How to Do a Nuzlocke Challenge and Rules

In a Nuzlocke Challenge, you can only catch the first Pokemon you encounter in each area and you must release a Pokemon from your party if it faints. Read on for the Nuzlocke Challenge rules, as well as tips on how to do a Nuzlocke Challenge in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) for the Nintendo Switch.

How to Do a Nuzlocke Challenge

Nuzlocke Challenge Rules
If a Pokemon faints in battle, you can not use it anymore for the rest of the playthrough. You can only catch the first Pokemon you encounter in an area. If all your Pokemon faint, you lose the challenge. You must nickname all caught Pokemon.

Retire a Pokemon After It Faints

If a Pokemon faints in battle, you must release it or put the Pokemon in a box immediately. You can not use the fainted Pokemon for the rest of the playthrough.

Only the First Pokemon Per Area

You can only catch the first Pokemon you encounter in each area (route, cave, body of water, etc.) you enter for the first time. If the wild Pokemon faints or if you do not have any Poke Balls when first encountering a Pokemon in an area, you may not catch any Pokemon in that area. As Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are Open World, each area may be more difficult to define, however the map should let you know the name of the area you are currently in.

Paldea Region Map and Locations

Challenge Lost if All Pokemon Faint

If all your party Pokemon faint, but you still have usable Pokemon in the PC, you can continue with those. If you run out of usable Pokemon entirely, you must restart the game.

Nicknames Are Required

You must nickname each Pokemon that you catch. (Try not to get too attached now.)

Optional Nuzlocke Challenge Rules

Optional Nuzlocke Challenge Rules
Item Restrictions. No Shifting in Battle. No Surpassing Level of Next Gym. Let's Go! Auto Battle Nuzlocke.

Item Restrictions

Expert Mode

You may not buy or use items in or out of battle. You may only use Poke Balls that you have found.

Hard Mode

You may not buy items, but you can use any items that you find in or out of battle. Using Revives is a judgement call by the player.

No Shifting in Battle

Your battle change option must be set and not shift. Having the battle change option set as set means that you are not given the chance to switch Pokemon when your opponent is about to send out their next Pokemon.

No Surpassing Level of Next Gym

Your Pokemon's level cannot be higher than that of the next Gym Leader's highest level Pokemon.

All Gym Leader Types and Pokemon

Let's Go! Auto Battle Nuzlocke

In Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon spawn in the overworld, removing the randomness necessary for a Nuzlocke challenge. One way to counter this is using the brand new Let's Go! auto battle mechanic. This is a new feature where you send your Pokemon out to randomly engage in battles with wild Pokemon on its own.

In this ruleset, the first Pokemon for your Nuzlocke is determined as the first Let's Go! auto battle engaged species of Pokemon. After it is defeated you are only allowed one attempt of catching that same species of Pokemon in the area.
How to Auto Battle with Let's Go!

Nuzlocke Challenge Tips and Strategies

Nuzlocke Challenge Tips and Strategies
Choose Fuecoco. Catch Pokemon on Every Route. Be Aware of Dual-Type Pokemon. Beware of Tera Type Pokemon. Use Tera Types to Your Advantage. Know Your Team's Stats.

Choose Fuecoco

Although the starters have even stats, the fact that Fire-types are generally rarer than other types makes Fuecoco the best candidate for type coverage to start a Nuzlocke run. Also, one of the early Gym Leaders is confirmed to be a Grass Type specialist, giving Fuecoco an advantage.

Best Starter Pokemon

Catch Pokemon on Every Route

Since you are limited to the first Pokemon per route, make sure to catch a Pokemon on every route, even if there are not any Pokemon you like or think you will use there. They will come in handy as back-up if your preferred Pokemon faint or as a distraction to switch into battle while you heal your stronger Pokemon.

Pokemon by Route: Best Pokemon to Catch

Be Aware of Dual-Type Pokemon

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet have a lot of dual-type Pokemon that can catch you off-guard with a move type you were not expecting, and in a Nuzlocke, that could mean losing a Pokemon for good. To avoid this problem, make sure you know which types your Pokemon are weak against, as well as the types of your opponent's Pokemon.

Beware of Tera Type Pokemon

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet introduced a brand new mechanic to the game with the Terastal Phenomenon. Pokemon with a glowing aura, in Terastal raid dens, or certain trainers' Pokemon may have a different Terastal Type to their regular type. Always be aware that any Pokemon can be any type, making Pokemon Scarlet and Violet possibly the hardest games to Nuzlocke yet!
The Terastal Phenomenon Explained

Use Tera Types to Your Advantage

Terastallizing your Pokemon to a type with fewer weaknesses, or a better match-up for the situation, can make your Nuzlocke much easier. Also, niche strategies such as Terastallizing a Pokemon with the ability Levitate to the Electric Tera Type, effectively removing all weaknesses, can be quite useful!
Best Tera Types: Best Pokemon to Terastallize

Know Your Team's Stats

Paying attention to stats in a Nuzlocke is far more important than it is in a standard playthrough. Keep in mind that you can only catch the first Pokemon you encounter in an area, which means your team may not have type coverage for every situation.

Knowing your team's stats helps to remedy this, as it allows you to know which role each Pokemon on your team will play, even in situations where you might not have a super-effective move up your sleeve.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Related Guides

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Tips and Tricks