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Staryu (ヒトデマン, Hitodeman) is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Water-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. Staryu resembles a Starfish.
Physiology and Behaviour[]
Staryu is a golden-brown, starfish-like Pokémon with five appendages. These appendages surround an exterior organ called the core. The core resembles a golden metal casing with a red gem in the center, which is held in place by a golden ring looped around Staryu's lower left point. If any of Staryu's appendages are lost or eaten by predators like Lumineon, it is unharmed and can grow them back with ease provided the core is still intact.
When the sun goes down, the core glows its brightest. Many Staryu will float from the seafloor to the surface and align themselves with stars of the night sky as their core flickers, displaying a connection with the celestial bodies of space. The anime has shown that if Staryu becomes weak, its core will grow faint and flash slowly. During the ends of summer, groups of Staryu tend to gather while lighting up in a steady rhythm. Staryu can be found at the very bottom of the ocean on the seafloors. There are times, however, when Staryu finds itself in rivers that lead into the ocean as seen in Pokémon Snap. In the past, Camouflage was its signature move.
Appearances[]
Main Pokémon games[]
Staryu first appeared in Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green for the Game Boy. They would later appear in every single main Pokémon game in the series.
Other Pokémon games[]
Pokémon Pinball: A Staryu appears on the Red Table; however, it is merely decoration.
Super Smash Bros. series[]

Staryu in Brawl
Staryu appeared in Super Smash Bros. since Super Smash Bros. Melee. In the games, Staryu played the role as a Pokéball Pokémon. The following are the trophy descriptions in the games:
Trophy descriptions[]
Super Smash Bros. Melee
- "These Starshape Pokémon that evolve into Starmie are found in large numbers at the seashore. At night, Staryu's red center glows and blinks on and off. It's said that as long as its red center remains, it can regrow its limbs. Whether it's related to Cleffa, another Pokémon with a vaguely star-shaped appearance, is unknown."
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- "A Star Shape Pokémon. It gathers in groups and flashes the red jewel in the center of its body in time to the twinkling of the stars in the night sky. If it loses appendages, it can regenerate them right away. It can also use Camouflage, which allows it to change its type to match the surrounding terrain. If a Water Stone is used on it, it evolves into Starmie."
In the anime[]
Misty's Staryu[]
Staryu is one of Misty's main battlers throughout the first five seasons. It debuted in Clefairy and the Moon Stone, thus also marking the species' debut.
Others[]
Origin and inspiration[]
Staryu seems to be based on a stylized starfish such as the common starfish, or the necklace starfish with its vivid red center surrounded by bright plates. Like Staryu, many real starfish have the ability to regenerate lost body parts. Given its ties to outer space and ability to emit light, it may also be based on literal stars and meteors. It is also reminiscent of ornate jewelry, with its central core resembling a polished cabochon gem mounted inside a golden prong setting. The standard color of its gem resembles a ruby, while its Shiny color resembles a sapphire. Its tendency to rapidly spin its body is reminiscent of shuriken and propellers.
Staryu's gender unknown designation may be based on hermaphroditism, observed in some real-life starfish species. In the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia and the original Japanese version of the anime episode The Water Flowers of Cerulean City, Staryu is classified as hermaphroditic.
Additionally, Staryu's ties to outer space, its Japanese name, its ability to learn various beam attacks, and the gem in its middle acting like a heart may all be a reference to the Ultraman series, where Ultra Warriors have similar gems on their chests that start flashing when they are weak, just like Staryu's gem as shown in the anime.
In-game information[]
Pokédex entries[]
Title | Entry |
---|---|
First Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Red and Blue | An enigmatic Pokémon that can effortlessly regenerate any appendage it loses in battle. |
Pokémon Yellow | As long as the center section is unharmed, it can grow back fully even if it is chopped to bits. |
Pokémon Stadium | It is capable of growing back any portion of its body that is cut off. At night, the center core glows with a red light. |
Second Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Gold | At night, the center of its body slowly flickers with the same rhythm as a human heartbeat. |
Pokémon Silver | Even if its body is torn, it can regenerate as long as the glowing central core remains intact. |
Pokémon Crystal | When the stars twinkle at night, it floats up from the sea floor, and its body's center core flickers. |
Third Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Ruby | Staryu's center section has an organ called the core that shines bright red. If you go to a beach toward the end of summer, the glowing cores of these Pokémon look like the stars in the sky. |
Pokémon Sapphire | Staryu apparently communicates with the stars in the night sky by flashing the red core at the center of its body. If parts of its body are torn, this Pokémon simply regenerates the missing pieces and limbs. |
Pokémon Emerald | It gathers with others in the night and makes its red core glow on and off with the twinkling stars. It can regenerate limbs if they are severed from its body. |
Pokémon FireRed | It appears in large numbers by seashores. At night, its central core flashes with a red light. |
Pokémon LeafGreen | An enigmatic Pokémon that can effortlessly regenerate any appendage it loses in battle. |
Fourth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Diamond | If its body is torn, it can grow back if the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Pokémon Pearl | If its body is torn, it can grow back if the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Pokémon Platinum | If its body is torn, it can grow back if the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Pokémon HeartGold | At night, the center of its body slowly flickers with the same rhythm as a human heartbeat. |
Pokémon SoulSilver | Even if its body is torn, it can regenerate as long as the glowing central core remains intact. |
Fifth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Black | If its body is torn, it can grow back if the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Pokémon White | If its body is torn, it can grow back if the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Pokémon Black 2 | As long as its red core remains, it can regenerate its body instantly, even if it's torn apart. |
Pokémon White 2 | As long as its red core remains, it can regenerate its body instantly, even if it's torn apart. |
Sixth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon X | Even if its body is torn, it can regenerate as long as the glowing central core remains intact. |
Pokémon Y | It appears in large numbers by seashores. At night, its central core flashes with a red light. |
Pokémon Omega Ruby | Staryu's center section has an organ called the core that shines bright red. If you go to a beach toward the end of summer, the glowing cores of these Pokémon look like the stars in the sky. |
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | Staryu apparently communicates with the stars in the night sky by flashing the red core at the center of its body. If parts of its body are torn, this Pokémon simply regenerates the missing pieces and limbs. |
Seventh Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Sun | Large numbers of these Pokémon make their home at the seaside. At night, a strange red glow radiates from the center of their bodies. |
Pokémon Moon | 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. |
Pokémon Ultra Sun | In many places, there are folktales of stardust falling into the ocean and becoming Staryu. |
Pokémon Ultra Moon | No number of injuries can bother Staryu. Its amazing regenerative powers return it to its previous state in half a day! |
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu |
As long as the center section is unharmed, this Pokémon can grow back fully even if it is chopped to bits. |
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee |
As long as the center section is unharmed, this Pokémon can grow back fully even if it is chopped to bits. |
Eighth Pokémon generation | |
Pokémon Sword | 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. |
Pokémon Shield | Fish Pokémon nibble at it, but Staryu isn't bothered. Its body regenerates quickly, even if part of it is completely torn off. |
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | If Staryu's body is damaged, it will regenerate as long as the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Pokémon Shining Pearl | If Staryu's body is damaged, it will regenerate as long as the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight. |
Game locations[]
Title | Location(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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First Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Red and Blue | Routes 19, 20, and 21, Cinnabar Island, Seafoam Islands (Super Rod) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Yellow | Routes 19, 20, and 21, Pallet Town, Vermilion Harbor, Cinnabar Island, Seafoam Islands (Super Rod) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Second Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Gold | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Silver | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Crystal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Third Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Ruby | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Sapphire | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Emerald | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon LeafGreen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Fourth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Diamond | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Pearl | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Platinum | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon HeartGold | Routes 19, 34, and 40, Cherrygrove City, Olivine City, Cianwood City, Cerulean City (Good Rod and Super Rod) Night | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon SoulSilver | Routes 19, 34, and 40, Cherrygrove City, Olivine City, Cianwood City, Cerulean City (Good Rod and Super Rod) Night | |||||||||||||||||||||
Fifth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Black | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon White | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Black 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon White 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sixth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Omega Ruby | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Seventh Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Sun | Route 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Moon | Route 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Ultra Sun | Route 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Ultra Moon | Route 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu |
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Pokémon Let's Go Eevee |
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Eighth Pokémon generation | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Sword | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Shield | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond | Grand Underground - Fountainspring Cave, Icy Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Glacial Cavern | |||||||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Shining Pearl | Grand Underground - Fountainspring Cave, Icy Cave, Riverbank Cave, Still-Water Cavern, Glacial Cavern |
Evolution[]
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Base Stats[]
HP | 30 |
Attack | 45 |
Defense | 55 |
Sp. Attack | 70 |
Sp. Defense | 55 |
Speed | 85 |
Total | 340 |
Moveset[]
Gallery[]
Sprites[]
Trivia[]
- Staryu is one of two Poké Ball Pokémon to replace a member of their evolution-line in later Smash installments, the other being Weezing.
- PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond erroneously refers to Staryu as a male, despite it being a Pokémon species that is gender unknown.