[size=5][b]A Primer On... Level Up Movepools[/b][/size]

So this post is a quick explanation for how to: Create a Movepool with an intended Level Up evolution. This is aimed at Generation VIII exclusively, as there have been some notable shifts since Generation VII.

It's always easiest here to consider a Pre-Evolution first. We'll be looking at [b]Chewtle[/b] first, as it covers a lot of areas.

Chewtle's Level Up movepool is below:[hide=Chewtle]1: Tackle
1: Water Gun
7: Bite
14: Protect
21: Headbutt
28: Counter
35: Jaw Lockc
42: Liquidation
49: Body Slam[/hide]

This is a very simple movepool, but it works - learn a move every seven levels, slowly get more powerful over time. This completely unassuming movepool is useful to have in mind - let's look at it's Evolution, [b]Drednaw[/b] - noting that Chewtle evolves at Level 22.[hide=Drednaw]Evo: Rock Tomb
1: Rock Tomb
1: Razor Shell
1: Crunch
1: Rock Polish
1: Tackle
1: Water Gun
1: Bite
1: Protect
21: Headbutt
30: Counter
39: Jaw Lockc
48: Liquidation
57: Body Slam
66: Head Smash[/hide]

There's a few interesting things here! I think the first is that there's not been any moves [i]lost[/i] (prevo-exclusive moves seem to have vanished as of Generation Eight), but we have had a couple of additions. Let's look at them!

The first addition is the addition of an Evolution (Evo) move - this has been around for quite a while now, but should be explained. An Evolution move is learnt... when the Pokemon is evolved into. So any Chewtle that's just evolved, whether it be Level 22 or Level 72, will be prompted to learn Rock Tomb. Also note that a Level 1 'Move Relearner' copy of the move has been added.

Drednaw's also gained some other Move Relearner moves, in Razor Shell, Crunch, and Rock Polish. These are Level 1 moves that have [i]at least[/i] four other Level 1 moves after them - which means the only way to obtain them is through a Move Relearner. Note that the "at least four" option is key - it's one of the few things conistent in every movepool! Drednaw is fairly unique in getting [b]3[/b] Move Relearner moves as well as an Evolution move - most Pokémon get at most one Move Relearner + one Evolution if they're very lucky!

Drednaw's even gained Head Smash! It seems fairly common that Pokemon in Sword and Shield gain at least one move in their movepool upon evolving, but potentially they can obtain a [i]lot[/i]. This has one of the lowest impacts on Level Up movepool design, but it's something to consider for the pre-evolution as always!

Finally, you might notice that the first four moves that Chewtle learns have all been made Level 1 - so you rather bizarrely start Drednaw's movepool going from L1 to L21! In Generation VIII this is [b]completely normal[/b], and just, for lack of better description, part of the system - gone is the age of having moves repeating themselves! Make sure that you leave room for pre-evolution moves to actually exist - otherwise you make the job of pre-evolution movepool makers nigh impossible! My advice here is to ignore this aspect, and just edit towards the end - that way you leave space plotted for the pre-evolution movepool maker to just fill in the gap.

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It's easy to think of Level Up evolutions as being the 'boring' type, however they give a lot of options - Dreepy's a good example, of how a Level Up movepool can be used to represent gaining power in a novel way. These are the most common movepools, and it's absolutely worth being happy working with them!

[s]gee whiz, I wonder why Dreepy's flavour concept might be useful for a Magical Girl Axolotl?[/s]