A processing device in a memory system performs operations comprising determining a first pool of data blocks of the memory device, wherein data blocks of the first pool are associated with storing data at a first number of bits per memory cell; determining a second pool of data blocks of the memory device, wherein data blocks of the second pool are associated with storing data at a second number of bits per memory cell that is larger than the first number of bits per memory cell; detecting a failure associated with a particular data block of the second pool of data blocks; and in response to detecting the failure associated with the particular data block, removing the particular data block from the second pool of data blocks and adding the particular data block to the first pool of data blocks.