In the main series
Major appearances
Staryu is one of Misty's main battlers throughout the original series, debuting in Clefairy and the Moon Stone. It also appeared during Misty's cameo arcs in the Advanced Generation and Sun & Moon series.
Other
Two Staryu appeared in The Great Eight Fate!, under the ownership of Juan. They were some of his Pokémon used in the Sootopolis City Water Exhibit. They and Juan's other Pokémon were captured by Team Rocket, but they all worked together to escape.
Two Staryu appeared in the Hoopa's Surprise Ring Adventures short Shooting Star. One crashed down on Ash and Pikachu and sent them flying, while the other blasted Hoopa off.
A Staryu appeared in The Power of Us, under the ownership of Toren. It was lent to Callahan for the Pokémon Catch Race.
Minor appearances
A Staryu appeared in Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village. It was one of the Pokémon under Melanie's care. It reappeared in a flashback in Bulbasaur... the Ambassador!.
A Staryu appeared in Battle Aboard the St. Anne.
A Staryu appeared in Pokémon Fashion Flash as one of the Pokémon seen on Scissor Street.
A Staryu appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
Multiple Staryu appeared in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, where they were among the Pokémon living at Professor Oak's Laboratory. They reappeared in The Rivalry Revival.
A Staryu appeared in Pikachu's Vacation as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.
A Staryu appeared in Marina's fantasy in Bye Bye Psyduck.
A Staryu appeared in The Power of One.
A Staryu appeared in the Japanese credits of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
A Staryu appeared in The Joy of Water Pokémon, where it was seen receiving special treatment in a salt bath tank in the Pokémon Center located near Lake Lucid.
A Staryu appeared in Around the Whirlpool as one of the Pokémon stolen from the Pokémon Center of Blue Point Isle.
A Trainer's Staryu appeared in Dueling Heroes as one of the Pokémon participating in the Whirl Cup.
A Staryu appeared in Gonna Rule The School!, under the ownership of the Pokémon Trainers' School. It was temporarily loaned to one of the school's underage students for use.
A Staryu appeared in the opening sequence of Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
A Staryu appeared in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!, under the ownership of the Pokémon Summer Academy. It was used by one of the students in the second leg of the Pokémon Triathlon.
Two Staryu appeared in All for the Love of Meloetta!.
Multiple Staryu appeared in Piplup, Pansage, and a Meeting of the Times!.
Multiple Staryu appeared in Expedition to Onix Island! as residents of a deserted island.
A Trainer's Staryu appeared in Lost at the League!.
Multiple Staryu appeared in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!.
A Staryu appeared in Going for the Gold!, where it was among the Pokémon seen in the Ambrette Aquarium. It was erroneously depicted with Starmie's colorization.
A Trainer's Staryu appeared in Summer of Discovery! and Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!, where it was one of the Pokémon that participated in the Pokémon Summer Camp. It also appeared in a flashback in Day Three Blockbusters!, and in a fantasy in Battling Into the Hall of Fame!.
A Staryu appeared in Pikachu and the Pokémon Music Squad. It was among the Pokémon residing in a forest.
Two Staryu appeared in Alola to New Adventure!, with one under the ownership of a Trainer and the other being wild.
A Staryu appeared in a fantasy in Yo, Ho, Ho! Go, Popplio!.
A Staryu appeared in The Sun, the Scare, the Secret Lair!, when Sophocles went to explore a Staryu and Shellder for a class assignment.
A Staryu appeared in A Shivering Shovel Search!.
A Staryu appeared in I Choose You!.
A wild Staryu appeared in Alola, Kanto!, where it was among the Pokémon seen at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Two Staryu appeared in I Choose Paradise!, where they were among the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Paradise Resort. One of them was under the ownership of a Trainer.
Two Staryu appeared in Securing the Future!, where they joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.
Three Staryu appeared in Pikachu's Exciting Adventure!.
A Trainer's Staryu appeared in Battle Royal 151, where it competed in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference, but was defeated by Sandy and Shaymin.
A Trainer's Staryu appeared in SM141.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP007
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Staryu
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Ash's Pokédex
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Staryu. The core of this Water Pokémon shines in a rainbow of seven colors, a core that is valued by some as a type of jewelry.
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In the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer
A Trainer's Staryu appeared in the Pokémon Masters Animated Trailer, where it was seen in a town square in Pasio.
When released from a Poké Ball, Staryu will target one of the opponents, spin towards them, and shoot Swift. Its attack is rapid-fire, but it can easily be escaped from by Directional Influence; the player can still move around while getting hit by Swift.
Melee trophy information
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.
Brawl trophy information
"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, evolves into Starmie."
3DS/Wii U Trophy information
NA: This Water-type Pokémon, Staryu, greatly resembles a star. Exposing one to a Water Stone causes it to evolve into Starmie. Another star-shaped Pokémon, Cleffa, exists, but the two don't look all that similar. In Smash Bros., Staryu will attack foes with Swift. Anyone hit will be seeing stars!
PAL: This Water-type Pokémon evolves into Starmie when you use a Water Stone. Its star shape makes it rather cute, but that doesn't mean Staryu's not a threat. Its Swift attack will pummel fighters with a flurry of stars. If you notice Staryu's aiming at you, quickly move up or down to get out of the line of fire.
- In Pokémon Ranger, Staryu is the only Pokémon with the Field Move Flash.
- Once Staryu serves its purpose with Flash, it cannot be captured again, except during the Kyogre mission.
- Staryu is one of fourteen Pokémon that one is able to collect foreign Pokédex entries for in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
- Staryu shares its category name with Cleffa. They are both known as the Star Shape Pokémon.
- Despite being a genderless Pokémon, Staryu and Starmie were programmed to learn Egg moves in Gold and Silver; however, due to being genderless, these were unobtainable. This was fixed in Crystal.
- Staryu may be considered a counterpart of Shellder. Both are Water-types in the Water 3 Egg Group, both evolve with a Water Stone, and both gain a second type upon evolution. Cloyster is seen as a slow defensive Pokémon, while Starmie is seen as a fast attacking Pokémon.
- PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond erroneously refers to Staryu as a male, despite it being a genderless Pokémon.
Origin
Staryu's design is based on a starfish, likely a common starfish. Conceptually, it appears to be a pun on a literal star, as Staryu is rumored to be extraterrestrial in nature.
The large gemstone attached to its body is held on by a bracket, similar to a ring mount. Additionally, although Staryu's gem seemingly does not display it, the concept of asterism is worth mentioning in terms of Staryu's possible design basis, especially since Staryu's is a cabochon gem. If this was indeed inspiration for its design, then Staryu's gem is perhaps a star-ruby.
Name origin
Staryu is derived from star (referring to its shape) and yu (possible corruption of you, in opposition to the mie in Starmie). Yu is also the Chinese word for fish (魚).
Hitodeman is probably derived from ヒトデ hitode (starfish) and the English word man.