Starly evolves into Staravia starting at level 14. This initial transformation marks the first major power spike for one of the most consistent Flying-type Pokémon families in the series. Once you have a Staravia, the next milestone occurs at level 34, when it evolves into its final and most formidable form, Staraptor. Unlike some Pokémon that require friendship, trading, or specific evolution stones, the Starly line follows a straightforward leveling path, making it an accessible powerhouse for both casual playthroughs and competitive teams.

Understanding the progression of this Pokémon requires looking beyond just the numbers. The jump from level 13 to 14 and later from 33 to 34 represents a significant shift in base stats and movepool accessibility that can define your mid-game and late-game experience in titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, or Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

The evolution stages of the Starly line

To effectively manage your team's growth, it is helpful to break down exactly what happens during each evolution phase. The Starly line is renowned for its high Attack and Speed, making it a classic "glass cannon" or "revenge killer" depending on how it is trained.

Phase one: Starly to Staravia (Level 14)

At level 14, Starly sheds its small, fragile frame for the more robust and aggressive Staravia. This level is relatively easy to reach, usually achievable before the second Gym Leader in most mainline games.

Upon evolving at level 14, Staravia undergoes a significant shift in its base stats. While Starly is often limited by its low defensive capabilities, Staravia gains enough bulk to survive neutral hits while significantly increasing its physical output. More importantly, the evolution often aligns with the learning of Wing Attack or similar STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) moves that allow it to dominate early-game Bug and Grass types.

Phase two: Staravia to Staraptor (Level 34)

The transition from Staravia to Staraptor at level 34 is where the real potential is unlocked. Staraptor is widely considered one of the best "regional birds" ever introduced, primarily due to its ability to learn Close Combat—a powerful Fighting-type move—immediately upon or shortly after evolution. This gives the Flying-type bird a unique edge against Rock and Steel types that typically resist its primary attacks.

Level 34 is a fair requirement given the immense power Staraptor brings to the table. In most games, this evolution happens right as you are entering the final third of the story, providing the necessary muscle to tackle Elite Four-level challenges.

Why these evolution levels matter in different games

Depending on which region you are exploring, the journey to level 14 and 34 might feel different due to experience point mechanics and available training spots.

Sinnoh Region (Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl)

In the Sinnoh remakes, Starly is one of the first Pokémon you can catch on Route 201. Because the first gym is Rock-type (Roark), training your Starly to level 14 before moving too far is a common strategy, though Staravia still struggles against Rock moves. However, by the time you reach the second gym (Eterna City), having a Staravia makes the Grass-type matchup trivial. Reaching level 34 usually happens around the time you are navigating the routes toward Canalave City or Snowpoint City.

Paldea Region (Scarlet and Violet)

In the open-world setting of Paldea, you can encounter Starly in various provinces early on. Because of the non-linear nature of the game, you might find yourself over-leveled or under-leveled. The key here is utilizing the Let’s Go feature to auto-battle low-level spawns, allowing Starly to hit level 14 within minutes of capture. The evolution to Staraptor at level 34 is equally swift if you focus on Tera Raid battles, which provide Experience Candies to bypass the traditional grind.

Hisui Region (Legends: Arceus)

In Hisui, evolution is not automatic. Once your Starly reaches level 14, you must manually select the option to evolve it in the menu. This gives you the flexibility to keep it as a Starly if you are working on specific Pokédex research tasks that require using certain moves in its unevolved form. The same applies to Staravia at level 34.

Statistical growth and ability shifts

The reason most trainers rush to hit these evolution levels is the dramatic improvement in performance. Let’s look at the base stat totals (BST) to see the growth:

  • Starly BST: ~245. High Speed and decent Attack for a starter bird, but very low defenses (Base 30).
  • Staravia BST: ~340. A solid middle-ground where Attack and Speed start to pull ahead of common early-game enemies.
  • Staraptor BST: ~485. This is competitive-tier territory. With a base Attack of 120 and Speed of 100, Staraptor outclasses many other Flying types that evolve at much higher levels.

The power of Intimidate

One of the most compelling reasons to evolve Starly as soon as possible is the ability change. While Starly typically has Keen Eye (which prevents accuracy loss), Staravia and Staraptor gain access to Intimidate.

Intimidate is one of the best abilities in the game, automatically lowering the Attack stat of the opposing Pokémon when Staravia or Staraptor enters the battlefield. This effectively increases the team's physical bulk and can force opponents to switch out, giving you a tactical advantage. For those looking for pure damage, the Hidden Ability Reckless (available through special events or Ability Patches) boosts moves with recoil damage, like Brave Bird and Double-Edge, making Staraptor an absolute nuke.

Optimized moveset during the evolution process

As you level up Starly toward its evolution milestones, pay attention to its movepool. The Starly line is purely physical; teaching it Special moves like Air Slash is generally a waste of its high Attack stat.

  1. Level 1–14: Stick to Quick Attack and Wing Attack. These provide reliable STAB damage. Double Team can be useful for dodging hits in difficult early battles.
  2. Level 14–34: Once you have Staravia, look for Endeavor. This is a niche move but can be a lifesaver in boss battles if your health is low. Aerial Ace is a great addition via TM or level-up because it never misses.
  3. Level 34 and Beyond: As soon as Staraptor arrives, the goal is Close Combat. Pairing Close Combat with Brave Bird (learned at level 49 or via TM) creates the legendary "Bird Spam" strategy. To mitigate the recoil and stat drops, many trainers use a Choice Band or Choice Scarf in competitive play.

Training tips to hit level 14 and 34 quickly

If you want to bypass the early-game struggle, there are several ways to accelerate the evolution of your Starly.

  • Exp. Share: In modern games, the Exp. Share is always on. Simply keeping Starly in your party while your stronger Pokémon handle major battles will get it to level 14 very quickly without any risk.
  • Experience Candies: If playing Scarlet and Violet, participating in 2-star or 3-star Tera Raids will yield XS and S Experience Candies. A handful of these can take a level 5 Starly to level 14 instantly.
  • Lucky Egg: If you are later in the game and trying to train a new Staraptor, ensure the Pokémon is holding a Lucky Egg to increase experience gain by 50%.
  • Focus on Chansey/Blissey: In most games, wild Chansey or Blissey yield the highest experience points. Finding a habitat where they spawn and knocking them out with a Fighting-type move (which Staravia can learn via TM) will catapult your level toward 34.

Comparing the Starly line to other Flying types

When deciding whether to invest time into leveling Starly, it helps to see how it stacks up against other common birds like Pidgeot, Unfezant, or Talonflame.

  • Pidgeot: Evolves at level 18 and 36. While iconic, Pidgeot’s stats are more balanced and lack the raw offensive pressure of Staraptor. Staraptor’s access to Close Combat gives it much better coverage against Steel types which wall Pidgeot completely.
  • Talonflame: Evolves at level 17 and 35. Talonflame is faster and has the Fire typing, but its raw Attack power is significantly lower than Staraptor's. Staraptor is a better "wall-breaker."
  • Corviknight: Evolves at level 18 and 38. Corviknight is a defensive behemoth. If you need a tank, go with Corviknight. If you need a fast attacker that can sweep teams, Staraptor is the superior choice.

Common evolution questions

Does Starly evolve via Friendship? No. The evolution is strictly level-based. While high friendship provides benefits like increased critical hit ratios or surviving with 1 HP, it is not required for Starly to become Staravia or Staraptor.

What happens if I cancel the evolution at level 14? If you press the 'B' button (or cancel in the menu in Legends: Arceus), the evolution will stop. Starly will attempt to evolve again every time it gains a level. Some trainers do this to learn certain moves slightly earlier, but for the Starly line, the stat gains from evolving into Staravia are usually more beneficial than early move access.

Can I find a wild Staraptor? Yes, in many games like Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet, Staraptor can be found in the wild as a high-level spawn or a Flying Tera Type encounter. However, raising one from a Starly allows you to customize its effort values (EVs) for maximum Speed and Attack from the start.

Best Natures for Starly's evolution journey

To make the most of the level 14 and 34 transitions, you should aim for a Starly with a Nature that complements its stats.

  • Jolly (+Speed, -Special Attack): This is generally considered the best nature for Staraptor. Being able to outspeed base 100 Speed tier enemies is crucial for survival.
  • Adamant (+Attack, -Special Attack): If you prefer raw power and are using a Choice Scarf to boost speed, Adamant allows Staraptor to one-shot many opponents that would otherwise survive a hit.

Final thoughts on Starly's evolution

The Starly line remains a fan favorite for a reason. Its evolution levels—14 and 34—are perfectly timed to match the scaling difficulty of the games it appears in. By hitting these milestones, you transform a common garden bird into a tactical asset capable of taking down legendary threats. Whether you are playing through the Sinnoh region for the tenth time or exploring the vast reaches of Paldea, ensuring your Starly evolves on schedule is a foundational step for any successful trainer. Keep an eye on that experience bar; level 14 is just the beginning of one of the most satisfying growth arcs in the Pokémon world.