Pokemon Sapphire, My First Nuzlocke: Gym Leader Norman

So after going out of the gym, May told me the subtle hint that I should to Nuzzle's(my Nuzlocke character's name) father and his gym. But more importantly, I got the GoGoggles, which will finally let me go into that desert route and catch a new wild Pokemon as well as get a fossil to turn into a Pokemon. I even checked to make sure there were no other grass I could of gone into in that route, and I'm good! I'm real excited for this since this is the one place in the game you can get a Trapinch in the game which would allow me to have a Flyagon, one of my favorite 3^rd gen Pokemon. But knowing the jynxing luck I'm probably not going to run into it now, but since the worst thing I could run into on the route is a Sandshrew, I'll be getting something decent no matter what. Really hoping for a Trapinch though, and if I can't get that, then at least get a Baltoy instead...

...and it's a Cacnea. Better than a Sandshrew I guess but I already have 2 grass types and one of them is a solid spot on my team... might as well catch it anyways... I think it's worth noting while training for the gym, PlumpPickl learned Knock off. I thought it would be cool to actually have a move of a different type but it's incredibly weak. At least that makes it good for weaking up wild Pokemon to catch. Well I got the Cacnea... what to call it? Well, it trolled me out of getting a Pokemon I would want to use, it has a troll face... I was gonna call it troll plant or something silly like that but then I remember “from a certain Tales LP I'm watching” *cough* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4vdnwOh0rc&feature=BFp&list=WLDA41650C99666ACA , about Jade who take about every chance he gets to troll the party. So this one named after you Jade. With some “..” after it to get the point across. Time to put Jade in the box where all will be safe from his trolling from now on... hopefully.

Well at least I can get the fossils... one of them at least. Well the Pokemon from the root fossil is my favorite of the two, but I already got 3 grass types now... I guess I'll for the claw fossil. Hopefully I won't need to rely on either of them but at least I got a wider range of types by taking the claw fossil. Bye bye root fossil, it hurts you more than it hurts me. Well after picking up Zip'd from the Day Care, I decided to leave my Zubat, sorry forgot what I called it, in the Day Care in its place. Zip'd is still a bit behind so I guess I better raise him up too. Zip'd leveled up enough to learn Light Screen... normally wouldn't use it, but I get the feeling I could use it to my advantage if I use it smartly so I got rid of Moonlight for it... I had to get rid of it eventually since items will be more reliable in this playthrough.

Well I didn't do much grinding, but after checking some levels, I had a good feeling I could get through the gym in one piece. Time to finally face daddy... Nuzzle's daddy that is. Decided PlumpPickl would be very helpful for this gym so I decided to bring him for this gym again. Dubstep sat this gym out in exchange. So first of all was the process of taking care of the gym trainers for the sake of experience. Most of them were incredibly easy... most of them. Each of the gym trainers specialize in the use of an item, X-item, healing, etc. I decided to lead with Hurrcane to get experience for him. When I saw him use the item for raising critical, or was it the power-based trainer? I thought it would be smart to use protect to scout out its move. But no, it just used sword dance instead. My heart kept racing as it kept sword dancing its attack stats to the roof. As I got close to defeating it, the Pokemon finally attacked. By some miraculous means, Hurrcane survive. But he barely had any health to spare, but my opponent barely had health to spare as well. I could heal, but what if he got a critical hit next time, then the heal would be a waste. I wasn't quite sure if another attack would finish it off but I had to take the risk. I go for the Wing Attack... and it went down! Hurrcane made it through the fight in one piece. What luck! Man words can not describe how lucky I was in that fight.

Thought that wasn't even the gym leader fight. Though I think I got an idea to make this fight fairly easy to avoid casualties. So the battle begins. He leads with Slanking... woah, wait! I thought he lead with Vigeroth. Lovely my plan is already backfiring. Though with Plumpickl and Shroomhiness I was able to fight my way through. Then comes the Vigeroth if I recall but between my two fighting types there wasn't any problems. Then last but not least was another Slanking! This time however, I was able to switch into Hurracane and get out my plan I've been so waiting to do. You see, Slanking is an immensity powerful Pokemon but what keeps him from being overpower is its ability that makes him only attack every other turn. Hurracane has protect, a move that prevents all damage guaranteed, unless you use it multiple turns in a row. Add two and two together and I think you know what this means.... this in a nut shell minus having to use a Leppa Berry, (http://www.nuzlocke.com/pokemonhardmode.php?p=7 )

So with that I have a new badge in hand and a useful TM it's onwards with exploration. First of all, pick up the surf TM so Hurracane has finally got a good water type move and also, the ability to actually progress in the game. First, I might as well pick up some new water type on the new routes I can now reach and pick up a good TM for Zip'd. What is it? Well if you haven't guess, I'll tell you when I get it.

