January 2023
My First Pokémon Nuzlocke Run: ✨Shining Pearl✨
I have played Pokémon since the beginning. I chose Blue version and a 20+ year journey of picking color, gemstones, letters, and more began. I have completed every generation (except Black & White), finished numerous poke dexs, and caught many shinies. However, in all that time I have never attempted a Nuzlocke run.
Also, checkout my two other posts on Pokémon: Battling Basics and Nuzlocke Tips and Tricks.
Early Game
Let’s start right off the bat with what you are already asking “what starter did she pick??”
Piplup
And I named her “pipsqueak.” UwU
For the veterans out there, I know what you’re thinking. “She didn’t pick Chimchar?! How could she not pick Chimchar??”
There are no Fire types in Sinnoh. (No really, it’s just the Chimchar and Ponyta line). Yes, you can go to the Underground and get something really snazzy (like a Houndoom), but I am playing my run without the Underground. Also, typically your encounter in the Underground is in an undiscovered room and encountering a Pokémon blind. So, the chances are slim there too.
Also, cute Pingu.
I go through all the tutorial-y stuff until finally (huff) Dawn gives me Poké Balls
The Nuzlocke has officially begun.
Route 202 is where the first addition to my party is found, a (and no big surprise here) Starly.
I shall name you Widdy. A play on a friend of mine’s name who often looks simultaneously serious and goofy.
Widdy accompanies pipsqueak as we enter Jubilife City. I hunt down the very creepy clowns and am finally allowed to explore. I dunk on some school kids, snag a Quick Claw and Old Rod, and make my way out of Jubilife.
I first head North on Route 204 toward the Ravaged Path, though you can’t actually get through it yet. I battle all of the trainers to get some extra XP before heading East to Oreburgh, where the first Gym Leader is. In the grass, a familiar site pops onto my screen: Zubat.
One simple Poké Ball and zoobydoo was added to the party (long-time Scooby-Doo fan, it had to happen). Welcome you little freak.
Route 203 has an interesting Pokémon pool. Shinx (top tier) and Abra (hello?!). Abra is rare, but Shinx is common. The only Pokémon you really want to avoid is-
Kricketot (；⌣̀_⌣́)
Fine, get in the ball. I don’t have six Pokémon yet, so just chill in the back seat. Grumble You still get a cool name, so you are now beabadoobee grumble
Alright, crushed all the trainers with ease and now time to enter a… cave, who could have thought that a cave would come before the Rock type Gym Leader.
Okay, but Oreburgh Gate is such a badass name. Like the sheer weight of the name is fabulous.
Without Rock Smash, you can only pass through and there are only two Pokémon encounters: Zubat and Geodude. So, I encounter the Geodude and it joins my party. There weren’t enough characters for ‘theyseemerollin’, so you will just be rolllliiinn’.
Gym Leader 1: Roark
Alright, I have arrived in Oreburgh City. But before I can take in the (dismal) sites, a kid yanks me over to the Gym where I get to hear my rival (Colten) brag about his victory over Roark. Apparently, I need to run into the mine to chat up the ol’ boi so he will battle me.
There is a girl who is offering to trade her Abra, but at this point in the play-through, I wasn’t using gift Pokémon. Also, I didn’t have a way to evolve it into to Alakazam and those extra stats are nice in endgame (I think it’s fair play to trade and trade back with a friend in a Nuzlocke, but I don’t know anyone else with this game).
I beat some miners, talk to Roark, and then turn right around backtracking to the Gym to battle him.
Roark can give people a hard (he he) time. Especially if you go with the fire monkey early on.
Geodude (lvl 12) and Onix (lvl 12) have 4x weaknesses to Grass and Water, so…. yeah. Those aren’t too hard.
Cranidos (lvl 14) is tricky. It has a wicked high attack stat and can out speed at this low level. With Bulldoze and Headbutt, it has been known to sweep teams.
Luckily, I level capped my Piplup to 14 and swept the team with Water Gun. Pew Pew.
I received the Coal Badge and now have the use of Rock Smash. Onto Floaroma Town!
Gym Leader 2: Gardenia
So, I backtrack to Jubilife and decide to make a quick detour. I know that Route 218 requires surf to progress, which comes much, much later, but I have an Old Rod. That means I can pop out, sink my lure, and catch a…
Magikarp!
I name her marinara, after a dear friend of mine’s Roller Derby moniker. Once she evolves, she will be knocking Pokémon out left and right with Intimidate and that mighty Attack stat! Once she evolves… Once she evolves…
I head back through Jubilife City, up north to the Ravaged Path. I crush some stone (and some trainers) and exit into Floaroma Town.
AND AM IMMEDIATELY GIVEN A MEW AND JIRACHI.
That I immediately box because I can’t use them… (⇀‸↼‶)
A girl tells me her Dad is missing and that there are a gang of Team Galactic Grunts milling about. I immediately run to beat up the Grunts, because this is wrong! No Dad should be allowed to skip out on child care.
I first try to convince the Grunts that they should really unionize, but end up having to battle them anyways. They lock themselves inside, so I hop in the grass hoping for a Shellos. In the Valley Windworks grass there are only four Pokémon: Buizel (eh), Pachirisu (super cute, but doesn’t evolve), Shellos (AMAZING), and Bidoof (its evolution is actually not bad). Also, Buizel and Shellos are common, whereas Pachirisu is uncommon and Bidoof is rare, so the chances are in our-
Pachirisu…
I catch her and name her zizzzeeee after a darling Italian I know. Unfortunately, she will stay (safe) in the box for this run.
I run back to town, defeat more Grunts, slather a tree with honey in hopes of encountering a rare Pokémon (Muchlax or Heracross), and then run back again to Valley Windworks (I’m. So. Tired.) to battle on. This time I can get into the building and just start taking out Grunts left and right. This one to the movies, this one to a bakery- wait no.
I crushed them with my Zubat and Prinplup (yes, she evolved!!). At the top of the building is Commander Mars, who uses a level 14 Zubat and a level 16 Purugly. Zubat was a cake walk, but Purugly is dummy fast and has Fake Out, which can cause a Flinch. Also, it has the ability Thick Fat, which halves damage from Fire and… Ice (yes Ice, not water). Phew. Also, it has a healing berry. This is kind of the first taste of a “difficult” this early in the game. Luckily, I won with little fanfare. Though, Mars is pretty cute.
With Route 205 now open, I make my way Northward. So, Route 205 is a redemption opportunity. I had hoped at Valley Windworks to get a Shellos, and on this route Shellos isn’t just common, it’s very common! So, I hope in the grass and-
UHUUUUL the Shellos is caught ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶ in honor of my boisterous Brazilian friend who always says this when she gets good news.
While Shellos is just a cute Pokémon, it’s an amazing battler. It only has one weakness: grass and five resistances. It can roll the ability Storm Drain which converts Water attacks to healing. It’s also a defensive tank with a great learnset.
The Eterna Forest was uneventful, but there is something fun about have a partner to double battle with, and Cheryl is one of my favorite card arts in the trading card game.
In Eterna City I heal up, get my Explorer’s Kit from the Underground Man, and head to yet another Team Galactic hideout. Mostly because I need a bike. And for a little bit of justice.
Oh, I need cut.
So, ahem I head to the Gym!
I then realize that her level cap is 22 and quickly! Run to the grass next to Eterna City to grind…
Okay, now I’m ready!
Gardenia leads with Cherubi (lvl 19). It has no item, a useless ability, and moves that would be threatening if not for its low stats. Widdy (now a Staravia) takes care of it no problem.
Up next is Turtwig (lvl 19). It has a Miracle Seed which boosts Grass-type moves and an ability to further boost Grass moves at low health. It’s stats are much better than Cherubi, but it only has Grass-type moves, and Widdy resists them, so easy sweep again. Her last Pokémon is Roserade (lvl 22) with a Sitrus Berry which heals 1/4 HP when hit below half. It has Petal Blizzard, Grass Knot, and two Status Effect Moves. It’s Special Attack stat is HIGH. This is easily her scariest Pokémon.
Luckily, I out speed her and land a Wing Attack. Her Sitrus Berry kicks in, but I’m still KO range. She hits me with a resisted Grass Knot that brings Widdy down to 7 HP! I land the next Wing Attack and win, but wow that was a scary moment.
The Forest Badge is now in hand and it’s time to get my bike- I mean save that innocent… guy!
So, I head the Team Galactic Eterna Building and start wiping out Grunts. What’s weird is that you have to beat Gardenia to enter this location (you need HM Cut), but every Pokémon is under level 20, so it’s pretty easy.
