Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Island Hopping

Its been some time. I didn't even lose. I've made the journey south to Cinnabar Island via Pallet Town without any special incident.

On arrival its time to get to the Pokemon Center then head over to the Lab to get an Omanyte named Spirals. I'm going to train him for awhile, see if he gets any better and head into the Pokemon Mansion to get the key so I can fight Blaine. The Pokemon Mansion turns out to be rough. I run into a Raticate first of all. At this point I'm not willing to even try and catch it and rip through it with Zippy's Flamethrower. The rest of the mansion takes some time and I come out twice. I'm not willing to risk dying to getting poisoned or bother with buying 100 antidotes either. Muk and Weezing, why could you not have been my first encounter?

I do eventually get to the Secret Key and with a quick heal make my way for Cinnabar Gym. Slips has got me covered as I go after all of the Gym trainers. Why waste experience points on Silly quizzes? Blaine? Also easy. Surf. Surf. Surf. Surf. Done. Being an appropriate level really makes these things slightly less dramatic, doesn't it?

And I leave and...oh, hey Bill. You want to go to some Islands? I like experience points. That sounds nice. Lets go right away. I agree to look around while he and Celio tinker about and deliver his package. First thing I do is head up kindle road and catch WildFire the Ponyta then head back to Two Island to move things along a little. I have to go find the game corner guys little girl? Okay...on to three island after a visit to a cape to teach Zippy BLAST BURN. Yes. I'm that excited about high power fire moves.

So, time to try out that move, and a little flamethrower because there is a boisterous Biker Gang here I need to take care of. Pew Pew. All of these battles go quickly as well thanks to my happy new move and flamethrower. That's where I stopped...

===Adventure Status===
Time: 18:27
Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, Thunder Badge, Rainbow Badge, Soul Badge, Volcano Badge


In The Graveyard:
Lionel, The Level 4 Rattata
Quickwing, The Level 7 Zubat
Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey
Speedy, The Level 29 Pikachu
Rapido, The Level 28 Nidoking
Celerity, The Level 30 Gloom
Snipes, The Level 32 Hitmonchan

Remaining Pokemon:
Zippy The Level 43 Charizard
Jebus The Level 44 Hypno
Slips, The Level 44 Vaporeon

Sneezlax, The Level 43 Snorlax
WildFire, The Level 31 Ponyta

Spirals, The Level 27 Omanyte

Boxed Pokemon:
Rolando, The Level 16 Voltorb
Peggy, The Level 22 Doduo
Helen, The Level 13 Horsea
Quills, The Level 26 Nidoran Male
Qua, The Level 16 Oddish

Dumby, The Level 23 Ditto

Yggdizzl, The Level 13 Magikarp

Whippy, The Level 23 Tangela

Tangles, The Level 9 Tentacool

Vala, The Level 22 Pikachu

CatCat The Level 19 Meowth

Peggy, The Level 20 Spearow

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Badges and Things

I began the next part of my adventure by flying to Lavender Town and moving south along Route 12. The trainers here are no problem though I cannot Surf yet to pick up all the items so I'll have to stop back for another visit. My real reason to be here, besides the easy experience, is my second chance at a Snorlax. I've gained a few levels so I don't think I'll have to worry about the risks. So let the battle begin...

Snorlax begins the battle with a Yawn but the joke is on him-- Jebus the Hypno's ability is Insomnia and the move is ineffective. I lead off with a meditate to get the damage on my Headbutt to be a little more appreciable. Next, Hypnosis works and he eats his berry and awakens which causes his Snore to fail. Jebus keeps on hypnotizing and an Ultra Ball catches him the next round on the first try after no action from Snorlax. I name him Sneezlax. I heal up in Vermillion City and continue to make my way down to Fushia City along Routes 13, 14 and 15.

The journey was not very exciting. The Super Rod should come in handy as I come to the end of the game and go seeking for a final few Pokemon to train. I encounter another Oddish along the way and slay him with Zippy's Flamethrower. I also encounter a Ditto that I do catch and name Dumby though I'll likely never get to use him. He goes right to my Box anyway.

