Pokémon Ashlocke Challenge
During quarantine, 2020, I replayed Pokémon: Yellow Version on 3DS with a set of self imposed rules, the goal being to mimic the anime as much as possible.
I watched the entirety of the Indigo League arc, including the banned episodes, and tried to follow in Ash's footsteps as closely as possible.
Here are the rules for the Ashlocke Challenge:
Must play Yellow Version (obviously).
Name your character Ash and your rival Gary.
You can only catch the Pokémon that ash catches or travels with in the anime. Those Pokémon will be listed in the rules below along with the circumstances by which you can obtain them.
Some Pokémon can never evolve and some Pokémon can only evolve once you've reached a certain point in the game. All Pokémon can level up as much as you'd like.
Do not evolve Pikachu. (also, obviously)
Catch a Caterpie in Viridian Forest and evolve it into a Butterfree before exiting the forest onto Route 2. Butterfree must be released once you reach Saffron City.
Catch a Pidgeotto in Viridian Forest. Do not evolve Pidgeotto.
Catch a Mankey on Route 4. Evolve Mankey into Primeape.
Obtain Bulbasaur in Cerulean City after defeating Misty and obtaining the Cascade Badge. Bulbasaur cannot evolve.
Obtain Charmander from the guy on Route 24. Charmander can be evolved into Charmeleon and then again into Charizard after defeating Sabrina but before battling Blaine.
Use only Pikachu in your battle with Lt. Surge.
Obtain Squirtle from Officer Jenny in Vermilion City. Squirtle cannot evolve.
Catch a Haunter in Lavender Town. Haunter cannot evolve. Release Haunter after defeating Sabrina.
After obtaining either Hitmonlee or Hitmonchan release them immediately. You never had 'em.
Only use the Bike on the Cycling Road.
Catch x30 Tauros in the Safari Zone.
Do not engage with the Legendary Birds.
After obtaining a Super Rod, catch a Krabby. (I caught mine on Route 25, but feel free to catch yours wherever available) Evolve Krabby into Kingler on Victory Road.
Catch a Muk in the Power Plant.
Teach Mewtwo the value of life.
Feel free to add or change rules if you think it'll tie into the anime better, or get rid of rules if you think they're not fun.
Here's my final team:
Have fun being the best like no one ever was!
