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Base Stats: 65 HP / 80 Atk / 140 Def / 40 SpA / 70 SpD / 70 Spe
Ability: Sturdy
Alright, this week's victim will be Skarmory! Skarmory is a very good physical wall and specially defensive sets can also handle pokemon such as landorus-i, mega lopunny, and mega metagross. Skarmory is an excellent defensive pokemon thanks to its great typing leaving it with only two weaknesses, while also having reliable recovery in the form of roost. Skarmory can also hold custap berry, turning it into an excellent suicide lead. However, Skarmory is pretty slow and is complete taunt bait. Let's discuss!
Base Stats: 60 HP / 75 Atk / 85 Def / 100 SpA / 85 SpD / 115 Spe
Abilities: Analytic / Natural Cure
Alright, this week's victim will be Starmie! Starmie is one of OU's premier rapid spinners. It has a great speed tier of 115 allowing it to outspeed the plethora of base 110s, while also having decent special attack. Starmie's typing also allows it to handle pokemon such as keldeo and mega metagross. It can run two sets effectively, an offensive set or a defensive set. Offensive sets hit very hard thanks to analytic boosts, while defensive sets have reliable recovery and are hard to wear down with status thanks to natural cure. Starmie also has an expansive movepool, with good coverage moves such as ice beam, thunderbolt, and grass knot. Let's discuss!
Okay, so Starmie fills the important role of hazard removal in OU; with a more defensive set on balance and an offensive set on offense. The two best sets are probably as follows (wall of text inbound):
Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Reflect Type / Psyshock
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
Reflect type allows Starmie to hard counter certain threats such as Bisharp and Ferrothorn (an accidental Reflect Type on Lando-T doesn't hurt either), while Natural Cure makes it a great status sponge for a team. Recover is great in conjunction with Rapid Spin as it gives it the necessary sustenance to last throughout a battle, and so has large niche in the defensive spinner role. Psyshock is an option to hit Conkeldurr or Mega Venusaur, while guaranteeing an OKHO on Gengar; and meaning it is no longer set-up fodder for CM Keldeo.
Starmie's great speed tier allows it to better check threats such as Gengar and Landorus-I. Starmie checks BD Azu, Heatran, Keldeo, Mega Scizor, Bisharp, Ferrothorn, Gengar, and Landorus-I. Starmie is used best in conjunction with Spikes or SR weak team mates, so Ferrothorn, Talonflame, and M-Zard-Y are all good choices.
Starmie can be set-up fodder for Mega Altaria, Keldeo (without Psyshock), Clefable, Manaphy, (Mega) Gyarados, Mega Sableye, Azumarill, Slowbro, and Serperior. Bulky Grass types (Celebi, Ferothorn, Mega Venusaur) can check Starmie, as well as Lati@s, Mega Gardevoir, bulky Water Types (Azumarill, Gyarados, Rotom-W), Mega Sableye, Clefable, Slowbro, Mew and Mega Altaria can check/counter it.
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gengar: 260-308 (100.3 - 118.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Keldeo: 188-224 (58.2 - 69.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Starmie Scald vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Mega Diancie: 176-210 (73 - 87.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Conkeldurr: 182-216 (51.8 - 61.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Starmie Scald vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Landorus: 234-276 (73.3 - 86.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Lopunny: 182-216 (67.1 - 79.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Starmie Scald vs. 248 HP / 192+ SpD Heatran: 126-150 (32.7 - 38.9%) -- 5.1% chance to 3HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 240+ Def Mega Venusaur: 110-132 (30.2 - 36.2%) -- 41.9% chance to 3HKO
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Mega Heracross: 152-182 (50.4 - 60.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
0 SpA Starmie Psyshock vs. 96 HP / 0 Def Manaphy: 87-103 (23.8 - 28.2%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Life Orb Bisharp Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 126-148 (39 - 45.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Leftovers recovery (after Reflect Type; obviously no Lefties, and other hits will be weaker)
0 SpA Tough Claws Mega Metagross Grass Knot (80 BP) vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Starmie: 180-214 (55.7 - 66.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Serperior Leaf Storm vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Starmie: 336-396 (104 - 122.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+6 252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Aqua Jet vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 182-214 (56.3 - 66.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Choice Band Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 270-318 (83.5 - 98.4%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 Atk Mega Lopunny Return vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 198-234 (61.3 - 72.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Landorus-T U-turn vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 192-226 (59.4 - 69.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
52 Atk Landorus-T Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 262-310 (81.1 - 95.9%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252 SpA Choice Specs Keldeo Hidden Power Electric vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Starmie: 222-262 (68.7 - 81.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ Atk Mega Swampert Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 229-270 (70.8 - 83.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Mega Gallade Knock Off (97.5 BP) vs. 248 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 290-342 (89.7 - 105.8%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO (guaranteed with Rocks up)
+6 252 SpA Manaphy Scald vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Starmie in Rain: 370-436 (114.5 - 134.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
+3 252 SpA Manaphy Energy Ball vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Starmie: 464-546 (143.6 - 169%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 29 HP / 0 Atk (30 SpA / 30 Spe as well for HP Fire)
- Hydro Pump / Surf
- Ice Beam / HP Fire
- Psyshock / Thunderbolt
- Rapid Spin
Similar to Lati@S, Starmie can play the role of an offensive hazard remover. Starmie boasts a better speed tier, allowing it to beat many offensive threats such Mega Diancie and Mega Metagross. Analytic gives a needed boost to power on switches, helping Starmie to weaken checks throughout the course of a match. However, Rapid spinning means taking damage for Starmie, and without recovery it can easily be worn down by residual damage throughout a match.
