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So after having done regular nuzlockes on almost every mainline game and Hardcore nuzlockes on BDSP and ORAS (also BW and SM but I choked on the league) I'm kind of torn about the "no items rule" , as it gives the player no margin of error and forces them to adopt a tedious, "optimal" playstyle:
>Checking the movesets of every major trainer just in case
>Using Pokémon based on their stats and supposed performance rather than what you actually want to use
>min max levels and stats
>Autistically using the smogon calculator to avoid deaths or even plan entire battles
I.e. being a tryhard. And I think this playstyle kills the original "magic" of nuzlockes. For me, that was using pokemon that I've never used before on my team and watching them avoid death against all odds, and reach the hall of fame despite being shitmons like Mightiena.
But if there is no margin of error, why would you use the "lesser" pokémon? You're playing to win, but you're handicapping yourself even more for no reason. Basically, this playstyle tries to minimize improvisation in favor of extreme planification and consistency, which is franky kind of absurd to do in a game where critical hits exist.
So, that's why I prefer to use items in battle, to add a bit of margin of error. However, I also don't like to item spam, for self-explanatory reasons. I've found that limiting myself to 3-4 consumables in battle is the most fun for me, as it doesn't completely trivialize the game and makes healing moves still useful.
So, what is /nuzgen/'s opinion on this topic?
