Physical
Attacker
450Average
65Moderate
CTier

On paper, Sandslash looks underwhelming. In practice, Sand Rush doubles its Speed in sandstorm — and that's the whole story. Ground typing means Electric moves can't touch it, and only 3 types hit it super-effectively. Known as the Mouse Pokemon.

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

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

X

Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.

Y

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.

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. No compatible 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 from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Chip Away, Counter, Crush Claw and 8 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
11moves

Sandslash's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Sandrush helps it stick around, and max HP and Defense EVs prioritize longevity.

Best Build

Hazard Setter
Ability
Sandrush
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Impish+DEF
EVs

Best Sandslash Moveset

  • Rapid Spin
  • EarthquakeSTAB
  • Knock Off
  • Stealth Rock

Recommended Teammates

Alakazam
AlakazamGood
Serperior
SerperiorDecent
Milotic
MiloticDecent

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

Lv 1
Defense Curl
——40Normal
Lv 1
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 1
Sand Attack
—10015Ground
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 3
Sand Attack
—10015Ground
Lv 5
Poison Sting
1510035Poison
Lv 7
Rollout
309020Rock
Lv 9
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Lv 11
Swift
60—20Normal
Lv 14
Fury Cutter
409520Bug
Lv 17
Magnitude
—10030Ground
Lv 20
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 22
Crush Claw
759510Normal
Lv 23
Sand Tomb
358515Ground
Lv 26
Slash
7010020Normal
Lv 30
Dig
8010010Ground
Lv 34
Gyro Ball
—1005Steel
Lv 38
Swords Dance
——20Normal
Lv 42
Sandstorm
——10Rock
Lv 46
Earthquake
10010010Ground

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM100
Confide
——20Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM56
Fling
—10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
120705Fighting
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM68
Giga Impact
150905Normal
TM74
Gyro Ball
—1005Steel
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM01
Hone Claws
——15Dark
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM84
Poison Jab
8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM94
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
609515Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
——25Normal
TM37
Sandstorm
——10Rock
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM71
Stone Edge
100805Rock
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
——10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
——5Fire
TM87
Swagger
—9015Normal
TM75
Swords Dance
——20Normal
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM81
X-Scissor
8010015Bug

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Chip Away
7010020Normal
Egg
Counter-5
—10020Fighting
Egg
Crush Claw
759510Normal
Egg
Endure+4
——10Normal
Egg
Flail
—10015Normal
Egg
Metal Claw
509535Steel
Egg
Mud Shot
559515Ground
Egg
Night Slash
7010015Dark
Egg
Rapid Spin
5010040Normal
Egg
Rock Climb
908520Normal
Egg
Rototiller
——10Ground

Tutor Moves

Sandslash can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Captivate
—10020Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 3
Dynamic Punch
100505Fighting
Gen 4
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
——10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
—10015Normal
Gen 3
Seismic Toss
—10020Fighting

Sandslash starts showing up in late-game routes at high spawn rates across 14 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 X & Y

Sandshrew is your first catch on the way to Sandslash. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 44-46 across 14 total spots in the chain.

  1. Sandshrew
    Step 1Obtain Sandshrew
  2. Sandslash
    Step 2Sandslash ✓
    Route 18
    XGrassLv.44-45CommonLateRouteRed Flower
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 18
    YGrassLv.44-45CommonLateRouteRed Flower
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - 1F
    YGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - 1F
    XGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - 2F Left
    YGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - 2F Left
    XGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - 2F Right
    YGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - 2F Right
    XGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - B1F
    XGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - B1F
    YGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - B2F
    XGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Terminus Cave - B2F
    YGrassLv.45-46CommonLateCave
    EFFORTLESS
    Route 18
    XGrassLv.46UncommonPostRoute
    EASY
    Route 18
    YGrassLv.46UncommonPostRoute
    EASY
    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.