Mega Charizard X vs Mega Charizard Y

[Joshawott]

So, with the start of Generation VI, Charizard has the dubious honour of receiving not one Mega Evolution, but two. One of them is black and spews blur fire, while the other one looks more stream lined (because of the belief it'll go faster? As they share the same speed though, nope. Should have put some lightning bolt stripes on it or something - Zebstrika knows what that's about).
Despite both Mega Evolving from Charizard, the two are fundamentally different though:

Mega Charizard X:
Ability: Tough Claws (Moves that make physical contact have their power increased by 33%).
Base Stats: 78/130/111/130/85/100
Type: Fire/Dragon

Mega Charizard Y:
Ability: Drought (When this Pokémon enters the field, it summons heavy sunlight that lasts for 5 turns)
Base Stats: 78/104/78/159/115/100
Type: Fire/Flying

The question is though: Which Mega Charizard do you prefer using?

Personally, as a VGC player I've noticed that Mega Charizard Y is pretty popular. This could be because VGC is usually a weather dominated format and a way to shut out rain - with priority, can be pretty handy. Also, a Drought-boosted Heat Wave tends to be pretty nasty.

I've experimented with both Mega Evolutions and personally, I find that M-Charizard Y's biggest weakness is the same that plagued regular Charizard - it's vulnerability to rock-type moves. Admittedly, M-Charizard X is still weak to Rock, but it being 2x instead of 4x can make a huge difference. The difference in typing is interesting to compare, with M-Charizard X gaining the ability to resist Electric and totally wall other Fire-types, while cancelling out its Water weakness. The type change though, does mean M-Charizard X swaps its Ground immunity for a weakness and loses the ability to resist Fairy.

In practice though, I've found that as M-Charizard Y is still fairly popular, many people expect mine to carry a Charizardite Y, so they will throw a Thunderbolt my way. I've also found that depending on the situation, switching in a Charizard can actually be a rather tactical play, as it has opened up situations where I've had my opponent on edge about which way it will Mega Evolve that I've been able to take advantage of. For example, I'd had occasions where a Garchomp has used Rock Slide, not expecting me to Mega Evolve into M-Charizard X, survive it and then 1HKO Garchomp with a Dragon Claw.

Personally, I've retired my M-Charizard Y in favour of an X, because I've found that when it packs Rock Slide, it can quickly deal with both M-Charizard Y and pesky Talonflame (all I need is my Meowstic's Quick Guard to protect me from a priority Brave Bird). I found it really useful in this weekend's International Challenge.

What about you? Do you prefer to use Mega Charizard X or Mega Charizard Y?

 

[TerraTF]

Overall M-Charizard Y is better. It's a Pokemon meant to hit hard and hit fast and it does just that. You normally never see it as a sun setter. It's either a lead or a Revenge Killer.

I've had a short stint with M-Charizard Y but I try to stay away from the starter Mega's because they're generally too overused.

 

[UB-01 Kenobi]

Overall M-Charizard Y is better. It's a Pokemon meant to hit hard and hit fast and it does just that. You normally never see it as a sun setter. It's either a lead or a Revenge Killer.

I've had a short stint with M-Charizard Y but I try to stay away from the starter Mega's because they're generally too overused.

Um no. CharX is better. More versatile, stronger, bulkier, less Stealth Rock weak, can boost with Dragon Dance (Char Y gets what... Flame Charge?)

 

[Joshawott]

Overall M-Charizard Y is better. It's a Pokemon meant to hit hard and hit fast and it does just that. You normally never see it as a sun setter. It's either a lead or a Revenge Killer.

So if it's never a sun-setter, but is often a lead...how does that work? I mean, when it Mega Evolves, it kicks up Drought automatically. Unless you mean that it's not really used in sun team and mainly uses the sun to boost its own moves and no one else's?

In which case, I see that happen in VGC too, but it can also be a tactical killer of an opponent's weather.

 

[Nick102]

I'm kind of torn between the two of them actually. I like how X made Charizard part Dragon type and even like it's design, but I like Y for keeping a more consistent skin color with normal Charizard and it's pre-evolutions, as well as for it's Drought ability.

 

[Aestivate]

I play VGC exclusively and I still feel like Charizard-Y holds the advantage. You need very specific strategies to shut down the sun but once it goes up and you don't have a counter for it, taking sun-boosted heat waves from 159 sp. atk is really not fun. I like Zard-X and I think the sun bluff is a useful niche because you can catch people off guard but there are better dragon-types. That being said, I think Zard-X wins the award for best physical fire-type tho.

 

[SharKing]

I've yet to actually try Megazard Y, so my opinion of the two isn't actually complete, but I've definitely taken a liking to Megazard X. My Megazard X, nicknamed Bahyoldrog, has been tearing up the Battle Spot for quite some time, and it even did well back in the April Friendly.