Coverage moves can be switched to suit the teams needs, showing Starmie's great versatility. HP Fire is unexpected to a lot of Ferros, while Ice Beam will surprise the Latis and Mega Altaria.
This set requires team support so that bulky mons cannot wall it, so hazard setters (such as Ferrothorn, who has great synergy), or lures such as mixed Thundo-I are recommended as team mates. This set is best used cautiously, so be careful what you switch Starmie into! Walls such as Chansey, Cresselia, Quagsire, and Tangrowth can easily counter Starmie. Choice Scarf Lando-T, Raikou (for a speed tie), Bisharp, faster Megas (Lopunny, Beedrill, Sceptile, Aerodactyl and Alakazam) can serve as offensive checks as well, with Bisharp having the ability to potentially pursuit trap as well.
252 SpA Life Orb Analytic Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 96+ SpD Clefable: 227-269 (57.6 - 68.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery (Analytic boosted - looks like some chance to 2HKO with second, unboosted hit, but dunno/too lazy to work out)
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 248 HP / 192+ SpD Heatran: 283-338 (73.5 - 87.7%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock (OHKO with Analytic boost)
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hidden Power Fire vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 218-260 (61.9 - 73.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 244 HP / 192+ SpD Gliscor: 359-424 (101.9 - 120.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Ice Beam OHKOs as well)
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Ice Beam vs. 72 HP / 0 SpD Latias: 172-203 (53.9 - 63.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Mega Metagross: 179-212 (59.4 - 70.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Ice Beam vs. 64 HP / 0 SpD Mega Altaria: 205-242 (66.7 - 78.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (18.8% chance to OHKO with Analytic, 93.8% chance with Rocks as well)
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Diancie: 359-424 (148.9 - 175.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Gyarados: 172-203 (51.9 - 61.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hidden Power Fire vs. 248 HP / 176 SpD Mega Scizor: 239-286 (69.6 - 83.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hidden Power Fire vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Mega Scizor: 286-338 (101.7 - 120.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 112 SpD Hippowdon: 439-523 (104.5 - 124.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 240+ Def Mega Venusaur: 179-213 (49.1 - 58.5%) -- 98% chance to 2HKO
252 SpA Life Orb Starmie Ice Beam vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Serperior: 224-265 (76.9 - 91%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Excuse any terrible formatting/phrasing/points/calcs/pretty much anything. Long live the thread?
Starmie is that mon who could do a lot of things, but not so amazingly well that it's your go-to mon. It can hit hard with the STABs, but Keldeo has arguably better secondary typing, it can spin+take on keldeo, but tenta does as well. Imo it could wall mega meta a bit well with reflect type, but im not sure cos havent tried it. Wisp would be so good on it, 30=/=100
Starmie is that mon who could do a lot of things, but not so amazingly well that it's your go-to mon. It can hit hard with the STABs, but Keldeo has arguably better secondary typing, it can spin+take on keldeo, but tenta does as well. Imo it could wall mega meta a bit well with reflect type, but im not sure cos havent tried it. Wisp would be so good on it, 30=/=100
I think Starmie is a no nonsense mon.Its job is to spin and boy oh boy it will.It forces out the likes of Heatran,Hippowdon,Landorus-I,Thundurus-I,Keldeo,Gengar,giving it many opportunities to spin away the hazards.It hits really hard on the switch because of me (hehe)combined with LO.Celebi and other switch ins fear the Ice Beam or the STAB which hits very hard.Speaking of STABs,this mon has some great STABs in Psyshock and Hydro Pump.
The Reflect Type set is pretty good too and belongs on most balance teams whereas Analytic Starmie is more often seen on H/O Teams.Great mon overall and it's made tremendous progress since moving up to OU
Defensive Starmie checks Mega Metagross (lacking gknot) pretty well, as it has reliable recovery and can just slowly wear it down with scald. Reflect type actually does in fact wall mega meta has it's doing 59% tops factoring in leftovers, and it's getting slower and slower, so you keep using recover until hammer arm misses. (Unless he hits like 13 in a row, which is super unlikely)
