No Pokéball Challenge

Captain Evil · Jul 11th, 2012, 5:47:14 PM

The point of this challenge is that you're not allowed to use Poké Balls of any kind. For this very reason, you have to rely on your starter and eventual gift Pokémon. Buying Pokémon from Game Corner or similar is allowed, catching in Safari Zone or similar is not. I'm currently doing one in Yellow, because of the abundance of Gift Pokémon in that game.

Has anyone else tried this?

Phadunk · Jul 11th, 2012, 6:44:13 PM

Yes I've solo'd a game before.

Sayonara · Jul 11th, 2012, 7:27:53 PM

Yeah, I've tried this before - it was fun! It was a bit hard early in the game, though.

DarkMaelstrom · Jul 11th, 2012, 9:55:35 PM

I've done a solo run, similar to your idea, but I've never tried a run using additional gift Pokemon.

Unbreakable · Jul 11th, 2012, 9:59:18 PM

Seems like a bitch to do without HM slaves, though I suppose that's what the gifts are for.

I guess you use all the money you save on Pokeballs to buy coins for those prize Pokemon, yeah?

chicobo329 · Jul 11th, 2012, 10:30:38 PM

Some games don't feature gift Pokemon that can use some vital HMs anyway (like Surf). This can probably be more doable in Platinum, as you get several nice and viable gifts: Porygon, Riolu, Togepi, Eevee, and your starter can get you far. I can see two clauses out of a run like this:

*You can catch Pokemon purely for HM purposes and are not to be used in battle at all.
*You can catch Pokemon for the purposes of in-game trades.

The latter might be important because some games don't give you many gift Pokemon at all. For instance in Hoenn you only get your starter, a Castform, and a Wynaut egg as gifts.

TM13IceBeam · Jul 11th, 2012, 10:30:47 PM

RSE is probably the hardest since the only gift pokemon you get is Wynaut, Anorith/Lileep and Castform, so you are kind of limited in your choices.

RBY is easiest since you get Magikarp, Abra, Lapras, OMANYTE, and Hitmonlee, all of which are pretty decent for a run. GSC is kind of questionable but you can kind of splurge on Dratini in Goldenrod and murder everything with Dragon Rage.

chicobo329 · Jul 11th, 2012, 10:34:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat TM13IceBeam

RSE is probably the hardest since the only gift pokemon you get is Wynaut, Anorith/Lileep and Castform, so you are kind of limited in your choices.

RBY is easiest since you get Magikarp, Abra, Lapras, OMANYTE, and Hitmonlee, all of which are pretty decent for a run. GSC is kind of questionable but you can kind of splurge on Dratini in Goldenrod and murder everything with Dragon Rage.

RSE might be hard, but BW1 would be hardest. Unless you happen to have an unused Gen IV event Celebi laying around to get the Zorua, you'd have to run through with starter, monkey, and Larvesta. As there's no Game Corner in Unova, that's pretty much it.

RBY/FRLG is going to be pretty easy, yes. In general any non-Unova run like this can net you a Magikarp due to the Magikarp salesman, but I believe he appears at his earliest in RBY/FRLG.

TM13IceBeam · Jul 11th, 2012, 11:47:12 PM

Huh? BW1 gives you Archen, easily the best thing to exist ever ingame with godlike attack and speed and lolstabacrboatics. On the other hand, RSE's fossils are pretty average, Castform is meh so your only decent pokemon are Wobbuffet and your starter.

And the Magikarp salesman only appears in RSEFRLG/BW1/BW2, the latter 2 are post game...

chicobo329 · Jul 12th, 2012, 12:24:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat TM13IceBeam

Huh? BW1 gives you Archen, easily the best thing to exist ever ingame with godlike attack and speed and lolstabacrboatics. On the other hand, RSE's fossils are pretty average, Castform is meh so your only decent pokemon are Wobbuffet and your starter.

And the Magikarp salesman only appears in RSEFRLG/BW1/BW2, the latter 2 are post game...

Oh I completely forgot about fossils! I guess those -are- gifts aren't they? You're right Archen can wreck things pretty well won't he?

Anyway I think I'll try one of these challenges in Platinum. Would it be suitable to discuss my progress of the challenge in this thread or make a new one?

***Jellicent**** · Jul 12th, 2012, 1:31:38 AM

Going by Nuzlocke and Scramble precedent, I'd say just keep progress discussion in this thread ^.^

DarkMaelstrom · Jul 12th, 2012, 10:46:44 AM

I might try one of these when I transfer all my Pokemon off my FireRed cartridge. I was planning on doing a solo run anyway; why not?

Captain Evil · Jul 12th, 2012, 12:36:22 PM

I suppose the choice of starter is rather important in these kinds of challenges. If you pick Squirtle in RB, you're going to have a problem when you need Cut (assuming you don't use a clause for HM slaves), and Brock was a major challenge for my poor Pikachu.

