[OVERVIEW]
With the addition of Crabhammer to its moveset, Starmie is among the most powerful special attackers in STABmons. Its new STAB move 2HKOes nearly every target, with it even 2HKOing the extremely bulky Snorlax more often than not. Crabhammer's power pairs excellently with Starmie's excellent Speed, allowing it to outspeed and 2HKO lightning fast foes such as Tauros and Gengar. Starmie's offensive power is further augmented by excellent coverage in Blizzard and Thunderbolt to threaten Crabhammer's few switch-ins. Starmie's movepool is not just limited to attacking options, with Thunder Wave making it a premier paralysis spreader, especially when paired with Starmie's excellent Speed, and Recover to give Starmie reliable recovery, notably making it among the best Crabhammer switch-ins in STABmons. These combined traits make Starmie mandatory on most teams in STABmons.
However, Starmie being so ubiquitous leads to teams having no shortage of Pokemon that can take advantage of its limitations. Starmie's bulk is mediocre and its great typing has some flaws, letting common attacks such as Razor Leaf from Exeggutor, Thunderbolt from foes such as Zapdos and Gengar, and even Slash from foes such as Tauros and Kangaskhan easily 2HKO it, limiting the utility of Recover. Starmie is also easily OHKOed by most STAB Explosion users, and while this is a trade, it is usually in the opponent's favor due to how important Starmie is. Starmie is also often forced to take paralysis by foes it is tasked with checking, notably itself, which significantly reduces Starmie's ability to threaten its targets and leaves it easy to revenge kill. There are also a few Pokemon that can defensively handle Starmie, such as Chansey and, depending on Starmie's choice of moves, Exeggutor.
[SET]
name: Crabhammer Utility
Move 1: Crabhammer
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Thunder Wave / Blizzard
move 4: Recover / Blizzard
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Crabhammer almost always lands a critical hit thanks to Starmie's high Speed, letting it 2HKO every neutral target except Chansey and Zapdos, including metagame staples such as Tauros and Gengar. Thunderbolt is mainly used to hit opposing Starmie, generally 3HKOing it, and it has the added benefit of targeting other Water-types such as Vaporeon and Cloyster. Thunder Wave lets Starmie slow down speedy foes such as opposing Starmie, lets Starmie or a teammate eliminate them, and can help Starmie take on some bulky Recover users such as Snorlax and Clefable, which could otherwise paralyze Starmie and use Recover until it misses Crabhammer or gets fully paralyzed. Blizzard is an alternative, providing Starmie with a 3HKO against Exeggutor. Recover lets Starmie stay healthy, letting it heal off stray hits from foes it forces out, like Tauros, and of those that struggle to do substantial damage to Starmie and lack the ability to spread paralysis, such as Aerodactyl and Jynx after Sleep Clause is active. Keep in mind that Thunderbolt and Blizzard actually do less damage than Crabhammer to foes that are neutral to Water and are weak to Ice and Electric, such as Dodrio.
Starmie should be used on the vast majority of STABmons teams. Starmie is an excellent revenge killer thanks to Crabhammer, with the move's sheer power and Starmie's coverage dissuading foes from switching in. Starmie is also great at forcing paralysis on the opposing team, though it should be wary of using Thunder Wave on a foe that could paralyze Starmie back or use Explosion. If it lacks Blizzard, Starmie should generally wait until Exeggutor, another near mandatory foe, is removed because it can switch into Crabhammer and reliably KO Starmie with Razor Leaf after the slightest amount of chip damage. Exeggutor is best dealt with by trading, with STAB Explosion users such as Kangaskhan being able to OHKO Exeggutor outright. If Sleep Clause is active, one's own Exeggutor can trade with opposing Exeggutor, and Chansey can defensively handle all of Exeggutor's moves except Explosion. Gengar can switch into Explosion, and notably walls Exeggutor variants that lack Psychic. Starmie can afford to be more agressive early-game with Blizzard, though since Blizzard can only 3HKO Exeggutor, Starmie is generally best sent out after Exeggutor has taken some chip damage.
Chansey is Starmie's hardest counter, with it only being 4HKOed by Crabhammer while being able to threaten Starmie with paralysis and heavy damage with Thunderbolt. Chansey is 2HKOed by most STAB Slash users and OHKOed by most Explosion users, so Normal-types such as Tauros and Kangaskhan are effective at removing Chansey, though they will usually get paralyzed in the process. Some special attackers such as Jolteon, Exeggutor, and Gengar can use Explosion to remove Chansey or put it into revenge killing range. Starmie is vulnerable to being forced to trade with Normal-types since it can't OHKO them with Crabhammer while they can OHKO it with Explosion. Gengar is a great partner for its ability to switch into Explosion while taking no damage, though this is prediction-reliant—many such as Kangaskhan and Tauros carry Earthquake for Gengar, and some may use Thunder Wave or Glare ease prediction since a paralyzed Starmie is much easier to deal with.
Starmie will often be forced to face itself, with the matchup radically changing depending on each Starmie's moves. Thunderbolt generally 3HKOes opposing Starmie, giving variants with Thunder Wave and Recover the advantage. A paralyzed Starmie is generally quite easy to revenge kill, and most metagame staples have little trouble 2HKOing Starmie, so a paralyzed Starmie is best used to check opposing Starmie if it has Thunder Wave, or be used to force paralysis on a key threat like Tauros. A paralyzed Starmie can also be used to check some uncommon threats like Jynx, Aerodactyl, and Vaporeon barring Explosion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Starmie could drop Thunderbolt to run a set with Crabhammer, Thunder Wave, Blizzard, and Recover, though being ineffective against opposing Starmie makes it too niche, especially because Recover's utility is heavily limited when Starmie can't reliably answer opposing Starmie beyond threatening paralysis. Barrier can help Starmie tank Explosion from foes as powerful as Tauros, but it is very difficult to fit and does not help Starmie tank the Slash that most Normal-types use. Amnesia seems like an enticing option on account of Starmie's excellent Speed and coverage, but the prevalance of paralysis and Explosion makes setting up hard, and because critical hits ignore stat boosts in Gen 1, Starmie will be forced to use the initially weaker Surf or Hydro Pump. Additionally, even at +2 Thunderbolt and Blizzard fail to OHKO most of Starmie's checks, and the defensive utility from Amnesia is hampered by how common Exeggutor's Razor Leaf is. Agility help Starmie negate the paralysis Speed drop, but it's almost never worth giving up Starmie's coverage and utility, and has minimal use before Starmie gets paralyzed since its Speed is naturally excellent. Psychic may seem like a useful secondary STAB option, but it's weaker than Crabhammer against every common threat except Gengar, which it only barely outdamages without a critical hit.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Exeggutor**: Exeggutor is Starmie's most common counter, only being 3HKOed by Blizzard while having a 6.3% chance to OHKO Starmie with a critical hit Razor Leaf. Exeggutor is also only 5HKOed by Crabhammer, and thus can easily find opportunties to switch in. Barring Blizzard landing a critical hit, Exeggutor can easily beat Starmie one-on-one, though it has the tendency to get into Starmie's KO range due to the other duties it tends to do for its team.
**Chansey**: Chansey takes minimal damage from all of Starmie's attacks, only being 4HKOed by Crabhammer, which can be easily healed off by Recover, making Starmie struggle to threaten Chansey beyond paralysis. In return, Chansey can paralyzed Starmie with Thunder Wave and have a small chance of 2HKOing Starmie with Thunderbolt.
**Electric-types**: Jolteon outspeeds and threatens to 2HKO it with Thunderbolt, while only being 2HKOed by Crabhammer. Zapdos does not outspeed Starmie but is only 3HKOed by Crabhammer while 2HKOing Starmie back, making it favored to win one-on-one.
**Normal-types**: STAB Explosion from most Normal-types easily OHKOes Starmie, letting Pokemon Starmie would otherwise beat such as Tauros and Kangaskhan trade with it. Slash from many of these Pokemon can also 2HKO Starmie, letting them beat Starmie if its paralyzed or misses Crabhammer.
