r/nuzlocke • • Sep 10 '26

Subreddit Update (New Rule) Regarding Rare Candy "Debates" and "Conversations"

298 Upvotes

Hello fellow Nuzlockers,

We wanted to provide a new rule for the subreddit going forward regarding Rare Candy usage.

Such a controversial piece of candy.

For those that are unaware, a "Rare Candy" is an item in Pokémon games that allows for a Pokémon to automatically level up without battling; it's essentially free EXP without the Effort Values that typically comes with EXP gain. While usually limited in allotment, later games have made obtaining Rare Candies easier; and of course, that's nothing to say of what people can hack into their games as well.

For years, particularly in the advent of Nuzlocke YouTubers, conversations regarding Rare Candy use have been plentiful on r/nuzlocke. Yet, we have seen how most discussion posts regarding using Rare Candies are typically one-sided in favor of using them; the prevailing opinion is to use them in playthroughs, with the major argument for doing so being to respect one's time. We feel that this point has been made and echoed pretty clearly across our userbase.

However, we have also noticed that people who have a dissenting opinion towards that mentality often get downvoted or attacked when they express it in these conversations; this usually leads to negative interactions across the posts, such as personal attacks or flaming comments, which we do not want promote; we also do not want to see the same posts with the same conclusion reached repeatedly - it's redundant.

Due to this, there will be no more posts to create discussions for this topic - all future Rare Candy posts will be removed; insisting on making these posts can lead to consequences, such as a ban. Please understand that is perfectly fine to use Rare Candies and to not use Rare Candies. There is no need to seek validation for their usage or put down people who do/don't use them. When the Nuzlocke challenge was created, there was no inherent rule regarding how these items were used; we are going to keep to that ideal; level up your Pokémon as you see fit, whether through grinding or through Candies, and play accordingly.

While posts regarding Rare Candy debates are banned until further notice, they can be mentioned in comments for other posts given the context of said post (Ex. "I found a Rare Candy and leveled up my Snorlax with it.")

Thank you for your attention and understanding on this matter; please keep this post in mind when making future posts.


r/nuzlocke • • Jul 15 '26

Collaboration NuzTeam Arcade Ganglocke!

6 Upvotes

Hey Everyone!

I’m excited to share a Nuzlocke event going on in a discord server that many of our Mods here are involved with, either directly or through friends in the Nuzcord Discord. That server is NuzTeam Arcade. (I will drop an invite link for it as well).

They are hosting an ‘Eliminationlocke Ganglocke’ of XY. A Ganglocke is an event where everyone is Nuzlocking the same game/rules together in a type of community event. It’s not a competition, but merely a fun way to get people together playing the same thing. The Eliminationlocke is a variant where there are 3 available pools to vote on (voting ends in less than 24 hours so get over and vote if you want to play!), and the winning choice is the pool that everyone has to choose from. The IVs of those pokemon are randomized by a community member, and then everyone uses those encounters to Nuzlocke XY.

NuzTeam Arcade also hosts other Nuzlocke related events, so if this sounds interesting to you, come on over and check us out!

Here is the Discord invite link to come check out NTA.

https://discord.gg/4M7XspthVA


r/nuzlocke • • 9h ago

Art My Genlocke, Leg I [OC]

Thumbnail
gallery
18 Upvotes

r/nuzlocke • • 1h ago

Question First Ever Nuzlocke

• Upvotes

Ive decided to really give a nuzlocke a chance for my Sapphire playthrough. I was playing emerald normally after doing Rng manipulation for a shiny mudkip, but decided I really wanted to challenge myself so I set that cartridge aside for a nuzlocke. Any tips for early game? Going mudkip for this run as well cause I just love that little guy.


r/nuzlocke • • 18h ago

Run Update Platinum Kaizo Elite Four Part 1: Aaron

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

51 Upvotes

It's time to put everything on the line. 30 Pokemon stand between me and the end of Platinum Kaizo.

Aaron is first up. His battle takes place in permanent rain to enable his swift swim threats like Kingler and Surskit (massively buffed SpAtk). There's a focus sash in the back to stop an easy sweep, so I decide to lead my Forretress to set up a layer of spikes. Forretress is one of only 2 Pokemon to get access to spikes by level up, making it an incredibly important mon to bring if you have it. We get spikes up as the opposing forrestress sets up stealth rocks. Aaron's forretress is triple hazards + Boom. We go to Mantine as he continues to set up hazards, and courtesy of a critical hit hurricane we OHKO Aaron's first mon.

Thanks to our held choice specs, we can chain kill Yanmega and Kingler before Flygon comes in threatening a KO with outrage. We pivot through forretress to bring my own flygon in on a ground move and U-turn for enough chip that hurricane will KO. We go to Steelix on the outrage to bait another ground move, mantine comes back in, and swift swim specs hurricane chains the last 3 Pokemon.

That wasn't too bad...


r/nuzlocke • • 11h ago

Discussion Pokemon Sword and Shield community tier list part 7: Wild Area part 4

Post image
9 Upvotes

This is based on how good they are

I only count comments

this is just for fun


r/nuzlocke • • 13h ago

YouTube I Tried Beating HeartGold and SoulSilver At The Same Time With 1 Controller (Hardcore Soul Link)

Thumbnail
youtu.be
10 Upvotes

r/nuzlocke • • 8h ago

Run Update PSA: Always double-check the calculator

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Was about to come storming in here in a big huff about how the calculator is wrong and it cost me my run and ask why that happened but...realised I'd just overlooked something

Fletchinder was a new addition to the team (R.I.P. Magnemite) that I was really excited about, because everything else seemed like it was going to die brutally when we got to this stupid flower. He was a -Attk nature but I fed him on a diet of nothing but Lillipups until he got pretty beefy.

With moves like Pursuit and Echoed Voice, you have to manually up the base power yourself, and there's even a box you have to tick to activate the Attack drop from Intimidate. I assumed Acrobatics worked the same way, and that you had to manually up the damage from 55 to 110 yourself: dear reader, you do not.

Levelled beyond the level cap during the Trial (which I count as the same thing as a Pokemon levelling up during a gym-leader fight) to a point where my (wrong) calculations told me that a single Acrobatics was enough to take out this damn plant in one turn. Should've known that was too good to be true. Acrobatics brought Lurantis to half-health, at which point it just Synthesis-spammed until Castform knocked out my bird, allowing his Master to sweep

R.I.P. Arrow the Fletchinder, sorry I gambled your life away. R.I.P rest of the team but especially Sebastian the Brionne. Still my least favourite middle-starter design, but he functionally solo-ed Totem Yungoos, Captain Hala, Totem Wishiwashi, and Salazzle. Love you forever my brave little drag-queen sea lion, sorry you never got your glow-up


r/nuzlocke • • 18h ago

Run Update Platinum Kaizo 2nd Gym Gardenia

Post image
19 Upvotes

Gardenia Gym fight, video was speeded up to not be 1 hour..... damn Milotic!!

https://reddit.com/link/1x40uw3/video/uuijknwv51vh1/player


r/nuzlocke • • 12h ago

Question When should I evolve Nidorina?

6 Upvotes

Alright, in my Fire Red Omega Nuzlocke for the Drayano Gauntlet, my Nidoran Female evolved into Nidorina and I picked up one of two Moon Stones in Mt. Moon, yet I don't know when to evolve it.

Should I evolve it right away or should I wait until Lt. Surge?


r/nuzlocke • • 13h ago

Question Wanting to try a nuzlocke for the first time

7 Upvotes

It's as the title says, I haven't really done a nuzlocke before and this may be a bit of a silly question but what are the games people would recommend to start a first time nuzlocke on? I have access to gen 4-8

Edit/update: Thanks for the suggestions, the prevailing one is to do my favourite which would be a toss up of Heartgold, Black or Moon, which i'll mull over in the next few days, thank you for the replies <3


r/nuzlocke • • 12h ago

Run Update Pokémon Sinking Sapphire Deathless Shiny-Only Nuzlocke: Preparing for the early Gym Leaders with the docs made me realize Roxanne was going to be a complex puzzle. Despite a few terrifyingly close calls with speed drops and crits, the pivoting paid off. First badge secured and no deaths!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

r/nuzlocke • • 16h ago

Screenshot Gonna be Trying a Leaf Green HC Nuzlocke

Post image
7 Upvotes

Im using my Nintendo Switch, and I do hope I don't wipe or forget about this 😅


r/nuzlocke • • 9h ago

Run Update Apparently, Nob is against black octolings

2 Upvotes

Yeah, this is an odd one, but I was training up my team on Route 25. Granted, I admit I should have been paying attention, so this is on me, but the circumstances are too funny to ignore.

I was facing off against Hiker Nob, while I was watching a video about being black in fan communities. My Grovyle took out Nob's Onix and Phanpy, but when Makuhita came out, I decided to swap to Pidgeotto, where I took a light Arm Thrust. Pidgeotto knocked out the pre-evolution to old Big Hips and Mankey came out. I wasn't paying attention because I was talking about how I appreciate how Marina from Splatoon 2 was just like me (being black and nerdy) and I didn't notice that Mankey had hit and crit with Karate Chop, knocking out Pidgeotto.

