The Mouse Pokemon. Unlike Red & Blue where it's a Blue exclusive, Sandshrew is catchable in Yellow and provides early Ground coverage against Lt. Surge.
310HP50Attack75Defense85Speed40Sp.Def30Sp.Atk30
Sandshrew
Sandslash
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
40Speed · Very Slow

Is Sandshrew Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Available to everyone in Yellow with no version lock. Sandshrew fills the Ground-type slot early and evolves into Sandslash at 22. Helps against Lt. Surge and later against Giovanni. Straightforward pickup.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTGEGEGGEGGEEBrockGym 1SandshrewCatchableMistyGym 2SandslashEvolveSurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Sandshrew's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Avoid
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's team hits Sandshrew's weaknesses hard.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Good

Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Even
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Even
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Even
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
You Win
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Easy KO
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
You Win
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Easy KO
Magneton
Lv 61
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Cloyster
Lv 63
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Ice BeamClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Flareon
Lv 65
Fire
Flash Fire
Fire SpinReflectQuick AttackFlamethrower

Catchable

Available after Badge 1
Type
Ground
Tier
E

Catch Sandshrew on Route 3 (walking, Lv 8-10, uncommon).

View Sandshrew locations

Evolve Sandshrew to Sandslash

Level 22
Type
Ground
Tier
E

Sandshrew evolves into Sandslash at Level 22. Your Sandshrew should hit Level 22 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.

View Sandslash locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Sandshrew in Yellow

Sandshrew keeps to a few dry routes, rare-to-uncommon wherever it digs in. Just 3 spots hold it, all clustered in the same desert-route stretch, so the map points you to one corner.

3 locations to catch Sandshrew

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 1

Where To Catch Sandshrew in Y

The line opens with Sandshrew at Lv. 8-12 via walking encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Sandslash
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Sandslash
    or evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)

Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in Yellow for Sandshrew.

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.

Sandshrew Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Water, Grass, Ice
0.5x (Resist)Poison, Rock
0x (Immune)Electric
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Sandshrew Weak Against

Avg
3Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Sandshrew Strong Against

4Strong
2Resisted
1Immune
Score+1
½xResisted
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Sandshrew

Ivysaur
Ivysaur
GrassPoison
C
Bellsprout
Bellsprout
GrassPoison
D
Oddish
Oddish
GrassPoison
C

Sandshrew Evolutions

A Ground type with 310 stats, Sandshrew has a chain leading to Sandslash. Breeding won't work. The evolved forms gain up to 140 total stats over Sandshrew. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Sandshrew
Ground
Sandslash
Ground
HP
50
75+25
ATK
75
100+25
DEF
85
110+25
SP.ATK
20
45+25
SP.DEF
30
55+25
SPE
40
65+25
BST
300E-Tier
450E-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Sandshrew Best Moveset

Ground typing keeps it immune to MoveThunderbolt and MoveThunder Wave, the two most common Electric moves in the format. 75 Attack behind MoveEarthquake is modest. The physical bulk absorbs a few hits but nothing here outperforms Sandslash or any serious Ground-type.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Sandshrew
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Swords Dance
  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rock Slide
  • SubstituteUtility

Moves List

Without TMs, Sandshrew's movepool is bare bones. With them, you get Normal and Poison coverage and more on top of Earthquake and Dig for STAB. The natural kit handles basics, but TMs are doing the real work.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Scratch
—4010035Normal
Lv 10
Sand Attack
D—10015Ground
Lv 17
Slash
D7010020Normal
Lv 24
Poison Sting
D1510035Poison
Lv 31
Swift
D60—20Normal
Lv 38
Fury Swipes
—188015Normal

TM Moves

All 21 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
C8510015Normal
HM01
CutS.S. Annebadge 2
—509530Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM26
EarthquakeSilph Co.badge 5
S15010010Ground
TM27——305Ground
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM48S759010Rock
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D808025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
S——10Normal
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM03
Swords DanceSilph Co.badge 5
S——30Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
D908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Sandshrew can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP50
D
Attack75
C
Defense85
C
Sp. Atk30
F
Sp. Def30
F
Speed40
D
Total310
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.6 m
Weight12.0 kg
Base XP60
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+1SpASpDSpe
Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.

Pokemon Yellow

Sandshrew Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, 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.

  • Sandshrew has an Alolan form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 7. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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