TM13IceBeam · Jul 13th, 2012, 2:09:15 AM

pikachu can actually beat brock pretty easily, at L13 or so quick attack should be a 4-5hko on geodude/onix: the key here is to abuse tail whip.

Jul 11th, 2012, 5:47:14 PM	#1
Captain Evil Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 47	No Pokéball Challenge The point of this challenge is that you're not allowed to use Poké Balls of any kind. For this very reason, you have to rely on your starter and eventual gift Pokémon. Buying Pokémon from Game Corner or similar is allowed, catching in Safari Zone or similar is not. I'm currently doing one in Yellow, because of the abundance of Gift Pokémon in that game. Has anyone else tried this?

Jul 11th, 2012, 6:44:13 PM	#2
Phadunk Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,728	Yes I've solo'd a game before. __________________

Jul 11th, 2012, 9:55:35 PM	#4
DarkMaelstrom Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 113 BURMA!!!	I've done a solo run, similar to your idea, but I've never tried a run using additional gift Pokemon. __________________ To lurk in shadows, to live in darkness...that is my destiny.

Jul 11th, 2012, 9:59:18 PM	#5
Unbreakable Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 349 A paper bag	Seems like a bitch to do without HM slaves, though I suppose that's what the gifts are for. I guess you use all the money you save on Pokeballs to buy coins for those prize Pokemon, yeah? __________________ But I got wiped out with no saving grace at all! And then I'm told I don't have any talent?! Man...

Jul 11th, 2012, 10:30:47 PM	#7
TM13IceBeam Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 3,246 stuck in the past, locked in the present, banned from the future	RSE is probably the hardest since the only gift pokemon you get is Wynaut, Anorith/Lileep and Castform, so you are kind of limited in your choices. RBY is easiest since you get Magikarp, Abra, Lapras, OMANYTE, and Hitmonlee, all of which are pretty decent for a run. GSC is kind of questionable but you can kind of splurge on Dratini in Goldenrod and murder everything with Dragon Rage. __________________ Start of turn 24 Natu used Grass Knot! It's super effective! The foe's Corsola lost 31% of its health! Riolu ftw Amazing Rotom-S is amazing KAKUNA i'm dead, don't bother contacting me

Jul 11th, 2012, 7:27:53 PM	#3
Sayonara into the new world Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 718	Yeah, I've tried this before - it was fun! It was a bit hard early in the game, though.

Jul 11th, 2012, 10:30:38 PM	#6
chicobo329 Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 32	Some games don't feature gift Pokemon that can use some vital HMs anyway (like Surf). This can probably be more doable in Platinum, as you get several nice and viable gifts: Porygon, Riolu, Togepi, Eevee, and your starter can get you far. I can see two clauses out of a run like this: You can catch Pokemon purely for HM purposes and are not to be used in battle at all. You can catch Pokemon for the purposes of in-game trades. The latter might be important because some games don't give you many gift Pokemon at all. For instance in Hoenn you only get your starter, a Castform, and a Wynaut egg as gifts.

Jul 11th, 2012, 11:47:12 PM	#9
TM13IceBeam Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 3,246 stuck in the past, locked in the present, banned from the future	Huh? BW1 gives you Archen, easily the best thing to exist ever ingame with godlike attack and speed and lolstabacrboatics. On the other hand, RSE's fossils are pretty average, Castform is meh so your only decent pokemon are Wobbuffet and your starter. And the Magikarp salesman only appears in RSEFRLG/BW1/BW2, the latter 2 are post game... __________________ Start of turn 24 Natu used Grass Knot! It's super effective! The foe's Corsola lost 31% of its health! Riolu ftw Amazing Rotom-S is amazing KAKUNA i'm dead, don't bother contacting me

Jul 12th, 2012, 1:31:38 AM	#11
*Jellicent is 60% water Super Moderator** Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,654 (80 PROOF) Mentor	Going by Nuzlocke and Scramble precedent, I'd say just keep progress discussion in this thread ^.^ __________________ ^.^

Jul 12th, 2012, 10:46:44 AM	#12
DarkMaelstrom Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 113 BURMA!!!	I might try one of these when I transfer all my Pokemon off my FireRed cartridge. I was planning on doing a solo run anyway; why not? __________________ To lurk in shadows, to live in darkness...that is my destiny.

Jul 12th, 2012, 12:36:22 PM	#13
Captain Evil Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 47	I suppose the choice of starter is rather important in these kinds of challenges. If you pick Squirtle in RB, you're going to have a problem when you need Cut (assuming you don't use a clause for HM slaves), and Brock was a major challenge for my poor Pikachu.

Jul 13th, 2012, 2:09:15 AM	#14
TM13IceBeam Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 3,246 stuck in the past, locked in the present, banned from the future	pikachu can actually beat brock pretty easily, at L13 or so quick attack should be a 4-5hko on geodude/onix: the key here is to abuse tail whip. __________________ Start of turn 24 Natu used Grass Knot! It's super effective! The foe's Corsola lost 31% of its health! Riolu ftw Amazing Rotom-S is amazing KAKUNA i'm dead, don't bother contacting me