite its strengths, Mega Charizard Y has several notable weaknesses that opponents can exploit:

4x weakness to Rock-type moves due to its Fire/Flying typing
Weaknesses to Water and Electric-type moves
Reliance on Mega Evolution, meaning it can’t use other items like Choice Specs
Vulnerability to Stealth Rock entry hazard (taking 50% damage upon switching in)
Susceptibility to faster Pokémon that can outspeed and KO it

Common counters to Mega Charizard Y include:

Rock-type Pokémon like Tyranitar and Rhyperior
Fast Water-types like Greninja and Keldeo
Pokémon with high Special Defense like Blissey and Chansey
Weather-changing Pokémon that can override Drought

Shiny Mega Charizard Y in Pokémon Media

Beyond the games, Shiny Mega Charizard Y has made appearances across various Pokémon media, cementing its status as an iconic Pokémon form.

Anime Appearances

While Shiny Mega Charizard Y specifically hasn’t been prominently featured in the main Pokémon anime series, Mega Charizard Y has appeared several times:

In the Pokémon XY series, Alain’s Charizard could Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard X
Trevor’s Charizard in the same series could Mega Evolve into Mega Charizard Y
Various Mega Charizard Y appearances have occurred in Pokémon movies and special episodes

The anime typically showcases the regular color variants rather than shiny forms, making Shiny Mega Charizard Y appearances rare outside of special promotional material.

Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has featured Mega Charizard Y on several powerful cards:

XY—Flashfire introduced Mega Charizard-EX (106/106), a powerful Fire-type card
Various promotional cards and special sets have included Mega Charizard Y
Shiny variants of Mega Charizard Y have appeared in special sets like “Shining Legends” and “Hidden Fates”

These cards are often highly sought after by collectors, with the shiny variant cards commanding premium prices in the secondary market.

Merchandise and Collectibles

As one of the most popular Pokémon forms, Shiny Mega Charizard Y has inspired numerous merchandise items:

Limited edition figurines and statues
Plush toys
Clothing and accessories
Trading cards
Promotional items for Pokémon anniversaries and special events

The distinctive black and blue coloration of Shiny Mega Charizard Y makes it particularly appealing for merchandise, with many collectors specifically seeking out items featuring this rare form.

Differences Between Mega Charizard X and Y

Charizard is unique among Pokémon for having two different Mega Evolutions, each with distinct appearances, typing, and battle strategies.

Visual Differences

Mega Charizard X:
Changes to black and blue coloration in its regular form
Gains blue flames from its mouth and tail
Develops more pronounced spikes and a more muscular build
Has blue flames coming from the sides of its mouth

Mega Charizard Y:
Maintains the original orange coloration (black in shiny form)
Develops a more sleek, aerodynamic body
Grows larger wings with pointed tips
Gains three horns on its head
Has a single flame on its tail

In their shiny forms, Mega Charizard X is primarily black with blue flames, while Shiny Mega Charizard Y is black with blue flames instead of red.

Type and Ability Differences

Mega Charizard X:
Changes typing from Fire/Flying to Fire/Dragon
Gains the Tough Claws ability, which boosts the power of contact moves by 30%
Benefits from physical attacking strategies

Mega Charizard Y:
Maintains the original Fire/Flying typing
Gains the Drought ability, which automatically summons harsh sunlight
Excels with special attacking strategies

These differences lead to entirely different battle approaches, with Mega Charizard X focusing on physical attacks like Dragon Claw and Flare Blitz, while Mega Charizard Y utilizes special attacks like Fire Blast and Solar Beam.

Stat Distribution Differences

While both Mega Evolutions receive a +100 boost to their base stat total, the distribution differs significantly:

Mega Charizard X gains:
+46 Attack
+33 Defense
+21 Special Attack
No change to HP, Special Defense, or Speed

Mega Charizard Y gains:
+20 Attack
+50 Special Attack
+30 Special Defense
No change to HP, Defense, or Speed

These stat differences reinforce their different battle roles, with X being a physical attacker and Y being a special attacker.

Collecting and Trading Value

Shiny Mega Charizard Y holds significant value in the Pokémon collecting and trading community due to its rarity and popularity.

Rarity Factors

Several factors contribute to Shiny Mega Charizard Y’s rarity:

The base 1/4096 chance of encountering a shiny Pokémon
The difficulty of obtaining Charmander in some games
The need to find or purchase the specific Mega Stone
The limited availability of Mega Evolution in newer games

These factors combine to make legitimate Shiny Mega Charizard Y Pokémon relatively rare in the trading community.

