Hack Series: Pokéluv - A Balanced, Randomized Experience (FireRed/Emerald) [UPDATE]

[Akiak]

Hi, my name is Akiak, and this is a hack for Pokémon Emerald and Pokémon FireRed that I've been working on for the past few years. It's basically finished now.

It's essentially a 'rebalancing' hack. All 386 Pokemon have been redesigned (stats, moveset etc.) so that they're ALL relatively viable in some way, giving them a unique flair in the process which they never had in the original games.

The catch here is that this includes all pre-evolutions as well. Every Pokemon was treated as its own unique entity, so if you want a Charmander to spearhead your team (or a Hoppip, or an Oddish), then that's a perfectly viable option.

As an example, Charmander has lower overall stats compared to Charizard, however they're a bit faster, boast a pretty special secondary ability and can learn a few unique moves such as Will-o-Wisp.

I didn't set out to make every Pokemon equally strong, but I tried to give every single one some kind of redeeming quality that makes them worth using.

There are a few crazy ideas in there, but they're all based on something, wether it's the Pokemon's appearance, lore, or 'hidden potential'.

I've also included a modified version of the Reasonable Randomizer, which I highly recommend using. It preserves trainer types (Roxanne has Rock-types, etc.) and habitats (no wild Growlithe in the sea), and includes several competitive movesets for all 386 Pokemon, which it can choose from when building enemy teams.

FEATURES

• All 386 Pokemon, including pre-evolutions, have been 'rebalanced' (stats, movesets, abilities etc.) to be at least somewhat viable, but without being unrealistic.
• All level-up and trade evolutions have been replaced by an optional evolution via Rare Candy. Stone evolutions are unchanged.
• Many moves have been rebalanced (full list below)
• 9 new moves, including Poison Jab & Shadow Claw
• Legendary Pokemon have been considerably buffed, and are now uncatchable (think of them as boss fights)
• Based off of Emerald Final and Throwback, which include many QoL features
• A more balanced distribution of single & double battles
• Optional Gen 6-style EXP Share from the start (entire party receives 100% of the EXP)
• A specially tailored version of Reasonable Randomizer, with competitive movesets for all 386 Pokemon. This is an essential part of the experience, and I don't recommend playing without it.

• Scaled EXP system from Gen 5
• Gym leaders have better teams
• Better AI
• 7 new Move Tutors
• Physical/Special split (applied to certain moves)
• HMs don't need to be taught
• Catch rates have been buffed, to make Nuzlocking less painful
• Critical hits nerfed to 1.5x
• Sturdy & Rough Skin have been updated
• Steel no longer resists Ghost
• Poison survival on 1 HP
• Rare Candy substitutes can be bought in certain Pokemarts
• Cleanse Tag reduces wild encounters by 1/3
• "Lucky Eggs" are obtainable early on that completely disable EXP gain (useful for level caps)
• The Master Ball is replaced by TM35, and an extra PP Max is available (hint: scanner) (Emerald)
• Eevee, Tyrogue & Wurmple evolve via Sun Stones (which can be found on wild Gloom & Vileplume) and Moon Stones
• Revamped Battle Tent/Battle Frontier sets (Emerald)

DOWNLOAD
View attachment Pokeluv.zip

MEDIAFIRE LINK
https://www.mediafire.com/file/yuvnxb7cgqtcnw0/Pokeluv.zip/file

Updated 25 August 2022

HOW TO INSTALL/PATCH/RANDOMIZE

Spoiler:

HOW TO PLAY:
1) Obtain a ROM (.gba file) of Pokemon Emerald or Pokemon FireRed (BPRE 1.0)
2) Download Lunar IPS if you're on Windows, MultiPatch if you're on Mac
3) Apply PokeluvEmerald.ips or PokeluvFireRed.ips to the ROM using one of these tools.

If you don't want to (or can't) use the randomizer app, use one of the pre-randomized 'Presets' instead! (apply to unmodified vanilla ROM like above)

TO RANDOMIZE:
4) Make a copy of your patched ROM
5) Double-click RunRandomizer (you might need to install Java or JDK)
6) A window will open. Click on File in the top left, then Open, and find and open your patched ROM
7) The recommended settings are already set, so there's no need to change anything unless you want to
8) Click on File again in the top left, then Save

The terminal window in the back should show a list of numbers up to 386. If it shows a bunch of errors, delete the file and repeat the steps from the beginning.

