In Sun & Moon, Natural Cure changes the entire equation for Starmie. The 520 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper. Rapid Spin with Life Orb is the standard set.

What is Starmie weak to?

In Sun & Moon, watch for Raikou (Electric), Venusaur (Grass), and Pinsir (Bug) when using Starmie. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

What is the best ability for Starmie?

Natural Cure is what you want on Starmie. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Analytic) work on paper but Natural Cure is what makes Starmie worth using. With base 115 Speed, Natural Cure gives Starmie an edge before opponents can react.

What role does Starmie play in battle?

Base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Starmie is a special attacker with base 100 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.

What are the best moves for Starmie?

In Sun & Moon, run Rapid Spin, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Hydro Pump on Starmie. Rapid Spin is the most common pick at 22% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.

Starmie - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Sweeper

BTier

115Speed · Fast

Stats & Training

The stat budget goes to damage. Speed and Sp. Atk carry the offense, HP doesn't even come close. A Mysterious Pokemon on a slow 1.25M XP grind, worth 2 Speed EVs per KO.

Base Stats

High

HP60

Attack75

Defense85

Sp. Atk100

Sp. Def85

Speed115

Total520

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging60 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height1.1 m

Weight80.0 kg

Base XP182

Abilities

Illuminate

Doubles the wild encounter rate.

Natural CurePopular

Cures any major status ailment upon switching out.

AnalyticHAPopular

Strengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last.

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+2

Speed training target

Pokedex Entries

Its shining core is thought to receive and transmit enigmatic signals. It has been known to cause headaches in those who approach it.

Starmie Weakness

Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, and Dark moves hit Starmie for super-effective damage. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. 5 weaknesses means you'll want teammates that can handle the coverage gaps.

Starmie Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, Dark
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Psychic, Steel

Type ChartVulnerable

5Weak

6Resist

0Immune

Score-4

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass Bug Ghost Dark

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Fighting Psychic Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (5)

Fire Ground Rock Fighting Poison

How to Beat Starmie in Sun & Moon (Best Counters)

Hydreigon DarkDragon	A
Available Moves Moves CrunchLv. 25 BiteLv. 9 ThiefTM46 Brutal SwingTM59 Damage vs Starmie Crunch 2x 81-96% Bite 2x 62-73% Thief 2x 62-73% Brutal Swing 2x 62-73% View Hydreigon builds →
Umbreon Dark	C
Available Moves Moves Feint AttackLv. 20 AssuranceLv. 25 PursuitLv. 1 Damage vs Starmie Feint Attack 2x 43-51% Assurance 2x 43-51% Pursuit 2x 30-36% View Umbreon builds →
Mandibuzz DarkFlying	C
Available Moves Moves Dark PulseLv. 46 Feint AttackLv. 23 ThiefTM46 Damage vs Starmie Dark Pulse 2x 50-60% Feint Attack 2x 43-51% Thief 2x 43-51% View Mandibuzz builds →
Decidueye GrassGhost	C
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves Leaf BladeLv. 44 Spirit ShackleLv. 1 U-turnLv. 1 Sucker PunchLv. 38 Damage vs Starmie Leaf Blade 2x 92-109%KO Spirit Shackle 2x 83-98% U-turn 2x 49-58% Sucker Punch 2x 49-58% View Decidueye builds →
Sableye DarkGhost	D
Available Moves Moves Foul PlayLv. 41 Shadow BallLv. 39 Shadow ClawLv. 29 Knock OffLv. 26 Damage vs Starmie Foul Play 2x 73-87% Shadow Ball 2x 56-67% Shadow Claw 2x 54-64% Knock Off 2x 50-60% View Sableye builds →

Sun & Moon Evolution

Getting Starmie requires an evolution item, not just grinding levels. The chain starts at Staryu. Breed this form to get Staryu eggs (average hatch time). HP grew the most through evolution (+30 over Staryu), and Starmie peaks at 520 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#120Staryu

Water Stone

#121Starmie

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Staryu

Water

Starmie

WaterPsychic

60+30

ATK

75+30

DEF

85+30

SP.ATK

100+30

SP.DEF

85+30

SPE

115+30

BST

340D-Tier

520A-Tier+180

ROLE

Balanced

Sweeper

TYPE

Special

Breeding

Challenging

Starmie is genderless — breed with Ditto to produce Staryu eggs. Part of the Water3 egg group.

Egg Groups

Water3

Gender

Genderless

Ditto only

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Sun & Moon Starmie Best Moveset

The recommended build leans into Starmie's strengths as a special attacker. Life Orb provides extra damage on every hit for a health trade, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs back that up. Analytic rounds out the package.

Best Build

Experimental

Ability

Analytic

Item

Life OrbPOWER

Best Nature for Starmie

Timid+SPE

Starmie best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

SpA

SpD

Spe

Special Sweeper Moveset

Rapid Spin
Ice Beam
ThunderboltCoverage
Hydro PumpSTAB

Recommended Teammates

CrawdauntDecent

Moves

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Starmie. TMs unlock coverage across 8 types and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Hydro Pump and Dream Eater into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Hydro Pump

S110805Water

Lv 1

Rapid Spin

S5010040Normal

Lv 1

Recover

B——10Normal

Lv 1

Spotlight+3

———15Normal

Lv 1

Swift

C60—20Normal

Lv 1

Water Gun

C4010025Water

Lv 40

Confuse Ray

D—10010Ghost

TM Moves

TM14

Blizzard

C110705Ice

TM100

Confide

D——20Normal

TM99

Dazzling Gleam

C8010010Fairy

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM85

Dream Eater

B10010015Psychic

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM91

Flash Cannon

C8010010Steel

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

C150905Normal

TM86

Grass Knot

D—10020Grass

TM74

Gyro Ball

D—1005Steel

TM07

Hail

C——10Ice

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

B150905Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

S9010010Ice

TM16

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM77

Psych Up

C——10Normal

TM29

Psychic

S9010010Psychic

TM03

Psyshock

A8010010Psychic

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM33

Reflect

C——20Psychic

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM48

Round

C6010015Normal

TM55

Scald

A8010015Water

TM88

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM90

Substitute

C——10Normal

TM94

Surf

B9010015Water

TM87

Swagger

D—8515Normal

TM25

Thunder

C1107010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

C—9020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

S9010015Electric

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

TM92

Trick Room-7

C——5Psychic

TM98

Waterfall

C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Starmie doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Starmie can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Rem

Brine

—6510010Water

Rem

Bubble Beam

—6510020Water

Rem

Camouflage

———20Normal

Rem

Cosmic Power

D——20Psychic

Rem

Gyro Ball

D—1005Steel

Rem

Harden

D——30Normal

Rem

Light Screen

C——30Psychic

Rem

Minimize

———10Normal

Rem

Power Gem

S8010020Rock

Rem

Psychic

S9010010Psychic

Rem

Psywave

——10015Psychic

Rem

Reflect Type

———15Normal

Rem

Tackle

—4010035Normal

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 2

Attract

C—10015Normal

Gen 2

Aurora Beam

—6510020Ice

Gen 4

Avalanche-4

D6010010Ice

Gen 2

Barrier

D——20Psychic

Gen 1

Bide+1

———10Normal

Gen 2

Curse

C——10Ghost

Gen 6

Dive

—8010010Water

Gen 3

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

Gen 4

Endure+4

C——10Normal

Gen 6

Flash

D—10020Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

D——10Normal

Gen 4

Natural Gift

——10015Normal

Gen 2

Nightmare

——10015Ghost

Gen 1

Rage

D2010020Normal

Gen 4

Rollout

D309020Rock

Gen 6

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

Gen 1

Skull Bash

C13010010Normal

Gen 2

Supersonic

——5520Normal

Gen 1

Take Down

—908520Normal

Gen 1

Teleport-6

———20Psychic

Gen 1

Tri Attack

C8010010Normal

Gen 4

Twister

D4010020Dragon

Gen 4

Whirlpool

D358515Water

Gen 2

Zap Cannon

—120505Electric

How to Get Starmie in Sun & Moon

Starmie appears at moderate rates across 2 spots in early-game fishing spots. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Where To Catch Starmie in Sun & Moon

Staryu is your first catch on the way to Starmie. You'll find gift, fishing, and more encounters from Lv. 10-55 across 12 total spots in the chain.

Step 1Catch Staryu
Route 7
SunSuper Rod Lv.10-19 Route
1%Early
Route 7
MoonSuper Rod Lv.10-19 Route
1%Early
Hano Beach
MoonGrass Lv.21-24 Water
80%Mid
Hano Beach
SunGrass Lv.21-24 Water
80%Mid
Poké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reached
SunGift from NPC Lv.21-27
8%Mid
Poké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reached
MoonGift from NPC Lv.21-27
8%Mid
Poké Pelago - Poni Island reached
SunGift from NPC Lv.37-43
5%Late
Poké Pelago - Poni Island reached
MoonGift from NPC Lv.37-43
5%Late
Poké Pelago - Elite Four defeated
MoonGift from NPC Lv.49-55
4%Post
Poké Pelago - Elite Four defeated
SunGift from NPC Lv.49-55
4%Post
Water Stone
Step 2Starmie ✓
Route 7
SunSuper Rod Lv.10-19 Route
Early
SOS from Staryu
Route 7
MoonSuper Rod Lv.10-19 Route
Early
SOS from Staryu
or evolve from Staryu (Step 1)

Starmie Guide

In Sun & Moon, Natural Cure changes the entire equation for Starmie. The 520 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a sweeper. Rapid Spin with Life Orb is the standard set.
In Sun & Moon, watch for Raikou (Electric), Venusaur (Grass), and Pinsir (Bug) when using Starmie. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.
Natural Cure is what you want on Starmie. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Illuminate, Analytic) work on paper but Natural Cure is what makes Starmie worth using. With base 115 Speed, Natural Cure gives Starmie an edge before opponents can react.
Base 115 Speed lets it outrun most of the field. On offense, Starmie is a special attacker with base 100 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a sweeper.
In Sun & Moon, run Rapid Spin, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, and Hydro Pump on Starmie. Rapid Spin is the most common pick at 22% usage. This set covers the sweeper role with a mix of damage and utility.

Game Availability

One of the original 151, Starmie has appeared in 20 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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