Stats & Training
Sandshrew's spread isn't flashy. Defense leads, Sp. Atk trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Defense EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Sandshrew’s body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.
Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert sand to sleep.
Sandshrew Weakness
Sandshrew's Ground typing leaves it vulnerable to Water, Grass, and Ice. It shrugs off Electric-type attacks completely. Sandshrew's physical bulk (base 85 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 |
 Wingull Water | D | |
 Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
 Turtwig Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Turtwig builds →Razor Leaf 2x48-57% Absorb 2x29-36% | ||
 Treecko Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Treecko builds →Mega Drain 2x60-71% Absorb 2x36-43% | ||
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x83-98% Water Gun 2x61-72% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift | ||
Turtwig Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Turtwig builds →Razor Leaf 2x48-59% Absorb 2x33-39% | ||
Treecko Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Treecko builds →Mega Drain 2x65-78% Absorb 2x37-46% | ||
 Sewaddle BugGrass | D | |
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x82-97% Water Gun 2x54-65% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x69-83% Absorb 2x38-46% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Chikorita builds →Magical Leaf 2x74-88% Razor Leaf 2x34-42% | ||
Turtwig Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Turtwig builds →Razor Leaf 2x46-55% Absorb 2x26-32% | ||
Treecko Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 101 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Treecko builds →Giga Drain 2x112-134%KO Mega Drain 2x62-74% Absorb 2x34-42% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x80-95% Water Gun 2x57-67% | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x154-182%KO Magical Leaf 2x124-146%KO Mega Drain 2x83-99% Absorb 2x43-51% | ||
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lileep builds →Giga Drain 2x107-126%KO Brine 2x62-74% | ||
 Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lombre builds →Surf 2x126-150%KO Bubble Beam 2x93-111%KO Bubble 2x59-71% Absorb 2x33-39% | ||
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Nuzleaf builds →Leaf Blade 2x74-87% Razor Leaf 2x46-55% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x81-96% Water Gun 2x56-67% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x157-185%KO Magical Leaf 2x126-148%KO Mega Drain 2x84-100%KO Absorb 2x43-52% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lileep builds →Giga Drain 2x110-130%KO Brine 2x63-74% | ||
Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lombre builds →Surf 2x126-148%KO Bubble Beam 2x94-111%KO Bubble 2x59-70% Absorb 2x31-37% | ||
Nuzleaf GrassDark | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Nuzleaf builds →Leaf Blade 2x72-85% Razor Leaf 2x47-56% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Tropius builds →Leaf Tornado 2x106-126%KO Magical Leaf 2x98-115%KO Razor Leaf 2x44-52% | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodDewford Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Pelipper builds →Surf 2x180-213%KO Brine 2x130-153%KO Water Pulse 2x121-143%KO Water Gun 2x83-98% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x159-188%KO Magical Leaf 2x127-150%KO Mega Drain 2x85-101%KO Absorb 2x44-52% | ||
 Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Gloom builds →Mega Drain 2x77-91% Absorb 2x41-49% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodRustboro City Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Lileep builds →Giga Drain 2x109-129%KO Brine 2x63-74% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Tropius builds →Solar Beam 2x203-239%KO Energy Ball 2x153-181%KO Leaf Tornado 2x110-130%KO Magical Leaf 2x104-122%KO | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodDewford Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Pelipper builds →Blizzard 2x155-182%KO Surf 2x191-226%KO Brine 2x140-165%KO Water Pulse 2x128-151%KO | ||
 Delibird Ice | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Delibird builds →Blizzard 2x173-204%KO Frost Breath 2x96-114%KO | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roselia builds →Solar Beam 2x264-311%KO Petal Blizzard 2x65-77% Energy Ball 2x198-234%KO Giga Drain 2x166-196%KO | ||
Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Gloom builds →Solar Beam 2x232-273%KO Energy Ball 2x175-207%KO Giga Drain 2x146-173%KO Mega Drain 2x79-93% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Tropius builds →Solar Beam 2x197-233%KO Energy Ball 2x149-176%KO Leaf Tornado 2x109-129%KO Magical Leaf 2x101-119%KO | ||
Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodDewford Town Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Pelipper builds →Blizzard 2x151-178%KO Surf 2x184-217%KO Scald 2x165-194%KO Brine 2x134-158%KO | ||
Delibird Ice | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Delibird builds →Blizzard 2x169-199%KO Frost Breath 2x94-111%KO | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Roselia builds →Solar Beam 2x257-303%KO Petal Blizzard 2x63-75% Energy Ball 2x193-228%KO Giga Drain 2x162-191%KO | ||
Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Gloom builds →Solar Beam 2x226-266%KO Energy Ball 2x169-199%KO Giga Drain 2x142-168%KO Mega Drain 2x77-91% | ||
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Gastrodon can KO Sandshrew with Scald (195-229%). Mamoswine's Earthquake also KOs at 85-101%.
 Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityStormdrain ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Gastrodon builds →Scald 2x195-229%KO | ||
 Whimsicott GrassFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves View Whimsicott builds →
| ||
 Mamoswine IceGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityThickfat ItemChoice Scarf NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Mamoswine builds →Earthquake85-101%KO Ice Shard 2x70-82% Rock Slide21-25% | ||
 Swampert WaterGround | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandshrew View Swampert builds →Earthquake76-90% Scald 2x139-163%KO | ||
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Evolution
Sandshrew evolves into Sandslash. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. The evolved forms gain up to 150 total stats over Sandshrew. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Sandshrew easily with 200 breeding partners from the Ground egg group. Pass egg moves like Chip Away, Counter, Crush Claw and 8 more to offspring.
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Sandshrew Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
You'll want to breed for Chip Away and Counter on Sandshrew. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Earthquake and Earth Power, they expand what Sandshrew can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Sandshrew Locations
Sandshrew's scattered across 6 spots in early-game routes with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations to Catch Sandshrew in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
walking encounters for Sandshrew across 6 spots at Lv. 11-23. The catch is that Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby don't share every location, so compare what's available in your version.
Sandshrew Guide
Get Sandshrew to Sandslash at level 22. At 300 BST, Sandshrew is just the starting point.
Level 22 gets you Sandslash. Not the fastest evolution, so consider Exp. Share or route grinding to speed it up.
In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Sandshrew does the job early-game if you need a Ground type on your team. Evolve it into Sandslash before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
You can find Sandshrew in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Sandshrew first appeared in Red & Blue and spans 20 games across 10 generations. It later gained an Alolan form in Generation 7, adding new dimensions to its competitive identity.
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