The Fan-Made Pokémon Challenge · Since 2010
Nuzlocke Wiki
The complete guide to the Nuzlocke Challenge — two simple rules that turn any Pokémon game into a permadeath run. Learn the rules, pick a variant, plan encounters and level caps, and track your run from Route 101 to the Champion.
Popular Nuzlocke story: “I Attempted my First Pokemon Nuzlocke” — 99M+ views- 2010
- Origin Year
- 2
- Core Rules
- 160K+
- Reddit Community
- 99M+
- Views on the Popular Nuzlocke Video
New here?
Start Here
New to Nuzlocke? Take these four steps in order.
Beginner Guide
Never run a Nuzlocke before? Start with the basics: what the challenge is, how the two core rules work, and how to survive your first run.
Read the Beginner Guide 2Nuzlocke Rules
The two core rules — first encounter only, and faint means death — plus the common clauses players add, like Dupes, Species and Shiny clauses.
View the Rules 3Hardcore Nuzlocke
Ready for the real test? Hardcore rules add level caps and battle restrictions on top of the core ruleset for the toughest runs.
Learn Hardcore Rules 4Game-Specific Guides
Choose your Pokémon game and find encounter planning, level caps, major boss battles, dangerous trainers and strategies tailored to that specific Nuzlocke.
Choose a Pokémon GameThe Challenge
What is a Nuzlocke?
A Nuzlocke is a fan-created Pokémon challenge that began in 2010 when Nick Franco started a Pokémon Ruby playthrough using two self-imposed rules: only catch the first Pokémon encountered in each area, and permanently retire any Pokémon that faints.
The idea developed into a large challenge-running community with optional clauses, Hardcore rules and many variants. Today players use Nuzlocke rules across different Pokémon games, ROM hacks and community challenges while tracking encounters, deaths, level caps and major battles.
The two core rules
Core Rule 1
First Encounter Only
You may only catch the first Pokémon you encounter in each new area. If it faints or flees, you get nothing from that route.
Core Rule 2
Faint = Death
If a Pokémon faints, it is considered dead and must be permanently retired — released or boxed forever.
Clauses like nicknaming, Dupes Clause, Species Clause and Shiny Clause are common optional additions — not part of the original two rules.
Facts
Nuzlocke at a Glance
- Creator
- Nick Franco
- Origin Game
- Pokémon Ruby
- Origin Year
- 2010
- Format
- Fan-Made Challenge Ruleset
- Core Rules
- 2
- Reddit Community
- 160K+ members
- Discord Community
- 7.3K+ members
Site Map
Explore the Nuzlocke Universe
The core sections of the site — each one growing into a full guide library.
Rules & Clauses
The two core rules, extra clauses, gift Pokémon rules and level cap rules — the foundation of every run.
First EncounterFaint = DeathClausesHardcore Nuzlocke
Level caps, battle rules and restrictions for players who want the hardest possible challenge.
Level CapsBattle RulesVariants
Randomizer, Soul Link, Genlocke, Wedlocke, Monotype, Egglocke and more ways to remix the challenge.
RandomizerSoul LinkEgglockePokémon Games
Per-game guides: encounters, level caps, gym leaders, boss battles and Elite Four preparation.
EmeraldFireRedPlatinumTools & Trackers
Run tracker, encounter tracker, level cap tracker, team planner and graveyard tracker for live runs.
TrackerTeam PlannerTips & Strategy
Encounter planning, team building, safe switching, critical hits and boss preparation.
Team BuildingBoss PrepReading List
Essential Guides
The reading list every Nuzlocke player works through.
Nuzlocke Beginner Guide
Your first run, step by step — from choosing a game to facing the Champion.
Read guide RulesNuzlocke Rules Explained
The two core rules and every common clause, with clear examples.
Read guide RulesHardcore Nuzlocke Rules
Level caps, no items in battle and Set mode — the community hard format.
Read guide VariantRandomizer Nuzlocke
The most popular variant — random encounters on top of the core rules.
Read guide Game GuidePokémon Emerald Nuzlocke Guide
Encounters, level caps and boss fights for the classic Hoenn run.
Read guide GuideNuzlocke Tips
Boss research, crit planning, safe switching and the Explosion warning.
Read guideSources & Community
Community & Original Sources
Where the challenge was born — and where runs are shared today.
Questions
Nuzlocke FAQ
What is a Nuzlocke in Pokémon?
A Nuzlocke is a fan-created Pokémon challenge with two core rules: you may only catch the first Pokémon you encounter in each area, and any Pokémon that faints is considered dead and can never be used again. It turns a normal playthrough into a permadeath run.
What are the official Nuzlocke rules?
There are only two core rules, defined by creator Nick Franco in 2010: catch only your first encounter in each new area, and treat every faint as a permanent death. Everything else — nicknames, Dupes Clause, level caps — is an optional add-on, and the r/nuzlocke community still recognises the same two rules as the core of the challenge.
Who created the Nuzlocke Challenge?
Nick Franco created the Nuzlocke in 2010 during a Pokémon Ruby playthrough, documenting it as a webcomic on nuzlocke.com. Readers named the challenge after Nuzleaf combined with John Locke from Lost.
What is a Hardcore Nuzlocke?
A Hardcore Nuzlocke adds extra restrictions on top of the two core rules — most commonly level caps (your Pokémon may not exceed the next boss’s ace level) and battle rules such as no items in battle. It is the standard format for experienced challenge runners.
Is Nuzlocke an official Pokémon game mode?
No. Nuzlocke is entirely fan-made and is not an official mode in any Pokémon game. Players enforce the rules themselves, often with the help of trackers and community tools.
Which Pokémon game is best for a first Nuzlocke?
The community runs Nuzlockes in nearly every main-series game, from FireRed and Emerald to Platinum, HeartGold/SoulSilver, Black/White and Scarlet/Violet. Our game-specific guides cover encounters, level caps and boss battles per game so you can pick the run that fits you.
Ready to Start Your Nuzlocke?
Choose your Pokémon game, set your rules and clauses, check the level caps and encounters, then begin a run where every battle and every team member matters.