History SelfImposedChallenge / Pokemon

* One specific to ''VideoGame/PokemonLegendsArceus'' -- during the boss fights with the Noble Pokémon, [[spoiler:Dialga/Palkia, and Arceus]], don't send out any of your own Pokémon when the game prompts you to. Finish the fight using your dodging skills and your balms alone.

** A popular even harder variant of the Nuzlocke, especially among content creators, is the "Hardcore Nuzlocke" which adds three rules: no item use during battles, "set" mode enabled, and self-imposed level caps where the player can only raise Pokemon up to the level of the highest level Pokemon used by the incoming Gym Leader.

* By far the most well-known SelfImposedChallenge in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series is the [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge "Nuzlocke Challenge"]]. Nuzlocke runs are a variant of the {{Permadeath}} run, with the name for the ruleset coming from ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics''. The basic rules of the format are that any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can't be used for the rest of the run, you can only catch the first wild Pokémon encountered in each area -- if they faint or flee, game over[[note]] [[ButThouMust Plot-mandated captures]] are exceptions, but actually using them depends on your preference[[/note]] -- and the player must nickname all of their Pokémon, [[InvokedTrope so they can be]] [[VideoGameCaringPotential more emotionally attached to them]]. That last one [[CommonKnowledge isn't actually part of the original ruleset]], but enough people adhere to it that it can be odd to see someone ''not'' do it for their runs. Speaking of, there are also an assortment of additions made to the ruleset for the sake of both convenience and challenge, such as the "Species/Dupes clause" (you can try again if the first encounter in an area is a Mon you already have). Later generations also have self-imposed [[ObviousRulePatch Obvious Rule Patches]] to prevent taking advantage of mechanics that would trivialize the challenge, like not being allowed to use the [=DexNav=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'' or avoiding visible overworld encounters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.

* By far the most well-known SelfImposedChallenge in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series is the [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge "Nuzlocke Challenge"]]. Nuzlocke runs are a variant of the {{Permadeath}} run, with the name for the ruleset coming from ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics''. The basic rules of the format are that any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can't be used for the rest of the run, you can only catch the first wild Pokémon encountered in each area -- if they faint or flee, game over[[note]] [[ButThouMust Plot-mandated captures]] are exceptions, but actually using them depends on your preference[[/note]] -- and the player must nickname all of their Pokémon, [[InvokedTrope so they can be]] [[VideoGameCaringPotential more emotionally attached to them]]. That last one [[CommonKnowledge isn't actually part of the original ruleset]], but enough people adhere to it that it can be odd to see someone ''not'' do it for their runs. Speaking of, there are also an assortment of additions made to the ruleset for the sake of both convivence and challenge, such as the "Species/Dupes clause" (you can try again if the first encounter in an area is a Mon you already have). Later generations also have self-imposed [[ObviousRulePatch Obvious Rule Patches]] to prevent taking advantage of mechanics that would trivialize the challenge, like not being allowed to use the [=DexNav=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'' or avoiding visible overworld encounters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.

- [[SnakesAreSinister No Ekans, Arbok, Seviper, or Serperior.]]\\

- Legendaries are false idols and should be killed.\\

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', the final boss has a full team of Shadow Pokemon. While the game allows you snag what you can and rebattle as many times as you want for the rest, many players still challenge themselves to snag his whole team in one go.

** This is taken up a notch on games where the Elite Four and Champion all leveled up on the rematches, most notably Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. It is possible to do, but not consistent.[[labelnote:Explanation]]The 5 challengers' Pokemon are between levels 75 to 88. Pokemon here have mostly max IVs and max EVs, making their stats a lot harder to defeat. In order to succeed, you will need to one-shot every Pokemon outside of super-effective hits and be faster than every Pokemon here. Most Pokemon have moves that cover a lot of types. Yanmega can randomly use Detect to protect itself and get a free speed boost, outpacing unboosted Pokemon that have no priority moves. Ninetales instantly use sunlight, powering up fire moves and halving damage for the super-effective water moves. Infernape and Lucario have Focus Sash and a priority move, meaning they are almost guaranteed to deliver 1 or 2 hits against you unless you have a multi-hit move. The only known Pokemon to achieve this is Kyogre at Level 100, Max IVs other than Attack, EVs on Special Attack and Speed, and Timid nature (ups Speed but lowers Attack). The reason for speed is due to Alakazam; the setup just barely outspeeds Alakazam by 1 point and lowering it even down a notch means Alakazam gets a free hit. Surf is its main move to use against most of the Pokemon due to [=STAB=] and Drizzle power-up. Thunder and Ice Beam are used for Pokemon weak to those moves (except for Rhyperior which you use Surf instead). Origin Pulse, while 15% inaccurate, is used against Arcanine and Magmortar since Surf can't one-shot them due to sun. Milotic can't be 1-shotted with Thunder. The reasons why this is inconsistent are the A.I. dependency on move selection, critical hits, unlucky chances of status like paralysis, and the mechanic in the game where the Pokemon with the max friendship can dodge a move or endure fainting that leaves it at 1 HP.[[/labelnote]]

* By far the most well-known SelfImposedChallenge in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series is the [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge "Nuzlocke Challenge"]]. Nuzlocke runs are a variant of the {{Permadeath}} run, with the name for the ruleset coming from ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics''. The basic rules of the format are that any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can't be used for the rest of the run, you can only catch the first wild Pokémon encountered in each area -- if they faint or flee, game over[[note]] [[ButThouMust Plot-mandated captures]] are exceptions, but actually using them depends on your preference[[/note]] -- and the player must nickname all of their Pokémon, [[InvokedTrope so they can be]] [[VideoGameCaringPotential more emotionally attached to them]]. That last one [[CommonKnowledge isn't actually part of the original ruleset]], but enough people add here to it that it can be odd to see someone ''not'' do it for their runs. Speaking of, there are also an assortment of additions made to the ruleset for the sake of both convivence and challenge, such as the "Species/Dupes clause" (you can try again if the first encounter in an area is a Mon you already have). Later generations also have self-imposed [[ObviousRulePatch Obvious Rule Patches]] to prevent taking advantage of mechanics that would trivialize the challenge, like not being allowed to use the [=DexNav=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'' or avoiding visible overworld encounters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.

* By far the most well-known SelfImposedChallenge in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series is the [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge "Nuzlocke Challenge"]]. Nuzlocke runs are a variant of the {{Permadeath}} run, with the name for the ruleset coming from ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics''. The basic rules of the format are that any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can't be used for the rest of the run, you can only catch the first wild Pokémon encountered in each area -- if they faint or flee, game over[[note]] [[ButThouMust Plot-mandated captures]] are exceptions, but actually using them depends on your preference[[/note]] -- and the player must nickname all of their Pokémon, so they can be more emotionally attached to them. That last one [[CommonKnowledge isn't actually part of the original ruleset]], but enough people add here to it that it can be odd to see someone ''not'' do it for their runs. Speaking of, there are also an assortment of additions made to the ruleset for the sake of both convivence and challenge, such as the "Species/Dupes clause" (you can try again if the first encounter in an area is a Mon you already have). Later generations also have self-imposed [[ObviousRulePatch Obvious Rule Patches]] to prevent taking advantage of mechanics that would trivialize the challenge, like not being allowed to use the [=DexNav=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'' or avoiding visible overworld encounters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.

* By far the most well-known SelfImposedChallenge in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series is the [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge "Nuzlocke Challenge"]]. Nuzlocke runs are a variant of the {{Permadeath}} run, with the name for the ruleset coming from ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics''. The basic rules of the format are that any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can't be used for the rest of the run, you can only catch the first wild Pokémon encountered in each area -- if they faint or flee, game over[[note]] [[ButThouMust Plot-mandated captures]] are exceptions, but actually using them depends on your preference[[/note]] -- and the player must nickname all of their Pokémon, so they can be more emotionally attached to them. That last one [[CommonKnowledge isn't actually part of the original ruleset]], but enough people adhere to it that it can be odd to see someone ''not'' do it for their runs. Speaking of, there are also an assortment of additions made to the ruleset for the sake of both convivence and challenge, such as the "Species/Dupes clause" (you can try again if the first encounter in an area is a Mon you already have). Later generations also have self-imposed [[ObviousRulePatch Obvious Rule Patches]] to prevent taking advantage of mechanics that would trivialize the challenge, like not being allowed to use the [=DexNav=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'' or avoiding visible overworld encounters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.

** LetsPlay/{{Marriland}}'s "Wedlocke Challenge", which requires you to pair up your Pokémon into {{Battle Couple}}s. In battle, you can only swap out a Pokémon for its partner, and a pair is permanent until one of the Pokémon dies; in which case, the partner must try to "avenge" their loved one and finish the battle before they can be reassigned a new one.

* {{Permadeath}} runs: if a Pokémon faints, you must release it. Good luck with the Elite Four. In a similar vein, the "No-Whiteout" challenge forces you to restart the game from the beginning if all your Pokémon faint. If you're ''really'' hardcore, you can make a NoDamageRun, which is nigh impossible -- but it's been done before. [=Gamechamp3000=] tried this in their WebVideo/VGMyths series and beat ''Pokémon Blue'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ylEp-uu3EU without taking a single hit]], with one of the rules being that SaveScumming wasn't allowed and that they'd have to start from the very beginning if they took damage. Another player, [=Smallant1=] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQlh9QlJys also pulled it off]] in ''Platinum'', though with a rule that he could save after defeating every gym, with those serving as checkpoints.

* [[OneHundredPercentCompletion The "Living Pokédex" Challenge]] for completionists and collectors. This challenge takes GottaCatchThemAll to its logical extreme, as you're required to have one of every species in that game's National Pokédex at once in your PC. Bonus points if you organize them in proper order. True Pokémaniacs can take even that up a notch with the "Living Shinydex" challenge, which is the same but with the ultra-rare Shiny Pokémon -- including the one-time-only Legendaries. Have fun spending literal days soft-resetting the game 1,000+ times until you get that Shiny starter Pokémon! [[note]]And [[OhMyGods Arceus]] help you if your game is one that requires you to go through a long {{cutscene}} between the closest save point and actually getting that starter, like ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' or ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon''. Doubly so if DamnYouMuscleMemory decides to screw you over and you automatically soft-reset before your brain registers that, yes, that was a shiny.[[/note]]

* By far the most well-known SelfImposedChallenge in the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series is the [[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge "Nuzlocke Challenge"]]. Nuzlocke runs are a variant of the {{Permadeath}} run, with the name for the ruleset coming from ''Webcomic/NuzlockeComics''. The basic rules of the format are that any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can't be used for the rest of the run, you can only catch the first wild Pokémon encountered in each area -- if they faint or flee, tough luck[[note]] [[ButThouMust Plot-mandated captures]] are exceptions, but actually using them depends on your preference[[/note]] -- and the player must nickname all of their Pokémon, so they can be more emotionally attached to them. That last one [[CommonKnowledge isn't actually part of the original ruleset]], but enough people adhere to it that it can be odd to see someone ''not'' do it for their runs. Speaking of, there are also an assortment of additions made to the ruleset for the sake of both convivence and challenge, such as the "Species/Dupes clause" (you can try again if the first encounter in an area is a Mon you already have). Later generations also have self-imposed [[ObviousRulePatch Obvious Rule Patches]] to prevent taking advantage of mechanics that would trivialize the challenge, like not being allowed to use the [=DexNav=] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'' or avoiding visible overworld encounters in ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield''.

** This is taken UpToEleven on games where the Elite Four and Champion all leveled up on the rematches, most notably Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. It is possible to do, but not consistent.[[labelnote:Explanation]]The 5 challengers' Pokemon are between levels 75 to 88. Pokemon here have mostly max IVs and max EVs, making their stats a lot harder to defeat. In order to succeed, you will need to one-shot every Pokemon outside of super-effective hits and be faster than every Pokemon here. Most Pokemon have moves that cover a lot of types. Yanmega can randomly use Detect to protect itself and get a free speed boost, outpacing unboosted Pokemon that have no priority moves. Ninetales instantly use sunlight, powering up fire moves and halving damage for the super-effective water moves. Infernape and Lucario have Focus Sash and a priority move, meaning they are almost guaranteed to deliver 1 or 2 hits against you unless you have a multi-hit move. The only known Pokemon to achieve this is Kyogre at Level 100, Max IVs other than Attack, EVs on Special Attack and Speed, and Timid nature (ups Speed but lowers Attack). The reason for speed is due to Alakazam; the setup just barely outspeeds Alakazam by 1 point and lowering it even down a notch means Alakazam gets a free hit. Surf is its main move to use against most of the Pokemon due to [=STAB=] and Drizzle power-up. Thunder and Ice Beam are used for Pokemon weak to those moves (except for Rhyperior which you use Surf instead). Origin Pulse, while 15% inaccurate, is used against Arcanine and Magmortar since Surf can't one-shot them due to sun. Milotic can't be 1-shotted with Thunder. The reasons why this is inconsistent are the A.I. dependency on move selection, critical hits, unlucky chances of status like paralysis, and the mechanic in the game where the Pokemon with the max friendship can dodge a move or endure fainting that leaves it at 1 HP.[[/labelnote]]

* [[OneHundredPercentCompletion The "Living Pokédex" Challenge]] for completionists and collectors. This challenge takes GottaCatchThemAll to its logical extreme, as you're required to have one of every species in that game's National Pokédex at once in your PC. Bonus points if you organize them in proper order. True Pokémaniacs can take even that UpToEleven with the "Living Shinydex" challenge, which is the same but with the ultra-rare Shiny Pokémon -- including the one-time-only Legendaries. Have fun spending literal days soft-resetting the game 1,000+ times until you get that Shiny starter Pokémon! [[note]]And [[OhMyGods Arceus]] help you if your game is one that requires you to go through a long {{cutscene}} between the closest save point and actually getting that starter, like ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' or ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon''. Doubly so if DamnYouMuscleMemory decides to screw you over and you automatically soft-reset before your brain registers that, yes, that was a shiny.[[/note]]

** This is taken UpToEleven on games where the Elite Four and Champion all leveled up on the rematches, most notably Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. It is possible to do, but not consistent.[[labelnote:Explanation]]The 5 challengers' Pokemon are between levels 75 to 88. Pokemon here have mostly max IVs and max EVs, making their stats a lot harder to defeat. In order to succeed, you will need to one-shot every Pokemon outside of super-effective hits and be faster than every Pokemon here. Most Pokemon have moves that cover a lot of types. Yanmega can randomly use Detect to protect itself and get a free speed boost, outpacing unboosted Pokemon that have no priority moves. Ninetales instantly use sunlight, powering up fire moves and halving damage for the super-effective water moves. Infernape and Lucario have Focus Sash and a priority move, meaning they are almost guaranteed to deliver 1 or 2 hits against you unless you have a multi-hit move. The only known Pokemon to achieve this is Kyogre at Level 100, Max IVs other than Attack, and Timid nature (ups Speed but lowers Attack). Surf is his main move to use against most of the Pokemon due to [=STAB=] and Drizzle power-up. Thunder and Ice Beam are used for Pokemon weak to those moves (except for Rhyperior which you use Surf instead). Origin Pulse, while 15% inaccurate, is used against Arcanine and Magmortar since Surf can't one-shot them. Milotic can't be 1-shotted. In addition to move inconsistencies and opponents doing a critical hit move, the biggest reason why this is inconsistent is due to a special mechanic in the game where the Pokemon with the max friendship can dodge a move or endure fainting that leaves it at 1 HP.[[/labelnote]]

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'', the final boss [[spoiler:Greevil]] has a full team of Shadow Pokemon. While the game allows you snag what you can and rebattle as many times as you want for the rest, many players still challenge themselves to snag his whole team in one go. Considering half his team consists of legendaries with the lowest possible catch rate, this is even harder than it sounds.

* {{Pacifist Run}}s where you can't directly attack the opponent. Most players take the TechnicalPacifist approach, where ''indirect'' damage is still allowed, meaning you can use status moves to inflict conditions such as poison and burn, or set up entry hazards such as Spikes. There are also "true pacifist" runs, where your moveset is limited even further to just stat-altering and PP-draining moves, meaning you have to force the opponent to run out of moves and Struggle to death, or make them inflict a status condition on themselves via using Pokémon with the Poison Point or Flame Body abilities, which give the opponent a 30% chance of being poisoned or burned (respectively) if they make contact with the target.

* The "Ribbon Master" challenge, involving collecting as many ribbons as possible on one Pokémon. True Ribbon Masters have to originate from ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' or ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness'' because one ribbon is exclusive to those games, but some fans will consider any Pokémon to be a Ribbon Master if it has every ribbon it could obtain in or after its game of origin.

* {{Permadeath}} runs: if a Pokémon faints, you must release it. Good luck with the Elite Four. In a similar vein, the "No-Whiteout" challenge forces you to restart the game from the beginning if all your Pokémon faint. If you're ''really'' hardcore, you can make a NoDamageRun, which is nigh impossible -- but it's been done before. [=Gamechamp3000=] tried this in their [[WebVideo/VGMyths''VG Myths'']] series and beat ''Pokémon Blue'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ylEp-uu3EU without taking a single hit]], with one of the rules being that SaveScumming wasn't allowed and that they'd have to start from the very beginning if they took damage. Another player, [=Smallant1=] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQlh9QlJys also pulled it off]] in ''Platinum'', though with a rule that he could save after defeating every gym, with those serving as checkpoints.

* {{Permadeath}} runs: if a Pokémon faints, you must release it. Good luck with the Elite Four. In a similar vein, the "No-Whiteout" challenge forces you to restart the game from the beginning if all your Pokémon faint. If you're ''really'' hardcore, you can make a NoDamageRun, which is nigh impossible -- but it's been done before. [=Gamechamp3000=] tried this in their ''VG Myths'' series and beat ''Pokémon Blue'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ylEp-uu3EU without taking a single hit]], with one of the rules being that SaveScumming wasn't allowed and that they'd have to start from the very beginning if they took damage. Another player, [=Smallant1=] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iQlh9QlJys also pulled it off]] in ''Platinum'', though with a rule that he could save after defeating every gym, with those serving as checkpoints.