You're done! Simply close the randomizer, and open the ROM with your preferred emulator :)

DISCORD
https://discord.gg/FHWk4GmqdS

LUVLOCKE CHALLENGE

Spoiler:

1) Use 'Set' Battle Style
2) Activate EXP ALL
3) Randomize the game using the recommended settings
4) No grinding on wild Pokemon
5) You can only catch the first encounter in every area (excluding duplicates)
6) You cannot exit an area until all accessible Trainers are defeated*
7) You cannot buy anything ever (Pokemarts, vendors etc.)
8) If a Pokemon is dead at the end of a battle, it can no longer be used (Revives can be used mid-battle)
9) No overleveling the next Gym Leader (or E4) by more than 1 level (use the Lucky Eggs to block EXP!)
10) No replanting berries, no Pickup farming, no Thief farming, no rematching Trainers. Giveaways can only be used once. Pokemon placed in the Day Care can no longer be used (but their offspring can).

This ruleset (aka Minilocke) is my preferred ruleset for this hack. You'll need to learn where all the hidden items are, so use a video such as this one to help you out. Once you get past that though, it is very fun.

There's 9 free Berry Juice obtainable before Roxanne (3 before Brock). Make sure to use them.

If you don't want to use EXP ALL, you may want a Rare Candy equivalent to avoid grinding. If so, check the tree next to Oldale Pokemart, or in the top-right of any early Pokemart in FireRed.

If you want to do a standard Nuzlocke, you can, but it'll be very difficult, mainly due to the randomized enemy teams & movesets. Oh, and you may also want to ban (or limit) the use of Rare Candies to evolve your Pokemon. It's more of a "cheat code" than an intended feature.

*If you want to skip some Trainers, you can, but once you leave the area you can no longer challenge them.

Some examples of Pokemon picked at random, to give you an idea:

Spoiler:

HP: 45
Attack: 30
Defense: 18
Sp. Attack: 85
Sp. Defense: 65
Speed: 85

Learns Bubble, Bubblebeam
Modified: Sing

HP: 67
Attack: 83
Defense: 68
Sp. Attack: 99
Sp. Defense: 74
Speed: 84

Ability: Blaze/???

HP: 41
Attack: 80
Defense: 100
Sp. Attack: 30
Sp. Defense: 40
Speed: 70

Ability: Rock Head/???
Learns Mach Punch

HP: 60
Attack: 45
Defense: 55
Sp. Attack: 55
Sp. Defense: 80
Speed: 100

Learns Water Sport, Bounce, Bubblebeam

HP: 51
Attack: 85
Defense: 59
Sp. Attack: 85
Sp. Defense: 58
Speed: 78

Ability: Rough Skin/Water Absorb

HP: 30
Attack: 11
Defense: 55
Sp. Attack: 20
Sp. Defense: 40
Speed: 80

Modified: Splash

Every Pokemon was given special care and attention, and the changes in this hack go very deep (especially if you're into breeding).

List of moves modified:

Spoiler:

