The Artful Nuzlocke Ep1: A New Beginning

Hello to the echo chamber.

With Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen being re-released in February 2026 on the Nintendo Switch, I’ve decided to start a Nuzlocke run.

Yes—that’s right. Another random person online documenting a FireRed Nuzlocke.

It starts like they always do—simple, manageable, and under control.

I should probably explain the rules… just in case..

Episode 1 – The First Stroke–(LV 14 Cap)

Here we are again in that nostalgic haven of Pallet Town.

I walk downstairs, say goodbye to Mum, and head off into the wilderness… only to immediately get told off by Professor Oak because apparently its unsafe out there, yeah right!

Old Man Oak drags me to his Laboratory and I find my arch nemesis Ink standing there already, looking smug.

Decision time.

I immediately remembered how difficult this moment is…

I chose Bulbasaur.

I named him Sprout—a great name for a Bulbasaur. His nature was Bashful, which honestly feels pretty fitting for a sprout.

Ink opened the run exactly how you’d expect—annoying, confident, and of course picking the one thing strong against me.

The fight itself wasn’t too bad a little bit too close for comfort, but it was a good reminder that even early battles can go wrong if you’re careless.

We end the fight in the red… but victorious over Ink and his Charmander.

I leave Pallet Town and wander up the road into Viridian City. Along the way, I run from a Pidgey and pick up a free Potion from a stranger—honestly, who wouldn’t?

Me and Sprout arrive in Viridian, walk into the Poké Mart, and to my embarrassment I’m immediately being shouted at by a man telling ME to deliver something back to Pallet Town.

I only came in for supplies.

I’ve left with a new career path.

I carry on heading towards Viridian Forest when I stumble across a drunk blocking the path.

What is going on here?

With nowhere else to go, I reluctantly head back to Pallet Town and hand-deliver the professor his Parcel. He gives me and Ink our Pokédexes, five Poké Balls, and sends us on our way… again.

First encounter time.

I walk up the tiny two-tile-wide path and find a Lv4 Pidgey. Sprout gets her down to half health and I catch her easily.

She’s named Sky, and weirdly she’s also Bashful.

Not the most exciting catch—but in a Nuzlocke, you don’t really get to be picky plus who doesn’t like a Pidgey?

Next up, we take a left before the drunk and head onto Route 22 for our second encounter.

I believe there are three possible encounters here—Mankey, Spearow, or Rattata. I’m hoping to avoid another flying type, and I’ll likely run into a Rattata later anyway.

So when I see a Lv2 Mankey appear, I’m very happy.

I get him down to just over half health and throw a ball.

He escapes.

I throw another.

He escapes again.

Two balls left.

I decide to tackle one more time—fingers crossed I don’t crit.

It pays off. Sprout gets him into red health, I throw the ball…

Caught.

A new comrade.

I name him Bam, check his nature—Gentle.

That does not feel very fitting for a Mankey.

I level the team to 8/7/7 on Route 1 and head towards the forest. The drunk who was blocking me earlier has now sobered himself up and approaches me, shouting something about showing me how to catch a Pokémon.

Can’t he see the three on my belt?

He somehow finds a wild Weedle crossing the road and throws an absolute fluke that catches it first time.

That poor Weedle.

He then tells me this is his 10,000th attempt at a Nuzlocke and that he started doing them when he was my age…which explains the drinking and the attempted roadblock.

I move on.

Route 2 time this is small path either side of Viridian Forest.

Here I can get Rattata, Pidgey, Caterpie, or Weedle.

We encounter a Lv3 Rattata.

I was hoping for a Caterpie—but it wasn’t to be.

Bam gets it down to half health, I throw a Poké Ball…

Caught first time.

Easy.

I name him Rat.

Check his nature.

Serious.

A serious Rat.

Perfect.

This is where things started to feel a bit more real.

I head into my first proper trainer battle vs Bug Catcher Rick. I lead with Bam, he leads with Weedle.

Immediate panic.

Bam gets poisoned.

Brilliant. Fantastic. Exactly how I planned this and I forgot to go back to the Mart subconsciously I think I was trying to avoid more free labour.

Great start.

Bam finishes the Weedle with about half health left. Rick sends in Caterpie, I switch to Sky to finish the job.

We win—but now it’s a race against poison.

I make it back to the Pokémon Centre using one Potion on the way.

