Ash's Staraptor: Difference between revisions

'''Ash's Staraptor''' (Japanese: '''サトシのムクホーク''' ''Satoshi's Mukuhawk'') was the first {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} that {{Ash}} {{pkmn2|caught}} in the [[Sinnoh]] [[region]], and his twenty-ninth overall.

[[File:Ash Staravia depressed.png|thumb|left|220px|Staravia feeling dejected over not being picked for a Gym battle]]

Ash caught Staraptor as a {{p|Starly}} in ''[[DP002|Two Degrees of Separation!]]'' while searching for {{AP|Pikachu}}, who was missing due to the antics of {{TRT}}. {{TP|Dawn|Aipom|Ambipom}} was swinging through the trees and accidentally bumped into Starly, so the two Pokémon {{pkmn|battle}}d. Weakened by Aipom, Starly was captured and immediately used in the search for Pikachu. In ''[[DP003|When Pokémon Worlds Collide!]]'', it successfully found Pikachu. Later, Starly lost its first battle against another Starly belonging to [[Paul]].  

In ''[[DP013|A Staravia is Born!]]'', Starly evolved into a {{p|Staravia}} during a battle with {{TRT}}. Immediately after its evolution, Staravia had perfectly learned Aerial Ace. Evolving had also made it stronger and it became more useful in searches.

In ''[[DP016|A Gruff Act to Follow!]]'', Staravia was the only one of Ash's Pokémon who didn't participate in Ash's first [[Sinnoh]] [[Gym]] battle against [[Roark]]. It was upset by this, but Ash promised it would be involved in the next Gym battle.  

In ''[[DP031|The Grass-Type Is Always Greener!]]'', Ash used Staravia as his second Pokémon in his unofficial two-on-two battle against [[Gardenia]]. It went up against her speedy {{p|Turtwig}}, as Ash used it thinking a {{t|Flying}} type would be faster, but was quickly proven otherwise and defeated, costing Ash the battle. In ''[[DP037|The Grass Menagerie!]]'', Ash used Staravia as his second Pokémon in his official [[Eterna Gym]] battle against Gardenia. It went up against {{p|Cherubi}}. Due to Cherubi's {{a|Chlorophyll}} [[Ability]], it could maneuver fast across the battlefield. Despite this, though, the {{pkmn|category|Cherry Pokémon}} was eventually defeated by Staravia. Staravia's next opponent was Turtwig, who once again defeated its Flying-type opponent, although not without taking a hit this time.

In ''[[DP052|Smells Like Team Spirit!]]'', Staravia was used in the semi-finals of the [[Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition]]. It was paired off with [[Paul's Torterra]] and was up against [[Brock's Croagunk]] and [[Holly]]'s {{p|Farfetch'd}}. Paul showed total disregard for Ash, ordering Torterra to blast Farfetch'd with Hyper Beam, not caring that Staravia was also hit. Once Torterra was done [[Recharge|recharging]], it defeated Croagunk as well, winning the battle without Staravia's help.

In ''[[DP118|Pursuing a Lofty Goal!]]'', Ash learned that a [[PokéRinger]] competition was going to be held in [[Squallville]] and decided to enter with Staravia. During the event, Ash and Staravia defeated their opponents to reach the final round, where they found themselves against Paul and his {{TP|Paul|Honchkrow}}. Although Staravia initially struggled to deal with Honchkrow's {{stat|speed}}, it evolved into Staraptor thanks partly to Ash's encouragement and learned {{m|Close Combat}}. It then managed to outspeed the Big Boss Pokémon to make Ash the winner of the [[Squallville PokéRinger]].

In ''[[DP127|Sliding Into Seventh!]]'', Staraptor was the second Pokémon in his Gym battle against [[Candice]], going up against her {{p|Medicham}}. It was chosen as Ash wanted to attack from the air and had a type advantage. While struggling a bit, Staraptor was indeed able to defeat Medicham, after which it was recalled. It later went up against Candice's last Pokémon, {{p|Abomasnow}}, but was knocked out by a single [[Type#Type effectiveness|super-effective]] {{m|Ice Punch}}.

It participated in {{Ash}} and [[Paul]]'s [[Full Battle]] in ''[[DP131|Pedal to the Mettle!]]'', where it went up against Torterra and {{p|Weavile}} after {{AP|Gliscor}} had previously battled the former. Of its two opponents, Staraptor was able to defeat Weavile, giving Ash his first knockout in the battle. It was then recalled afterward. In ''[[DP132|Evolving Strategies!]]'', it fought against [[Paul's Ursaring]] but ended up getting overpowered and knocked out by the Hibernator Pokémon.

Staraptor was the first Pokémon used during Ash's [[Lily of the Valley Conference]] battle against Nando in ''[[DP183|League Unleashed!]]'', where it battled against {{TP|Nando|Roserade}}. It was able to defeat it with a single Brave Bird but was then defeated by Nando's {{p|Armaldo}}'s super effective {{m|Rock Blast}}.

In ''[[DP186|Familiarity Breeds Strategy!]]'', Staraptor was used against Paul's {{p|Gastrodon}} during Ash and Paul's second Full Battle at the Lily of the Valley Conference. Ash struggled because Paul taught Gastrodon to use [[Counter Shield]] and eventually recalled Staraptor. Later on, in ''[[DP187|A Real Rival Rouser!]]'', Ash called Staraptor out again after {{AP|Buizel}} fell to Paul's {{p|Drapion}}. However, it was unable to triumph against the superior power of Drapion's {{m|Cross Poison}} and {{m|Toxic Spikes}}.

From ''[[JN118|Battling as Hard as Stone!]]'' onwards, Staraptor watched Ash's [[Masters Eight Tournament]] matches against {{an|Steven Stone|Steven}}, {{an|Cynthia}}, and {{an|Leon}}. In ''[[JN132|Partners in Time!]]'', Staraptor appeared as a vision to Pikachu during his battle against [[Leon's Charizard]]. After Ash won the battle, Staraptor joined the rest of Ash's Pokémon at the lab in celebrating their Trainer's victory.

As a Starly, it mostly performed duties done by {{Ash}}'s other bird Pokémon, such as scouting and bursting {{TRT}}'s balloon. As a Staravia, it loved battling to the point of sulking when Ash didn't choose it to participate in his first Sinnoh Gym battle. Staravia was very adamant about training, which was evident in its determination to master {{m|Aerial Ace}} and {{m|Brave Bird}}. When Staravia evolved into Staraptor, its personality changed, becoming fierce, fast, and proud but always maintaining an undeterred loyalty to Ash and a love for battling.

Since being left at {{an|Professor Oak}}'s lab, Staraptor became good friends with Ash's other {{type|Flying}} Pokémon and would do races with them, particularly with {{AP|Swellow}}.

! style="background:#{{flying color light}}; {{roundytl|5px}}" | As a {{pcolor|Starly|000}}

! style="background:#{{flying color light}}; {{roundytr|5px}}" | As a {{pcolor|Staravia|000}}

| [[File:Ash Starly.png|220px]]

| [[File:Ash Staravia.png|220px]]

| style="{{roundy|20px}} border: 2px solid #{{normal color dark}}; background: #{{flying color light}}" | [[File:To Be a Pokémon Master poster.png|x200px]]

| Poster for<br>''{{color2|000|S25|Pokémon: To Be a Pokémon Master}}''

* In the Czech and Latin American Spanish dub, Staraptor is referred to as female.