Stats & Training
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.
Fleeing a volcanic eruption, it settled on a snowy mountain. As it races through the snowfields, it sends up a spray of snow.
This Pokémon’s steel spikes are sheathed in ice. Stabs from these spikes cause deep wounds and severe frostbite as well.
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 |
 Pelipper Water | B | |
Obtain MethodRoute 14 Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Pelipper builds →Hydro Pump 2x129-152%KO Ice Beam 2x70-83% Scald 2x93-110%KO Brine 2x76-90% | ||
 Meganium Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Meganium builds →Petal Dance 2x125-148%KO Solar Beam 2x125-148%KO Petal Blizzard 2x56-66% Energy Ball 2x95-112%KO | ||
 Leafeon Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Leafeon builds →Leaf Blade 2x69-82% Energy Ball 2x75-88% Giga Drain 2x63-74% Magical Leaf 2x51-60% | ||
 Dartrix Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Dartrix builds →Leaf Blade 2x51-60% Energy Ball 2x83-98% Razor Leaf 2x32-38% Leafage 2x23-28% | ||
 Delibird Ice | D | |
In Sun & Moon, Volcanion threatens a KO with Fire Blast (149-175%). Mamoswine deals 75-88% with Earthquake.
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 Volcanion FireWater | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Volcanion builds →Sludge Bomb41-48% Fire Blast149-175%KO | ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Mamoswine builds →Earthquake75-88% Ice Shard 2x60-71% Knock Off33-38% | ||
 Greninja WaterDark | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBattlebond ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse92-108%KO Ice Beam 2x138-163%KO Hydro Pump 2x253-298%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemFocus Sash NatureMild Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Sludge Bomb37-44% Giga Drain 2x124-146%KO | ||
Sun & Moon Evolution
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 218 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Chip Away, Counter, Crush Claw and 8 more.
Sun & Moon Sandslash Best Moveset
Sandslash runs Swords Dance to boost before sweeping. Sandrush and Adamant nature shape the build, with max Attack and Speed EVs to capitalize after one turn of setup, plus the remaining moves to back it up.
Best Build
Sandslash best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Sandslash gets Chip Away and Counter 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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Sandslash in Sun & Moon
Sandslash doesn't appear wild. Catch Sandshrew instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it at level 22 to get Sandslash. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Sandslash in Sun & Moon
The path to Sandslash starts with Sandshrew at Lv. 28-45 via walking encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch SandshrewRoute 14Grass Lv.28-31 Route10%MidTapu VillageGrass Lv.28-31 City10%MidMount Lanakila - OutsideGrass Lv.42-45 Cave30%Late
Step 2Sandslash ✓
Sandslash Guide
In Sun & Moon, Sand Rush changes the entire equation for Sandslash. The 450 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Earthquake with Choice Band 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.
In Sun & Moon, Sand Rush is the hidden ability. It doubles Speed during a sandstorm. Worth hunting for if you want Sandslash to compete at a higher level.
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 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves