So I completed my first Nuzlocke challenge through Leaf Green. If you don’t know what Nuzlocke is, just read this:
www.nuzlocke.com/challenge.php
It hurt so much, guys.
I’ve never felt so emotionally distraught over any version of any game I’ve ever played. Knowing your flukes can have great consequences really makes you try harder throughout the game. There’s definitely certain things I’d do differently if played through a second time. Yet it gave me a lot to appreciate in the game too.
My Nuzlocke Rules:
- Only allowed to catch the first Pokemon in each new area.
- If a Pokemon dies, you send it to a graveyard (I created a Box called “Beloved” for all my fainted Pokemon).
- Only able to buy 5 of each type of Healing Potions ONCE in each new town (this does not count any STATUS healing potions).
- Only able to use Status Healing Items when you FIND them.
- Revives are to never be used or bought UNLESS YOU FIND A REVIVE IN A CERTAIN AREA AND YOUR POKEMON DIES IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA (once you leave that area, you must sell that revive and never use it).
- Must fight all Trainers in any single area before leaving the area, even when at risk of losing your Pokemon.
- No looking at guides/walkthroughs/etc. You are to use your own knowledge and memory of the game.
- You may use Pokemon given to you as long as it is not located in an area where you have already encountered a Pokemon previously.
- You must nickname every Pokemon you catch.
Some things I learned:
- Poison and Self Destruct are my bane. I lost so many lives and almost lost many others due to these two things.
- I learned to hate and distrust any and all pure Poison types. Weezing and Koffing were my most hated of all because when they did not kill with Poison, they killed with Self Destruct. But mostly I just hated Team Rocket for using them all the damn time!
- Diglett and Dugtrio have “Arena Trap”… I never knew this and caused my FIRST Magikarp’s early demise as the poor thing splashed.
- Alakazam is the Devil reincarnate. I learned to fear and hate this Pokemon, but Sabrina’s I will always hate the most. Forever.
- You better Grind your ass off before going into ANY Gym, you never realize what you have at stake to lose.
- Criticals will always come against you and will be very rare to ever occur on your side of the battle.
Here is my most beloved Pokemon of the entire challenge (read, most beloved, not all made it till the end):
I used a number randomizer to choose my starter, Venusaur, which I named “Gus”. He became my main rock and where other Pokemon could not take a hit, he was their to back them up.
Along the way I came across a Mankey at Route 22 and level 2. I groaned in disdain and wish I ran into a different Pokemon. I named him Pongo. He quickly grew as the most trust-worthy Pokemon I could ever rely on and grew to be my most loved and prized Pokemon.
On Route 11, I caught a Magikarp with a “Gentle” nature. I named him Fabio because he fell in love with my Jigglypuff, Aura, after having “splash” disabled and he fell for the Cute Charm ability when he thrashed in frustration before being caught. He was my weakest Pokemon in my team and had crappy stats, except he had bulk, and was able to help back up my team effectively.
On Route 8, I caught a Vulpix and named Ember. This little trickster was probably the most strategic of all of my Pokemon.
I caught a Pidgey on Route 6, named Roslin. This little bird was a fierce fighter and I ached to see it grow to a full Pidgeot.
In Celadon city, someone gives me an Eevee that I evolve into a Vaporeon, naming him Memory, in memory of all the Pokemon that have died. He becomes one of my most reliable Pokemon and hits harder than either Fabio, Ember, Gus, or Claude ever have.
And finally, Claude, the Sandshrew I met at level 11 on Route 9. He hit harder than any of my other Pokemon could and though I was hesitant to have him on my team, I was glad he did.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS NUZLOCKE CHALLENGE:
I obtain Gus, my Bulbasaur.
My first loss was a Rattata named Fang who died by a Weedle’s poison. I RAN to the nearest Pokemon center. As soon as I move to the counter, Fang dies in my arms inside the center. I was so close.
I catch Pongo, the Mankey, and add him to my team begrudgingly. He persists to have my affection though, and it is through his determination beating a trainer that almost killed Gus, that he finally earns my trust.
I catch a Jigglypuff named Aura, a Bellsprout named Vinny, and a Spearow named Jackie. I buy a Magikarp for 500 credits and name it Leviathan. Leviathan dies to a Diglett due to Arena Trap in Diglett’s cave. In my grief, I soon capture a new Magikarp named Fabio after he falls in love with Aura. However, Aura dies to a Hyper Fang from a Rattata soon after in battle.
Vinny falls prey to a wild Spearow. Shortly after, so does Jackie. I grow resentful of bird Pokemon as they have also threatened the lives of Gus (weak to flying) and Pongo (also weak to flying), and miss them greatly.
Roslin, my pidgey, evolves into Pidgeotto. Around this time I also capture Claude, a little Sandshrew.
Roslin dies to a Koffing’s Self Destruct (the stupid thing used Self Destruct on it’s first move!), it is a critical. Claude, in the same battle, almost dies from a second Koffing’s Self Destruct but somehow manages to stay alive. Pongo finishes the battle strong as a little Mankey.
It is after these multiple losses that I enter Diglett’s cave and wreak havoc with Gus. Gus enters as a Bulbasaur and leaves as a Venusaur. He and Claude are my only Pokemon who are able to take the biggest hits from any Pokemon and are the only Pokemon to survive Self Destructs. From henceforth, they are the only two Pokemon used against any Pokemon that might know Self Destruct.
Pongo, Claude, and Fabio evolve into Primeape, Sandslash, and Gyarados.
I catch Ember, the Vulpix, and evolve him into Ninetales. He single-handedly takes out Erika’s entire Gym with a little support from Pongo.
During an intense battle with Team Rocket in Saffron City, Pongo is hit with a Self Destruct from a Weezing after Gus and Claude are too weak to battle (Claude had already taken a Self Destruct and Gus was paralyzed). He survives with 4 HP and finishes the battle somehow.
I decided to challenge the fighting Dojo in the same town with only Pongo to test his ability. He defeats almost everyone but needs Gus’ help on only two occassions. He defeats the master all by himself.
Fabio plows through Sabrina’s gym using Bite (he is also wearing Blackglasses to make him heavier on his hits). However, he grows weak and so I decide to open up with Ember. He does well enough but is soon weak. I know I cannot risk losing Pongo to psychic moves so decide to switch Ember the Ninetales for Claude the Sandslash when Sabrina uses her last Pokemon, an Alakazam.
This is when I learn true pain and loss and never feel the same about the game after.
Claude goes out, but Sabrina’s Alakazam goes first despite them both being the same level (no surprise though).
Claude falls to a critical hit with Psychic. He dies and I can feel my heart break so many times.
I send Gus out because all I have left is a very weak Gyarados and a very weak Ninetales. Pongo, I imagine wants to go out badly but I still cannot risk it.
Gus is at a higher level so I trust his high HP and bulk can survive as I take the time to heal Gyarados with a potion.
Gus falls to a critical hit with Psychic. I put the game down and step away for a moment. I’ve never been so upset with a game before and almost reset it in grief, but I stick to the rules.
Fabio, almost fully healed goes out. He is hit with a Psychic as well but survives with less then 30 HP. He manages to use Thunder Wave and paralyzes Alakazam. I’m almost tempted to send out Pongo but know he would surely die in one hit.
Ember, though weak, has decent special defense weirdly enough, so I switch Fabio out with Ember. For the first time ever, Alakazam doesn’t use Psychic. Ember uses Confuse Ray. Alakazam hurts itself in confusion. Sabrina heals Alakazam to full health. I feel my heart sink. But I send out another Confuse Ray, Alakazam hurts itself. I use Will-O-Wisp and burn the Devil himself. He hurts himself in confusion. Ember uses Flamethrower and for the third time in a row, Alakazam hurts himself and then dies to his burn.
Claude and Gus are grieved for and are forever held with the other “Beloved” Pokemon.
I grind for a while with Pongo, Fabio, and Ember to ensure our next battle doesn’t suffer the same losses, knowing that Koga will be in the near future with his Poison type Pokemon.
In Celadon City, some dude gives me an Eevee. I use a water stone on it and name him “Memory” to remember all those who were lost. This Vaporeon quickly becomes a trust worthy friend.
I defeat Koga and his cronies with mostly Ember, Pongo, and Fabio. The other Pokemon are still too low of a level to risk. Pongo, however, is poisoned and almost dies on the way back to the Pokemon center (curse those stupid invisible walls in Koga’s gym). He makes it, though, and I am relieved.
Vex, a Haunter I was training on my way to fight Blaine, dies from a critical hit from a Trainer’s Seal. I am apathetic as I had very little time with the Pokemon and nothing seems to cover the range of emotions I felt during the time I lost Gus and Claude. Right now, Ember, Fabio, and Pongo are the three Pokemon I care most about.
Looking for the stupid key to Blaine’s gym, a Robber’s Weezing Self Destructs and hits Pongo. If not for Pongo’s higher level, he would have died. He survives with 2 HP.
I unlock Blaine’s gym to find a bunch of people standing there. Enraged by the stupidity of having to find the key to unlock it when he could have unlocked it himself, and almost losing Pongo, I ruin his cronies with Memory, who I learn to love through this act.
In my rage, I decide to only use Pongo to fight Blaine. Pongo buries his fire Pokemon with Rock Slide.
Pongo and Memory take out Giovanni’s Gym and himself. No other Pokemon are used.
At this point I am left with these Pokemon before I head out toward the Elite Four:
Pongo, my Primeape
Memory, my Vaporeon
Fabio, my Gyarados
Ember, my Ninetales
Thuum, my Fearow
Alf, my Drowzee who is still in need of much training.
My rival bumps into me on my way to the Elite Four. Pongo destroys his entire time with the exception to his Alakazam which Ember takes care of himself.
After much training and grinding, my Drowzee has evolved into Hypno, Pongo reaches level 56, my highest level Pokemon. I grind further until all other Pokemon are at least level 50.
I forgot how much higher the levels went in the Elite Four. I was not fully prepared.
Lorelei falls to mainly Pongo, except when Jynx comes out, by which Ember burns the ugly thing. Thuum, however, does fall, but I spent little time with this Pokemon.
There are no other casualties and I feel confident.
Bruno is a joke and both Memory and Pongo tear his team apart. Pongo goes head to head with Machamp, level 56 against level 56. Cross Chop against Cross Chop.
Pongo destroys his four-armed monstrosity.
Agatha…
Alf successfully defeats the first Gengar, but then dies to Toxic’s poison. Ember takes care of her Golbat and Haunter but is weakened. It is at this point that I realize I did not grind long enough and fear for the future as I quickly realize the Level difference and know that it will only be a much wider gap in level difference. But I cannot turn back out now.
Ember is switched out for Fabio so I can heal Ember’s wounds. Arbok gets a critical on it’s Sludge Bomb and my heart breaks all over again.
…
Fabio, my Gyarados, go down.
Fabio is dead at level 52.
Ember, healed the rest of the way, takes out the rest of the team with a mix of Confuse Ray, Will-O-Wisp, Protect, and Flamethrower.
Ember leaves the battle alive, but is poisoned.
I have already used all 5 of the Full Restores I bought before going into the Elite Four. I have no other potions or status items left that can save Ember with the exception of one more Max Potion, but I know I will need it. I make the hard decision to not use it. I don’t know how many steps it is till I meet my Rival but I pray that he makes it to the end.
Pongo, at level 58 at this point, is my starter Pokemon.
Lance sends out his Gyarados first. My heart aches for Fabio, dead in my party. I send out my rage and use Pongo. Pongo is hit with Dragon Rage, it is weak, so he uses Bulk Up, rinse and repeat. This Gyarados of Lance’s is weak and knows not the destruction that will be rought in Pongo’s wake.
Less then half of Pongo’s HP is gone.
I unleash my rage with Pongo.
Lance’s Gyarados dies to a single Rockslide.
Lance uses Aerodactyl which is buried with a single Rock Slide.
Lance becomes desperate and uses his Dragonite.
Rock Slide.
Lance’s Dragonite dies in one hit.
He sends out his two Dragonairs in vain. He knows they are not susceptible to the same weaknesses to Rock Slide as his other Pokemon.
But Pongo learned something after he defeated Giovanni.
Earthquake.
Both of his Dragonairs fall to the earth below and Pongo levels up to level 59.
I know who I must face at the end of the tunnel, so I use my Max Potion on Pongo, knowing he is my only hope in finishing this battle.
I take two steps before the exit into the final area.
“Ember has fainted.”
Ember is dead at level 52.
I enter the final area with only two Pokemon: Memory at level 52 and Pongo at level 59. They are at full health and though I know what lies ahead, I do not know how hard it will be and can only hope that I can make it to the end.
I take Alf’s Quick Claw and give it to Pongo in hopes that, if it comes down to him and Alakazam, he will hit first and it will need one hit.
I use Memory first. He takes a hit of Sand Attack and Feather Dance but takes down my rival’s Pidgeot with two lucky Blizzards and his Rhydon with a critical on Surf.
My rival sends out Alakazam, at level 57, against Memory who still thankfully still has full health. I use Toxic immediately and poison the Devil himself. A few careful hits of Quick Attack in hopes I can avoid my rival from healing his Satanic Pokemon in case he survives in the red.
Memory is hit with a Future sight and is near half health. Memory uses surf and crits just enough to take down the biggest worry in my rival’s entire team, but I’m not in the clear yet, for I know he has an Exeggutor.
The last thing I need is Pokemon that is both Grass AND Psychic against Water AND Fighting types.
I keep Memory out as Exeggutor is brought to the stage.
Blizzard.
His Exeggutor is sturdy and though it is super effective, it only takes him down to a little less than half his health. He uses Egg Bomb.
Exeggutor misses. Memory uses Toxic. Exeggutor uses Giga Drain and almost kills Memory.
Memory uses Blizzard and Exeggutor is now in the yellow. I know Memory won’t survive another Giga Drain, so I switch him out for Pongo.
Pongo comes to the stage, ready to go, and is barely phazed by the Giga Drain. But I don’t know if his Exeggutor will end it with a psychic move. I don’t even know what his Exeggutor HAS except for what I’ve seen. Pongo uses Bulk Up.
Luckily for me, his deformed egg-tree doesn’t use a Psychic move, he uses Sleep Powder.
Pongo stares at him with rage building in his eyes. He has Vital Spirit as his ability, he will NEVER sleep.
Pongo doesn’t give him another chance, he uses Earthquake which somehow does the job.
My rival sends out Gyarados and I know now, that I will win this battle.
Bulk Up, Dragon Rage, Bulk Up, Dragon Rage, Bulk Up.
Gyarados crits on Dragon Rage and I kid you not, Pongo somehow survives with 6 HP.
No more risks. Rock slide.
Gyarados goes down.
Charizard goes out and the flames he spews at my Primeape are dull in comparison to the fires forged of iron will, determination, sadness, and immense anger reflected in Pongo’s eyes. His final blow is the embodiment of his fury, my fury, our fury, of all those lost before and to put an end to what we started.
A Pokemon that I had initially regarded as worthless and desired for nothing less (I was honestly more excited about owning a potential Raticate or Pidgeot then a furry pig with arms), a Pokemon I caught at level 2, a Pokemon who stuck by me, who I almost lost countless times before, but somehow was able to stay by my side till now. He fought alongside my first Gym battle with Brock and now will finish the Elite Four almost by himself alone, with Memory behind him.
Rock Slide.
… He misses.
…
No he doesn’t, he buries the oversized firebreather with the ceiling of the Elite Four’s tower. Pongo and Memory survive at level 59 and 52.
Pongo and Memory win and together we defeat the Elite Four and become Champion.
And that was my Nuzlocke Challenge. Now to pay a few respects:
* Fang - Rattata, caught at level 2, died at level 6 due to Poison.
* Vinny - Bellsprout, caught at level 5, died at level 13 due to a wild Spearow.
* Leviathan - Magikarp, bought at level 5, died at level 19 (two levels from evolving) due to a Diglett’s Arena Trap and use of Magnitude.
* Aura - Jigglypuff, caught at level 3, died at level 17 due to a Trainer’s Rattata critical Hyper Fang.
* Jackie - Spearow, caught at level 17, died at level 17 due to a wild Spearow.
* Roslin - Pidgeotto, caught at level 15 as a Pidgey, died at level 25 due to Self Destruct by Koffing.
* Claude - Sandslash, caught at level 11 as a Sandshrew, died at level 39 due to Alakazam’s Psychic.
* Gus - Venusaur, given to at level 5 as a Bulbasaur, died at level 44 due to Alakazam’s Psychic.
* Vex - Haunter, caught at level 14 as Ghastly, died at level 28 due to a Trainer’s Seal’s crit.
* Pinchy - Krabby, caught at level 24, died at level 24 from I can’t even remember.
* Scyrok - Kabuto, revived from a fossil at level 5, died at level 15 from Koffing Self Destruct.
* Thuum - Fearow, caught at level 40, died at level 51 due to Ice Beam.
* Alf - Hypno, caught at level 34 as Drowzee, died at level 50 due to Poison.
* Fabio - Gyarados, caught at level 5 as Magikarp, died at level 52 due to Arbok’s crit Sludge Bomb.
* Ember - Ninetales, caught at level 15 as Vulpix, died at level 52 due to Poison.
May they rest in peace.
If you’ve read this, I really appreciate it. I really wish I could have animated or created a comic, or even recorded it, but I lack the necessary things and skills to do that. But this was an emotional rollercoaster to go through.
Literally, after I lost Gus and Claude to Sabrina’s Alakazam, I didn’t play the game for a month. I was that upset that I needed to be away from the game. XD
Anyways, I leave you now with a screenshot of Pongo, the epitome of my beginning and end to my Nuzlocke challenge:
