EVERY Essential Tip for a Pokémon Emerald Hardcore Nuzlocke

[@grumpygengar22]

Episode 2 of the Emerald Hardcore Nuzlocke Walkthrough will come out on Sunday!

[@mgrey555]

I like your videos very much especially the physical/Special split explanation. Some poketubers don't explain that very well so thank you for explaining that. 👍

[@danielcornwall1585]

How can we forget the Milotic trainer on like, Route 123, I believe? When you mention random trainers who can wipe you outta nowhere, that's what I think of most.

[@grumpygengar22]

I totally forgot, that's a good one! I think that area may be in the rain as well which is terrifying.

[@Firescizor]

That's a Ruby/Sapphire exclusive trainer. In Emerald it's replaced by a "double" battle against a Castform (that instantly becomes Rain Form) and the Manectric that Grumpy refered to in the video. I think either both of them or just Manectric have Thunder, and that's what makes it scary, in the rain. Technically, the Castform and the Manectric belong to 2 different trainers, so one should either take them on individually or simply avoid them completely.

[@danielcornwall1585]

@@Firescizor Huh, weird that they took that encounter OUT then, since Emerald mostly upped the difficulty

[@gelatinousglob8521]

@@Firescizor i make a personal rule in my Emerald Nuzlockes that ALL possible double battles are MANDATORY

[@Firescizor]

@@gelatinousglob8521 good rule of thumb to increase difficulty

[@Firescizor]

As a nuzlocke player that is also a completionist in games, as in, I like to take every trainer on and leave every rock turned and every spot checked, when it comes to Hardcore Nuzlockes, this is the best advice I can give: DONT. FIGHT. NON-MANDATORY. POKÉMON. BATTLES. As awkward and counter intuitive as it may seem, a Nuzlocke is a style of playing Pokémon that rewards you the LESS you play the game. What I mean is that the less scary and random fights (many without preparation) that you put yourself through, the more likely you are to win in a Hardcore Nuzlocke. Simply focus on the boss fights and avoid random fights as much as possible. If a fight is skippable, just skip it. A fight that is non-mandatory contributes zero towards you winning the game, and just adds randomness that can potentially cost you down the line. Want to grind? Fight low level Pokémon that you can 1-shot for a while to guarantee success. Does it suck? Yes, but minimizing randomness is the key to win Nuzlockes.

[@Azonavox]

So, I’m attempting the Gauntlet and going into RSG for my first time ever. Do you know if there’s a resource list for something like that? Sorry, you just seemed very knowledgeable!

[@Firescizor]

Another great advice that should be included is that every "Double" Battle that can be taken on as a Single Battle, should ALWAYS be fought as a Single Battle. Remember those trainers that are not side by side, but actually are looking at each other and when you get between their gaze they Double Battle you? If you can by any chance approach them individually (by talking directly to them), just do it. Double Battles are incredibly dangerous in Nuzlockes because two-on-two Pokémon fights can result in one of your Pokémon being targeted by BOTH of the opponent's Pokémon, which is a receipt for disaster.

[@grumpygengar22]

Thank you for the great additions!

[@EllisHCN]

Grumpy!! I’ve watched about 5 of your videos so far and you have done an amazing job with your channel. It’s informative, fun, and you have a great sense of humor! Thank you for all the time you put in and I am excited to catch up to your current uploads! ^__^ Champion Wallace’s Milotic ended my first hardcore emerald attempt, I feel you haha

[@Firescizor]

I'd like to add on to the list the last two trainers of Victory Road as well. If you take them on in a Double Battle, they will hit you with a Skill Swap strategy with their Slakings to remove the Truant ability, and become very threatening. That can catch you off-guard, so be very wary of this fight (it is actually a skippable fight BTW!).

[@grumpygengar22]

Yes, that is extremely terrifying!

[@grumpygengar22]

Yes, that is extremely terrifying!

[@brandon1990brandon]

Yeah, if you run unaware into them (like I did lol) it can often cost you at least 1 member of your team if not more, and that can start the snowball into a wipe at E4

[@ThibsyCube]

This is again a great video! I haven’t succeeded a RSE hardcore Nuzlocke yet. I’ve only succeeded one in Soulsilver.

[@atpyro7920]

I’m about to challenge the Elite Four in my first hardcore nuzlocke (FireRed) and I can agree that a lot of these tips are very helpful. Mainly because I learned them the hard way. Some random trainers killed half of my team that I was grinding for options for future fights because I didn’t think about what they had, and I lost my first run to misty because I had lost both my backups to my starter (ivysaur, i didn’t delay the evo for razor leaf. I certainly did that the next go around). Most of the time I got through because I had a team that could adequately or easily deal with the challenge or I got mega lucky (the quick claw saved my snorlax on a traier in Koga’s gym that was harder than I anticipated).

