Stats & Training
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.
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 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
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Bullet Seed 2x28-33% Absorb 2x22-28% | ||
 Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Vine Whip 2x46-56% Bullet Seed 2x28-33% | ||
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Vine Whip 2x46-56% Bullet Seed 2x28-33% | ||
 Paras BugGrass | D | |
 Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Waterfall 2x61-72% Water Pulse 2x46-56% Bubble 2x31-39% Water Gun 2x31-39% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Bullet Seed 2x28-33% Absorb 2x22-28% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Vine Whip 2x46-56% Bullet Seed 2x28-33% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Vine Whip 2x46-56% Bullet Seed 2x28-33% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Waterfall 2x61-72% Water Pulse 2x46-56% Bubble 2x31-39% Water Gun 2x31-39% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Giga Drain 2x73-86% Bullet Seed 2x27-33% Absorb 2x22-26% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Giga Drain 2x67-79% Razor Leaf 2x49-59% Vine Whip 2x42-49% Bullet Seed 2x24-30% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bellsprout builds →Giga Drain 2x69-82% Vine Whip 2x44-53% Bullet Seed 2x24-30% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Paras builds →Giga Drain 2x53-63% Bullet Seed 2x19-23% | ||
Squirtle Water | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Squirtle builds →Ice Beam 2x43-51% Waterfall 2x58-69% Water Pulse 2x44-53% Bubble 2x31-36% | ||
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Parasect builds →Giga Drain 2x62-74% Bullet Seed 2x22-26% | ||
 Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gloom builds →Giga Drain 2x82-97% Bullet Seed 2x29-35% Absorb 2x25-29% | ||
 Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weepinbell builds →Giga Drain 2x82-97% Vine Whip 2x50-59% Bullet Seed 2x29-35% | ||
 Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Exeggcute builds →Giga Drain 2x62-74% Bullet Seed 2x22-26% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Giga Drain 2x67-79% Razor Leaf 2x50-59% Vine Whip 2x42-50% Bullet Seed 2x25-29% | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Parasect builds →Giga Drain 2x62-74% Bullet Seed 2x22-26% | ||
Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gloom builds →Giga Drain 2x82-97% Bullet Seed 2x29-35% Absorb 2x25-29% | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weepinbell builds →Giga Drain 2x82-97% Vine Whip 2x50-59% Bullet Seed 2x29-35% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Exeggcute builds →Giga Drain 2x62-74% Bullet Seed 2x22-26% | ||
Bulbasaur GrassPoison | D | |
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Bulbasaur builds →Giga Drain 2x67-79% Razor Leaf 2x50-59% Vine Whip 2x42-50% Bullet Seed 2x25-29% | ||
 Articuno Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x122-144%KO Ice Beam 2x100-118%KO Water Pulse 2x45-54% Powder Snow 2x46-55% | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Parasect builds →Solar Beam 2x93-110%KO Giga Drain 2x59-70% Bullet Seed 2x21-25% | ||
Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gloom builds →Petal Dance 2x122-144%KO Solar Beam 2x122-144%KO Giga Drain 2x77-91% Bullet Seed 2x27-32% | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weepinbell builds →Solar Beam 2x122-144%KO Giga Drain 2x77-91% Razor Leaf 2x57-68% Vine Whip 2x48-57% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Exeggcute builds →Solar Beam 2x93-110%KO Giga Drain 2x59-70% Bullet Seed 2x21-25% | ||
Articuno Ice | C | |
Obtain MethodSeafoam Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Articuno builds →Blizzard 2x129-152%KO Ice Beam 2x105-124%KO Water Pulse 2x47-56% Powder Snow 2x47-56% | ||
 Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Tangela builds →Solar Beam 2x146-172%KO Giga Drain 2x91-108%KO Vine Whip 2x56-66% Mega Drain 2x51-60% | ||
Parasect BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Parasect builds →Solar Beam 2x98-116%KO Giga Drain 2x63-74% Bullet Seed 2x22-26% | ||
Gloom GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gloom builds →Petal Dance 2x127-150%KO Solar Beam 2x127-150%KO Giga Drain 2x81-96% Bullet Seed 2x29-34% | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weepinbell builds →Solar Beam 2x127-150%KO Giga Drain 2x81-96% Razor Leaf 2x59-70% Vine Whip 2x49-58% | ||
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Starmie can KO Sandslash with Surf (136-161%). Regice's Ice Beam also KOs at 137-162%.
 Starmie WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Starmie builds →Rapid Spin8-10% Ice Beam 2x91-107%KO Surf 2x136-161%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityEffect Spore ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Breloom builds →Mach Punch21-25% | ||
 Regice Ice | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityClearbody ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Regice builds →Ice Beam 2x137-162%KO Explosion39-46% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityOvergrow ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x109-128%KO Sludge Bomb12-14% | ||
FireRed & LeafGreen Evolution
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.
FireRed & LeafGreen Sandslash Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
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.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Sandslash in FireRed & LeafGreen
Sandslash sits at moderate rates across 4 spots in late-game routes. Pick one from the sorted list and commit to it. Jumping between areas wastes more time than waiting in the right location.
Where To Catch Sandslash in FireRed & LeafGreen
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 1Catch SandshrewRoute 4Grass Lv.6-12 RouteCommonEarlyRoute 10Grass Lv.11-17 RouteCommonEarlyRoute 9Grass Lv.11-17 RouteCommonEarlyRoute 11Grass Lv.12-15 RouteCommonEarlyRoute 8Grass Lv.17-19 RouteUncommonMidRoute 23Grass Lv.32-34 RouteUncommonLate
Step 2Sandslash ✓Route 23Grass Lv.44 RouteRareLateVictory Road - 1FGrass Lv.44 CaveRareLateVictory Road - 3FGrass Lv.44 CaveRareLateVictory Road - 2FGrass Lv.46 CaveRarePostor evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)
Sandslash Guide
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Sand Rush changes the entire equation for Sandslash. The 450 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker.
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.
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Sand Rush is the hidden ability. It doubles Speed during a sandstorm. Worth hunting for if you want Sandslash to compete at a higher level.
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