Is Sandslash Good in Scarlet & Violet Playthrough?
Sandslash brings solid Attack and Defense for Kitakami's mid-level content. Ground coverage handles the Electric and Poison types common in the mountain areas. Not an endgame pick, but reliable for the DLC story.
Sandshrew has the type edge here and should clean up Katy's team.
Sandshrew has the type edge here and should clean up Brassius's team.
Sandshrew trades roughly evenly with Iono's team.
Sandshrew trades roughly evenly with Kofu's team.
Larry's typing presses Sandshrew's defenses.
Sandshrew trades roughly evenly with Ryme's team.
Sandshrew trades roughly evenly with Tulip's team.
Grusha's team hits Sandshrew's weaknesses hard.
Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Rika's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Poppy's team.
Larry's team hits Sandslash's weaknesses hard.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Hassel's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Geeta's team.
Catch Sandslash on Kitakami Road (overworld, Lv 22-60).
How to Get Alolan Sandslash in Scarlet & Violet
A solid number of locations for Alolan Sandslash with moderate 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.
Where To Catch Sandslash in SV
To get Sandslash, start by catching Sandshrew through walking encounters at Lv. 5-80. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch SandshrewKitakami WildsLv.5-60OverworldOni MountainLv.5-60OverworldParadise BarrensLv.5-60OverworldRevelers RoadLv.5-60OverworldWistful FieldsLv.5-60OverworldPolar BiomeLv.50-80OverworldVioletPolar BiomeLv.62OverworldViolet
Step 2Sandslash ✓Kitakami RoadLv.22-60OverworldKitakami WildsLv.22-60OverworldOni MountainLv.22-60OverworldParadise BarrensLv.22-60OverworldRevelers RoadLv.22-60Overworldor evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)
Sandslash Weakness
Sandslash is weak to Fire, Fighting, and Ground. Watch out for Fire and Fighting attacks, those deal 4x damage. On the flip side, it's immune to Poison-type moves entirely. With 8 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Sandslash's physical bulk (base 120 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Fire, Fighting |
| 2x (Weak) | Ground |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Normal, Grass, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Dragon, Fairy |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Ice |
| 0x (Immune) | Poison |
What is Sandslash Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Sandslash
 Flareon Fire | C | |
 Fuecoco Fire | D | |
Obtain MethodCabo Poco Gift | ||
 Crabrawler Fighting | C | |
 Makuhita Fighting | C | |
 Houndour DarkFire | C | |
 Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 4x168-200%KO | ||
 Crocalor Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) | ||
Flareon Fire | C | |
 Fletchinder Fire | C | |
 Flamigo Fighting | C | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 4x171-203%KO | ||
Crocalor Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
 Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
 Scovillain GrassFire | C | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 4x179-211%KO | ||
Crocalor Fire | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
Scovillain GrassFire | C | |
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 4x169-200%KO | ||
 Pyroar FireNormal | C | |
 Skeledirge FireGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Skeledirge builds →Flamethrower 4x211-249%KO Earth Power 2x70-83% | ||
 Gallade PsychicFighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gallade builds →Sacred Sword 4x142-168%KO | ||
 Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 4x223-263%KO | ||
Pyroar FireNormal | C | |
Skeledirge FireGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Skeledirge builds →Overheat 4x291-342%KO Earth Power 2x67-80% | ||
Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 4x232-274%KO | ||
Skeledirge FireGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Skeledirge builds →Flamethrower 4x210-247%KO | ||
Arcanine Fire | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Arcanine builds →Flare Blitz 4x172-203%KO | ||
Pyroar FireNormal | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pyroar builds →Flamethrower 4x210-247%KO | ||
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Lucario builds →Aura Sphere 4x195-229%KO Bone Rush 2x13-16% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 4x230-271%KO | ||
Pyroar FireNormal | C | |
Skeledirge FireGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Fuecoco (Cabo Poco Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Skeledirge builds →Overheat 4x301-354%KO Earth Power 2x69-82% | ||
Salazzle PoisonFire | B | |
Houndoom DarkFire | C | |
 Volcarona BugFire | B | |
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Breloom builds →Focus Punch 4x243-287%KO Bulldoze 2x33-39% | ||
 Chi-Yu DarkFire | B | |
Obtain MethodNorth Province Area Two Interact Encounter | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hariyama builds →Focus Punch 4x229-270%KO Headlong Rush 2x61-72% | ||
 Quaquaval WaterFighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Quaquaval builds →Close Combat 4x183-216%KO | ||
Volcarona BugFire | B | |
 Incineroar FireDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Incineroar builds →Flare Blitz 4x170-200%KO Cross Chop 4x95-112%KO Bulldoze 2x29-34% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Breloom builds →Focus Punch 4x236-278%KO Bulldoze 2x32-38% | ||
 Emboar FireFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Emboar builds →Flare Blitz 4x180-213%KO Hammer Arm 4x151-178%KO Bulldoze 2x30-36% | ||
 Torkoal Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Torkoal builds →Eruption 4x270-318%KO Body Press 4x59-70% Earth Power 2x54-64% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Incineroar FireDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Incineroar builds →Flare Blitz 4x173-204%KO Cross Chop 4x96-113%KO Bulldoze 2x29-34% | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Breloom builds →Focus Punch 4x240-282%KO Bulldoze 2x33-38% | ||
Emboar FireFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Emboar builds →Flare Blitz 4x182-214%KO Hammer Arm 4x152-179%KO Bulldoze 2x31-36% | ||
Torkoal Fire | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Torkoal builds →Eruption 4x277-326%KO Body Press 4x60-71% Earth Power 2x55-65% | ||
In Scarlet & Violet, Gliscor's Earthquake hits Sandslash for 41-48%. Excadrill's Earthquake also KOs at 109-129%.
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gliscor builds →Earthquake 2x41-48% Knock Off13-16% | ||
Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves View Volcarona builds →
| ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySandrush ItemAir Balloon NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x109-129%KO Rapid Spin9-11% | ||
Sandslash Evolutions
Evolved from Sandshrew. Sandslash is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Defense grew the most through evolution (+35 over Sandshrew), and Sandslash peaks at 450 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Sandslash to get Sandshrew eggs easily using 206 partners from the Ground egg group.
SV Sandslash Best Moveset
AbilitySand Rush doubles the 65 base Speed under sandstorm, and Held ItemHeavy Duty Boots blocks TermEntry Hazards damage on the switch. 100 Attack behind NatureAdamant pushes Ground TermStab into real damage territory. The moveset relies entirely on sand being active, but when it is, Sandslash outspeeds and breaks through.
Best Build
Sandslash best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
TMs carry this one. Sandslash learns Steel Beam and Blizzard naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Flying and beyond give it real matchup play.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It is adept at attacking with the spines on its back and its sharp claws while quickly scurrying about.
The spikes on its body are made up of its hardened hide. It rolls up and attacks foes with its spikes.
Sandslash Scarlet & Violet Guide
In Scarlet & Violet, Slush Rush changes the entire equation for Sandslash. The 450 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as a tank. Rapid Spin with Heavy-Duty Boots is the standard set.
Slush Rush is what you want on Sandslash. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Snow Cloak) work on paper but Slush Rush is what makes Sandslash worth using.
At base 65 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Sandslash is a physical attacker with base 100 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a tank.
For Scarlet & Violet, the core moveset is Rapid Spin, Earthquake, Knock Off, and Swords Dance. Rapid Spin leads at 0% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Sandslash has appeared in 20 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves