Staryu [QC 0/2]

[5Dots]

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[OVERVIEW]
Staryu is an elite defensive Pokemon thanks to its access to Thunder Wave and Recover, making it a reliable status spreader with great longevity. Its solid Speed allows it to outpace threats like Nidoqueen, Dragonair, and Gastly and speed tie with Pinsir. A wide offensive movepool containing options like Thunderbolt, Psychic, and Blizzard complementing its good Special can make it surprisingly difficult to switch into. However, Staryu's bulk, while decent, makes it unable to switch into threats like Fearow and Pinsir without getting 2HKOed. Despite being a great paralysis spreader, it fears paralysis itself, as it cuts into its good Speed and makes it unable to outspeed threats like Nidoqueen, Seaking, and Gastly.

[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Recover
move 3: Surf
move 4: Thunderbolt / Psychic

[SET COMMENTS]
=========
Thunder Wave threatens faster Pokemon like Rapidash, Fearow, and Abra. Recover gives it extra longevity and allows it to take on threats like Seaking, Arcanine, and Rapidash more easily. Surf targets Ground-types like Nidoqueen and Graveler, Fire-types like Rapidash and Magmar, and functions as its strongest move overall. Thunderbolt hits Water-types like opposing Staryu and Omanyte for super effective damage, while also covering Fearow. Psychic covers Gastly and Machamp.

Staryu functions as a decent defensive Pokemon, it can find entry points against Fire-types like Arcanine and Rapidash and Water-types like Seaking and Omanyte, threatening back with either Thunder Wave or Surf. Because of its capabilities as a paralysis spreader, powerful Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Machamp can take advantage of this and outspeed the opposition. In turn, they can pressure defensive Pokemon like opposing Staryu and Drowzee easier. Though Staryu can still do its job well after sustaining paralysis, its reliability as a defensive Pokemon is undermined; Drowzee can absorb paralysis and back up Staryu as a second status spreader should it get crippled or removed too soon.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Blizzard hits Dragonair and the rare Vileplume super effectively while also hitting Fearow harder than Thunderbolt, though Thunderbolt and Psychic are more relevant coverage choices.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Paralysis**: As much as Staryu excels in spreading paralysis, it is equally fearful of being paralyzed itself, as the Speed drop makes it no longer capable of outpacing or speed tying Pokemon like Nidoqueen, Pinsir, and opposing Staryu. Pokemon carrying Thunder Wave, like Dragonair and Drowzee, can force it out. Even Pokemon it beats, like Rapidash, Arcanine, and Omanyte, can annoy Staryu with Body Slam's paralysis.

**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon like Fearow and Rapidash can outspeed and KO it with Double-Edge and Hyper Beam, respectively, at 54.6% to 51.5%, respectively, though they don't enjoy paralysis themselves.

**Grass-types**: Though uncommon, Grass-types like Vileplume and Weepinbell can threaten Staryu out with Sleep Powder, resist Surf and Thunderbolt, and can threaten it back with their STAB attacks.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:

Grammar checked by:

 

[Gangsta Spongebob]

There's a lot to rewrite so ping me when implemented and I'll give it another look before giving out QC: 1/2.

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[OVERVIEW]
Staryu is an elite defensive Pokemon thanks to its access to Thunder Wave and Recover, making it a reliable status spreader with great longevity. "Elite defensive Pokemon" is overselling Staryu. It eternally walls Seaking but everything else can either 2HKO it or paralyze it or both. Recover and Thunder Wave should be talked about separately, the former lets it wall Seaking and heal off some attacks, usually by forcing out something, while the latter lets it cripple crucial offensive and defensive pieces of the opposing team. Perhaps "elite paralysis spreader" should be used. Its solid Speed allows it to outpace threats like Nidoqueen, Dragonair, and Gastly and speed tie with Pinsir. A wide offensive movepool containing options like Thunderbolt, Psychic, and Blizzard complementing its good Special can make it surprisingly difficult to switch into. Mention STAB Surf, which hits a ton of relavent Pokemon super effectively. However, Staryu's bulk, while decent, 30/55/70 bulk is pretty bad makes it unable to switch into threats like Fearow and Pinsir without getting 2HKOed. State that it's 2HKOed by most offensive threats, as it loses the 1v1 let alone it losing when switching in. Despite being a great paralysis spreader, it fears paralysis itself, as it cuts into its good Speed and makes it unable to outspeed threats like Nidoqueen, Seaking, and Gastly. It's horribly crippled by paralysis, as most of the tier 2HKOes it. Emphasize how bad that is here.

You missed a couple big things here. Staryu's primary defensive role is walling Seaking, which needs to be stated here. Additionally, emphasize how it does really well vs Nidoqueen, as it can win the 1v1 vs it even if it switches into Thunder Wave.

[SET]
name: Defensive Paralysis Spreader Renamed so its role is clearer
move 1: Thunder Wave
move 2: Recover
move 3: Surf
move 4: Thunderbolt / Psychic

[SET COMMENTS]
=========
Thunder Wave threatens faster Pokemon like Rapidash, Fearow, and Abra. It doesn't just effect faster Pokemon, slower foes like Porygon and Dragonair absolutely despise getting paralyzed. Recover gives it extra longevity and allows it to take on threats like Seaking, Arcanine, and Rapidash more easily. State that you stonewall Seaking with Recover. You don't want to just spam Recover in front of the Fire-types, as they'll just paralyze you with Body Slam. State that it keeps Staryu healthy but it struggles to use it since most of the tier 2HKOes or paralyzes it. Surf targets Ground-types like Nidoqueen and Graveler, Fire-types like Rapidash and Magmar, and functions as its strongest move overall. Thunderbolt hits Water-types like opposing Staryu and Omanyte for super effective damage, while also covering Fearow. Psychic covers Gastly and Machamp. Mention XHKO numbers for the moves and their targets.

Staryu functions as a decent defensive Staryu's more of an offensive paralysis spreader with defensive utility than a full defensive mon Pokemon, it can find entry points against Fire-types like Arcanine and Rapidash and Water-types like Seaking and Omanyte, Barring Seaking, all these foes use Body Slam as a midground against switch-ins, which Staryu wants nothing to do with. Mention how Staryu walls Seaking, which is a big reason as to why you should use it, and then go into how it can find switch in opportunities from the specific moves of some foes threatening back with either Thunder Wave or Surf. Because of its capabilities as a paralysis spreader, powerful Pokemon like Nidoqueen and Machamp can take advantage of this and outspeed the opposition. Mention Fearow here too. In turn, they can pressure defensive Pokemon like opposing Staryu and Drowzee easier. Though Staryu can still do its job well Stayu doesn't do its job well at all once paralyzed, as it's super easy to revenge kill and it can't 1v1 most foes. Mention that, once paralyzed, Staryu is barely usable for reasons stated earlier. However, it notably has nothing to fear from Omamyte, and when at high health a paralyzed Staryu is still quite hard to switch into. after sustaining paralysis, its reliability as a defensive Pokemon is undermined; Drowzee can absorb paralysis and back up Staryu as a second status spreader should it get crippled or removed too soon.

There are some more things you need to mention. While Staryu hates being paralyzed, trading with something like Porygon, or risking it vs something like Rapidash, may be worth it depending on the situation. You also need to go over it's niche as a lead. It risks being paralyzed while in that role, but it also forces paralysis and damage on common leads and dissuades them from switching out, though it can invite Drowzee in.

[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Blizzard hits Dragonair and the rare Vileplume super effectively while also hitting Fearow harder than Thunderbolt, though Thunderbolt and Psychic are more relevant coverage choices.

Checks and Counters
===================
**Paralysis**: As much as Staryu excels in spreading paralysis, it is equally fearful of being paralyzed itself, as the Speed drop makes it no longer capable of outpacing or speed tying Pokemon like Nidoqueen, Pinsir, and opposing Staryu. Mention why this is a big deal. Pokemon carrying Thunder Wave, like Dragonair and Drowzee, can force it out. Even Pokemon it beats, like Rapidash, Arcanine, and Omanyte, can annoy threaten Staryu with Body Slam's paralysis.

Mention how most of these foes hate Staryu's coverage options and Thunder Wave, and give a special emphasis to Drowzee, which doesn't mind either that much.

**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon like Fearow and Rapidash can outspeed and KO it with Double-Edge and Hyper Beam, respectively, at 54.6% to 51.5%, respectively, though they don't enjoy paralysis or Staryu's coverage themselves. Mention how much % these moves do, as that better displays how dangerous these moves are. Also mention Fearow's Hyper Beam, as well as Abra, Arcanine, and Magmar here.

**Grass-types**: Though uncommon, Grass-types like Vileplume and Weepinbell can threaten Staryu out with Sleep Powder, resist Surf and Thunderbolt, and can threaten it back with their STAB attacks. Mention Weepinbell outright OHKOing with Razor Leaf.

Mention Pinsir here, it 2HKOes with Slash and doesn't take too much from Staryu's moves.

[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/gangsta-spongebob.535530/

Grammar checked by: