Can You Beat Pokémon Crystal Without Using Items or Pokémon Centers?

With every Pokémon Center off limits and only Key Items and HMs available to us, can we make our way through Johto without ever losing our way?

[@linkthepringlesman3951]

Fun fact, Lance only has 3 Dragon types, but every Pokémon on his team is Flying type. He’s actually a bird keeper, not a dragon tamer.

[@cupofspiders5830]

Agatha is also a Poison-type Trainer

[@wombat4191]

He got some weird birds. Gyarados :D

[@an_ordinary_goose]

Karen is also supposed to be a dark type trainer, but her party in crystal only has 2 or 3 dark types from what I remember but has a vileplume for some reason.

[@rollingapples6579]

A_Goose lmfao Vileplume is such an odd pick

[@oworth]

@@rollingapples6579 maybe it's the fact that there was only 5/6 dark types when the type was introduced and they didn't want to spoil tyranitar

[@RoninCatholic]

>Actually returns Kenya at the end of the challenge Heck yes, about time someone did this!

[@larrychilders6599]

Also me: * returns a random Weedle I caught

[@cylasbreakdown6140]

I find it hilarious that you delivered Kenya!

[@EnterTheUnown]

I'm a man of my word. I would've returned Shuckie too but the guy in Cianwood just told me to keep him so... 🤷‍♂️

[@lipeater4443]

“hm. its been months since i’ve seen kenya... is she evolved now?”

[@njackson6807]

That Guy: Oooh, someone beat the champion! Wait... what's Kenya doing in the Hall of Fame?

[@DanielDoffen]

I See no problem here.😎🤷‍♂️

[@wizz_air5283]

I always delivered kenya but he lets u keep it and i just box it

[@bvd_vlvd]

Even though people are not wrong about the loopholes I think you've done an amazing job and that you should feel proud about this achievement because not any one of them would dare to complete this. Hell, I don't believe they would be brave enough to consider trying it! Keep up the good work champ!

[@TapDat52K]

Incredible story. I watched, I enjoyed, and appreciated the returning of a battle hardened Kenya.

[@LiveHisLove]

I love this, so freaking awesome. FYI, I don’t consider the heal lady a bad distinction, and it doesn’t bother me at all.

[@jj3665]

That's because you're a normal human being who doesn't hate themselves, unlike some of the commenters here.

[@heizousbabygirl4972]

@@jj3665 "anyone who disagrees with my opinion hates themself"

[@KaynHex]

Honestly dude I rarely watch pokemon videos but yours are massively entertaining. No matter what anyone says don't worry dude you do a fantastic job and hardly anyone would achieve these feats. Don't give into the trolls this is the Internet and your never gonna please everyone. Thanks for the videos dude. Keep up the great work!

[@TheCelloPanda]

Quirks that he uses to still stay within his rules but take advantage: - Trains until out of PP and almost dead before every required heal - Since you technically have to use HMs, these are an exception to his no item rules and he uses them liberally - Once reaching Blackthorn City (city of 8th gym badge), he combines the move deleter with re-using HMs for infinite HM move PP - He uses the healing house south of victory road to heal (he still has to get all 8 Johto gym badges before he unlocks this infinite healing). Interestingly, he doesn't use any other non-item or non-pokémon center free healing either, such as the machine at the lab in New Bark town. In my opinion the challenge ends here, but otherwise his execution is flawless and this video is incredible, potentially the most interesting challenge I've heard of anyone doing yet. Also, I don't know if it's possible without the healing house, but it would be interesting to see. Perhaps exploiting the HMs for PP to grind to insane levels it would be doable, but not as fun.

[@messengerforchrist9524]

I can imagine the fearow pecking and clawing at the man Wayne takes me out of the Pokeball there's no way he has enough badges to handle it

[@ragading5377]

Dude I save your videos for when I'm at work and have a slow day to not only watch but listen to the voice and music. So relaxing

[@Crysi9988]

Wow I hope that dude wasn't expecting mail anytime soon :p

[@SilentDragonite149]

Don't worry. In the end, he still got it, along with a Fearow that made it into the Hall of Fame. I'd say that he made out pretty well for having to wait that long.

[@Crysi9988]

You do have a point

[@TAK1997]

5:53: They're gatehouses. I think in lore, they exist so they can be locked up if something's happening on the other side. Think like a rest stop that can double as a roadblock.

[@JerryAsano]

There’s something relaxing and soothing about this video. Maybe it’s the background music, maybe it’s the narration. Either way A+ video!

[@MagsPM]

I love that you returned Kenya at the end.

[@leotrollstoy2351]

I really enjoy how calm and wholesome the nature of your videos are, your voice is soothing, the music is calming, the topic is fun. These videos are just perfect after a long slog of a day.

[@DocDoesGamingYT]

The Kenya arc was worth it

[@ghost3337]

I get the reasoning for healing up at the house in route 26. While it is a loophole I am still very impressed by the run. Using only gift pokemon and all

[@broadwayVGC]

Wow, this is one of the most hardcore challenges I've seen! Also, I loved the nicknames you picked for your pokemon.

[@d04lvallier]

Me: heals every 6 mins Unkwon: 2 heals 6 medals fools

[@speechclassturnin4322]

Great video. You're my favorite of the pokemon challenge runners by far. Very chill.

[@windelritter]

So glad I found your channel, you're great

[@EnterTheUnown]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it too!

[@jj3665]

Got to this video late, but the people leaving ridiculous comments about healing on Route 26 would never be able to accomplish something like this. This is a phenomenally impressive challenge of which you should be exceedingly proud; I've never seen anything like it. In no uncertain terms: bravo.

[@joseph2832]

you have a great style! Glad you delivered kenya at the end

[@Nina-bz9hy]

I was wondering why you used the house on route 26 to heal your team but didn't use the option to heal at the lab? Where's the difference, both seem to be "free heals"?

[@lowkey1202]

I'm thinking maybe because it doesn't show you're pokey balls ??

[@EnterTheUnown]

I was counting Elm's Lab as a Pokémon Center because it essentially is one. It has the same machine from a Pokémon Center and if you faint before visiting another Center, you wake up there. The house on Route 26 is just a random person that heals you. That was my thinking anyway.

[@OasisCherryjuice182]

It was a real cheap shot to heal there

[@joshblevinswebengineer]

@@OasisCherryjuice182 He also healed before bugsy. If you remember he was poinsoned, half hp, and no pp. Unless kurt heals you, which might be what happened. Idr, I haven't played GSC in years.

[@thatsprettyfarfetchd9888]

@@joshblevinswebengineer He does

[@liansimilian401]

Great work buddy you did so much for my childhood with this video :D

[@weirdboo]

Fantastic video as always man. Relaxing Pokemon content for once.

[@EnterTheUnown]

Thank you!

[@blakeunderwood8364]

Kudos to you for putting up with that grind.

[@Oshawatt]

Pssh too easy try beating it with no pokemon then we’ll talk

[@an_ordinary_goose]

Beat the game without using the directional buttons

[@EsoiTheGrumpyMawile]

Ironically that's even easier, you auto win battles XD

[@PeruvianPotato]

Just use a walk through walls cheat and make your way to the Hall of Fame

[@sorassmallunicornworld3418]

@@EsoiTheGrumpyMawile actually you lose automatically

[@EsoiTheGrumpyMawile]

@@sorassmallunicornworld3418 in gen 2 you win automatically, in all others you lose automatically.

[@gillablecam]

It's a small thing, but I really enjoyed your background music. The calming guitar made me very happy

[@thesunskimmer5348]

this is basically just an extreme nuzlocke

[@WildBassfly]

That was awesome!! Congrats!

[@dervakommtvonhinten517]

finally an interesting challenge (meaning not a simple grind challenge. your last one was interesting too :) )

[@Hawktalon07]

Great job! I always love your nicknames and your calming voiceover!

[@Xpwnxage]

"No loopholes" Uses the heal lady. Impressive challenge to get to that point but that's the definition of a loophole.

[@Rinabow]

Yea, I agree. The moment he mentioned using the heal lady near the elite 4, it kinda ruined the concept of the challenge. I mean, I'd be cool if he used it once and never again, but the fact that he mentioned using it repeatedly was such a disappointment.

[@EnterTheUnown]

Damn! I really didn't see it like that. I guess it serves as a quasi-Pokémon Center but I didn't think people would have a problem with it. The reason I mentioned the "loophole" at the start is Elm's Lab is essentially a Pokémon Center. It has the same machine. If I'd been allowed to use that then this wouldn't have been a challenge. If you're interested, I still would've been able to do it without using her, it just would've involved a ridiculous amount of grinding using the Move Deleter. Then I could've gone solo with Feraligatr for the second half of the game.

[@Xpwnxage]

@@EnterTheUnown Hey man it's your rule set and like I said it's pretty impressive just to get to that point in the game. MDB did no a pokemon center emerald run. However he used items outside battle and even used in battle for harder fights. Yours was much more hardcore. However he didn't use beds (like that rest lady). It's just weird you went through all that just to kind of bend the rules at the end. But yeah you probably could have done it without it. I'm not hating or anything, I like your pokemon challenges, I've seen them all and hope you continue to make them.

[@r3dbandit984]

To be fair he did say no pokemon centers and pc for healing.he didnt say other methods of healing he couldnt use other then items

[@piercemchugh4509]

its a no item play not a no heal play

[@roymerkel8008]

So just started this video. But my initial suspicion is that if this is possible at all, I suspect that MUCH save scumming will be required, and possibly abuse of struggle. EDIT: nicely played!

[@v3beans]

Well shit. You've got yourself a new fan! Loving the content so far!

[@rainynight02]

You make it seem so easy, but I lost in my first attempt at a nuzlock!

[@druid_zephyrus]

I'd like this to become a speedrun category.

[@audreyxmaee]

this video was sooo relaxing. the music and your voice were just so peaceful and i love it! keep up the great content!!

[@EnterTheUnown]

Thank you! 🙌

[@LunatheMoonDragon]

Nice! I really liked that you ended up with a full team somehow and they all contributed!

[@EnterTheUnown]

I went out of my way to use Daya in the Elite Four against Karen's Houndoom because I wanted everyone to take part but it worked out perfectly for Red. The team matched his perfectly.

[@PokemonExplained]

great video, I'm surprised you were able to complete the challenge.

[@RobertoBlake]

This was brilliant and the perfect video concept for watch time and retention.

[@rSynx]

I dont know why this popped up in my recommendations now but this is insane much respect.

[@askmeaboutsugma]

I'm one of those people who grind their starter until they evolve before the first rival battle.

[@ethanmull6476]

These videos bring summer to my winter

[@TheCassiusTain]

11:50 I have seen a shuckle deal with an Arceus, so that little move there is nothing too weird if you ask me

[@DST1909]

Great vid as always FJ

[@EnterTheUnown]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@joeyaderman5284]

dude you just earned a subscriber!

[@indianacowboy2205]

Yo this channel is great

[@OnlyALittleEmo]

mad impressive my guy

[@trevorserra2207]

Awesome video!

[@justinfalu4328]

Love the video. Great concept great challenge great narration. I do agree with the others, it's breaking your own rules to use the heal house on Route 26. Also, move deleter is cheating as well. I mean if it's necessary then sure but in this case you were using it to restore PP which is bending the rules by a long shot. It's definitely two loopholes. Otherwise great job! Subscribed!

[@PuppetsByPalmieri]

Would love to see this in other generations. 1 and 3 specifically.

[@KanessKalaichelvan]

This was actually quite impressive

[@Baboe8]

I love your voice and dry humor

[@derAlphabet]

That was amazing, again

[@jazjo33_43]

1:55 *Professor Oak Challengers with specific rules have entered the chat*

[@JoeKlenk]

And I had trouble beating the elite four with unlimited heal resources. great job!

[@brihill23]

I love that you actually returned Kenya

[@kabalofthebloodyspoon]

The end is a fun twist

[@federicodebiasi3027]

This was insane 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@WildBassfly]

I would have preferred it if you could have only used the “free heals” one time (ie. elm’s lad and route 26 lady)

[@watsonwrote]

For years I was wondering if this is possible

[@themanatap]

This is the 1st video I've watched in 2021

[@asboll]

Big props for using marowak

[@NoArtisticLimitation]

Tbh, I’m surprised you didn’t consider that healing woman to be a loophole, since she basically has the same function as a poke centre... Which makes me wonder... is it possible to beat the game without using her? Or for that matter without using the move deleter to get your moves back as well... I’m not complaining because I know it wouldn’t be possible for me, so I can’t put my gaming where my mouth is, but I am curious since if anyone could beat it, you could.

[@EnterTheUnown]

When I was planning this challenge out, reaching her was always key. In my mind, I was just completing the game without healing at Pokémon Centers and I was counting Elm's Lab because it's basically the New Bark Town PC (machine and all). The game would've been beatable without her using the Move Deleter strategy. I could've just leveled Magnolia up to 100 once I reached Blackthorn (would've taken a few weeks of really long grinding sessions) and breezed through the rest of the game but I think that would've upset people too. Without her or the Move Deleter, there's no way I would've gotten past the Elite Four. We probably would've lost out to Silver in Victory Road, if we even made it that far. It's kind of a bummer that this ruined the video for a lot of people because I probably could've tried it just using the Move Deleter (although, at the same time, the video probably would've taken like a month longer to make).

[@dylensmit]

Enter The Unown I honestly don’t really care what you do. I love your work! 😘

[@jimboonehallo900]

Nice one

[@aminn003]

WAIT A MINUTE... You can STOP the sensor things in the rocket hideout?!? After 20 years or so of playing pokemon on and off I never discovered that 😐 wtf

[@dannyjoseph6256]

Y IS THIS GUY SO LUCKY WITH FINDING ROAMING LEGENDS!

[@darkkingriku]

I love your nicknames

[@SilentDragonite149]

Nice work as usual! As a bonus, you didn't use the Day Care center at all either. I don't know if that counts as breaking the original rules of this challenge, even though it isn't using a Pokemon Center or an item, but you could've easily done so at any point to make your life easier.

[@EnterTheUnown]

Damn! When I was doing the intro I decided that I'd just mention it when I got there but I guess I forgot. So much happened right as we got to Goldenrod. But yeah, I was counting that as a breaking of the rules. And thank you so much!

[@SilentDragonite149]

@@EnterTheUnown It's really no problem. This was especially fun to watch through. I think Smoochum could've gotten some airtime, though, if you were able to get it to a higher level (Level 13, when it learns Powder Snow.) when initially grinding, since Jynx can tear up a lot of the Pokemon League. (Although if you were to do so, I'd recommend waiting 7 levels to evolve, as Smoochum learns Psychic at Level 37. Though there is something to keep in mind. If the move tutor in Crystal's Game Corner is not allowed, then Jynx would be stuck with Powder Snow or Blizzard as its only Ice-STAB options, as the only way it can learn Ice Punch otherwise is through TM33, which you covered would be against the rules of the challenge. Smoochum evolves at level 30, past when Jynx can learn Ice Punch through Level Up at Level 25 if memory serves.)

[@EnterTheUnown]

@@SilentDragonite149 When I originally planned this out, I thought I would probably use the egg Pokémon if it was Elekid or Smoochum but it was just impossible to grind up. I trained up using the Hoppip but after using all of her PP, she was still only Level 8. Switch training at that point when I was running low on PP seemed like a bad idea too. Especially seeing as doing it against anyone but Hoppip probably would've cost someone their HP. When it first hatched, I was planning to use Jynx and Umbreon instead of Dragonite/Espeon. It was just too awkward in the end. Smoochum can't learn any HMs either so I couldn't use the Move Deleter to help grind.

[@SilentDragonite149]

@@EnterTheUnown The Move Tutor at the Game Corner could teach Smoochum Ice Beam. Granted that it would be for 4000 coins, and it was probably the smarter option in the end to just get the two Abra and Cubone, it'd still be something that would give Smoochum 10 Extra moves, as well as a Special Move to work with. While incredibly inefficient, if you could amass the necessary resources, that would easily be doable. As for Umbreon, I don't know if you'd be able to get as much mileage out of it as you did with Espeon. Espeon's Special Attack and Speed are its strongest features, which, while Espeon's Special Attack couldn't be used at first, (unless you put off evolving Eevee until level 30, after it learns Bite.) are easily enough to make it the more viable Eevee evolution that you are allowed in the long run.

[@EnterTheUnown]

@@SilentDragonite149 Yeah, I was going to use the Move Tutor to teach Jynx Ice Beam if I used it but since it doesn't unlock until post-game, I didn't feel like there was much point in going back to grind up Smoochum. Also, yeah, I think Espeon was definitely the better choice. I just love Umbreon's design! I'm a sucker for black and yellow Pokémon!

[@alexanderstilianov]

The fact that you returned Kenya to the fat guy. 💛

[@loulou3676]

Your voice is very relaxing! I feel like the healing lady at the end should count as a Pokemon center since she basically does the same thing, but idk what would happen if you didn't have her.

[@EnterTheUnown]

Hmm... if I could use her once then there's a decent chance I could've still done it. It probably would've taken like twenty hours more though. It would've just meant that I would've had to do all of my grinding using the move deleter strategy which took ages. If I couldn't use her at all then I never would've been able to do it. I would've only had two heal ups between defeating Silver's Chikorita in Cherrygrove and beating Lance.

[@EnterTheUnown]

On second thoughts, I could've done it without her but it would've just been me going through the Elite Four and Kanto with a Level 100 Feraligatr on like 50HP and it probably would've taken me a couple more months to put together! The Move Deleter strategy was seriously slow! 😂

[@LoNECrUZAzULFAn16]

Up and coming poke-tuber I rate this challenge no bs

[@cadencenavigator958]

I do think the heal lady was a loophole, but honestly, you need an exception for HMs because you can't get Pokemon that learn them by levelup so why not. It's not a Pokemon Center.

[@danieldishon688]

I'm amazed and impressed you made it to victory road sans heals and poke center trips and pokeballs, with only the sparingly few story heals to go off of. But.....if you weren't going to allow yourself Elms Lab for free heals, why allow yourself the house on victory road? Is it not basically the same thing as elms lab and a pokemon center? Is Elms lab only denied in the challenge because its accessible right away and thus would be too helpful in the challenge?

[@teamredshirt]

I always liked the g/s/c games, but I remember being disappointed at the really shallow level curve for gym leaders. Beating the Elite Four only to run into gym leaders in Kanto who often have lower level Pokemon than the EF was... unfortunate.

[@anthonymallett4310]

that was well played

[@EndiXIV]

Now try this challenge in SWSH. You’d get free heals every 2 seconds so you wouldn’t even have to try

[@divinesin6093]

There are these four battles where it heals you and you could do it without.

[@pixelearth1937]

Can you beat ORAS with an unown team?

[@fishchips1159]

Im attempting the challenge in leaf green would you consider the healing patch in the pokemon tower fair game?

[@fedupwithusernames]

IIRC you can take the letter from Kenya and give it to another Pokémon to give to that guy and just keep Kenya forever. I seem to remember doing that for the lottery numbers lol.

[@oiram9466]

I cant remember exactly but couldn't you get a free tyrogue from the karate guy in the cave east of ecretik been a long time since I played crystal

[@EnterTheUnown]

Yeah, you can get a Level 10 Tyrogue in Mount Mortar but you can't get it until you've beaten Clair so by that point, it would've taken a long time to level it up. I considered getting it but I was happy with the team as it was.

[@oiram9466]

@@EnterTheUnown I understand as I said I haven't played this generation since heartgold. But alot of people dont know or overlook it. I remember it since I discovered it first in my group of friends back playing gold and crystal before the internet popularized it.

[@ghost3337]

Good on you getting a espeon and not accidentally getting umbreon

[@asjadimran2916]

Delivering the bird was kl

[@wolas321]

Ive never watched any of the other "can you beat" challenges because i considered them uninteresting due to their ease of completion, pokemon just isnt very challenging when you know what youre doing. This was the only one that piqued my interest. At first blush no potions, no held items and no pokecenters seems hard enough but no pokeballs and no way to replenish PP on top of that? Now thats a challenge run.

[@oscar.msquid6768]

good vidios

[@mw_george1237]

This is like a nuzlockle

[@alexisthetransgenderduelis4211]

How I miss this video lol

[@McKronglen]

This was a real cool challenge- didn’t know that was possible. It would have been interesting to see if you could have beat the elite 4 without using an optional healing. Probably would have required more luck and grinding before 8th gym, but probably could have been done with the move deleter

[@SweetMaryGaming]

this was the trick that smallant used in his no Pokecentre emerald run, honestly i thought thats what ETU would do until the free heals came in. However he hasnt used healing items, im not sure this challenge it possible with 0 healing at all

[@tishabsmith]

3:37 CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS... HOW DID YOU THINK OF THAT TORTURE METHOD 🤣🤣🤣

[@michaelqoern7693]

Nice

[@chrisarmstrong8211]

You should try a no exp challenge. Besides 360chism you dont see to many. Plus it would be fun to watch lol. Ps. Loved the video

[@cpzd83]

my dude just made a hardcore ironman account on pokemon crystal

[@mikelxanadu]

Can it be argued that every time you white out it’s using a Pokémon center?

[@BaconMaster234]

Wait where did you get a cubone

[@BigPappoJim]

Love the name Magnolia

[@phyx4514]

Here's a tip for everyone, get feraligatr to lvl 55+, teach him ice punch and you can literally beat the while pokemon league with that

[@railroadverdigo1665]

Bike counts as an item this run was a failure

[@CaptainCardsworth]

I've been watching a lot of your videos these last couple days. You do some great work, and the ambient music and your soothing narration make them great background material. But I disagree, like many here have already said, with the free heals from the "heal lady." No Pokemon Centers is a nice challenge idea, and I believe MDB did one like that, but he deliberately avoided all the beds because they are for all intents and purposes the same as Pokemon Centers when heals are concerned. Otherwise great job.

[@jj3665]

Nice that you conveniently left out the fact that MDB used an insane amount of items.