
Is Sandslash Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Ground coverage that handles Surge, Blaine, and contributes against Blue's Rhydon at the Championship. AbilitySand Veil rarely activates in FRLG's story since sandstorm isn't common. Sandslash contributes through typing more than through its ability. Reliable without being exciting. LeafGreen only.
Sandshrew trades roughly evenly with Brock's team.
Misty's team hits Sandshrew's weaknesses hard.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Erika's team hits Sandslash's weaknesses hard.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Sandslash resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Giovanni's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.
Sandslash has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Sandslash trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Catch Sandshrew on Route 4 (walking, Lv 6-12, common).
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig120100%10
- TM31FightingBrick Break75100%15
- After Erika
- TM23SteelIron Tail10075%15
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Giovanni
- TM26GroundEarthquake150100%10
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
Your Sandshrew should hit Level 22 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.
- After Lt. Surge
- TM28GroundDig120100%10
- TM31FightingBrick Break75100%15
- After Erika
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- HM04NormalStrength80100%15
- After Koga
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Giovanni
- TM26GroundEarthquake150100%10
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Sandslash in FireRed & LeafGreen
LeafGreen exclusive and rare across all four endgame encounters. Sandslash barely shows up, even on the late-game routes where it exists.
Wild Sandslash may be holding when caught:
2 locations to catch Sandslash6 locations to catch Sandshrew
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Encountered via tall grass encounters
Catch Sandshrew at any of the 6 locations below, then level it up to 22 — it evolves into Sandslash.
Where To Catch Sandslash in FRLG
To get Sandslash, start by catching Sandshrew through walking encounters at Lv. 6-46. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 2Sandslash ✓Route 23Lv.44GrassLeafGreenRate 5%Victory Road - 1FLv.44CaveLeafGreenRate 5%Victory Road - 3FLv.44CaveLeafGreenRate 5%Victory Road - 2FLv.46CaveLeafGreenRate 5%or 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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Sandslash Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Sandslash
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x67-79% Ice Beam 2x52-62% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Vaporeon builds →Waterfall 2x103-122%KO Ice Beam 2x81-97% | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wartortle builds →Waterfall 2x69-82% Ice Beam 2x54-64% | ||
Ivysaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x79-94% Ice Beam 2x53-63% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x125-147%KO Ice Beam 2x83-98% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Wartortle Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wartortle builds →Surf 2x84-100%KO Ice Beam 2x56-67% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Surf 2x79-94% Ice Beam 2x53-63% | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x125-147%KO Ice Beam 2x83-98% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Lapras builds →Surf 2x102-121%KO Ice Beam 2x102-121%KO | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x93-110%KO Ice Beam 2x50-59% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Vaporeon Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Celadon City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Vaporeon builds →Surf 2x120-142%KO Ice Beam 2x80-94% | ||
Blastoise Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Squirtle (Pallet Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Blastoise builds →Surf 2x96-114%KO Ice Beam 2x64-76% | ||
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Ice Beam 2x112-132%KO Water Pulse 2x47-56% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x98-116%KO Ice Beam 2x52-61% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
Tangela Grass | C | |
Articuno Ice | B | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Ice Beam 2x110-130%KO Water Pulse 2x47-55% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | B | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Magikarp (Route 4 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gyarados builds →Hydro Pump 2x96-114%KO Ice Beam 2x51-60% | ||
Suicune Water | A | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Suicune builds →Surf 2x106-125%KO Ice Beam 2x71-83% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Venusaur can KO Sandslash with Giga Drain (108-127%). Lapras threatens a KO with Ice Beam (134-158%).
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityOvergrow ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x108-127%KO Sludge Bomb10-11% | ||
Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x134-158%KO | ||
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 102 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Counter, Crush Claw, Flail and 5 more.
FRLG Sandslash Best Moveset
100 Attack with 110 Defense creates a physical Ground type that hits hard and takes physical hits. AbilitySand Veil raises evasion in sandstorm. MoveEarthquake for Ground TermStab on the physical side and MoveRock Slide for coverage make up the core moveset. Slow at 65 Speed but built to trade hits.
Best Build
Sandslash best EVs are Defense and Attack
Bulky Support Moveset
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Rapid Spin
- Counter
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 7 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 is adept at attacking with the spines on its back and its sharp claws while quickly scurrying about.
Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Sandslash FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
- Is Sandslash exclusive to LeafGreen or FireRed?
Sandslash is exclusive to Pokemon LeafGreen. FireRed players have to trade for one.

See the Locations section above for where to find Sandslash in LeafGreen.
How to trade in FireRed and LeafGreen
GBA cartridges: You need a Game Boy Advance Game Link Cable and both players' FireRed/LeafGreen cartridges. Trade at the Cable Club on the 2nd floor of any Pokemon Center, which opens up shortly after Oak gives you the Pokedex.Nintendo Switch (2026 release): Trading uses local wireless only. There is no online play, and no Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required. Both players head to the Pokemon Wireless Club on the 2nd floor of any Pokemon Center, then step into a Union Room. Up to four other players can join. Available once you have the Pokedex from Professor Oak.
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