[@MekhetM]

Two years later, i can safely say that i lost runs to almost every random trainer you mentioned

[@paulnicholas7798]

I subbed. I'm trying my first hardcore (forst period) nuzlocke. I tried a few times but just ...life... But I'm back. And you seem to love Emerald like me. Next i want a copy of Fire Red. Gen 3 baby

[@dynastygirl2912]

I just beat a Pokemon White hardcore nuzlocke, my advice is: Pick Tepig and don't box your monkey they are surprisingly solid in a hardcore nuzlocke, my Broccoli was in my end game team before getting crit in Victory Road

[@grumpygengar22]

Totally agree with not benching the monkey. Tepig does so well in those games and Simisage* just compliments him so well.

[@dynastygirl2912]

@@grumpygengar22 I got the free Leaf Stone in Castelia and waited till he learned Seed Bomb and that was my Grass Stab through the game with Giga Drain for recovery

[@itgetsdajobdone]

The second ninja with the Koffing in the ash route definitely packs self destruct. Blew up on my guts Swellow turn one...

[@grumpygengar22]

Yep, it sucks

[@5nanometers]

Omg I know exactly which trainer the thumbnail is. Thunder completely sweeped my team. I came back 10 levels later and just barely won. Thankfully my shiny Shedinja’s Wonder Guard came in handy

[@BBL-Diddyy]

I know this video is old but I want to throw this out there. Wattson is truly a run killer without Mudkip or some of the better encounters, but linoone can actually learn mud sport at lvl 23. This can make him a decent mon with a paralysis berry, rock smash, headbutt, and tail whip

[@michaelbrown7455]

Unmentioned Non-Boss fights: Magnet Pull Magneton from Cooltrainer on Route 123, Castform + Weather Ball on double battle alongside the aforementioned Thunder Manectric on Route 120, all the Self-Destruct Baltoys on Route 111 in the desert, random double battle Slaking trainer on Route 121, Counter Slakoth in Norman's gym, anything with a Hariyama because they are always overlooked.

[@grumpygengar22]

Those are good ones!

[@BasedMace]

I thought you couldn't go to slateport until you delivered the letter to Steven

[@robertlupa8273]

I haven't gotten too far in my first ever Nuzlocke (Ruby) due to personal reasons, but I've already encountered a potential run killer: Youngster Billy, who has a Seedot (basically free) and Tailow (super scary if it uses Focus Energy and crits you every time). I lost my Treecko and Poocheana to him. q_q At least he's easily skippable, as he's on the beach on Route 104. Plus, he's much less threatening in Emerald due to swapping his demonic Tailow for a Zigzagoon.

[@chefgrizz6284]

Don’t grind, use rare candies :) love the content though

[@HemlockHedge]

I'd like to mention that moves like Aerial Ace that never miss are better than you'd think! I'd rather be doing 60BP guaranteed to an evasive Ludicolo than 90BP every 4 turns

[@grumpygengar22]

Good tip!

[@robertlupa8273]

1:33 He looks like an older version of one of my classmates! o_o

[@grumpygengar22]

I picked a good picture haha

[@maironsantoro4143]

How didn't I find you earlier? I'm doing hardcore nuzlockes through all regions and I chose Emerald for Hoenn, where I'm now (right to face Juan, in my 2nd attempt specifically). I'm enjoying your videos very much 😉

[@grumpygengar22]

Good luck with all of your runs!

[@OtherMusicRobot]

Tate and Liza. Mandatory double battle. Four high level Pokémon. Run killer.

[@Passion1111]

I’m joining the discord bro I love your videos

[@nunyabiznes33]

Is out of battle Soft-boiled/Milk Drink a thing in Emerald?

[@grumpygengar22]

I'm not sure honestly. Mostly because I'm not sure you can obtain a Pokemon with either ability very easily in these games.

[@gelatinousglob8521]

8:25 8:30 don’t forget about the Safari Zone!

[@Zhicy72]

Sinnoh's game corner is the best

[@headecas]

so git gut noted

[@tysmith211]

For the algorithm 🎉

[@Coolguy12yo]

I tried an emerald nuzlocke with treecko and I couldn’t make it passed Watson. All the magnemites on cycling road were hard but that STUPID magneton Watson had. I hate that guy so much!

[@5nanometers]

6:10 Wait she’s in the same room as me😳

[@keithdesousa5550]

*cough* use shroomish instead *cough*

[@KamalentarpriseRanacorporation]

Just use rayquaza with outrage spam

[@tommysoulz]

Take the candy pill

[@grumpygengar22]

I don't do drugs

[@tommysoulz]

@@grumpygengar22 the dark side is pretty cool bro

[@toonishigh]

Half of these tips can be eliminated by just using rare candy's

[@grumpygengar22]

If you are emulating, absolutely. But if you're playing on a handheld, it becomes much more applicable.

[@toonishigh]

@@grumpygengar22 yea thats true, but most people are playing pokemon emerald on emulators, especially nuzlockes, because emulators just generally improve the experience of playing (speed-ups, easy access to cheats and capturing footage becomes much easier)

[@jaimereupert4247]

1:46-1:56 😂