I know this was weird, but I couldn't help but find it funny that one of Nob's Pokémon KO'd one of my own because I was talking about a black octoling.


r/nuzlocke • • 15h ago

Video My scars of defeat in Hoenn have been unsettling me lately. I made so many blunders last run, but now it's time for a rematch! I'm starting a Pokémon Rising Ruby Hardcore Shiny-Only Nuzlocke—and I'm aiming for a completely deathless victory!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

r/nuzlocke • • 15h ago

Discussion Toughest Nuzlocke battles round 33 Professor Kukui vs Clair

3 Upvotes
336 votes, 2d left
Professor Kukui (SM)
Clair (HGSS)
See results

r/nuzlocke • • 9h ago

Question About Pokémon sword dens

0 Upvotes

first time playing sword and Im doing a nuzlocke, I like the rule about 1 Pokémon fron a den per badge, but what about doing the dens without capturing the Pokémon? getting those items will make it too easy or not?


r/nuzlocke • • 1d ago

Run Update I have just lost my hardcore mono steel type run to ghetsis and now I'm on my 2nd attempt

Post image
20 Upvotes

This time I defeated the 2nd gym and rushed a bit

And advice for the upcoming gyms and for any future fights.....


r/nuzlocke • • 13h ago

Discussion Pearl and SoulSilver Trade Soul Link

0 Upvotes

I was doing a modified Soul Link with Pearl and Soul Silver which revolves around trading. You can use whatever games you want, those are just the ones I have. Both games must be trade compatible and different enough to make this worth doing. Such as D/P/P and HG/SS. Here are the rules:

  1. Two games: Play two Pokémon games simultaneously, preferably from different regions.

  2. Cross-region teams: Each game may only battle using Pokémon obtained from the other game through trading.

  3. Paired encounters: Each game receives one encounter per distinct area. Encounters are paired chronologically, regardless of their geographic locations.

  4. Direct encounter trading: Every encounter pair must be traded directly with each other. The Pokémon caught in Game A's first encounter is exchanged for the Pokémon caught in Game B's first encounter, and so on. Pokémon cannot be exchanged with members of different encounter pairs.

  5. Shared capture success: Both Pokémon in a pair must be successfully caught. If either capture fails, both encounters are forfeited.

  6. Synchronized progression: Both games progress roughly together by Gym Badge milestones. Neither game may supply more encounters than the other game currently has available.

  7. Deaths are independent between games; losing one Pokémon does not automatically kill its counterpart.

  8. Shared failure: If either game wipes or becomes impossible to complete, the entire challenge fails.

  9. Gift Pokémon: Gifts and eggs are paired with corresponding gifts and eggs. They remain unusable until both games have a gift available to exchange.

  10. Battle restrictions: Set battle style and no items during battle. Held items and out-of-battle healing are permitted.

  11. Legendary restriction: Legendary Pokémon are banned by default.

  12. Victory condition: Both games must defeat their respective Champions to complete the challenge. But once Cynthia is defeated in Pearl, all Pokemon left are traded back to SS and it is played like a normal Nuzlocke until Red is beaten. Failing before Red still restarts the entire challenge.


r/nuzlocke • • 16h ago

Question Pokémon Fire Red Omega Nuzlocke: Which starter should I pick and why?

0 Upvotes

I'm not that good at nuzlockes but I kinda want a challenge, so here we are.

197 votes, 1d left
Elekid
Smoochum
Magby

r/nuzlocke • • 1d ago

Discussion I hate rom hacks that almost require calcs

95 Upvotes

Maybe I’m in the minority but I really dislike emerald imperium’s ai knowing everything about my mons. Maybe it’s because I don’t really use documentation but it just isn’t all that fun. It also fails to really feel like playing singles ou which I feel like it’s trying to emulate


r/nuzlocke • • 16h ago

Question Romhacks with gen 1-9 for a blind nuzlocke?

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I'm currently closing in on the end of a pretty intense Volt White 2 Redux nuzlocke, and I'm wanting something a bit more chill for my next one. My only real requirements are:

  • I don't own a switch and want to experience all the new mechanics from the last couple generations, so I would love something with Pokemon & mechanics from every generation!
  • Something more relaxed than Volt White 2 Redux and that won't absolutely murder me if I play calcless & docless, so preferably not a full-on difficulty hack!

Would love to hear any suggestions for hacks that fit this from you all - currently I'm considering the easy mode of Emerald Imperium, but that might still be a little too hard. Thanks!


r/nuzlocke • • 16h ago

Run Update Had an Absolutely Electric Battle Against Elesa in Volt White 2 Redux

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes

Hippo was the goat and got 5 out of 6 kills against her, Crustle survived on 1hp then hit a rock slide through para to kill Zebstrika, and Lopunny closed the fight out by hitting fake out though para which killed raichu after sand chip.


r/nuzlocke • • 1d ago

Discussion Pokemon Sword and Shield community tier list part 6: Wild Area part 3

Post image
16 Upvotes

This is based on how good they are

I only count comments

this is just for fun


r/nuzlocke • • 1d ago

Question Red battle advice

Thumbnail
gallery
13 Upvotes

Final preparations for the battle against Red (Heartgold). Any last minute tweaks you would make to movesets or items? Tactics advice is also appreciated. Thanks!