Is Sandslash Good in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Playthrough?
Handles Volkner and Flint's non-Fire Pokemon, but the speed is painfully low. Outclassed by the time you reach the E4, where Garchomp or even Gastrodon fill the Ground niche better.
Sandshrew has the type edge here and should clean up Roark's team.
Sandshrew trades roughly evenly with Gardenia's team.
Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Maylene's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Crasher Wake's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Fantina's team.
Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Byron's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Candice's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Volkner's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Aaron's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Bertha's team.
Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Flint's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Lucian's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Cynthia's team.
Sandslash cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four. Alternatively, transfer the pre-evolution and level it up to Lv 22.
How to Get Sandslash in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Sandslash starts showing up in endgame routes at moderate rates across 4 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Sandslash in BDSP
Sandshrew is your first catch on the way to Sandslash. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 58-63 across 8 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SandshrewBig Bluff CavernLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameRocky CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameSandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassShining PearlPost-gameSpacious CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-game
Step 2Sandslash ✓Big Bluff CavernLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameRocky CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameSandsear CaveLv.58-63GrassShining PearlPost-gameSpacious CaveLv.58-63CaveShining PearlPost-gameor evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)
Sandslash Weakness
Sandslash is weak to Water, Grass, and Ice. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. Sandslash's physical bulk (base 110 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 |
What is Sandslash Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Sandslash
 Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing | ||
 Surskit BugWater | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Surskit builds →Scald 2x61-73% Giga Drain 2x41-49% | ||
 Budew GrassPoison | D | |
 Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x62-73% Ice Beam 2x65-77% | ||
 Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x54-64% Ice Beam 2x48-57% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gastrodon builds →Surf 2x102-121%KO Ice Beam 2x68-81% | ||
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x81-96% Ice Beam 2x54-64% | ||
Budew GrassPoison | D | |
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x109-128%KO Ice Beam 2x72-85% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x62-73% Ice Beam 2x65-77% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x54-64% Ice Beam 2x48-57% | ||
Budew GrassPoison | D | |
Psyduck Water | D | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Psyduck builds →Surf 2x81-96% Ice Beam 2x54-64% | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x103-122%KO Ice Beam 2x68-81% | ||
 Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Golduck builds →Surf 2x103-122%KO Ice Beam 2x68-81% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x59-70% Ice Beam 2x64-76% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x50-59% Ice Beam 2x46-54% | ||
Budew GrassPoison | D | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x104-124%KO Ice Beam 2x70-82% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x60-71% Ice Beam 2x64-76% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Golduck builds →Surf 2x104-124%KO Ice Beam 2x70-82% | ||
Bibarel NormalWater | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bibarel builds →Waterfall 2x51-61% Ice Beam 2x45-54% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roserade builds →Petal Dance 2x169-199%KO | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x102-120%KO Ice Beam 2x67-80% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Abomasnow builds →Solar Beam 2x131-155%KO Ice Beam 2x99-117%KO Water Pulse 2x45-53% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x57-68% Ice Beam 2x62-73% | ||
Golduck Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCelestic Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Golduck builds →Surf 2x102-120%KO Ice Beam 2x67-80% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roserade builds →Petal Dance 2x169-199%KO | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x102-120%KO Ice Beam 2x67-80% | ||
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Abomasnow builds →Solar Beam 2x131-155%KO Ice Beam 2x99-117%KO Water Pulse 2x45-53% | ||
 Jynx IcePsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Jynx builds →Ice Beam 2x117-138%KO Energy Ball 2x78-92% Water Pulse 2x53-63% | ||
Floatzel Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Floatzel builds →Waterfall 2x57-68% Ice Beam 2x62-73% | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roserade builds →Petal Dance 2x172-203%KO | ||
 Cacturne GrassDark | C | |
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodCanalave City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x103-122%KO Ice Beam 2x69-81% | ||
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Vileplume builds →Petal Dance 2x154-182%KO | ||
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Venusaur can KO Sandslash with Giga Drain (162-190%). Lapras's Waterfall hits Sandslash for 69-81%.
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x162-190%KO | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Lapras builds →Avalanche 2x53-62% Waterfall 2x69-81% | ||
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. HP grew the most through evolution (+25 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 131 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Counter, Crush Claw, Flail and 6 more.
BDSP Sandslash Best Moveset
Hidden AbilitySand Rush doubles Speed in sandstorm, turning 65 base Speed into a genuine threat alongside 100 Attack and 110 Defense. The moveset has Ground TermStab plus physical bulk at a pace the original Gen 4 version couldn't match. E-tier because sand dependency and 75/55 on the special side leave gaps.
Best Build
Sandslash best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Drill Run
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Egg moves make a real difference. Sandslash gets Counter and Crush Claw exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 9 types rounds out the picture alongside Earthquake and Dig.
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 curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Sandslash Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Guide
In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Sand Rush changes the entire equation for Sandslash. The 450 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Knock Off with Life Orb is the standard set.
Sand Rush is what you want on Sandslash. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Sand Veil) work on paper but Sand 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 an attacker.
For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, the core moveset is Knock Off, Rapid Spin, Earthquake, and Drillrun. Knock Off 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