Physical
Attacker
450Average
65Moderate
CTier

Electric moves don't affect Sandslash at all — that's the advantage of Ground typing. It relies on priority moves or Scarf to keep up. Known as the Mouse Pokemon. Built to hit on the physical side.

Defense and Attack carry most of Sandslash's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Defense EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
450Above
HP75
C
Attack100
B
Defense110
B
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed65
C
Total450
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Sandslash yields +2 Def
HPAtkDef+2SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch90Challenging•Medium Fast1M XP•1m / 3'03"•29.5kg / 65 lbs•158Base XP
Pokedex Entries

In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.

Gold

If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.

Silver

Sandslash Weakness

Avg

Sandslash is weak to Water, Grass, and Ice-type moves. 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.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
WaterGrassIce
½xResisti
PoisonRock
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
Electric
STAB (5)i
FireElectricPoisonRockSteel
3Weak
2Resist
1Immune
Scorei-1
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Sand VeilIncreases evasion to 1.25× during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.
Sand RushHADoubles Speed during a sandstorm. Protects against sandstorm damage.

Evolved from Sandshrew. Sandslash is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners 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.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Sandshrew
#027Sandshrew
22
Level 22
Sandslash
#028Sandslash
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
300C-Tier
450A-Tier+150
ROLE
Balanced
Attacker
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed with Sandslash to get Sandshrew eggs easily using 66 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Counter, Flail, Rapid Spin and 1 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
4moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy
12 of 66·

For a setup attacker, Sandslash wants flexible EVs EVs and Leftovers. The a nature nature tilts toward balanced duty, and an ability contributes without taking a move slot.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Sandslash Moveset

  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Rock Slide
  • Swords Dance
  • Hidden Power Bug

Recommended Teammates

Snorlax
SnorlaxGood
Zapdos
ZapdosGood
Exeggutor
ExeggutorGood

Egg moves make a real difference. Sandslash gets Counter and Flail exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 7 types rounds out the picture alongside Earthquake and Dig.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Defense Curl
——40Normal
Lv 1
Sand Attack
—10015Ground
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 6
Defense Curl
——40Normal
Lv 11
Sand Attack
—10015Ground
Lv 17
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 24
Slash
7010020Normal
Lv 33
Swift
60—20Normal
Lv 42
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 52
Sandstorm
——10Rock

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM03
Curse
——10Ghost
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM40
Defense Curl
——40Normal
TM43
Detect+4
——5Fighting
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM01
Dynamic Punch
100505Fighting
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM20
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM49
Fury Cutter
109520Bug
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM31
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM04
Rollout
309020Rock
TM37
Sandstorm
——10Rock
TM35
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM34
Swagger
—8515Normal
TM39
Swift
60—20Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Counter-5
—10020Fighting
Egg
Flail
—10015Normal
Egg
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Egg
Safeguard
——25Normal

Tutor Moves

Sandslash can't learn any Tutor moves

Sandslash is available from early-game routes onward at high spawn rates. 3 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Where To Catch Sandslash in Gold & Silver

The path to Sandslash starts with Sandshrew at Lv. 6-30 via walking and gift encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Sandshrew
    Step 1Catch Sandshrew
    Union Cave - 1F
    GoldGrassLv.6CommonEarlyCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Union Cave - 1F
    SilverGrassLv.6CommonEarlyCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Union Cave - B1F
    SilverGrassLv.8CommonEarlyCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Union Cave - B1F
    GoldGrassLv.8CommonEarlyCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Mt. Moon - 1F
    GoldGrassLv.8UncommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Goldenrod City - Game Corner
    SilverGift from NPCLv.10LimitedEarlyCityPurchase: 700 coins
    MODERATE
  2. Sandslash
    Step 2Sandslash ✓
    Mt. Moon - 1F
    GrassLv.10RareEarlyCave
    CHALLENGING
    Route 26
    GrassLv.28CommonMidRoute
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 27
    GrassLv.30RareMidRoute
    CHALLENGING
    or evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)

  • Sand Rush changes the entire equation for Sandslash. The 450 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker.

  • Sandslash's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Lapras (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Sandshrew evolves into Sandslash at level 22. Sandslash is the fully evolved form. It sits at 450 BST in its evolved form.

  • 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.

  • Sandslash appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Sandslash has appeared in 20 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.