Once in Fushia City I heal up and fly to Celadon City to take on Erika. She's a pushover, and so are all of her underlings with Zippy and his Flamethrower in hand. I wish there was more to say about it but its just a game of repeat first hit Flamethrowers. Rainbow Badge is mine. With that I feel confident enough to seek out Koga.

Koga's gym is a little more challenging and his underlings require some switching between Sneezlax, Zippy and Jebus. I get out of the gym and heal twice and the battle with Koga is on. Sneelax takes a smokescreen to the face then leads off his turn with Body Slam and paralyzes Koffing, leaving him on the brink. Koffing's next attacks fails due to the paralysis and Snorlax Headbutt's the way to victory. To fight Muk and the other Koffing I send out Zippy to blast away with Flamethrower. I finish off the Weezing with a switch out to Jebus and uses his Confusion.

Well, now that I have Surf it is time to go on a Pokemon hunt. First stop is the Power Plant. I get a Pikachu there. On Route 21 I pick up a Tentacool. On Route 20 below Pallet Town I grab a Tangela. Next stop Seafoam Island. I head there and unfortunately...Zubat. I head for Cinnabar Island...and we'll stop there for now.

===Adventure Status===
Time: 15:48
Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, Thunder Badge, Rainbow Badge, Soul Badge


In The Graveyard:
Lionel, The Level 4 Rattata
Quickwing, The Level 7 Zubat
Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey
Speedy, The Level 29 Pikachu
Rapido, The Level 28 Nidoking
Celerity, The Level 30 Gloom
Snipes, The Level 32 Hitmonchan

Remaining Pokemon:
Zippy The Level 40 Charizard
Jebus The Level 41 Hypno
Slips, The Level 41 Vaporeon

Sneezlax, The Level 41 Snorlax
CatCat The Level 19 Meowth
Peggy, The Level 20 Spearow

Boxed Pokemon:
Rolando, The Level 16 Voltorb
Peggy, The Level 22 Doduo
Helen, The Level 13 Horsea
Quills, The Level 26 Nidoran Male
Qua, The Level 16 Oddish

Dumby, The Level 23 Ditto

Yggdizzl, The Level 13 Magikarp

Whippy, The Level 23 Tangela

Tangles, The Level 9 Tentacool

Vala, The Level 22 Pikachu

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Pokemon Safari!

No luck with that Snorlax. I got him into the red several times but didn't want to risk losing Jebus or anyone else when there is a perfectly good Snorlax elsewhere to make an attempt for when I am a bit higher level. I did get several consolation prizes on the way to and through Fushia City though. After training up Zippy and letting him evolve after fighting the Biker's on the Cycling Road (Route 17) I picked up a Spearow named Peggy on Route 17, A Doduo on route 18 that I also name Peggy (I suspect my brain was not fully functional at that point in the evening) an Oddish named Qua on the other side of Fushsia on Route 15, a Magikarp named Yggdizzel in the city itself via the Good Rod in the pond north of the fisherman's house,a Nidoran male named Quills in the Safari Zone and Horsea I called Helen on Route 19 via fishing. I haven't fully explored all those areas, or fought most of the trainers but I will once I clear the rest of the items out of the Safari Zone, give the warden back his teeth and give Koga a run for his money...I also need to head back to Celadon and fight Erika and get my grind on so I don't fall to Koga's self destructs and smoke screens...We'll resume there next time. Short entry but I wanted to keep up to date...


===Adventure Status===
Time: 13:06
Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, ThunderBadge


In The Graveyard:
Lionel, The Level 4 Rattata
Quickwing, The Level 7 Zubat
Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey
Speedy, The Level 29 Pikachu
Rapido, The Level 28 Nidoking
Celerity, The Level 30 Gloom
Snipes, The Level 32 Hitmonchan

Remaining Pokemon:
Zippy The Level 31 Charmeleon
Jebus The Level 33 Hypno
Slips, The Level 30 Vaporeon
CatCat The Level 19 Meowth
Peggy, The Level 20 Spearow

Boxed Pokemon:
Rolando, The Level 16 Voltorb
Peggy, The Level 22 Doduo
Helen, The Level 13 Horsea
Quills, The Level 26 Nidoran Male
Qua, The Level 16 Oddish

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Rocket Game Corner

Cerulean City is a site to see despite my losses. I speak with some kind of Sensei at the top of the hotel to receive Eevee. I name her Slips and head right over to Cerulean Department store, buy a water stone and Eevee is a Vaporeon. She doesn't know any water moves though so I use the Water Pulse TM I received from Misty and hope that it serves me well.


It does. After stopping at a local diner and getting a coin case I try my hand at some slots, pick up a slew of coins on the floor and check the prices for some TMs. Dratini is a tempting prospect but Slips seems like a better choice. I'm going to save up for an Ice Beam TM eventually. There is that suspicious Rocket and his poster in the corner to see about though...


Slips turns out to be a good addition to my team, especially tricked out with Water Pulse and Quick Attack. I have to come in and out of the Rocket hideout because of poison or paralysis but even that does not save me from casualties. I have a showdown with Giovanni and its Celerity versus Kangaskhan. Sleep Powder doesn't work and I lose the little flower to more attacks than my absorb can keep up with. Poor thing. At least Slips wrecks and brings about switch switch vengeance. Pyaaaaaaaaahhhh!


I head next to the fighting Dojo in Saffron City to take the challenge with Jebus. Its a tough group of battlees and I almost lose Charmeleon to a surprisingly potent Cross Chop from one of the trainers Primeapes but a quick switch out to Jebus is lucky enough to only have Focus Energy to contend with saves the day. My reward for all this? Snipes, The Hitmonchan. I head to the route between Saffron and Cerulean encounter CatCat my new Meowth. :D Level 19 and Pick Up gets Rare Candy one in awhile. I l can do once in awhile.


On the quest to Pokemon Tower and another encounter with Gary Oak Snipes proves to be a deadly opponent. First, Gary. Snipes just about single handedly takes out the smarmy bastard. Jebus has to sub in for some Confusion action towards the end (especially with Wartortle!) but Thunder Punch, Fire Punch and Ice Punch has me covered elementally. Gary heads out, defeated.


The tower is another story. I received Snipes at 25 and when all was said and done, he was 32. Mostly Fire Punch and Thunder Punch do quick work of the ghosts in the tower. The healing pad in the middle of the tower helps and eventually I encounter the Marowak's ghost. It takes three Ice Punches and Marowak goes to the other world. Its nice to actually permanently end something the way so many of my own Pokemon's lives have ended.



But unfortunately, I'm about to experience my own casualty. One of the Rocket's Koffings Self-Destructs before Snipes can unleash a Fire Punch. Its not contest, he's down “on the word go.” Jebus swaps in and takes down the last Rocket and I speak with Mr. Fuji. We return to his home, I get a Pokeflute and hit the road. I had high hopes for Snipes but its on to my next challenge. The Snorlax on Route 16...



===Adventure Status===
Time: 11:47
Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, ThunderBadge


In The Graveyard:
Lionel, The Level 4 Rattata
Quickwing, The Level 7 Zubat
Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey
Speedy, The Level 29 Pikachu
Rapido, The Level 28 Nidoking
Celerity, The Level 30 Gloom
Snipes, The Level 32 Hitmonchan

Remaining Pokemon:
Zippy The Level 31 Charmeleon
Jebus The Level 33 Hypno
Slips, The Level 30 Vaporeon
CatCat The Level 19 Meowth

Boxed Pokemon:
Rolando, The Level 16 Voltorb

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Rock Tunnel R.I.P Friends

Nuzlocke mode is not a failure, I've just taken some bad casualties. I stop at Pewter City Museum to get the old Amber before I get to the tunnel. In the Tunnel Rapido is gone because of a Geodude. Not even a fancy trainer Geodude either, a wild one. It should not have been any problem but Double Kick missed and Geodude struck me out with a Magnitude 10! I fled the battle and continued to trudge my way through the tunnel. Everyone else performed admirably and with the liberal use of potions I managed to make it to the other side without much of an incident. I don't manage to obtain any Pokemon in the tunnel either. My first encounter was a Zubat that I far too easily overpowered.

