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Moves Brave Bird and Double-Edge are strong STAB moves that are boosted by Reckless. U-turn allows Starly to escape unfavorable matchups and can also be used to scout switch-ins and generate momentum; it is also the only reason to use Starly over Doduo, which has better all-around stats and access to Knock Off. The last move should be one that, while not great to be locked into, can be helpful in certain situations. Hidden Power Grass hits Tirtouga and most other Rock-types for lots of damage; it is used because Starly's other options bar Steel Wing are not very effective against Rock-types, and Tirtouga takes neutral damage from Steel Wing. Steel Wing is also generally less effective than Hidden Power Grass because Rock-types are usually physically bulky; however, Steel Wing does still hit Archen. Set Details Reckless is the only ability of any use, boosting Brave Bird and Double-Edge to frightening levels of power. Choice Scarf lets Starly move first most of the time, allowing it to punch holes in the opposing team or quickly U-turn out. A Speed-boosting nature is used to maximize the effects of Choice Scarf. Use a Naive nature if using Hidden Power Grass and a Jolly nature if not. Attack-boosting natures can be used for more power, but Starly will be outsped by Jolly Choice Scarf Cranidos and Bunnelby, as well as Modest Clamperl and Jolly Tirtouga after Shell Smash, all of which can easily KO it. The EVs maximize Speed and Attack while slightly increasing HP and Special Attack to accommodate the use of recoil moves and Hidden Power Grass, respectively. If using a physical coverage move and a Jolly nature, move the 36 Special Attack EVs to Defense so that Starly takes less damage from priority moves. Usage Tips Starly can be brought in at any time in the game, provided it is safe to do so, but try to bring it in late-game as a suicidal cleaner when all of its checks are gone. Because it's so frail, bring it in through slow pivoting moves, such as Volt Switch from Chinchou or U-turn from Mienfoo, or into a predicted Ground- or Ghost-type move so that it doesn't take damage. Don't switch Starly into Stealth Rock too many times, as it will quickly be worn down. Starly is also not a good wallbreaker, so don't play it as one. Team Options Stealth Rock removers such as Drilbur, Archen, and Staryu are a must, as they prevent a quarter of Starly's health from being stripped off every time it enters the field. Ground-types such as Drilbur and Diglett can get rid of the Steel- and Rock-type Pokemon that resist Starly's STAB moves. Drilbur can also Rapid Spin away Stealth Rock, while Diglett can trap grounded Pokemon that trouble Starly. Starly can be used in a VoltTurn core with pivots such as Chinchou, Larvesta, Magnemite, and Mienfoo, or in a bird spam core with other Flying-types, such as Fletchling, Doduo, and Archen. Finally, entry hazards from setters such as Dwebble and Drilbur can help Starly clean up late-game.

This is the only set that Starly will be able to use effectively and competently. It has a great 120 base power STAB move in Brave Bird. Return is another decent STAB attack, as it does not cause recoil damage, unlike Brave Bird. U-turn is a nice move for scouting. Final Gambit can deal major damage to opponents that Starly has trouble defeating, such as Bronzor, Magnemite, and Slowpoke. Pursuit is good for trapping Ghost-types, such as Choice Scarf Gastly locked into Shadow Ball, as Starly has a helpful immunity to Ghost-type attacks. The given EVs maximize Starly's Attack and Speed, while the rest are put into its defenses. An Adamant nature is preferred, as Starly will then have a good boost to its power. Starly really appreciates Rapid Spin support, as Stealth Rock is crippling for it. Staryu and Tentacool aren't bad ideas, but Baltoy is perhaps the best option, as it is immune to Electric- and resists Rock-type attacks. Pokemon that can beat Bronzor, such as Ponyta and Houndour, are also good partners for Starly. Most attacks coming from Pokemon that are faster than Starly will do a number on it, as Starly has very poor defenses. A physically defensive Pokemon, such as Bronzor, can stall out Starly or set up entry hazards.

Due to Starly's meager defenses and average base Speed, it is unable to effectively play the role of a set-up sweeper; it must resort to using a Choice item instead to maximize its offensive capabilities. With a decent Attack stat and its Speed being boosted by a Choice Scarf, along with a decent physical movepool including U-turn, Starly is able to play the role of a revenge-killer or a scouting member on a Little Cup team. Choice Scarf is absolutely necessary, as it gives Starly a much needed boost in Speed, which it needs in its role as a revenge-killer. The EVs given maximize Starly's Attack and Speed with a Naive nature, while the rest of the EVs are dumped into Special Attack to give Heat Wave a small power-up. Brave Bird and Double-Edge serve as Starly's STAB attacks, while Heat Wave and U-turn are used for coverage; the former hits Steel-types, and the latter is used for scouting. If you feel wary about the massive recoil Starly will take from its STABs, Pluck can be used instead of Brave Bird as a recoil-free alternative. Pluck also allows Starly to steal Oran Berries from opponents to recover HP lost from Double-Edge. Also, if you want to be able to trap Ghost- and Psychic-types, Pursuit can be used over Heat Wave; if this decision is made, it will be beneficial to change the EV spread and nature to ones that benefit exclusively the Attack stat.