Nuzlocke Challenge

I lost my Blue Nuzlocke Challenge.
Sad face.
I'll write up some details in a bit.
I also drew a comic in study hall because I was so frustrated. I lost because of a rather unconventional reason -.-
Give me twenty minutes or so and I'll write up what happened.

Fire Red Nuzlocke Update #5!

Here's another update to my Fire Red Nuzlocke, in a whole series of hide tags (Wow...Who cares...)...

Update #1
Update #2
Update #3
Update #4

That's all this update. This Nuzlocke will be put on hold until I complete my Pearl No-Evo Scramble. Next update after Rock tunnel.

Cheers!
Its_A_Random

EDIT:

Flamestrike said:

I am never, EVER writing another update in the reply box again. First I lose half of the final HeartGold update, then this time I had the entire update written out, only to completely forget that Smogon logs you out automatically when you don't switch pages for a long time, even when you're typing a reply. I hit reply, got the "You can't do that" page, and realized I couldn't get it back because when I hit back it gave me the same page because I was on advanced reply. So I log back in, and think I have it back only to see that it's actually the first update I had quoted to get my hide boxes. GAHHH! Even worse is that I now realize that had I logged in when I first got the page it probably would have worked fine. FML, now I have to type that all up again and I'll be even farther behind -_-'

Click to expand...

If you're typing a long update, I'd recommend using Notepad, as it saves time. Also, when you've typed out your update, Highlight the entire thing & go Ctrl+C to copy it, just in case something like that happens. If it does, log back in, go to the reply box, & Ctrl+V to paste it all in, so your hard work isn't erased. It automatically logs you out after 30 minutes. Hope I helped.

I had four hours of physics class today, but possibly the most important thing i learned today was that my rival's +2 alakazam (before victory road) using psychic will ohko my lv 50 vaporeon with a critical hit.... RIP Layla....

Do you think it woulda ohkoed without the crit?


Time to grind Calvin the slowpoke up to speed (ha ha get it? slowpoke has no speed!!)

I miss you Layla.....

Rules:



Summary:


Who ever heard of losing a Nuzlocke because you didn't have anything to Cut down a stinking bush?! It is ridiculous... Oh well, that's the challenge of it. I'll be posting an update of my new file featuring Skwog and his new companion Pedro the Squirtle soon enough.

Hahaha Skwog, that may be the most tragically pathetic ending to a Nuzlocke ever recorded. Hold your head high!

Flamestrike said:

I am never, EVER writing another update in the reply box again. First I lose half of the final HeartGold update, then this time I had the entire update written out, only to completely forget that Smogon logs you out automatically when you don't switch pages for a long time, even when you're typing a reply. I hit reply, got the "You can't do that" page, and realized I couldn't get it back because when I hit back it gave me the same page because I was on advanced reply. So I log back in, and think I have it back only to see that it's actually the first update I had quoted to get my hide boxes. GAHHH! Even worse is that I now realize that had I logged in when I first got the page it probably would have worked fine. FML, now I have to type that all up again and I'll be even farther behind -_-'

Click to expand...

Augh, this bites. I've had this happen to me more than once on various forums, it's just the worst. Now, when I anticipate making a long post, I always use Word or something. Losing that much work is just the worst :x

Ducklett Stare said:

Hahaha Skwog, that may be the most tragically pathetic ending to a Nuzlocke ever recorded. Hold your head high!

Click to expand...

I nearly threw my Gameboy onto the floor when I found out that the stupid derp rat can't learn cut in first gen. Not even Raticate can learn it. So frustrating.

Let me be remembered as having the most anti-climactic ending to a Nuzlocke challenge!

Here is the first update in my Nuzlocke challenge :/ I'll do a lot more (hopefully) next time.

Are you ready for SUPER AWESOME EXPLOSIONS?



Ready to see your mind EXPLODE FROM AWESOMENESS?



Then stay tuned on my Heart Gold Nuzlocke Challenge :D

Heart Gold Nuzlocke Challenge - Update #1

RULES:

UPDATE:

PARTY:

BOXED:

DEAD:

Its_A_Random said:

Son Of Shadoo, considering your huge Rock Type Weakness, I'd recommend taking either Bronzor or Geodude out of the PC, just so you have something to take on Rock Type attacks with.

Click to expand...

Well, he's already in my party as filler, and a wall in case I need to heal (though Fluffy does that pretty well too), but my problem with Bronzor is, until it evolves, it can't really do jack shit for damage... How can I remedy that?

Its_A_Random said:

If you're typing a long update, I'd recommend using Notepad, as it saves time. Also, when you've typed out your update, Highlight the entire thing & go Ctrl+C to copy it, just in case something like that happens. If it does, log back in, go to the reply box, & Ctrl+V to paste it all in, so your hard work isn't erased. It automatically logs you out after 30 minutes. Hope I helped.

Click to expand...

I did that for the first update, but completely forgot for the second one -_- I'll probably just do them in Word or Notepad from now on, much safer. Speaking of which, I'll probably be working on the update today, I'm even farther ahead than I was before, and the game has continued to troll me, giving me a Modest Geodude *facepalm*

EDIT: I just realized that the thing about me being nature/ability trolled was in the lost update, so I should explain.
-Starly, Brave nature-OK, at least it boosts attack but the speed lowering sucks
-Shinx, Calm nature with Rivalry-Great, crappy ability and a nature that lowers my best stat. At least I get a special defense boost that might be slightly useful?
-Budew, Adamant nature with Poison Point-*facepalm*
-Geodude, Modest nature-*headdesk*

just stumbled upon this thread, glad to see so many people taking the challenge.
after the third badge my team is
Rules:

Team:

my fallen comrads:

Boxed:

a brief update of where I am currently:

1st update

Rules:

Although I am a boy in real life, I recently started my Pearl as a female named Mikala. My starter is a male Piplup named Caesar. After officially getting him from Prof. Rowan, I trained him to level 8. I walked to Route 202 and caught my male Starly, now named Nero. I ran to Jubilife to heal, and trained my Pokemon to the south of the town. At this point, my Pokemon are level 9-10. I felt ready to catch my 3rd Pokemon, so I went to route 204, and caught a female Bidoof, and named her Numa. I was on the verge of giving up and using her as death fodder because she was almost impossible to train. Just after she killed a Budew, Poison Point struck her and she was poisoned. Running to the PC, I checked every couple of steps to see how long she had to live. Miraculously, at 2 hp, the poison went away. I decided she was a trooper, and that I would keep her.

I went to Oreburgh and caught a Zubat named Sudoku. I challenged the gym, and survived Roark's Cranidos with 8 hp on Caesar. Caesar evolved into Prinplup from this win. I received Rock Smash and went through a cave, where I caught a male Shinx as soon as I got outside. This is the route outside Floaroma Town. I named the Shinx Gamma. Nero evolved into Staravia after I battled a bug catcher. As soon as I get to Eterna, I think I may rename Shinx. I just need a little input: is Gamma too girly for a male Shinx?

Team

This is my first Nuzlocking experience, so sorry that the journal thing is badly written.

yeah sorry, bit of a wall of text with this update


After my success vs Gardenia I moved on to the Team Galactic Hideout. Zap destroyed all the grunts there while in the process Kazza evolved into the mighty Kadabra. I faced off against Mars which would have been very difficult had it not been for my trustworthy Kirsty who managed to Bug Bite Skuntank, stealing its Sitrus Berry. In the process however, Paul the Bidoof was killed leaving me without the use of Cut. Frustrated by losses of my friends I carried on and received a Togapi egg from Cynthia. I revived my Skull Fossil and received a Cranidos which I named Nick. Cranidos proved to be very valuable as him and Kazza teamed up to act as the powerhouses of the team working well with Zap. I added a Ralts (Zed) to my party and seeing as it was male decided to evolve it into a Gallade once I had achieved the necessary requirements. Sadely before I could even enter Hearthome City Aaron fell switching in a a Geodude who got a lucky Magnitude 9. This loss was guttering for me as a moment ago Aaron had just learnt Aqua Jet and had been set to earn his place on the team.

Moving on, I challenged Fantina who led with Duskul while I sent out Zaps. At level 29 and access to attacks such as Bite I felt that I had nothing to fear. However, Duskul survived the Bite and then Burned Zaps with Will-o-wisp. I then finished it off with a quick Bite.

Fantina then sent out her Mismagius and I knew that this battle was almost over. There was no way Zaps could even 2KO with Bite due to its Burn and banning myself from using items meant that Zaps was staying Burned. Desperate, I played my last card in Swagger which confused Mismagius before a Shadow Ball + Burn finished it off.

