In Ruby & Sapphire, Natural Cure changes the entire equation for Starmie. The 520 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a sweeper. Rapid Spin with Leftovers is the standard set.

What is Starmie weak to?

In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.

What is the best ability for Starmie?

Natural Cure is what you want on Starmie. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Analytic) work on paper but Natural Cure is what makes Starmie worth using. With base 115 Speed, Natural Cure gives Starmie an edge before opponents can react.

What role does Starmie play in battle?

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.

What counters Starmie?

For Ruby & Sapphire, Starmie has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Starmie - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Sweeper

ATier

115Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

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

High

HP60

Attack75

Defense85

Sp. Atk100

Sp. Def85

Speed115

Total520

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging60 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.1 m

Weight80.0 kg

Base XP182

Abilities

IlluminateRare

Doubles the wild encounter rate.

Natural CureTop Pick

Cures any major status ailment upon switching out.

AnalyticHANot in game

Strengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2

Speed training target

Pokedex Entries

STARMIE’s center section - the core - glows brightly in seven colors. Because of its luminous nature, this POKéMON has been given the nickname “the gem of the sea.”

Starmie Weakness

Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, and Dark 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.

Starmie Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, Dark
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Psychic, Steel

Type ChartVulnerable

5Weak

6Resist

0Immune

Score-4

Gen III Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass Bug Ghost Dark

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Fighting Psychic Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (5)

Fire Ground Rock Fighting Poison

How to Beat Starmie in Ruby & Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Ruby & Sapphire, Cloyster's Explosion hits Starmie for 67-79%. Primeape's Earthquake hits Starmie for 41-49%. Ninetales deals 37-44% with Overheat.

CloysterResists Water, walls physical sets WaterIce	B
Recommended Build AbilityShellarmor ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves SpikesHazard Explosion SurfSTAB Rapid Spin Damage vs Starmie Explosion 67-79% Surf 19-22% Rapid Spin 14-16% View Cloyster builds →
Primeape Fighting	C
Recommended Build AbilityVitalspirit ItemScopelens NatureJolly Moves Cross Chop Rock Slide Earthquake Aerial Ace Damage vs Starmie Rock Slide 31-37% Earthquake 41-49% View Primeape builds →
NinetalesPuts to sleep with Hypnosis Fire	C
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves FlamethrowerSTAB Will O Wisp OverheatSTAB HypnosisUtility Damage vs Starmie Flamethrower 26-31% Overheat 37-44% View Ninetales builds →
NidoqueenThreatens with Shadow Ball PoisonGround	C
Recommended Build AbilityPoison Point ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Superpower Sludge Bomb Shadow Ball Damage vs Starmie Earthquake 57-67% Superpower 23-27% Sludge Bomb 51-60% Shadow Ball 2x 61-72% View Nidoqueen builds →
Gligar GroundFlying	C
Recommended Build AbilityHypercutter ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves EarthquakeSTAB Swords Dance Hidden Power Flying Rock Slide Damage vs Starmie Earthquake 50-59% Rock Slide 25-30% View Gligar builds →

Ruby & Sapphire Evolution

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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#120Staryu

Water Stone

#121Starmie

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Staryu

Water

Starmie

WaterPsychic

60+30

ATK

75+30

DEF

85+30

SP.ATK

100+30

SP.DEF

85+30

SPE

115+30

BST

340D-Tier

520A-Tier+180

ROLE

Balanced

Sweeper

TYPE

Special

Breeding

Challenging

Starmie is genderless — breed with Ditto to produce Staryu eggs. Part of the Water3 egg group.

Egg Groups

Water3

Gender

Genderless

Ditto only

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Ruby & Sapphire Starmie Best Moveset

This build takes hits and hits back. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Natural Cure supports the gameplan, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs mean Starmie doesn't crumble to chip damage. Plus Electric coverage backing it up.

Best Build

Highly recommended

Special Sweeper

Ability

Natural Cure

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Starmie

Timid+SPE

Starmie best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

SpA

Spe

Special Sweeper Moveset

Rapid Spin
Ice Beam
ThunderboltCoverage
SurfSTAB

Recommended Teammates

TyranitarGood

SkarmoryDecent

MetagrossDecent

Moves

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

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Rapid Spin

S5010040Normal

Lv 1

Recover

A——20Normal

Lv 1

Swift

—60—20Normal

Lv 1

Water Gun

—4010025Water

Lv 33

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

TM Moves

TM14

Blizzard

C120705Ice

HM08

Dive

—6010010Water

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

HM05

Flash

——7020Normal

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM07

Hail

———10Ice

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

S9510010Ice

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM29

Psychic

B9010010Psychic

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM33

Reflect

D——20Psychic

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

TM48

Skill Swap

———10Psychic

HM03

Surf

A9510015Water

TM25

Thunder

C1207010Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

S9510015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

TM03

Water Pulse

—6010020Water

HM07

Waterfall

C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Starmie doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Starmie can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Starmie in Ruby & Sapphire

Starmie doesn't appear wild. Catch Staryu instead, it shows up at decent 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 Ruby & Sapphire

Step 1Catch Staryu
Lilycove City
SapphireSuper Rod Lv.25-30 City
15%Mid
Lilycove City
RubySuper Rod Lv.25-30 City
15%Mid
Water Stone
Step 2Starmie ✓

Starmie Guide

In Ruby & Sapphire, Natural Cure changes the entire equation for Starmie. The 520 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a sweeper. Rapid Spin with Leftovers is the standard set.
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.
Natural Cure is what you want on Starmie. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Analytic) work on paper but Natural Cure is what makes Starmie worth using. With base 115 Speed, Natural Cure gives Starmie an edge before opponents can react.
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.
For Ruby & Sapphire, Starmie has answers, but so do you. Priority moves (Mach Punch, Aqua Jet, Ice Shard) bypass its speed. Bulky walls that resist its STAB also shut it down.

Game Availability

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

Click a game to view version-specific details

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