Commander Jupiter is a bit of a different story. Zubat is very easy. zoobydoo the Golbat resists all the moves and out everythings it. Skuntank is worrisome thought. It’s ability Aftermath damages the attacker for 1/4 its max HP when it feints, so for Nuzlockers this can be devastating. It also has a Sitrus Berry while being one of the thicker Pokémon in the game. Luckily by cycling out and out speeding, I was able to walk away mostly unscathed!
A nice lady (for now – ominous foreshadowing) Cynthia gives me the HM for Cut. I probably won’t be seeing her again!
Gym Leader 3: Maylene
Onward and downward! I snag my bike and hit the bike trail. Underneath is a pretty exciting place: the Wayward Cave. For those that don’t know, there is a secret entrance underneath the bridge where you can find the only area with a Gible spawn in the entire game. But, you need Strength to access it, so let’s put a pin in that for now.
The trainers were breezy and there were no noteworthy spawns on Route 206 or 207. It should be noted that I didn’t know about the rule that if you run into a Pokémon you have already had a first encounter with, you get to skip it until you get a new spawn, so there are a bunch of routes that I just skipped over because of duplicates. Whoops!
Okay, I head East toward Hearthome City, the heart home of Gym Leader Fantina. Doing so, I make my first pass through Mt. Coronet. Not much of note happens, except this guy with blue hair and a nose only Voldemort would be envious of, slams into me and spews some conspiracy theory stuff.
I opt to Repel through here because I know you return late game with cooler spawns.
Arriving in Hearthome City, a pleasant Fisherman guides me to the Super Contest Hall, where I meet Fantina. I learn how to play the beauty contest, and it’s pretty fun. BUT I HAVE A JOB TO DO. So, I tear off the scarf from my Prinplup and run into my rival Colten who proceeds to battle me. Honestly, nothing to note here. I was over leveled for him.
I snag a Shell Bell and leave Hearthome heading for Route 209 where I encounter a Bibarel. I name it scobeavs after my partial Alma Mater Oregon State, and immediately box it as almost all of my Pokémon have an electric weakness.
I make my way onward collecting a Good Rod and a slew of other items. Eventually I arrive at the Lost Tower where I am dumb and don’t use the duplication clause again. But, I do get the TM for Strength. Not going to lie, with the overabundance of electric weakness, the Pikachu trainer did give me a hard time.
I pass through Solaceon Town (not super noteworthy, but the Ruins look so cool remastered!) on my way to Route 210. There are some angy Psyducks and a lot of fog that really push you in one direction.
Nothing to note on Route 215. I did pick up a Fist Plate which will come in handy later. On this route are a pair of Ace Trainers Maya and Dennis who have Monferno, Kadabra, Galmeow, and Gyarados. This was the moment where I internalized memorize the tough trainer models. Though I had a level advantage, Gyarados is just tough (I should know, I have one).
Finally entering the largest city in Sinnoh Veilstone City it’s on to the third Gym Leader: Maylene. A fighting Gym Leader shouldn’t be too hard with multiple Flyers on my team.
ヽ( `д´*)ノ
Okay, what the hell?? Why is this Gym Leader so hard?!
ヽ( `д´*)ノ
The Meditite (lvl 27) is no sweat. With my Crobat out, it 4x resist Meditie’s only attacking move. It also didn’t setup a screen, so that’s a plus!
Machoke (lvl 27) is much tougher. The coverage moves on this Machoke are insane! Fighting, Dark, Ground, and Rock. So, Flyers be ware! With an Expert Belt that Rock Tomb is looking much scarier. Luckily I cleared it after tanking an attack.
And then there was Lucario (lvl 30). Paired with the Steel typing, flying moves lose their advantage. With STAB, Drain Punch and Metal Claw become threats. The one thing you don’t want to see is this Lucario Bulk Up. It raises Attack and Defense. Lucario also has Big Root as its item, so Drain Punch is buffed even further.
Apparently, this thing is known to crush early Nuzlocke runs.
I honestly got nervous and began swapping in Pokémon and getting off one attack, tanking another, getting scared on their low HP, and then swapping out again. Lucario would Drain Punch, recover health, and chain Bulk Up, making it nearly impossible to kill.
This is the worst strategy you could use.
And, I paid for it.
My trump card in this battle was Gastrodon. It had a Ground move and excellent defense.
A Bulk’d Up Drain Punch one-hit KO UHUUUUL.
🪦The first death in my Nuzlocke run.🪦
｡･ﾟﾟ･(>д<)･ﾟﾟ･｡
I was able to cycle in Pokémon and finally ware down the Lucario, but at a cost.
That’s the Cobble Badge and a little heartbreak.
Retrospective Note: In this situation, you want to strategically sacrifice one of your Pokémon. And, honestly, I wasn’t paying attention to movesets/items/strategy like I would eventually do later on in the game. Use this time to heal out your counter (in this case my Gastrodon). Not only was my type of play poor, it also lost me one of the most important counters for the Elite 4. Because of the duplication clause, I couldn’t capture a new one, even on a new route, so it was out for the run.
Gym Leader 4: Crasher Wake
After a heavy loss, I threw scobeavs in my party and continued on through Route 214, picking up a Big Root of my own and the TM for Dig.
The Hotel Grand has some nice battling for XP grinding – apparently you can repeat these double battles daily!
Pastoria City is the next major stop. Let’s hit the Gym first and avenge UHUUUL.
I was over leveled because, for some reason, Maylene and Crasher Wake have the same level Cap (30).
First up is Gyarados (lvl 27). A no doubt fearsome foe. However, I had marinara who outleveld and, therefore, out sped their Gyarados. I had bought Thunderbolt from the Veilstone City mart and easily one-shot thanks to Gyarados’ 4x weakness to Electric!
Quagsire (lvl 27) also has a 4x weakness to Grass. Prinplup out speeds and hits with Grass Knot (more power the heavier the opponent Pokémon is) and easily one-shots Quagsire.
Floatzel (lvl 30) is Crasher Wake’s final Pokémon. I bring back in Gyarados and, in the words of the most famous Electric Gym Leader, hit ’em with another Tunderbolt.
It doesn’t heal the wound of losing UHUUUL, but an easy Gym Leader sweep is always welcome.
I tried my hand in the Great Marsh, I even encountered a Quagsire! The only real replacement for a Gastrodon, but… it ran away.
Back in town, I harass a Team Rocket Grunt until he runs all the way back to the Valor Lakefront. Theeennnn my rival tries to battle me… I knock him out easily and move on to the Lakefront.
I knock-out the Grunts and re-encounter Cynthia, who thanks me for knocking out Team Galactic. I get the super Secret Medicine and head back to Hearthome City to save the Psyducks!
I swing by Celestic Town, meet Cynthia’s grandmother, beat a Grunt, and get lectured by Cyrus. I checked out Route 211 and caught a Ponyta that I again named zizzeee in hopes I would find Pokémon that I would use in end-game. Alas, this Ponyta would be boxed. Okay, let’s get on to Fantina.
Gym Leader 5: Fantina
I would say next to Maylene, Fantina is the scariest Gym Leader. Ghost is difficult to handle, especially during a Nuzlocke.
Drifblim (32) is super defensive, but it’s moveset is pretty easy to manage. Though, getting stuck with a Will-O-Wisp is concerning given how many physical attackers I have on my team. Drifblim also has Aftermath, extra spooky!
Gengar is menacing, not just for it looks, but for its insane Special Attack and Speed stats. Which means it could easily get off a Confuse Ray and then hit like a truck with its other moves. It also has a Colbur Berry which negates the first super-effective Dark attack.
Lastly, is Mismagius. Very similar to Gengar, but more defensive. It also has Phantom Force which hits like a truck.
This was the first Gym Battle where I was really focusing on strategy. So, I primarily focused on using marinara (Gyarados) which had Crunch and Ice Fang. I would switch out guessing what the AI would attack to get some free moves in and luckily dodged Confuse Rays. Unfortunately, marinara got a burn from Will-o-Wisp, which hurts her a lot as a physical attacker. Luckily she shook it off early and returned to sweep the team. A few Pokémon got to low health, but no casualties.
With that, I had the Relic Badge in hand and could move onto the Byron in Canalave City.
Gym Leader 6: Byron
I returned to Route 218 where I had originally caught marinara. So, I couldn’t catch anything new. This time, I had surf and made my way to the city.