With next to nothing left I sent out Nick. My goal was to lower Mismagius’s Speed with Scary Face so that Kazza and Zed would have a sporting chance. I got lucky with confusion as Nick was able to Scary Face with no damage taken. Mismagius being crippled with its Speed cut I ordered a Pursuit with Zed smashing into Mismagius multiple times. Fantina re-gathered herself as Mismagius snapped out of the confusion, and ordered a Shadow Ball. A ball of dark energy flew through the air, directly at Nick. I could only watch helplessly as it connected blasting Nick backwards. Fantina grinned in triumph… and Nick got back up. Amazingly, it had survived that massive blow and now nailed Mismagius with a Pursuit. Leaving only Haunter to take down.

As Haunter came out I realised that I had next to nothing to take down Haunter. Everything I had would be taken down by Shadow Claw, everything but Jessie my newly hatched Togepi. Jessie came out as a fist of shadow passed harmlessly through it. It waved its finger and tickled Haunter weakening its attack and defence. Seeing Tickle brought a flash of inspiration. There was no way that Jessie could take down Haunter, but maybe, just maybe, Nick could. 2 Charms later and Haunter’s attack stat had been reduced to pathetic levels. It fired off a hypnosis and it connected, sending Togepi to sleep. I then switched to Nick getting in safely as Haunter Sucker Punched. It was going to come down to this. Would my near death Nick survive a STAB Shadow Claw from a -6 attack Haunter???

Haunter attacked, a claw of Shadow slammed into Nick who swayed, then, still alive, KOed Haunter at last with a Pursuit. After taking a heavy loss in losing my team member Zap, I had still managed to come out on top thanks to the outstanding efforts of Nick.

(For the record I survived the Shadow Claw with about 2 HP left.)

I buried Zaps just outside Hearthome and then trained up Kazza seeing as I expected Barry to be waiting for me. Kazza learnt Psybeam and then crushed Barry, OHKO’ing everything bar his Staravia. I lost Nick a bit later in a double battle where it got double targeted and I was caught off guard by a Jump Kick Buneary (P. sure it was Level 22 as well so how the fuck did it get Jump Kick that early???)

I needed more party members as Zed was very weak at that point (failing to beat shit like Cleffa and Togepi like wtf). I found a Chansey (!) first go in the Grass which I named Jasmine. Nice pokemon but I needed something with a bit more power. I gained a Duskull in the Lost Tower (Alec) and then captured a Scyther (Sabre) which I guess is better than nothing. At long last Zed finally evolved which hopefully leaves me in a better position than I was before.


Ill do the team update thing later.


Also guys im kinda stuck. This game is hammering me and I keep losing valuable team members. Its’ really annoying. Also I have 2 slots left in my party and I am not sure what I should put in there. I guess I can add my Eevee but I have no idea what I should evolve it into. Any advice for me?

A warning to those who plan on nuzlocking Black and White: It is really fucking hard.

The first couple gyms are challenging, as the wild pokemon you'll be battling are a full 7-10 levels lower than the gym leader's pokemon. Still, with enough grinding you should be able to overcome them without too much trouble. After that, it gets easier (especially once you get the Lucky Egg as a gift) but the Elite Four was majorly tough.

I am happy. To buff up my forces, I go to National Park, and find a Lvl 10 Caterpie. After 1 level up, it was a level 11 Metapod. Than it was Level 12, and evolved into Butterfree, learning all 3 powders. Yay! I still need to fight Whitney, though. Here's my team.
---
Florence the Level 19 Sassy Quilava
-Headbutt
-Quick Attack
-Dig
-Ember

Alexia the Level 18 Quiet Rattata
-Hyper Fang
-Tail Whip
-Quick Attack
-Bite

Stephan the Level 18 Calm Bellsprout
-Vine Whip
-Cut
-PoisonPowder
-Sleep Powder

Stacy the Level 17 Sassy Zubat
-Wing Attack (yes!)
-Supersonic
-Astonish
-Bite

Muscle the Level 18 traded Lonely Machop
-Low Kick
-Leer
-Focus Energy
-Karate Chop

Ria the Level 13 Timid Butterfree
-Tackle
-Sleep Powder
-PoisonPowder
-Stun Spore

Box'd:
Delilah the Level 14 Pidgey
Calvin the Level 6 Metapod

RIP:
Jeremy the Level 10 Togepi- Died due to me forgeting Nidoran learnt Double Kick
Wess the Level 6 Hoppip- Died to save Florence from a -2 Defense Focus Energy'd Quick Attack from Bugsy's Scyther

Hey, srs bisnis, cool to see our first attempts are both on pear version. Hint: staravia is really helpful, don't let your first one die ( poor fly guy).
anyway, update time, i guess.

