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Pokémon Radical Red Hardcore Nuzlocke Guide

This guide contains useful information the Hardcore mode of the ROM Hack Radical Red Nuzlockes. It details some of the game's unique features, lists available Pokémon, the number of encounters, and detailed overviews of all Boss battles.

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Radical Red Hardcore Logo

Pokémon Radical Red is a fan-made ROM hack of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen that introduces new features, gameplay mechanics, and challenges to provide a unique and exciting nuzlocking experience. This guide focuses on the game's Hardcode mode, which is designed for players who want an extreme challenge. It features additional restrictions and limitations on the player, as well as tougher opponents to battle against.

Whether you're a Pokémon fan looking for a new challenge or a nuzlocke enthusiast seeking a unique experience, Radical Red's Hardcode mode will push your Pokémon skills & knowledge to the extreme and prove you absolutely can be the very best

A guide for the more accessible Easy mode can be found here.

Difficulty & Bosses

Be prepared for a real challenge in Radical Red! Bosses have max IVs with proper EV spreads and optimized movesets/hold items, and you'll face tough team compositions and unfair obstacles. The battle style is forced to Set, and you won't be able to access your bag against Gym Leaders and other select bosses. Additionally, there's a soft level cap based on the next boss, which prevents you from overleveling your Pokémon and encourages you to re-evaluate your team and strategy to defeat them.

You can find a guide for all of the boss fights below to help you beat this difficult challenge.

☠️ Hardcore Mode

This is the most challenging mode in Radical Red for players who want an extreme challenge. This guide details the Boss teams for Hardcode Mode so that you don't get caught off guard.

❤️ Easy Mode

While still being more difficult than FireRed, Easy Mode is the most accessible way to play Radical Red. It provides a challenge but is designed for players who want a less intense experience.

You can see an equivalent of this guide over at the "Easy Mode" Radical Red guide page.

New Boss Mechanics

Bosses in Radical Red have some new tricks up their sleeves. Some optional side bosses will have their levels scale according to your team, while bosses near the end of the game will randomly choose between one of three teams. Gym Leaders have access to Mega Evolution before you do, and Elite Four Members each have a Legendary Pokémon.

Pokémon Buffs and Changes

Swathes of deserving Pokémon have been patched & iproved to make them more viable, as well as adding back Megas Evolution! These changes may include type changes, stat changes, ability changes, and additional learnsets. You'll also encounter brand new abilities, amove moves exclusive to this game.

Additional Content

Radical red introduces lots of new content, including some Johto Gym Leaders as additional mini bosses. The game also features Brendan as an additional rival, as well as Archer and Ariana present as Admins of Team Rocket. Lastly, there is an additional Team Rocket event right before the 8th gym that adds a new twist to the storyline!

New Pokémon

Flying Pikachu Ursaluna

Several new Pokémon have been added to the game, including those all Pokémon up to Generation 8. Over 200 Pokémon have been retyped or had their stats adjusted to provide better balance and variety in battle.

You can also find som new forms, such as Pikachu's Surfing and Flying forms as well as the new Sevii forms of favourites like Milotic.

Follower Pokémon

Everyone's favourite feature is back in Radical Red, allowing a Pokémon to follow you around as you travel through the game. To enable this feature speak with the Tamer in the Viridian City Pokémon Center who will ask if you want the first Pokémon in your party to follow you. The feature can be disabled or re-enabled by speaking with the same Tamer. It's important to note that the feature may be buggy, so it's recommended to disable and re-enable it periodically to avoid any issues.

Radical Red Hardcore Encounters

A fun aspect of Nuzlocke runs is the variety of encounters forcing you to try out new Pokémon you've never used before. That is why it's important to know which Pokémon will be available during a run. We've compiled a list of every encounter for Pokémon Radical Red Hardcore so you can quickly see who you might want on your team!

Pokémon Radical Red Hardcore has 53 different encounter locations with 614 different Pokémon available as wild encounters. Hover over a Pokémon to see where to encounter it!

