Branch Locke -- Custom Nuzlocke Variant Tutorials
4This video is a visual tutorial on how to play a Branch Locke variant of a Pokemon game. The rules are listed below.
1. If a pokemon faints, it is considered dead and can no longer be used.
2. Throughout the game, only the first pokemon encountered in each unique route can be caught. If that pokemon flees, faints, or is run away from, the encounter is forfeited and no other pokemon can be caught in that route. There are 2 caveats to this rule: If the first encountered pokemon is in the same evolution line as a pokemon that has already been caught, I can continue to re-encounter until I get a pokemon of a species I haven't yet caught (species clause) or if at any time a shiny pokemon is encountered, I can catch and use this pokemon regardless of where it was encountered (shiny clause).
3. All pokemon must be nicknamed to encourage forming an emotional bond.
4. If all pokemon on the player's team and in the PC die, the player loses the game. However, if their entire team dies but they have pokemon in the PC that are still alive, they can continue with those pokemon. (Note some variations stipulate that if the player's team dies, they lose regardless of if they have more pokemon in the PC)
In addition to these rules, the Branch Locke includes the following additional rules and terms:
Base Mon - A pokemon from which a branch can start. These mons include the starter, the first successful catch, and any static/gift pokemon
Branch Mon - A pokemon that must branch off a base mon to be added to the team. These include all normal nuzlocke encounters
Root Mon - The pokemon that a Branch Mon is branched off from. Every Branch Mon must have a Root Mon. Root Mons can either be a Base Mon or a Branch Mon that is in some way connected to a Base Mon through branching
Unbranched Mon - A pokémon that cannot currently be connected to a Base Mon through branching
1. All usable Pokemon must either be a Base Mon or successfully branch off of another mon.
2. To successfully branch a mon, the new pokemon must share a typing with a current mon. The typing can be either the primary or secondary typing of either mon, but they must match. (Ex: A Houndoom [Dark/Fire] can be branched off of a Charizard [Fire/Flying] or a Sharpedo [Water/Dark])
3. If the first encounter in a route cannot be successfully branched, the player has the option to re-encounter to find a mon that can be successfully branched. If the player chooses to catch the unbranchable mon anyway, they can branch it with any pokemon caught later.
4. All team members must either be a Base Mon or a Branch Mon whose Root Mon is on the team.
5. If a mon faints, not only is it considered dead, but all mons branched off of it can no longer be used. The player must either rebranch the mons to a new mon, or consider them unbranchable until they can be rebranched on a later mon. The player cannot use the displaced mons in battle, and if necessary, must sacrifice them to get out of a battle.
The goal is to beat the Champion within these restrictions.