 

[DCM]

In singles, I think Charizard X is really fantastic. he's definitely super bulky, especially with a will o wisp and roost set.

 

[Apawn:p]

Moves
Ability
Nature
Held Item
1 Charizardite Y 66.1%
2 Charizardite X 30.3%
3 Choice Scarf 0.8%
4 Focus Sash 0.4%
5 Life Orb 0.4%
6 Choice Specs 0.2%
7 Flame Plate 0.2%
8 Wide Lens 0.1%
9 Rocky Helmet 0.1%
10 Leftovers 0.1%
Other held items 0.9%
None 0.4%
Char Y is more popular than X in all formats

 

[Left_4_TF2]

Well in a nutshell:

Charizard X is better for singles while Charizard Y is better for doubles.

 

[UB-01 Kenobi]

Moves
Ability
Nature
Held Item
1 Charizardite Y 66.1%
2 Charizardite X 30.3%
3 Choice Scarf 0.8%
4 Focus Sash 0.4%
5 Life Orb 0.4%
6 Choice Specs 0.2%
7 Flame Plate 0.2%
8 Wide Lens 0.1%
9 Rocky Helmet 0.1%
10 Leftovers 0.1%
Other held items 0.9%
None 0.4%
Char Y is more popular than X in all formats

No. Y is more popular than X in all nintendo formats, which are mostly Doubles and contain tons of bad players at the bottom of their ladders (not that Smogon doesn't have it's fair share of scrubs, but many many casuals just hop on battle spot with their ingame teams, while if you're going onto PS! You at least think you're competitive). PS! usage stats have X at 49.577% and Y at 48.128%, which is how it should be (really the gap should be larger).

 

[TerraTF]

Um no. CharX is better. More versatile, stronger, bulkier, less Stealth Rock weak, can boost with Dragon Dance (Char Y gets what... Flame Charge?)

M-Charizard Y doesn't need boosts because it already has sky high SpA. Also Rocks damage doesn't matter when you switch in when you're no Mega Evolved. Still taking the half damage no matter what.

So if it's never a sun-setter, but is often a lead...how does that work? I mean, when it Mega Evolves, it kicks up Drought automatically. Unless you mean that it's not really used in sun team and mainly uses the sun to boost its own moves and no one else's?

In which case, I see that happen in VGC too, but it can also be a tactical killer of an opponent's weather.

It's a lead to avoid Rocks damage. You see M-Charizard Y more on HO teams since it has no need to set up.

 

[TheRealJDawgz]

When I used CharY, it always seemed like a hit and run poke, where it easily gets scared away by anything faster than it and getting shut down by dedicated special walls. Facing it, I've always been able to deal with it with SpDef Syvleon or Garchomp, or just set up on it with DNite. CharX on the other hand is able to tear through basically the entire OU metagame, and has a stellar typing that gives it great defense and coverage. While Azumarill, TTar and other rock types are capable of shutting it down, they can get whittled down by hazards and picked off by a boosted Dragon Claw/FlareBlitz. I always face trouble against it, and generally end up sacking at least one Poke in my attempts to take it down.

So CharX wins my vote personally. You know it's good when it's the first competitive poke you train

 

[UB-01 Kenobi]

M-Charizard Y doesn't need boosts because it already has sky high SpA. Also Rocks damage doesn't matter when you switch in when you're no Mega Evolved. Still taking the half damage no matter what.

So if it's never a sun-setter, but is often a lead...how does that work? I mean, when it Mega Evolves, it kicks up Drought automatically. Unless you mean that it's not really used in sun team and mainly uses the sun to boost its own moves and no one else's?

In which case, I see that happen in VGC too, but it can also be a tactical killer of an opponent's weather.

It's a lead to avoid Rocks damage. You see M-Charizard Y more on HO teams since it has no need to set up.

MCharX carries Roost frequently, which mitigates that initial switch-in, while MCharY doesn't typically have the room or the lifespan to utilize it.

 

[The Outrage]

If we're talking about VGC Doubles, M-Charizard Y certainly has the advantage of being a better sun-setter than Ninetales and probably easier to build a team around. @Joshawott, it seems the usefulness of M-Charizard X in this format is primarily due to the surprise factor it brings. It is no doubt more successful simply because of the usage of its Y sibling.

As for Singles format, I'd have to side with the M-Charizard X crowd. Essentially the equivalent of LO Garchomp in terms of attack power, great dual STABs that work well together (though Flare Blitz, especially under the sun is incredibly painful), Dragon Dance, immunity to burn, and probably has an easier time switching in than Y.

If I were to choose a Charizard for singles (and I guess Rotation), it would definitely be X. If I were to choose one for Doubles/Triples, it would be Y since it provides better support for a lot of Pokemon I want to use (like Chlorophyll Venusaur, Solar Power Helioptile, etc.)

 

[Solayoh]

I see Mega Charizard Y used a lot more, it's all about power, and Y just has more attack power than X.
X loses its immunity to ground and actually gains a weakness, and also becomes vulnerable to Fairies, its still weak to Rock, just only 2x instead of 4, and the only benefit it gains is more resistance to electric and water.

 

[The Outrage]

I see Mega Charizard Y used a lot more, it's all about power, and Y just has more attack power than X.
X loses its immunity to ground and actually gains a weakness, and also becomes vulnerable to Fairies, its still weak to Rock, just only 2x instead of 4, and the only benefit it gains is more resistance to electric and water.

M-Charizard-Y is regular Charizard on steroids--it pretty much does the same thing with the added benefit of sunlight.

M-Charizard-X is hit neutral by Fairy (fire resists them) and while still weak to Rock, it loses its crippling x4 weakness to switching in because someone left gravel on the field. To say all it gains is a resistance to electric and water is an understatement. The jump from 84 -> 130 attack represents a power boost slightly greater than the power boost granted by Life Orb; a surprising turn of events considering we have the likes of M-Heracross (who boasts the highest physical attack of non-legendary Megas) and M-Blaziken being outclassed in terms of power by their non-Mega forms holding Toxic Orb + Guts and Life Orb, respectively. And of course, that's not even taking into consideration Tough Claws--essentially another LO boost for its STABs. We're talking LO Garchomp power (who, btw has more offensive power than M-Chomp) with equally good STABs providing excellent neutral coverage that isn't shut down by Togekiss (I guess its shut down by Azumarill, but at leastit can touch the rat with its STABs).

Oh, and effective use of Dragon Dance and inability to have its attack hindered by burn. I mean, a single Dragon Dance and you're boasting more power than Y (and technically boasting more power than it for any non-fire contact moves even before that). Combine that with a (near) perfect Dragon/Fire STAB combo and you're left with a free moveslot for things like Roost to recover.

And then we have M-Charizard Y. In terms of raw power, the 109 -> 159 boost in SpA also amounts to a LO boost. It's only such a hard hitter because it also manages to set up sun, making things like Fire Blast and Overheat a pain to take. But that's it. All your other moves, including your STAB is equivalent to a 109 SpA Charizard using Life Orb. This isn't even taking into account the loss in power compared to a Solar Power Charizard in sunlight (who, at least powers up all its moves)--but really, why waste two slots to set up a Solar Power Charizard (by also having Ninetales) when you can just have the Mega?

M-Charizard Y isn't a Pokemon to be taken lightly, but to say that its better off then it's X counterpart? I feel like its just because Y is much easier to use in general, but X isn't something to be underestimated or passed up.

 

[Blue Cobra]

Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y is both very amazing in my opinion. Not only are they very different lookwise and competitively, but actually very useful too with different qualities.

Mega Charizard X is my favorite though, since I think the ability to utilize Dragon Dance is perfect. Standard Charizard is mostly special based and there fore never really been able to utilize Dragon Dance as it would have to rely on its average Attack stat. Mega Charizard Y is obviously a Special attacking monster, but Mega Charizard X got the perfect tools to be a Dragon Dance Sweeper! With an increased Attack stat as well as its Tough Claws Ability, Dragon Dance is the perfect set up move for it.

Also its typing is far better in my opinion, since it only gives it 3 weaknesses as well as 4x resistances to Grass and Fire Type moves.

Mega Charizard Y on the other hand, has also got some very nice tools in its Drought Ability which is perfect utilized along with its Special based Fire type STAB moves and free Solarbeams

So, I really think that Game Freak has made an outstanding job with Charizard, since both of its Mega Evolutions are both very different but also very useful too, which is a very difficult balance to make.

 

[Lysson]

Aesthetically I prefer Mega Char X but hate its shiny whereas I love shiny mega Char Y.
I do prefer using Y as drought + huge SPA and flame thrower is beast! No matter what when sending in either char you still get the 4x hit by stealth rock but of course not as much is taken if you switch in again while in Mega X.

But overall I prefer mega Y, and Y you ask? (ha ha puns... don't shoot me) Drought + Solar beam = Oh what a scary looking water/ground/rock type you are! Oh no! Would you like A GREAT BIG BEAM OF DEATH HEADING RIGHT TO YOUR FACE?! MWUAHAHAHAHA! Also goes along side HA Venasaur in a double battle very nicely!

 

[Osprey]

I liked Charizard X mostly because of its design, really. :lol: I mean, Black and blue flame go really well together. Although Y's shiny form looks just awesome. Anyways, I like using X as a lead in Triple Battles. Between a Dragon Dance, STAB added on by its new type, an ally using Helping Hand, and its Ability Tough Claws, it's been able to ROFLstomp many with Outrage. (Also X is easier to draw. Seems silly, but Pokemon get points for that in my mind)