The Official Pokemon Challenge Thread

[Splash_King]

Welcome to Wiichat's third rendition of the Official Pokemon Challenge Thread. This is a place where trainers take it upon themselves to attempt special Challenges of varying difficulty for any and all mainstay RPG Pokemon games, from Red and Green to X and Y! Said Challenges are all 'bout playing through the in-game story while applying various limitations to greatly increase the difficulty; and as a result, greatly increase the fun. One of Pokemon's few shortcomings is the lackluster difficulty, and the following Challenges are meant to alleviate this issue.

Those who complete any of the Challenges will be recorded into our 'Karptacular Hall of Fame, recognizing that player's skill, talent, and love of Pokemon for so long as this forum stands. If ya beat a "Combined" Challenge, the Challenges you simultaneously beat will be recognized all together under either the "Combined" Challenge or "Combined Nuzlocke" Hall of Fame.

One last thing! Any Challenger who can go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb, earning a spot in every single Hall of Fame, will be honored and inducted as one of the Challenge Thread's Champions: the truly ultimate goal. They'l also earn themselves a trophy from your's truly, paying tribute to their unrivaled dedication and skill... And with that said, go on and get to the Challenging! Strive for greatness, my fellow trainers. Your very own tale of grand adventure is about to unfold!


Credit to Neosquid for the thread's original concept, as well as various other Pokeforums for rules, information and further inspiration used to create these Challenges.

 

[Splash_King]

General Rules
READ BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY CHALLENGE

The following Rules apply to all Challenges, unless specified otherwise. You don't need to read this section until you've decided what Challenge you'll attempt, so feel free to ignore these for now.
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Spoiler

1. Trading to obtain Pokemon is NOT allowed, unless the Pokemon in question is traded as an unhatched egg. These Pokemon may not be ones you can already obtain in the game you're playing, unless the species can only be caught incredibly late in the game. For example, Durant in Black and White or Larvitar in Gold and Silver.

In-games trades are allowed. Furthermore, trading to evolve a Pokemon is allowed. However, if the Pokemon also requires a hold item to evolve via trade, that item must be obtained in the game you're playing the Challenge and may NOT be traded in from another game.

2. All Challenges played on Gold, Silver, Crystal, Heart Gold and Soul Silver end after you've collected your 16th badge. Defeating Red or the Elite Four a second time is unnecessary.

3. Players attempting Challenges on X and Y may NOT use any and all O-powers. You may NOT play a Challenge while connected to the internet, and must keep all wireless communications turned off.

4. Players attempting Challenges on X and Y may NOT use Pokemon Amie, with the sole exception being to evolve an Eevee into Sylveon. You may NOT have your Sylveon obtain more than level two affection (two hearts).

5. For all Challenges wherein you use a team of two Pokemon or more, you may only use one of each species.

6. For all Challenges wherein you use a team of two Pokemon or more, you can't simultaneously use two Pokemon from the same evolutionary line. However, you may still use Pokemon that are a part of a split evolutionary line, such as using a Slowbro and Slowking or Jolteon and Glaceon.

7. Any Challenge you wish to start must be posted and formally accepted by Splash_King (myself) in order to be applicable in joining the Hall of Fame upon Challenge completion.

8. This is quite an obvious rule: cheating devices are in no way allowed. Usage of one will result in your Challenge being invalidated. You'll also be permanently expelled from the thread. THERE ARE [STRIKE]NO[/STRIKE] very few EXCEPTIONS

9. When playing through your Challenge, please periodically post in the thread with an update on your progress. These updates can be any post length from just a simple list to spinning off a multitude of paragraphs. Feel free to embellish your updates with whatever special text or wild and epic story-telling fashion you'd like.

10. You may catch any Pokemon for usage as an HM slave, regardless of any Challenge's rules. HM slaves may never be brought into battle. The only exception to this rule is if you get into a Double/Triple Battle during a Single Challenge; however, an HM slave's turn must be used to attack your Challenge's sole Pokemon. If an HM slave(s) are the last remaining Pokemon in your party, you must let them faint.