The next set of disasters start on Route 8. I fight the old man on the way to the wild Pokemon patch with ease and fight a Pidgey. Speedy's Quick Attack overwhelms him and I head to fight the rest of the trainers on the route. I'm going to need to start collecting some replacements here soon though. While I was fighting a Biker on the route I lost Speedy. He couldn't handle a Koffing. I got back to the Pokemon Center and sends him off to the grave with Rapido and save and turn off the game for awhile.

===Adventure Status===

Time: 9:31

Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, ThunderBadge

In The Graveyard: (5)

Lionel, The Level 4 Rattata

Quickwing, The Level 7 Zubat

Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey

Speedy, The Level 29 Pikachu

Rapido, The Level 28 Nidoking

Remaining Pokemon: (5) 

Zippy The Level 28 Charmeleon

Celerity The Level 29 Gloom

Jebus The Level 29 Hypno

Rolando, The Level 16 Voltorb

Slider The Level 19 Diglett

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: To Vermillion and Beyond!

Time to head to the S.S Anne and mop the floor with Gary Oak. I lead off with Jebus against Pidgeotto with Poison Gas. Its effective and a little tackle is nothing that I needed to worry about from my opponent. Headbutt and the poison finish the job but because Jebus is a little low on health Speedy is going in for Wartortle. A few thunder shocks and that's done without any major problems so I send in Rapido. He takes a Hyper Fang from Raticate like a boss and goes down to one HP when he finishes off the opponent by his Poison Point ability triggering and a horn attack. Zippy comes in for Kadabra and they trade a few blows but three Embers about does it. Gary storms off like a pro, as usual.

I help the Captain out with his seasickness and head out with HM 01 in hand, wave the S.S Anne goodbye and realize I don't actually have any Pokemon I'd be willing to teach Cut. Diglett is the solution to my woe, for the moment. I head into the cave and catch a level 19 Diglett who I name Slider. His big nose reminded me of this: http://eorsini.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/slider.jpg What can I say?

Unfortunately, I have another problem. I don't have any kind of type advantage against Lt. Surge and he is next on my shit list. Two choices present themselves to me: Train Slider up or Evolve Rapido. I opt for the alter and teach Rapido Dig with the TM I got off of the Rocket. Nothing like a Same Type Attack Bonus move to reign in the enemy, eh? So I hit the Gym.

I switch between using Rapido and Speedy against the Lt's underlings. At least Speedy has a level advantage on his fellow electric types so I can get in a few close wins for the experience point awards. The battle against Lt. Surge gets a little more hairy than I expected though. I lead with Jebus, wanting to hold back on the heavy hitters for Raichu. It seems like a bad idea at face value but I want Rapido and full HP if it becomes a Double Team battle. Jebus' Poison Gas misses initially and Voltorb uses SonicBoom. I respond with a Confusion and get a Shock Wave to the face, taking him down to 1 HP. Twice in one day with something like that is enough for me to switch in for Speedy who picks up the win with a Quick Attack.

Its Pikachu v. Pikachu for the next round and I Quick Attack to his Double Team. Luckily I don't miss and he keeps up the Double Team treatment and I pick up the "W" and let him switch out for Raichu without a change myself. Its another Double Team and this time Quick Attack doesn't do it for me. I switch to Rapido, use Dig and its a One-Hit K.O! Shock Wave and The Thunder Badge is mine.

Next up, The journey to get Flash and go to Rock Tunnel. Jebus gets me to Flash with ease and then I head for Rock Tunnel and have the same problem as before. Who am I going to teach Flash? The trainers on the route are no big deal and I encounter a Voltorb right off. His level is a little low though so I switch in Persia to make and take some hits. Persia perishes, unfortunately, but at least I get the capture after I switch in Speedy. Voltorb gets the moniker Rolando and I'm ready to make for Lavender Town after some grinding. Jebus evolves at Level 26 and its off to the races...

===Adventure Status===

Time: 8:24

Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge, ThunderBadge

In The Graveyard: (3)

Lionel The Level 4 Rattata

Quickwing The Level 7 Zubat

Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey

Remaining Pokemon: (6) 

Zippy The Level 27 Charmeleon

Speedy The Level 25 Pikachu

Rapido The Level 26 Nidorino

Celerity The Level 27 Gloom

Jebus The Level 26 Hypno

Rolando, The Level 16 Voltorb

Boxed Pokemon (1)

Slider The level 19 Diglett

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Gary to Gary

Gary Oak attacks me on the bridge...and I dominate him! I lead with the Speedy and thunder shock my way to victory against most of his Pokemon. Rapido clears things up against Squirtle and I head up nugget bridge. There isn't much to report on that front either, I've finally power leveled enough to breeze through most of the trainers in the area without any dramatic gasps.

I did come into my newest Pokemon, Celerity the Oddish, on the north side of the bridge. I encountered another Oddish closer to Bill's house as well but Speedy took care of that too. Celerity works out too. He easily takes out lots of the trainers on the way to the cottage. Bill is still a crazy scientist whom I am extremely skeptical of. I head on down to Misty and the battle goes a little more interestingly.

I lead with Celerity against Staryu and successfully use Stun Spore. I absorb my way through the rest of the battle but don't make it to Starmie with full HP. I try for the Stun Spore again but I miss and  takes a nasty strike. I have to switch out but Speedy takes a nasty Water Pulse and gets confused. I switch over to Quickwing and he takes the hit and perishes. I guess sometimes you have to take one for the team because Speedy finishes off Starmie with the next attack.

So I begin the journey to Vermillion City. The Rocket along the way gets mangled by Zippy. Heading into Vermillion I catch a handy little Pidgey I name Persia. Then the grind begins again, of course. Over on route 11 I pick up Drowzee and name him Jebus. He is also very, very good. I'm glad I grab him before I get my bike voucher and head into the S.S Anne and train too. I am avoiding the trainers on the route itself for now. I remember all those electric trainers and I think I can use the route to train Rapido once I evolve him. Safer than the way it decimated me last time.

Next time I'll complete the S.S Anne, fight Lt. Surge and head for Rock tunnel. I'm making good time compared to the other runs and training better too. Hopefully I won't screw it up.

===Adventure Status===

Time: 6:27

Badges: Boulder Badge, Cascade Badge

In The Graveyard: (2)

Lionel The Level 4 Rattata

Quickwing The Level 7 Zubat

Remaining Pokemon: (6) 

Zippy The Level 23 Charmeleon

Speedy The Level 23 Pikachu

Rapido The Level 23 Nidorino

Celerity The Level 23 Gloom

Jebus The Level 23 Drowsee

Persia, The Level 13 Pidgey

Nuzlocke FireRed 2: Buck's Quest

This is the last one, I swear. If I fail this time I'm going to try a different version of the game so I have something more interesting to play and write about. I'm going back to FireRed because I want to give the game a try with Charmander again. My player character's name is Buck. This time Charmander is a little boy named Zippy. We trounce Gary's Squirtle, deliver Professor Oak's custom Pokeball in exchange for the Pokedex and head to Route 2 and Route 22 to catch Pokemon. On Route 2 I encounter a Level 2 Pidgey right off but Zippy's scratch knocks him out before I can catch him. On Route 22 I encounter a level 4 Rattata that I catch and name Lionel.

I do some serious grinding at this point on Route 2 just outside of Viridian Forest until he is level 10 and I step in. My plan is to level enough to take down Brock with a couple of strikes from metal claw. I get my first stroke of luck and my first turn of ill-fortune inside Viridian Forest. I head to the east, to a small patch below where all of the trainers gather on the path and encounter a Pikachu. Lionel faces off with it and trading tackle for thundershock Lionel goes down. Out goes Zippy and then a Pokeball. Pikachu was caught! This is going to be a much easier run if I can keep this Pikachu whom I name Speedy around. I cannot very well risk Pikachu's life so it is back to the grind. Between the trainers in the forest and the north portion of Route 2 I get them both to Level 16 before I take on Brock. Zippy evolves too.

Even after all the preparation the battle is still tough. Zippy's metal claw does a number on Geodude but Onix is a different story. I start with metal claw and get rock tomb to the face in return. Zippy can only take three Rock Tomb's before he goes down. I switch to Speedy and use the first turn to use a potion on Zippy. Onix uses Bind, a lucky break, and keeps doing so for a few turns so I chip away at his health with quick attacks. Eventually it gets too close and I have to switch back to Zippy. Onix uses bind again and I get in a metal claw relatively unscathed. Another rock tomb and Zippy's speed falls. Everything is a gamble now. Either rock tomb hits first and I die or metal claw and Onix dies. Onix makes the first move but his rock tomb misses! I am incredibly lucky.

So, I earn the boulder badge and head towards Mt. Moon. Route 3's trainers are a breeze thanks to Speedy's thunder shock. On route 3 I get another lucky break and catch a male Nidoran after a quick attack and a thunder wave. I name him Rapido and train him up on Route 3 until he evolves and head into Mt. Moon.

The mountain does not turn out to be much of a challenge. I encounter a Zubat again, catch him, name him Quickwing and hold on to him just in case. Zippy and Rapido take care of just about everyone inside, Team Rocket and all without a visit to the Pokemon Center (a few potions helped though!) Along the way I get my hands on several Moon Stones and the one Rare Candy but hold off on evolving Rapido just yet. I would like it if he learned something a little more potent than Poison Sting first. Soon I find myself in Cerulean City once again. There is an Ekans on Route 4 but Rapido's peck is already too much for it to handle and it goes down immediately. Once again I'll begin next entry with my battle against Gary Oak...

===Adventure Status===
Time: 4:30
Badges: Boulder Badge

In The Graveyard: (1)
Lionel The Level 4 Rattata

Remaining Pokemon: (4) 
Zippy The Level 20 Charmeleon
Speedy The Level 20 Pikachu
Rapido The Level 20 Nidoran Male
Quickwing The Level 7 Zubat

Nuzlocke LeafGreen Part 5: The Stench of Death and The Iron Turtle Challenge

And so an epic day of training began. From the entrance of Rock Tunnel I took Bobby back to Vermillion area for training. It went well, for awhile. Then a public service and a Magneton ruined my day. Bobby and Richard took care of his first two Magnemites but Magneton paralyzed them both and when I switched out for Richard that was the end. Richard was stunned into not attacking and could not handle the lightning to the face...twice.

At this point Bobby was level 20 so I decided I was probably okay to turn around, head back towards Rock Tunnel and make good on my training. On the way I dropped off Ellena at the daycare, for use later, just in case. Then another disaster. In a wild battle on Route 10 with another Voltorb of all things Bobby takes a screech to the face. I return the favor and miss on my tackle the next turn. Voltorb returns the tackle CRITICAL HIT! Bobby goes down...two casualties in one day already. Now its just A'Tuin and my TM Meowth in the Rock Tunnel Iron Turtle Challenge.

I'm glad I have a few Ethers picked up here and there because I don't want to use an escape rope. So I don't. I blaze through Rock Tunnel like it means NOTHING! I have a few close calls but Water Gun and Bite are a killer combo in a cave full of fighters and rock 'mons. A'Tuin evolves just when I exit and fight the hiker on the route. Even the few trainers between there and Celadon City don't pose any problem. I go right to get Eevee and some hot Tea so I get go to Saffron City. I grab the Thunderstone and make Marcellus the Eevee into a Jolteon.

But before Saffron, time to catch'em all, right? WRONG. I encounter a Pidgey on Route 7 and get Whirlwinded away. Route 8 garners me a Meowth I named Arcturus. The cost of this was both my Zubats because of A'Tuin's immense strength by this point. Then I lost Arcturus immediately in a trainer battle with a Biker on the route and his Critical Hit Sludging Grimer as well as Huninn.

Nothing left for it but to go to the fighting dojo and try and get myself a Hitmonchan. My mistake. Jolteon goes down on the first hit of the first round against Machoke when Quick Attack gets Revenge in return. So its me and Blastoise all the way. His Bite makes the Machoke flinch but Revenge takes me out again. So that is the end of another run. R.I.P...

A'Tuin, Level 37 Blastoise
Richard, Level 27 Raticate
Bobby Boom, Level 20 Voltorb
Huninn, Level 16 Pidgey
Cierra, Level 12 Meowth
Zeifer, Level 7 Zubat
Leonard, Level 21 Fearow
Sauraz, Level 19 Sandscrew
Rocksteady, Level 23 Diglett

Arcturus, Level 19 Meowth

Marcellus, Level 25 Jolteon