While most trainers evolve Sandshrew into Sandslash immediately, the unevolved form has a niche with Eviolite boosting its defenses. Electric moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Mouse Pokemon.
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.
After fleeing a volcanic eruption, it ended up moving to an area of snowy mountains. Its ice shell is as hard as steel.
The skin on its back is as hard as steel. Predators go after its soft belly, so it clings to the ground desperately.
Sandshrew Weakness
AvgSandshrew's Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, and Ice moves. 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.
Sandshrew evolves into Sandslash. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. No compatible partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 150 total stats over Sandshrew.
How to Evolve
Breed Sandshrew easily from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Chip Away, Counter, Crush Claw and 9 more to offspring.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
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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
A handful of locations for Sandshrew with high spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations
You can find Sandshrew through 4 walking encounters at Lv. 30-50. The list is sorted by game progression, so the earliest accessible spots show up first.
Sandshrew isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Sandslash to unlock its full potential. At 300 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.
Sandshrew evolves into Sandslash at level 22. Sandshrew is the base form of this evolutionary line.
Run Sand Rush on Sandshrew. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Sandshrew also gets Sand Veil, but they don't compare.
Sandshrew fills the balanced role. It's a physical attacker with base 75 Attack. Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.
Sandshrew appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Sandshrew first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 20 games across 9 generations. It later gained an Alolan form in Generation 7, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
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 VIISMAlolan
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