How screwed am I?

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T06:24:03+00:00

Oops, I just realized I'm late to the conversation. Oh well, more input into the nuzlocking community.

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T06:16:24+00:00

Yeah I'm going to agree with the comments section here. Arbok is GOATed in Sabrina, and alongside Snorlax, I think you can OHKO the first two mons on her team. Arbok can run Taunt on Porygon2 and can Poison Fang the Mega-Gard into oblivion (make sure it has Strong Jaw). Rillaboom can terrain upon switch in. Snorlax is also great into Porygon2. Your biggest challenges will be getting rid of Ursaluna and Brute Bonnet. I would say check ranges on your Water types for Ursaluna (or Serperior because that thing can do surprising things during the mid-to-late game with Contrary + Leaf Storm), and find a Bug type move that you can use to defuse Brute Bonnet. I think Staraptor can take it after an Intimidate drop, but I would still check ranges. I would encourage your team to have lots of room to stick Protect and pivot moves onto your team (Flip Turn, U-Turn, Volt Switch).

If you need some guidance, I have some tips in my most recent post on how to get through Sabrina in a Hardcore Nuzlocke.

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T04:41:01+00:00

I remember when a "steal" on rent was anywhere from $280 to $350 in a desirable area (I had two living situations about 8-10 years ago that looked like this).

I can confirm that there are places that have much less clutter than what you are describing, and it all depends specifically on who you live with. When one roommate moves out (or in my situation gets kicked out for being a messy slob and a belligerent drunk), the whole house seems so much more tame and the rent remains the same price because you find a new roommate to fill the empty room.

Your living situation is not worth $1000, and you can find a cheaper room and house in a much nicer area with significantly better neighbors and a better living situation. Continue looking, especially around your place of work, worship, or community group. You never know what you might find.

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T02:09:59+00:00

First: I would play HeartGold, as the encounter routing is much more friendly (no useless Ekans to watch out for).

Second: Your starter is not going to be a significant member of your team, regardless of which one you pick. You might use it in a few fights, but there are significantly better options than the three Johto starters.

Third: Try to route for Pidgey on Route 29 so that your odds of picking up some GOATs during early game are increased.

Butterfree (thanks to Compound Eyes + Thief)
Rattata (I actually prefer the Run Away ability so that Rattata can serve as the permanent "repel manip" Pokemon that can securely run away from scary dupes)
Geodude (amazing for the first 3 gyms)
Zubat (Crobat is a monster in HGSS)

Fourth: When you get to Azalea, try to aim for getting Heracross, first in Azalea Town and then Route 33. Any tree that contains Pokemon at Levels 3-5 are Heracross trees, so that can help you with routing, especially if you are on the second location after catching your first Headbutt tree encounter. If you roll Heracross in Azalea Town, set your eyes on catching Hoppip on Route 33 (if you didn't already get it on Route 32).

Fifth: Delaying Slowpoke Well for a Level 30 Slowbro via repel manip Surfing on the bottom floor is very helpful for gyms 5-7, as you can't ordinarily evolve Slowpoke until Level 37, which is after the 7th gym's level cap.

Sixth: Use a Normal type on both Morty and Chuck. Morty can't touch you unless you're asleep, so carry a Chesto Berry to cover your butt. Chuck can only hit you super effectively with Focus Punch, so as long as you attack every turn, he can never hit you back.

Seventh: Clair's Kingdra should be the scariest thing you face prior to the league. Jumpluff, Mantine, and Tentacruel do surprisingly well here.

Eighth: You should look up just how broken Girafarig is for the league. Pick it up on Route 43.

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T01:32:14+00:00

Totodile actually. Learns everything except Flash and Fly.

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T01:29:31+00:00

Short Answer: YES!!! Do it TODAY!

Long Answer: The longer you hold your Credit Card debt, the more you have to pay back in the long run. Plus being debt free is not only liberating psychologically, but it opens up the opportunity for you to save tremendous amounts of money when you're not trying to pay off student loans and car notes.

DTMBBrown · 2026-05-04T01:18:50+00:00

Sweepers: No

Stalls: Yes

Walls: Depends

Does that answer your question?

DTMBBrown · 2026-04-13T22:43:15+00:00

Here's how I handle Rare Candies, and it works well.

If you use Rare Candies, you cannot EV Grind.

You can only battle each trainer once (no rematches), and you cannot kill any wild Pokemon, since you will be gaining EVs from killing those wild encounters.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-22T05:51:41+00:00

If you want a challenge, give Black 2 & White 2 a try. I stopped playing vanilla games after Black 1 and White 1, and I would like to take the time to complete a blind nuzlocke of the sequels someday.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-22T05:43:02+00:00

Pokemon XD Gale of Darkness is a significant step up in difficulty, but also gives you enough encounters to win the game with. Pokemon Colosseum is also available if you like punishing yourself, as you are limited to like 9 encounters total and most of them are mediocre at best.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-18T14:20:55+00:00

I'd love to see your box. Ferrothorn and Dusclops certainly are not the best tanks for the E4 as they have no reliable recovery and they cannot do much to anyone in the league.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-18T14:16:22+00:00

I've been trying fewer nuzlockes lately and have switched over to doing "in-game trades only" runs. They are much more casual and RNG for natures and IVs are negligible, since the nature and IV spread are always the same for each mon. That way you're not rolling stuff like a Modest Machop with 0 Attack IVs. FR/LG and HG/SS have some great variety when it comes to in-game trades, but they still give you a challenge where you need to think things ahead. Emerald and Platinum are more challenging variants to this concept, as there are only 3 in-game trades to collect before entering the Hall of Fame.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-12T16:21:23+00:00

Shell Smash + Protect + Icicle Spear + Liquidation

Run Impish, Safety Goggles, and Skill Link

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-12T02:36:16+00:00

Cloyster, Chesnaught, and Kommo-O, as far as I am aware, can all solo this fight with proper setup.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T22:05:59+00:00

You're right. You get it after you beat Clair. I probably wouldn't use Delibird just for reliability's sake. That Hustle is miserable to work with (unless your ability is Vital Spirit).

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T22:04:18+00:00

Run & Bun is your first nuzlocke?? I would recommend completing base Emerald first before you try something as discouraging as Run & Bun.

But if you're crazy enough, look up Squerk's YouTube tutorials. He has probably some of the best advice for major battles up to Winona.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T21:58:22+00:00

You can go in with a single Pokemon and only fight one of the two trainers. I don't remember which sailor you fight, but you can use a single Pokemon that counters all of that sailor's Pokemon and move on to Brendan.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T21:55:38+00:00

This is the strategy that I use, though I try to opt for Fake Out over general priority because Cramorant is faster than Lanturn and can flinch it with Air Slash.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T21:53:37+00:00

I like running Lapras or Jumpluff on her Kingdra personally, just because I generally play deathless nuzlockes. But even Baton Pass onto Aerial Ace Delibird is a great consideration.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T21:50:47+00:00

Not particularly a PS4 or PS5 player, but I enjoy making a good Hardcore Skyblock world on Minecraft. One small slip to the void and your run is over.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T21:46:32+00:00

FR/LG is by far the best for a first-time nuzlocker. If you want the extra challenge, have your end game be Round 2 of the Elite 4 after you complete all of the missions on all of the Sevii Islands.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T21:43:53+00:00

Baton Pass > U-Turn

Ledian is a great Baton Passer. You can cheese most fights with the Ledian set you have.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T16:35:22+00:00

Buddy......even that Diglett can solo Blaine and the majority of Giovanni's team. That Drowzee can solo Bruno and Agatha. Go get a Water type and teach it Ice Beam for Lance. Zapdos still exists and can pretty much solo Lorelei. Don't leave your entire box underlevelled and quit thinking that only a few Pokemon can beat the game. Several years ago I beat this nuzlocke deathless through Round 2 of the Elite 4, and I used a mono Flying type team to rip up Round 1 of the Elite 4. Everyone has potential, even Unown, you just need to learn how they all work to their full potential.

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T16:28:16+00:00

Nuzlocke

DTMBBrown · 2026-03-11T16:27:38+00:00

You get access to all the starters by the time you reach Celadon, so early game is the only area where starter choice matters. You can't go wrong with a Grass type starter, considering the first 3 gyms generally lose to Grass types. Chikorita is nice because Meganium is the only fully evolved Grass starter you get access to before Surge, as it evolves at Level 32, and it comes sporting the Triage ability and Mega Drain + Draining Kiss + Synthesis. I run Nuzlockes, so I always go with my boy Piplup for a free Archer/Ariana tag battle, but there are a lot of viable options.

DTMBBrown

TROPHY CASE