Moveset buffer moves question

[Maruno]

When you look at a moveset, one or two moves will be learnt from the start (Level -), while the rest are learnt at actual levels. But as you get to the evolutions, some of the lowest "actual level" moves get copied into the "from start" section. For example, Blastoise:

(-) Flash Cannon
(-) Tackle
(-) Tail Whip
(-) Bubble
(-) Withdraw
(4) Tail Whip
(7) Bubble
(10) Withdraw
(13) Water Gun
(16) Bite
etc.

You can see that three moves have been copied over here (in red). Squirtle didn't have any copies, and Wartortle had 2 copied moves. The higher the evolution, the more moves get copied over into the "from start" section (no basic Pokémon have any copied moves - it's solely evolved Pokémon that do).

Why?

I (somewhat) understand why, if the Pokémon has some extra moves that can only be accessed through the use of Heart Scales (usually elemental punches; Flash Cannon in this case). Those extra moves are put right at the top of the moveset list, and the "from start" moves form a kind of buffer between them and any possible version of that Pokémon (in this case, even a level 1 Blastoise won't know Flash Cannon - the 4 buffer moves will replace it).

But then, no one's ever going to have a level 1 Blastoise, are they? There are 10 moves between Flash Cannon and the lowest level a legal Blastoise can be at (36). Even a level 10 Blastoise will know 4 buffer moves (even without the copies), and even with the games being as hax as they are, they won't sink that low. So why copy some of the moves to create a buffer between the extra moves and the impossible level 1?

I doubt it's an attempt at foiling cheaters who generate their level 1 Blastoise, because if they're doing that they can just as easily give it Flash Cannon while they're at it.

I'm hard pressed to imagine any case where the buffer zone is needed. All I can think of is a trade between your level 1 Pokémon and an NPC's evolved Pokémon (which will have the same level) - in which case the evolved Pokémon may have access to a move it shouldn't. That's a very unique scenario, though, not least of all because.

Remember that this buffer zone thing only comes into play when the Pokémon itself is generated - it's useless from then on. I'm certain there are no evolved Pokémon that are generated in the actual games at such a low level that the buffer zone ever comes into play.



In short, why do evolved Pokémon's movesets contain two copies of some moves when they certainly don't need to?

 

[Maruno]

Nothing? No answers, no ideas, no opinions, no wild stabs in the dark?

 

[JakeyBoy]

Because they might NOT be born with that move?

 

[Maruno]

I know that. That wasn't my question.

My question was why some moves are doubled in the moveset list (Tail Whip/Bubble/Withdraw in the Blastoise example above), when there doesn't need to be a "buffer zone" of moves (e.g. because you won't have a level 1 Blastoise)?

 

[NatureKeeper]

I think it is some way to prevent crashing. My own opinion is to do something about the Pomegranate Glitch, which allows LEGITIMATE Lv1 Blastoises. So, since Lv1: No moves. O_O, and Pokémon such as Treecko has Pound and Leer at mere Lv 1, in the Generation Pomeg Berries are introduced, but new Level Movepools for Gen I and II Pokemon are simply updated Gen I\II movepools with few new moves, but nothing major, and Lv.1 Pokemon hatch with some Egg moves from the (-). So, something must be done, such as repairing the moves to fix the crashing, but that leads to more mysteries, what happens to Lv.2 and 3 Blastoises? Doomed? XD Probably because these levels aren't obtainable legitimately like all (Only 1, 5 and 36+ are obtainable), but the repeated movesets are done for Generation III eggs, since they do need a moveset at Lv5 to prevent crashes.

 

[Maruno]

That makes some amount of sense - even if (somehow) a level 1 Blastoise was generated, it still wouldn't have the special move. And given the special move couldn't have an actual number (otherwise it'd be learned upon level up), there's nowhere else really to put it.

That's probably all there is to it, actually. It's not a case of having a legitimate Blastoise, it's about having a possible Blastoise (that includes a level 1 one). The special move is strictly for the Move Tutor, so there needs to be a buffer made out of something. That buffer might as well be the lowest moves it would learn anyway, hence the copied moves. A buffer is likely easier to make than special circumstances for the Move Tutor to include move X if looking at Pokémon Y (especially as the "moveset is last four possible moves" rule already exists).

Fair enough. I was just wondering.