[OVERVIEW]
Staryu combines distinctive traits with a versatile movepool, filled with coverage and being one of the only Pokemon to learn rapid spin. With an imposing 16 Special Attack, and a blisteringly fast 19 Speed putting it in the second fastest speed tier, Staryu thus presents itself as one of the most prominent water type Pokemon in the meta. It is in effect a strong, faster, yet frailer, version of Wailmer. Staryu most often takes the role of a revenge killer that can cleanup late game against a worn down team, as it can force out a large chunk of the metagame immediately upon entering the battle. When it comes in after a Pokemon goes down, it can outspeed it and threaten a massive stab Hydro Pump or one of its coverage options in Thunderbolt or Ice Beam. Common targets for Most teams will struggle to deal with Staryu when Porygon is Chipped, as very few Pokemon can actually take a Hydro Pump and then shrug off an incoming Thunderbolt or Ice Beam. Staryu also serves excellently as a lead, leveraging its speed to spread paralysis or immediately making headway into the opponent’s Specially Defensive Checks, like Wailmer or a healthy Porygon. However, Staryu’s merely average bulk is its biggest fault as it provides less defensive utility than the other water types. Wailmer’s special tankiness allows it to shrug off the majority of Special Attack in the tier and Chinchou being able to take electric attacks head on leaves Staryus middling bulk leaves it vulnerable to KOs from the majority of the tier when chipped harder to fit.
[SET]
All-Out Attacker (Staryu) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 36 HP / 200 SpA / 236 Spe
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam / Hidden Power Grass / Rapid Spin
- Thunder Wave
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydro Pump is your primary attack, having a monstrous 120 Base Power on top of a stab boost that can rip through holes in the opposing team. Thunderbolt lets you hit the water types looking to switch into a water attack, while Ice Beam does the same for grass Pokemon. Hidden Power Grass is amove to hit specifically Chinchou, which gives the otherwise impervious Chinchou to have second thoughts about switching into a Hydro Pump for fear of fainting to a follow-up Hidden Power Grass. As an added benefit, Hidden Power Grass into Thunderbolt has a chance to knock out Wailmer. Rapid Spin makes Staryu the tiers premier spinner, and while spinning is not the most needed thing in the tier, it still provides a valuable niche for certain teams. Thunder Wave grants Staryu a strong utility option. It allows Staryu to simultaneously threaten what is currently on the field while preventing Pokemon like Elekid and Voltorb from switching in. The move also prevents Pokemon like Bagon from setting up against a severely battered Staryu because of the immediate paralysis that is sure to follow. Natural Cure provides another immense boone, as Staryu is able shrug off paralysis throughout the game
Since Staryu's traits lend itself as a more offensively oriented water type, it is often used on lacking speed, more offensively oriented teams, and teams oriented around spreading paralysis for slower sweepers. Staryu is almost always seen with some kind of trapping to help deal with the common electric types. On top of being the most popular trapper in the tier, Diglett helps against the pesky Chinchou, although Trapinch is the more reliable at dealing with Elekid. Cubone pairs well with Staryu to help punish the Electric types that Staryu often finds itself helpless against, while being able to take advantage of paralysis to clean late game. Staryu also pairs effectively with spikes, whether it be the Pineco or Cacnea. Thanks to the amount of switches it forces, Staryu can chip down the opponents Specially Defensive answers into precarious positions for itself and other teammates. Cacnea can help versus Water and Electric types in a pinch, but has to be wary of things like Elekid’s Ice Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Surf provides you a reliable stab with no chance of missing, but is less desirable because of its weaker power that makes it harder to pick off chipped Pokemon like Porygon. Recover gives Staryu longevity in a way it does not usually have, although the passivity of the move often means giving up too much momentum. Light Screen allows Staryu to help teammates like Bagon or Abra set up against otherwise stronger checks. Light Screen also allows Diglett to safely trap Chinchou without living in fear of its surf.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric Types** - Pokemon like Elekid, Chinchou, and Voltorb can either outspeed or take any hit Staryu has to throw out and threaten a OHKO in return with electric stab while Staryu is powerless. Usually Voltorb and Elekid are reserved for after something has already fainted, as they do not like taking a paralysis
**Porygon** - Porygon at full health can take basically any attack, and fish for a hydro pump miss with recycle, and deal massive damage with its stab Return, or OHKO with a Thunderbolt. However when spikes up, Thunderbolt into Hydro Pump KOs Physically Defense Porygon.