Before I could get too far, Colten insisted on battling me. This was the first rival battle where I was more intent with my approach. Buuutttt, I didn’t need to. My team has many good type matchups, and the fact I am playing on “switch” mode, the free switch and speed advantage made short work of his team.
Luckily, there isn’t much to this town. So, it’s on to the Gym Leader, Byron. My team has a pretty solid matchup against his squad and his Pokémon aren’t the most intimidating.
Bronzor (lvl 36) has levitate which nullifies Ground moves and one of its weaknesses. So, I lead with pipsqueak which resists its one Attack. I am able to Surf it down with little fanfare.
Steelix is pretty scary. It loses the two 4x weakness of its base form and boasts a threatening moveset. So, I have to swap out of pipsqueak, but can’t swap in marinara the 4x electric weakness, which also threatens basically the rest of my team. Worst of all, it has Sturdy. I wasn’t running Hail or anything, so that’s a minimum two-hit attack.
Byron’s last Pokémon is Bastiodon. It also has Sturdy… Luckily its attack stat is non-existent, so I just had to wear it down and it was finished.
Wwith some well-timed swaps, this gym was pretty smooth. I think I’m getting the hang of this.
And that’s the Mine badge! Just one more to go!
Once I leave the Gym, Barry drags me to the library to see Rowan and Lucas. They talk and EARTHQUAAKKEEEE..
The game really takes a narrative turn here. Time to take a detour and savveee thheeee wooorrrllllddd!
Team Galactic Interlude
I arrive to Lake Valor to a grim sight WHAT DID THEY DO TO THESE MAGIKARP??!!
。゜゜(´Ｏ`) ゜゜。
Team Galactic will pay! (ʘдʘ╬)
I take out each Grunt one-by-one until I meet Commander Saturn once more. Again, I am over-leveled, so not too worried. Her Kadabra is scary with its speed and sp attack stat. But, it’s mostly trying to set up Rain Dance for Toxicroak or Reflect. I was able to one-shot it before it got up and running. Facing Bronzor with a psychic resistant Pokémon. It has levitate, but no items and isn’t really a threat. Zoobydoo cleaned up the Toxicroak with 4x resistant to its Fighting move and completely unaffected by the Ground attack and Toxic.
Done and done, who is the next to feel my GYARADOS RAGE??
I fly right back to where it all began: Twinleaf Town on Lake Verity. I arrive just in time to protect Lucas from Commander Jupiter. None of her Pokémon caused any issues. My Crobat trounced her measily Golbat, easily swept the Bronzor, and send in a flyer for Purugly which is a nice wall to it.
After taking care of them, I took a detour and headed back to Wayward Cave to see if I could try my luck with the Gible! I- failed… Aw well!
Gym Leader 7: Candice
Okay, I actually also took on a side-quest and went to Iron Island. There isn’t really anything fun in the cave itself or from fishing (without a Super Rod). So, I surfed the two tiles next to the boat and caught myself a Tentacruel that I also named zizzeee…
This was also when I picked up the egg containing Riolu. For most of the game, I ignored the game/gift Pokémon as I thought they were against the rules, but given my issue with duplication, I needed something to spice up my party, so I took on the little blue dog-boy thingy.
On my way to Route 216 and Snowpoint City I snagged a Medicham in Mt. Coronet. Not a bad Pokémon, but not better than my soon-to-be Lucario.
Candice is the 7th Gym Leader and has Ice-type Pokémon. I know this gym gives some folks trouble, but I was really getting into battle strategy at this point and was very confident in my approach. Candice has 4 Pokémon, which ups the difficulty.
Snover has weak stats and weak moves that my team has many resistances against. It does hold an Icy Rock, which does annoyingly keep Hail on the field longer. Sneasel has a berry that helps protext its 4x fighting weakness, but once you get it to dig, a quick swap into a flyer makes it an easy knockout. Medicham has solid stats all the way through, but nothing crazy. What is worrisome is its ability True Power which DOUBLES Attack in battle, alongside an Expert Belt adding 20% to super effective moves. So, you just can’t get hit like at all. Luckily it got greedy with a Bulk Up, I out sped and got a two-hit KO in. Candice’s last Pokémon is Abomasnow. It only holds a Sitrus Berry, so the 4x Fire weakness is on the table! rolllliiiinnn’ hit with a Veilstone bought Flamethrower and the match was over.
Icicle Badge obtained!
Gym Leader 8: Volkner
Coming Soon!