This Discovery Just BROKE Apart Pokemon Black Speedruns

▶ Live Streams: / pulseeffects
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▶ TikTok: / pulseeffect
▶ Speedrun Channel: / @pulseeffectsspeedruns
▶ Clips Channel: / @pulseeffectsclips3925
Thanks to the following people for their speedrun contributions! Be sure to check their channels out:
Video Footage
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/ daliaastrue
/ etchy
/ linewashere
/ decsy
/ scoagogo
/ @scoagogo
Special Thanks!
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​Twisty - For inventing the Plasma Skip method we know today
Lincoln - For developing tools to perform Plasma Skip
Thumbnail Art
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/ fortremy
PulseEffects is a Pokemon Speedrunning focused KZbin channel with an emphasis on teaching you how truly fun it is to Speedrun Pokemon games. You'll find Speedrunning Tutorials and Pokemon Speedruns ranging from Pokemon Crystal, all the way up to latest releases Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Whether you have an interest in learning Pokemon Speedrunning, or you just enjoy Speedrunning content, this is the place to be! Hit Subscribe and ring that bell icon to see how it EFFECTS your Pokemon experience!
📧Business Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@PulseEffects]

Praise the power of Dust Clouds 🙏

[@hailthequeenFM]

Can we get a TAS for BW.

[@estheraleman6043]

Gemz

[@IloveHildasfeet]

Thumbnail source?

[@Igna_mark_does_not_animate]

Praise the heavens

[@azeria1]

My least favourite thing in pokemon is how they have all of these designs but the evil team uses like 4 different pokemon

[@alejandropetit6573]

EXACTLY!! Especially teams rocket and plasma who take pokemon from everyone and everywhere

[@ParasocialCatgirl]

​@@alejandropetit6573some Pokémon are easier to steal than some others 🙏

[@nicholasneyhart396]

​@@ParasocialCatgirlExactly, they sure as hell ain't stealing pokemon like Beartic, Crustle, or Excadrill

[@charnalk5572]

Tbh, I'm still wondering why they bother stealing pokemon when catching them themselves is more optimal (Pokemon can canonically just dip and not listen to you if you don't earn their respect one way or another). Some pokemon might just be more easily controled than other, which might explain why they always use the 4 same pokemon.

[@shiftfire4511]

That, I feel, is the main issue with most villain teams. Most trainer classes have a type or a theme, but there's usually a large variety of trainers on each route. But villains? Nope. When you encounter villains, you generally get nothing but a constant stream of the grunts, maybe a scientist here or there.

[@Stickyz]

I've become infertile from eating scented candles

[@Catuzen]

I have a sexual relationship with my dad

[@Nova-uq9nw]

Not if I have anything to say about it :)

[@spiggly_digg]

It’s me I’m scented candles

[@realfishscience7842]

BASED?

[@BluesGold.]

Proud of you

[@SmugLookingBarrel]

I just love how in a roundabout way, this makes perfect sense. The NPCs can't see you because there's dust in their eyes.

[@Charaster]

trainer used sand attack

[@RedesignatedClockwork]

POCKET SAND

[@bottomtext251]

Im going to put some dirt in your eyes.

[@Ivan_Ooze]

I’m kind of surprised I dont have to provide a blood and stool sample from my DS for this

[@TheNerfer]

I like how one of the plasma grunts approaches the player but they just don't stop. Like the grunt calls out to try to challenge them but just get flat-out ignored as the player moves on. Absolutely ice cold.

[@Juanni]

I’m still confused as to why they do that. Is it edited to remove the battle itself and keep the video about the overworld?

[@eirich9962]

@@Juanniyes

[@pumapandora1310]

ena profile pic (^ー^)

[@thomaswilson9925]

What a lovely video, I sure hope no one in the comments has become infertile from eating scented candles

[@fromixty]

😐

[@Stickyz]

I have bad news

[@jamesruth100]

You promised you wouldn't tell!

[@vehicledestroyer]

Glad to see the Corey in the house meme still going

[@enoyna1001]

This is crazy. So there's a chance some DS systems are more useful for speedrun than others, right?

[@harb1ng3r82]

Yeah, and that’s actually always been the case for the Gen 5 games, most famously in BW2’s opening encounter RNG manipulation which is different on every system and means some people have more efficient routes than others and there’s an industry around testing system RNG seeds.

[@cristobalpinochet]

Good to see my beloved Stoutland still being the best Pokémon for the speedrun

[@nathanblackburn1193]

You could possibly do an all battles skip by using 2 pokemon, one higher level and one lower level as repels only stop lower level pokemon from being encountered, now whether or not swapping your pokemon around like this is faster is the question

[@LocalMaple]

God RNG will be able to Wild Battle between every Grunt and get the Dust Cloud.