11. To become a Champion, the following requirements must be met:

- Read the text-walls of rules.
- Complete every single Challenge type and enter each individual Hall of Fame, bar the Battle Tower Challenges.
- Complete three Combined Challenges total.
- Complete at least one Combined Challenge composed of three or more Challenge rulesets.
- Complete either two Combined Nuzlocke Challenges, or a single Combined Nuzlocke Challenge composed of two (or more) rulesets.

Note that Combined Nuzlocke Challenges do NOT count towards either requirements concerning the typical Combined Challenges, unless you have already filled the quota for the final requirement of completing Nuzlocke Challenges.

The following are not rules per say, but general guidelines regarding Shiny Pokemon.​

You are allowed break any and every Challenge's rules in order to catch a Shiny Pokemon. Breaking rules to ensure catching a Shiny is wholly encouraged and will never result in punishment.

If at any time you hatch a Shiny Pokemon egg traded from another game, DO NOT SAVE BEFORE CHECKING IT'S SUMMARY! There is a 50% chance it's status as a Shiny was generated from the breeder's ID, meaning it would not remain Shiny after it hatches. If your Shiny doesn't retain it's shininess on the summary, simply turn off your game and return this egg to the breeder for them to hatch, wherein they will return the Shiny to you. You may use this Shiny in your Challenge, despite it not hatching on your game.

Always keep a small stock of Pokeballs on you. No one wants to miss catching a Shiny solely due to being ill prepared. This is especially true for rare Pokemon: for example, never enter battle against a legendary without a very large stock of quality Pokeballs.

No Items Challenge
Credit to Neosquid for the concept


Go through the game without using any items unnecessary for progressing through the story. What will YOU do without an infinite supply of Revives?
----------​

Rules:

Spoiler

1. The only items allowed to be used are those necessary to progress the story and obtain Pokemon, i.e. key items, Pokeballs, evolutionary items, etc. Any items not required (TMs, potions, hold items, etc.) are not allowed. Mega Pokemon are not considered new species, thus Mega Stones are unnecessary hold items and therefore are not allowed.

2. In the case of a Combined Challenge, Rule #1 takes priority over any other Challenge's rules. i.e. TMs are not allowed for Moveset Challenges, and hold items are banned for the Battle Tower Challenge.

3. Each HM can only be known by one Pokemon in your party at all times.

4. Your Pokemon may NOT know any moves which require usage of item(s). As such, Pokemon you breed are not allowed to inherit TM moves or other moves which require an item, such as Volt Tackle. Furthermore, your Pokemon may not learn Tutor moves which cost anything (items, game corner coins, battle points, etc.). Only free Tutor moves may be learned.

5. You are not allowed to turn off the power, reset, etc. if you White Out/are on the verge of whiting out. You are also not allowed to turn off the game unless you save first. To summarize your skill, at the end of your Challenge you will state how many times you whited out. The less, the better.

6. If items necessary to progress have multiple uses, you may only use it for the purpose of progressing the game. i.e. the Pokeflute: you can and must use it to wake up any Snorlax blocking your path. You may not however, use it to wake up any other sleeping Pokemon (inside or outside of battle).

7. The following items may be used without penalty in a No Item Challenge: your Bike, Everstone(s) and all varieties of Repels.

No Items Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - White Outs

1. Splash_King, FireRed, 0
2. kajira, Leaf Green, 0
3. bou0010, White, 1
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Monotype Challenge


Go through the game using solely one type of Pokemon. You'll learn what it's like for poor ol' Brock and all those Squirtle and Bulbasaur he deals with...
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. You may only use one type of Pokemon i.e. only Grass Pokemon, only Fire Pokemon, etc. You can't use one Fire and one Grass.

2. If any starter is not the type for your Challenge, you may use a starter of your choice until you can obtain a Pokemon for your Challenge's type.

3. You may use HM slaves of any type.

4. Dual-type Pokemon are allowed, so long as one of their types is the Challenge's designated type.

5. Pokemon that can change their typing may NOT do so if they lose their type associated with your Challenge. Also, Pokemon such as Kecleon and Castform may NOT be used, as their typing being changed cannot be prevented.

Monotype Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - Type

1. RockerJ, White, Bug
2. kajira, Black, Dark
3. Splash_King, Soul Silver, Psychic
4. Blondiemon, Diamond, Rock
5. lucktown, Soul Silver, Ice
6. bou0010, Black 2, Fighting
7.
8.
9.
10.

Scramble Challenge


Go through a game with a team picked by your fellow Challengers. The ultimate Pokegrab bag Challenge. The first members to post Pokemon give the team you will use. Each poster may choose up to two Pokemon if the Challenger wishes to use a team of five or more Pokemon.
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. Do NOT assign a useless Pokemon, i.e. Feebas (MAGIKARP AIN'T USELESS STFU)

2. Do NOT assign a Pokemon already chosen.

3. Do NOT assign unevolved Pokemon.

4. Please specify how many Pokemon you want your team to be comprised of. If less than 5, posters may not choose more than 1 Pokemon for that Scramble Challenge.

5. Please specify if you both cannot trade with yourself (using two systems and two versions), and cannot trade with others over Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you will likely end up assigned with Pokemon you have no way of obtaining.

Scramble Hall of Fame:​

User - Game

1. kajira, Sapphire
2. bou0010, Black 2
3. lucktown, Soul Silver
4. Splash_King, Platinum
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Single Challenge


Go through a game using only a single Pokemon for battling. Battle Hall, anyone?
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. If your single Pokemon is knocked out, you must either let yourself White Out or turn off the game and restart where you last saved.

2. You may use any other Pokemon until you get your specified Pokemon.

3. In the case of needing to obtain Pokemon to complete your Pokedex, such as to obtain HM05 Flash in FireRed/LeafGreen, you may ignore any and all rules in order to capture the necessary Pokemon (i.e. using your HM slaves in battle).

Single Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - Pokemon

1. rseradish, Platinum, Bibarel
2. bou0010, Sapphire, Swampert
3. kajira, Heart Gold, Feraligatr
4. Koshi, Heart Gold, Rampardos
5. LordWaffle, Leaf Green, Charizard
6. lucktown, Diamond, Flygon
7.
8.
9.
10.

Unevolved Challenge


Go through the game without evolving any of the Pokemon on your team. Emulate Ash and his stupid Pikachu.
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. You may NOT evolve your Pokemon under any circumstance.

2. You may NOT catch or use any Pokemon that can evolve no further.

3. You may NOT catch or use Pokemon that were once the final evolution of their evolutionary line, i.e. Scyther, Misdreavus, etc.

4. Challengers may catch Pokemon that have evolved before but can still evolve, such as Nidorino, so long as you do NOT evolve the Pokemon any further.

Unevolved Hall of Fame:​

User - Game

1. kajira, Black
2. bou0010, X
3. lucktown, Soul Silver
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Moveset Challenge


You pick your team, but everyone else will pick these Pokemon's movesets. Pokegrab bag #2; makes for a fantastic "Combined Challenge" with Scramble!
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. There has to be at least two attacking, damaging moves per Pokemon. Also, at least one damaging move (of each) of the Pokemon's type(s) must be in the Moveset before any other moves are included.

2. Please do NOT assign useless or ineffective moves i.e. Splash or Growl. Also, please do not assign too many moves that are obviously not as good as other obtainable moves, i.e. Ember instead of Flame Burst. Moves that use a Pokemon's (notably) weaker attacking stat are also not allowed, i.e. giving a Rampardos Special attacks or giving an Alakazam Physical attacks.

3. Please do NOT assign more than one move with 70% accuracy or lower per Pokemon's moveset.

4. Please do NOT assign egg moves unless the Challenger states they have a way to breed Pokemon with egg moves.

5. You may only assign any specific TM to one Pokemon only. This rule does NOT apply to Challenges played on Black, White, Black 2, White 2, X and Y, as TMs do not break in 5th Generation and newer games.

6. You may NOT assign more than two damaging moves of the same type.

7. Challengers may use ANY move in place of ones they are required to learn for the Challenge, but cannot yet learn. i.e. If Dragonite's moveset requires Hyper Beam, but it cannot learn it yet by any method, any move may replace Hyper Beam until it has the chance to learn it. As soon as a Pokemon can learn an assigned move, it must. The only exception is if the move is a TM that another Pokemon requires for it's moveset.

Moveset Hall of Fame:​

User - Game

1. kajira, Pearl
2. bou0010, Sapphire
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Speed Challenge


Complete the game in as little time as possible. A simple but wholly competitive Challenge for the speed runner in all of us.
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. The following rule applies to Gold, Silver, Crystal, Heart Gold and Soul Silver only: after beating the Elite Four for the first time, submit your playtime. After collecting your 16th badge, submit your playtime again.

Speed Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - Play Time

1. kReal-o, Gold, 7:19/9:31
2. kElmo =], Silver, 7:57/10:07
3. kNUGG3T, Blue, 6:16
4. kSplash_King, Blue, 3:53
5. kbou0010, Sapphire, 5:06
6. kbou0010, Black 2, 6:24
7. kAzrael19, Emerald, 7:36
8. kbou0010, Sapphire, 3:38
9.k kajira, Black, 6:22
10. lucktown, Soul Silver, 4:40/6:02
11. Glomperful, FireRed, 2:39
12.
13.
14.
15.

Combined Challenge


Combine two or more of any Challenge's rulesets for an even harder Challenge. i.e. Scramble and Monotype, Moveset and No Items, etc. Ramp up the difficulty, step up the fun.
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. The same rules for each Challenge still apply. For example, if you pick a Scramble and Monotype, you must obey both Challenge's rules at the same time. If any Challenge's rulesets seem to conflict each other, please make a post regarding the matter to be provided with an official solution.

2. Speed Challenges are not applicable to be part of any Combined Challenges.

Combined Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - Challenges

1. kSplash_King, Platinum, Single/Unevolved (Scyther)
2. kSplash_King, Black, Scramble/Monotype (Dragon)
3. kMythrignoc, Red, Scramble/Monotype (Ground)
4. kn0on3, Black, Scramble/Monotype (Grass)
5. kn0on3, Black Scramble/Monotype (Bug)
6. kn0on3, Black, No Items/Scramble/Monotype (Steel), 17 White Outs
7. kOTheFool, Ruby, Single/Moveset (Swampert)
8. kTMankey, Heart Gold, Scramble/Unevolved
9. kbou0010, Black 2, Moveset/Monotype (Fire)
10. Azrael19, Emerald, Scramble/Monotype (Psychic)
11. Blondiemon, Silver, Single/Unevolved (Rattata)
12. lucktown, Soul Silver, Scramble/Moveset/Monotype (Flying)
13. Blondiemon, Sapphire, No Item/Scramble/Monotype (Water)
14. lucktown, Black 2, Scramble/Single (Gliscor)
15. Glomperful, Emerald, Scramble/Single (Shiftry)
16. bou0010, X, Scramble/Single/Unevolved/Moveset (Anorith)
17.
18.
19.
20.

Battle Tower Combined Challenge
Credit to Strype McClaine for the concept.


The only competitive battling Challenge, and without a doubt, incredibly difficult. This Challenge is done by combining another or multiple other Challenges' teams/rules, with trying to get as many Battle Tower wins as you can.
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Rules:

Spoiler

1. The rules for the Challenges you picked are all still active for the Challenge; however, trading, moveset, and item restrictions (no trading in Pokemon you can already catch, no trading in TMs, no trading in any items, etc.) for every Challenge are lifted.

2. For the Scramble Challenge, you still choose one of your Pokemon. Just as rule two, since you're using only a team of three or four, only the first two posters decide the Pokemon to be used for singles, and first three for doubles.

3. For the Single Pokemon Challenge, the rest of your team must be underleveled and useless. Best of luck in Doubles.

Battle Tower Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - Challenges

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Remember, the battle tower was present in Pokemon Crystal and most games after, so Crystal, Generation 3, Generation 4, and Generation 5 games are all allowed!

Combined Nuzlocke Challenge
Credit to n0on3 for the concept.


Easily the most difficult, this Challenge is essentially a Nuzlocke Challenge, but with even more agonizing rules and limitations than the typical Nuzlocke playthrough. The real Challenge for anyone who wants to be the very best, like no one ever was...
​

...


...
... Best besides me, 'course. :trollface:

If you've never done a Nuzlocke Challenge, it is highly recommend you do the standard fare Nuzlocke first by clicking here, before attempting this harder version. All five rules of the normal Nuzlocke (listed in the above link) apply to every Combined Challenge combination, unless noted otherwise.

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Spoiler

Rules for all Combined Nuzlocke Challenges:

1. You may only obtain six Pokemon. You are allowed to obtain more than six only in order to get HM slaves.

2. If your six original Pokemon team faints, even if you have more Pokemon in your party/box, you lose the Challenge and must either give up the Challenge, or erase your save file and try again from the beginning.

3. Whenever you are leveling up Pokemon that have just hatched, you may disregard any and every rule that affect these Pokemon, until they reach level 10.

4. If you happen to fail your Challenge and attempt to try again, keep track of how many times you've lost. If you manage to beat your Challenge, remember to post how many tries it took to finally obtain that triumphant victory.

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Combination-specific rules:
​

No Items/Nuzlocke:

There are no special rules for this combination.



Monotype/Nuzlocke:

1. Pokemon you encounter that are NOT of the type for your Challenge, do not count as the single Pokemon that you are allowed to obtain in a location. Therefore, you can run from/KO them without penalty.

2. Pokemon that are NOT of the type for your Challenge may be caught as use for HM slaves ONLY.



Scramble/Nuzlocke:

Since you cannot choose Pokemon during a Nuzlocke Challenge, Scramble/Nuzlocke is not an applicable combination for a Challenge.



Single/Nuzlocke:

1. If your single main Pokemon is knocked out, you lose the Challenge and must either give up or erase your save file and try again. You are NOT allowed to re-obtain your single Pokemon, and resume the Challenge.

2. Rule 1 and Rule 4 of the standard fare Nuzlocke playthrough are to be ignored.

3. You may choose your single Pokemon, be it obtained in-game or by trading an egg. This is the only Nuzlocke Challenge where choosing your Pokemon is allowed. A Single/Nuzlocke is the only Combined Nuzlocke compatible with a Scramble/Nuzlocke, meaning you may do a Single/Scramble/Nuzlocke Challenge.


Unevolved/Nuzlocke:

1. Pokemon you encounter that are NOT applicable to an Unevolved Challenge (Pokemon which cannot evolve any further) do not count as the single Pokemon that you are allowed to obtain in a location. Therefore, you are allowed to run from/KO them without penalty.



Moveset/Nuzlocke:

1. Every time you obtain a Pokemon that will be used on your team of six, post here what that Pokemon is and ask for it to receive a moveset. Once you have obtained six Pokemon, do not ask for movesets regarding any Pokemon you obtain after the original six (i.e. HM slaves). Please do NOT advance much further into the game if you don't receive a moveset quickly.



Battle Tower/Nuzlocke

1. You have to be a masochistic idiot to try this.

Nuzlocke Hall of Fame:​

User - Game - Challenges - Attempts

1. n0on3, Black, No Items/Single, 4
2. Splash_King, Black, No Items/Single, 1
3. Splash_King, Soul Silver, No Items/Scramble/Single/Unevolved, 1
4. Caboose767, Black, Single, 1
5. bou0010, Black 2, Scramble/Single/Moveset, 2
6. lucktown, Diamond, No Item/Monotype (Ground), 3
7. Glomperful, Emerald, No Item/Unevolved, 1
8.
9.
10.

 

[Splash_King]

Harmonia-White Update​

Spoiler

- Ran off t' Celestial Tower to find my first new partner: a Litwik.
- Caught a Cubchoo immediately afterwards, and quickly grinded it up 'til evolution so I could stand a chance against Cheren; and ended up winning the battle with Litwik fainted and Beartic at 1 HP.
- Speedrun'd Twist Mountain and caught (then evolved) a Gurdurr.
- Utterly crushed Brycen and obtained the Freeze Badge.