29 Dragon Pokémon encounters

35 Fairy Pokémon encounters

37 Ice Pokémon encounters

39 Steel Pokémon encounters

41 Fighting Pokémon encounters

42 Rock Pokémon encounters

42 Dark Pokémon encounters

44 Ghost Pokémon encounters

49 Fire Pokémon encounters

49 Electric Pokémon encounters

52 Ground Pokémon encounters

52 Psychic Pokémon encounters

57 Poison Pokémon encounters

57 Flying Pokémon encounters

60 Bug Pokémon encounters

64 Grass Pokémon encounters

78 Normal Pokémon encounters

110 Water Pokémon encounters

29Dragon Pokémon
DRAGON

35Fairy Pokémon
FAIRY

37Ice Pokémon
ICE

39Steel Pokémon
STEEL

41Fighting Pokémon
FIGHTING

42Rock Pokémon
ROCK

42Dark Pokémon
DARK

44Ghost Pokémon
GHOST

49Fire Pokémon
FIRE

49Electric Pokémon
ELECTRIC

52Ground Pokémon
GROUND

52Psychic Pokémon
PSYCHIC

57Poison Pokémon
POISON

57Flying Pokémon
FLYING

60Bug Pokémon
BUG

64Grass Pokémon
GRASS

78Normal Pokémon
NORMAL

110Water Pokémon
WATER

Radical Red Hardcore Boss Battles

In order to complete a Radical Red Hardcore Nuzlocke and become the Champion, you will need to win 46 Boss battles throughout the Kanto region - ranging from bickering Rival & Evil team fights, to Gym Leaders & ultimately the Elite Four.

These can be a challenge, especially when your dear nicknamed nuzlocke mons are at risk. So below we've listed detailed overviews of all these fights! Giving you all the information you'll need to face everything from your rival's Pokemon to Lance's Rayquaza.

12 Gym Leader fights

8 Elite Four fights

10 Rival fights

7 Evil Team fights

9 Mini Boss fights

Starter-dependent boss data

Some boss teams change depending on your starter. The static guide below uses the default fire-starter path so the page can be served as plain HTML for search engines and readers.

Gym Leader fights

  • Brock - Pewter City Gym

    Brock has a team of 6, made up of a level 13 hippopotas, a level 15 cacnea, a level 14 lunatone, a level 16 lileep, a level 14 archen & a level 14 sandshrew. The level cap for this fight is level 16.

  • Misty - Cerulean City Gym

    Misty has a team of 6, made up of a level 27 politoed, a level 28 ludicolo, a level 27 mantine, a level 27 ferroseed, a level 28 starmie & a level 27 toxicroak. The level cap for this fight is level 28.

  • Lt. Surge - Vermillion City Gym

    Lt. Surge has a team of 6, made up of a level 35 rotom, a level 36 electrode, a level 36 raichu, a level 36 hitmonlee, a level 36 electivire & a level 36 ampharos. The level cap for this fight is level 36.

  • Erika - Celadon City Gym

    Erika has a team of 6, made up of a level 44 cradily, a level 44 hawlucha, a level 44 sceptile, a level 44 toxtricity, a level 44 slowbro & a level 44 kartana. The level cap for this fight is level 44.

  • Sabrina - Saffron City Gym

    Sabrina has a team of 6, made up of a level 59 tapu-fini, a level 59 camerupt, a level 59 glastrier, a level 59 magearna, a level 59 melmetal & a level 59 jellicent. The level cap for this fight is level 59.

  • Koga - Fuschia City Gym

    Koga has a team of 6, made up of a level 68 tapu-lele, a level 68 hoopa, a level 68 krookodile, a level 68 kyurem, a level 68 nidoking & a level 68 toxtricity-mega. The level cap for this fight is level 68.

  • Blaine - Cinnabar Island Gym

    Blaine has a team of 6, made up of a level 76 heliolisk, a level 76 groudon, a level 76 darmanitan, a level 76 venusaur, a level 76 ho-oh & a level 76 charizard. The level cap for this fight is level 76.

  • Clair - Viridian City Gym

    Clair has a team of 6, made up of a level 81 shuckle, a level 81 giratina, a level 81 magearna, a level 81 necrozma, a level 81 eternatus & a level 81 duraludon. The level cap for this fight is level 81.

