Staryu
Staryu is a Water-type Pokémon, the Star Shape Pokémon, number 120 (#0120) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 0.8 m tall and weighs 34.5 kg.
Staryu is a starfish with a glowing red core that flashes at night in time with the twinkling stars, and the Sapphire Pokédex says it apparently talks to them that way. It can regrow from almost nothing as long as the core is safe.
How to pronounce Staryu
Staryu is pronounced STAR-yoo. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Staryu said out loud:
In Japanese it is ヒトデマン (Hitodeman).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Staryu is golden brown, 0.8 m tall and 34.5 kg, with faceted skin and five points around a central core. The core looks like a red gem held in a golden setting. The Pokédex says a torn Staryu can regrow what it lost, provided the core stays intact.
Behaviour
Staryu gather in large numbers along seashores. At night they float up from the sea floor and make their cores flicker in time with the stars, which the Sapphire Pokédex says is how they apparently communicate with them. Fish nibble at them and they do not mind.
Habitat
The Pokédex puts Staryu on seashores and the sea floor. In Legends: Z-A it lives in Wild Zones 2 and 10.
Powers
Illuminate doubles the wild encounter rate, Natural Cure heals status when it switches out, and Analytic is hidden. Its Sword and Shield moves include Water Gun, Rapid Spin, Swift, Psybeam, Power Gem, Psychic, Surf, Recover, Cosmic Power and Hydro Pump. Its best base stat is Speed at 85.
Name origin
Staryu may combine 'star' with 'you', contrasting with the 'me' in its evolution's name. The Japanese name is Hitodeman (ヒトデマン), which may combine 海星 hitode ('starfish') with 'man', possibly a nod to Ultraman.
Design inspiration
Ken Sugimori designed Staryu, according to Bulbapedia. It seems based on a stylised starfish, such as the common starfish, and real starfish also regrow lost limbs. Its core looks like a polished gem in a gold setting, and Bulbapedia suggests the flashing gem may reference the Ultraman heroes' chest lights. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
A Water Stone turns Staryu into Starmie.
In the games
A Generation I original, Staryu is unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet according to Bulbapedia. It returns in Legends: Z-A, where its Lumiose Pokédex number is 36, and in the Mega Dimension DLC's Hyperspace Lumiose.
In the anime
Staryu was one of Misty's main battlers in the original series, debuting in 'Clefairy and the Moon Stone'. In the Hoopa's Surprise Ring Adventures short 'Shooting Star', one Staryu crashes into Ash and Pikachu while another blasts Hoopa away.
Fun facts
- Early Capsule Monsters concept art by Sugimori shows a Staryu-like Pokémon called Mimī, according to Bulbapedia.
- Staryu, Starmie and Mew were the only genderless Pokémon that could legitimately learn Attract in Generation II, where the move did nothing for them.
- Before Generation IV, Camouflage was known to be learnable by Staryu and no other Pokémon, says Bulbapedia.
Base stats
- HP: 30
- Attack: 45
- Defense: 55
- Sp. Atk: 70
- Sp. Def: 55
- Speed: 85
Staryu’s base stat total is 340. Its highest stat is Speed.
Type matchups
What is Staryu weak to?
Staryu takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Grass (2×) moves.
It resists Fire (½×), Water (½×), Ice (½×), Steel (½×).
Evolution
How does Staryu evolve?
Staryu evolves into Starmie (Water Stone).
The whole family: Staryu, Starmie.
Abilities
- Illuminate: Doubles the wild encounter rate.
- Natural Cure: Cures any major status ailment upon switching out.
- Analytic (hidden ability): Strengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last.
Moves
Moves Staryu learns by level up in Sword / Shield
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 |
| 1 | Harden | Normal | Status | — |
| 4 | Water Gun | Water | Special | 40 |
| 8 | Confuse Ray | Ghost | Status | — |
| 12 | Rapid Spin | Normal | Physical | 50 |
| 16 | Minimize | Normal | Status | — |
| 20 | Swift | Normal | Special | 60 |
| 24 | Psybeam | Psychic | Special | 65 |
| 28 | Brine | Water | Special | 65 |
| 32 | Light Screen | Psychic | Status | — |
| 36 | Power Gem | Rock | Special | 80 |
| 40 | Psychic | Psychic | Special | 90 |
| 44 | Surf | Water | Special | 90 |
| 48 | Recover | Normal | Status | — |
| 52 | Cosmic Power | Psychic | Status | — |
| 56 | Hydro Pump | Water | Special | 110 |
TM moves (33)
Staryu can learn 33 moves from TMs in Sword / Shield: Thunder Wave, Light Screen, Reflect, Rest, Snore, Protect, Icy Wind, Rain Dance, Hail, Whirlpool, Facade, Swift, Dive, Brine, Round, Hydro Pump, Surf, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Psychic, Waterfall, Tri Attack, Substitute, Endure, Sleep Talk, Cosmic Power, Gyro Ball, Power Gem, Flash Cannon, Scald, Dazzling Gleam.
Move tutor moves (1): Flip Turn.
Breeding & training
- Gender: genderless.
- Egg groups: Water 3.
- Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
- Catch rate: 225 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Slow (1,250,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 1 Speed effort value.
- Base experience yield: 68.
Pokédex entries
Fish Pokémon nibble at it, but Staryu isn't bothered. Its body regenerates quickly, even if part of it is completely torn off. (Shield)
If you visit a beach at the end of summer, you'll be able to see groups of Staryu lighting up in a steady rhythm. (Sword)
As long as the center section is unharmed, this Pokémon can grow back fully even if it is chopped to bits. (Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)
No number of injuries can bother Staryu. Its amazing regenerative powers return it to its previous state in half a day! (Ultra Moon)
In many places, there are folktales of stardust falling into the ocean and becoming Staryu. (Ultra Sun)
This Pokémon gets nibbled on by Lumineon and others. Thanks to its red core, it regenerates fast, so it's unconcerned by their snack attacks. (Moon)
Names around the world
| Japanese | ヒトデマン |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Hitodeman |
| French | Stari |
| German | Sterndu |
| Spanish | Staryu |
| Italian | Staryu |
| Korean | 별가사리 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 海星星 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 海星星 |
Trivia
- Taller than 39% of all Pokémon (0.8 m).
- Heavier than 57% of all Pokémon (34.5 kg).
- Base stat total 340, ranked #719 of 1,025.
- One of 154 Water-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 147 brown Pokémon.
- Number 120 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
- Part of an evolution family of 2 Pokémon.
- Can learn 42 different moves in Sword / Shield.
- Catch rate 225: about 29.4% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 19 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Staryu (Pokémon), Serebii: Staryu (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (STAR-yoo): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Water-type Pokémon · Kanto region guide · Illuminate ability · Natural Cure ability · Analytic ability · Compare Staryu · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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Gen 1 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Brown Pokémon list · Water 3 egg group · Pokémon that start with S · What does the Water Stone evolve? · Starfish and Sea Urchin Pokémon