[OVERVIEW]
Staryu is a fast and strong presence in the metagame, able to threaten its foes with a strong STAB move in Hydro Pump, excellent coverage in Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, and useful utility options like Thunder Wave and Rapid Spin. Staryu's 19 Speed puts it in the second-fastest Speed tier, allowing it to outspeed almost the entire unboosted metagame. Anorith, Doduo, Gastly, Wailmer, and Houndour are common foes Staryu outspeeds and threatens out, while it is able to Speed tie with Abra and threaten it with Thunder Wave. Staryu makes for a great lead option, matching up well into other leads such as Wailmer, Doduo, Pineco, and Cubone. Staryu does have not have the greatest bulk, however, as it is KOed by Hidden Power Grass from Wailmer, Psychic from Abra, and Return from Snubbull, all after minimal chip damage. Staryu is also outsped by Elekid and Voltorb, both of which are easily able to OHKO it. Staryu also has four-moveslot syndrome, with it unable to fit all of its coverage and utility moves, forcing it to sacrifice key utility options or its performance in certain matchups.
[SET]
Offensive Utility (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]
Thunderbolt lets Staryu hit Wailmer, a common foe that resists Water, as well as OHKOing opposing Staryu. Ice Beam threatens to hit other foes that resist Water such as Cacnea and Bagon, while Hidden Power Grass can be used to specifically hit Chinchou, which otherwise walls Staryu. Staryu's excellent coverage options let it threaten almost any would-be switch-in. Staryu is the best user of Rapid Spin in the metagame because of its Speed and ability to beat the tier's spinblockers in Duskull and Gastly. This lets Staryu completely shut down teams that are built upon getting Spikes up. 19 Speed and Thunder Wave allow Staryu many chances to spread paralysis, which is especially important for crippling setup sweepers like Abra, Exeggcute, and Bagon. Natural Cure allows Staryu to be a reliable status absorber, but Staryu has to be wary of Porygon tracing it and doing the same.
Diglett and Trapinch are good teammates for Staryu because they can remove Elekid and Voltorb, which are both faster than Staryu and OHKO it with Thunderbolt. Specially defensive Wailmer is also a good option, as it can wear down foes that resist Water, as well as checking Electric-types thanks to its bulk. Pokemon that appreciate paralysis support will also enjoy having Staryu as a teammate; examples include slower, strong threats like Cubone and setup sweepers like Anorith and Abra. Teams that rely on Porygon as their only switch-in to Choice Band Doduo will benefit from Staryu's entry hazard removal, since Porygon can be OHKOed by Double-Edge after one layer of spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Staryu can use Surf over Hydro Pump as a more accurate STAB option, but it then loses out on KOs on Pokemon such as Gastly and Magnemite, as well as needing significantly more chip damage to KO Porygon. Staryu can use Illuminate, an ability with otherwise no competitive use, in order to permanently paralyze Porygon, since tracing Natural Cure lets Porygon switch out and be cured of its status. However, giving up an excellent ability in Natural Cure for this one scenario is usually not worth it. Light Screen or Reflect can let Staryu support its teammates and itself, though either move can be hard to fit over its coverage moves or other support options. Recover can be used as reliable recovery, but this is overshadowed by Sitrus Berry letting Staryu heal to full health and is difficult to justify when choosing Staryu's moves because of the fast-paced nature of the tier.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Elekid and Voltorb both outspeed and OHKO Staryu with Thunderbolt and can switch into any of Staryu's moves safely except for Thunder Wave. Chinchou is able to do the same, but it also resists Staryu's Water-type moves and Ice Beam, making it an even better check. However, it must watch out for Staryu sets carrying Hidden Power Grass. Elekid, Voltorb, and Chinchou must watch out for specially defensive Diglett, a common partner to Staryu, which consistently removes them all.
**Cacnea**: Cacnea is a Spikes user that can OHKO Staryu with Hidden Power Grass, making it difficult for Staryu to remove Spikes. Staryu can threaten Cacnea with Ice Beam, but it will not OHKO it. Cacnea can also use Encore to lock Staryu into Rapid Spin or Ice Beam, enabling switches for its teammates.
**Wailmer**: Wailmer is a bulky Water-type that can survive even Staryu's Thunderbolt and threaten it back with Hidden Power Grass or Self-Destruct. Specially defensive variants of Wailmer can switch into Staryu's Hydro Pump and still survive a subsequent Thunderbolt, but offensive variants of Wailmer cannot.
**Diglett**: Diglett can outspeed and remove Staryu once it has taken chip damage, but Diglett cannot switch into Staryu freely for fear of a Water-type move.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/reggg.588561/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Staryu is a fast and strong presence in the metagame, able to threaten its foes with a strong STAB move in Hydro Pump, excellent coverage in Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, and useful utility options like Thunder Wave and Rapid Spin. Staryu's 19 Speed puts it in the second-fastest Speed tier, allowing it to outspeed almost the entire unboosted metagame. Anorith, Doduo, Gastly, Wailmer, and Houndour are common foes Staryu outspeeds and threatens out, while it is able to Speed tie with Abra and threaten it with Thunder Wave. Staryu makes for a great lead option, matching up well into other leads such as Wailmer, Doduo, Pineco, and Cubone. Staryu does have not have the greatest bulk, however, as it is KOed by Hidden Power Grass from Wailmer, Psychic from Abra, and Return from Snubbull, all after minimal chip damage. Staryu is also outsped by Elekid and Voltorb, both of which are easily able to OHKO it. Staryu also has four-moveslot syndrome, with it unable to fit all of its coverage and utility moves, forcing it to sacrifice key utility options or its performance in certain matchups.
[SET]
Offensive Utility (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]
Thunderbolt lets Staryu hit Wailmer, a common foe that resists Water, as well as OHKOing opposing Staryu. Ice Beam threatens to hit other foes that resist Water such as Cacnea and Bagon, while Hidden Power Grass can be used to specifically hit Chinchou, which otherwise walls Staryu. Staryu's excellent coverage options let it threaten almost any would-be switch-in. Staryu is the best user of Rapid Spin in the metagame because of its Speed and ability to beat the tier's spinblockers in Duskull and Gastly. This lets Staryu completely shut down teams that are built upon getting Spikes up. 19 Speed and Thunder Wave allow Staryu many chances to spread paralysis, which is especially important for crippling setup sweepers like Abra, Exeggcute, and Bagon. Natural Cure allows Staryu to be a reliable status absorber, but Staryu has to be wary of Porygon tracing it and doing the same.
Diglett and Trapinch are good teammates for Staryu because they can remove Elekid and Voltorb, which are both faster than Staryu and OHKO it with Thunderbolt. Specially defensive Wailmer is also a good option, as it can wear down foes that resist Water, as well as checking Electric-types thanks to its bulk. Pokemon that appreciate paralysis support will also enjoy having Staryu as a teammate; examples include slower, strong threats like Cubone and setup sweepers like Anorith and Abra. Teams that rely on Porygon as their only switch-in to Choice Band Doduo will benefit from Staryu's entry hazard removal, since Porygon can be OHKOed by Double-Edge after one layer of spikes.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Staryu can use Surf over Hydro Pump as a more accurate STAB option, but it then loses out on KOs on Pokemon such as Gastly and Magnemite, as well as needing significantly more chip damage to KO Porygon. Staryu can use Illuminate, an ability with otherwise no competitive use, in order to permanently paralyze Porygon, since tracing Natural Cure lets Porygon switch out and be cured of its status. However, giving up an excellent ability in Natural Cure for this one scenario is usually not worth it. Light Screen or Reflect can let Staryu support its teammates and itself, though either move can be hard to fit over its coverage moves or other support options. Recover can be used as reliable recovery, but this is overshadowed by Sitrus Berry letting Staryu heal to full health and is difficult to justify when choosing Staryu's moves because of the fast-paced nature of the tier.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Elekid and Voltorb both outspeed and OHKO Staryu with Thunderbolt and can switch into any of Staryu's moves safely except for Thunder Wave. Chinchou is able to do the same, but it also resists Staryu's Water-type moves and Ice Beam, making it an even better check. However, it must watch out for Staryu sets carrying Hidden Power Grass. Elekid, Voltorb, and Chinchou must watch out for specially defensive Diglett, a common partner to Staryu, which consistently removes them all.
**Cacnea**: Cacnea is a Spikes user that can OHKO Staryu with Hidden Power Grass, making it difficult for Staryu to remove Spikes. Staryu can threaten Cacnea with Ice Beam, but it will not OHKO it. Cacnea can also use Encore to lock Staryu into Rapid Spin or Ice Beam, enabling switches for its teammates.
**Wailmer**: Wailmer is a bulky Water-type that can survive even Staryu's Thunderbolt and threaten it back with Hidden Power Grass or Self-Destruct. Specially defensive variants of Wailmer can switch into Staryu's Hydro Pump and still survive a subsequent Thunderbolt, but offensive variants of Wailmer cannot.
**Diglett**: Diglett can outspeed and remove Staryu once it has taken chip damage, but Diglett cannot switch into Staryu freely for fear of a Water-type move.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/reggg.588561/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/grape-tylenol.593128/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aurora.109385/
Last edited:
