I've decided to jump into the fray with my very first TRUE Nuzlocke Challenge. I've been training on a mock version of Nuzlocke from my White 2 version (where I experimented with a three strikes program), and decided to start a Nuzlocke Challenge on my new HeartGold version that my sister gave to me as a hand-me-...up. I'm actually really excited for this, and decided to settle on some basic rules to start the Nuzlocke Challenge.
RULES:
1) Knocked out Pokemon shall be BOXED, not released (I'm still can't stand releasing pokemon).
2) Have to catch the first pokemon that I meet on each route.
3) Duplicates clause is in effect, only pertaining to pokemon that I have pokedex data on (so the Poke Ball will be my guide).
4) Replacements will be decided by a random number generator from Pokemon in the PC.
5) Challenge will end at Victory Road, will take on Elite Four/Battle Tower without Nuzlocke rules.
6) CLAUSES: Shiny clause in effect, No-legendary clause in effect, No Master Ball clause in effect, and Poke Ball Start clause in effect.
With the rules set, I start off on my journey. I name my character Adrien, and go through the introductory steps of the game. When I get to Prof. Elm's office, I ask my brother to choose a number between 1-3. 1 was Chikorita, 2 was Cyndaquil, and 3 was Totodile. My brother chooses 2, so I pick Cyndaquil to be my starter, and to my surprise, I get a girl! I've tried to start normal Pokemon campaigns where my starter was a girl, and I had to reset my game 10 times in that instance to get a female starter. This is certainly a sign of good luck. I decide to name her Quilma.
After going through the opening chores of the game (going to Mr. Pokemon's house, seeing the running guy of Cherrygrove City, saying hi to Prof. Oak, etc.) I officially head off on my journey. On Route 29, I encounter my first pokemon partner, a Pidgey. I capture it with ease, and am amazed to find that it is of Adamant nature. A female starter, the best possible first capture, beating my rival with absolute ease (I completely forgot his name...oh well), this run through couldn't have started any better.
I then realize that there are a quite a few different areas to explore before going up against Falkner, so I go on a tear, capturing every Pokemon that I could legally get. This includes...
Geodude - Route 46 - Grumpy
Metapod - Route 30 - Promethea
Caterpie - Route 31 - Silkea - While I had the Pokedex entry for Metapod, I didn't have it availble for Caterpie, so this qualified.
Zubat - Dark Cave - Zumos - Here, I ran into 5 Geodudes in a row before finding a Zubat. It was a rare instance that I was really happy to find a Zubat.
Bellsprout - Route 32 - Venus - I was quite sad to find a Bellsprout on the route and not in Sprout Tower. However, it isn't an inconvenience in the slightest.
Rattata - Sprout Tower - Pepperjack
With a stockpile of Pokemon in my box, my team had begun to flourish. I decided to implement to a 4-pokemon plan. This helps me focus training onto a few specific pokemon. With a plethora of training opportunites including Sprout Tower, running around the Ruins, and Wade the Bug Catcher/Berry finder, I go to the Violet City gym and defeat Faulkner with absolute ease. Grumpy solos the gym by himself, but he had some fantastic help waiting for him in the wings. After I leave the gym, I get a call from Prof. Elm. Apparently the Mystery Egg that I received for Prof. Elm in my boring opening chores section is my last present from home. Even though I knew that this was going to happen, I'm still excited none-the-less. After receiving the egg (and getting a creepy stare from a Kimono girl), I go to the Pokemon Center to type up my opening day.
Team:
Quilava (Quilma) - Female/Sassy - Lvl 14 - New Bark Town
- Tackle
- Leer
- Quick Attack
- Ember
Geodude (Grumpy) - Male/Naive - Lvl 12 - Route 46
- Rock Throw
- Defense Curl
- Rock Polish
- Rock Smash
Butterfree (Silkea) - Female/Naughty - Lvl 10 - Route 31
- Tackle
- Flash
- Harden
- Confusion
Pidgey (Pudge) - Male/Adamant - Lvl 9 - Route 29
- Tackle
- Sand-Attack
- Gust
- Roost
Boxed Pokemon-
Metapod (Promethea) - Female/Careful - Lvl 4 - Route 30
Zubat (Zumos) - Male/Mild - Lvl 2 - Dark Cave
Bellsprout (Venus) - Female/Gentle - Route 32
Rattata (Pepperjack) - Male/Modest - Sprout Tower
Dead Pokemon-
None...yet.
UPDATE: Chapter 2
Having defeated Faulkner in Violet City, I continue on my quest. It was actually a bit of a longer route than what I realized, but nothing that threatened any of my pokemon. I decided to make a few observations while on Route 31.
Observations
• Encountered a Ratatta that was holding a Chilean berry. I didn’t even know HG updated the game that way.
• One of the Fishermen had a Lvl 15 Magikarp. It took me by surprise that someone would have such a high level pokemon, until I realized that it was a Magikarp.
• With the four pokemon that I have now, I realize that Water pokemon are rather tough to deal with. Especially Goldeen with Peck, who has attacks that are super-effective for three of my four pokemon. Rock pokemon seem to give me some troubles as well. Hopefully I can balance the team without resorting to Venus to replace someone.
At the end of the route, there was a Pokemon Center that had some of the friendliest people in it. A Fisherman gave me an Old Rod, to which I ran back to Violet City and fished myself a Magikarp (nicknamed Queenie)! Another man gave me Lure Balls, which are like pokemon designed for fishing. I used one to catch Magikarp. A third guy told me that 30 pokemon could be stored in each box on the PC. Well...at least he was nice. I then make my way over to Union Cave, where I run into a ton of Geodudes and Zubats. I'm glad that I implemented the duplicate clause, otherwise I'm pretty sure half of my boxed pokemon would be zubats and geodudes. After going up against my fourth geodude, I realize that I forgot a rule that will save me from these pesky landmines in the future.
Rule #7 - Pokemon that faint from Selfdestruct or Explosion are given a second chance at life. I will attempt to run away from pokemon that I know has Selfdestruct or Explosion. If a pokemon is damaged by Selfdestruct/Explosion and faint from a different move, they are still considered dead.
After jogging my memory, I encounter my next partner in Union Cave, a Sandshrew. To continue my luck, this Sandshrew has a Quick Claw on it. I name it Violetta and let her keep the quick claw she has. After leaving Union Cave (nothing all that exciting), I try to find a new pokemon on route 33. Because I'm attempting this at night, there are nothing but Ratatta and Zubats. I then realize that the mystery egg that I was given is about to hatch! Out of the egg pops out...a Togepi! I decide to name it Tristan, and I count it as my Route 33 pokemon.
Reaching Azelea Town, I decide to make a few stops at the Woodcutter's House and at Kurt's House. Kurt runs out the door to confront Team Rocket about them lopping off Slowpoke tails (for 1,000,000 yen each...if they do succeed in selling any at that price, I think they deserve to keep every cent. Who would pay that much for what they advertise as food?), and I decide to follow him. Apparently, he fell down the Slowpoke well (wouldn't that cripple him?), and want me to go in and get Team Rocket. Now, I know that there are Slowpoke in here, but I don't see any. All I see are Zubats and Magikarps. I decide that I will head back here when I can surf. Team Rocket is not a threat to my party (including Proton, one of the silliest names that I can ever imagine. No wonder he joined Team Rocket), and Kurt magically gets better. Perhaps he had a Parlyz heal? Anyway, he takes me back to his house and gives me a few custom Pokeballs. He also offers to make me other pokeballs from Apricorns for free! Sweet, now I have a reason to trek back here now.
With that, the gym is now open. I expected this gym to be rather easy, since three of my four pokemon have moves that are super-effective towards Bug types (Quilma, Grumpy, and Pudge), and Silkea knows Sleep Powder and Confusion, so she can easily hold up her own. Most of the gym is a breeze, but Bugsy was tougher than what I planned for. With Quilma was a Lvl 17, Pudge at Lvl 16, and Grumpy at Lvl 15, I was expecting to roll over Bugsy, but he came out swinging with Scyther. I started the battle with Pudge, and Scyther started wtih a Focus Energy. When I saw how little Gust did to it, I quickly changed out to Quilma. Scyther unleashed a Quick Attack that took out about a third of Quilma's energy. If it were to land a critical hit, I could be done for. Thankfully, Ember was quite useful. Quilma was able to 2HKO Scyther with Ember, and then swept the cocoons with Ember as well. I'm able to exhale. It could've gone better, but my Pokemon performed exceptionally well.
After my duel with Bugsy, I talk to the Woodcutters, and apparently the apprentice has been in the forest looking for the Farfetch'd. After healing up, I decide to go into the forest...but before I enter, my rival (whom I remember now as Miles), shows up looking for a duel. This was a scary duel. It starts off with Pudge going up against Miles' Gastly. Very first move that happens in Mean Look. I'm thankful that Pudge knows both Gust and Roost, otherwise the battle would've never ended. Gastly is disposed of easily, and Miles brings out his biggest threat, Croconaw (Lvl 18). Remember when I said this team is rather weak against Water types? Well, it was rather evident here. I had to bring out Silkea against it, and as soon as I brought it out, I go down to a little bit over half health due to Bite. Ready to use a Super Potion, I use Sleep Powder. It works! Croconaw goes to sleep for a few turns while I use Confusion. It hardly hurts him, but I'm able to get off a few rounds before he wakes up. Croconaw decides to use Scary Face...for the rest of the match. Apparently, he thought that Silkea could be intimidated. He goes down, and I breathe a sigh of relief. This match could've ended my entire run had something happened to Silkea. Miles brings out Zubat, I take it out with Silkea (OHKO), and Miles says that he hates weak things and to get out of his sight...because we are weak...and squishy.
With that mini heart attack out of the way, I decide to heal up back at the Pokemon Center and then go into the forest. I help the apprentice find his Farfetch'd, and go on my merry way. I realize that every pokemon in the forest is a duplicate to what I have, so I teach Grumpy Headbutt and find a Hoothoot in the trees. I name him Insomnia and exit the forest to find...the Pokemon Day Care Center! Hooray! Hypothetically jumping up and down while Lyra (a friend from town) shows me around, I decide to leave Zumos and Violetta at the Day Care and go into Goldenrod City. There, I spend some time at the Game Center, get a decent amount of coins (300ish), and leave to find the Department Store and the Bike Shop. The owner gives me a bike to advertise to the world, and I remember that Professor Elm wanted to see Tristan. I grab the bike and decide to head back to New Bark Town, where I will continue my update after I get back to Goldenrod.
New Pokemon
Magikarp - Violet City - Queenie
Sandshrew - Union Cave - Violetta
Togepi - Route 33 - Tristan
Hoothoot - Ilex Forest - Imsomnia
Drowzee - Route 34 - Nightmare
Team:
Quilava (Quilma) - Female/Sassy - Lvl 19 - New Bark Town
- Cut
- Leer
- Quick Attack
- Ember
Geodude (Grumpy) - Male/Naive - Lvl 17 - Route 46
- Magnitue
- Headbutt
- Rock Polish
- Rock Smash
Butterfree (Silkea) - Female/Naughty - Lvl 15 - Route 31
- Sleep Powder
- U-Turn
- Poison Powder
- Confusion
Pideotto (Pudge) - Male/Adamant - Lvl 19 - Route 29
- Quick Attack
- Whirlwind
- Gust
- Roost
Boxed Pokemon-
Metapod (Promethea) - Female/Careful - Lvl 4 - Route 30
Zubat (Zumos) - Male/Mild - Lvl ?? - Dark Cave (PDC)
Bellsprout (Venus) - Female/Gentle - Route 32
Rattata (Pepperjack) - Male/Modest - Sprout Tower
Magikarp (Queenie) - Female/Lonely - Violet City
Sandshrew (Violetta) - Female/?? - Lvl ?? - Union Cave (PDC)
Togepi (Tristan) - Male/Gentle - Lvl 1 - Hatched Route 33
Hoothoot (Imsomnia) - Male/Calm - Lvl 8 - Ilex Forest
Drowzee (Nightmare) - Male/Careful - Lvl 10 - Route 34
Dead Pokemon-
None...yet.
Next Update will be soon!
Quick quesion - Can someone remind me about spoilers and pokemon thumbnail pics? I would love to add those so that these updates don't take up a whole page in the forums.
