My team:
- Pepper the Honchkrow
- Petra the Empoleon
- Cinnamon the Hippowdon
- Edward the Scizor
- Theo the Dialga
- Yoko the Girafarig
I entered the Elite 4 with mighty confidence, I had only lost 2 Pokemon the entire journey: Sunbeam the Rapidash who lost to a Mirror Coat Lopunny, and Auric the shiny Golem who lost to Volkner's Raichu with Surf coverage. My team felt balanced and well leveled.
Aaron offers a small scare, his Heracross having a rock move, nearly taking out Pepper, but it was not enough to break me, I win the battle with no losses. Bertha, however, offered to make my Nuzlocke more challenging, her Golem OHKOing my starter, Petra, after surviving her Surf with Sturdy. Perhaps this was the Nuzlocke's symbolism for offering me a shiny Pokemon, only to have the same Pokemon take my starter from me. Gold is often synonymous with alchemy, I sacrificed my starter for fool's gold, you could say.
My confidence wavering after losing the partner who has been with me through thick and thin, I make my way to Flint, my water Pokemon now gone. Flint sends in his Drifblim, who begins to set up Minimize and then Baton Passes it to Lopunny. The Elite 4 clearly wants me to battle my demons, it seems. The Lopunny, now hopped up on maxed Evasion, lands every single Hi Jump Kick it has in its disposal, threatening me with death at every kick. Pepper manages to take Lopunny out, and eventually Flint falls.
Lucian follows up, but Edward sets up Swords Dance and wipes his entire team with little issue. Only Cynthia remains, a 5v6.
Cynthia opens up with Spiritomb, and me with Theo. Spiritomb's Dark Pulse does a concerning amount of damage, Theo not doing enough. I grow increasingly worried, knowing that Cynthia is a run killer in the original games. Surprisingly, she decides to switch to Lucario. I switch, knowing Theo doesn't stand a chance, but Lucario is strong, able to easily kill anyone on my team in two hits with Aura Sphere. I decide to PP stall with Edward, hoping she runs out of Aura Sphere so I can make my comeback. Eventually, the Lucario throws out a Dragon Pulse, it doesn't do much to Edward. Now's my chance! I quickly choose Swords Dance, ready to set up for a sweep. However, Cynthia knew I was trying to PP stall her, and she saved an Aura Sphere in reserve, killing Edward while I sit there dumbfounded. I was tricked! I bring out Pepper, but she switches back to Spiritomb. Worried that it might have Ancient Power, I switch back to Theo, who finally fell to the Spiritomb after some stalling. I switch in Yoko to finish off the weakened Spiritomb. It's a 3v5 now.
Cynthia brings in Milotic, I keep Yoko in, knowing that her Thunderbolt is my only chance. Milotic uses Scald, burning me in the process, my Thunderbolt does about 1/3rd. The Milotic burns itself with a Flame Orb; she has Marvel Scale on it, I realize. The Milotic tries to Mirror Coat me while I heal up, then uses Recover while I take the opportunity to heal the remaining survivors. The Milotic Scalds me again, doing less than half. But that was a low roll, as another Scald took out Yoko, leaving the Milotic weak. Pepper comes in once again and finishes it off. 2v4. My confidence is plummeting by the second.
She throws in Roserade, I throw out a Wing Attack, knowing that was the best chance to OHKO it, at the risk of Roserade maybe having Poison Point. She unleashes a Dazzling Gleam on me first, nearing killing Pepper, my Wing Attack just barely not doing it. Knowing healing or switching to Cinnamon is a lost cause, I decide to pray for Pepper's friendship keeping her alive. Roserade attacks.... And Pepper toughs it out! She finishes off Roserade, then Cynthia sends in Gastrodon. I quickly heal, and Gastrodon's Rock Tomb surprisingly doesn't do much. Pepper takes out Gastrodon. Cynthia sends in Lucario, but I outspeed it and knock it out! It's a 2v1 now! It's looking hopeful!
Cynthia finally sends in her Garchomp, and I decide to switch in to Cinnamon to heal Pepper, knowing Cinnamon will not stand a chance. Unfortunately, Garchomp sets up a Swords Dance, then takes out Cinnamon before I had a chance to Fire Fang for the burn. Pepper is the final Pokemon alive, against Cynthia's final Pokemon, Garchomp. Garchomp, faster than me, goes for a Dragon Claw. It would have OHKO'd, had it not been for Pepper toughing it out once again! This is my only chance! Pepper attacks with a boosted Night Slash, the strongest attack I could do, which takes out half of Garchomp's HP.... And then it's Rough Skin activated... Pepper, who hung on for dear life two times against Cynthia, could not handle it and finally fell.
The Nuzlocke... ends in failure on Cynthia's last Pokemon.