In the main menu, go to the top left corner and select
Options, then, in the new menu, select
Rule Edit, a screen will pop up with the following options:
Rule Name: Write the name of the format you’re creating, e.g. Underused.
Qualifying Pokémon: Press the A Button in this option and you will be taken to a window that has the 251 Pokémon of the Second Generation listed in the New Pokédex order. If you want to allow all Pokémon, just exit this window by pressing the B button; however, if you want to ban one or more Pokémon, press A on their respective pictures. Pokémon allowed will appear in a blue rectangle and Pokémon banned will appear on a red rectangle.
Pokémon Level: It can range from 1 to 100.
Maximum 3 Pokémon Level Total: This is in case you want to enforce the Level Sum Limit rule, e.g. if you are creating the Petit Cup and want the chosen Pokémon to have a Level Sum Limit between 75 and 80, you have to write 80 here. In the case of formats like Underused, where all the chosen Pokémon can be at level 100, you have to write 300.
Use Items?: This is an interesting option. If you want to ban all Items select Don’t use; on the other hand, if you want to allow all Items, select Use. Unfortunately, it is not possible to ban specific Items.
Hold Identical Items?: If you want to enforce Item Clause, select Don’t hold, otherwise, select Hold.
OK: Once you’re finished, press A to save your changes. Don’t worry, if you made a mistake or want to change the rules, you can edit them again.
In the table below I’ll give an example of a created format:
Rule Name | MiddleCup |
Qualifying Pokémon | 27 kinds |
Pokémon Level | 050 - 050 |
Maximum 3 Pokémon Level Total | Up to 150 (No restrictions) |
Use Items? | Use |
Hold Identical Items? | Don’t hold |
Once you create a new format, you can see its rules in Event Battle or Free Battle, they look like this:
All formats that are created in Rule Edit can be played in the Event Battle or Free Battle modes; unfortunately, the formats always enforce the rule of bring six Pokémon and choose three, which means that all battles are of three versus three. If you want to play six versus six, you have to play in the Anything Goes option of the Free Battle mode.
Another disadvantage of Rule Edit is that the game doesn't give you Rental Pokémon for the formats you create, both players must use Pokémon from their Game Boy cartridges.