  • Brock - Pewter City Gym

    Brock has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 terrakion, a level +0 landorus, a level +0 zygarde, a level +0 sandslash, a level +0 empoleon & a level +0 aerodactyl. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Misty - Cerulean City Gym

    Misty has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 greninja, a level +0 kingdra, a level +0 seismitoad, a level +0 jirachi, a level +0 thundurus & a level +0 gyarados. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Lt. Surge - Vermillion City Gym

    Lt. Surge has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 electivire, a level +0 raichu, a level +0 magnezone, a level +0 zekrom, a level +0 raikou & a level +0 manectric. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Erika - Celadon City Gym

    Erika has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 tsareena, a level +0 serperior, a level +0 hawlucha, a level +0 kartana, a level +0 magearna & a level +0 ampharos. The level cap for this fight is level null.

Elite Four fights

  • Lorelei (Rain Team) - Indigo Plateau

    Lorelei (Rain Team) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 ludicolo, a level +0 kingdra, a level +0 genesect, a level +0 dragonite, a level +0 palkia & a level +0 swampert. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Lorelei (Hail Team) - Indigo Plateau

    Lorelei (Hail Team) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 glaceon, a level +0 landorus, a level +0 beartic, a level +0 tapu-fini, a level +0 kyurem & a level +0 abomasnow. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Bruno (Team A) - Indigo Plateau

    Bruno (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 infernape, a level +0 zeraora, a level +0 zamazenta, a level +0 necrozma, a level +0 zacian & a level +0 lucario. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Bruno (Team B) - Indigo Plateau

    Bruno (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 urshifu, a level +0 hawlucha, a level +0 zamazenta, a level +0 necrozma, a level +0 zacian & a level +0 medicham. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Agatha - Indigo Plateau

    Agatha has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 krookodile, a level +0 mewtwo, a level +0 yveltal, a level +0 zarude, a level +0 victini & a level +0 calyrex. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Lance - Indigo Plateau

    Lance has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 deoxys, a level +0 melmetal, a level +0 arceus-fairy, a level +0 dragonite, a level +0 dialga & a level +0 rayquaza. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Lance - Indigo Plateau

    Lance has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 deoxys, a level +0 melmetal, a level +0 arceus-fairy, a level +0 dragonite, a level +0 dialga & a level +0 rayquaza. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Champion Gary - Champion

    Champion Gary has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 kyogre, a level +0 swampert, a level +0 necrozma, a level +0 arceus, a level +0 metagross & a level +0 eternatus. The level cap for this fight is level null.

Rival fights

  • - Oak's Laboratory

    has a team of 0, made up of a level undefined undefined. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Gary - Route 1

    Gary has a team of 3, made up of a level -1 snubbull, a level -1 litleo & a level +0 squirtle. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Brendan - Virdian Forest

    Brendan has a team of 4, made up of a level -2 meditite, a level -1 corphish, a level -1 numel & a level +0 treecko. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Gary - Route 24

    Gary has a team of 6, made up of a level -1 hitmonlee, a level -2 eevee, a level -1 clefable, a level -1 simisear, a level +0 arbok & a level +0 wartortle. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Brendan - S.S. Anne

    Brendan has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 crawdaunt, a level +0 slaking, a level +0 plusle, a level +0 gardevoir, a level +0 sceptile & a level +0 hariyama. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Gary - Silph Co. Rival

    Gary has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 azelf, a level +0 celesteela, a level +0 jumpluff, a level +0 darmanitan, a level +0 electivire & a level +0 blastoise. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Brendan - Safari Zone

    Brendan has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 gengar, a level +0 nihilego, a level +0 tapu-koko, a level +0 urshifu, a level +0 deoxys & a level +0 sceptile. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • May - Pokémon Mansion Entrance

    May has a team of 6, made up of a level 73 aggron, a level 73 jumpluff, a level 73 regieleki, a level 73 slowbro, a level 73 snorlax & a level 73 blaziken. The level cap for this fight is level 73.

