Challenge run manual
Nuzlocke Variants Ranked: Every Major Type Tier-Listed by Difficulty (2026)
A complete tier list of every popular Nuzlocke variant — Hardcore, Wedlocke, Soul Link, Cagelocke, Wonderlocke, and 20 more — ranked S to D by difficulty with full rules for each.
The Nuzlocke challenge has grown from two rules on a 4chan comic in 2010 into a sprawling family of variants — some made for higher difficulty, some for theme, some for co-op, and some that exist purely to be deranged. There are now more than 25 named variants in active circulation, and choosing which one to attempt is its own challenge.
This guide tier-ranks every popular Nuzlocke variant by how hard it actually is to finish, breaks down the rules for each, and tells you which one to try next based on where you are in your Nuzlocking journey.
If you haven’t done a standard Nuzlocke yet, start with our Complete Nuzlocke Guide first. Variants assume you know the base rules.
Key Takeaways
- The Nuzlocke community recognizes 25+ named variants in active use as of 2026.
- The hardest variants (S-Tier) include the Kaizo Hardcore Nuzlocke, Cagelocke, and NOHKOlocke — most runners never complete one.
- The most beginner-friendly variants (D-Tier) like Egglocke, Wonderlocke, and Giftlocke change the experience without significantly raising difficulty.
- Hardcore Nuzlocke (Set Mode + level caps + no items) is the current gold-standard “hard but fair” ruleset.
- Co-op variants like Soul Link and Taglocke change difficulty based on your partner’s skill more than the rules themselves.
- The best progression path is Standard → Hardcore → themed variant (Wedlocke or Monolocke) → community-driven variant (Cagelocke or Draftlocke).
How We Ranked These Variants
Tier placement here isn’t subjective vibes — it’s based on six concrete criteria:
- Death rate — how often Pokémon die in a typical run.
- Team flexibility — how much the ruleset restricts your viable team choices.
- Strategic depth required — does winning need advanced planning, or just standard Nuzlocke awareness?
- Game knowledge needed — do you need to know exact movesets, AI patterns, and route tables?
- Restart frequency — how often runners reset within the first few badges.
- Completion rate — what percentage of started runs actually finish.
A variant is S-Tier if it fails on most of those criteria simultaneously. D-Tier variants alter the experience of a run without significantly raising the difficulty.
The tier list below covers 25 active variants. Lesser-known one-offs (Sleeplocke, Tasklocke, etc.) are mentioned in passing because they’re more meta-challenges than rules changes.
The Nuzlocke Variant Tier List
| Tier | Variants |
|---|---|
| S (Near-impossible) | Kaizo Hardcore Nuzlocke, Cagelocke, NOHKOlocke |
| A (Brutally hard) | Hardcore Nuzlocke, Wedlocke, Soul Link Hardcore, Starlocke, Loserlocke |
| B (Hard) | Randomizer Nuzlocke, Wonderlocke, Egglocke (blind), Monolocke, Routelocke, Snaplocke, Trashlocke, Chesslocke, Generationlocke |
| C (Themed challenges) | Soul Link (vanilla), Apocalocke, Uniquelocke, Colorlocke, Ballocke, Tribelocke, Giftlocke |
| D (Novelty / casual) | Alphabetlocke, Draftlocke, Taglocke, Zombielocke, Lorelocke, Sleeplocke, Tasklocke |
S-Tier: The Hardest Nuzlockes Ever Devised
These variants have completion rates well under 5% even among experienced Nuzlockers. They combine multiple punishing rule layers and are often paired with the hardest games or ROM hacks.
Kaizo Hardcore Nuzlocke
The Kaizo Hardcore is a Hardcore Nuzlocke played on a Kaizo ROM hack — fan-made difficulty mods like Emerald Kaizo, Radical Red, Run & Bun, or Inclement Emerald. These hacks feature trainer Pokémon with perfect EVs/IVs, custom movesets designed for maximum coverage, and difficulty curves that assume the player will optimize every turn.
Why it’s S-Tier: You’re stacking the hardest fan-made difficulty on top of Set Mode + level cap + no items. Trainers carry held items, use coverage moves, and have full team synergy. Completing one is a real achievement that runners stream for weeks.
Best for: Experienced Nuzlockers looking for the actual highest difficulty in the hobby.
Cagelocke
Created by YouTuber aDrive, the Cagelocke is a competitive multiplayer variant where players race through the same game with standard Nuzlocke rules — but every time all players earn the same badge, they battle each other in Pokémon Showdown using their current teams. The winner kills or steals one of the loser’s Pokémon.
Why it’s S-Tier: Your team is constantly being raided by other players. You need to win both the Nuzlocke AND the inter-player PvP battles. A single PvP loss can gut your team. Adding to the difficulty: no TMs, no Held Items, no box-swapping.
Best for: Groups of 3-4 friends who want a competitive Nuzlocke series. Often streamed as multi-week competitive events.
NOHKOlocke
Short for “No One-Hit-KO Locke” (sometimes called “Glass Cannon Locke”). The rule: any Pokémon that knocks out a full-HP opposing Pokémon in a single hit must be released. Your strongest Pokémon kill themselves.
Why it’s S-Tier: You can’t actually use your best Pokémon. Strategic depth is enormous because you’re constantly weighing damage rolls and trying to avoid the OHKO threshold. Late-game becomes effectively impossible since high-level Pokémon naturally one-shot weaker enemies.
Best for: Min-max players who enjoy reverse-optimization. Frequently combined with a randomizer for added chaos.
A-Tier: Brutally Hard, but Beatable
A-Tier variants are the gold-standard “hard” Nuzlockes. They demand serious preparation and game knowledge, but skilled runners complete them regularly.
Hardcore Nuzlocke
The current default for “hard mode” Nuzlockes. The Hardcore ruleset stacks four extra constraints on top of the standard rules:
- Set Mode — no free switches between battles.
- Level cap — your Pokémon cannot exceed the highest-level Pokémon of the next Gym Leader.
- No items in trainer battles — no Potions, X-Attacks, or Revives during fights.
- Dupes Clause off — your first encounter is your first encounter, even if it’s the fifth Zubat.
This is the format most competitive Nuzlocke streamers play. The level cap alone forces you to actually use your full team instead of solo-ing the game with an over-leveled starter.
Best for: Players who’ve completed a few Standard Nuzlockes and want a clear next step.
Wedlocke
In a Wedlocke, every Pokémon is paired with another by gender — these pairs are “married couples.” Once paired, you may only switch between a Pokémon and its partner during a single battle. Lose one of a pair, and the other becomes a “widow/widower” who can only fight solo.
Why it’s A-Tier: Battle strategy collapses to two-Pokémon mini-teams. Type coverage becomes brutal. A pair that’s weak to a common type is a death sentence. Sometimes a gym just can’t be beaten with your current pairings, and you have to grind a new catch into existence.
Best for: Players who enjoy puzzle-like team building and accept that some runs are doomed from the start.
Soul Link Hardcore
A two-player Soul Link with the Hardcore ruleset applied to both runs. Two players’ Pokémon are paired across games — if your partner’s linked Pokémon dies, yours dies too.
Why it’s A-Tier: You’re doubling the death rate. Your level cap is constrained by the slower player. A wipe by either player can end the whole co-op run. Communication and synchronization become more important than mechanical skill.
Best for: Pairs of skilled runners who’ve already done a vanilla Soul Link and want the next step.
Starlocke
In a Starlocke, you start with one Pokémon of each of the 18 types (chosen at game start, often randomized). You may not catch any others. You also may not switch Pokémon out of battle unless they faint.
Why it’s A-Tier: No backup plan. Every Pokémon must carry its own weight in its matchup. No switching means no pivot plays. The 18-team roster sounds generous but most of those Pokémon will be box pets after the first few badges.
Best for: Players who want a Wedlocke-style restriction with more variety.
