The Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge Explained
The Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge is the most popular Pokemon challenge among fans, able to be played on any main-series Pokemon game.
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The Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge is a great way to increase difficulty in a series that has stayed the same in its core gameplay over the decades. Its high stakes make it popular with streamers and Pokemon veterans. There are a firm set of rules that dictate a Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge, but many often customize them to fit their preferences as it can prove to be quite difficult.
The fan-made Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge originally started as a fan comic originally titled Pokemon: Hard-Mode, but fans started referring to this as the Nuzlocke Challenge. “Nuzlocke” is the combination of the Pokemon Nuzleaf and Lost’s John Locke, but this name makes little sense even to some fans of the comic. Thanks to Nick Franco’s comic, Nuzlocke Challenges have become popular in the Pokemon community, not just because of its increased level of difficulty but for the way it forces players to bond with Pokemon and types they wouldn’t normally choose.
Core Rules of a Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge
Overall, the core rules of a Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge aren’t complicated. There are only two firm rules that players are expected to follow, but Nuzlockes can be performed with any main-series Pokemon title, including the most recent installments, Pokemon Sword and Shield, though players often choose the games they are most familiar with.
The first and most important rule of Nuzlocke Challenges is that if a Pokemon faints, it’s considered dead and can no longer be used during that Nuzlocke run. It should be either released or put into the Pokemon Storage System permanently. Secondly, the only Pokemon that can be caught are the first wild Pokemon encountered in an area. If the first Pokemon encountered faints or flees, players cannot attempt to catch any other Pokemon in that wild area. A change in routes counts as a new area.
There are a few other standards of Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenges that are largely considered core rules by the community. Firstly, all Pokemon must be given nicknames in order to form a deeper bond with the Pokemon. Additionally, players should only use Pokemon that are caught themselves rather than obtained through trading with other players. But this rule does allow players to obtain Pokemon through NPCs. Finally, players shouldn’t reset or reload the game if something bad occurs, as this isn’t in the spirit of a Nuzlocke Challenge.
Optional Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge Rules
An array of optional rules for Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenges have been curated by players to either increase the difficulty further or even make it easier, if desired. Whatever the case, players are free to customize rules however they’d like to have the best experience possible.
Many optional rules relate to the player’s starter Pokemon. For example, one rule dictates that the starter Pokemon must be chosen randomly, through the use of dice or the player’s randomly generated ID number. Alternatively, some players choose to release their starter Pokemon after the first wild Pokemon is caught.
If players wish to make the Nuzlocke Challenge exceptionally difficult, they can opt to only use Pokemon Centers for healing rather than potions, or vice versa. The number of Poke Balls purchased can be limited to a certain number, and players can opt out of using Master Balls throughout their Nuzlocke Challenge. Though the Legendary Pokemon would count as the first wild Pokemon in its given area, some players opt out of catching Legendaries to increase the difficulty during the Elite Four.
But to make a playthrough a bit easier or simply add some fun to a Pokemon Nuzlocke Challenge, the “Shiny Clause” dictates that Shiny Pokemon can be revived if they faint, should players choose to adopt this rule. There’s also a “Dupes Clause” that allows players to surpass the first encounter in a wild area if that Pokemon or any of its evolutions has already been previously caught. This rule is used commonly among players to allow for more variety in Pokemon teams, which could prove to be essential in difficult battles.
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