NESPeon's SwSh Mono-Ground Nuzlocke

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This details my Pokemon Sword and Shield Mono-Ground Nuzlocke. I write it as I play the game and it is separated (for the most part) into two gyms per sector. This is a summary of my Nuzlocke, so please keep in mind that this won't be a "story" however much the titles of each part make it seem like one. These will also be posted on the Pokemon Wiki part by part as I go along.

## Part 1 - Beginnings

Ground; My favorite type. It’s just got really cool Pokemon, and quite a few are in SwSh. So I figured, why not do a SwSh Mono-Ground Nuzlocke? It makes the game not-so easy AND I get to use some of my favorite Pokemon! I’m excited since I haven’t use some of my favorites before like Claydol and Excadrill. I’m also interested to try ones I’m not so fond of like Diggersby. Maybe I’ll grow to like them! Keep in mind I am banning DLC areas. So, I create a new account, start a new save file. I name my MC Terra, because it fit the theme and I like it. And the run… hasn’t started yet since I can’t get a Ground-type until I have access to the Wild Area. So, it’s me and Sobble, who is named Wrong Nation. We steamroll the early game and after an hour, we get to the Wild Area.

At Rolling Fields I catch a Bunnelby and at the decision of @PeacockFeatheredRaccoon who I asked myself, I name it Canada. They won’t be a legal member of my team until it’s a Diggersby, so I’m still with Sobble for a bit. It’ll be in my party just to level up. At the Dappled Grove, I catch a Nincada in a Max Raid battle, who is named Offering since after the first gym he’ll probably be used as a sacrifice because I can’t evolve him. With that, the Nuzlocke has officially started and Wrong Nation is dropped into the box never to see the light of day again! At West Lake Axwell, I catch a Wooper in a Max Raid Battle and name her Mudkip. She’ll be the one I mainly use for now. At North Lake Miloch, I catch a Barboach and name him Oogway. The less-good Water/Ground type, but I love Wishcash nonetheless. After some tinkering with time, I managed to catch a Baltoy at South Lake Miloch. This took a little bit since Mudkip managed to miss four slams in a row. I only needed one. Nice job. But, I caught it anyways and named it Terracotta. I’m personally excited to use this one as Claydol is one of my favorite Ground types. Finally, I catch a Mudbray at East Lake Axwell and I name it Eddie. With that, I’ve assembled a full squad. Almost. Bunnelby doesn’t count yet, but some more members will join soon enough. After reverting time to the current day, I make my way to Motostoke and subsequently to the Fire Gym. Not without a trip to the clothing shop and hair salon though. I always do that. I make my way to the stadium and pick the number 9 for my sports jersey because Magnitude 9. At the Budew Drop Inn, I trash some Team Yell grunts with some assistance from Hop. The next day, I head back to the Motostoke Stadium to the opening ceremony where Chairman Rose uses his mouth to telepathically communicate with everyone in the stands. After seeing almost-all gym major league gym leaders and walking onto the field, it’s time for me to start my challenge!

## Part 2 - Coal Mines and Massacres

I’m off to Route 3, but before that, Hop challenges me to a battle. Oogway blitzes through it, nothing special here. The only notable trainer on this route is Schoolboy Marvin, who has a Budew. Luckily, I have Offering who takes neutral damage from his attacks. Absorb makes things take a little longer, but it goes down to some scratches. Next, he sends out Gossifleur, which is another problem. Luckily, Offering also has Bug STAB… Oh wait. I forgot to teach him a Bug move. So, it’s back to scratches until he gets low-ish on HP. Not like the Leafages will do much. It does remind me to teach it a Bug move for some important battles. In Galar Mine No. 1, I catch a Drilbur and name him Spy. He’ll be in the box for a little bit until Offering has had his time in the spotlight. One of them is in the first battle with Bede, where he can use Leech Life to wreck the psychic types. Until his Hatenna lands a crit and leaves me in the red, making me switch out. Mudkip is sent into half switching in, so it’s Terracotta who finishes her off. A little sloppy. But I make it to Route and catch a Diglett. I name her Espia. Dugtrio is not a Pokemon I’m particularly fond of, but it’s pretty fast and strong. She’ll replace Oogway for the Turrfield Gym. I have another close call as Poke Kid Rhys’ Joltik leaves Terracotta in red. That was totally my fault since I sent it in forgetting that Bug is super effective against Psychic. Though after the battle, Mudkip evolves into a Quagsire! I switch out Mudkip for Oogway instead. After looking at a funky-looking hill with Sonia, I go back to Route 4 for some grinding. Specifically so that Canada can evolve and become a legal member of my team. I do have to sadly cancel Offering’s evolution since Ninjask and Shedinja are both not legal. At least I don’t have to worry about forgetting to cancel since I grab a hidden Everstone in Turrfield. I wait to evolve Canada until level 21, where it learns bulldoze. Better than Mud Shot. Unfortunately Canada has Pickup instead of Cheek Pouch, which I forgot to check earlier, but I farm items at the very least. Still, it’s a bummer. Cheek Pouch is an underrated ability in my opinion. With Canda evolved and the population of Route 4 terminated, I set off for Turrfield Stadium. I’ve given Offering a Silver Powder. This will allow him to deal enough damage for a guaranteed KO on Milo’s Gossifleur and a guaranteed 2HKO on Milo’s Eldegoss. *Nothing* can possibly go awry, right? The problem: Offering has a Bold nature. This means I have to dynamax for a guaranteed kill on Gossifleur with Gossifleur and Eldegoss needs a 3HKO with Max Flutterby. I only realized this in the fight, which meant I needed to think of something on the spot. I decided to take a hit from Gossifleur to make sure I have dynamax for Eldegoss. Leech life healed me up back to full from the Gossifleur’s Rapid Spin. Milo sends in Eldegoss. Max Overgrowth does more than half to Offering. Offering only does a third to Eldegoss. I know there’s only one option. One of my members must go, and I decide on Offering. I go to click a Max Guard to stall out a turn, but I forgot to teach it a status move. So, I click Max Flutterby and say goodbye. Eldegoss kills Offering. Rest in Peace. Eldegoss has one turn left. Another has to be sacrificed. I send in Oogway. I go for a Water pulse as one last ditch effort, but miraculously, Eldegoss uses Max Strike. Though it was merely a taunt, as it used magical leaf straight afterward. You can figure out the rest. Say hi to Offering for me, will ya. Eddie’s next. I accidentally click Bulldoze instead of Strength. Minimal damage. Eddie’s knocked into yellow. I click Strength. It would probably have knocked out Eldegoss if I didn’t misclick. Eddie is killed by a Magical Leaf. Another loss. Canada can do this, right? Indeed she did. I was scared after a Quick Attack left the Eldegoss in the red, but Milo didn’t use a potion, giving me a victory. Three dead. I’ve won, but at what cost?

## Part 3 - Back in The Mine + Hulbury and Motostoke Gyms

I have two members in the box to replace some of the fallen. Welcome to the team Spy and Espia. On Route 5, I help a man who is being mugged by Team Yell and he gives me a bike, which is what they were trying to rob in the first place. Before crossing the bridge, I go back to the Wild Area to get a favorite that I missed. Well I was going to catch a Golett at Watchtower Ruins, but I realized I can catch one later, but I can only get a Tympole now. So, Staff Mk III joins the team as my new sixth member. Back at Route 5, Hop challenges me to a battle, but Mudkip just tanks. Hop’s teen rabbit manages to get her down to 16 HP, but it’s fine and the battle is done.  So, he lets me pass the bridge and I reach Hulbury. Mudkip has Water Absorb, which will soak up all of the Water attacks in this town’s gym. Before I enter, I do a little bit of grinding to get everyone a level up or two. It wasn’t really needed since Mudkip swept the entire gym, but it’s less leveling up later. Much easier than the Turrfield Gym. After performing a restaurant sit-in with Chairman Rose and co. I’m off to Galar Mine No. 2! But before that, I head back to the wild area for another member. Because I’m able to catch Pokemon up to level 30, I can head to Giant’s Mirror to catch a Swinub, who I name Porky. They replace Espia. Mamoswine is another Pokemon I’ve always wanted to use, so here’s my chance. The secondary Ice typing may be invaluable later. I was considering going to catch another member, but I realized that I didn’t have the necessary requirements, so I will have to wait until after Kabu is defeated. Going into Galar Mine No. 2, I catch a Shellos which happens to be Gary’s Wife. She’ll be in the box for now, since she won’t be legal until I evolve her into a Gastrodon since Shellos is pure Water. Next, it’s another battle with Bede. I just spam with Waterfall to win. Next, is the double battle with Hop against Team Yell grunts. Easy, right? *Unfortunately*, I forget to account for critical hits and a Pancham kills Canada with a Super-effective Circle Throw. It was my own fault for failing to account for Critical hits in the first place. Espia rejoins the team in her place. I make my way back to Motostoke and at the Budew Drop Inn Marnie challenges me to a battle. Morpeko’s Bite does an alarming amount of damage to Staff so I switch to Spy, who also takes an alarming amount of damage. Then I realized I could just switch to Mudkip and tank hits easily, so I did that and finished off the Hammond. At the Fire-gym, I have to catch Pokemon to score an extra point. I do it for convenience, but note that none of them will be used. After the trial, it’s time to fight Kabu. And well… it was a little tougher than I expected, actually. Staff takes care of his Arcanine and Ninetales, but Centiskorch is a pain. I stall it out with Mudkip, but not before two Bug Bites take her down to half. I do get in a Max Waterfall, so I have to switch out to Spy. Centiskorch just decides to spam Smokescreen and not kill it with a fire move, so a few Drill Runs take it down. And that’s the Starter-Trio types completed. So I get the badge with no death, which would have been embarrassing considering I have a full team super-effective to Fire and head to the Wild Area.