The Starmie Doll is one of the more satisfying finds in Pokémon Pokopia's Bubbly Basin DLC, but it's also one of the easiest to miss. Tucked inside a cave behind a destructible rock stack, it sits completely invisible until you know exactly where to look. Getting it right matters because the doll is tied directly to story progression, a Frillish request, and eventually unlocking a new Dream Island with a shot at Phione.
Where is the Starmie Doll in Bubbly Basin?
The Starmie Doll is hidden inside a cave in the Bubbly Basin area. What makes it tricky is that the doll won't appear on screen even when you're standing right next to it. You need to know what to break and where to look.
Once you're inside the cave, navigate to the section filled with minecart tracks. Most of the walls and rocks in this area are indestructible, so don't waste time swinging at everything. There's one specific stack of rocks that can be destroyed, and the Starmie Doll is hidden as treasure inside it.
Bubbly Basin cave interior
To make the hunt faster, bring two tools:
- Dowsing Machine to point you toward hidden items
- A Pokémon with the Search ability to help confirm the location
Using both together cuts the search time significantly and removes the guesswork from identifying the right rock pile.
Should you wait for Frillish before searching?
Short answer: yes. Frillish cannot be encountered until you raise the Bubbly Basin environment level to 3, which unlocks the questline that sends you into this cave anyway. Going in early to grab the doll means you'll return to the same cave later for the Frillish request, doubling your travel time.
The smarter approach is to hit environment level 3, unlock the Frillish questline, then head into the cave with Frillish in tow. You complete the request and secure the doll in a single run.
Frillish questline in Bubbly Basin
Bubbly Basin itself is themed around a sunken version of Kanto's Cerulean City, which is why Starmie has such a prominent role here. As Misty's signature Pokémon, it fits the location's identity, and the doll reflects that connection.
What does the Starmie Doll do in Pokémon Pokopia?
Like every other doll in the game, the Starmie Doll serves two purposes. First, it's a decoration you can place in your town. Second, and more usefully, it unlocks access to a Dream Island.
Dream Islands are one of the best resource-gathering tools in the game. The Starmie Doll's Dream Island can drop:
For players focused on maximizing Dream Island runs with the right dolls, the Starmie Doll is a strong addition to the rotation given the mix of rare ores alongside ocean-specific materials.
Dream Island resource drops
Can you encounter Phione from the Starmie Doll Dream Island?
Yes, but don't bank on it. Phione is the Legendary Pokémon tied to the Starmie Doll's Dream Island, making it one of the new Legendaries added through the Bubbly Basin DLC. The catch is that Phione's appearance is random, not guaranteed. You can run the Dream Island multiple times without seeing it.
The doll unlocks the possibility, but patience is the actual requirement. Keep visiting and the spawn will eventually trigger.
For everything else the Bubbly Basin expansion adds, from new habitats to the full Pokémon roster, the Pokémon Pokopia guides collection has you covered.