[@fullbawks8590]

i just gotta say i love these videos. personally i cant stand to watch pokemon speedruns as they're just so long and boring to me but goddamn if i dont love learning about the tech and you really fill that niche so thank you kindly

[@-Archant]

I love how the SM64 save select theme is just the regular BGM for technical explanations for speedruns

[@donaldwithagat8537]

I cant believe that a Cory in the house ds game cameo was here

[@doggo7078]

Foongus can learn Sweet Scent at Lvl 24, there are several foongus of lvl 26 right before reaching the cave. Maybe 1 of them has Sweet Scent by default? Actually, 26 is for BW2, BW 1 can have foongus between levels 23-25 on normal grass. They have a greater level on double grass. So you could catch 1, evolve it ASSAP, then use it in other caves

[@AdminAbuse]

ASSAP?

[@doggo7078]

as soon as possible but with an extra S, which stands for Sukon deez nuts@@AdminAbuse

[@jellomochas]

@@AdminAbuse as soon soon as possible

[@latioshunter]

"Imma put some dirt in your eyes" -the trainer, apperantly

[@CrNcHyFROG5]

Love these videos! Never speedran, myself but it's so cool to see small tips like this broken down so well.

[@bigmayy1290]

Pretty sure you can calibrate the ds with pokefinder. You just save 8 times and record where the save animation clock hand is pointing in its first frame. You can do it in your room at the beginning of the game

[@MikeDaddyMCS]

I couldn’t imagine speed running such a RNG dependent game

[@slateportraichu5416]

This is insane. Speedruns are some kind of magic for me=)

[@ArtzyZero]

Huh, the meme "Every copy of this game is personalised" is actually relevant to B/W, neat!

[@yellow6572]

So basically give ‘em the old tobey maguire “I’m gonna put some dirt in your eye…”

[@Randroth]

Now I am wondering if you could use RNG manipulation in the Cory in the House DS videogame.

[@Sadahiko312]

It’s insane how much detail goes into speedrunning Pokemon

[@amiablereaper]

Man I've been playing fangames too long The idea of the evil team being so easy as to be boring didn't even cross my mind

[@WangerZ3291]

the phonon theme kicks at a perfect time. man do i love uni

[@kirika119]

Whoever made your thumbnail deserves a beer and a bonus because it looks amazing

[@LittleRedKuma]

A RNG manipulation speed run based around each persons own 3DS sounds like an interesting run. Each run could potentially be different, but times could also very.

[@MeltraNS]

Love these videos keep it up

[@wertyxq3468]

Every manufactured Nintendo DS console is personalized

[@johnpaulcross424]

Oh boy, more news on speedrunning! I sure hope there’s nobody in the comments encountering health issues due to incendiary knicknacks!

[@CausticFoil]

When I first entered Chargestone cave, one of these clouds appeared behind Bianca and I thought she just ripped a fart.

[@SurgingSpecs]

ngl this is definitely me when i become infertile from eating scented candles

[@jkid1134]

Homie Excadrill showing up to fight half the grunts for you is epic

[@laffy7204]

Pokemon has the most scuffed competition in every category possible: Battles, speed running, etc

[@LoudWaffle]

Speedrunning tricks are often very technical to explain but this was the first that went wayyy over my head lol. Maybe I'm just out of it.

[@PulseEffects]

Honestly don't blame you. Breaking it down for the script was quite a challenge.

[@TylerFurrison]

This is so broken, how did I not realize the possibility of this

[@aladdinde3191]

Would it be possible to get a pokemon with sweet scent to reset the dust cloud? It feels like something doable but idk how it affects the time

[@zoraluigi]

What is the song playing at around 7:00? It sounds like Grant Kirkhope but I don't recognize it

[@binofbread6975]

Respect for the Under Night In-Birth music. GOATED fighting game

[@madisonking1134]

Would sweet scent work to get around the steps?

[@MellyMellouange]

can't you use Sweet Scent as a field move to force an encounter even while having repel? though that would require catching a Foongus or an Amoongus at level 24 or above

[@PulseEffects]

I thought of that as well, but I imagine catching it is a bit too slow.

[@Templerassassine]

couldn't one of these coloured flutes force an encounter as well ?

[@mythmakroxymore1670]

Please note that pokemon with certain abilities can raise or decrease encounter rates in the overworld, such as intimidate, which also happens to be a really good competitive ability and allows for better setups, which stoutland has access to. This makes despawning the cloud with a battle annoying, but gets you better 20-step rng. Having a second pokemon is theoretically useful for manipulating wild encounters, and who better than an emolga? Static increases the encounter rate of electric types to 150% so getting instant encounters wpuld be nice, but is swapping out stoutland to the front worth it for each plasma fight? Idk im not experienced with the actual speedrun, but there is potential.

[@anasepho]

Is it possible and time-efficient to use a move like sweet scent to force encounters and skip all the plasma fights?

[@astralnekomimi]

Possible, yes. The route immediately prior to this specific gauntlet, Route 6, has Pokémon that know that move. But, it would be quite slow to go get it, to the point I'm not sure being able to skip the Trainers would make for a net time save.

[@wesleyharville-fry]

So your telling me I figured out a speedrunning hack when I was 7 and thought it was common knowledge.

[@RealWingGaster]

The Cloud God's Blessing.

[@blinkspot2667]

Bruh... that's huge!

[@StepBaum]

Solid video :)

[@gustavojun8166]

watched this sleepy and was wondering where the hell were the dusclops (not dust clouds)

[@laerbear6760]

Rng reporter and eon timer my beloved

[@ConductorElcrest]

Yo I love Pokemon Black this is sick

[@meraki4777]

what's the ost at 3:49?

[@player_too]

9:11 seconds nice

[@lucyo385]

Do u think u will start streaming actively again? Love the videos

[@presidentstone7359]

lol fuck em

[@PulseEffects]

Possibly! I might randomly do a KZbin stream soon.

[@lucyo385]

@@PulseEffects Thank u!

[@leonfire99]

So is this not considered tool assisted? For most communities i've seen them being pretty strict that tools are anything that reads or writes game data directly. hence why the wind waker sploosh kaboom tool is based on the runner starting the tool separately from the game when they start rather than it reading how long the game has been running from data.

[@648]

Because it doesn't read or write game data directly.

[@leonfire99]

@@648 how is it determining the rng manipulation? the video made it seem like it was reading it from the game in real time since its based on steps from the looks of things. most of the communities also deem reading inputs as a tool too (see wind waker example)

[@michael_betts]

@@leonfire99 You use tools to find the step path, and then do the manip without the tools.

[@leonfire99]

@@michael_betts cool thanks. that explains it. video left me under the impression that the tool was running while they did the skip.

[@RLBKiva]

@@leonfire99 You perform the actions in your game (not the speedrun) feed it to set it up. Develop the proper RNG manipulation prior to doing your runs and once you have figured out the rng manip (amount of steps to take) you memorize that, or write it down as most runs allow notes and you are there. You do not afaik read out game data directly.

[@omlett6482]

now i wanna see a new BW TAS

[@PopcornMax179]

I feel like they ought just make a category where you have to fight all those plasma grunts anyways. I figure that could see more players wanting to run the game. For now it's basically you have to be lucky enough to own a DS with a good enough RNG seed to get an ideal Lillipup and do Plasma skip.

[@TheCriiss180]

Dust Cloud summon dance

[@Coaltergeist]

what happens if you play Black/White on an emulator? What value does it use for the MAC address? is there a way on emulator to "force" a specific value to get an optimal MAC address for manip? And assuming that's possible, wouldn't it be better for everyone to just run on that fake DS, rather than having to do long and unnecessary research to find a "good" DS (as well as modding it for a capture card; I assume a lot of these runs are done on 3DS because it's easier to get a card for that system)?

[@PulseEffects]

So from what I've heard, you can assign a DS Mac Address on MelonDS (the current most accurate emulator for DS Speedruns). It's pretty much like speedrunning Gen 4 Pokemon games since you can use anyones Mac Address for Manipulation. As for 3DS, it unfortunately doesn't play DS games accurately enough to make consistent manips. So DS is typically the main console to use for the main leaderboards, which is surprisingly accessible compared to 3DS capture cards.

[@DigiYF]

@@PulseEffects Sorry, I know this is only tangentially related to the video, but Google doesn't seem to be giving me any relevant answers, so I have to ask: how is recording a DS more accessible than a 3DS? Don't they both need to be modded for a pretty high price?

[@PulseEffects]

@DigiYF the original DS is just way cheaper to find online. And Loopy, the guy who makes the capture cards has the cards pretty readily available. But many of the folks who work on 3DS Capture Cards either charge really high prices or are no longer in business.

[@DigiYF]

@@PulseEffects Ahh, that makes sense, thank you. I haven't looked into 3/DS capture for like eight years, so I just assumed it was still only Loopy doing it all for both of them. Cheers!

[@renakunisaki]

I wonder about the legality of changing your DS MAC address. I imagine it's in flash memory?

[@MinMaxxy]

Really well made video would believe if it was from a channel with a mill subs.

[@matthew7y2k]

Really hoping that guy becomes fertile again

[@SamualN]

deez pawn the dust cloud :)

[@AceTeaaa]

Pokemon went from catching a random pokemon and hoping it has good IVs to buying a random DS and hoping it has a good mac adress

[@vanesslifeygo]

Here after watching Trainer Tower and D/P runs!

[@StraightShot2977]

My man really used the galaxy map music in a Pokémon video

[@vzm_underscore]

1:27 under night music spotted

[@vzm_underscore]

sounds of night wind is the title if anyone’s interested

[@crimsonstride5457]

Man I can't wait to play unova in pokemmo

[@badrinath5306]

What about means that pierce repel?? That way u can still have repel and encounter wild pokemon. I think u will need sweet scent. Or purposefully use a wrong dust cloud to make an encounter. Never trying myself though.

[@Charaster]

iirc if you were to skip every team plasma grunt the game would get confused and wouldnt play the cutscene with N after the gauntlet(tho i only encountered this while messing around with walk trough walls cheats)

[@TommyTBF]

MASS EFFECT MUSIC

[@IloveHildasfeet]

“Pokémon Black speedruns” *Puts WHITE in the thumbnail*

[@dbzmaster1213]

Speed-runners are an... interesting group of people. I'm fine just playing games to play them, but big kudos to people who spend so much time and effort figuring stuff like this out.

[@Absbor]

impressive

[@resurrekt7114]

I am once again asking you for a Chikorita video

[@azizmain914]

even shiny rng manipulation seem like witchcraft for me😂

[@Steel_type_master]

When i think of pokemon speedrun i think nidoking

[@shiniesglitters5424]

i heard dolphins can pick their own mac address

[@zodiakgames]

What happens if you step in the cloud? Wild pokemon or trainer?

[@PulseEffects]

Wild Pokemon or Item followed by a Battle with the Plasma Grunt.

[@Unknownsoldier740]

Are y'all ready for the remakes?

[@esrohm6460]

and just wait until some wizards make a completely non human viable way of doing this so that you basically just run straight through with 3 wild encounters.

[@ImplodingChicken]

Why can't they just save and reload to get rid of the dust clouds? Is it slower than the battles? Edit: or can they maybe encounter the dust cloud they spawned to get the battle there and then flee?

[@astralnekomimi]

Entering the dust cloud in the Trainer's line of sight will mean that, once the wild encounter ends or the item is obtained, you're now directly in the line of sight of the Trainer, skipping nobody.

[@ImplodingChicken]

@@astralnekomimiDoes it actually trigger that way, or is it only checked at the end of a step?

[@astralnekomimi]

@@ImplodingChicken Iirc trainer encounters are checked per frame, not per step.

[@ImplodingChicken]

@@astralnekomimiI see.

[@alfonsopayan09]

Quick side comment I love how we collectively still comment, know about, and keep the Cory in the house NDS jokes alive in 2023

[@sooooooooDark]

cant remember jack shit about that gen but isnt there some mon with sweet scent available? to force an encounter after a dust cloud spawned (even when under repel)?

[@nathanblackburn1193]

Who knew the bane of asthmatics would be so useful?

[@grrman]

Hasn't Werster being using dusk clouds for forever for other trainer skips?

[@jeremyl2728]

This reminds me of like the red and blue minip in speedruns

[@undefined6512]

9:11

[@KojoGotMojo]

Wooo!

[@MrHerbertbauer]

what about using sweet scent to trigger a wild battle while still using repel as sweet scent ignores repel. only thing is I dont remember if there is any pokemon in pkmn black at that point with sweet scent that are easily enough to obtain as to be worth it time wise. But triggering a fight with sweet scent and then running should be faster than fighting a grunt, maybe?

[@julyhasnoon1874]

Isn't there a move that's usable on field that attracts wild encounters? If so why not use the repel, use the 20 step rule, spawn the dust cloud, attract an encounter through said ability, rinse and repeat?

[@ztykowork]

Pocket sand

[@TrollingOstrich]

Would anybody like to buy some non-edible scented candles?

[@Stickyz]

To eat?

[@vinny4765]

Feel like this actually makes B/W runs even more unfun. There's already a lot of annoying things not to mention I think B/W has the least fun mains out of any game.

[@lampshades120]

3:05 wtf? this isn't a video about anime

[@Slim3398]

Didn’t see a single story.

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

... _goes to find my copy of black version_ OH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN Edit: ...wait couldn't you soft reset to move the cloud back to base value... and just reset the cloud and do it again..?

[@carmelasalandanan-jy4ts]

gaaara taraar

[@livipup]

:D Lillipup is fastest??

[@OrigamiAhsoka]

Corey in the House for the ds mentioned 🗣️🗣️🗣️