Loserlocke
The Loserlocke restricts you to one or two-stage evolutionary lines only (no three-stage families) and only allows regular Poké Balls — no Ultras, no Greats, no Quick Balls. Translation: weaker Pokémon, harder catches.
Why it’s A-Tier: Your team caps out at Pokémon like Linoone, Pelipper, Tropius, and Crobat. They’re fine, but they’re not Garchomp. Combined with the regular-ball-only catch restriction, you’ll fail to catch wild encounters more often, losing precious team slots.
Best for: Players who want a self-imposed underdog story.
B-Tier: Hard, Structured, and Strategic
B-Tier variants change the texture of a Nuzlocke significantly without combining as many punishing systems as the A-Tier. They’re harder than the base challenge in distinct, specific ways.
Randomizer Nuzlocke
Every wild Pokémon, every trainer Pokémon, and (optionally) every move and ability is randomized using the Universal Pokémon Randomizer tool. Your starter could be Magikarp. The first wild encounter could be Mewtwo. Lance’s Dragonites could be Caterpies — or Garchomps.
Why it’s B-Tier: Variance is the entire challenge. You can get blessed runs and cursed runs. Strategic depth is high (you can’t memorize movesets) but luck plays a bigger role than skill.
Wonderlocke
Every Pokémon you catch must immediately be Wonder Traded online. You use whatever random Pokémon you receive in return. Most rulesets include a level restriction: if the received Pokémon is too high level, you trade again.
Why it’s B-Tier: Forces team variance without the full chaos of a randomizer. Late-game Wonder Trade is mostly Zubats and Wurmples, so you usually end up with a workable team — but never the one you wanted.
Egglocke (Blind)
Every encounter is replaced with an egg from a shared pool (often community-sourced via Twitch chat or pre-generated). You don’t know what’s in the egg until it hatches.
Why it’s B-Tier: Eggs hatch at level 1 with limited move pools. You’re constantly babysitting underleveled Pokémon. Some pools are stacked with great Pokémon; others are pure trolls. Combine with hardcore rules for true suffering.
Monolocke (Monotype Challenge)
You may only catch and use Pokémon of one type. If your first encounter isn’t that type, you skip it. Sometimes called the “Gym Leader Challenge.”
Why it’s B-Tier: Type coverage on the opposing side becomes nightmarish. A pure Bug or Ice run can be borderline impossible against certain champions. The ruleset is highly variable in difficulty depending on which type you pick — Water is easy mode, Bug is suffering.
Routelocke
You select a single route and may only use Pokémon that can be encountered there. The encounter list is your team pool for the whole game.
Why it’s B-Tier: Some routes have 8 viable Pokémon; some have 2. The difficulty entirely depends on which route you pick. Early-game routes give weak Pokémon; mid-game routes give a small but powerful pool.
Snaplocke / Trashlocke
In a Snaplocke, half the Pokémon in the game’s regional Pokédex are “snapped” out of existence (usually via community vote). You can’t catch or use the snapped half. The Trashlocke is similar but specifically removes the best Pokémon, often via tier-list consensus.
Why it’s B-Tier: Forces creative team building. The “good” Pokémon you’d default to are gone. Tier-3 Pokémon get their moment.
Chesslocke
Each Pokémon on your team is assigned a chess piece role (King, Queen, Rook, Bishop, Knight, Pawn) with restrictions matching that piece. Kings can’t directly attack. Pawns are sacrificial. Queens can do anything but are vulnerable. The rules vary by ruleset version but always limit how each Pokémon is used.
Why it’s B-Tier: Strategic theater. You’re playing a meta-game on top of the Nuzlocke. Loses points for being more about creative interpretation than raw difficulty.
Generationlocke
You complete a Nuzlocke in every generation of Pokémon games in chronological order, in a single continuous challenge. The surviving Champions of each generation get transferred forward as starters for the next.
Why it’s B-Tier: Length, not difficulty per game, is the challenge. A full Generationlocke from Red/Blue through Scarlet/Violet takes hundreds of hours. Many runners attempt this as a year-long project.
C-Tier: Themed Twists with Real Bite
C-Tier variants add narrative or thematic restrictions without making the run mechanically much harder than a standard Nuzlocke.
Soul Link (Vanilla)
The two-player co-op Nuzlocke. Each player’s first encounter on a route is paired with the partner’s first encounter on the same route. Linked Pokémon live and die together.
Why it’s C-Tier: Adds 2x the deaths on a route but the actual gameplay is identical to a standard Nuzlocke. The challenge is coordinating with your partner, not the rule itself.
Apocalocke
You pick (or are assigned) an apocalyptic disaster theme that limits your usable Pokémon types. “Plague” might let you use only Poison, Bug, and Dark. “Drought” gives you Fire, Ground, and Rock. “Eternal Winter” restricts you to Ice and a few support types.
Why it’s C-Tier: Similar to Monolocke but with multiple types allowed, making team-building easier. The theme is the appeal.
Uniquelocke
No two Pokémon on your active team may share a type. Once you catch a Fire-type, no other Fire-types (or even Fire-secondaries) can be in your party.
Why it’s C-Tier: Forces type diversity but in practice doesn’t make a Nuzlocke much harder — you’d diversify naturally anyway. Strategic constraint, not difficulty multiplier.
Colorlocke
You pick a color from the Pokémon color category (red, blue, green, yellow, purple, etc.) and may only use Pokémon of that color. The Pokémon color classification is independent of typing — Charizard is Red, Bronzong is Green, Drednaw is Green.
Why it’s C-Tier: Most colors give you a workable team. The challenge depends entirely on which color you pick. Brown and Purple are hardest; Blue and Green are easy.
Ballocke
You may only catch one Pokémon per type of Poké Ball (one in a Pokéball, one in a Great Ball, one in an Ultra Ball, etc.). Specialty balls (Net, Dive, Dusk, Moon) count separately.
Why it’s C-Tier: Limits team size but adds collection-flavor. Some routes only let you use one type of Ball strategically (you can’t waste Ultra Balls early), which adds resource management.
Tribelocke
Pokémon are caught in randomly-sized “tribes” (2-4 at a time, when you encounter them on a route). The tribe must fight together as a unit. Lose one tribe member, and the whole tribe is released.
Why it’s C-Tier: Reduces total Pokémon caught and creates pseudo-Wedlocke clusters. Loses bite because most tribes are small and the rule is less restrictive than a true Wedlocke.
Giftlocke
You may not catch any Pokémon. You only use your starter and Pokémon obtained from NPCs as gifts.
Why it’s C-Tier: Wildly restrictive on paper, but most Pokémon games give you 4-6 gift Pokémon during the main story, which is enough to fill a team. Lower difficulty than expected because gift Pokémon are usually strong.
D-Tier: Novel Twists, Closer to Casual
D-Tier variants are theme/novelty challenges. They alter the feel of a Nuzlocke without significantly raising the difficulty.
Alphabetlocke
Your active party of six is determined by the alphabetical order of your caught Pokémon. If you catch Squirtle, then Pidgey, then Mankey, your active team starts with Mankey, Pidgey, Squirtle (alphabetical). Catch a new Pokémon with a name earlier in the alphabet, and your team reshuffles.
Why it’s D-Tier: Adds chaos but no skill requirement. You play with whatever the alphabet decides.
Draftlocke
Multiple players race through a Nuzlocke. Before starting, players take turns drafting Pokémon types — you may only use Pokémon of types you’ve drafted.
Why it’s D-Tier: The draft is the fun part. Once drafted, it’s basically a Monolocke or Bi-typelocke. Race element adds urgency, not difficulty.
Taglocke
Multiple players relay through a Nuzlocke. Player 1 plays until the first gym, then hands off to Player 2 (who inherits the team). Player 2 plays to the second gym and hands off. Repeat until the Elite Four.
Why it’s D-Tier: Funny in execution, but each individual leg is shorter and easier than a full Nuzlocke. The challenge is coordination, not difficulty.
Zombielocke
Fainted Pokémon can be revived as “zombies” by sacrificing another Pokémon (which is released). Zombies have stat reductions or other penalties.
Why it’s D-Tier: Adds a recovery mechanic to the base Nuzlocke — which technically makes it easier than a standard run. Theme is the draw.
Lorelocke
Every Pokémon is assigned a mythology-inspired ruleset (e.g., “Fire-types may not retreat once committed”; “Pokémon named after Greek myths get extra HP”). Rulesets are large and detailed.
Why it’s D-Tier: Roleplay, not difficulty.
Sleeplocke
You must complete the entire run in one sitting, without sleeping. Beat the Elite Four or fall asleep trying.
Why it’s D-Tier: Difficulty is biological, not mechanical. Mostly a stunt format.
Tasklocke
You name your Pokémon after real-life tasks. You can’t use a Pokémon until you complete that task. Productivity Nuzlocke.
Why it’s D-Tier: Mechanical difficulty is the same as a standard run, just with real-life chores attached.
Full Variant Comparison Table
| Variant | Tier | Players | Adds Difficulty? | Time Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaizo Hardcore | S | 1 | Extreme | 4-5x |
| Cagelocke | S | 3-6 | Extreme | 2-3x |
| NOHKOlocke | S | 1 | Extreme | 3x |
| Hardcore Nuzlocke | A | 1 | Major | 2x |
| Wedlocke | A | 1 | Major | 2x |
| Soul Link Hardcore | A | 2 | Major | 2-3x |
| Starlocke | A | 1 | Major | 1.5x |
| Loserlocke | A | 1 | Major | 1.5x |
| Randomizer Nuzlocke | B | 1 | Variable | 1.5x |
| Wonderlocke | B | 1 | Moderate | 1.5x |
| Egglocke (blind) | B | 1 | Moderate | 1.5x |
| Monolocke | B | 1 | Type-dependent | 1.5-2x |
| Routelocke | B | 1 | Route-dependent | 1-2x |
| Snaplocke / Trashlocke | B | 1 | Moderate | 1.2x |
| Chesslocke | B | 1 | Moderate | 1.5x |
| Generationlocke | B | 1 | Length | 5-10x (full series) |
| Soul Link (vanilla) | C | 2 | Moderate | 1.5x |
| Apocalocke | C | 1 | Theme-dependent | 1.2x |
| Uniquelocke | C | 1 | Mild | 1.1x |
| Colorlocke | C | 1 | Color-dependent | 1-1.5x |
| Ballocke | C | 1 | Mild | 1.1x |
| Tribelocke | C | 1 | Mild | 1.2x |
| Giftlocke | C | 1 | Mild | 1x |
| Alphabetlocke | D | 1 | None | 1x |
| Draftlocke | D | 2-4 | Mild | 1-1.5x |
| Taglocke | D | 2-4 | None | 1x |
| Zombielocke | D | 1 | Negative | 0.8x |
| Lorelocke | D | 1 | Theme | 1.1x |
| Sleeplocke | D | 1 | Biological | 0.5x (one sitting) |
| Tasklocke | D | 1 | Life-based | Varies |
Suggested Progression Path
If you’re new to Nuzlocke variants and don’t know which to try next, this is the path most experienced runners recommend:
- Standard Nuzlocke in a Gen 3 or 4 game (FRLG, HGSS, Emerald). Get comfortable with the base rules.
- Hardcore Nuzlocke in the same game you just beat. Now you know the routes — add Set Mode and level caps.
- Wedlocke or Monolocke. Adds a strategic team-building constraint without ramping difficulty to A-Tier.
- Wonderlocke or Randomizer Nuzlocke. Introduces variance — different from raw difficulty.
- Hardcore Nuzlocke on a ROM hack (Inclement Emerald, Radical Red). Step into S-Tier territory.
- Cagelocke with friends. The most fun multiplayer Nuzlocke format. Stream-worthy.
- Kaizo Hardcore Nuzlocke. The final boss. Run & Bun is the current community gold standard.
Most runners take 2-3 years to comfortably progress through this list. Don’t rush.
Co-Op vs. Solo Variants
Roughly one-third of named variants are designed for multiple players. The two distinct flavors:
Linked Co-op — Soul Link, Wedlocke (two-player version), Egglocke (community-sourced eggs). Players’ fates are intertwined. Encourages coordination and shared celebration/grief.
Competitive Co-op — Cagelocke, Draftlocke, Taglocke. Players race or directly fight. Streaming-friendly. Less about cooperation, more about banter and rivalry.
If you’re trying multiplayer Nuzlocking with a partner who’s also new, start with vanilla Soul Link. The mechanic is easy to understand and you can scale up to Soul Link Hardcore later.
For groups of 3-6, Cagelocke is the format that’s defined modern Nuzlocke streaming. It’s been run by major creators like aDrive, Pokémon Challenges, and Smallant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the hardest Nuzlocke variant? The Kaizo Hardcore Nuzlocke — a Hardcore Nuzlocke played on a Kaizo ROM hack like Run & Bun or Emerald Kaizo. Completion rates are well under 5% even among experienced Nuzlockers.
What’s the easiest Nuzlocke variant? The Zombielocke is technically easier than a standard Nuzlocke because it adds a revival mechanic. Among “real” variants, the Giftlocke is also forgiving since gift Pokémon are usually strong and you skip the catch-failure problem entirely.
Can I combine multiple variants? Yes. Stacking variants is common — “Wonderlocke Hardcore,” “Monolocke Soul Link,” “Cagelocke Wedlocke” are all real rulesets people run. The Kaizo Hardcore Nuzlocke is itself a stack (Kaizo + Hardcore).
What’s the difference between Wedlocke and Soul Link? Wedlocke is single-player and pairs your own Pokémon by gender. Soul Link is two-player and pairs your Pokémon to your partner’s Pokémon, across two save files. They share the “paired death” mechanic but are otherwise different challenges.
Is the Cagelocke really that hard? Yes, because the difficulty comes from other humans, not from the game. A single PvP loss can gut your team mid-run. The Cagelocke’s median completion time is also long (4-8 weeks for a typical group), which is why it’s popular as a streaming format.
What’s a “Hardcore” Nuzlocke specifically? Hardcore is a defined ruleset: Set Mode, level cap (capped at the next Gym Leader’s highest Pokémon), no items in trainer battles, and dupes clause off. It’s the most-played hard variant and the entry point to “actual difficulty” Nuzlocking.
Which variants work in Pokémon Legends Z-A? Most variants still work in Z-A with some adaptation. Wedlocke is mechanically fine. Monolocke works with the limited Z-A Pokédex. Hardcore Z-A needs custom level caps since the game’s pace differs from mainline. Soul Link is harder to coordinate because Z-A’s mission-based structure makes route-syncing awkward. The community is still settling Z-A-specific conventions as of 2026.
Do streamers usually play with the dupes clause? For hard variants, usually not — dupes clause off is part of the Hardcore ruleset. For standard runs and casual variants, dupes clause is typical to avoid six-Zubat early games.
Are randomizers considered “real” Nuzlockes? Yes. Randomizer Nuzlockes are one of the oldest and most-played variants. Some hardcore communities consider them a separate category from “pure” Nuzlocking, but they’re universally accepted as part of the Nuzlocke ecosystem.
Where can I find community-sourced eggs for an Egglocke? Several Discord servers and the r/nuzlocke subreddit have egg-trading threads. Tools like PKHeX can also be used to generate eggs from a defined pool, which is what most streamers use to avoid disconnection issues during live runs.
What’s the longest Nuzlocke variant? The Generationlocke. A complete run from Red/Blue through Scarlet/Violet (and now Legends Z-A) typically takes 200-400 hours and is often spread across a calendar year.
New to Nuzlocking? Start with our Complete Nuzlocke Guide for the base rules.
Want the brutal version? Check out Hardcore Nuzlocke Rules and Tips (coming soon).
Building a team for any of these variants? Generate a Pokémon Showdown–compatible export using the Pokedexgenerator.com team builder.