Staryu leads to the S-Tier Starmie in Gold & Silver. Available in Johto's waters, and the Water Stone investment remains one of the best in the game.
340HP30Attack45Defense55Speed85Sp.Def55Sp.Atk70
Staryu
Starmie
Weak to
Special
Balanced
85Speed · Above Avg

Is Staryu Good in Gold & Silver Playthrough?

Available by fishing in Olivine City at night. Water Stone evolves it into Starmie, which is still one of the best Pokemon in any Gen 2 team. Don't skip this catch.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGGEEGGGEEEGSGSSGGGGGGFalknerGym 1BugsyGym 2WhitneyGym 3MortyGym 4StaryuCatchableStarmieEvolveChuckGym 5JasmineGym 6PryceGym 7ClairGym 8SurgeGym 9SabrinaGym 10ErikaGym 11JanineGym 12MistyGym 13BrockGym 14BlaineGym 15BlueGym 16WillE4KogaE4BrunoE4KarenE4LanceChamp*
Falkner
Gym 1
Good

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

You Win
Pidgey
Lv 7
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud Slap
You Win
Pidgeotto
Lv 9
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud SlapGust
Bugsy
Gym 2
Good

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

You Win
Metapod
Lv 14
Bug
Shed Skin
TackleString ShotHarden
You Win
Kakuna
Lv 14
BugPoison
Shed Skin
Poison StingString ShotHarden
Even
Scyther
Lv 16
BugFlying
Swarm
Quick AttackLeerFury Cutter
Whitney
Gym 3
Even

Staryu trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.

You Win
Clefairy
Lv 18
Normal
Cute Charm
Double SlapMimicEncoreMetronome
Even
Miltank
Lv 20
Normal
Thick Fat
RolloutAttractStompMilk Drink
Morty
Gym 4
Even

Staryu trades roughly evenly with Morty's team.

You Win
Gastly
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
LickSpiteMean LookCurse
You Win
Haunter
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
HypnosisMimicCurseNight Shade
Risky
Gengar
Lv 25
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
HypnosisShadow BallMean LookDream Eater
You Win
Haunter
Lv 23
GhostPoison
Levitate
SpiteMean LookMimicNight Shade
Chuck
Gym 5
Good

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

You Win
Primeape
Lv 27
Fighting
Vital Spirit
LeerRageKarate ChopFury Swipes
Even
Poliwrath
Lv 30
WaterFighting
Water Absorb
HypnosisMind ReaderSurfDynamic Punch
Jasmine
Gym 6
Good

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

You Win
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
You Win
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Easy KO
Steelix
Lv 35
SteelGround
Rock Head
ScreechSunny DayRock ThrowIron Tail
Pryce
Gym 7
Good

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

You Win
Seel
Lv 27
Water
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
You Win
Dewgong
Lv 29
WaterIce
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Easy KO
Piloswine
Lv 31
IceGround
Oblivious
Icy WindFury AttackMistBlizzard
Clair
Gym 8
Even

Starmie trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.

Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSurfSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveThunderboltSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveIce BeamSlamDragon Breath
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 40
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenSurfHyper BeamDragon Breath
Lt. Surge
Gym 9
Even

Starmie trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 44
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveQuick AttackThunderboltThunder
You Win
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
You Win
Magneton
Lv 40
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
Lock OnDouble TeamSwiftZap Cannon
You Win
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Even
Electabuzz
Lv 46
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder PunchLight ScreenThunder
Sabrina
Gym 10
Even

Starmie trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Espeon
Lv 46
Psychic
Synchronize
Sand AttackQuick AttackSwiftPsychic
Even
Mr Mime
Lv 46
Psychic
Soundproof
BarrierReflectBaton PassPsychic
Even
Alakazam
Lv 48
Psychic
Synchronize
RecoverFuture SightPsychicReflect
Erika
Gym 11
Good

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

You Win
Tangela
Lv 42
Grass
Chlorophyll
Vine WhipBindGiga DrainSleep Powder
Easy KO
Jumpluff
Lv 41
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Mega DrainLeech SeedCotton SporeGiga Drain
You Win
Victreebel
Lv 46
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisAcidRazor Leaf
Even
Bellossom
Lv 46
Grass
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisPetal DanceSolar Beam
Janine
Gym 12
Strong

Starmie resists most of Janine's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Crobat
Lv 36
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
ScreechSupersonicConfuse RayWing Attack
Easy KO
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Easy KO
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 33
BugPoison
Swarm
Scary FaceGiga DrainString ShotNight Shade
Easy KO
Venomoth
Lv 39
BugPoison
Shield Dust
ForesightDouble TeamGustPsychic
Misty
Gym 13
Good

