Stats & Training
Sandshrew's spread isn't flashy. Defense leads, Sp. Atk trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Defense EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.
It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.
Sandshrew Weakness
Sandshrew's Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, and Ice. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. Sandshrew's physical bulk (base 85 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Water, Grass, Ice |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Poison, Rock |
| 0x (Immune) | Electric |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Snivy builds →Energy Ball 2x102-121%KO Vine Whip 2x36-43% | ||
 Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Sunkern builds →Energy Ball 2x83-100%KO Mega Drain 2x40-50% Absorb 2x24-29% | ||
 Psyduck Water | D | |
 Oshawott Water | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x149-175%KO Mega Drain 2x72-85% | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x192-226%KO Mega Drain 2x91-108%KO | ||
Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Sewaddle builds →Energy Ball 2x100-119%KO Razor Leaf 2x42-51% | ||
Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Snivy builds →Energy Ball 2x100-119%KO Leaf Tornado 2x75-91% Vine Whip 2x32-40% | ||
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Sunkern builds →Energy Ball 2x85-102%KO Razor Leaf 2x32-40% Mega Drain 2x42-51% Absorb 2x23-28% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x157-186%KO Mega Drain 2x73-87% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x209-247%KO Mega Drain 2x96-114%KO | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Maractus builds →Energy Ball 2x200-235%KO Giga Drain 2x167-197%KO Needle Arm 2x57-68% Mega Drain 2x90-106%KO | ||
Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Sewaddle builds →Energy Ball 2x100-118%KO Razor Leaf 2x38-46% | ||
Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodAspertia City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Snivy builds →Leaf Blade 2x54-65% Energy Ball 2x109-129%KO Leaf Tornado 2x80-95% Vine Whip 2x28-34% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x228-269%KO Magical Leaf 2x153-181%KO Mega Drain 2x103-123%KO | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Leavanny builds →Energy Ball 2x144-170%KO Razor Leaf 2x60-72% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x153-181%KO Mega Drain 2x69-82% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x206-242%KO Mega Drain 2x92-109%KO | ||
 Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Ducklett builds →Bubble Beam 2x77-92% Water Pulse 2x72-85% Water Gun 2x49-58% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x226-267%KO Magical Leaf 2x153-180%KO Mega Drain 2x102-120%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Leavanny builds →Leaf Blade 2x94-111%KO Energy Ball 2x142-168%KO Razor Leaf 2x58-69% | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Whimsicott builds →Energy Ball 2x153-180%KO Mega Drain 2x71-84% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lilligant builds →Energy Ball 2x204-240%KO Mega Drain 2x91-108%KO | ||
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x104-123%KO Bubble Beam 2x76-90% Water Pulse 2x71-84% Water Gun 2x48-57% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x236-278%KO Magical Leaf 2x157-185%KO Mega Drain 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 11 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Virizion builds →Energy Ball 2x180-213%KO Giga Drain 2x151-178%KO Magical Leaf 2x121-143%KO | ||
 Tangrowth Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Tangrowth builds →Energy Ball 2x213-250%KO Giga Drain 2x178-210%KO Vine Whip 2x48-58% Mega Drain 2x95-113%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Leavanny builds →Leaf Blade 2x98-115%KO Energy Ball 2x148-175%KO Razor Leaf 2x59-70% | ||
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x106-125%KO Dive 2x47-55% Bubble Beam 2x78-93% Water Pulse 2x72-85% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roserade builds →Energy Ball 2x236-278%KO Magical Leaf 2x158-187%KO Mega Drain 2x108-127%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodRoute 11 Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Virizion builds →Energy Ball 2x181-214%KO Giga Drain 2x150-178%KO Magical Leaf 2x122-144%KO | ||
Tangrowth Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Tangrowth builds →Energy Ball 2x212-250%KO Giga Drain 2x177-209%KO Vine Whip 2x49-58% Mega Drain 2x95-113%KO | ||
 Delibird Ice | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Delibird builds →Blizzard 2x171-202%KO Frost Breath 2x94-110%KO | ||
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x106-125%KO Scald 2x95-113%KO Dive 2x46-55% Bubble Beam 2x77-91% | ||
In Black 2 & White 2, Jellicent can KO Sandshrew with Scald (154-182%). Breloom's Bullet Seed hits Sandshrew for 58-68%. Mamoswine's Earthquake also KOs at 128-151%.
 Jellicent WaterGhost | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Jellicent builds →Scald 2x154-182%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Breloom builds →Mach Punch45-53% Bullet Seed 2x58-68% | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Mamoswine builds →Earthquake128-151%KO Ice Shard 2x103-122%KO Superpower102-121%KO | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Swampert builds →Earthquake56-66% Scald 2x220-259%KO Ice Beam 2x165-194%KO | ||
Black 2 & White 2 Evolution
Sandshrew evolves into Sandslash. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 150 total stats over Sandshrew. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Sandshrew easily with 181 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Chip Away, Counter, Crush Claw and 7 more to offspring.
Black 2 & White 2 Sandshrew Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
You'll want to breed for Chip Away and Counter on Sandshrew. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Earthquake and Earth Power, they expand what Sandshrew can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Black 2 & White 2 Sandshrew Locations
decent spawn rates across 8 locations for Sandshrew in mid-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Best Locations to Catch Sandshrew in Black 2 & White 2
Sandshrew's encounter pool splits between White 2 and Black 2. You've got 8 walking spots at Lv. 19-20 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
Sandshrew Guide
Get Sandshrew to Sandslash at level 22. At 300 BST, Sandshrew is just the starting point.
Level 22 gets you Sandslash. Not the fastest evolution, so consider Exp. Share or route grinding to speed it up.
In Black 2 & White 2, Sandshrew does the job early-game if you need a Ground type on your team. Evolve it into Sandslash before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
You can find Sandshrew in Black 2 & White 2. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Sandshrew first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 20 games across 10 generations. It later gained an Alolan form in Generation 7, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves