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.
Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
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
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
 Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Bubble Beam 2x52-61% Bubble 2x31-39% Water Gun 2x31-39% | ||
 Paras BugGrass | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Bubble Beam 2x52-61% Bubble 2x31-39% Water Gun 2x31-39% | ||
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 MethodPallet Town 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 MethodPallet Town 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 MethodPallet Town 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 | |
Lapras WaterIce | B | |
Obtain MethodSilph Co Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Lapras builds →Ice Beam 2x97-115%KO Surf 2x97-115%KO Bubble Beam 2x72-85% Water Gun 2x44-53% | ||
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Petal Dance 2x117-138%KO Mega Drain 2x42-50% Absorb 2x22-26% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Razor Leaf 2x50-59% Vine Whip 2x42-50% Mega Drain 2x37-44% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Razor Leaf 2x52-62% Vine Whip 2x44-53% Mega Drain 2x39-47% | ||
 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 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 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 Red & Blue, 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% | ||
Red & Blue 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
Red & Blue 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 Red & Blue
3 encounter spots for Sandslash at moderate rates starting from late-game routes. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Sandslash in Red & Blue
To get Sandslash, start by catching Sandshrew through walking encounters at Lv. 6-57. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch SandshrewRoute 4Grass Lv.6-12 Route30%EarlyRoute 10Grass Lv.11-17 Route30%EarlyRoute 9Grass Lv.11-17 Route30%EarlyRoute 11Grass Lv.12-15 Route25%EarlyRoute 23Grass Lv.26 Route20%MidRoute 8Grass Lv.17-19 Route15%Mid
Step 2Sandslash ✓Route 23Grass Lv.41 Route5%LateCerulean Cave - 1FGrass Lv.52 Cave10%PostCerulean Cave - B1FGrass Lv.57 Cave5%Postor evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)
Sandslash Guide
For Red & Blue, we rate Sandslash C-Tier: a niche pick in Red & Blue'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 Red & Blue, the core moveset is Earthquake, Swords Dance, Hyper Beam, and Body Slam. Earthquake leads at 25% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
In Red & Blue, 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