EDIT: oh, and ginganinja, consider putting your team in hide tags. I liked reading the update, but i didn't always know what pokemon you were referring too with the names.
Rules:

Team:

my fallen comrads:

Boxed:

a brief update of where I am currently:

Ill do the team update thing later.

Click to expand...

yeah im doing it son when I get a moment

Last minute Uni stuff to do

Lost the challenge.
Got half my pokemon owned in the Second Gym by my own stupidity and the rest were cleaned up by the rival.
I'm going to think out my strategies better then go for this again.

Final update coming soon; sorry I've been MIA for the past few days. Check this space. :P

finally i got in the mood to start one of those although i dont want you guys to expect
anything great both because i am lazy with updates and cant speak english for shit. also
notice i am using as simple program on my PC to write this instead of doing it on smogon so
try to ignore the bad format until i fix it, that is if i get in the mood to do so.


edit: fixed what i could.

rules:

1-thou shall release any defeated pokemon.
2-thou shall nickname each new pokemon.
3-thou shall not buy any items besides pokeballs.
4-thou shall only catch the first pokemon in a new area.
5-thou shall do your best to update at least once a week.

might as well start off with platinum.


chapter 1: lets get this game on!

After finishing watching the most boring channel out there i moved one step only to see Ryan, my best friend, to show up inside my room for no good reason(does he got my room key or something?) at all, talk about my new PC and run off saying i should go asap. i am telling you guys, that kid got problems. also quickly changed the text options to fast.

going down i hear more trash talk from my mother, simply ignoring i exit my house and check what Ryan is smoking and see if he can give me some only for him to somehow open his house door right on my face, say hi and notice he forgot something, rushing back and closing the door on my face. with friends like Ryan who need enemies?

i enter his house(does anyone in this godamn town close they house door?) and check inside his room to check up on him. i was fast to notice he already finished all the good stuff and told me to meet up with him on the town exit. jumping a few minutes into the future we are there. he said he wants a pokemon and will rush to the DANGEROUS grass if nescessary, i told him to go first for the heck of it but just as he was rushing to him own death we hear a voice coming from the lake directon, turns out it was no one other then professor...humm...what is his name again?


he was quick to call us stupid kids for doing such a move but i came up with a excuse about pokemon love. he forgived us and told a 10 years old girl to give us a pokemon. she appears to be the most sane person so far besides me since she was fast to disagree with the idea, however the old man simply ignored and told me to pick one up. i had 3 options: a turtle, a monkey and...a bird that cant fly. i picked the monkey while Ryan got piplup. the old man and little girl left and Ryan challenged me to a battle right after that. i easily trashed his ass, stole his wallet and ran back home.


chapter 2: do i really gotta do it?


my mother scolded me for the situation although she said nothing about the fact i stole my best friend money and almost killed his new friend. in fact she gave me some new shoes for said act. maybe i should be a jerk more often? i go out to see how Ryan is going and he told me to follow him to the lake cause WE(him) want to catch a legendary pokemon as a reward for the old guy giving us...normal pokemons. geez dude, why not keep said legendary?


we head to the lake only to see a pretty weird guy talking to the river. he was the most crazy character so far because of that. after leaving the lake while bothering no one(Read: he punched Ryan face to make way) me and Ryan heard a pokemon cry from the lake, maybe the other guy is not so crazy after all? Ryan however said something smart for a change and noticified us of the fact we posess no artifacts of pokemon slavering, thus we decided to ask the prof to give us such objects.


i meet my first wild pokemon in said route, thus i am not allowed to catch anything here. after reaching level 7 my monkey and i went to the prof lab. the cute sane girl from before awaited me outside. we both enter the lab...not before i get my face crushed by the lab door thanks to, guess who, Ryan. he was way too full of sugar to listen to reason and quickly ran away before i could say a word. with my nose bleeding from both the cute girl face and door smash i enter the lab, with the crazy prof waiting for me.


