Natural Cure heals every status on switch, and Starmie's Speed plus Rapid Spin make it Gen 3's most well-rounded S-Tier pivot in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1IlluminateAbility 1Doubles the wild encounter rate.Ability 2Natural CureAbility 2Cures any major status ailment upon switching out.
520HP60Attack75Defense85Speed115Sp.Def85Sp.Atk100
Staryu
Starmie
Weak to
Special
Sweeper
115Speed · Fast

Is Starmie Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

AbilityNatural Cure clears every status condition just by switching. Trade-only in RS, which is a loss. Starmie is still one of the fastest Water/Psychic attackers in the game. If imported, it handles Brawly, Flannery, Tate and Liza, and half the E4. One of the best imports you can make.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTGTGEGGGEEGGGRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6StaryuCatchableStarmieEvolveTate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Tough

Roxanne's typing presses Staryu's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Risky
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Good

Staryu has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.

Even
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
You Win
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Tough

Wattson's team hits Staryu's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Even
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Risky
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

Staryu has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.

Easy KO
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Easy KO
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Staryu trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Good

Staryu has the type edge here and should clean up Winona's team.

You Win
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
You Win
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
You Win
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Good

Starmie has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.

You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
You Win
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Good

Starmie has the type edge here and should clean up Wallace's team.

You Win
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
You Win
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Even
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Even

Starmie trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
Even
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Even
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Even
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
Even
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Even

Starmie trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.

Even
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
Even
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
Even
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Good

Starmie has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.

Even
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
You Win
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Good

Starmie has the type edge here and should clean up Drake's team.

You Win
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
You Win
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
Easy KO
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
Easy KO
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
You Win
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Good

Starmie has the type edge here and should clean up Steven's team.

You Win
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
You Win
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
Levitate
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
You Win
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
You Win
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Even
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Catch Staryu

Available after Badge 6
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Staryu in Lilycove City (Super Rod fishing, Lv 25-30, uncommon).

View Staryu locations

Evolve Staryu to Starmie

Use Water Stone
Type
WaterPsychic
Tier
S

Staryu evolves into Starmie with a Water Stone. You can pick up the Water Stone in Abandoned Ship.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Starmie in Ruby & Sapphire

Starmie needs a Water Stone on a Lilycove-caught Staryu. The same stone the Cloyster and Eeveelution lines want, so plan around it.

Wild Starmie may be holding when caught:

Stardust (50% chance) Beautiful red sand. Can be sold at a high price.
Star Piece (5% chance) A red gem shard. It would sell for a very high price.

Catch Staryu at any of these 1 spot to eventually evolve into Starmie.

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

  1. 1
    Catch Staryu
  2. 2
    Evolve StarmieUse Water Stone
Badge 6

How to Obtain Starmie in RS

  1. Starmie
    Step 2Starmie ✓
    BREEDING
    Available
    Leave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Staryu egg.

How to Get Shiny Starmie in Ruby & Sapphire

Fishing the waters off Lilycove City with the Super Rod can hook a shiny Staryu, which evolves into Starmie, so reel one in and evolve it. Compare Shiny Starmie odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Starmie in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Starmie in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftPurpletoBlue
Shiny TierA Tier Shiny

Shiny Starmie Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Ruby & Sapphire Shiny Starmie Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Ruby & Sapphire

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Ruby & Sapphire shiny odds for Starmie.

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
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, Dark
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Psychic, Steel
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

What is Starmie Weak Against

Vulnerable
5Weak
6Resist
0Immune
Score-4
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Starmie Strong Against

5Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+5
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Starmie

Heracross
Heracross
BugFighting
A
Cacturne
Cacturne
GrassDark
B
Shiftry
Shiftry
GrassDark
C
B
Ludicolo
Ludicolo
WaterGrass
C

Starmie Evolutions

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
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
340E-Tier
520S-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Special
Special

Breeding

Challenging

Starmie is genderless — breed with Ditto to produce Staryu eggs. Part of the Water 3 egg group.

Egg Groups
Water 3
Gender
GenderlessDittoDitto only
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body

RS Starmie Best Moveset

Unmatched coverage from MoveSurf, MovePsychic, MoveThunderbolt, and MoveIce Beam. AbilityNatural Cure clears all status on every switch, making it nearly impossible to cripple. MoveRapid Spin removes hazards, MoveRecover sustains. Held ItemLeftovers adds healing. Does everything at the highest level.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Sweeper
Ability
Natural Cure
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Starmie
Timid+SPE

Starmie best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Sweeper Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • Ice Beam
  • ThunderboltCoverage
  • SurfSTAB

Moves List

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
B5010040Normal
Lv 1
Recover
B——20Normal
Lv 1
Swift
—60—20Normal
Lv 1
Water Gun
C6010025Water
Lv 33
Confuse Ray
D—10010Ghost

TM Moves

All 25 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM14C120705Ice
HM08
DiveMossdeep Citybadge 6
C9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
HM05
FlashGranite Cavebadge 1
——7020Normal
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
B150905Normal
TM13
Ice BeamAbandoned Shipbadge 2
B9510010Ice
TM16
Light ScreenLilycove Department Storebadge 5
C——30Psychic
TM17C——10Normal
TM29
PsychicMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
A13510010Psychic
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM33C——20Psychic
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
TM48
Skill SwapMt. Pyrebadge 5
———10Psychic
HM03
SurfPetalburg Citybadge 5
B14210015Water
TM25C1207010Electric
TM24
ThunderboltMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
B9510015Electric
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Wallacenot until badge 8
C9010020Water
HM07
WaterfallCave of Originnot until badge 7
C12010015Water

Egg Moves

Starmie doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Starmie can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
High
HP60
C
Attack75
C
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk100
B
Sp. Def85
C
Speed115
B
Total520
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging60 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height1.1 m
Weight80.0 kg
Base XP182
Abilities
Illuminate
Doubles the wild encounter rate.
Natural Cure
Cures any major status ailment upon switching out.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2
Speed training target
Pokedex Entry

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 swims through water by spinning its star-shaped body as if it were a propeller on a ship. The core at the center of this POKéMON’s body glows in seven colors.

Starmie Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Starmie is obtained in Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire by evolving Staryu using a Water Stone.

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.

Explore

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