Essential
The two rules you never change
These are the rules from the original comic and the only ones that define a Nuzlocke. Add as many others as you like, but if you change either of these two, the run is no longer a Nuzlocke. If this is your first time, start with what a Nuzlocke is and where it came from.
1. Only the first encounter in each areaOn every route, cave, town or named area, you may only try to catch the first wild Pokémon that appears. If it flees or you knock it out before catching it, you lose your chance in that area.
2. A fainted Pokémon is deadOnce its HP reaches zero, it is gone. Release it or keep it forever in a “graveyard” box. Reviving it or healing it at a Pokémon Center does not bring it back to the team.
What counts as an area?A practical rule of thumb: if the Pokémon’s summary shows a different met location, it is a different area. Decide before you start whether grass, water and fishing on the same route share one encounter; counting them as one is the simplest option.
Near-universal
The rules almost everyone adds
Mandatory nicknamesNickname every Pokémon you catch or receive. It is not essential, but it is so widespread that many players treat it as the third rule.
Total wipe ends the runIf your whole team faints and you black out to the last Pokémon Center, the Nuzlocke is over. Some players carry on with their boxed Pokémon, but that is a more lenient variant.
Poké Balls firstThe first-encounter rule only starts once you receive your first Poké Balls. Earlier encounters do not use up an area.
Your starter is freeYour starter is your first partner and does not use up any area’s encounter.
No cheats or resetsNo cheats, and no resetting or reloading a save to repeat an encounter or avoid a loss.
The most accepted clauses
Clauses soften bad luck without breaking the spirit of the challenge. The first two are so common that many players assume they are included.
Dupes clauseIf the first encounter in an area is a species you have already caught, you may ignore it and keep looking until you find a new one. Many apply it to the whole evolutionary line; others cap how often it can be used in one area.
Shiny clauseYou may catch a shiny Pokémon even if you have already used that area’s encounter. Shinies the game guarantees, such as the Red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage, do not count as a free catch.
Gifts and static encountersGift Pokémon, Eggs and static encounters—legendaries included—are handled in one of three ways: they count as the area’s encounter, they are free catches or they are banned. Pick one before you start.
HM clauseIn games before Generation VII, you may catch a Pokémon purely to use a required HM. It never battles and goes back in the box once it is no longer needed.
Hardcore rules
A hardcore Nuzlocke is not a variant with fixed rules but a widely used set of restrictions for players who have already beaten a normal run. The goal is to stop over-levelling and items from solving the hardest battles.
No items in battleNo Potions, status cures or items such as X Attack during a battle. Held items, such as Berries, and Poké Balls are still allowed.
Set battle styleSwitch the battle style to Set so the game does not offer a free switch when you knock out an opponent’s Pokémon. Scarlet and Violet have no such option, so you apply it yourself.
Level capsNo Pokémon may exceed the level of the strongest Pokémon belonging to the next Gym Leader or Elite Four member. If one does, it waits in the box until that battle is over.
Set your cap and keep itSome players put the cap a few levels above the opponent to make it more manageable. Either option works as long as you decide before you start.
Variants
Popular Nuzlocke variants
Soul LinkTwo players play at the same time and link the catches from each area. If one Pokémon dies, its partner in the other run dies too.
WedlockePokémon are paired by gender and, in battle, can only switch with their partner.
EgglockeEvery catch is replaced by a mystery Egg, usually prepared by someone else or by the community.
WonderlockeEvery catch is sent away through Wonder Trade (or the game’s random trade) and you play with whatever comes back.
MonotypeEvery team member shares at least one type.
Randomizer and IronmonModified versions of a game that shuffle Pokémon, items and moves. Ironmon, popularised by streamer iateyourpie, combines that with even harsher restrictions.
They all keep the two core rules; what changes is where the Pokémon come from or how you can use them.
Template
Write your ruleset before you start
Since there is no single ruleset, what matters is deciding everything before your first catch and never changing it mid-run. This list covers the most common questions:
- The two core rules.
- Nicknames: mandatory or not.
- Total wipe: end of the run or carry on with the box.
- Dupes and shinies: whether they apply and with what limits.
- Gifts, Eggs, static encounters and legendaries.
- Hardcore rules: items in battle, Set style and level caps.
- What counts as an area in your game.
If you stream, keep the ruleset handy in your description or a chat command: it avoids arguments when a controversial loss happens. In the overlay, remove each fallen Pokémon as soon as it happens so viewers see the real state of the run. Read how to handle catches, evolutions and losses live and the NuzPoke user guide.
Next resourceHow to design a Nuzlocke overlay that reads at a glance
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