What are the standard Nuzlocke rules for Pokemon Gold and Silver?

You may catch only the first wild Pokemon in each route or area. Nickname every catch. Any Pokemon that faints is considered dead and must be boxed or released. Many runs add a dupes clause so already-owned evolutionary lines do not burn a route, plus separate clauses for gifts, static encounters, legendaries, Headbutt, fishing, and shinies.

Does Gold or Silver change a Gen 2 Nuzlocke?

Yes. Version exclusives change several routes. Gold has Growlithe, Mankey, and Ho-Oh as its box legendary path. Silver has Vulpix, Meowth, and Lugia. Use the version filter on this tracker and the Gold vs Silver comparison page before you start.

What softlocks a Gold and Silver Nuzlocke?

Missing field moves is the classic softlock. Cut gates Ilex Forest, Surf gates water routes, Strength is used in several dungeons, Whirlpool is needed for Whirl Islands and Dragon's Den, and Waterfall is needed at Tohjo Falls. Rocket Hideout does not use Whirlpool in the field, and Ice Path does not require Waterfall.

Is the Red Gyarados allowed in a Gold Silver Nuzlocke?

Most community rules treat Red Gyarados as a static encounter under a gift/static clause, not as the Lake of Rage grass encounter. Decide before you start and log it on this tracker under Lake of Rage.

Pokemon Gold & Silver Guide

Pokemon Gold Silver Nuzlocke Rules & Encounter Tracker - Gen 2 Challenge Run

Challenge run · Original GBC · Not HeartGold / SoulSilver

Pokemon Gold & Silver Nuzlocke tracker

Run a Gen 2 Nuzlocke on original Gold or Silver with first-encounter tables built from this site’s Gold/Silver wild encounter data. Toggle classic rules, filter Headbutt / Surf / fishing / roaming, mark catches and failures per area, keep a death log, and jump into the map, Pokédex, Team Planner, Gyms, and walkthrough when a route turns ugly.

First wild per area Nickname + permadeath Dupes clause ready Gold / Silver tables Johto + Kanto routes

First encounters · version exclusives · death log · original GBC

Fast Answer

Standard Gen 2 Nuzlocke, mapped to G/S

Core three: (1) only the first wild Pokémon in each area, (2) nickname every catch, (3) faint = death. On original Gold/Silver, decide before Route 29 how you treat Headbutt trees, fishing, Surfing water, gifts (Eevee, Togepi, Shuckle), Game Corner prizes such as Dratini, statics (Red Gyarados, Lapras, legendaries), and the Bug-Catching Contest. This page defaults to a practical mid-strict ruleset and lets you tighten or loosen clauses without leaving the browser.

Wild rows match the encounter tables used by the interactive map. Roaming beasts are tagged so they do not silently steal a route’s first encounter unless you enable Roaming.

Run status

Live counters

0Areas caught

0Areas failed / empty

0Living team logs

0Deaths

Start on Route 29 after you nickname your starter. Progress saves in localStorage for this browser.

Encounters

Route & dungeon first-encounter tables

Open map Full catch checklist

Default pool = Grass / Cave / building wilds. Enable Headbutt, Surf, fishing, Rock Smash, swarms, or roaming above if your house rules count them. Version-only rows are labeled.

Box & graveyard

Living party snapshot and death log

Validate in Team Planner Local save profiles

Log a death (species slug or name)

Death log

Survival

Softlock and wall checklist

HM coverage before gates

Cut (Ilex), Surf (water routes), Strength (several dungeons), Whirlpool (Whirl Islands and Dragon’s Den), Waterfall (Tohjo Falls), and optional Flash (Dark Cave / Rock Tunnel). Rocket Hideout awards Whirlpool but does not require field Whirlpool; Ice Path awards Waterfall but does not require it.

HM locations TM / HM tool

Whitney is still Whitney

Miltank’s Attract + Rollout ends more Nuzlockes than Clair. Plan a Fighting / Rock answer early (Goldenrod Machop trade is a gift under gift clause). Overlevel or X items if the box is thin.

Whitney guide Gym parties

Version pick = encounter map

Gold favors Growlithe / Mankey lines and Ho-Oh. Silver favors Vulpix / Meowth and Lugia. Exclusives change several routes—flip the Gold/Silver switch before you nickname anything on Route 29.

Exclusives table Which game?

Static high-value slots

Togepi Egg, Goldenrod Eevee, Cianwood Shuckle, Lake of Rage Red Gyarados, and Friday Lapras are common gift/static clauses. Original Gold/Silver has no Dragon’s Den gift Dratini; Dratini there is a fishing encounter.

Red Gyarados Eevee evolutions

Pre-run

Start-of-run checklist

Pick Gold or Silver and lock exclusivesUse the version switch on this page and the exclusives tool. Choose starter knowing Rival takes the counter typeCyndaquil is the easiest first Nuzlocke for most players. Write clauses down (dupes, gifts, Headbutt, fish, legendaries)Flip the toggles above so the tracker matches your sheet. Nickname starter immediatelyCore rule—no nameless death fodder. Stock balls before hard cavesUnion Cave, Slowpoke Well, and Burned Tower punish empty bags. Plan HM slave before Ilex / ocean / Ice PathOpen the HM checklist when your box is still flexible. Scout Whitney before Goldenrod GymDo not walk in blind with a mono-Normal weakness team. Backup emulator saves outside the Nuzlocke file if you allow itThis site never touches your ROM—browser state only.

Checklist state is stored in localStorage beside the encounter log.

FAQ

Common Gen 2 Nuzlocke questions

Is Crystal required?

No. Crystal is often recommended for Move Tutors and the Suicune story, but original Gold/Silver Nuzlockes are fully supported here. Crystal has different exclusive paths—use the comparison post if you are still choosing.

Do eggs count as encounters?

House rules vary. Common approach: Togepi Egg is a gift; Day Care eggs are banned or count as the Day Care area. This tracker does not auto-log eggs—add them manually as gifts if allowed.

What about phone rematches?

Rematches are trainer battles, not wild encounters. Use the Trainers database and Mechanics Lab phone tools for level spikes, not this wild table.

Can I monotype with this?

Yes. Filter species by visiting the Pokédex type pages after you see a route pool, or build the monotype squad in Team Planner once your box is deep enough.