Special
Sweeper
520High
115Fast
ATier

As a Water/Psychic-type, Starmie fills a straightforward role. 5 type weaknesses to keep in mind. Known as the Mysterious Pokémon. An original Gen 1 pick. Comfortably outruns most offensive threats.

The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Sp. Atk carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. A Mysterious Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.

Base Stats
520High
HP60
C
Attack75
C
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk100
B
Sp. Def85
C
Speed115
B
Total520
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Starmie yields +2 Spe
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Details
Catch60Challenging•Slow1.25M XP•1.1m / 3'07"•80kg / 176.4 lbs•182Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It is said that it uses the seven-colored core of its body to send electric waves into outer space.

Crystal

Starmie Weakness

Vulnerable

Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type moves hit Starmie for super-effective damage. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. 5 weaknesses means you'll want teammates that can handle the coverage gaps.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
ElectricGrassBugGhostDark
½xResisti
FireWaterIceFightingPsychicSteel
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (5)i
FireGroundRockFightingPoison
5Weak
6Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
IlluminateDoubles the wild encounter rate.
Natural CureCures any major status ailment upon switching out.
AnalyticHAStrengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last.

Getting Starmie requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Staryu. Breed this form to get Staryu eggs (average hatch time). HP grew the most through evolution (+30 over Staryu), and Starmie peaks at 520 total stats.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Staryu
#120Staryu
Water Stone
Starmie
#121Starmie
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Staryu
Water
Starmie
WaterPsychic
HP
30
60+30
ATK
45
75+30
DEF
55
85+30
SP.ATK
70
100+30
SP.DEF
55
85+30
SPE
85
115+30
BST
340D-Tier
520A-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Special
Breeding
Challenging

Breed with Starmie to get Staryu eggs (with patience) using 13 partners from the Water3 egg group.

Egg Groups
Water3
Gender
GenderlessDittoDitto only
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
corsolaomastarkabutopsomanytekabutotentacruelcloysterstarmiekinglerstaryutentacoolkrabby
12 of 13·

The recommended build leans into Starmie's strengths as an attacker. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, and flexible EVs EVs back that up. An ability rounds out the package.

Best Build

Support
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Starmie Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • RecoverRecovery
  • Rapid Spin
  • Thunder Wave

Recommended Teammates

Snorlax
SnorlaxGood
Tyranitar
TyranitarDecent
Zapdos
ZapdosDecent

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Starmie. TMs unlock Normal and Ice coverage and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Hydro Pump and Dream Eater into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 1
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 1
Recover
——20Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 37
Confuse Ray
—10010Ghost

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM03
Curse
——10Ghost
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM42
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM20
Endure+4
——10Normal
HM05
Flash
—7020Normal
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM16
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM50
Nightmare
—10015Ghost
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM09
Psych Up
——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM35
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM34
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM39
Swift
60—20Normal
TM25
Thunder
1207010Electric
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water
HM06
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM07
Zap Cannon
100505Electric

Egg Moves

Starmie doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
Tutor
Thunderbolt
9510015Electric

Reminder Moves

Src
Rem
Harden
——30Normal
Rem
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Rem
Light Screen
——30Psychic
Rem
Minimize
——20Normal
Rem
Swift
60—20Normal
Rem
Water Gun
4010025Water

Starmie doesn't appear wild. Catch Staryu instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Starmie. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Starmie in Crystal

To get Starmie, start by catching Staryu through fishing encounters at Lv. 20-40. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.

  1. Staryu
    Step 1Catch Staryu
    Cherrygrove City
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidCityNight
    MODERATE
    Cianwood City
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidCityNight
    MODERATE
    Olivine City
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidCityNight
    MODERATE
    Route 34
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Route 40
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Route 41
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Union Cave - B2F
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidCaveNight
    MODERATE
    Route 19
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Route 20
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Route 21
    Good RodLv.20UncommonMidRouteNight
    MODERATE
    Cherrygrove City
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateCityNight
    EASY
    Cianwood City
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateCityNight
    EASY
    Olivine City
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateCityNight
    EASY
    Route 34
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateRouteNight
    EASY
    Route 40
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateRouteNight
    EASY
    Route 41
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateRouteNight
    EASY
    Union Cave - B2F
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateCaveNight
    EASY
    Route 19
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateRouteNight
    EASY
    Route 20
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateRouteNight
    EASY
    Route 21
    Super RodLv.40CommonLateRouteNight
    EASY
  2. Starmie
    Step 2Starmie ✓

  • Natural Cure changes the entire equation for Starmie. The 520 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a sweeper.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric), Venusaur (Grass), and Pinsir (Bug) when using Starmie. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • Staryu evolves into Starmie using a Water Stone. Starmie is the fully evolved form. At 520 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Starmie is a special attacker with base 100 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

  • Starmie appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

One of the original 151, Starmie has appeared in 20 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.