PKMN Crystal Nuzlocke ch. 8

[lyssabn]

Previous entries

• Pokémon Yellow Version Nuzlocke
• Crystal Version ch. 1: thru Falkner
• Crystal Version ch. 2: thru Bugsy and Silver
• Crystal Version ch. 3: thru Whitney
• Crystal Version ch. 4: thru Morty and the Kimono Girls
• Crystal Version ch. 5: thru Rocket Hideout and Chuck
• Crystal Version ch. 6: Pryce, Jasmine, and the Radio Tower
• Crystal Version ch. 7: up to Victory Road

rules for my Genlocke, Crystal section

1. All Pokémon must be nicknamed.
2. If a Pokémon is defeated in battle it may not be used for the rest of the game.
   1. Losing a battle is game over.
3. Only the first wild Pokémon encountered in an area may be captured and used.
   1. Gift clause: Gift Pokémon do not count as an encounter.
   2. Dupes clause: If an encounter is a Pokémon of a species that was already captured, it does not count.
   3. Intentionally abusing 3.2 to control what mons you get is cheesy and therefore impermissible as a vegan.
   4. Girl’s Club: ♂️ Pokémon don’t count either. (It is permissible to soft reset for a ♀️ gift/static Pokémon.)
   5. Shinies can always be caught and used.
   6. Wild Pokémon encountered before it is possible to catch any Pokémon do not count as your first encounter in an area.
4. The Starter Pokémon must be chosen randomly based on the last digit of the Trainer ID: 1-3 = leftmost, 4-6 = center, 7-9 = rightmost, 0 = free choice.
5. (Generationlocke:) The surviving members of each Hall of Fame team are bred to create eggs. These eggs are transferred to the next game and hatched in that game.
   1. The champion Pokémon may optionally have moves deleted first (to avoid silliness like starting the game with Surf), but may not be taught new moves that will be passed down to the baby Pokémon.
   2. When applicable, Incense may be used or not used at the player's preference.
   3. The legacy Pokémon do not have to be used, but can be.
   4. Level caps:
      1. Pokémon that exceed the level of the next Gym Leader's ace Pokémon as of the start of the battle cannot be used in trainer battles.
      2. The Elite Four may not be entered with Pokémon whose level exceeds that of the final Elite Four member's ace.
      3. It is permissible to use Rare Candies before battling the Champion as long as no Pokémon exceed the level of the Champion's ace.
   5. Set Mode must be used.

Okay, Sunday came around, and I got the Return TM. Then Victory Road is just a short trip. I face Silver again, but defeat him without too much trouble. I do like his team. With Silver defeated, I reach the Indigo Plateau, heal up, and stock up on healing items. Before I take on the League, though, I duck back into Victory Road for a bit more leveling. Karen's Houndoom sets my level cap for entering the Elite Four at 47, and my team ranges from 41 to 46 when I start the grind here.

I head into the Elite Four with my team all at level 47. I teach MagicianII Shadow Ball and lead with her against Will. I also gave her a Bitter Berry, which cured the confusion from Will's first Xatu. I have to switch out when the second Xatu confuses her again. Unfortunately, Carp II misses several Thunders in a row, so I have to rely on Glutton II to take out most of the rest of Will's team.

For Koga, I teach Fire Punch to MagicianII and Judoka and give the former a PSNCureBerry and the latter a Quick Claw. Once again, I lead with MagicianII. Psychic takes out Ariados, Fire Punch takes out Forretress, Psychic takes out Venomoth, Crobat, and Muk. Each in one hit. MagicianII levels up to 49 mid battle. Turns out brute force and speed can overcome strategy.

Before Bruno, I restore MagicianII's Psychic PP with an Ether. She's my lead again for this match, and I give her a Berry for a bit of health restoration in case she doesn't 1HKO all of his team. Psychic 1HKOs the whole team, although Hitmontop did hit her with a Mach Punch that didn't do much damage.

Karen is going to be for Judoka, who I give a Blackbelt. Cross Chop takes Umbreon out. Vileplume paralyzes Machamp, which proves a big pain, but several Fire Punches and an Earthquake or two manage to eat through its healing anyway. A Vital Throw (despite paralysis) takes out Murkrow. I bring out Carp II to take on Houndoom, although a Max Potion means she takes a chunk of damage, so I swap in Alligator to finish Houndoom off. Judoka gains a level.

I have 4 Rare Candies, which I can use now to level up some of my team up to Lance's ace at 50. I use them on MagicianII and on Glutton II. MagicianII gets a PRZCureBerry and Ice Punch and Thunder Punch TMs. Another Ice Punch replaces Fire Punch for Judoka, who holds the Blackbelt. Carp II receives Strength and holds a Mystic Water. Glutton II and Bat also receive PRZCureBerries, while Alligator holds a NeverMeltIce. Carp II will be my lead against Lance. I'm lucky enough to land my first Thunder to take down his Gyarados before it can set up Rain Dance. I switch in MagicianII against a level 47 Dragonite and eat a Thunder. Ice Punch takes that and the other level 47 Dragonite out, as well as Aerodactyl, outspeeding all of them. Thunder Punch deals with Charizard, but it takes two hits, bringing MagicianII dangerously low. So now, I switch to Glutton II and am lucky enough to hit my first Blizzard, which 1HKOs the level 50 Dragonite, despite its dangerous Outrage. MagicianII levels up to 51.

Mary and Professor Oak show up to interview me, but Lance rescues me, taking me in to register me and my team in the Hall of Fame. Here's my team and their final moves with the Hall of Fame entries following:

• Carp II (Gyarados), holding Mystic Water: Surf / Waterfall / Strength / Thunder.
• Judoka (Machamp), holding Blackbelt: Cross Chop / Earthquake / Ice Punch / Vital Throw.
• MagicianII (Alakazam), holding PRZCureBerry: Psychic / Recover / Thunder Punch / Ice Punch.
• Glutton II (Snorlax), holding PRZCureBerry: Return / Blizzard / Thunder / Rest.
• Alligator (Feraligatr), holding NeverMeltIce: Ice Punch / Strength / Whirlpool / Surf.
• Bat (Crobat), holding PRZCureBerry: Wing Attack / Bite / Fly / Confuse Ray.

(As before, the play time is exaggerated by the use of the fast-forward functionality in MGBA.)

Now I need to make some eggs for the next segment of my Genlocke, which will I think be Sapphire (mostly choosing on the basis of having the copper Laties even though that's not until post-game I think).

To celebrate getting this far, I'm going to introduce a sort of reward system for lines that make it through multiple generations, as is sometimes done for Genlockes. Essentially, starting with a family's second offspring (when I get to, for example, Carp III), I get to apply some benefit to them as I continue. I might have started off with bonuses for 1-time Hall of Famers, but I didn't decide whether or not to do bonuses until now. I can only choose one bonus for each qualifying Pokémon each generation (although I can choose a bonus that only requires fewer generations of Hall of Fame ancestors than the Pokémon has, and breeding mechanics make it possible for some bonuses to be inherited). Here's the initial draft set of reward options (I reserve the option to revise them if this turns out to be silly in some way or I realize there is something I should have included but forgot):

• 2+ Hall of Fame ancestors: Choose the Pokémon's Nature or Ability (not including hidden abilities).
• 3+ Hall of Fame ancestors: Give the Pokémon an Egg Move.
• 4+ Hall of Fame ancestors: Give the Pokémon its Hidden Ability or one perfect IV of my choice (or a 0 IV if I want that for some reason).
• 5 Hall of Fame ancestors: Choose two benefits from the 2 to 4 Hall of Fame ancestor options.
• 6 Hall of Fame ancestors: Choose one benefit from each of the 2, 3, and 4 Hall of Fame ancestor option sets, and one additional benefit from any of those three option sets.

Anyway, soon I'll start on Pokémon Sapphire Version! I'll include the notes on which Nature/Ability I chose for Carp 3, Glutton 3, and Magician 3. See you next time!

Summary

Important items: Return TM.

Important battles: Defeated Silver in Victory Road. Defeated the Elite Four and the Champion Lance, earning a place in the Pokémon League Hall of Fame.

Final Team: Alligator (Feraligatr), Bat (Crobat), Carp II (Gyarados), Glutton II (Snorlax), Judoka (Machamp), MagicianII (Alakazam).