
Reach for the stars
[SET]
name: Special Attacker
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Rapid Spin / Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With fantastic speed, coverage, and respectable special attack, Staryu stands out as a great Water-type in ADV ZU. Thunderbolt hits Water-types like Seaking and opposing Staryu; Ice Beam targets Grass-types like Bayleef and Lileep; Rapid Spin clears Spikes and allows it to function as an emergency spinner. Recover alongside Natural Cure allow Staryu to be a reliable status absorber over defensive stalwarts like Dustox and Koffing, while also continuing to be an offensive threat. The EVs allow Staryu to Speed tie with Aipom, Taillow, and opposing Staryu.
Staryu operates well as a revenge killer, picking off slower foes like Seaking, Rhyhorn, and Pidgeotto with relative ease. On teams vulnerable to Spikes, Staryu is a great pick thanks to Rapid Spin. However, it must be aware of sturdy special walls like Lileep, Delcatty and Dustox, as they can wall it with ease. The aforementioned special walls, alongside specially defensive Rhyhorn, can also check Elekid, one of Staryu's worst matchups; Elekid itself can be used to check other Staryu. Physical wallbreakers such as Aipom, Cubone, and Pidgeotto work especially well, as they have trouble dealing with Pokemon like Koffing, while Staryu can switch into Will-O-Wisp and threaten Koffing's with its low Special Defense. Special wallbreakers such as Cyndaquil and Growlithe, can wallbreak early-game and allow Staryu to clean late-game.
name: Defensive
move 1: Rapid Spin
move 2: Surf
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Natural Cure
nature: Timid
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
With a bulkier spread, Staryu is the tier's premier Rapid Spin user with its acceptable bulk and high Speed. Thunderbolt targets Water-types like Seaking and opposing Staryu. Recover gives Staryu allows Staryu to continue being a Rapid Spin user, while also negating residual damage from Spikes. Natural Cure allows it to absorb status from Koffing and Dustox.
Teams that struggle against Spikes builds appreciate Staryu absorbing status, providing Speed control, and being a good Rapid Spin user, though Staryu should ideally remain healthy to continue to clear hazards. Special walls like Delcatty and Dustox can easily take its hits, so physical wallbreakers like Aipom, Rhyhorn, and Taillow are appreciated. Cleaners like Elekid, Aipom, and Seaking are able to sweep more easily without the hazards, and are free to run other items. Bulky Grass-types like Bayleef and Sunflora can easily switch in and retaliate; thus Staryu appreciates Fire-types like Cyndaquil and Growlithe which can threaten them back. Given its limited power, it appreciates both physical and special walls like Lileep, Dustox, and Delcatty; the latter two can check Elekid and spread status.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Toxic cripples special walls like Lileep and Sunflora, though Staryu is already strapped for moveslots and cannot afford giving up one of its coverage or utility moves. Psychic can 3HKO Dustox after a layer of Spikes and Grimer without needing to use Hydro Pump, though its use is limited outside those two targets. Hidden Power Grass can 2HKO Chinchou, though Staryu can’t easily afford to give up Ice Beam or Thunderbolt.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Lileep, Sunflora, and Bayleef can switch in, avoid being OHKOed by Ice Beam and threaten Staryu back with their STABs.
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Dustox and Delcatty have enough special bulk to stomach any two hits from full health and safely wall it. They can proceed to pressure it with either Toxic or Body Slam, respectively. Grimer can set up Curse in front of Staryu with its great Special bulk, forcing it out.
**Electric-types**: Chinchou tanks all of Staryu's offensive moves and can threaten back with Thunderbolt. Faster Electric-types like Elekid and Voltorb are able to offensively check it but cannot switch into it.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[5Dots, 543866]]
- Quality checked by: [[Gangsta Spongebob, 535530], [bp, 272450]]
- Grammar checked by: [[username1, userid1]]
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