Acid* (45BP 50%spdef drop)
Air Cutter (60BP)
Ancientpower*
Arm Thrust (16BP)
Aurora Beam (20%atk drop)
Barrage (25BP)
Beat Up (12BP)
Bide (+1 priority)
Bite*
Blaze Kick*
Blizzard (110BP)
Bone Rush (85acc)
Bubble (25BP 20%speed drop)
Bubblebeam (20%speed drop)
Bullet Seed (16BP)
Clamp* (95acc)
Comet Punch (95acc)
Covet (45BP)
Confusion (20%conf)
Constrict (15BP 90%speed drop)
Crabhammer*
Crunch*
Cut (crit)
Dig (65BP)
Disable (95acc)
Dive* (65BP)
Dizzy Punch (35%conf)
Doubleslap (16BP 100acc)
Dragon Claw*
Drill Run (replaces Kinesis)
Earth Power* (80BP 20%spdef drop) (replaces Bind)
Eerie Pulse (25BP spatk drop) (replaces Mirror Move)
Egg Bomb (85acc)
Ember (45BP)
False Swipe (45BP)
Fire Blast (110BP)
Fire Spin (20BP 80acc)
Flame Wheel* (65BP 30%burn)
Flamethrower (90BP)
Flash (hits both foes)
Fly (75BP)
Fury Attack (90acc)
Fury Cutter (25BP)
Fury Swipes (85acc)
Future Sight (95BP 95acc)
Giga Drain (10PP)
Glare (95acc)
Grasswhistle (60acc)
Gunk Shot (110BP 30%toxic) (replaces Razor Wind)
Gust* (45BP)
Headache (replaces Extrasensory)
Head Smash (replaces Horn Drill)
Heat Wave (95BP)
Hi Jump Kick (90BP)
Horn Attack (10%flinch)
Hydro Pump (110BP)
Hyper Voice*
Ice Ball*
Ice Beam (90BP)
Icicle Spear* (16BP)
Iron Tail (95BP 80acc)
Jump Kick (75BP)
Knock Off* (25BP)
Leaf Blade*
Leech Life (40BP)
Lick (25BP 50%para)
Mega Drain (15PP)
Megahorn (80acc)
Metal Claw (20%atk buff)
Mimic (is now Mirror Move)
Mud Shot*
Mud Sport (+1 priority)
Mud-Slap (25BP)
Muddy Water (90BP)
Needle Arm*
Octazooka (65%acc drop)
Outrage*
Overheat (130BP)
Peck (40BP)
Petal Dance (80BP)
Pin Missile (90acc)
Poison Fang (70BP 40%toxic)
Poison Gas (60acc)
Poison Jab (20%poison crit) (replaces Poison Tail)
Poison Sting (20BP)
Powder Snow (45BP)
Present (100acc)
Psybeam (20%conf)
Psywave (85acc)
Pursuit*
Rapid Spin (25BP)
Razor Leaf (60BP)
Recover (15PP)
Rock Blast (85acc)
Rock Smash (35BP)
Rock Tomb (55BP 85acc)
Sand Tomb (20BP 80acc)
Secret Power (physical Hidden Power)
Shadow Claw (replaces Crush Claw)
Signal Beam*
Silver Wind*
Sing (95acc)
Smog* (80acc 45%poison)
Snore (45BP)
Spark*
Splash (?)
Steel Wing (20%def buff)
Strength (is now Secret Power)
Supersonic (60acc)
Surf (90BP)
Swift*
Tackle (45BP)
Thief (45BP)
Thunder (110BP)
Thunder Wave (95acc)
Thunderbolt (90BP)
Thundershock (45BP)
Toxic (90acc)
Tri Attack*
Triple Kick (15BP 95acc)
Twineedle (30BP 35%poison)
Twister (45BP)
Uproar* (55BP)
Vine Whip (40BP)
Water Gun (45BP)
Water Sport (+1 priority)
Waterfall* (75BP 95acc crit 10PP)
Whirlpool (20BP 80acc)
Will-O-Wisp (85acc)
X-Scissor (70BP crit) (replaces Doom Desire)

*Physical/Special split applied

Hall of Fame:

Spoiler:

SevenChurches

Akiak

Previous version: https://www.mediafire.com/file/zzcxuhyjt93j4x0/Pokeluv21.zip/file

Thanks to:

RichterSnipes: for the super good Pokemon Throwback.
dearman4: for the excellent Pokemon Emerald Final.
LAT10S: for the Reasonable Randomizer project, and making it open source.
karatekid552 and his team: for the Gen III Suite which kickstarted this whole project.
Gamer2020: for the Pokemon Game Editor toolset.
DoesntKnowHowToPlay, MrDollSteak, Jambo51, esperance, LAT10S, TL, haven1433, SevenChurches, ABZB, LocksmithArmy, Cha Cha Dinosaur, HackMew, Anthroyd, dylan, Lunos, FBI, Uncommon, mbcn10ww, AkameTheBulbasaur, Samu and probably countless other people.

Contact me on Discord (.akiak).

 

[Akiak]

I've made some pretty massive updates to this hack. Ironed out some bugs, made improvements, added features etc... It's all detailed in the OP.

I'd highly recommend giving this a try coupled with a randomizer. Just download the PokeluvPSX patch and follow the instructions provided.

Enjoy!

 

[OmegaBlazerX]

Great hack i have to try it but i have to say do you have idea to add the 3rd gen Pokemon to the hack ?

 

[Akiak]

Great hack i have to try it but i have to say do you have idea to add the 3rd gen Pokemon to the hack ?

I'd love to but unfortunately given the amount of time it took to do the first 2 gens it's very unlikely that I'll ever get around to it.

Pretty much the only update that I'm considering making at the moment (barring any bugs/issues people might find) is giving the trainers with Custom Movesets enabled a fixed team that can't be randomized, which would fix some minor issues (that are explained in the OP).

Although if someone else wants to tackle the 3rd gen I'm open to that, just let me know!

 

[Akiak]

So uh... I ended up completing the 3rd gen while I was on vacation...

So now all 386 Pokemon have been revamped, which significantly improves compatibility with randomizers. You can now use the Reasonable Randomizer instead of UPR, which has habitat and trainer type specialty retention.

I always found it really jarring and immersion-breaking when I'd find a Growlithe swimming around in the sea, or a gym leader with completely random types.

I also fixed an issue with Prof Oak's aides and made some general improvements. As always it's all listed in the OP, which has been revamped and is hopefully easier to understand now too.

Finally, I'd like to also announce that I will begin working on an Emerald version, so stay tuned for that (if all goes well)!

☺️

 

[Master_Z]

Very cool hack! So does this make the trainers in the game stronger as well? I see an option called "retain trainer strength" in the screenshot you posted.

 

[Akiak]

Very cool hack! So does this make the trainers in the game stronger as well? I see an option called "retain trainer strength" in the screenshot you posted.

That's simply an option in the randomizer that skews the Trainer Pokemon based on their level, so early trainers are more likely to have pre-evolutions whereas later trainers will have more fully-evolved mons.

But as you can see I have the Strictness slider set to 10 so it's a very minor effect, I wouldn't recommend increasing it too much as it kind of goes against the idea of this hack which is to "level the playing field" and give every Pokemon a chance to shine.

I would say the difficulty is certainly at least a little bit higher than vanilla, since literally every Pokemon that you encounter will be somewhat threatening in some way, plus the randomisation adds unpredictability that can be hard to prepare for (even more-so if you set the Battle Style in the options to SET instead of SHIFT).

 

[Arionix]

About the rare candies, do they have a special store or are they in the normal places?

 

[Akiak]

About the rare candies, do they have a special store or are they in the normal places?

They are in the normal places.

 

[SevenChurches]

I've reached a dead end. Bill didn't confront me in Cinnabar Island after beating Blaine, so I can't go to the Sevii Islands. The woman blocking the entrance to the Elite 4 said that Lorelei is not present, meaning she's on Four Island. Am I missing something?

 

[Akiak]

I've reached a dead end. Bill didn't confront me in Cinnabar Island after beating Blaine, so I can't go to the Sevii Islands. The woman blocking the entrance to the Elite 4 said that Lorelei is not present, meaning she's on Four Island. Am I missing something?

Oops! I should include this in the main post.

As part of the "Catch Em All" hack, the Sevii Islands are no longer accessible until after the Elite Four.

Are you saying you've got 8 badges but you still can't get into the E4?

 

[SevenChurches]

Oops! I should include this in the main post.

As part of the "Catch Em All" hack, the Sevii Islands are no longer accessible until after the Elite Four.

Are you saying you've got 8 badges but you still can't get into the E4?

That's right.

 

[Akiak]

That's right.

Thanks, can confirm this is indeed a bug that's unique to my hack, only idea I have atm is that it might be caused by the National dex being given at the start and making the game think you've already beaten the E4.

Looking into it but might take like a week as I'm pretty busy

Thanks for reporting tho 😊

 

[Akiak]

Have fixed the issue, so the FRfull patch should work fine now.

I have been working on the Emerald version but progress has been slowing down due to lack of time. I may still get it done soon tho, can't really say right now.

Have also noticed a few mistakes and things I wanted to change when copying the Pokemon over from the FR version, so hopefully will get that sorted soon too.

✌️

 

[SevenChurches]

Have fixed the issue, so the FRfull patch should work fine now.

I was able to beat the Elite 4 and Champion, but I don't see any way to reach the Sevii Islands. I went to Cinnabar Island's Pokemon Center to see if Bill's there. He isn't, and in his house, he doesn't mention the Sevii Islands.

 

[Akiak]

I was able to beat the Elite 4 and Champion, but I don't see any way to reach the Sevii Islands. I went to Cinnabar Island's Pokemon Center to see if Bill's there. He isn't, and in his house, he doesn't mention the Sevii Islands.

Looking into it.

 

[agan]

Interesting hack, i will play this hacks when sevii islands solved.
Can we match with other people using linked battle feature?

 

[Akiak]

Interesting hack, i will play this hacks when sevii islands solved.
Can we match with other people using linked battle feature?

Yes of course, this is a fairly vanilla hack so all communication features should work normally.

Not sure how it'll behave if you battle against someone who isn't using the hack, if it'll cause desyncs or if you simply get to use your buffed mons as normal, probably the latter but idk

 

[agan]

I can't see the randomizer setting picture dude

Can i combine PokeluvFRps with latest version of fire red throwback?
I'm trying to patch latest throwback first, then i patch it again with PokeluvFRps

 

[Akiak]

Please don't do that, there's a reason I'm using an older version of Throwback, there'll be compatibility issues with newer versions.

I'm currently looking into the post-E4 issues and will hopefully have a fix soon.

As for the picture, that's really weird, I can see it fine on multiple different devices. Not sure how to help you :/

EDIT: here, try this link for the pic: https://imgur.com/a/BksRxqR

EDIT2: also for the record, the only features that are missing from Throwback v190806 compared to the current version are the moveset changes, which cause compatibility issues with Pokeluv, and the Celebi encounter, where Celebi is just added to your party for free, which can't be allowed in this hack for obvious reasons.