**Specially Defensive Wailmer** - Although Thunderbolt is a 2HKO, it is only barely one. As such, Wailmer can often take a Thunderbolt, hit a slightly chipped Staryu with a Hidden Power Grass and KO it, and then eat its Sitrus Berry like nothing ever happened.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zcarlett.594537/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kaboom.300935/
Grammar checked by:
Staryu combines distinctive traits with a versatile movepool, filled with coverage and being one of the only Pokemon to learn rapid spin. With an imposing 16 Special Attack, and a blisteringly fast 19 Speed putting it in the second fastest speed tier, Staryu thus presents itself as one of the most prominent water type Pokemon in the meta. It is in effect a strong, faster, yet frailer, version of Wailmer. Staryu most often takes the role of a revenge killer that can cleanup late game against a worn down team, as it can force out a large chunk of the metagame immediately upon entering the battle. When it comes in after a Pokemon goes down, it can outspeed it and threaten a massive stab Hydro Pump or one of its coverage options in Thunderbolt or Ice Beam. Common targets for Most teams will struggle to deal with Staryu when Porygon is Chipped, as very few Pokemon can actually take a Hydro Pump and then shrug off an incoming Thunderbolt or Ice Beam. Staryu also serves excellently as a lead, leveraging its speed to spread paralysis or immediately making headway into the opponent’s Specially Defensive Checks, like Wailmer or a healthy Porygon. However, Staryu’s merely average bulk is its biggest fault as it provides less defensive utility than the other water types. Wailmer’s special tankiness allows it to shrug off the majority of Special Attack in the tier and Chinchou being able to take electric attacks head on leaves Staryus middling bulk leaves it vulnerable to KOs from the majority of the tier when chipped harder to fit.
[SET]
All-Out Attacker (Staryu) @ Sitrus Berry
Level: 5
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 36 HP / 200 SpA / 236 Spe
IVs: 2 Atk / 30 SpA
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam / Hidden Power Grass / Rapid Spin
- Thunder Wave
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydro Pump is your primary attack, having a monstrous 120 Base Power on top of a stab boost that can rip through holes in the opposing team. Thunderbolt lets you hit the water types looking to switch into a water attack, while Ice Beam does the same for grass Pokemon. Hidden Power Grass is amove to hit specifically Chinchou, which gives the otherwise impervious Chinchou to have second thoughts about switching into a Hydro Pump for fear of fainting to a follow-up Hidden Power Grass. As an added benefit, Hidden Power Grass into Thunderbolt has a chance to knock out Wailmer. Rapid Spin makes Staryu the tiers premier spinner, and while spinning is not the most needed thing in the tier, it still provides a valuable niche for certain teams. Thunder Wave grants Staryu a strong utility option. It allows Staryu to simultaneously threaten what is currently on the field while preventing Pokemon like Elekid and Voltorb from switching in. The move also prevents Pokemon like Bagon from setting up against a severely battered Staryu because of the immediate paralysis that is sure to follow. Natural Cure provides another immense boone, as Staryu is able shrug off paralysis throughout the game
Since Staryu's traits lend itself as a more offensively oriented water type, it is often used on lacking speed, more offensively oriented teams, and teams oriented around spreading paralysis for slower sweepers. Staryu is almost always seen with some kind of trapping to help deal with the common electric types. On top of being the most popular trapper in the tier, Diglett helps against the pesky Chinchou, although Trapinch is the more reliable at dealing with Elekid. Cubone pairs well with Staryu to help punish the Electric types that Staryu often finds itself helpless against, while being able to take advantage of paralysis to clean late game. Staryu also pairs effectively with spikes, whether it be the Pineco or Cacnea. Thanks to the amount of switches it forces, Staryu can chip down the opponents Specially Defensive answers into precarious positions for itself and other teammates. Cacnea can help versus Water and Electric types in a pinch, but has to be wary of things like Elekid’s Ice Punch.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
===================
Surf provides you a reliable stab with no chance of missing, but is less desirable because of its weaker power that makes it harder to pick off chipped Pokemon like Porygon. Recover gives Staryu longevity in a way it does not usually have, although the passivity of the move often means giving up too much momentum. Light Screen allows Staryu to help teammates like Bagon or Abra set up against otherwise stronger checks. Light Screen also allows Diglett to safely trap Chinchou without living in fear of its surf.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric Types** - Pokemon like Elekid, Chinchou, and Voltorb can either outspeed or take any hit Staryu has to throw out and threaten a OHKO in return with electric stab while Staryu is powerless. Usually Voltorb and Elekid are reserved for after something has already fainted, as they do not like taking a paralysis
**Porygon** - Porygon at full health can take basically any attack, and fish for a hydro pump miss with recycle, and deal massive damage with its stab Return, or OHKO with a Thunderbolt. However when spikes up, Thunderbolt into Hydro Pump KOs Physically Defense Porygon.
**Specially Defensive Wailmer** - Although Thunderbolt is a 2HKO, it is only barely one. As such, Wailmer can often take a Thunderbolt, hit a slightly chipped Staryu with a Hidden Power Grass and KO it, and then eat its Sitrus Berry like nothing ever happened.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/zcarlett.594537/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/kaboom.300935/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
