Really, really enjoying my Soul Silver Nuzlocke, first I've ever done. After doing the trainer number thing I got Totodile (I nicknamed all of my team, but for clarity's sake it's easier to refer to them by their species' name). Trained up through the first section and got a Pidgey, Spearow and Mareep before Falkner. As you'd expect, Mareep was the star v Falkner, sweeping his team with his type advantage. After doing a bit more training I was through to Azalea. Here, after dealing with Bugsy comfortably thanks to Spearow and Pidgeotto, I forgot about the rival, wandered to close to the gate and he caught me. Spearow was in the lead and after fighting bravely v Gastly, lost his life against a perpetually synthesising Meganium who whittled my HP down with Poisonpowder. I was definitely surprised at how Spearow's demise affected me, I really started to panic when it dawned on me he was going down. He got critical hit by Magic Leaf before I could withdraw him. Croconaw dealt with Bayleef and Zubat easily as he'd had no part in the gym victory. In the forest I unfortunately stumbled across Weedle as my capture. In the next area, Drowzee became the fourth member of my team. Not too bad, a Psychic type's decent to have and at least it wasn't a Pidgey or Spearow again.
After grinding a little (you know what lies deep in that gym) I added Nidoran Male to my team and evolved him. On to fight Whitney. I can't recall if she had a Clefairy or not, if she did I dealt with it quickly. I kept double-kicking with Nidorino and she used a super potion twice as I was about to end it. Eventually I chanced it a bit too close and lost Nidorino through indecision. Really annoyed at myself, second 'death.' The third came shortly after. I sent in Weedle (to my shame I hadn't trained him) to poison Miltank. Out he went, as expected. Three deaths. Croconaw came in and swept up my mess without any further losses. Really sombre after this defeat, another badge but two team-mates lost.
More grinding and unable to catch Sudowoodo as I'd already caught Nidoran on that route. I added a Machop to my side and boxed a Rattata that I caught also. Also got a Magnemite but boxed him as I didn't want to double up on electric types. Machop became Machoke and Croconaw a Feraligatr before I fought Morty. I expected Morty's Pokemon to be higher (for some reason was expecting Gengar to be at lv.30?) so had overleveled and swept his team with Feraligatr's fearsome crunch.
After a jaunt across the waves, it was time to best Chuck. I added a Tentacool but boxed it. Drowzee helped me out by evolving in Chuck's gym against one of the trainers. My team was now Feraligatr, Hypno, Machoke, Pidgeotto and Ampharos. Not bad. Primeape was pretty easy, but that Poliwrath really put up a great fight. I almost lost Pidgeotto when his surf took me right the way down to 3 hp. In went Hypno who he ironically hynpotised, so Ampharos came out to deal a little damage. He too was put to sleep so it was Machoke's turn. Machoke weakened Poliwrath before, predictably, being put to sleep. Had to turn to Feraligtr, who I'm a bit concerned is picking up too much slack for my team. I'd barely leveled since Morty so this one was close (in fact I think Poliwrath was a higher level than any of my team). Feraligatr's moveset is Crunch, Ice Fang, Surf and Agility, so every attack move was not very effective. I managed to whittle him down whilst using a full heal to get Hypno awake. After he missed a focus punch, I switched in Hypno and got a lucky critical Psybeam to finish off a nervy encounter where all my pokemon had either status ailments or less than half health. That Poliwrath is a beast, beware.
I'm going to do some training on the way to the Safari Zone to bulk up a bit for Jasmine. Hopefully I'll evolve Pidgeotto before then.
One question I need answered, is it ok for me to trade over my Machoke to evolve him, or is that forbidden in a Nuzlocke? I don't mind keeping a Machoke, but obviously I'd prefer to evolve if it is allowed.
Cap'N Crunch the Feraligatr.
La Croix the Pidgeotto.
Bernheim the Hypno.
Marlowe the Machoke.
Ra the Ampharos.
RIP Showunmi the Spearow, Fusilli the Weedle and Plato the Nidorino. You'll be missed.
