Hardcore Nuzlocke
Level caps for every game
The first and final level cap of every main-story Pokémon game — with a full table of gym leaders, trials, the Elite Four and story bosses in each guide.
A level cap is the level of the boss’s strongest Pokémon. Read the Hardcore Nuzlocke rules for how caps work, or let the Nuzlocke tracker apply them for you.
| Game | Gen | First battle | First cap | Final battle | Final cap | Battles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red & BlueKanto | I | Brock | Lv14 | Blue | Lv65 | 13 |
| YellowKanto | I | Brock | Lv12 | Blue | Lv65 | 13 |
| Gold & SilverJohto | II | Falkner | Lv9 | Lance | Lv50 | 13 |
| CrystalJohto | II | Falkner | Lv9 | Lance | Lv50 | 13 |
| Ruby & SapphireHoenn | III | Roxanne | Lv15 | Steven | Lv58 | 13 |
| EmeraldHoenn | III | Roxanne | Lv15 | Wallace | Lv58 | 13 |
| FireRed & LeafGreenKanto | III | Brock | Lv14 | Blue | Lv63 | 13 |
| Diamond & PearlSinnoh | IV | Roark | Lv14 | Cynthia | Lv66 | 13 |
| PlatinumSinnoh | IV | Roark | Lv14 | Cynthia | Lv62 | 13 |
| HeartGold & SoulSilverJohto | IV | Falkner | Lv13 | Lance | Lv50 | 13 |
| Black & WhiteUnova | V | Cilan | Lv14 | Alder | Lv77 | 13 |
| Black 2 & White 2Unova | V | Cheren | Lv13 | Iris | Lv59 | 13 |
| X & YKalos | VI | Viola | Lv12 | Diantha | Lv68 | 13 |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha SapphireHoenn | VI | Roxanne | Lv14 | Steven | Lv59 | 13 |
| Sun & MoonAlola | VII | Totem Gumshoos / Raticate | Lv12 | Kukui | Lv58 | 16 |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra MoonAlola | VII | Totem Gumshoos / Raticate | Lv12 | Hau | Lv60 | 18 |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Eevee!Kanto | VII | Brock | Lv12 | Trace | Lv57 | 13 |
| Sword & ShieldGalar | VIII | Milo | Lv20 | Leon | Lv65 | 15 |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining PearlSinnoh | VIII | Roark | Lv14 | Cynthia | Lv66 | 13 |
| Legends: ArceusHisui | VIII | Kleavor | Lv18 | Avalugg | Lv56 | 5 |
| Scarlet & VioletPaldea | IX | Katy | Lv15 | Geeta | Lv62 | 29 |
| Legends: Z-AKalos | IX | Rank Z · Promotion | Lv9 | Rank B · Promotion | Lv63 | 27 |
FAQ
About level caps.
What is a level cap in a Nuzlocke?
A level cap is the highest level your Pokémon may have before a boss battle. It equals the level of the boss’s strongest Pokémon, usually their ace. Level caps are a core rule of the Hardcore Nuzlocke.
Do rival and villain battles have level caps?
Classic Hardcore rules only cap gym leaders, the Elite Four and the Champion. Many runners also cap rivals and villain bosses; each game guide lists those battles separately.
What happens if a Pokémon is over the cap?
The usual rule: it may not take part in the next capped battle. Box it until the cap rises or keep it out of the party for that fight.