Trading Value in Online Communities

In online trading communities like r/PokemonTrades or various Discord servers, Shiny Mega Charizard Y (or rather, a Shiny Charizard holding Charizardite Y) typically commands high value:

Often traded for other shiny Pokémon, particularly other shiny starters or legendaries
Valued higher if it has good IVs (Individual Values), the right nature, and egg moves
May be worth multiple regular shiny Pokémon in trades
Legitimately obtained specimens with proof of origin are valued higher than those with questionable origins

The trading value can fluctuate based on the current games and events, with value typically increasing when Mega Evolution is featured prominently in the current generation.

Collecting Tips

For those looking to add Shiny Mega Charizard Y to their collection:

Focus on obtaining a legitimate Shiny Charmander through breeding or encounters
Verify the legitimacy of traded Pokémon by checking OT (Original Trainer) information and capture details
Consider the IVs and nature if planning to use it competitively
Keep track of which games have Mega Evolution available
Participate in events that might distribute Shiny Charmander or Charizard
Consider using Pokémon HOME to transfer Pokémon between compatible games

Shiny Mega Charizard Y in Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO implemented Mega Evolution in August 2020, allowing players to temporarily Mega Evolve their Pokémon, including Charizard.

Mega Evolution Mechanics in Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, Mega Evolution works differently than in the main series games:

Players need Mega Energy specific to each Pokémon species to trigger Mega Evolution
Mega Energy is obtained by defeating Mega Raid Bosses or completing certain research tasks
Once evolved, Mega Pokémon remain in their Mega form for a limited time (initially 4 hours)
After the first Mega Evolution, subsequent evolutions cost less Mega Energy
With the “Mega Level” system, players can increase benefits and reduce costs by repeatedly Mega Evolving the same Pokémon

Obtaining Shiny Mega Charizard Y in Pokémon GO

To get Shiny Mega Charizard Y in Pokémon GO, players need:

A Shiny Charizard, which can be obtained from:

Shiny Charmander from wild encounters, research rewards, or Community Day events
Evolving a Shiny Charmander through Charmeleon to Charizard (requires 125 Candy total)
Rarely, finding a Shiny Charizard directly in the wild or raids

Sufficient Charizard Mega Energy (initially 200 energy for the first evolution)

In Pokémon GO, players can choose whether to Mega Evolve their Charizard into Mega Charizard X or Y, with the option to switch between forms if they have sufficient Mega Energy.

Battle Performance in Pokémon GO

Mega Charizard Y is one of the strongest Fire-type attackers in Pokémon GO:

High Attack stat makes it excellent for raids and Gym battles
Provides a same-type attack bonus to other Fire and Flying-type Pokémon in the same raid
Vulnerable to Rock, Electric, and Water-type attacks
Best moves typically include Fire Spin and Blast Burn (Community Day exclusive move) or Overheat

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shiny Mega Charizard Y stronger than regular Mega Charizard Y?

No, Shiny Mega Charizard Y has exactly the same stats, abilities, and movepool as regular Mega Charizard Y. The only difference is the coloration, with the shiny variant having a black body and blue flames instead of the regular orange body and red flames. Shininess in Pokémon is purely cosmetic and does not affect battle performance.

Which is better, Mega Charizard X or Mega Charizard Y?

Neither is objectively better; they serve different roles in battle. Mega Charizard X is a physical attacker with Fire/Dragon typing and the Tough Claws ability, while Mega Charizard Y is a special attacker with Fire/Flying typing and the Drought ability. The “better” choice depends on your team composition, the threats you need to counter, and your preferred battle style.

Can you transfer Shiny Mega Charizard Y between games?

You can transfer Shiny Charizard between compatible games using services like Pokémon Bank and Pokémon HOME. However, the Mega Stone (Charizardite Y) often cannot be transferred and must be obtained separately in each game. Additionally, some newer games like Sword and Shield don’t feature Mega Evolution, so while you can transfer the Charizard, it cannot Mega Evolve in those games.

How rare is Shiny Mega Charizard Y?

Shiny Mega Charizard Y is quite rare due to multiple factors. The base chance of encountering a Shiny Pokémon in modern games is approximately 1/4096, making Shiny Charmander already difficult to obtain. Additionally, you need to evolve it twice and acquire the specific Charizardite Y Mega Stone.

In Pokémon GO, the shiny rate for Charizard in raids is approximately 1/20, but you still need sufficient Mega Energy to transform it. These combined factors make Shiny Mega Charizard Y one of the more challenging Pokémon forms to obtain legitimately.

Samantha Yates

Samantha Yates is a creative writer and journalist with expertise in content creation and editing. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and brings professional experience from Lionbridge, where she developed engaging content for leading technology companies