LogFAQs > #961445938

So I started progressing the story and clearing more NPC battles, first at Lake Valor and then at Lake Verity. No big deal. Then I realized that I hadn't gotten the Strength stuff from Oreburgh Gate, and I still never went into Wayward Cave. So I did that and went to the extra area of Wayward Cave, knowing I had a 50/50 chance of getting a Gible (yay) or a Bronzor (boo). Turns out I found and caught a level 16 Gible (named Shay). I brought her along as I battled the trainers along routes 216 and 217, and I even let her hold the Lucky Egg I got in the underground, which helped her evolve into Gabite. Then I started leveling in preparation for Snowpoint City gym.

This is where I made some mistakes. My Water-types are way too plentiful, so I was a bit more liberal in using them to fight Gravelers and Houndooms, but I guess I got lucky that only one Graveler used Self-Destruct during that whole run. Since my only other Water-types (I try to level my weakest stuff first) were Violeta and Tristan, I switched over to battling Roselia and Pinsir with my other types. It was going smoothly, but then I ran across an Absol. Now, I COULD have sent out Edgar and used Close Combat. THAT would've been the smart thing to do. Instead, I sent out Zelda, figuring she was lower level and needed the active combat EXP boost more. Dazzling Gleam did not OHKO, but the Absol's Night Slash critted and I lost my freaking Mew. And then, stupidly again, I figured "Okay, well, at least it's dead on the next attack". So I sent out Nicholas, and the Absol used Sucker Punch to kill him too. THEN I finally used Edgar, but only after losing two team members (and GOOD team members at that). RIP Zelda (Level 1 to 40). RIP Nicholas (Level 21 to 43).

It's really disappointing, because I would much have preferred to lose some useless Water-types instead of valuable team members. But I guess that's what a Nuzlocke is all about.