Finished your first Nuzlocke? The format is endlessly adaptable. Players have invented dozens of variants — some make the game harder, some make it stranger and some turn it into a group project. Here are eight of the most popular, what their rules look like and who they are for.
1. Hardcore Nuzlocke
The rules: the standard Nuzlocke plus level caps before every boss, no items in battle and the Set battle style.
Who it’s for: players who want to beat the game at a fair level instead of out-grinding it. Every boss fight becomes a puzzle of typing, switching and move choice.
Read the full Hardcore Nuzlocke rules and look up the level caps for every game.
2. Soul Link (Soullocke)
The rules: two or more players play at the same time. Pokémon caught in the same area are linked — they join the team, the box and the graveyard together.
Who it’s for: friends, couples and streamers. It doubles the drama and turns every encounter into a conversation.
See the Soul Link rules and the SoulLink tracker for 2–4 players.
3. Randomizer Nuzlocke
The rules: a standard Nuzlocke on a randomized ROM — new starters, wild Pokémon, trainer teams and sometimes types, abilities and evolutions.
Who it’s for: anyone who knows a game too well. It is also the easiest way to make an old favourite feel new.
Get started with the randomizer Nuzlocke guide and the in-browser Pokémon Randomizer.
4. Monotype (Monolocke)
The rules: you may only use Pokémon of one type. Encounters of other types don’t count, so you keep looking in each area until you find one of your type — or the area is skipped.
Who it’s for: players who like theme teams and hard constraints. Bug in Kanto or Ice in Hoenn will test your planning; Water almost anywhere is a gentler start.
5. Genlocke
The rules: play several games in a row — often one from each generation — and carry your survivors forward. Depending on the group, they are transferred to the next game or recreated there. Many Genlockes also “retire” a team after a set number of games.
Who it’s for: long-term runners. A Genlocke can take months, and a Pokémon that survives five games becomes a legend.
6. Wonderlocke
The rules: every Pokémon you catch is immediately sent away through Wonder Trade — called Surprise Trade in Sword & Shield — and replaced by whatever comes back.
Who it’s for: players who love surprises. Keep in mind that Wonder Trade in the Nintendo 3DS games stopped working when Nintendo ended 3DS online services in April 2024. Today, Sword & Shield is the practical choice, and Surprise Trade needs a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
7. Egglocke
The rules: friends or community members prepare eggs, and every Pokémon you catch is swapped for one of them. You never know what hatches — or what moves it knows.
Who it’s for: communities and streamers. It needs trading or save-editing tools and someone willing to prepare the eggs.
8. Difficulty ROM hacks
The rules: a standard or Hardcore Nuzlocke on a fan-made difficulty hack — popular examples include Radical Red, Pokémon Unbound, Emerald Kaizo and Run & Bun. These hacks raise trainer levels, give bosses competitive teams and often change mechanics.
Who it’s for: experienced players looking for the hardest runs. The PokéRuns trackers support custom game profiles, so you can add your own areas and milestones for a hack. The randomizer is designed for the official games, and ROM hacks are not guaranteed to work.
Mix and match
Variants combine well. A Hardcore Soul Link, a randomized Monotype or a randomized Soul Link with a shared seed are all popular. The only rule for rules: decide them before the first encounter, write them down and stick to them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest Nuzlocke variant?
It depends on the game, but a Hardcore Nuzlocke on a difficulty ROM hack is usually considered the toughest challenge. A Hardcore Soul Link is a close second, because your partner’s losses become yours.
Which variant is best after my first Nuzlocke?
A Randomizer Nuzlocke is the easiest next step: the rules stay the same, but the game feels completely new. If you prefer playing with friends, try a Soul Link.
Can I track these variants with PokéRuns?
Yes. The Nuzlocke tracker covers Hardcore, Monotype and randomizer runs, the SoulLink tracker handles two to four players, and custom game profiles cover ROM hacks.
