The Pokémon Nuzlocke Challenge or simply called Pokémon Nuzlocke is a series of streams where Ben Moore attempts to beat Pokémon LeafGreen using unofficial self-imposed community rules to make the game more challenging.
The stream first debuted during EZX 2022 while one of the EZX fundraiser goals continued the stream beyond EZX.
Nuzlocke Rules[]
The Nuzlocke Challenge is a longstanding set of rules created by the Pokémon community that features a variety of basic, advanced, and optional rules that players can choose to adopt.[1] Ben chose to select a few basic rules for his streams:
- He can only capture the first new Pokémon he encounters in each new area he visits.
- Each Pokémon must be named, with the first run being named after the other Allies.
- All fainted Pokémon must be released.
History[]
On March 21, 2022, Easy Allies announced the schedule for EZX 2022 and introduced the fundraiser goals.[2] Both included Ben's first time doing a Pokémon Nuzlocke as well as a $6,000 goal for Ben to continue the Nuzlocke Challenge. They quickly surpassed the goal and Ben held his first stream on March 23, 2022 during EZX.
Ben's Nuzlocke Challenge streams officially ended when he announced he was leaving Easy Allies to return to his home state of Iowa. His third run of Nuzlocke went unfinished after a total of eight streams across all three runs.
First Run[]
Ben originally planned on doing the Nuzlocke in Pokémon Emerald but couldn't find or misremembered owning the cartridge. He played Pokémon LeafGreen instead, which is the Game Boy Advance remake of the first Pokémon game. He allowed Chat to vote on his starter, which they chose Bulbasaur. He accepted feedback for potential Pokémon names from Chat including the name of the rival who was named Bosman.
During his first stream, Bradtata and Damiankey were the first to faint and be released. Ben expanded his team in the second stream but eventually lost to his rival, Bosman after Hubiesar fainted from a critical hit from Pidgeotto's Gust. The rest of his team couldn't fend off Bosman's lineup, eventually forcing a second run.
Pokémon Roster[]
| # | Name - Pokémon | Caught | Team Status | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hubiesar - Ivysaur | Day 1 | Fainted | Day 2 |
| 2 | Bradtata - Rattata | Day 1 | Fainted | Day 1 |
| 3 | Damiankey - Mankey | Day 1 | Fainted | Day 1 |
| 4 | Islafree - Butterfree | Day 1 | Fainted | Day 2 |
| 5 | Casaneedle - Beedrill | Day 1 | Fainted | Day 2 |
| 6 | Fearworth - Spearow | Day 1 | Fainted | Day 2 |
| 7 | Magikyle - Magikarp | Day 2 | Fainted | Day 2 |
| 8 | Zuchat - Zubat | Day 2 | Fainted | Day 2 |
Second Run[]
A second run was immediately started at the end of the second stream, which Ben then declared that things would get serious. He chose Squirtle as his new starter Pokémon and named him Vengeance.
During Day 3, Ben decided to forego using Allies names for the Pokémon he caught and instead used themes of vengeance to avenge the death of Hubiesar and his first run of Nuzlocke. He caught a few different Pokémon compared to his last run and made it to Mt. Moon with zero deaths. Ben implemented a change of tactics and focused on leveling just a few Pokémon and boxed others he caught in the PC for backup.
Ben caught a Spearow which he boxed in Day 4 and then proceeded to level up his main squad in preparation for the fight with Misty at the water gym. He made it all the way to Misty without any deaths but then proceeded to wipe with his main squad due to a run of unlucky RNG with confusion. Instead of continuing the run with his boxed Pokémon, he decided to start a new run.
Pokémon Roster[]
| # | Name - Pokémon | Caught | Team Status | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vengeance - Squirtle | Day 2 | Fainted | Day 4 |
| 2 | Justice - Rattata | Day 3 | Boxed | No |
| 3 | Liberation - Mankey | Day 3 | Fainted | Day 4 |
| 4 | Retaliatio - Pidgey | Day 3 | Fainted | Day 4 |
| 5 | Vendetta - Weedle | Day 3 | Boxed | No |
| 6 | Murder - Jigglypuff | Day 3 | Boxed | No |
| 7 | Wrath - Magikarp | Day 3 | Boxed | No |
| 8 | Erotic - Geodude | Day 3 | Fainted | Day 4 |
| 9 | Disappoint - Spearow | Day 4 | Boxed | No |
Third Run[]
Ben started a new run at the end of Day 4 and let Chat vote on his starter. Chat voted 50% in favor of Charmander, so he named him Chatmander. However, the stream crunched with a failed attempt at catching a Metapod.
