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Test 5 - Squirtle

Much better than last time. Got to Mt. Moon with 5 Pokemon. Even succeeded at the optional 22 Gauntlet, and lost Rattata at the end of Route 3 Gauntlet, fight before Youngster Calvin.

Definitely had to do more thinking than Bulbasaur run. Fought the 2 Metapod trainer first, then the Cat/Met, then the Weedle/Kak, then the Weedles. Used Tail Whips before attacking Weedles to minimize poison point and take advantage of their over use of string shot. It was a very close run thing, but it made Route 22 viable.

Caught Mankey on Route 22, and then fought rival. Again, had to really finagle my way through it, but got everyone out of it alive.

Brock was ja joke as usual, fought the Bug Catchers on Route 3 first, then the Rattata Youngster, then Jigglypuff, caught Spearow, went back to take on the Pidgey Lass, then lost Rattata to the Rat/Nido Lass, before finally taking out Spearow 1 v 1 with Squirtle.

I will continue this test run, but the important thing is that up to Mt. Moon is possible with Squirtle, and with a full team. From here on out Leech Seed begins to lose its value as the uber move, and Squirtle is no longer stuck with Bubble. The last place Leech Seed is just free health is the 24/25 Gauntlet, but by the time Squirtle gets there we will have four more potential pickups, so there's more wiggle room.

Charmander next for completion sake, though I think the problem there is anything will just be keeping him under level caps.

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Test 4 - Squirtle

Squirtle strikes me as clearly the hardest up to Brock, so thought I'd give that a go next. My thought at this time is that antidotes need to be allowed outside of battle at any time, not down to 1 HP. Otherwise, it's too easy to just wipe against Weedles. Gauntlet Green should challenge the player, not have whole starts dependent on RNG.

Viridian was brutal.

Hagrid actually leveled up at the end of the last Bug Catcher, and so came out with 1 HP left prior to level up. Needless to say, going back for Route 22 optional gauntlet didn't happen.

Luna (now a Butterfree) took out the trainer in Brock's gym, and Hagrid took out Brock himself. I actually got through most of Route 3 and caught Cho the Nidoran(f), who actually contributed with a few growls against the Jigglypuff trainer.

Ended up wiping against Youngster Calvin's Spearow, although it was one Nidoran scratch away from being defeated.

I could have done better though without changing my ruleset. I should have fought all the Kakuna and Metapod trainers in Viridian before going after Weedle trainers. Should have fought the Bug Catchers on Route 3 before everything else. With better optimization and reasonable RNG luck, hopefully in the next test I can take a crack at Route 22 or at least bring a somewhat functional team to the Pokecenter on Route 4. Despite everything, this was a very promising test, even if it shows just how uber Leech Seed is at this point of the game.

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Test 3 - Bulbasaur. Start to Mount Moon

Very similar run to the first two so far, although this is my first time getting Nidoran(f) on Route 3. A few thoughts for Bulbasaur runs.

You do need a think a little bit when using leech seed on bug catchers, if only to keep Bulbasaur from hitting level 10 before the route 22 optional gauntlet. It's not hard but it requires you not to just fall asleep, which is good.

Weedle is less useful than Caterpie, but at least it can pivot around foe Weedles to keep everyone else safe. A small purpose in life, but a purpose at least.

The first real challenge for the Bulbasaur team is the Youngster Calvin and his level 14 Spearow. The safest strategy I have found is to get Rattata and Pidgey to do maximum of the heavy lifting on Route 3 to maximize their levels before tag teaming the Spearow. Mankey takes out extra Rattata and the Jigglypuff, and Bulbasaur heals them if needed on Metapods and Kakuna. Pidgey can take out the Nidoran without risking Poison Point with Gust. I've lost one Pokemon to the Spearow in three tests, because of a high roll Fury Attack, but fair enough.

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Test 1 and 2 - Bulbasaur

2 test runs with Bulbasaur prior to changing Rival 2 and SS Anne and Vermillion optional gauntlets. This is very doable but does require some thinking. Bulbasaur is OP early game, because early gauntlets have Metapods and Kakunas in them where you can Leech Seed and heal the whole team. Leech Seed also great to get off on Turn 1 if possible against Lt. Surge Raichu before he starts evading.

Antidote at 1HP rule also added because the ability to switch Bulbasaur into every weedle just feels like something cheeky that could be an end runner for unlucky Squirtle or Charmander. It's one thing in regular Nuzlocke to punish a player not buying antidotes but not allowing them here just makes poison death.

As chill as Bulbasaur makes early game, I think he will drop off drastically going forward, as he has no coverage whatsoever. We will see.

Route 22 Rival level cap 9 is interesting because it denies player Beedrill and Butterfree.

Nugget Bridge Rival level cap 17 denies player Pidgeotto.

Bulbasaur learning Razor Leaf at level 20 is interesting because it means player may have Ivysaur with Razor Leaf for Misty but must keep Bulbasaur unevolved for Cerulean fight and Route 23/24 Gauntlet.

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Gauntlet Green - Part 2

Gauntlet 4: Mt. Moon must be cleared, including all 'optional' Rockets, Mt. Moon encounter, and Route 4 encounter to unlock Cerulean Pokecenter.

Gauntlet 5: All Pokemon may be leveled up to 17 before start of Gauntlet. No Pokemon may start gauntlet above level 17. Clear Rival, Nugget Bridge, Route 23 and 24 trainers and both encounters for route. May heal at Cerulean again after talking to Bill.

Note: Originally, Rival fight was it's own Gauntlet. However, I believe this was too easy, and will be testing this as part of Gauntlet 5 with all starters.

Gauntlet 6: All Pokemon may be leveled up to 20 before entering Misty's gym. No Pokemon may be above level 20. May heal after defeating Misty.

Gauntlet 7: Rocket Thief, Route 5 encounter, Route 6 trainers and encounter, SS Anne all trainers. No Pokemon may be over level 22 for rival fight, and rare candies may not be used to level Pokemon up at this time. May not use healing zone on SS Anne at any time.

After completing SS Anne, player may use Vermillion City Pokecenter. Two optional gauntlets are available ONLY before the player uses the Vermillion City Pokecenter or defeats Lt. Surge.

Gauntlet 7a: Route 21 all trainers and encounter. Cannot leave gauntlet once choose to enter.

Gauntlet 7b. Diglett's Cave. May enter cave for encounter, but must go through the entirety of Ditty's Cave, come outside on far end and then go back through the Cave. Beware the Dugtrio!

Level Cap for both Gauntlets is 23.

Gauntlet 8: All Pokemon may be leveled up to 23 before entering Lt. Surge's gym. No Pokemon may be above level 23. May heal after defeating Lt. Surge. May obtain OLD ROD after defeating Lt. Surge.

Notes: The lack of levels between Misty and Surge makes this part difficult to plan, originally Route 21 was part of Gauntlet 7 and SS Anne was it's own, but the additional trainers on Route 21 really make it hard to stay within level cap while trying to remain in spirit of game. Adding Anne to the main gauntlet while making 21 optional feels like a better way to make SS Anne rival more challenging.

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Gauntlet Green - Part 1

Gauntlet Green is a pokemon nuzlocke set of rules I am working on. Base game obviously is Leaf Green. Main concept is to make routes (or chains of routes) into gauntlets that player must complete before pokecenters can be used, and there is no going back. As well as a few other things...

Rules (8/13/23) - As far as Vermillion city, as I want to make sure these are viable for all starters before continuing.

Pokemon faints, it dies.

2. Can only catch the first viable wild pokemon on each route.

If a species has already been caught before, it (or its evolution) cannot be caught again on a different route. If a species was viable but not captured on an earlier route, it may be caught on a different route.

3. No TMs or Move Tutors may be used, Pokemon may only use their natural level-up move set. HMs may be taught but may not be used in battle.

4. No items used in battle by the trainer. Pokemon can hold items.

Only one pokemon may hold Leftovers.

5. No items used outside of battle that heal Pokemon.

Antidotes may be used outside of battle, when Pokemon has 1HP left.

6. Rare Candies have been added to game, but can only be used 'outside' of gauntlets. Ie, once you enter a gauntlet, your levels are what they are.

7. No wild Pokemon may be battled for experience within a gauntlet. Nor may you use wild Pokemon for free HP (using leech seed, absorb, leech life, etc. and then running.) Basically, no wild Pokemon except for your attempted catch, play within the spirit of this rule.

8. Trades are fine, but pokemon you can buy/given are forbidden ($500 Magikarp, Eevee, Lapras, Game Corner, etc.)

Gauntlets:

Gauntlet '0': Grab Oak's package, get Pokedex, Route 1 encounter in order to unlock Viridian Pokecenter.

Gauntlet 1: Route 2 encounter, Viridian Forrest encounter, and all Viridian Forrest trainers.

OPTIONAL 1a: Route 22 encounter, but must fight optional Rival battle if choose this fight. May not use Viridian Center pokecenter, but may level all Pokemon prior to entering gauntlet up to level 9. No Pokemon higher than level 9 may enter Route 22 gauntlet.

Once player enters defeats Brock or uses Pewter City Pokecenter, all routes south are locked and Route 22 encounter is considered off limits if not already obtained.

Gauntlet 2: Brock's gym. All Pokemon may be level 10 upon entry into gym.

Gauntlet 3: Route 3 encounter, all Route 3 trainers. This unlocks Pokecenter at base of Mt. Moon (Route 4).