<p>I don't think our known biology can be applied to Pokemon. Blastoise has cannons, for instance, and Pikachu can shoot electricity (is not the same be able to create electricity to shock predators that attack you and actually shooting it).</p>

<p>I mean, we could make theories about how they can do all those things, but the designers just didn't think about it. It would be an interesting pastime, but pretty pointless, because they would be just that, theories.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-29T23:43:18.303Z
Yeah, the physics/biology is _waaaayyyy_ out there: Pokemon can travel through time, hypnotize large numbers of people, are less dense than styrofoam/helium, wear their mother's skull....
Clockwork-Muse
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-30T06:20:29.967Z
"We are right in the dessert. Snorlax, use Surf!" One of the things I'll never understand.
looper
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-17T19:05:23.557Z
I would just like to coin the phrase, "Theory of Pokevolution". That is all.
Daz C
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-29T20:18:58.123Z
2015-07-09T17:38:00.740Z
2015-07-09T17:38:00.740Z
Elfangor
<p>It might hard to elaborate with a canonical explanation. The only things I can think of are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Charmander might store methane gas in his stomach, like other living things do.  </li>
<li>His stomach might be specialized for compressing gases numerous times (enough to breath fire )</li>
<li>His throat or digestive system might include something that can make sparks, which would bring the fire from his belly. </li>
<li>Methane is lighter than air, so it can be presumed to be one of the reasons that Charizard can fly.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-15T06:51:28.107Z
I'm pretty sure Charizard can fly because he has wings and not because he is full of methane on the inside.
krikara
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-09-15T02:50:19.580Z
2013-09-15T18:47:52.177Z
2013-09-15T18:47:52.177Z
Naing Lin Aung
<p>Charmander might technically be a lizard Pokémon, but it eventually evolves into Charizard, a Pokémon that very closely resembles a dragon. Indeed, Mega Charizard (X) is partially dragon type.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BIsuUs.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BIsuUs.png" alt="charizard" /></a> <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/MPEiIs.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MPEiIs.png" alt="mega charizard x" /></a></p>
<p>Charmander can also learn Dragon-type moves, albeit only by Technical Machine (TM) - Moves such as &quot;Dragon Tail&quot; and &quot;Dragon Claw&quot;.</p>
<p>Therefore, I would consider your question a similar question to &quot;How do dragons breath fire&quot; - In which there have been many theories in fantasy novels, mythology, etc.</p>
<p>One theory for how dragons can breath fire is that they contain flammable gas or liquid sacks in their bodies, which is then ignited when they wish to exhale it. Some theories imagine that dragon have small natural pieces of iron and flint in their mouths, which they would use to create sparks.</p>
<p>The Bombardier Beetle is an interesting example of a creature that has a similar mechanism, storing corrosive checmicals inside its body then spewing it out when threated (<a href="https://dragons.fandom.com/wiki/Dragon_fire" rel="nofollow noreferrer">1</a>)</p>
<p>There are a bunch of other theories, like hydrogen being emitted from the stomach during the dragon's digestion - or simply, Magic.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-08-24T12:44:58.150Z
2023-08-24T12:44:58.150Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>Maybe he stores some kind of inflammable gas in his stomach. He can create a spark in his throat. The gas comes out and due to the spark appears like a flame pillar.</p>
<p>This concept is similar to that of a cigarette lighter.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-08-18T15:58:49.477Z
2023-08-18T15:58:49.477Z
Ayan Dutta
<p>I read an article a while back which theorized that Pokemon were beings composed of energy rather than matter.</p>

<p>This also explains how they can be stored in computers and Pokeballs.</p>

<p>See <a href="http://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-weekly-are-pokemon-made-pure-energy/" rel="nofollow">this video</a> it's not the original article that I read but it covers the basic idea.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-31T16:30:01.493Z
2014-01-31T16:30:01.493Z
Omar Kooheji
<p>Charmander is a small lizard-like Pokémon. It is a fire-type Pokémon, and is capable of breathing fire.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Ye1ED.jpg" alt="Charmander burning an Exeggutor"></p>

<p>How do Charmander and its evolved forms do this? Is there any biological basis for it, and is it ever explained in canon?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-26T20:19:52.050Z
he uses the fire on his tail as a pilot light
Sam I am says Reinstate Monica
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-27T00:02:56.000Z
http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species:_Charmander  might have some usefull information about that
Dimitri mx
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-11-05T10:30:05.893Z
none of the real life laws apply to Pokemons :P
votelessbubble
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-30T22:08:47.670Z
I doubt you could answer that question with logic. It's like asking where Squirtle is stockpiling all that water he is shooting. It would physically be impossible to store all those gallons in that tiny body of his.
Peter Raeves
<pokemon>
How does Charmander breathe fire?
# How does Charmander breathe fire?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-04-26
Charmander is a small lizard-like Pokémon. It is a fire-type Pokémon, and is capable of breathing fire.