At the start of Day 5, Ben started grinding experience in Viridian Forest to prepare for the tough gym battle ahead with Brock in Pewter City. He also started naming Pokémon he caught or purchased from subs and resubs on Twitch. He made plans to evolve Chatmander into Charmeleon and get him to Lvl18 at the recommendation of Chat. Ben accidentally killed a Spearow he could've caught before purchasing a Magikarp at the Pokémon Center before Mt. Moon.
On Day 6, Ben continued his run through Mt. Moon and evolved Rattata into Raticate. Once getting to Route 4, he caught a Spearow. While exploring the town, he accidentally initiated the rival fight with Bosman. After a momentary freak-out, Ugh's speed and attack power easily carried Ben to victory. Before facing Misty, he proceeded to continue leveling Raticate to try and outmatch the speed of Misty's Starmie. On Route 25, he faced a few duplicate Pokémon before encountering a rare Abra. He managed to catch it on turn 1 which had both Ben and Chat hyped. After getting Raticate's speed above Starmie's, he proceeed to face Misty and easily sweeped her with Ugh. On Route 5, Ben caught a Meowth. He crunched Day 6 on getting the bike.
Starting on Day 7, Ben went on the S.S. Anne to get the Cut ability to fight Lt. Surge. After completing S.S. Anne, Ben went through the Diglett Cave but forgot to try and catch a Diglett. On Route 11, Ben's next catch was a Sandshrew. He then went on to face Lt. Surge and beat him with no trouble with his Geodude. Before heading to Rock Tunnel, Ben retrieved his Magikarp to continue leveling him up while putting his PIdgey in the daycare to level up a flying type on the side. In a sudden turn of events, Chatmander got hit by a critical attack from Hiker Jeremy's Onix , causing him to faint. Chatmander was the first Pokémon in the third run to be released. On Route 10, Ben caught a Voltorb. Day 7 crunched on evolving Paginsberg into a Gyarados and giving him the Water Pulse TM.
Ben made his way through Rock Tunnel on Day 8. After evolving Abra into Kadabra and boosting Meegozh's level, he focused on evolving Bellsprout next and continuing to make Gyarados stronger as well. He finally made it out of Rock Tunnel and arrived in Lavender Town. He went to Route 8 to catch a Vulpix which was the only new Pokémon he could catch. Vulpix was added to the main active roster, replacing Chatmander. He then went to Celadon City and crunched on getting an Eevee that will eventually evolve into a Jolteon, giving the tea to the guard, and getting the coin case to gamble on the slot machines.
Pokémon Roster[]
| # | Name - Pokémon | Caught | Team Status | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chatmander - Charmeleon | Day 4 | Fainted | Day 7 |
| 2 | Ugh - Raticate | Day 4 | Active | No |
| 3 | Waagh - Pidgey | Day 4 | Daycare | No |
| 4 | Paginsberg - Gyarados | Day 5 | Active | No |
| 5 | MarcoGorga - Graveler | Day 5 | Active | No |
| 6 | Coceiras - Spearow | Day 6 | Boxed | No |
| 7 | Nirojan45 - Weepinbell | Day 6 | Active | No |
| 8 | Meegozh - Kadabra | Day 6 | Active | No |
| 9 | Onyxthegrt - Meowth | Day 6 | Boxed | No |
| 10 | Cain-alex - Sandshrew | Day 7 | Boxed | No |
| 11 | Mbun - Voltorb | Day 7 | Boxed | No |
| 12 | samo-ren - Vulpix | Day 8 | Active | No |
| 13 | evilregmi - Eevee | Day 8 | Boxed | No |
References[]
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