[INACTIVE]It's Not Rocket Science!: A Pokemon Topaz Nuzlocke (2024)

So, it's occurred to me that things are going to get progressively harder from here on out. I figured that it was time for another intensive training session- not for levels, but for stats. Seeing as how there's virtually NO GOOD PLACES to grind for stat boosts, I had to seek out help from G3HS to find Pokes worth grinding off of.

For those playing along at home (if you felt the need to subject yourself to this atrocity), here are 8 good spots you could use for grinding. Get out the Macho Brace, you're gonna need it...

So, after a painstakingly long and exhausting training session, this is how our team's looking now! They've each been trained in specific stats, and a few levels were gained as well for good measure. I also trained some backup team members just in case something terrible happens within the timespan of now to the endgame.

I'll go into detail about what stats I trained in in a sec, but you may have noticed something new here.

And that's because Foultry finally evolved! He has achieved maximum serpenturkey status.

Buff Puff also evolved in the interim but that's because I overleveled him in order to get Cross Chop

So, let's talk stats, shall we? Foultry has had its HP and Attack buffed, while Paarthurnax gained buffs in both its Special stats.

Meeko and Chum both recieved buffs to Special Attack and Speed. This will be EXTREMELY beneficial to Chum once he evolves.

Finally, BlueFalcon recieved buffs to both Attack and Special Defense. I chose Special Defense specifically because Machamp has a fairly decent Sp.Def stat, and being Normal/Flying, BlueFalcon will probably need that boost! I already know what the endgame will be packing, and it isn't pretty.

Now, you're probably wondering at this point "Hey, Mr. Fox, aren't you forgetting someone?", to which case I would say "Yes, and I was just about to get to that if you'd stop interrupting me."

Yes, our certain lord of the flesh didn't get trained, and that wasn't by my choice. Lately, the FLESH LORD has outright refused to do any training. In fact, it's refused to be around PERIOD. According to my tech, it's apparently in my party, but its ball isn't around my waist. It's as if it just decides when and where it wants to appear and disappear.

I should probably be concerned about where it's disappearing to, buuuut I'm sure that's nothing to worry about.

I'm sure by now you've also noticed this really awkward transition from sea to trees. This is quality map design, I'll have you know. Quality being put in several very loose quotation marks.

The Dive spots are still here, though. We'll pop back to those later.

Ooh, that's useful. Not the shard I need, though.

I'd love to, really, but I don't have the HM for it yet.

And then I ran into some kids who were speaking in broken English. Well, it's good that they're learning it, at least.

This was worth screenshotting because these kids have something we haven't seen yet. Barbish replaces Carvanha, in case anyone forgot, while Thunderlow replaces Chinchou.

I absolutely LOVE the design for Barbish. I think I've already talked about this before, but its design is wonderful.

One more thing to note for those playing at home: Bazza actually added grass to this route instead of making it just sea. Unfortunately, all that's here are Biralls and Birdeans, so if you haven't caught one of those yet, now's your chance.

Welp, we've made it to Greensea Isle, the Mossdeep replacement. Let's see what's happening in this town...

Well, for starters, there's this tunnel here that leads to who knows where.

It's basically a way of getting to different parts of the city. I don't really see why it's necessary, but alright.

There were wilds in there too, but it was nothing I didn't already have.

So that'd be the Shoal Cave replacement, then? That's vital information. I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

The Gym Leader here uses Poison-types. I don't really have a counter for that right now, so I'll have to go get out a friend to help me.

Why, yes, I did. What about it?

Why exactly was this tunnel necessary? It's extremely inconvenient.

Well, I suppose it's okay if it's for a good cause, but what about the natural wildlife, hm? Surely that's okay?

Oh boy, here we go. It's time for the creator cameo. Bazza, in a choice bit of ego-stroking, made himself the Champion, something he likes to say with pride in his dialogue.

He's not too happy to see me, I see. he probably knows about all the terrible things I've said about this hake

Oh, okay, so he's seen through my facade and he knows I'm not actually evil. I'm not, really, I'm just here for the paycheck. and the dog.

And then he gave me Dive. I'll use that when I'm able.