![Charmander burning an Exeggutor](https://i.sstatic.net/Ye1ED.jpg)

How do Charmander and its evolved forms do this? Is there any biological basis for it, and is it ever explained in canon?
**Tags:** pokemon
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: he uses the fire on his tail as a pilot light  
> **username_2**: http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species:_Charmander  might have some usefull information about that  
> **username_3**: none of the real life laws apply to Pokemons :P  
> **username_4**: I doubt you could answer that question with logic. It's like asking where Squirtle is stockpiling all that water he is shooting. It would physically be impossible to store all those gallons in that tiny body of his.  
---
## 5 answers
### Answer by username_5 on 2013-04-29. Score: 25
I don't think our known biology can be applied to Pokemon. Blastoise has cannons, for instance, and Pikachu can shoot electricity (is not the same be able to create electricity to shock predators that attack you and actually shooting it).

I mean, we could make theories about how they can do all those things, but the designers just didn't think about it. It would be an interesting pastime, but pretty pointless, because they would be just that, theories.
> **Comments:**
> **username_6** (2013-04-29): Yeah, the physics/biology is _waaaayyyy_ out there: Pokemon can travel through time, hypnotize large numbers of people, are less dense than styrofoam/helium, wear their mother's skull....  
> **username_7** (2013-04-30): "We are right in the dessert. Snorlax, use Surf!" One of the things I'll never understand.  
> **username_8** (2013-09-17): I would just like to coin the phrase, "Theory of Pokevolution". That is all.  
---
### Answer by username_9 on 2013-09-15. Score: 2
It might hard to elaborate with a canonical explanation. The only things I can think of are:

* Charmander might store methane gas in his stomach, like other living things do.
* His stomach might be specialized for compressing gases numerous times (enough to breath fire )
* His throat or digestive system might include something that can make sparks, which would bring the fire from his belly.
* Methane is lighter than air, so it can be presumed to be one of the reasons that Charizard can fly.
> **Comments:**
> **username_10** (2013-09-15): I'm pretty sure Charizard can fly because he has wings and not because he is full of methane on the inside.  
---
### Answer by username_11 on 2023-08-24. Score: 1
Charmander might technically be a lizard Pokémon, but it eventually evolves into Charizard, a Pokémon that very closely resembles a dragon. Indeed, Mega Charizard (X) is partially dragon type.

[![charizard](https://i.sstatic.net/BIsuUs.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/BIsuUs.png) [![mega charizard x](https://i.sstatic.net/MPEiIs.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/MPEiIs.png)

Charmander can also learn Dragon-type moves, albeit only by Technical Machine (TM) - Moves such as "Dragon Tail" and "Dragon Claw".

Therefore, I would consider your question a similar question to "How do dragons breath fire" - In which there have been many theories in fantasy novels, mythology, etc.

One theory for how dragons can breath fire is that they contain flammable gas or liquid sacks in their bodies, which is then ignited when they wish to exhale it. Some theories imagine that dragon have small natural pieces of iron and flint in their mouths, which they would use to create sparks.

The Bombardier Beetle is an interesting example of a creature that has a similar mechanism, storing corrosive checmicals inside its body then spewing it out when threated ([1](https://dragons.fandom.com/wiki/Dragon_fire))

There are a bunch of other theories, like hydrogen being emitted from the stomach during the dragon's digestion - or simply, Magic.
---
### Answer by username_12 on 2023-08-18. Score: 0
Maybe he stores some kind of inflammable gas in his stomach. He can create a spark in his throat. The gas comes out and due to the spark appears like a flame pillar.

This concept is similar to that of a cigarette lighter.
---
### Answer by username_13 on 2014-01-31. Score: 0
I read an article a while back which theorized that Pokemon were beings composed of energy rather than matter.

This also explains how they can be stored in computers and Pokeballs.

See [this video](http://www.gamesradar.com/pokemon-weekly-are-pokemon-made-pure-energy/) it's not the original article that I read but it covers the basic idea.
---
