How to Make a Pokémon Game More Challenging

Last Updated: September 7, 2018

The main storyline in Pokémon games is designed to let little kids beat them with ease, making it somewhat boring for some of the more experienced Pokémon fans. This guide will help give you a challenge for your Pokémon games.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Do a Nuzlocke

1
Choose what game to play your Nuzlocke.
2
Start your game

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3
Choose what starter you want for the game, and be sure to nickname your starter.
4
You may only catch the first Pokémon you find on each route, and in each location. If you fail to catch that Pokémon, then you cannot get another one from that route. Be sure to nickname each Pokémon you get.
5
If there is ever a point in the game where you must go through grass, and you do not yet have Poké Balls, then you can ignore any Pokémon you find.
6
If you are stuck, because you need an HM move, such as Surf, and have no live Pokémon that learn that move, then you are allowed to catch another Pokémon from an area, so long as you never use that Pokémon in combat.
7
Any time one of your Pokémon faints, then you must deem it "dead," and either put in in a PC Box for "dead" Pokémon, or release it.
8
Legendary Pokémon may not be used on your team
9
Beat the game as you normally would.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Do a Monotype Run

1
To start, choose one of the types of Pokémon, available in the game you are playing.
2
Start your game.
3
At the earliest possible moment, you are allowed to trade your starter for a Lv. 5 Pokémon of your type.
4
You must use only Pokémon from your type; however, Pokémon with two types are allowed, if one of them is in your type.
5
You may also use Pokémon that aren't in your type, if they will evolve to have your type in the future, meaning you are allowed to use an Eevee on a Fire type run. You may not, however, evolve Pokémon, if they lose your type in the evolution, such as evolving Eevee to Flareon on a Normal type run.
6
Mega Evolutions that add your type to a Pokémon that would normally not have your type are not allowed, so you cannot use Mega Ampharos on a Dragon type run
7
Mega Evolutions that remove your type from a Pokémon are not allowed, for example having a Mega-Aggron on a Rock type run
8
Beat the game as you normally would, while enforcing these rules

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Do a Soul Link (2-3 Players)

1
Get a copy of the game you want to use for all players. This can all be the same game, such as all using Pokémon Y, or one using Pokémon Y and the other(s) using Pokémon X.
2
Follow the rules of the Nuzlocke run, with a few changes:
- Pokémon caught from the same area are considered "linked"
- If any one of the players fails to catch a Pokémon from an area, all Pokémon that would be linked must be released or put in the PC for the rest of the Game
- If you are playing with 2 players, then each Pokémon has 1 "life", and if you are playing with three people, then each Pokémon has 2 "lives"
- If a Pokémon faints, it loses 2 lives, and all linked Pokémon lose 1 life
- When a Pokémon has no more lives, then it is considered "dead"

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Do a Single Pokémon Run

1
Get your starter Pokémon. If you want, you can trade this at the earliest possible moment for a Lv. 5 pokémon of your choice.
2
You may battle with only that Pokémon.
3
You may catch Pokémon for HM moves that your Pokémon can't learn.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

HM Move Run

1
All of your Pokémon must know at least 2 HMs from the earliest possible moment, although you can increase the number if you like.
2
No using legendary Pokémon, or Pokémon that cannot learn your required amount of HMs.

Community Q&A

Question

What if all your Pokemon are knocked out?

Dere112

Community Answer

Go to the Pokemon Center and heal your Pokemon; remember to continue to train so your Pokemon get stronger and level up, then they can take more damage.

Warnings

Stop and take a break if you get too frustrated.

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Helpful 8 Not Helpful 0
Don't get too mad; these challenges are supposed to be difficult in a fun way, and not difficult in a way that makes you want to throw your 3DS against a wall.

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Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
On most of these challenges, you will have to level grind.

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Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1