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

You Win
Golduck
Lv 42
Water
Damp
SurfDisablePsych UpPsychic
You Win
Quagsire
Lv 42
WaterGround
Damp
SurfAmnesiaEarthquakeRain Dance
You Win
Lapras
Lv 44
WaterIce
Water Absorb
SurfPerish SongBlizzardRain Dance
Even
Starmie
Lv 47
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SurfConfuse RayRecoverIce Beam
Brock
Gym 14
Strong

Starmie resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Graveler
Lv 41
RockGround
Rock Head
Defense CurlRock SlideRolloutEarthquake
Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 41
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackScary FaceEarthquakeHorn Drill
You Win
Omastar
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
BiteSurfProtectSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 44
RockGround
Rock Head
BindRock SlideBideSandstorm
Easy KO
Kabutops
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
SlashSurfEndureGiga Drain
Blaine
Gym 15
Strong

Starmie resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Magcargo
Lv 45
FireRock
Magma Armor
CurseSmogFlamethrowerRock Slide
Easy KO
Magmar
Lv 45
Fire
Flame Body
Thunder PunchFire PunchSunny DayConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
Quick AttackFire SpinFury AttackFire Blast
Blue
Gym 16
Good

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

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 56
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
Quick AttackWhirlwindWing AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 54
Psychic
Synchronize
DisableRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 56
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackSandstormRock SlideEarthquake
You Win
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
TwisterHydro PumpRain DanceHyper Beam
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 58
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayLeech SeedEgg BombSolar Beam
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 58
Fire
Intimidate
RoarSwiftFlamethrowerExtreme Speed
Will
Elite Four
Good

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

Easy KO
Xatu
Lv 40
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
You Win
Jynx
Lv 41
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 41
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
ReflectLeech SeedEgg BombPsychic
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 41
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
CurseAmnesiaBody SlamPsychic
Easy KO
Xatu
Lv 42
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Koga
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Ariados
Lv 40
BugPoison
Swarm
Double TeamSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 41
BugPoison
Shield Dust
SupersonicGustPsychicToxic
You Win
Forretress
Lv 43
BugSteel
Sturdy
ProtectSwiftExplosionSpikes
You Win
Muk
Lv 42
Poison
Stench
MinimizeAcid ArmorSludge BombToxic
You Win
Crobat
Lv 44
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Double TeamQuick AttackWing AttackToxic
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Hitmontop
Lv 42
Fighting
Intimidate
PursuitQuick AttackDigDetect
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 42
Fighting
Limber
SwaggerDouble KickHigh Jump KickForesight
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 42
Fighting
Keen Eye
Thunder PunchIce PunchFire PunchMach Punch
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 43
RockGround
Rock Head
BindEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide
You Win
Machamp
Lv 46
Fighting
Guts
Rock SlideForesightVital ThrowCross Chop
Karen
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Umbreon
Lv 42
Dark
Synchronize
Sand AttackConfuse RayFeint AttackMean Look
Even
Vileplume
Lv 42
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance
You Win
Gengar
Lv 45
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
LickSpiteCurseDestiny Bond
Easy KO
Murkrow
Lv 44
DarkFlying
Insomnia
Quick AttackWhirlwindPursuitFeint Attack
Easy KO
Houndoom
Lv 47
DarkFire
Early Bird
RoarPursuitFlamethrowerCrunch
Lance
Champion
Good

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

You Win
Gyarados
Lv 44
WaterFlying
Intimidate
FlailRain DanceSurfHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterThunderHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterBlizzardHyper Beam
Easy KO
Aerodactyl
Lv 46
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackAncient PowerRock SlideHyper Beam
Easy KO
Charizard
Lv 46
FireFlying
Blaze
FlamethrowerWing AttackSlashHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 50
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Fire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 4
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Staryu in Cherrygrove City (Good Rod fishing, Lv 20, uncommon).

View Staryu locations

Evolve Staryu to Starmie

Use Water Stone
Type
WaterPsychic
Tier
S

Staryu evolves into Starmie with a Water Stone. Post-Game: You can receive the Water Stone from an NPC in Route 25.

Recommended Moves

  • STARTING (Lv 25)
    • LV 25WaterBubble BeamPower 98Accuracy 100%PP 20
  • After Bugsy
  • After Whitney
  • After Pryce
    • HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Ice Path
  • After Lt. Surge
    • TM42PsychicDream EaterPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 15Viridian City
    • TM29PsychicPsychicPower 135Accuracy 100%PP 10Saffron City
    • TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Celadon Game Corner

How to Get Staryu in Gold & Silver

Staryu only bites after dark. Cast a Good Rod or Super Rod at one of twelve coastal spots at night and you have a shot; the same water in daylight gives you nothing. 48 encounters, all nocturnal.

Wild Staryu may be holding when caught:

Stardust (23% chance) Pretty, red sand. Sell high.
Star Piece (2% chance) A hunk of red gem. Sell very high.

9 locations to catch Staryu

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

How to Get Shiny Staryu in Gold & Silver

Staryu ignores the Surf tiles and answers only to the Good Rod or Super Rod, so fish the waters off Cherrygrove City, Cianwood City, and Goldenrod City and check every bite. Compare Shiny Staryu odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Staryu in Gold & SilverNormal
Shiny Staryu in Gold & Silver Shiny
Color ShiftBrowntoGreen
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Staryu Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Gold & Silver Shiny Staryu Calculator

2 Methods
Fastest Path

The best route is Breed w/ Shiny Parent, about 1 in 64 on each try.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Gold & Silver

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

Breed w/ Shiny Parent: Eggs inherit stats from a shiny parent, so about 1 in 64 hatch shiny. A shiny Ditto helps every egg, and any other shiny parent (the red Gyarados works) helps only eggs of the opposite gender.

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 64Breed w/ Shiny Parent
Chance By Now50.8%at 45 eggs hatchedAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few7----
25%one in four19----
50%coin flip45----
90%very likely147----
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 Gold & Silver shiny odds for Staryu.

Staryu Weakness

Staryu is weak to Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Staryu Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
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

What is Staryu Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Staryu Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Staryu

Magneton
Magneton
ElectricSteel
C
Raikou
Raikou
Electric
S
Ampharos
Ampharos
Electric
C
Electrode
Electrode
Electric
B
C

Staryu Evolutions

Evolving Staryu into Starmie takes an evolution item. It's not a simple level-up, so check the chain details below. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total. 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

Staryu is genderless and can only breed with Ditto. 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
Egg Moves
3moves

GS Staryu Best Moveset

Fast for a pre-evolution at 85 Speed, with MoveSurf and MoveThunderbolt hinting at Starmie's coverage potential. The stats can't deliver competitive damage yet. Starmie transforms these same moves into top-tier threats.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Staryu
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • ThunderboltCoverage
  • RecoverRecovery
  • Ice Beam

Moves List

Breeding opens up real options for Staryu. Aurora Beam and Barrier come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Hydro Pump and Surf and Normal and Ice coverage and more.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Harden
D——30Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 7
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 13
Rapid Spin
A5010040Normal
Lv 19
Recover
B——20Normal
Lv 25
Swift
D60—20Normal
Lv 31
Bubble Beam
C9710020Water
Lv 37
Minimize
———20Normal
Lv 43
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
Lv 50
Hydro Pump
A180805Water

TM Moves

18 of 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45D—10015Normal
TM14
BlizzardGoldenrod Game Cornerbadge 2
D120705Ice
TM32———15Normal
TM20
Endure+4Burned Towerbadge 4
D——10Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
TM10D6010015Normal
TM16
Icy WindPrize for defeating Prycenot until badge 7
D559515Ice
TM17C——10Normal
TM29
PsychicSaffron City
C9010010Psychic
TM18C——5Water
TM44
RestIce Pathnot until badge 7
C——10Psychic
TM35
Sleep TalkItem ball in the Goldenrod Underground Warehouse, the storage area linked to the Dept Store basementnot until badge 7
C——10Normal
TM13
SnoreMoomoo Farmbadge 3
—4010015Normal
HM03
SurfEcruteak Citybadge 3
B14210015Water
TM34
SwaggerOlivine Lighthousebadge 4
C—8515Normal
TM39
SwiftUnion Cavebadge 1
D60—20Normal
TM25
ThunderGoldenrod Game Cornerbadge 2
D1207010Electric
TM06C—8510Poison
HM07
WaterfallIce Pathnot until badge 7
D12010015Water
HM06D528515Water
TM07
Zap CannonGift from the Power Plant manager after returning the Machine Part
D100505Electric

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Aurora Beam
—6510020Ice
Egg
Barrier
D——30Psychic
Egg
Supersonic
——5520Normal

Tutor Moves

Staryu can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP30
F
Attack45
D
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def55
D
Speed85
C
Total340
Details
Catch Rate
Easy225 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height0.8 m
Weight34.5 kg
Base XP68
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

At night, the center of its body slowly flickers with the same rhythm as a human heartbeat.

Even if its body is torn, it can regenerate as long as the glowing central core remains intact.

Staryu Gold & Silver Guide

  • Yes. Wild Staryu in Gold & Silver can hold Stardust (23%) or Star Piece (2%). Use Thief (TM46) or Covet to swipe the held item without affecting your catch chance. Quickest way to farm rare items like Stardust.

  • In Gold & Silver, Staryu does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Starmie before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

Game Availability

Staryu has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Explore

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