after a long and dumb speech he allow me to give a name to my pokemon(finally) thus i called him Axel(got it memorized?) and receive a pokedex, a object that allows me to record data from wild pokemons(yes, even the ones i saw before getting said object) i meet. after leaving the lab the prof shows up, give me a useless TM(for now) and rushes back. dawn(got her phone too!) mentioned that he was probably a pokemon trained in the past if he had a TM. after that she showed me the city and said functions i already knew about and told me to check with my mom if i could go on a dangerous adventure that might get me and my friends killed. i did so and she said yes, then came back for dawn to teach me how to throw balls at wounded animals to slave them. she gave me 5 of them and ran off.

chapter 3: a mah going pimp here.


now with the ability to catch pokemons i move on(not before healing on the poke-center of course) only to see a kid challenging me to a duel(err..pokemon battle). easily trashed and stole his money. same for the next 2 idiots that got in my way. also in the middle of the grass i found a starly, catched him and named him Raven(misson accomplished). i went to jubilife city only to see dawn in front of it(is she a stalker?) waiting for the moment to tell me i should catch some moah. we then meet a crazy guy hiding behind obvious places. we ask him what he is doing and he told us he was a super secret detective or whatever, dindt really believe a shit of what he said(Dawn did though). after that she tells me Ryan is at the pokemon school and leaves.


thinking the situation cant get any worst i went to check on him. he told me about stuff that was written all over the blackboard behind him and left right after. i noticed two kids doing nothing on the school and decided beating they pokemons up would be nice training for Axel. it sure was and i stole a potion from one of the kids pocket after that.


while grinding Raven on a earlier route he got crit. while not killed it did scared me and made me realize the dangers of a nuz run, thus i decided i should be more careful from now on.


i decided to keep going after that, however a weird person stopped me and made me find 3 clowns in order to win a clock in order to continue the game. 5 minutes later i got the damn clock and decided to get a new pokemon on the upper route of the city(204). sadly all i got was another starly that i called ragdoll. after beating some trainers i decided to take the right route of the city only to find Ryan awaiting for me.


he challenged me to a battle that i obviously won thanks to Ryan poor team and skill(justified). got myself a kricketot and named him Mad Daddy after that and put him on the box(went back to the city for a full recovery) because of how useless he is and decided i should sleep for now and continue tomorow.



Team:

Axel(chimchar) lonely level 12 male

-ember
-taunt
-leer
-scratch

the main pokemon of the team. a cold character who prefers to battle alone. justified because he is more then capable of taking care of himself. not much is know about him for
now but i will learn about this interesting pokemon with time.

Raven(Starly) naive level 7 male

-tackle
-growl
-quickatack

second in command(and only pokemon in the team besides Axel). different from Axel who is just cold Raven is a outright monster. having no problems with pecking eyes out and using dirty tricks, however he is loyal to his mission and fully obey me, works well with Axel despite differences.

box:
Mad daddy(kricketot) naughty level 5 male
-bide
-growl

a useless member and that is not saying much.

Ragdoll(starly) impish level 4 female
-tackle
-growl

another useless member who will probably be used as a meat shield one day.

Another update. Beat Whitney without trouble by using a metric crapload of X Attacks/Speeds on Muscle while fighting Clefairy, than proceeding to severely murder Miltank. Afterwards, I go up to the Pokeathalon Dome, earning a Jump Medal for Alexia, Delilah, and Ria. I'm going to do a lot more Pokeathalon stuff after a while to get a Leaf Stone for Staephan.

Next I go to Route 36 and catch Davey the Hoothoot. next time, I'll be fighting Sudowoodo and probablly Silver.

PS: I decided to boot Ria off the team, she was just too underleveled, and I alredy have Flying covered by Stacy and status by Sthephan

Team:
Florence the Sassy Level 20 Quilava
Item: Charcoal
Headbutt
Quick Attack
Dig
Flame Wheel

Alexia the Quiet Level 19 Rattata
Hyper Fang
Quick Attack
Tail Whip
Bite

Stephan the Calm Level 18 Bellsprout
Item: Miracle Seed
Vine Whip
Cut
PoisonPowder
Sleep Powder

Stacy the Sassy Level 18 Zubat
Item: Soothe Bell
Wing Attack
Supersonic
Astonish
Bite

Muscle the Lonely traded Level 20 Machop
Item: Quick Claw
Low Kick
Leer
Seismic Toss
Karate Chop

Box:
Delilah the Level 14 Pidgey
Calvin the Level 6 Metapod
Ria the Level 13 Butterfree
Davey the Level 13 Hoothoot

RIP:
Jeremy the Level 1-10 Togepi: Died due to me forgeting Nidoran leans Double Kick
Wess the Level 6 Hoppip: Sacrificed to save Florence from a -2 defense Focus Energy'd Quick Attack from Bugsy's Scyther

Flamestrike: I love your updates! Its a shame I started reading them so late(Elite 4 of HG). Please just keep them coming.

Skwog: I read your story and that sucks but after reading through your story I'm just wondering what pokemon you caught/fainted on route 4, 11, 25. I read your updates and I account for every route but those ones, the reason I mention it is I am also doing Blue and I know that there are pokemon on those routes that can learn cut. Route 4 is right after Mt.Moon(b4 Cerulean) which has Sandshrew(25%), then Route 25 is right b4 all the trainers b4 Bill, and it contains Bellsprout(25%) and finally your best shot if you haven't restarted is Route 11(right of Vermillion City) has Sandshrew(45%).

If it is indeed over I look forward to your new updates as with flamestrike they are really well done.

I'm on Cinnabar Island in my 2nd Blue Nuzlocke(first is on my broken laptop) and I've lost so many members, I'm hoping I'm to the point where its pretty much safe for my Mons :)

Rules:











This time I will not lose because I don't have a cutter. I have yet to encounter my first Pokemon on Route 4, so I may see a Sandshrew. I can also see a Bellsprout or Meowth. Worst case scenario, I could trade away Carlos for the Farfetch'd.

Also, is would anybody be mad if I did the Mew glitch and use a Mew as one of my Pokes? It's tempting to do, but I feel as if it is not in the style of Nuzlocke to abuse a glitch in the game. So yeah, let me know what you guys think. I'll be gone for the weekend, so I will check in my leisure time and post when I come back.

Been inspired to try this challenge by some of the storys written by Firestrike, Skwog and the comics of nuzlocke himself :3.
Starting this challenge on my fire red version, will probably start out recording my journey in comic/manga form. Character name is Edward, will post up my character design and bio tomorrow. However due to studies + work it's probable updates will not be that frequent.

The thing with the mew glitch skwog, is not only do you have to see an abra, but you have to catch it as well. If you can do that I see no qualms other than making sure it doesn't violate the area rule of your nuzlocke. I'm not 100% sure of what part of the bridge the mew appears but I believe it appears in the actual city part of Cerulean, which means you get 2 chances for Abra 24 and 25. And you can't trade for Jynx later (does anyone actually do that?). Unless of course you're gonna be patient and buy one at the game corner in celadon, but then no eevee for you lol.

Again I like your style of story telling so keep the updates coming.

Skwog's question reminded me that I had a similar question about in game trading. He mentioned that he might have to trade his spearow for farfetche'd for cut, well my question is, is there any rule that says you can't trade a dead pokemon for an in game one?

I mean morally speaking I don't think it follows the Nuzlocke spirit but, I mean if its that or restart like Skwog had to, isn't it better to pawn your dead friend off to the oblivious in game trainer :)

on leafgreen:
about to embark the ss anne at vermillon with:
ivysaur, lvl 22
diglett, lvl 21
fearow, lvl 21
mankey, lvl 20

Boxed:
zubat, lvl 7
bellsprout, lvl 13
bellsprout, lvl 15
pidgey, lvl 12
sandshrew, lvl 12

Dead:
butterfree, lvl 20

My rival's charmander on the nugget bridge has been my hardest challenge, so far as my mankey missed with rock tomb and i had to switch out, because i didn't want to run the risk of it missing then getting knocked out. It took quite a bit of switching from butterfree to ivysaur and quite a few sleep powder's to finally defeat it.
Misty was no problem at all, ivysaur ohko'd the whole gym except stramie who was a 2hko.
My butterfree died after getting poisoned by a gamer's oddish. i switched out, but the pokecentre was too far away and it died.
I haven't been grinding at all, bar when spearow joined the team, which is probably why i'm reasonably underleveled.