Since the first games released in 1996, thePokemonseries has always challenged players to “catch ‘em all,” with a completed Pokedex serving as a monumental achievement for those willing to put the time into tracking down every new pocket monster introduced with each subsequent game. One YouTuber took that challenge to the next level with the recently releasedPokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlas they were able to completethe games’ Regional Pokedexin under 24 hours.
YouTuber and Twitch streamer SmallAnt is no newcomer toPokemonchallenges as they are constantly completing them, showcasing just how wacky the series can be when using different rulesets such as completing a title without ever taking damage or only allowing himself to use shiny Pokemon in battle. SmallAnt’s latest challenge saw him completePokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl’s Pokedex in less than 24 hours, which he did on his first attempt.
RELATED:Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Players Are Creeped Out By Garchomp’s Follow Animation
Streamed entirely on Twitch and then condensed and posted to SmallAnt’s YouTube channel, the streamer breaks down their strategy and the luck that goes into catching certain rare Pokemon with ease. Although he makes it look easy, no doubt thanks to his countless hours of previousPokemonchallenge runs, SmallAnt’s 100% completion run of the game took him just under 21 hours of playing bothBrilliant DiamondandShining Pearlalmost nonstop.
While the video is filled with plenty of interesting strategies on how SmallAnt was able to manipulate the game in his favorto complete the Regional Pokedexso quickly, perhaps his best trick is highlighted when he switches to playingPokemon Shining Pearlin order to catch all of the game exclusive Pokemon featured in the title. At the start of his run, he traded the remaining two unchosen starters from his copy ofShining PearltoBrilliant Diamond, the game where he did the bulk of the challenge.
After completing everything required inDiamond, SmallAnt traded his level 63 Empoleon back toPearlto sweep through the rest of the game. Normally, a high level, traded Pokemon won’t listen to an under-experienced trainer with so few badges, however, because the Empoleon started its life as aPiplup inPokemon Shining Pearlin the early hours of the game before being traded toDiamond, it doesn’t count as a traded Pokemon, so it listens to all of SmallAnt’s commands, regardless of its high level.
SmallAnt is constantly doing challenge runs of games streamed directly to Twitch while also condensing his runs into thought-provoking YouTube videos where he shares some of the strategies and theories behind each one. It’s unclear if he has anyotherPokemon Brilliant DiamondorShining Pearlcontentcoming in the future, however,Pokemongames are frequently in his rotation of franchises that he does challenge runs in, so it’s safe to assume that the games might make another appearance sometime soon.
Pokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearlare available now for the Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s Poketch Should Include Field Moves like Flash
