The Star Shape Pokemon. Staryu's real value in Yellow is one Water Stone away. Starmie is S-Tier and one of the strongest Pokemon in all of Gen 1.
355HP30Attack45Defense55Speed85Sp.Def70Sp.Atk70
Staryu
Starmie
Weak to
Special
Balanced
85Speed · Above Avg

Is Staryu Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Available by fishing from Pallet Town in Yellow. Staryu is fast and capable, but the real value is a Water Stone evolution into Starmie. One of the best Pokemon in the game is one evolution away.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTEGESSGSSGGBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5StaryuCatchableStarmieEvolveSabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Staryu's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Staryu's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Staryu's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Staryu trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Even
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

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

You Win
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Starmie trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Strong

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

Easy KO
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Easy KO
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

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

Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Easy KO
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
You Win
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
You Win
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Strong

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

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Easy KO
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Easy KO
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Easy KO
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Strong

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

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Easy KO
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Easy KO
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Easy KO
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
You Win
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

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

Easy KO
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Easy KO
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
You Win
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 5
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Staryu in Pallet Town (Super Rod fishing, Lv 5-10, common).

View Staryu locations

Evolve Staryu to Starmie

Use Water Stone
Type
WaterPsychic
Tier
S

Staryu evolves into Starmie with a Water Stone. You can buy the Water Stone at the Celadon Department Store on the 4th floor (₽2,100).

Recommended Moves

How to Get Staryu in Yellow

Surfing and the Super Rod both turn up Staryu, 10 spots between them, common-to-uncommon. The star spreads wide across the water, so any coast works.

7 locations to catch Staryu

Encountered via fishing with a Rod, Surfing

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Surf
Badge 6

Staryu Weakness

Staryu is weak to Electric and Grass. Its Water typing keeps the defensive matchups simple. 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
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Staryu Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Staryu Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Staryu

Magneton
Magneton
Electric
C
Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Raichu
Raichu
Electric
C
Parasect
Parasect
BugGrass
C
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C

Staryu Evolutions

Staryu evolves into Starmie, but can't breed. At 355 stats as a Water type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 165 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 not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Staryu Best Moveset

85 Speed makes it one of the faster pre-evolutions, and 70 Special puts MoveSurf and MoveThunderbolt at chip-damage levels. The coverage options exist in miniature. Starmie turns these same moves into legitimate threats.

Best Build

Experimental
Support
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Staryu
HardyNEUTRAL

Support Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • ThunderboltCoverage
  • Thunder Wave
  • RecoverRecovery

Moves List

TMs define Staryu's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Hydro Pump and Surf, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Ice coverage and more. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 17
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 22
Harden
D——30Normal
Lv 27
Recover
B——20Normal
Lv 32
Swift
D60—20Normal
Lv 37
Minimize
———20Normal
Lv 42
Light Screen
D——30Psychic
Lv 47
Hydro Pump
C180805Water

TM Moves

All 25 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
A110905Ice
TM11C9710020Water
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
D12010015Normal
HM05D—7020Normal
TM13C9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM29
PsychicSaffron Citybadge 5
C9010010Psychic
TM46——10015Psychic
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
D10010010Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
B14210015Water
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM30
Teleport-6Route 9badge 2
———20Psychic
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
D1107010Electric
TM45
Thunder WaveRoute 24badge 1
B—10020Electric
TM24B9510015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison
TM49D8010010Normal
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Staryu can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP30
F
Attack45
D
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def70
C
Speed85
C
Total355
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

As long as the center section is unharmed, it can grow back fully even if it is chopped to bits.

Pokemon Yellow

Staryu Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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.

  • In Yellow, Staryu plays as a balanced. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Surf is the primary attack.

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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