Art always tends to imitate life, and although there are some pretty out-there Pokémon spanning generations, it’s understandable if your favorites fall into the slightly more real category. If you’re a fan of reptilians, then look no further, because we’ve compiled a list of the very best lizard Pokémon for you to choose from. No frogs, crocs, or gators here – we’re talking pure lizards, from bearded dragons, chameleons, all the way through to the cutest of geckos.
To keep your scaley new team safe and sound, you’ll also need to learn about what Pokémon should go up against what Pokémon. So check out our guides on water Pokémon weakness, ice Pokémon weakness, fire Pokémon weakness, dark Pokémon weakness, and rock Pokémon weakness. After, you can see which Gigantamax Pokémon you can grab in Sword and Shield, and fill out Pokédex as you go.
So, here are our favorite lizard Pokémon:
Kecleon
Our first and most realistic chameleon is Kecleon, introduced way back in generation three. These little critters hang out in dark areas, like Sun and Moon’s Dividing Peak tunnel – though they can hide anywhere, given that they’re known as the Color Swap Pokémon.
Kecleon is a normal-type Pokémon and so it doesn’t have anything too impressive as far as abilities go, but taking after its chameleon name-sake, it does possess a pretty handy color-change ability. This means Kecleon can change its type depending on the situation, making it quite a versatile ‘mon to take into battle. But be warned, it can still be affected by status conditions.
Charmander
Of course Charmander makes this list. What do you take us for? This generation one Pokémon is the lizard Pokémon, after all. Charmander is an absolute icon, and although it maybe represent a salamander more than a bog-standard lizard, it absolutely deserves an incredibly high spot. A trailblazer – or tail-blazer, get it? – and an OG, Charmander was many a millenial’s favorite starter ‘mon, and we still love it just as much all these years later.
Obviously, Charizard trumps Charmander in any scenario, but that’s a dragon so doesn’t fit on this list. Also, disappointingly, dragons aren’t real. Charmander can still burn enemies to a crisp, however, and excels in dry weather. Please don’t let it get wet, though, and take fire Pokémon weaknesses seriously.
Inteleon
The best of the Sobble to Inteleon line is the final evolution, a humanoid chameleon modeled vaguely after James Bond. It’s one of the starters from Sword and Shield and packs a watery punch with its Gigantamax form.
Inteleon boasts the move Snipe Shot, which has a hefty critical ratio, and deals a large amount of water damage to opponents. The catch is that it ignores any ability or move effects that the opponent has, too. To keep Inteleon safe as you use it in battle, brush up on your water Pokémon weaknesses here.
Salandit
Salazzle just misses out on our list due to its weirdly humanoid form, and besides, Salandit is cuter, and arguably one of the best gen seven Pokémon. If you want a Salazzle, though, you’ll need to catch a female Salandit, as the males can’t evolve. Fun lizard fact for you – this is reminiscent of mourning geckos, where the entire species is female, and they can reproduce on their own. Girl power, right?
Anyways, Salandit – though its name is reminiscent of a salamander – is a toxic lizard Pokémon, and is a dual poison- and fire-type. These critters can spit plenty of harmful poison at enemies and easily inflict the poisoned state on them. They’re one of two sets of Pokémon that have the Corrosion ability, where they can poison any type of Pokémon, ignoring their type. The other Pokémon that can do this are Glimmet and Glimmora.
Heliolisk
Heliolisk takes its design from a frilled lizard, given that it can fan its neck skin out into an impressive implement for catching rays. Though, their real-life counterparts don’t do this, despite that nightmarish Jurassic Park scene.
Heliolisk, the evolution of Heloptile, is an electric- and normal-type, known as the ‘generator Pokémon’. These guys generate enough energy to power an entire city, according to the Pokemon Shield Pokédex entry. In battle, they channel that energy into powerful moves like Thunder Shock and Parabolic Charge. Heliolisk gains some boosts thanks to its passive abilities, Dry Skin and Solar Power when it battles in direct sunlight.
Treecko
Treecko, a wood gecko Pokémon based on leaf-tailed geckos, evolves into two suitably lizardy iterations. All three are grass types and can be a good addition to your team if you need some greenery going on.
All three in the Treecko line have the Overgrow and Unburden abilities and can learn most normal and grass-type moves, along with some fighting, rock, and ground types to cover more bases in a battle.
Toxtricity
Toxtricity, another rather humanoid lizard, comes in two forms – Low Key and Amped. The punk Pokémon is electric- and poison-type, with its two forms sharing explosive moves like Boomburst and Overdrive, and each getting a specific move at level 52. For the Low Key form, it’s Magnetic Flux, and for Amped, it’s Shift Gear.
I’m definitely biased but this lizardy gen 8 Pokémon swept through Galar and Paldea for me, and are now staples of my team. If you happen to get a Gigantamax form of Toxtricity, it turns into a huge lizard on all fours, holding a guitar-shaped bolt of electricity. How cool!
Cyclizar
Somehow, Cyclizar isn’t directly related to Koraidon and Miraodon, despite them all being lizards with tires stuck to their chests. Anyway, Cyclizar is pretty cool, with three different forms – basic, when it’s just hanging around, battle form, and ride form, for when it’s… battling and being a bike.
Cyclizar is a normal- and dragon-type Pokémon, able to learn classic and powerful moves like Dragon Pulse, Dragon Claw, and Dragon Rush. Remember to keep an eye on dragon Pokémon weaknesses in battle.
Koraidon and Miraidon
I’m putting these in the same entry as they’re two sides of the same coin. I wasn’t sure about the legendaries in Scarlet and Violet until I was in a cave with Koraidon and it ‘snarfed’ my sandwich. Immediately sold. Great personalities aside, the two legendaries are the most recognizable gen nine Pokémon and are quadrupedal lizards with vaguely motorbike-like design aspects.
Koraidon is reminiscent of the past, whereas Miraidon is futuristic. You can ride, glide, and slide around Paldea atop them, and use them in battle. Koraidon is a fighting- and dragon-type, and Miraodon is an electric- dragon-type. Each of these legendaries has an ability that changes the tides of battle in their favor, and a robust catalog of moves at their disposal.
If you want to make a specific team, then we have specific lists just for you. Here are the best bear Pokémon, flying Pokémon, and small Pokémon for you to pick from, and if you’re after some goodies, we have plenty of Pokémon Go codes for you to redeem.