Overall Deaths 1:

Team:

Funghiness (Breloom) Lv. 33

Zip'd (Dustox) Lv. 33

Sheocka (Manectric) Lv. 33

PlumpPickl (Hariyama) Lv. 30

Code Red (Numel) Lv. 32

Hurracane (Pelipper) Lv. 33

On standby

DubStep (Loudred) Lv. 32

Mr. Pickup Lv.14

Pokemon Sapphire, My First Nuzlocke: Archie and Flanery

So I went forward up the cable cart to face off against Team Aqua. Fighting against Archie's followers I got the feeling I would make it through alright. But I still was nervous considering once I went into this fight against Archie, there was no turning back. I lead off with Sheocka thinking he would either lead with this water Pokemon or Golbat. Turns out it was neither, he lead off with his Mighteyna. To play it safe, I paralyzed it before switching back to Funghiness. Worked out for me since that hound just kept sand attacking and then used bite once my Pokemon that resisted dark moves did it's attack, AI fail for the win. Besides that, the fight went smoothly and I was never in risk of anyone fainting. Better anti-climatic than to have death I say.

So with team Aqua out of the picture for now, it's time to head to the next town... wait that means going through a new route, so I get to catch a new wild Pokemon! …and the one time I'm prepared to catch a wild Pokemon, it turns out to be another Numel, so I didn't bother. I'm thinking of applying the “only catch one Pokemon of a species” since it's pointless to have to of the same Pokemon and it definatly would feel like I was replacing a Pokemon if I were to use another Numel or Wishmur if Code Red or Dubstep were to die.

With that, I make it to Magoniy Town... I think that's what it's called. On the way there I decided to check out the hot spring and I was offered a Pokemon egg. Well, I've seen other Nuzlocke challenges use Pokemon eggs and technically there's no other Pokemon I can get right in the town so it fits in the standard Nuzlocke rules “technically” so I decided to get it for now. If I remember the Pokemon that was in it, I have doubts I'll actually use it, but I may be surprised. So I guess I'll walk around with it while I train up my Pokemon for the gym.

During my training I decided to clear out all the gym trainers in advance for the experience and so I can assure that I make it to the leader with full health. Also decided to use PlumpPickl instead of Funghiness since Funghiness will be weak to the gym. Zip'd also gonna sit this gym out for similar reasons. I actually managed to get PlumpPickl up to the level of the rest of the team pretty quickly so I don't have to worry about him slowing the battle down, despite not planning on using him. The egg hatched as well, into a Wynaut, as expected. I think I might try using it for a little bit but first it has to get up to level at the rest of the team so into the day care it goes. By the way, her name is Wonda, like Wanda but with an “o” since it evolves into a Wobbuffet.

So after much preparation, I decided to take on Flanery. Boy was it the closest match I've had yet. I couldn't help but look at the levels of Flanery's Pokemon and by faith I saw that one of her Pokemon had Rock Slide so my orginal plan of using Hurracane on everything could have had disastrous results if I kept with it. So I instead put my trust in Code Red to take out the 2 Slugmas just in case she decided to lead with the one with Rock Slide. It seem like I was on easy ground when she sent out her Torkal but the truth was the battle was only getting started.

I thought Code Red could finish the job, but it kept paralyzing me with body slam and started using attract. It was a mad swap between Hurracane and Code Red while I tried to heal the other up. It wasn't going so well, but then I remember my other Pokemon. After trying to decide who would be able to take hits the best I decided to go with PlumpPickl to tank the attacks and sacrifice himself for the team, only if needed. So PlumpPickl kept out while I healed up Code Red and Hurracane it was a long struggle but it came to the point that I was determine to make sure nobody died in that fight.

Using PlumpPickl as a wall I drained the Torkal of all its special attack with its use of Overheat making switching in even more easy then before. Eventually Hurracane finished the job and got us a new badge, but I wouldn't of gotten through the battle without all three of those Pokemon. So PlumpPickl, Hurracane, and Code Red thank you.

Overall Deaths 1:

Team:

Funghiness (Breloom) Lv. 30

DubStep (Loudred) Lv. 31

Sheocka (Manectric) Lv. 31

PlumpPickl (Hariyama) Lv. 30

Code Red (Numel) Lv. 32

Hurracane (Pelipper) Lv. 31

On standby

Zip'd Lv. 28?

Mr. Pickup Lv.14

New members:

Wonda the Wynut Lv. 5

Pokemon Sapphire, My First Nuzlocke: Meteor Falls

So as I continued onward with my adventure down route 113, I was actually doing great avoiding a wild Pokemon while fighting trainers. Of course on the way back as Code Red was poisoned was when I ran into one... not that was an issue overal though

Also kind of wished it was something better than a Spinda, but hey, at least I was able to catch it. I gave it the name Teddy and was sent to the box right away. Hopefully to never see the light of day. Well, at least had antidotes still to take care of the poison. Weird, I never use antidotes this late into a Pokemon game. I guess the environment of a Nuzlocke is the reason behind this.

So after that, I manage to pick up the soot bag, not sure if I'll use this yet or not since I can get some good stat healing items.  We'll see how much grinding I feel up to.  After using my free heal for a new town I decide to go to the next route and take on the trainers... forgetting it was a new route and ruining my chance to get a Lotad. Well my team is pretty well set at this point and there probably isn't a place for a Lotad anyways, but I got to stop thinking like that... the Swablu I ran into next would of been nice, but Nuzlocke rules, gotta follow them if it's a mistake on my behalf.

Speaking of, I'm a little worry about how balance it is. I thought I didn't have a full team each with a different type but that was because I forgot about Zip'd.  I guess it's because I never use a Dustox for this long into the game. That and most Nuzlockes I see that use a Wurple or even Caterpie usually lose it to poisoning early on in the game.  I'm a bit worried for Zip'd since bugs like him aren't usually that strong to use late on into the game.  But he's got me pretty far as is, and I may be surprised by what he can do in the future.  Hey, if I catch I better Pokemon I can always save Zip'd from the burden of death by using it instead.  Assuming I stop KOing the first wild Pokemon I find on a route.

So along my way I just rock smash a random rock and a Geodude came out of nowhere.  Really not used to this.  It's still on the same route so I still can't catch it.  Shame.  In the process, I realized I never taught Strength to anyone.  It's a decent HM move so I should teach it to at least a Pokemon.  HMs are reuseable so I taught it just to Code Red for tackle and DubStep in exchange for Uproar.  Sure pound is weaker but Uproar was really getting to me and I rather have Pound since it has more PP for now.  It'll probably be forgotten by the time DubStep learns a new move anyways.  As for Sheocka, she can learn it too but I think I'll wait and see if she learns anything better since HM moves can't be forgotten until I get to a certain point in the game.  Speaking of HMs and TMs, I decided to look up where to get Sludge Bomb while grinding, since it would make an excellent move for Zip'd.  Turns out I can't get it until getting 5 gym badges even though I've already been to the place I can get it at.  Also looked up Dustox stats and it's actually a bit more defense than I remember, maybe he can last after all.

After that, I guess I'll go into Meteor Falls and see if I can catch another Pokemon... and it turns out to be a Zubat.  To be honest, I was kind-of hoping I'd run into one eventually, since I love using Crobat.  Sure there's better things I can get but I'll take what I can get. I decided to call him Zimon, (get it?  Simon expect with a "z" instead of a "s".) With that, there's a no battle required scene with Team Magma and Aqua and I can head out.  But first, healing, since I caught a new Pokemon.  Yay!

Well I thought I could catch yet another wild Pokemon but I realized I need to have surf in order to get over to the grass on this route... guess that will have to wait...  I got to go to the lifts back and instead of jumping down the cliff and having to go around that way, I'll just back track I still got to pick up my soot items.  Got a Blue and Yellow Flute.  Blue curing sleep and yellow curing confusion.  The best part?  I can use these items as often as I need to, they have unlimited uses. Yay!  Well I'm at the lift now and I think this would be a good point to stop after all a serious fight is coming up soon.  So with full health, and saving I close my game for now.

Deaths Total: 1

Team:
Funghiness (Breloom) Lv. 29
Zip'd (Dustox) Lv. 28
Dubstep (Loudred) Lv. 28
Hurracane (Peliper) Lv. 28
Sheocka (Manectric) Lv. 28
Code Red (Numel) Lv. 28