  • Gary - Route 22

    Gary has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 zapdos, a level +0 ferrothorn, a level +0 celesteela, a level +0 barraskewda, a level +0 goodra & a level +0 blastoise. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Brendan - Indigo Plateau

    Brendan has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 tyrantrum, a level +0 marowak, a level +0 empoleon, a level +0 landorus, a level +0 exploud & a level +0 sceptile. The level cap for this fight is level null.

Evil Team fights

  • Admin Archer - Mt. Moon

    Admin Archer has a team of 5, made up of a level -3 solrock, a level -2 seviper, a level +0 houndour, a level -2 mightyena & a level -3 fearow. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Giovanni - Celadon City Game Corner

    Giovanni has a team of 6, made up of a level 47 infernape, a level 47 nidoking, a level 47 torterra, a level 47 silvally-ghost, a level 47 gyarados & a level 47 kangaskhan. The level cap for this fight is level 47.

  • Archer & Ariana - Silph Co.

    Archer & Ariana has a team of 6, made up of a level 55 incineroar, a level 55 articuno, a level 55 primarina, a level 55 aegislash, a level 55 mawile & a level 55 houndoom. The level cap for this fight is level 55.

  • Giovanni - Silph Co.

    Giovanni has a team of 6, made up of a level 57 mamoswine, a level 57 dracovish, a level 57 gyarados, a level 57 regirock, a level 57 excadrill & a level 57 garchomp. The level cap for this fight is level 57.

  • Admin Archer - Cerulean Cave

    Admin Archer has a team of 5, made up of a level +0 ninetales, a level +0 exeggutor, a level +0 landorus, a level +0 houndoom & a level +0 sunflora. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Admin Ariana - Cerulean Cave

    Admin Ariana has a team of 4, made up of a level +0 wailord, a level +0 espeon, a level +0 buzzwole & a level +0 mawile. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Giovanni - Cerulean Cave

    Giovanni has a team of 6, made up of a level 80 spiritomb, a level 80 delphox, a level 80 silvally-fairy, a level 80 moltres, a level 80 genesect & a level 80 mewtwo. The level cap for this fight is level 80.

Mini Boss fights

  • Falkner - Pewter City Museum

    Falkner has a team of 5, made up of a level -2 trumbeak, a level -2 emolga, a level -3 yanma, a level -2 rufflet & a level -2 farfetch-d. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Bugsy - Bill's House

    Bugsy has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 kleavor, a level +0 scizor, a level +0 scyther, a level +0 heracross, a level +0 araquanid & a level +0 vikavolt. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Whitney - Route 11

    Whitney has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 pyroar, a level +0 wyrdeer, a level +0 luvdisc, a level +0 ursaring, a level +0 togekiss & a level +0 altaria. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Morty - Lavender Town

    Morty has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 krookodile, a level +0 dusknoir, a level +0 mismagius, a level +0 delphox, a level +0 weavile & a level +0 gengar. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Chuck - Saffron City Dojo

    Chuck has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 cobalion, a level +0 sneasler, a level +0 kommo-o, a level +0 blaziken, a level +0 zamazenta & a level +0 gallade. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Pryce (Team A) - Seafoam Islands

    Pryce (Team A) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 cloyster, a level +0 suicune, a level +0 clefable, a level +0 kyurem, a level +0 arctozolt & a level +0 glalie. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Pryce (Team B) - Seafoam Islands

    Pryce (Team B) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 sandslash, a level +0 reuniclus, a level +0 clefable, a level +0 kyurem, a level +0 arctovish & a level +0 glalie. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Pryce (Team C) - Seafoam Islands

    Pryce (Team C) has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 cloyster, a level +0 suicune, a level +0 clefable, a level +0 kyurem, a level +0 arctozolt & a level +0 glalie. The level cap for this fight is level null.

  • Jasmine - Cinnabar Island

    Jasmine has a team of 6, made up of a level +0 gliscor, a level +0 tapu-bulu, a level +0 necrozma, a level +0 genesect, a level +0 magnezone & a level +0 aggron. The level cap for this fight is level null.

Now that you're ready to take on the Pokémon Radical Red Hardcore Nuzlocke Challenge, why not keep track of all your encounters with the Nuzlocke Tracker?
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