Slow is good when Trick Room is up, and Palossand is about as slow as they come. Ghost/Ground typing gives it a defined role on the team. Normal, Electric, and Fighting moves can't touch it, which offsets the 5 weaknesses somewhat.
Palossand's built to absorb hits, not race for knockouts. Physical bulk with Defense doing the heavy lifting. And the medium-fast 1M XP curve means it won't take forever to bring up, worth 2 Defense EVs.
Palossand is known as the Beach Nightmare. It pulls its prey down into the sand by controlling the sand itself, and then it sucks out their souls.
This Pokémon lives on beaches, but it hates water. Palossand can’t maintain its castle-like shape if it gets drenched by a heavy rain.
Palossand Weakness
GoodType-wise, Palossand takes extra damage from Water, Grass, Ice, Ghost, and Dark. Normal, Electric, and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Palossand's physical bulk (base 110 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
Palossand is what Sandygast becomes. Breed it for Sandygast eggs (quick to hatch). A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolution from Sandygast pushed Palossand to 480 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +30.
How to Evolve
Breed with Palossand to get Sandygast eggs easily using 43 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Curse, Destiny Bond and 3 more.
The Sash lets Palossand ignore defensive shortcomings for one turn. Use that turn to deal early damage, and Watercompaction squeezes extra value from the position. Max Attack without Speed EVs push damage output.
Best Build
Best Palossand Moveset
- Destiny Bond
- Shadow Ball
- Ancient Power
- Bulldoze
Recommended Teammates
The egg pool carries weight here. Ancient Power and Curse aren't available any other way for Palossand, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Poltergeist and Earthquake for solid options.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
You're catching Sandygast first, not Palossand. Sandygast appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Palossand in Sword & Shield
Step 1Catch SandygastEFFORTLESSLoop Lagoon - BeachSwordOverworldLv.16-21100%MidAll WeatherEFFORTLESSLoop Lagoon - BeachShieldOverworldLv.16-21100%MidAll Weather
Step 2Palossand ✓
Palossand works as a tank with 480 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list — a situational pick that fills a niche. That 110 base Defense does the heavy lifting.
Palossand's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Walrein (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. At base 35 Speed, Palossand won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Sandygast evolves into Palossand at level 42. Palossand is the fully evolved form. At 480 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Water Compaction is the go-to ability for Palossand. It raises this Pokémon's Defense by two stages when it's hit by a Water move. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups.
Palossand is a special attacker with base 100 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 35 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the tank role.
Palossand can be found in Legends: Z-A, Scarlet & Violet, Sword & Shield, Sun & Moon, and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.
Since Sun & Moon, Palossand has been obtainable in 5 games. A Generation 7 debut means a shorter history, but Palossand has appeared steadily across every generation since.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISMDebut
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A