What Happens When You Black Out in a Nuzlocke?
Your entire team just fainted. The screen goes dark. Is your Nuzlocke run over? This is one of the most common questions new Nuzlocke players ask, and the answer depends on which rules you're following.
Standard Nuzlocke: Not Necessarily Over
In a standard Nuzlocke, blacking out does NOT automatically end your run — as long as you still have living Pokémon in your PC boxes.
The core Nuzlocke rules say: "If a Pokémon faints, it is dead." But they don't say anything about blacking out ending the run. If your 6-Pokémon team wipes in a Gym battle but you have 3 more alive Pokémon in the box, you can continue with those 3 Pokémon.
Your run only truly ends when every single Pokémon you own is dead — both in your team and in the boxes.
Hardcore Nuzlocke: Usually Game Over
In a Hardcore Nuzlocke, most players add the "Full Wipe" rule: if you black out (lose all 6 party Pokémon in a single battle), the run is over — regardless of what's in the box.
The reasoning is that blacking out represents a total defeat. Being able to just grab backup Pokémon from the box and try again removes a lot of the tension from the challenge.
What Counts as a Black Out?
A black out (or white out in some games) happens when all Pokémon in your current party faint during a battle. The game sends you back to the last Pokémon Center. In standard gameplay this is just a minor setback, but in a Nuzlocke it's potentially devastating.
Common Scenarios
Black out against a Gym Leader
Standard rules: All 6 party Pokémon are dead. Rebuild from the box and try again (if you have living Pokémon in the box).
Hardcore rules: Run is over. Start a new game.
Black out against a wild Pokémon
Same rules apply. It doesn't matter if it's a Gym Leader or a random wild encounter — a black out is a black out.
Black out during the Elite Four
This is the most painful scenario. In the Elite Four, you typically can't access your PC between battles (depending on the game). If you lose, all party members who fainted are dead. In some games you can go back and grab more Pokémon from the box; in others, a loss here means a full wipe.
Our Recommendation for Beginners
For your first Nuzlocke, use the standard rule: you can continue as long as you have living Pokémon in the box. The Hardcore "full wipe" rule adds a lot of pressure that can make a first run frustrating rather than fun.