**Paralysis**: Once paralyzed, Starmie's already bad matchups against foes such as Exeggutor and Zapdos become significantly worse, while ones it would otherwise be favored in such as against Tauros and Gengar become losing.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
With the addition of Crabhammer to its moveset, Starmie is among the most powerful special attackers in STABmons. Its new STAB move 2HKOes nearly every target, with it even 2HKOing the extremely bulky Snorlax more often than not. Crabhammer's power pairs excellently with Starmie's excellent Speed, allowing it to outspeed and 2HKO lightning fast foes such as Tauros and Gengar. Starmie's offensive power is further augmented by excellent coverage in Blizzard and Thunderbolt to threaten Crabhammer's few switch-ins. Starmie's movepool is not just limited to attacking options, with Thunder Wave making it a premier paralysis spreader, especially when paired with Starmie's excellent Speed, and Recover to give Starmie reliable recovery, notably making it among the best Crabhammer switch-ins in STABmons. These combined traits make Starmie mandatory on most teams in STABmons.
However, Starmie being so ubiquitous leads to teams having no shortage of Pokemon that can take advantage of its limitations. Starmie's bulk is mediocre and its great typing has some flaws, letting common attacks such as Razor Leaf from Exeggutor, Thunderbolt from foes such as Zapdos and Gengar, and even Slash from foes such as Tauros and Kangaskhan easily 2HKO it, limiting the utility of Recover. Starmie is also easily OHKOed by most STAB Explosion users, and while this is a trade, it is usually in the opponent's favor due to how important Starmie is. Starmie is also often forced to take paralysis by foes it is tasked with checking, notably itself, which significantly reduces Starmie's ability to threaten its targets and leaves it easy to revenge kill. There are also a few Pokemon that can defensively handle Starmie, such as Chansey and, depending on Starmie's choice of moves, Exeggutor.
[SET]
name: Crabhammer Utility
Move 1: Crabhammer
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Thunder Wave / Blizzard
move 4: Recover / Blizzard
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Crabhammer almost always lands a critical hit thanks to Starmie's high Speed, letting it 2HKO every neutral target except Chansey and Zapdos, including metagame staples such as Tauros and Gengar. Thunderbolt is mainly used to hit opposing Starmie, generally 3HKOing it, and it has the added benefit of targeting other Water-types such as Vaporeon and Cloyster. Thunder Wave lets Starmie slow down speedy foes such as opposing Starmie, lets Starmie or a teammate eliminate them, and can help Starmie take on some bulky Recover users such as Snorlax and Clefable, which could otherwise paralyze Starmie and use Recover until it misses Crabhammer or gets fully paralyzed. Blizzard is an alternative, providing Starmie with a 3HKO against Exeggutor. Recover lets Starmie stay healthy, letting it heal off stray hits from foes it forces out, like Tauros, and of those that struggle to do substantial damage to Starmie and lack the ability to spread paralysis, such as Aerodactyl and Jynx after Sleep Clause is active. Keep in mind that Thunderbolt and Blizzard actually do less damage than Crabhammer to foes that are neutral to Water and are weak to Ice and Electric, such as Dodrio.
Starmie should be used on the vast majority of STABmons teams. Starmie is an excellent revenge killer thanks to Crabhammer, with the move's sheer power and Starmie's coverage dissuading foes from switching in. Starmie is also great at forcing paralysis on the opposing team, though it should be wary of using Thunder Wave on a foe that could paralyze Starmie back or use Explosion. If it lacks Blizzard, Starmie should generally wait until Exeggutor, another near mandatory foe, is removed because it can switch into Crabhammer and reliably KO Starmie with Razor Leaf after the slightest amount of chip damage. Exeggutor is best dealt with by trading, with STAB Explosion users such as Kangaskhan being able to OHKO Exeggutor outright. If Sleep Clause is active, one's own Exeggutor can trade with opposing Exeggutor, and Chansey can defensively handle all of Exeggutor's moves except Explosion. Gengar can switch into Explosion, and notably walls Exeggutor variants that lack Psychic. Starmie can afford to be more agressive early-game with Blizzard, though since Blizzard can only 3HKO Exeggutor, Starmie is generally best sent out after Exeggutor has taken some chip damage.
Chansey is Starmie's hardest counter, with it only being 4HKOed by Crabhammer while being able to threaten Starmie with paralysis and heavy damage with Thunderbolt. Chansey is 2HKOed by most STAB Slash users and OHKOed by most Explosion users, so Normal-types such as Tauros and Kangaskhan are effective at removing Chansey, though they will usually get paralyzed in the process. Some special attackers such as Jolteon, Exeggutor, and Gengar can use Explosion to remove Chansey or put it into revenge killing range. Starmie is vulnerable to being forced to trade with Normal-types since it can't OHKO them with Crabhammer while they can OHKO it with Explosion. Gengar is a great partner for its ability to switch into Explosion while taking no damage, though this is prediction-reliant—many such as Kangaskhan and Tauros carry Earthquake for Gengar, and some may use Thunder Wave or Glare ease prediction since a paralyzed Starmie is much easier to deal with.
Starmie will often be forced to face itself, with the matchup radically changing depending on each Starmie's moves. Thunderbolt generally 3HKOes opposing Starmie, giving variants with Thunder Wave and Recover the advantage. A paralyzed Starmie is generally quite easy to revenge kill, and most metagame staples have little trouble 2HKOing Starmie, so a paralyzed Starmie is best used to check opposing Starmie if it has Thunder Wave, or be used to force paralysis on a key threat like Tauros. A paralyzed Starmie can also be used to check some uncommon threats like Jynx, Aerodactyl, and Vaporeon barring Explosion.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Starmie could drop Thunderbolt to run a set with Crabhammer, Thunder Wave, Blizzard, and Recover, though being ineffective against opposing Starmie makes it too niche, especially because Recover's utility is heavily limited when Starmie can't reliably answer opposing Starmie beyond threatening paralysis. Barrier can help Starmie tank Explosion from foes as powerful as Tauros, but it is very difficult to fit and does not help Starmie tank the Slash that most Normal-types use. Amnesia seems like an enticing option on account of Starmie's excellent Speed and coverage, but the prevalance of paralysis and Explosion makes setting up hard, and because critical hits ignore stat boosts in Gen 1, Starmie will be forced to use the initially weaker Surf or Hydro Pump. Additionally, even at +2 Thunderbolt and Blizzard fail to OHKO most of Starmie's checks, and the defensive utility from Amnesia is hampered by how common Exeggutor's Razor Leaf is. Agility help Starmie negate the paralysis Speed drop, but it's almost never worth giving up Starmie's coverage and utility, and has minimal use before Starmie gets paralyzed since its Speed is naturally excellent. Psychic may seem like a useful secondary STAB option, but it's weaker than Crabhammer against every common threat except Gengar, which it only barely outdamages without a critical hit.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Exeggutor**: Exeggutor is Starmie's most common counter, only being 3HKOed by Blizzard while having a 6.3% chance to OHKO Starmie with a critical hit Razor Leaf. Exeggutor is also only 5HKOed by Crabhammer, and thus can easily find opportunties to switch in. Barring Blizzard landing a critical hit, Exeggutor can easily beat Starmie one-on-one, though it has the tendency to get into Starmie's KO range due to the other duties it tends to do for its team.
**Chansey**: Chansey takes minimal damage from all of Starmie's attacks, only being 4HKOed by Crabhammer, which can be easily healed off by Recover, making Starmie struggle to threaten Chansey beyond paralysis. In return, Chansey can paralyzed Starmie with Thunder Wave and have a small chance of 2HKOing Starmie with Thunderbolt.
**Electric-types**: Jolteon outspeeds and threatens to 2HKO it with Thunderbolt, while only being 2HKOed by Crabhammer. Zapdos does not outspeed Starmie but is only 3HKOed by Crabhammer while 2HKOing Starmie back, making it favored to win one-on-one.
**Normal-types**: STAB Explosion from most Normal-types easily OHKOes Starmie, letting Pokemon Starmie would otherwise beat such as Tauros and Kangaskhan trade with it. Slash from many of these Pokemon can also 2HKO Starmie, letting them beat Starmie if its paralyzed or misses Crabhammer.
**Paralysis**: Once paralyzed, Starmie's already bad matchups against foes such as Exeggutor and Zapdos become significantly worse, while ones it would otherwise be favored in such as against Tauros and Gengar become losing.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/
Quality checked by:
Grammar checked by:
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