On Moves & Learnsets

Pokémon learn moves, and they learn some moves “naturally”; the list of moves a pokémon can learn naturally comprises its “learnset”. Learnsets follow a particular order, and the stages of a pokémons growth are characterized into “levels” with a pokémon species learning zero or more moves at each level. (As an exception, &Lv1; comprises those “innate” moves a pokémon species knows at birth.)

A pokémons learnset can be described with just two components: a learning pattern and a movelist. Learning patterns determine when a pokémon learns moves, and movelists determine which moves are learned. Learning patterns can take forms such as “every six levels”, “alternating between every three and five levels”, and “every five levels until &Lv25;, then every six levels there·after”.

As a general rule of thumb, &Lv50; is considered to be maturity, and regardless of learning pattern, an unevolved pokémon should learn all or most of its characteristic moves by that point. Moves learned after &Lv50; are advanced techniques that are rarely encountered in a given pokémon.

When a pokémon evolves by levelling up, the lengths of any segments in its learning pattern which extend beyond its evolution requirement are increased by a constant amount, usually 1 or 2. This happens as if the pokémon did evolve at that level, even if a particular individual pokémon evolves later. So a pokémon will continue learning moves at its unevolved rate until it evolves, but once it does, it may have a long wait before it can learn a move beyond the latest it knows.

Pokémon that evolve by the use of items typically stop learning moves altogether. Pokémon that evolve thru environmental conditions, for example in the presence of a strong magnetic field, typically continue learning at the rate they did before evolving.

Both the learning patterns and the movelists for a pokémon can vary by region, but they are identical between Johto and Kanto.

Signature Moves

The trend in Pokémon games has generally been towards expanding pokémon learnsets, and many moves which used to be exclusive to certain pokémon no longer are. This has beneficial gameplay properties, but narratively, it is less interesting if every pokémon naturally learns all of its best moves automatically. For this reason, the concept of “signature moves” is introduced.

Signature moves are moves that are learned naturally in the wild by only a small subset of pokémon families. They are removed from the movelists of other families where they appear, with the argument that their appearance in those movesets is simply because they are common moves to tutor given pokémon in, and the games have simply elided this aspect of pokémon training.

A move is made signature if, in the game(s) of its introduction, it is learned naturally (i·e by level·up or thru evolution) by zero or one pokémon family in the regional pokédexes for those games, excluding “special” pokémon (legendaries, mythicals…). If a pokémon species is evolved, moves learned at levels prior to its evolution requirements being met are not considered. This rule applies to specific games or game pairs, not generations.

This is to say that if, when a move is first introduced, multiple pokémon families in a regional pokédex can learn the move, it is considered to be broadly learnable. Otherwise, restrictions are applied.

Moves with greater than 30 P·P are excluded from being signature moves. Additionally, a few moves are specifically excluded from being signature moves, because they belong to a set of moves which are not considered signature :⁠—

• Fire Punch, Ice Punch & Thunder Punch.

• Flamethrower, Ice Beam & Thunderbolt.

• Fire Fang, Ice Fang & Thunder Fang.

• Grassy Terrain, Misty Terrain, Electric Terrain & Psychic Terrain.

Signature moves can still be learned by multiple pokémon families, but they require canon evidence that a pokémon family can actually learn the move. The following are considered canon evidence :⁠—

• If, in a set of games taking place in a given region, exactly one nonspecial pokémon family in the regional dex of those games can naturally learn a move, that pokémon family is allowed to learn the move. D·l·c areas with their own pokédexes count as separate regions. The assumption is that since no other pokémon in the region can learn the move, they must be able to learn it naturally.

• If a pokémon family requires learning a move as a condition for evolution, that pokémon family can naturally learn the move. No move‐based evolutions require tutoring in a move that a pokémon cannot naturally learn.

• If a pokémon family learns a move upon evolution or form change, that pokémon family can (clearly) naturally learn the move.

• If an unevolved pokémon species can learn a move at &Lv1;, its pokémon family can naturally learn the move. The pokémon that baby pokémon evolve into are considered “unevolved pokémon”—even in the case of pokémon like Lucario where it is impossible to hatch one out of an egg.

• If, in a game which features moves exclusive to a Move Reminder mechanic, an evolved pokémon species can learn a move at &Lv1;, its pokémon family can learn the move. How·ever, for games which precede Scarlet & Violet, &Lv1; moves were used as Move Reminder moves, so their status on evolved pokémon is inconclusive.

If a pokémon family is allowed to learn a signature move, the allowance is true across all regions. This does not, how·ever, require that the move actually be in its learnset. For example, Stantler is allowed to learn Psyshield Bash in all regions, but this isn’t to say it actually does.

According to the above rules, about half of all moves are signature moves.

Egg & Tutor Moves

The moves that a pokémon can learn thru tutoring (including t·m) or as egg moves are form‐specific, but universal across regions. Any move that a pokémon has ever been able to acquire thru these methods is allowed.

Egg moves and tutor moves are not inherently related: ot all moves learnable by tutor are valid egg moves, and not all egg moves can be tutored.

Move reminder moves, and by extension any move a pokémon learns at a given level or by evolution, are considered tutor moves: A pokémon can be tutored in any move it naturally learns.

Developing Learnsets

Generally speaking, for each region, a game must be chosen as the source for both the learning pattern and the movelist—these can be different games. The movelist should be inflated so that a characteristic strong move is learned by the unevolved pokémon species in the family at, or just before, &Lv50;. Any signature moves which the pokémon family is not allowed to learn must be removed. Moves from other games can then be added, either in any gaps in the movelist or at the end. This is an art, not a science, and attention should be paid to the unique character of each pokémon species.

Baby pokémon mature at &Lv30;, not &Lv50;, tho they may still learn moves later.

Once the learnsets of the unevolved species in a family are complete, the evolved species can be tackled. Typically these are the same, but sometimes moves are substituted or added at the end. Likewise for regional variants and forms.

Indigo League

For the Indigo League, pokémon should use the learning patterns that they had in HeartGold & SoulSilver, but start from the movelists of Let¦s Go, Pikachu & Eevee! and Crystal. (Actually, many of the learning patterns will require adjustment to account for the large variety of moves learnable across these games).

A few moves can be added to the movesets of non‐Kantonian pokémon even if they never learned them in a Kanto or Johto game (assuming they did learn them in another) :⁠—

• Quiver Dance

• Foul Play

• Clear Smog

• Scald

• Shell Smash

• Dragon Tail

• Drill Run

• Play Rough

• Moonblast

• Dazzling Gleam

These are all moves introduced in Kanto by Let¦s Go, Pikachu & Eevee!. While h·m moves technically could also fall into this category, the fact that they are all signature moves prevents them from being practically learnable by any eligible pokémon.

Hoenn League

For the Hoenn League, pokémon should use both the learning patterns and movesets of Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, with additional moves added as needed.

Sinnoh League

For the Sinnoh League, pokémon should use both the learning patterns and movesets of Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, with additional moves added as needed (including from Legends: Arceus).

Pokémon from Generation &V; and later are only evidenced in Legends: Arceus and will need to adopt learning patterns and movesets from elsewhere. Sword & Shield should be preferred if possible (for most existing pokémon), then Sun & Moon (for Oshawott). Scarlet & Violet movesets can be compared to extrapolate those of Hisuian regional variants.

Regardless, pokémon should only use moves from the first four generations or ones which are usable in Legends: Arceus or Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl.

Alola League

For the Alola League, pokémon should use the learning patterns of Sun & Moon but the movesets of Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.