How to Evolve Staryu

To evolve Staryu into Starmie, you must use a Water Stone on it from your bag. There is no level requirement, meaning you can trigger the evolution at any time. Trading or leveling up will not work; the Water Stone is the only method.

Evolving Staryu requires a single item and zero leveling. This makes it one of the most accessible evolutions for mid-game team building.

• Target: Staryu
• Method: Use item from bag
• Required Item: Water Stone
• Result: Starmie

For story playthroughs, Starmie is an elite choice. It outspeeds almost every NPC opponent and gets access to a massive movepool including Surf, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Psychic.

While it lacks a presence in the current competitive circuit due to missing the Paldea dex, it remains a top-tier special sweeper for any single-player campaign it appears in.

With the Staryu line returning to Kalos, the evolution mechanic remains tied to the classic evolutionary stone system. You do not need to wait for a specific level.

1. Obtain a Water Stone from a vendor in Lumiose City or through exploration.
2. Open your bag and navigate to the items pocket.
3. Select the Water Stone and choose "Use this item".
4. Select Staryu from your party to trigger the evolution screen.

Modern move relearners are free and accessible directly from the menu or NPCs. You can evolve Staryu immediately without worrying about missing out on late-level moves like Hydro Pump.

Many players attempt to bring Staryu into the Generation 9 games via Pokémon HOME. This will result in an error.

Staryu and Starmie are not programmed into Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet. This restriction includes both the Teal Mask and Indigo Disk DLC areas.

If you have a Staryu in HOME, you must transfer it to Pokémon Sword/Shield, Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, or wait for Legends Z-A to use it in a mainline 3D title.

The mobile game bypasses evolutionary stones entirely for this specific Pokémon. You only need to focus on catching duplicates.

1. Collect 50 Staryu Candy by catching, transferring, or walking with Staryu as your buddy.
2. Open Staryu's summary screen.
3. Tap the Evolve button.

Using a Pinap Berry during encounters will double your candy yield. This cuts the required catches from 17 down to 9.

If your Pokémon refuses to evolve, you are likely making one of two common mechanical errors. Leveling up will never trigger this evolution.

• Holding the stone: Giving the Water Stone to Staryu to hold does nothing. You must select "Use" from the bag menu.
• Everstone interference: If you received Staryu in a trade, check its held items. An Everstone will block the Water Stone from working.

Remove any held items and ensure you are applying the stone directly from your inventory.