Pokemon Null is a heavily modified ROM hack of Pokémon Emerald built from the ground up for the Nuzlocke experience. Every trainer has been hand-crafted, every route rebalanced, and the Pokédex expanded to include Pokémon from Generations 1–9, including brand-new Mega Evolutions. Expect no mercy.
Features
- 275+ Hand-Crafted Competitive Battles: Every single trainer battle has been personally designed with a competitive mindset, featuring synergistic held items and teams that work together to challenge even veteran players.
- Next-Generation Custom AI: Features a brand-new AI system built from the ground up to counter player strategies, predict switches, and play with a professional competitive mindset.
- Generations 1–9 Roster: The Pokédex has been expanded to include Pokémon from all nine generations, featuring updated abilities with new functionality to keep the meta fresh.
- New Mega Evolutions: Includes classic Mega Evolutions plus brand-new Megas for beloved Pokémon, including those inspired by Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
- Reshuffled Hoenn Routing: The standard Hoenn journey is reimagined with a reshuffled gym order, 3 new explorable areas, 10 new boss fights, and various new rivals and characters.
- Hardcore Nuzlocke Balance: Meticulously balanced for the Nuzlocke challenge with tuned encounter tables, resource management, and a difficulty curve where every loss matters.
- In-Menu Pre-Status & Pre-Damage: A revolutionary party menu feature that allows you to instantly apply status conditions or set specific HP levels for strategic play with abilities like Guts or Flail.
- Hard Level Caps: Built-in level caps ensure you never overlevel the next boss, maintaining a consistent and fair challenge throughout the game.
- Resource-Based Customization: Access a dedicated system that allows you to change your Pokémon’s Natures and IVs, allowing you to optimize your team for specific encounters.
- HM-Free Exploration: Use all HM moves directly in the overworld without needing to teach them to your Pokémon or carry “HM Slaves.”
- Infinite Rare Candies & Candy Bag: Completely eliminates level grinding with a dedicated Candy Bag that instantly raises your Pokémon to the current level cap.
- Porta-PC & Toggleable Repel: Access your Pokémon storage boxes from anywhere and manage wild encounters with an infinite, toggleable Repel.
- PokéRider Traversal: Run anywhere and fly to previously known locations instantly using the PokéRider item, replacing the need for Fly.
- Simplified Evolution Methods: Over 50 generational lines have been updated with simplified evolution methods, removing the need for trade-based evolutions.
- Balanced Starter Selection: Start your journey with Chespin, Fennekin, or Froakie, chosen specifically for their balanced viability in a tactical Nuzlocke setting.
- Status Immunity Bypassing: Innovative battle gimmicks allow certain Pokémon to bypass traditional type-based status immunities (e.g., Corrosion Salandit or Soak strategies).
- Casual Mode Toggle
- Legendary Status Rework
- Guaranteed Fishing Pulls
- Dual Bike Access
- Sped-up Traversal
- No Poison Overworld Damage
- Heal from Menu
Changelog
V1.2.1
Aesthetics
- Updated the following sprites and/or icons for improved quality: Mega Greninja, Mega Delphox, Mega Chesnaught, Mega Barbaracle, Mega Baxcalibur, Mega Clefable, Mega Chimecho, Mega Crabominable, Mega Drampa, Mega Eelektross, Mega Excadrill, Mega Froslass, Mega Golisopod, Mega Lucario Z, Mega Heatran, Mega Meganium, Mega Scovillain, Mega Staraptor, Mega Starmie, Mega Zeraora, Mega Meowstic.
- Added shiny sprites for the Mega Evolutions introduced in Pokémon Legends ZA.
Learnset changes (exclusively in favor of the player)
- Move repeats: Scrafty, Togedemaru, Falinks, Pawmot
- Move swaps: Tatsugiri, Poliwrath, Tornadus, Dusknoir, Minior
- Move delay additions: Flittle, Whirlipede
- Move additions: Yanmega, Eelektross, Magcargo, Arbok
- Other: Infernape, Enamorus, Dragapult, Heatmor, Ampharos
- Added Hidden Power to the learnset of all Pokémon from Generation 7 onwards, alongside other learnset inconsistencies
- Some additional Pokémon received minor move changes to mirror adjustments made to the Pokémon listed above, without being intended as significant balance changes (e.g. Archaludon receiving Roar of Time to mirror Tatsugiri gaining Spacial Rend).
Bugs
- Fixed an issue where the final Surf encounter slot could never be selected.
- Fixed an issue where AI would retain Ability data after a Pivot Move KO, causing incorrect evaluations for the Pokémon switched in next.
- Fixed an issue where AI would retain Item data after an item was consumed on KO, causing incorrect evaluations for the Pokémon switched in next.
- Fixed Absorb, Recoil, and Rapid Spin effects failing to trigger when hitting a Substitute.
- Fixed AI choosing a wrong switch-in candidate after Eject Button activation.
- Fixed AI being able to mid-turn switch into a dead Pokémon in specific circumstances.
- Fixed AI using Shell Smash in unintended scenarios.
- Fixed an issue where moves like Echoed Voice would increase in base power even if they failed.
- Fixed Throat Chop effect lasting indefinitely.
- Fixed non-Tri Attack variants of Nature Power incorrectly being affected by abilities such as Refrigerate.
- Fixed an issue where attempting to Mega Evolve while transformed could cause the Pokémon to remain permanently transformed into its base form.
- Fixed an issue where transformed Pokémon could remain permanently transformed after fainting while on a form that changes upon fainting.
- Fixed Coaching succeeding if ally is in a semi-invulnerable state.
- Fixed Status Immunity abilities (e.g. Limber) failing to heal a user’s status if the original attacker has a Mold Breaker-like ability.
- Fixed Burning Bulwark not being removed correctly after being hit by Feint.
- Fixed various issues with Mold Breaker and Ability Shield.
- Fixed various issues involving Protect effects (e.g. Baneful Bunker), Clear Amulet, and Protective Pads.
- Fixed an issue where Population Bomb triggering Iron Barbs would incorrectly cause an additional Iron Barbs activation.
- Fixed an issue where AI calculates a higher Water Shuriken damage than intended, if the user is Ash-Greninja.
- Fixed issues with Encore interactions after a Pokémon was unable to move.
Other
- Reverted Blazikens Ability back to its previous version to avoid unwanted side-effects: Blaze -> Speed Boost
- Added a Speed Boost Tutor in the Lilycove City Contest Hall that can change Scolipede’s and Yanmega’s ability to Speed Boost. This change is permanent and cannot be reversed
- Corrected the nature of Pyre Team Aqua Grunt #3’s Rotom (Adamant -> Timid)
- Slightly adjusted the IVs of Youngster Ben’s Rotom-Frost to better align with the changes from Patch 1.2
- Replaced Probopass with Duraludon in the Navel Rock Sturdy Table due to Probopass losing Sturdy in Patch 1.2
- Removed the Focus Energy Tutor from the L-Menu
- Reverted the Jagged Pass met location name: it is now listed as “Jagged Pass”
- Replaced Wally’s Zigzagoon with Galarian Zigzagoon in the catching tutorial
- Improved the search functionality in the official Pokédex
AI Changes
- Reduced the chance for support Pokémon to receive a switch score boost to 10%
- Removed Future Sight Switch-AI due to several bugs. As compensation, adjusted the Latios set used by Shelly in the Weather Institute and the Deoxys set used by Leaf on Route 123.
- Changed some parameters for the midturn switch behavior to be slightly more lenient. For more information refer to the newly released Switch AI Documentation in the Documentations Drive.
V1.2
Overall Changes
- Adjusted several learnsets. These changes include Pokémon learning moves at an earlier/later level, some moves being added/removed from certain Pokémon and some moves only being available by using a Heart Scale.
- Adjusted several trainers. These changes include level adjustments, held item adjustments, moveset adjustments, added/replaced Pokémon on certain teams and previously separate trainer fights becoming consecutive. These adjustments affect fights from Wattson Split to League Split.
- Adjusted certain abilities. These changes include Pokémon losing one of their possible abilities, some abilities being replaced by other abilities and AI gaining access to several new Hidden Abilities.
- Adjusted encounter tables.
- Added one new Trainer battle (Old Couple John & Jay) in Steven Split.
- AI Pokémon now have maxed PP in all moves. Moves with 1 base PP for the player default to 8 PP for the AI (except Revival Blessing).
- Candy Jar and Common Candy can no longer be registered.
Move-Related Changes
Effect Changes
- Obstruct effect: −2 Defense → −1 Defense
- Tera Starstorm: now has a 50% chance of either paralyzing, freezing, or burning the target.
Accuracy Changes
- Zap Cannon, Inferno, Dynamic Punch: 50 Acc → 60 Acc
- Wildbolt Storm, Bleakwind Storm, Springtide Storm, Sandsear Storm: 100 Acc → 95 Acc
- Sizzly Slide, Buzzy Buzz: 90 Acc → 95 Acc
Base Power Changes
- Attack Order, Rock Climb: 90 BP → 80 BP
- Psystrike: 100 BP → 95 BP, 10 PP → 5 PP
- Aeroblast: 100 BP → 95 BP
- Water Shuriken: 15 BP → 20 BP, now has +2 priority, but is no longer guaranteed to hit 5 times when used by Greninja.
PP Changes
- Photon Geyser: 5 PP → 10 PP
- Last Respects, Life Dew, Chilly Reception: 10 PP → 5 PP
- Spotlight: 15 PP → 5 PP
- Follow Me, Rage Powder: 20 PP → 5 PP
- Baton Pass: 40 PP → 5 PP
- Burn Up: 5 PP → 1 PP
Tutor & TM Changes
- Removed the Focus Energy Tutor from Petalburg City.
- Added a Blizzard Tutor on Route 119.
- Removed the Grass Knot TM from the Lilycove Department Store.
Other Move Property Changes
- Hurricane: no longer considered a wind move.
- Shadow Claw: now classified as a slicing move.
- Tera Shift: now transforms into Stellar form if level 80 or above.
- Trace: can no longer trace abilities which set terrain or weather.
Item-Related Changes
- All resist berries now yield 1.
- PP Up no longer available in Meteor Falls.
- Tyranitarite location changed to Sky Pillar.
- Swapped the locations of Mental Herb and Metronome: Mental Herb can be obtained in Route 117, Metronome in Route 120.
- Scanner item (Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Choice Specs and Covert Cloak) trades are now limited to a maximum of 10 trades.
- Assault Vest, Leftovers, Life Orb and Rocky Helmet can no longer be held simultaneously, but can be traded between via a system similar to Scanner trades. The aforementioned trade restriction does not apply to this item pool.
AI Changes
Behavioral Improvements
- Adjusted mid-turn Switch AI to account for PP stalling strategies. The AI will now correctly identify being out of PP. Additional AI checks have been added to recognize possible attempted PP stalls, to which the AI will react accordingly.
- Additional conditions have been added to the existing Switch AI logic to improve the predictability.
AI Bug Fixes
- Fixed AI attempting to use No Retreat multiple times.
- Fixed AI refusing to use First Impression against Pokémon with Inner Focus, Shield Dust, or Covert Cloak.
- Fixed AI refusing to use Electro Shot in rain.
- Fixed AI not correctly calculating Retaliate in post-KO switch scenarios.
- Fixed AI being incorrectly affected by Illusion in unintended cases.
- Fixed various other undocumented but unintended AI behaviors, which will not be specified at this moment.
Bug Fixes
Battle Mechanics
- Fixed issue causing items to disappear (primarily Mega Stones).
- Fixed Teleport, Shed Tail, and similar moves causing the game to crash when the opponent faints.
- Fixed Substitute graphics not disappearing after using pivot moves (e.g. U-Turn).
- Fixed Defend Order incorrectly behaving like Protect.
- Fixed Mortal Spin missing its contact property.
- Fixed persistent ability mismatches between documentation, calculator and the game.
- Fixed incorrect interactions between pivot moves (e.g. U-Turn) and Eject Button.
- Fixed incorrect berry activation timing when affected by Leech Seed or Yawn.
- Fixed Big Root not interacting correctly with Leech Seed.
- Fixed Sheer Force affected moves bypassing abilities such as Static.
- Fixed Sawsbuck’s alternate sprites not loading the second frame correctly.
- Fixed various Unnerve-related issues.
- Fixed Toxic counter occasionally increasing more than intended.
- Fixed incorrect Hard Press calculations.
- Fixed Mirror Move failing when the previous move failed.
- Fixed Mist duration inconsistencies.
- Fixed hazard damage (e.g. Stealth Rock) being applied twice when an opposing White Herb Pokémon is affected by Intimidate.
- Fixed Thermal Exchange incorrectly blocking Yawn.
- Fixed incorrect PP values for Collision Course and Electro Drift.
- Fixed incorrect weight values for some modern generation Pokémon.
- Fixed Zen Mode activating on lead when HP conditions are met.
- Fixed multiple issues related to Take Heart.
Overworld & Map
- Fixed incorrect level ranges for Happiny in Artisan Cave and Terrakion in Southern Island.
- Fixed Ninja Boy Hideo battle not being in rain.
- Fixed Psychic Kayla reactivating Gauntlet Mode in Mt. Pyre upon interaction.
- Fixed missing encounter tiles on Sky Pillar 2F.
Other
- Updated Zinnia’s theme to a more polished version (credits to IAGeezus).
- Fixed Alakazite’s location to its intended placement in Mossdeep Gym.
- Improved Mr. Briney’s script so he remains available at all locations.
- Added evolution stones to Mauville City and Verdanturf Town marts to account for the post-Wattson lockdown.
- Fixed Slowking-Galar’s icon palette.
- Frostbite Status is now healed after battle.
- Added a Fly location to Mt. Chimney.
- Floette-Eternal trades now only accept non-red Florges forms, which remains exclusive to the Game Corner.
- All Swablus and Altarias are now female.
