Heart & Soul Features, Settings & Challenge Modes

Heart & Soul lets you configure a run before the adventure begins. This guide is a source-backed map of the current 2.0.4 challenge menu, built to help you choose a run rather than guess which controls exist.

Choose the hard parts up front. After a game begins, the Nuzlocke, randomizer, difficulty, and challenge settings can only be made easier -- not harder. The source also defines a few exceptions, noted below.

Start with a run shape

Recommended or Custom

The Mode tab offers Recommended and Custom. Choose Custom when you want to adjust the mode options below. The source menu includes controls for the Pokémon movepool, Fairy type, Physical/Special split, reusable TMs, Nature Mints, selected ability and item behaviors, and recharge-move behavior.

For a first run, keep the configuration focused: use the settings you actually care about, then use the Walkthrough & Progression Guide and Trainer Battles to plan the game itself.

Randomizer

The Randomizer tab can independently control starters, wild Pokémon, trainers, static encounters, legendaries, types, moves, abilities, evolutions, evolution methods, type effectiveness, obtainable items, and chaos mode.

Generation range

In 2.0.4, the generation range is Gen 1–9 or Gen 1–3. The upstream release says Gen 1–3 is the default. Unlike most randomizer settings, the source marks this generation-range option as adjustable in either direction after the game starts.

Static encounters respect the static-randomizer setting in 2.0.4. If you want the normal source-backed encounter tables, leave the relevant randomizer controls off and use the Encounter Finder.

Nuzlocke

Heart & Soul has Off, Easy, Normal, and Hard Nuzlocke modes. Its detailed rules, clauses, fainting behavior, and tracked-area encounter logic are covered in the Nuzlocke Mode & Rules guide.

For a Nuzlocke run:

use Encounter Finder to inspect a tracked area before its encounter is spent;
use Level Caps alongside Nuzlocke, since level caps are a separate Difficulty setting; and
use Trainer Battles to prepare from exact teams where the game data provides them.

Mono-type interaction in 2.0.4

When a mono-type challenge is active, 2.0.4 does not spend a Nuzlocke encounter on a species that does not match the selected type. The release also says the mono-type check accounts for a Pokémon's evolutionary family.

Difficulty

The Difficulty tab includes:

party limits from Off to one Pokémon;
level caps: Off, Normal, or Hard;
EXP multiplier options: x1.0, x1.5, x2.0, or x0.0;
player- and trainer-item controls;
player and trainer IV/EV controls;
fewer-escape and Escape Rope/Dig restrictions.

The EXP multiplier is deliberately adjustable after starting. In 2.0.4, Kanto level caps were restored. Use the Level Caps tool for the data-backed thresholds; it does not assume a particular Nuzlocke or randomizer setup.

Challenge rules

The Challenges tab includes restrictions or variants for Pokémon Center healing, shop costs, evolution limits, one-type-only runs, base-stat equalization, Mirror Mode, and Mirror Thief.

Pokémon Center: can disallow healing at Pokémon Centers and other locations.
Ultra Expensive: raises costs by the menu's listed multiplier.
Evolution Limit: can allow normal evolution, first-stage evolution only, or no evolution.
One Type Only: limits the Pokémon type the player can capture and use.
BST Equalizer: uses the menu's selected base-stat value for Pokémon calculations.
Mirror Mode: copies the opposing trainer's party for trainer battles.
Mirror Thief: keeps the opposing party after battle rather than restoring the player's original party.

These are real game settings, not recommended presets. Pair them with the Team Builder, Type Chart, and Locations & Encounter Finder when you want to plan within a chosen restriction.

What can change after starting?

The game points players back to the PC challenge menu after the adventure begins. In general, Nuzlocke, randomizer, difficulty, and challenge settings only move toward an easier configuration. The source explicitly marks the following exceptions:

the Gen 1–3 / Gen 1–9 randomizer range is freely adjustable;
the EXP multiplier is freely adjustable; and
Infinite Rare Candy is locked after the initial setup.

When in doubt, set the restrictive version you intend to play before beginning.

For the author-maintained changelog and patch notes, see the official Heart & Soul 2.0.4 release.