Hello! I’ve seen the DnD Pokémon Challenge by u/Tailedfox66 and was inspired to write my own challenge. I’ve wanted to create a challenge for quite some time and experiment with different ways to play Pokémon, and the DnD classes felt like a great starting point. Most classes, mainly the physical ones, focus on combat and gaining access to more types, but there are also a few classes that break some classic Nuzlocke rules, such as allowing rerolls on encounters, reviving Pokémon, or using items during battle.

The focus of this challenge is to have type restrictions, similar to the DnD Challenge from a few days ago, but with the twist that the player grows stronger over time and specializes in specific playstyles inspired by the DnD Classes, changing how they approach the game.

If you have any suggestions for the format or feedback after some playtesting, I would be glad to hear it :)

Is it too complex to track? Is something off? Are there classes/skills that are too strong/weak?

There may still be some mistakes, I wrote everything in one go and I’m heading to sleep now. I didn’t have time to playtest it myself, but I’ll start a run in a few days and create a document where you can track your levels, types, and progress.

*(The icons were not created by me. The DnD class icons are from A Crap Guide to D&D by JoCat, and the Pokémon type icons are the Gen 9 Type Icons.)*

**v1**: Standard rules, base DnD classes, 3 skills per class, fighting styles, overview

**Future Plans**: Artificer (probably Steel, Psychic, Fire/Electric), Playtesting, Balancing, PDF to track everything, Custom Icons

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# General Rules

	•	Nuzlocke Rules

	•	Choose a Class or Roll a D12 and gain access to the matching Types, after beating a Gym you gain new Skills

	•	You may only use Moves and Pokémon whose Primary Type matches your Class Roster Types (Expanded by Progression and Class Abilities).

	•	Until you find a suitable Pokémon, you may use your Starter.

	•	Additional Types to use:

	•	All Classes gain access to Normal-Types.

	•	Physical Classes gain access to Fighting-Types after Gym 2.

	•	Special Classes gain access to Psychic-Types after Gym 2.

	•	V1: Catch per Route only your first Encounter, even if you can’t use them (has to be stored, but can be used later, when it evolves, after leveling without participating in battles or if you unlock the Type)

	•	V2: Only catch Pokémon you can use and skip/save Routes, but you can’t catch Pokémon you can’t use in the moment

	•	*Optional*: Use the list of available encounters of the current Route and roll for your encounter with a die

	•	*Optional*: If you want to use different Types, you can choose those that fit you best! Also useful for runs prior to the introduction of the Fairy/Dark/Steel Type. I’ve chosen this combination, so every Class gets 3 Types and every Type only gets used twice. But you could also just use the multiclass feature :)

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# Fighting Styles

	•	**Melee**: Each Pokémon may use 1 Move Slot for a Physical attacking Move of any Type.

	•	**Caster**: Each Pokémon may use 1 Move Slot for a Special attacking Move of any Type.

	•	**Support**: Each Pokémon may use 1 Move Slot for a Status Move of any Type.

**Fighting Style Level-Up**: +1 Move Slot for the associated Move category.

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# Type Proficiency

	•	If you gain a Type already in your roster, you instead gain Proficiency in that Type (you may now use Pokémon with it as their Secondary Type).

	•	If you already have Proficiency, choose another Type.

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# Multiclassing

	•	Once per playthrough, you may multiclass after beating Gym 3, 5, or 7.

	•	Multiclassing grants one additional Type only, no Ability initially.

	•	After Gym 4 and/or Gym 8, you may apply level-ups to your Multiclass:

	•	First time: Gain Class Ability 1

	•	Second time: Gain Class Ability 2

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# Progression

**Beginning**: Choose a Starting Class and gain the ability to use Pokémon (only if their Primary Type matches) and Moves that match the associated Types of the chosen Class.

Additionally, you can always use Normal-type Pokémon (Primary Type) and Moves.

Choose a **Fighting Style**: Melee, Caster, or Support.

	•	**Beating Gym 1**: Gain Class Ability 1

	•	**Beating Gym 2**: You can now use Pokémon with the Fighting Type as their Primary Type (Physical Classes) / Psychic Type as their Primary Type (Special Classes)

	•	**Beating Gym 3**: (Proficiency in a Type, you can already use) or (Once per Playthrough – Multiclass)

	•	**Beating Gym 4**: (Increase your Class Ability Level +1) or (Increase your Multiclass Ability Level +1, if chosen)

	•	**Beating Gym 5**: (Proficiency in a Type, you can already use) or (Once per Playthrough – Multiclass)

	•	**Beating Gym 6**: (Increase your Fighting Style Level +1) or (Choose an Additional Fighting Style)

	•	**Beating Gym 7**: (Proficiency in a Type, you can already use) or (Once per Playthrough – Multiclass)

	•	**Beating Gym 8**: (Increase your Class Ability Level +1) or (Increase your Multiclass Ability Level +1, if chosen)

	•	**Win against the Evil Team**: You may revive one Pokémon

	•	**Beating the Champ -** Choose one:

	•	Class Ability Lvl +1

	•	Multiclass Ability Lvl +1

	•	Gain 1 New Type

	•	Fighting Style Lvl +1

	•	Gain 1 new Fighting Style

	•	Use 1 Legendary

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# Classes

**Physical Classes**

Physical Classes gain the ability to use Fighting-type Pokémon and Moves after beating the 2nd Gym.

(1) **Barbarian** – *Rock, Fighting, Steel*

	•	Class Ability 1: You may revive one Pokémon during a Boss Fight. After the battle, it counts as fainted.

	•	Class Ability 2: You can use Attack-boosting Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: You can use Moves of any Type with Base Power 100 or higher.

(2) **Fighter** – *Ground, Fighting, Normal*

	•	Class Ability 1: Gain +1 Fighting Style Level (Melee).

	•	Class Ability 2: You may exceed the current level cap by 10% (minimum +1 level, rounded down).

	•	Class Ability 3: You may use Moves of any Type from one chosen Move Category (e.g., Bite, Sound, Dance).

(3) **Monk** – *Ghost, Flying, Rock*

	•	Class Ability 1: You may use always-hit Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Speed-boosting Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may use Punching Moves of any Type.

(4) **Paladin** – *Steel, Dragon, Electric*

	•	Class Ability 1: Choose one Type you are resistant against. You may use Pokémon that resist this Type independent of your Type Roster, but you cannot use Moves of that Type unless it is already in your Roster.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Physical and Special Defense-boosting Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may use Slicing Moves of any Type.

(5) **Ranger** – *Bug, Ground, Poison*

	•	Class Ability 1: Choose one Type you are effective against. One Pokémon on your team may use Moves of any Type that are effective against the chosen Type.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Terrain and Weather Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: A second Pokémon on your team may use Moves of any Type that are effective against the previously chosen Type.

(6) **Rogue** – *Dark, Bug, Poison*

	•	Class Ability 1: You may use two Stat-boosting Items per battle.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Moves of any Type with Base Power 60 or lower.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may enable Switch Battle Style.

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**Special Classes**

Special Classes gain the ability to use Psychic-type Pokémon and Moves after beating the 2nd Gym.

(7) **Bard** – *Fairy, Normal, Psychic*

	•	Class Ability 1: Choose 1 additional Type you are proficient in.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Dance and Sound Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: Choose 2 additional Types you are proficient in.

(8) **Cleric** – *Grass, Water, Fairy*

	•	Class Ability 1: You may use 1 Healing Item per battle (no Revives).

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Moves that are super-effective against Ghost Types.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may revive one Pokémon (one-time use, can be saved).

(9) **Druid** – *Water, Grass, Flying*

	•	Class Ability 1: You may reroll your encounter once per Route/Area.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may catch one additional Pokémon per Route/Area.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may use Hazard and Terrain Moves of any Type.

(10) **Sorcerer** – *Dragon, Psychic, Fire*

	•	Class Ability 1: Gain +1 Fighting Style Level (Caster).

	•	Class Ability 2: You may use Special Attack-boosting Moves of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may use Aura and Pulse Moves of any Type.

(11) **Warlock** – *Ghost, Dark, Ice*

	•	Class Ability 1: Use one gifted Pokémon (any Type, all learnable Moves allowed) BST < 350.

	•	Class Ability 2: Gifted Pokémon BST < 500.

	•	Class Ability 3: Gifted Pokémon any BST.

(12) **Wizard** – *Fire, Ice, Electric*

	•	Class Ability 1: You may buy and use 1 TM of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 2: You may buy and use 2 additional TMs of any Type.

	•	Class Ability 3: You may buy and use 3 additional TMs of any Type.

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# Example Run

Example Run (Pokemon Platinum):

Start, D12 gives me a 2 → Fighter (Fighting, Normal, Ground), access to Normal-Types (every Class) → Prof in Normal (I can now use Pokémon with Normal Type as their Secondary Type), Fighting Style → Melee (1 Slot can be used for any physical Move, e.g. Flame Wheel) – Starter (Chimchar, to store later to use its Fighting Type, after I gained Prof. in it) – First Route (Starly – Chimchar is now in the box)

Win over Gym 1 → Fighter Ability 1 (+1 Melee Fighting Style Lvl) → 2 Slots can be used for any physical Move, e.g. Wing Attack + Thief

Win Gym 2 → Physical Class → Fighting Types can be used (I already can, so now I can use them as Secondary Types) → Train Chimchar to Monferno (now it can be used)

Win over Gym 3 → Multiclass in Cleric → Gain Water Types

Win over Gym 4 → Increase Multiclass Level for the Ability → Cleric Ability 1 (I can use 1 Healing Item per Battle)

Win over Gym 5 → Prof in Typing → Ground Proficiency

Win over Gym 6 → Additional Fighting Style → Support → I can now use 1 Move Slot for a Status Move of any Type

Win over Gym 7 → Prof in Typing → Water Proficiency

Win against Evil Team: No Pokémon died / I don’t want to, so I store my revive

Win over Gym 8 → Class Ability Level → Fighter Ability 2 → The level cap of my team is now 10% above the next boss

League → I lose one of my Pokémon – I can revive it once

Win over Champ → Class Ability Level → Fighter Ability 3 → I can choose a Move Category and use all Moves regardless of Type → Recoil Moves

End Game – Win, jippie

*(I hope the formatting is okay, Reddit had some problems with the formatting from Notion)*

Pokemon DnD Challenge with Progression