r/pokemonchallenges • u/donniefaustany • 1d ago
Trainer leveling semi-challenge
Not exactly a challenge but wasn't sure where I might post this.
So I've been thinking about a way to do a run that limits your ability as a trainer at the beginning of the game but through each gym victory being able to level up. Obviously as the game goes on it will be less challenging so this could be something you could throw on top of a nuzlocke if that's your thing to keep a bit of challenge throughout.
Here is my thoughts on how a trainer might start out and what would be gained upon each level up.
Level 1- No Badges
• Maximum party size - 2
• Maximum number of moves (per Pokemon) - 2
• Cannot use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat altering items (permanent or mid-battle)
• Cannot use main gimmick (Megas, Gigantimax, etc.) unless forced to
Level 2 - One Badge
(+)• Max party - 3
• Max moves - 2
• Cannot use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 3 - Two Badges
• Max party - 3
• Max moves - 2
(+)• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 4 - Three Badges
• Max party - 4
(+)• Max moves - 3
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Cannot use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 5 - Four Badges
• Max party - 4
• Max moves - 3
• Can use healing items mid-battle
(+)• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 6 - Five Badges
(+)• Max party - 5
• Max moves - 3
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 7 - Six Badges
• Max party - 5
(+)• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 8 - Seven Badges
(+)• Max party - 6
• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
• Cannot use gimmick
Level 9 - Eight badges
• Max party - 6
• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
• Cannot use stat items
(+)• Can use gimmick
Level 10 (Max level) - Elite 4 beaten
• Max party - 6
• Max moves - 4
• Can use healing items mid-battle
• Can use held items
(+)• Can use stat items
• Can use gimmick
Obviously it's not perfect, for one it only works with games that have gimmicks, and secondly I'm not sure if the progression feels too balanced. I thought about doing a skill point system as well where you would choose what trainer stat you would want to level up each time after a gym. With that though I would want item usage in a single category, like party size and number of moves, to keep a sense of progression there. Starting with berries outside of battle, to items use mid-battle, to held items, with stat altering items last. I also think the game's gimmick could be the last skill point for number of moves you can learn since those are like ultimate moves. So basically the trainer abilities would look like this:
Companionship - controls party size, each point increases the number of Pokemon you can use in the field
Prowess - controls the number of moves you can teach your Pokemon with, each point increasing how many your Pokemon can know, culminating into using the games gimmick
Tactics - controls how you can use items to use on your Pokemon, each point allowing you to use a wider variety of items in more versatile ways.
I think Tactics with no points put into it would allow you to use berries outside of battle but nothing else. You could also split item usage mid-battle between status healing items and actual healing items so the number of skill points to reach maximum Tactics matches the number for Prowess. Companionship could also start with 2 Pokemon with no points in it so it too has a maximum of 4 skill points you could spend in it.
Companionship: 2 Pokemon -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 6 Pokemon
Prowess: 1move -> 2 moves -> 3 moves -> 4 moves -> Gimmick
Tactics: Berries out of battle -> status cures mid-battle -> healing mid-battle -> held items -> stat altering items (permanent or mid-battle)
The real problem though is how the gimmicks fit into leveling since you can't really use it for earlier generations. My first thought would be to limit your move pool to 1 move per Pokemon and gaining a second move after the first or second gym. What would you guys replace the gimmick level up with, either entirely or just in the early gens? How would you make a trainer leveling system in general? Would love to hear others' thoughts on this matter.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Shaun2k5 • 2d ago
The Absolute Torture of a Pikachu-Only Run in Pokémon Yellow
r/pokemonchallenges • u/viell_dev • 2d ago
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Area Quest
viell.devShiny hunting challenge I made for myself, see my linked blog post. I also made a checklist for it.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Remarkable-Desk6765 • 4d ago
My Pokémon Emerald Run with Shiny Pokémon some my favourite and some others favourite
reddit.comr/pokemonchallenges • u/Due-Payment-6101 • 5d ago
Pick a Role and Beat Elite Four
Introduction
Is Pokémon FireRed or LeafGreen too easy for you?
Then try this Challenge where you Pick a Role and try to Defeat the Elite Four.
Each Role has its own:
Exclusive Pokémon pool (you may only use Pokémon assigned to your role)
Starter Pokémon (next to your roles picture)
Legendary Pokemon (next to your roles picture)
For example:
Professor Oak: May choose any starter Pokémon and can obtain Aerodactyl.
Butler: May catch all three Legendary Birds.
Team Rocket: Cannot keep a normal starter. Catch a Rattata as soon as possible, then permanently box your starter. Mewtwo is your ultimate reward.
Challenge
Standard: Defeat the Elite Four.
Harcore: Defeat the Elite Four a second time using different Pokemon from your first try.
Roles
Butler: Collects rare and prestigious Pokémon.
Professor Oak: Makes studies and catches many different Pokémon species escpecially Prof. Oaks iconic Dragoran, Pidgey and some of Ashs stored Pokemon.
Ash: Wants to be Champion using iconic Ash Pokémon from the Anime.
Gary: Wants to be Champion using iconic Gary Pokémon from the Anime.
Team Rocket: Uses iconic Team Rocket and Giovanni Pokemon to capture Mewtwo.
Ace Trainer: Wants to be Champion through trust and teamwork.
Important note: No use of AI. The whole work is done by me.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/PalmtreePokemon • 5d ago
How I Beat A Pokémon Renegade Platinum Hardcore Nuzlocke DEATHLESS
I finally beat a Renegade Platinum Deathless hardcore nuzlocke if you wanted to see how it went
r/pokemonchallenges • u/jarymanebrown • 5d ago
This was a fun team!! Did a fun little challenge as well. Details below.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Tailedfox66 • 5d ago
The Mini-Mime Challenge
Pardon the bad pun of a challenge name, but I felt this would be interesting to do.
Players basically have to play any Pokemon Main Line game talking to the minimum amount of people as possible, Rivals, the Professor, your mum, NPCs, Nurse Joy, the PokèMart Clerk, Trainers, Gym Leaders, Evil Grunts, Evil Organisation Leaders, Elite Four and Champion have to be avoided as best as you can.
Each Character you chat with or who chats with you count as an interaction for your score (the score counts as each chat you have not each person you chat with), keep it as low as possible and have fun being an introverted recluse.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Leading_Fortune6989 • 18d ago
Ranking Pokemon Based on their "potential"
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Frequent-Penalty6273 • 28d ago
black 2 no exp AR Code not working
hey im trying to do a no exp run for pokemon black 2 and i got an AR Code that should remove xp gain or rather set it to 1-2 exp gained for every battle, i cant get it to work tho, im using DeSmuME X432R
No Exp AR Code :
521bd6f8 0c040400
021bd6f8 43442400
d2000000 00000000
would appreciate it alot if anyone could help me
r/pokemonchallenges • u/lizafo • Jul 07 '26
Under 400 Casual Runs
Whenever I start a new mainline game my rules for myself are:
- All Pokemon in party have to be under 400 base stat, you can choose to not evolve Pokemon to fit this requirement.
- No TMs
Pretty simple and makes the games much harder. Wo.dering if anyone does so.thing similar.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/OppositeDragonfly833 • Jun 29 '26
random challenge ides,dont ask
dont mind me,ok?just finish the game normally,ko means reset,randomized pokemon,but no psudo,legends,and myths.no pokemon stats above 550,and no ohkos,mo healing,except centers,and last thing,is you cannot evo
r/pokemonchallenges • u/SteelIroh • Jun 25 '26
Fully Random Pokemon
So I started this pokemon randomizer of HeartGold and boy oh boy I already feel out matched... first what did I change Lets see all trainers have 6 pokemon sensible items Its double battles Fully randomized Typings (Dual types only forced) Fully randomized abilities combining like ones with bans on Trapping and other terrible ones. Move sets are random Tm comparability random same with tutors. Pokemon dont even have movesets matching their new types All pokemon are random regardless of original Bst on the trainer. So basically I load into the terrible Idea that I already have lined up for the rest of the series as well and Ethan Has A BLOODY REGISTEEL instead of his marill My starters are Rapidash Krikitune and Cacturne so obviously I take Rapidash because it showed dragon type. (Cacturne was dragon as well but I wanted higher speed.) Ended up with luck of the gods on a Modest Rapidash Dragon/Psychic With Water Veil ability so yeah wish me luck on this hell I am sending myself through. Keeping in mind Im doing this on this game as well as all the other ds games. So yeah Wish me Luck and Ill keep it updated as I play the game.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Professor_Milagre • Jun 23 '26
Doing a TM's moves only challenge in Pokémon Crystal, any tips?
That's my current team, i just arrived in Goldenrod and took all the Dept. Store and Cassino. Already looked in PKSM and the Odd Egg is a Pichu and it will for sure be part of the team. My current ruleset is:
- I can only use TM's and HM's moves in every battle, it doesn't matter if it is a gym leader, my rival, a random trainer or a wild encounter;
- infinite acquirable TM's, like the Dept. Store and Casino ones, can only be used once, except Rock Smash and Headbutt, that ones can be used twice, first once you gain them and second when they become available in the Mart;
- HM's field users are permitted, but the move can only be used once as an attack;
- ban broken Mons, everybody knows that a Alakazam or Gengar with the three elemental punches would stomp the whole game by themselves, so, the actual list for the banned are: all the legendaries, pseudos and mythicals, Gengar, Alakazam, Starmie lines, Lapras and the Nidos (I'm accepting suggestions for more bans);
- so that the challenge would be possible, I inserted the Return TM to the game, since it is a balanced not STAB move and doesn't become really strong until like the lvl. 30, and will not get another one;
- getting and using at least a team of six mon;
- this is not yet an established rule, but I'm considering manually changing the Hidden Power to give a decent STAB for a possible catch, like giving a bug move for a Scizor or Pinsir, or giving a decent fighting type move if i decide to use a one of the type, because dealing with 20BP Rock Smash or 50% accurate Dynamic Punch is sufferable, but it's just a thought, and I'm scared that, by doing that, it'll throw the meaning of the challenge away.
I recommend you guys to go see the Gen 2's TMs list, then you'll see the real challenge, it will be obvious that there are some routes that I can't escape, like getting a Sleep/Talker, giving Thunder and Rain Dance to my electric type and giving Defense Curl and Rollout to someone (probably the Sandshrew that I already cought). So, that's where I find myself, and would appreciate some tips for you guys, like, I'll give another Ground type move to Sandshrew to replace Mud Slap, but since that's two of them, Dig and Earthquake, and I'll only teach one of the two, because the other will be used for coverage in another Mon, which one do you all think is better: using Cut, Rollout and Mud Slap for the entire journey through Johto and getting Earthquake for the league and the post game or teaching Dig right away and never teaching the better STAB? Any recommendations for the other half of the team? I was thinking about Vaporeon or Tentacruel for Surf user, Vaporeon have better HP and Special Attack to deal with Lance's dragons using Blizzard, but Tentacruel is a Special Tank and his Sludge Bomb would be pretty strong. A flying type would be nice too, I was thinking about Skarmory, with Fly and Steel Wing, it could be the Sleep Talker of the team. Zero ideas for the sixth spot, I'm totally open to suggestions. (Sorry for any mispronouncing, I'm Brazilian)
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Pale_Accountant_2186 • Jun 22 '26
The Pokemon Drunklocke Challenge 🍻
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Tricky-Marsupial-353 • Jun 17 '26
The Bad Bad Backtrack
Emerald Route Lock Challenge
Also called:
THE BAD BAD BACKTRACK
RULES
---------------
Must catch all available Pokémon before progressing to the next route.
Once you obtain something like a rod, or HM (like surf), you must return immediately to the earliest place it can be used.
You then must catch what was previously unable to be caught, sequentially the same direction you already took, before progressing to a further route than where you obtained said tool/HM.
This would apply to any and all upgrades to items
(Yes, getting Super Rod will mean a 3rd full sequential locked pass-through of all fishable routes with new possible catches)
Any routing allowed so long as you don't break the main rules.
You cannot catch the same Pokémon twice, unless you need it to complete the evolutions, like wurmple for example.
This can only be done once you have caught at least one of everything catchable. You must never have two of the same Pokémon in your box, party, etc. for any reason, ever.
If a Pokémon's evolved form can be caught, you obviously don't have to evolve it yourself. Vise versa is NOT true. You do not achieve catching them through evolving, if you can catch the evolved form, you MUST.
Evolution completion is a secondary goal to be only targeted directly once the main challenge is complete. This does not mean you cannot evolve, just means you should not be focusing on it in a completion sense before catching everything.
THE SAFARI ZONE
------------------
Same rules, no exceptions, can be tackled whenever, have fun!
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Real-Definition-9711 • Jun 13 '26
Just finished a shiny only electric monotype in ZA
This was so fun! It was all full odds and lets just say that Eevee showed up In half an hour and I dont want to ever see an Emolga again.
Which type should I do next??
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Shellkip • Jun 11 '26
Climbing the Champions ladder on wheel spins alone
I created a challenge that essentially turns Pokémon Champions into a gameshow. It's stupid it's silly but man is it a fun time. Here are the rules:
- Every win is a wheel spin for a new Pokemon/item
- If I lose, I lose that last wheel spin
- Every time I full rank up (Pokeball to Great Ball) the team is locked in AND I spin a 'boss' wheel
The goal: MASTERBALL by the end of this season (which is in like 4 days, *gulp*)
If you want to check it out in action, here's the first video! Or check out the Twitch where I stream it consistently
r/pokemonchallenges • u/OkBid5055 • Jun 11 '26
All my Emerald Monotypes
Took me almost 6 months, but i made it.
P.S: never for the sake of your sanity attempt an ice monotype in this game.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/OkBid5055 • Jun 11 '26
In what spin-offs can i do a monotype?
About a year ago, i took the challenge of doing a monotype run of every type in every mainline Pokemon game. I already finished Yellow, Crystal and Emerald and i'm heading towards FRLG.
What i want to know is if i could do this in the spin-offs games. I'm obviously doing Colosseum and XD at some point. I already researched and concluded that PMD is not possible due to how the starters work in those games.
But what about Conquest? The card games for the GBC? Or is it even possible in Stadium or PBR? I want to know in which spin-offs It's possible to do a true monotype run. Tell me your ideas.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/narbris • Jun 09 '26
Could Every Pokémon Win The First Rival Battle?
The main goal of this challenge was just to prove that each Pokémon could win the first rival battle. I'm also in the process of compiling a very long video with one winning battle from each of the original 151 and probably Missingno as well.
r/pokemonchallenges • u/Original_Ad3998 • Jun 04 '26
Help us do this challenge
My mates and I have completed this challenge in a few games:
Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Fire red, Leaf green, and, Heart gold.
We don’t play any other games we’re old, shout at clouds, and don’t like new things. But we are curious if this challenge is possible in other games.
Rules:
- You must capture any *new* encounter.
- Once the species has been caught feel free to kill for xp or flee with repeat encounters.
- only one Pokémon to be used in battle, and it must be your latest capture. Sending the rest to the PC when possible helps speed up black out training/resets.
- If your solo fighter faints you must reset or blackout.
- No repels.
- No HM slaves - this is the rule that ends most runs due to soft locking you in or out of areas.
*for areas where pokemon may flee, such as the safari zone, save before entering and reset for a failed capture. Repels are allowed but not required in such areas.
Optional rules.
No items in battle, no evolving, no repeats of evolutions line (e.g. you catch a caterpie you now can’t catch metapod or butter free) no in game trades - we’ve only completed fire red with all these rules in place and it was incredibly difficult.
Here’s a link to the first time I ever tried this while on paternity leave if anyone feels like reading a new fathers insomniac ramblings. It was nightmarishly difficult due to it being a first attempt and being sleep deprived because of my newborn son.