Feedback:​

Finally experiencing the pain'a bein' unable to Revive in the heat of battle. Will-o-Wisp and back to back Revives could win any fight, but not in a Harmonia Challenge. Sometimes ya just run int' trainers you can't beat due to a team-wide type disadvantage... or bein' underleveled. It really puts ya in your place. Ain't done a Challenge that properly could 'til now, so I quite like that.



... Time t' abandon my Challenges again. Gonna play me some Pogeymanz X.

 

[zach1325]

Well, I'm back on the scene (to some peoples dismay). So, I just played the first of Pokemon X, and I was thinking "this is so easy, I should (Finally) complete a challenge for a game." And what do you know, a new challenge thread, I was thinking A scramble/Mono-color challenge using black, And, for the love of Arceus, Please let me use Mega Charizard X. What do ya say, anyone want to give me a second chance?

 

[Splash_King]

nice signature ya got thar

Welcome (back) t' the thread, Zach. Your Challenge is certainly accepted. Normally I'd be happy to give ya some Pokes, but I've seen only a fraction of the species Kalos contains... Can't go lookin' on Bulbapedia for a list'a all black-colored Pokes at the risk'a spoilers of new species, sorry t' say.

 

[zach1325]

I don't mind waiting, I kinda wanna beat this run through first, But charmeleon and frogadier are super op, lol.

 

[Splash_King]

Everything is OP in-game. >_>

Gonna get me a MCharizard X myself; but said general XY discussion belongs here moreso.

 

[lucktown]

Alright since Pokemon Y is a game that I actually enjoy to play at the moment I think I'll do a challenge... Unevolved/Nuzlocke should do I think I'll play through it a second time before I start it though

 

[zach1325]

My challenge was hasty, and frankly, I find it kind of stupid, I Want to do a monotype/scramble/moveset/most popular choice, challenge for pokemon x, I know I haven't been reliable in the past, but i plan to make up for it with the ultimate user choice challenge, heck, you can even choose my name and my gender, come at me Wiichat!

P.S, you guys choose the type also.

 

[lucktown]

Use a male character and name yourself "Darling". I think you know what nickname I'll suggest

 

[Splash_King]

big d obvsly lololololololololol

Alright since Pokemon Y is a game that I actually enjoy to play at the moment I think I'll do a challenge... Unevolved/Nuzlocke should do I think I'll play through it a second time before I start it though

Pretty daring, 'specially since accurate information for XY is literally nonexistant at the moment... Challenge accepted. Best of luck once ya get 'round to it, bro.

My challenge was hasty, and frankly, I find it kind of stupid, I Want to do a monotype/scramble/moveset/most popular choice, challenge for pokemon x, I know I haven't been reliable in the past, but i plan to make up for it with the ultimate user choice challenge, heck, you can even choose my name and my gender, come at me Wiichat!

P.S, you guys choose the type also.

... "Most Popular Choice"?

That aside, t'is a daring one as well. But Moveset Challenges can't be done with XY yet, as there's no complete list of every Pokemon's Gen 6 Moveset. You'll have t' hold off on Moveset Challenges 'til Bulbapedia, Serebii, etc. compile all the proper information.

 

[zach1325]

ummm... I might keep the name for myself actually, i don't know, maybe a vote will be best, lol

oh, and "most popular choice" means, of whats remaining, you guys will choose one more rule, and also, I expected to wait, maybe sometime in the next two weeks I can get started.

 

[lucktown]

Pretty daring, 'specially since accurate information for XY is literally nonexistant at the moment... Challenge accepted. Best of luck once ya get 'round to it, bro.

Yeah that's why I want to play it a second time, so that I can get to know the game better. I think a Nuzlocke is really hard in XY, because most of the game is pretty easy going and then suddenly you almost lose.

I played this too much on the weekend...

 

[zach1325]

Even if I have to wait, I want to get somewhere with it, Oh, greatest Splash_King, will you please choose a type for my challenge?

 

[Splash_King]

Dearest Lady Luck demands Fighting-type.