Stats & Training
Defense and Attack carry most of Sandslash's stat budget. Special's the obvious dump stat. Moderately hard to find and yields 2 Defense stat exp. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day.
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 |
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 2x177-208%KO Mega Drain 2x61-72% | ||
 Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x129-152%KO Ice Beam 2x105-124%KO Bubble Beam 2x51-60% Water Gun 2x31-37% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x90-106%KO Blizzard 2x60-71% Ice Beam 2x49-59% Surf 2x75-88% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Cerulean City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Solar Beam 2x146-172%KO Razor Leaf 2x68-80% Vine Whip 2x56-66% Mega Drain 2x51-60% | ||
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Vileplume builds →Petal Dance 2x158-186%KO Solar Beam 2x158-186%KO Mega Drain 2x54-64% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
 Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift | ||
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Paras BugGrass | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodVermilion City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Bubble Beam 2x53-63% Bubble 2x35-42% Water Gun 2x35-42% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x42-49% Absorb 2x22-26% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x49-59% Vine Whip 2x42-49% Mega Drain 2x36-43% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Vine Whip 2x44-53% Mega Drain 2x38-46% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodVermilion City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Ice Beam 2x43-51% Bubble Beam 2x47-56% Bubble 2x31-36% Water Gun 2x31-36% | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x97-114%KO Bubble Beam 2x70-84% Water Gun 2x44-53% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x41-49% Absorb 2x23-28% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x49-59% Vine Whip 2x41-49% Mega Drain 2x36-43% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Vine Whip 2x44-53% Mega Drain 2x39-46% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
 Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Tangela builds →Vine Whip 2x57-68% Mega Drain 2x50-59% Absorb 2x27-32% | ||
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Petal Dance 2x114-135%KO Mega Drain 2x41-49% Absorb 2x23-27% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x48-57% Vine Whip 2x41-49% Mega Drain 2x36-43% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Razor Leaf 2x52-62% Vine Whip 2x43-51% Mega Drain 2x39-46% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x122-144%KO Ice Beam 2x100-118%KO Bubble Beam 2x49-58% Water Gun 2x31-37% | ||
Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Tangela builds →Solar Beam 2x139-165%KO Vine Whip 2x54-63% Mega Drain 2x48-57% Absorb 2x25-30% | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Parasect builds →Solar Beam 2x93-110%KO Mega Drain 2x32-38% | ||
 Weepinbell GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weepinbell builds →Solar Beam 2x122-144%KO Razor Leaf 2x57-68% Vine Whip 2x48-57% Mega Drain 2x43-51% | ||
 Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gloom builds →Petal Dance 2x122-144%KO Solar Beam 2x122-144%KO Mega Drain 2x43-51% Absorb 2x23-27% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x129-152%KO Ice Beam 2x105-124%KO Bubble Beam 2x51-60% Water Gun 2x31-37% | ||
Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Tangela builds →Solar Beam 2x146-172%KO Vine Whip 2x56-66% Mega Drain 2x51-60% Absorb 2x27-32% | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Parasect builds →Solar Beam 2x98-116%KO Mega Drain 2x34-40% | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weepinbell builds →Solar Beam 2x127-150%KO Razor Leaf 2x59-70% Vine Whip 2x49-58% Mega Drain 2x44-52% | ||
Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gloom builds →Petal Dance 2x127-150%KO Solar Beam 2x127-150%KO Mega Drain 2x44-52% Absorb 2x23-28% | ||
In Yellow, Cloyster can KO Sandslash with Blizzard (115-136%). Articuno threatens a KO with Blizzard (127-149%).
 Cloyster WaterIce | A | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Cloyster builds →Explosion54-64% Clamp 2x37-44% Blizzard 2x115-136%KO | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x127-149%KO Hyper Beam30-35% Ice Beam 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Victreebel builds →Wrap4-5% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Body Slam16-20% | ||
Yellow Evolution
Sandslash is the evolved form of Sandshrew, reached at level 22. A Ground type at 460 stats that still can't breed. Special grew the most through evolution (+35 over Sandshrew), and Sandslash peaks at 460 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Yellow Sandslash Best Moveset
Best Build
Utility Moveset
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Hyper Beam
- Body Slam
Recommended Teammates
Moves
TMs carry this one. Sandslash learns Earthquake and Dig naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Poison and beyond give it real matchup play.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Sandslash in Yellow
Sandslash appears at moderate rates across 2 spots in endgame routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Sandslash in Yellow
Sandshrew is your first catch on the way to Sandslash. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 8-56 across 5 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SandshrewRoute 3Grass Lv.8-10 Route15%EarlyRoute 4Grass Lv.8-10 Route15%EarlyMt. Moon - 1FGrass Lv.12 Cave4%Early
Step 2Sandslash ✓Cerulean Cave - 1FGrass Lv.52 Cave10%PostCerulean Cave - 2FGrass Lv.56 Cave10%Postor evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)
Sandslash Guide
For Yellow, we rate Sandslash C-Tier: a niche pick in Yellow's meta. At 460 BST, it fits the attacker role. Earthquake anchors the moveset.
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 Yellow, the core moveset is Earthquake, Swords Dance, Hyper Beam, and Body Slam. Earthquake leads at 25% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
In Yellow, the best way to handle Sandslash: Faster attackers outpace it. Anything with a super-effective STAB move and decent speed can revenge kill.
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