Oh my god did he really

DID HE REALLY TURN THE SPACE CENTER INTO A GODSDAMN RESTAURANT

Bazza, you madman.

Oh my god there's fat men everywhere

I'm going to get out of here before I get the sudden urge to stuff myself.

So I was considering bringing Gainax or Tut Tut into this Poison Gym, since they're both good Ground-types, except Tut Tut doesn't learn ANY Ground-type moves upon level up apart from Fissure which is useless, and Gainax's only damaging Ground move is Mud-Slap. Neither of them learn Earthquake naturally, either, to add more frustration.

You know who DOES learn Earthquake naturally, though? Hoops, although it doesn't learn it until Level 45, so Magnitude will have to do for now. You're going to need to train up a bit, though, I've been neglecting you.

YEAH, there we go. Much better. I've also trained Hoops in HP and Attack, because quite frankly its Defense is monstrous enough that it doesn't need additional bolstering.

...Man, you're going to be a BITCH to draw.

The inside of this Gym is a natural maze of vegetation. I didn't know we were back in the Dewford replacement Gym again.

For some reason this patch of dirt teleports you back to the entrance. That's good to know.

This guy has something new, at least. This is Griefern- the evolved form of Trashab, and the replacement for Swalot. I think it's supposed to be Internet Troll taken physical form, which feeds off other peoples' misery.

It believes in the schadenfreude. I can get behind that. Kinda wish I had caught one of these instead of Hurricane now.

Here comes the fun part! I get to figure out which path is the correct one. It's the top path.

You know, I just want to point out that every Goth I've faced so far has had really cheerful encounter music.

I'm getting mixed signals.

Time for another warp. The path on the left takes you to the Gym Leader.

I'm greeted with ominous laughter. That can't be good.

I think you've got my information wrong. I haven't stolen any Gym Badges, I won these fair and square.

Oh, please. I've got a basketball golem that would claim otherwise.

Right then, time for Spike. I like his sprite, personally- it's a very obvious fusion of Lance and a generic Aqua grunt, but it works.

I actually forgot that the seventh Gym Leaders in Hoenn used Double Battles, so this pair of Hoops and Foultry worked out to my advantage.

Granted, I can't take out his own Falson with a Magnitude to the face, but the Spidoom will go down easy.

THAT MAGNITUDE TEN THOUGH

I love ya, Hoops, never change.

He healed once already, and a second Rollout was enough to drop it down to a third of its health. Will Foultry be able to finish it off?

The answer is yes!

AND THEN I GOT THE VENOM BADGE, YEE

Sorry, Chum, but this is only temporary. LET'S GO DEEP SEA DIVIN'.

Well, that was underwhelming. Let's look elsewhere.

Finding new teammates is always marginally more useful than free money and Heart Scales, especially if they're Brayser.

Can't wait to get myself an OP new friend.

Pokedex description! It's a manta ray. Also, aren't food and prey essentially the same thing? I mean, you're eating both.

This will be more relevant when it evolves, because it'll certainly HIT like one by that point.

Gods damn it. Stupid bag limitations...

-ONE BACKTRACK TO SELL THINGS LATER-

Getting a Blue Shard allows me to get a Water Stone for Chum, and finally evolve him!

Wow, it's like nothing changed at all. Quality spritework.

Skipping all the way to the Freezer, and wow this place is literally just the basem*nt floor of the Shoal Cave. What happened to the other two floors? THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW

At any rate, this gives me an opportunity to capture the thing I wanted, being Pengice. It's the Horsea replacement, in case anyone forgot.

Boy, am I glad Hoops still has Tackle.

Generic Pokedex description is generic!

I'd say something silly like "ice to meet you", but then you guys would probably give me the cold shoulder if I made any puns. I'd better not. No puns, alright? We cool? We cool.

One last capture before I call it quits and this one comes from Opalside Sea, the area that replaces the entrance to the Sootopolis expy.

Pokedex description.

See, it's funny because tunas are fish and toucans are birds, so...

...I'll let myself out.

Hm. This looks a bit familiar, doesn't it? Next time, we'll check it out. I'll make sure to practice holding my breath until then.