Bam survives!

This time, I actually remember to go to the Poké Mart.

Flush with cash from beating Ink, Rick, and stealing my mother’s life savings, I stock up on:

Leaving me with around 500 Poké Dollars.

Also—who is running Kanto’s economy? Prices haven’t changed in 20+ years. No inflation. Incredible work.

Back into the Forest.

And in my excitement earlier… I completely forgot to get my encounter.

Viridian Forest has a lot to offer:
Caterpie, Weedle, Metapod, Kakuna… or Pikachu.

Realistically, I’d love a Caterpie.

But instead—

Wow.

Using Rat, I get it down to half health and catch it.

I name her Lucky—because apparently there’s only a 5% chance of finding one here.

I check her nature.

Sassy.

A sassy Pikachu.

This run is going well.

Too well.

At this point I have five Pokémon, but I decide to box Rat for now—better to have some insurance than lose everything at once.

After beating Bug Catchers Doug, Anthony, Charlie, and Sammy (whose Weedle is suspiciously high levelled and is one level off being a Beedrill), I leave Viridian Forest 374 Poké Dollars richer.

More importantly—first hurdle complete.

I arrive in Pewter City. Unlike Viridian, no one is harassing me to do free work for them.

We heal up.

Looking at the team:

– Sprout – Lv10
– Bam – Lv10
– Sky – Lv9
– Lucky – Lv7

I could risk taking on Brock… but I don’t think its a good idea, one critical hit and the run is in jeopardy not worth it.

Then I remember my nemesis—Ink.

On my way back down to our rematch I raise Lucky to Level 9 learning Thunder wave, this move is very important for making it easier to catch Pokémon at lower levels.

Round two.

I find Ink again.

Still just as smug.

He leads with a Lv9 Pidgey.

It has absolutely no chance against Lucky.

He gets one measley Sand Attack off before being completely humbled.

Charmander comes out next.

I keep Lucky in—he scratches and gets paralysed from Static (Luckys incredible ability), I land a Thunder Shock, switch to Bam, and finish it with two Low Kicks.

Clean.

Ink tells me I lucked out.

I agree.

That’s why I named her that.

He runs off crying again and I continue on my way back to Pewter City en route I raise Sprout and Bam up to Lv12. Bam learns Karate Chop at Lv11, which is such a great move in the early game.

Time for Brock.

Team going in:

– Sprout the Bashful Bulbasaur – Lv12
– Bam the Gentle Mankey– Lv12
– Sky the Bashful Pidgey– Lv10
– Lucky the Sassy Pikachu– Lv10

A quick warm-up against Camper Liam—who tells me I’m “light years” away from Brock.

I destroy his team in four moves.

Also, I got the line in before he does “light years measure distance, not time kid”

GG you tried.

I start to overthink who should be leading the line for the battle with Brock do I go with Sprout or Bam? I chose to go with Sprout as he’s just a bit more tanky.

Brock introduces himself and tells me his Pokémon are rock hard….HUH?

Vine Whip.

Critical hit.

Geodude down…the perfect start!

Onix comes out.

I set up a Leech Seed—just for good measure. Onix tackles.

I switch to Bam.

Low Kick—almost a one hit KO.

He goes for a Bind but its useless.

Leech Seed finishes his pathetic Onix off.

Camper Liam was more of a challenge than Brock what’s all the fuss about?

—

Post match clarity and Brock pays me 1400 Poké dollars for the honour and hands me over my first Badge the Boulder badge he tells me this will allow me to flash outside what is it with this guy?

He also hands over TM39 containing Rock Tomb who knows this might be useful one day.

—

I leave the gym and suddenly remember being a kid, playing Pokémon Yellow, convinced Brock was going to follow me after I beat him—and being very disappointed when I realised he didn’t.

But after those strange conversations we’ve just had, I’d be inclined to call the police if he started following me around now.

 Current Team

For a first time playing a Nuzlocke in a few years this feels like a pretty strong start, we also cant forget about my Rat in the box.

This is going too well and if my past experiences are anything to go by that’s usually when everything starts to fall apart!

Coming in the next episode of an Artful Nuzlocke:

• Route 3

• Mt. Moon (this could go badly)

• New encounters

• Ink…Round 3?

If you want to follow along or try your own run, a tracker like this helps:

→ Episode 2 (Route 3-Nugget bridge)