The 207 Challenge
Gotta catch
How many Pokemon can I catch in 60 hours?
Introduction
Some time ago I posted a thread about the number of Pokemon each title could natively obtain. Rereading it gave me the idea for a brand new challenge!
Much as Satoshi Tajiri might have wished otherwise, as a kid playing Pokemon Crystal on a Gameboy Colour, with no fancy wifi trading and only a limited number of Pokemon-playing friends, it could be difficult to trade as often as one liked - especially if you didn't actually have a link cable. Instead, trading and battling with friends was often a rare and exciting event, taking place only on limited occasions like summer holidays. So, while a diligent player could fill the Pokedex quite thoroughly on their own, there would always be a hard ceiling: a number of Pokemon completely unavailable without trading.
That number obviously varies from version to version (refer to the thread for details if you haven't) - in Pokemon Crystal, the maximum number of Pokemon a player can possibly obtain without linking their save file to anyone else is a fairly impressive 207, which my frustrated younger self never even managed to hit. So it's with that spirited young lad in mind that I conceived this new challenge. I'm going to give myself the best part of three days to do a marathon playthrough and set myself a trial - I will play through Johto and Kanto, all the way up to Mt Silver, and attempt to fill my Pokedex as much as one can without trading. How many of the 207 can I obtain?
Breakdown
First, let's make sure the list of unobtainables is accurate.
Obviously, six of the nine starter Pokemon are locked out of usage as soon as you start. You all know which starter I'm going to pick, right?
Like any game in the series, Crystal has a few version-exclusive species missing. Oddly, I never think of Vulpix or Mankey being version exclusives from this game. Maybe I just didn't miss them that much. All of the absent Johto species were bitter losses, though.
Since no trading is allowed, a whole bunch of Pokemon obtainable by this method are, naturally enough, unobtainable. Sadly, unlike some other games, Crystal has no convenient trades with NPCs that give you a Gengar or Machamp, meaning that every single trade-exclusive Pokemon remains unreachable.
For whatever reason, Omanyte, Kabuto and their respective evolutions cannot be found in Gold, Silver, or Crystal. Aerodactyl can, though!
And finally, none of the Kanto starters or legendaries are available either.
The Rules
- No usage of glitches. Any and all legal methods of obtaining Pokemon - catching, breeding, evolving, receiving as gifts or prizes, and so on - are permitted.
- No trading with other files, period. In-game trades with NPCs are permitted.
- Clock altering IS allowed to facilitate Pokemon availability and daily events. However, repeated clock altering to grind items such as Rare Candies or Master Balls is not permitted.
All in all, I'm genuinely unsure how many I'll be able to catch, but I'm interested to test myself.
Place Your Bets!
So here's the funnest part of the challenge - YOU, dear reader, get to place a wager! Make an estimate as to how many Pokemon I will manage to obtain before time's up, and leave your comment in the following format:
"QuentinQuonce, by the divine power of Suicune's clear water, I wager that you shall catch [number/207] Pokemon!"
And what will the winner be rewarded with, you might ask? Good question: here are the prizes available:
1. A shiny Celebi*
2. A full set of WIN2011 legendary beasts*
3. A full set of shiny Johto starters with egg moves*
_________________________________________________
If no-one's guess is correct, the person who was closest may claim one of these three bundles (either Celebi, all three beasts, or all three starters). However, if your guess is spot-on, you will be able to claim all three bundles!
*These Pokemon can be traded in either Gen VII or Pokemon Home
2. A full set of WIN2011 legendary beasts*
3. A full set of shiny Johto starters with egg moves*
_________________________________________________
If no-one's guess is correct, the person who was closest may claim one of these three bundles (either Celebi, all three beasts, or all three starters). However, if your guess is spot-on, you will be able to claim all three bundles!
*These Pokemon can be traded in either Gen VII or Pokemon Home
Guesses so far
doipy hooves: 151
Suspicious Derivative: 180
Esserise: 188
Coronis: 192
Eeveeto: 194
lavendercookieEnjoyer: 199
pieman83: 200
Ernesto: 201
TerrickTerran: 202
BIG ASHLEY: 203
Pineapple1001: 204 *WINNER*
R_N: 207
The challenge kicks off at 9am April 28th GMT - see you there!
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