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.
If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
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 |
 Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Ducklett builds →Bubble Beam 2x50-59% Water Pulse 2x45-55% Water Gun 2x30-36% | ||
 Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x53-64% Water Gun 2x38-45% | ||
 Hoppip Grass | D | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roselia builds →Magical Leaf 2x77-91% Mega Drain 2x53-64% Absorb 2x30-36% | ||
 Skiddo Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Skiddo builds →Razor Leaf 2x33-41% Vine Whip 2x30-36% | ||
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x59-70% Bubble Beam 2x43-52% Water Pulse 2x40-48% Water Gun 2x28-33% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x45-55% Water Gun 2x33-39% | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hoppip builds →Mega Drain 2x25-30% Bullet Seed 2x12-15% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x87-103%KO Magical Leaf 2x72-85% Mega Drain 2x48-58% Absorb 2x25-30% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Oddish builds →Mega Drain 2x38-45% Absorb 2x20-24% | ||
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x59-70% Bubble Beam 2x43-52% Water Pulse 2x40-48% Water Gun 2x28-33% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x45-55% Water Gun 2x33-39% | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hoppip builds →Mega Drain 2x25-30% Bullet Seed 2x12-15% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x87-103%KO Magical Leaf 2x72-85% Mega Drain 2x48-58% Absorb 2x25-30% | ||
 Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x59-70% Bubble Beam 2x43-52% Water Pulse 2x40-48% Water Gun 2x28-33% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x45-55% Water Gun 2x33-39% | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hoppip builds →Mega Drain 2x25-30% Bullet Seed 2x12-15% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roselia builds →Giga Drain 2x87-103%KO Magical Leaf 2x72-85% Mega Drain 2x48-58% Absorb 2x25-30% | ||
Exeggcute GrassPsychic | D | |
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Carnivine builds →Leaf Tornado 2x74-88% Vine Whip 2x34-41% | ||
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x61-72% Bubble Beam 2x46-54% Water Pulse 2x41-49% Water Gun 2x28-34% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x48-57% Water Gun 2x33-39% | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hoppip builds →Mega Drain 2x26-31% Bullet Seed 2x10-13% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x145-171%KO Giga Drain 2x92-109%KO Magical Leaf 2x74-88% Mega Drain 2x50-59% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x81-96% Ice Punch 2x52-61% Frost Breath 2x70-84% Icy Wind 2x65-76% | ||
 Delibird Ice | D | |
Ducklett Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Ducklett builds →Surf 2x60-71% Bubble Beam 2x43-52% Water Pulse 2x42-49% Water Gun 2x29-34% | ||
Wingull Water | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Wingull builds →Water Pulse 2x48-57% Water Gun 2x33-39% | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hoppip builds →Mega Drain 2x25-30% Bullet Seed 2x10-12% | ||
 Amoonguss GrassPoison | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Amoonguss builds →Solar Beam 2x127-150%KO Giga Drain 2x81-96% Mega Drain 2x44-52% Absorb 2x23-28% | ||
Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x79-94% Blizzard 2x125-148%KO Ice Beam 2x103-122%KO Ice Punch 2x51-60% | ||
 Trevenant GhostGrass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Trevenant builds →Wood Hammer 2x91-108%KO | ||
Delibird Ice | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Delibird builds →Blizzard 2x95-112%KO Ice Beam 2x78-92% Frost Breath 2x53-62% | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Hoppip builds →Giga Drain 2x44-52% Mega Drain 2x23-28% Bullet Seed 2x10-12% | ||
In X & Y, Serperior can KO Sandslash with Leaf Storm (128-151%). Weavile's Ice Shard hits Sandslash for 36-42%. Gastrodon's Scald also KOs at 87-103%.
 Serperior Grass | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityContrary ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Serperior builds →Leaf Storm 2x128-151%KO | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Weavile builds →Knock Off29-34% Ice Shard 2x36-42% Pursuit18-21% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityStormdrain ItemLeftovers NatureQuiet Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Gastrodon builds →Scald 2x87-103%KO | ||
 Greninja WaterDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityProtean ItemAssault Vest NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Greninja builds →Dark Pulse56-66% Scald 2x112-132%KO Blizzard 2x103-121%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Sandslash View Venusaur builds →Sludge Bomb40-47% Giga Drain 2x134-157%KO | ||
X & Y 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 200 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Chip Away, Counter, Crush Claw and 8 more.
X & Y Sandslash Best Moveset
Sandslash's job is getting Stealth Rock up and staying on the field. Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn, Sandrush helps it stick around, and max HP and Defense EVs prioritize longevity.
Best Build
Sandslash best EVs are HP and Defense
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Sandslash gets Chip Away and Counter exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Coverage across 9 types rounds out the picture alongside Earthquake and Dig.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Sandslash in X & Y
Sandslash starts showing up in late-game routes at high spawn rates across 14 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Where To Catch Sandslash in X & Y
Sandshrew is your first catch on the way to Sandslash. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 44-46 across 14 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Obtain Sandshrew
Step 2Sandslash ✓Route 18XGrass Lv.44-45 RouteCommonLateRed FlowerRoute 18YGrass Lv.44-45 RouteCommonLateRed FlowerTerminus Cave - 1FYGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - 1FXGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - 2F LeftYGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - 2F LeftXGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - 2F RightYGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - 2F RightXGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - B1FXGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - B1FYGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - B2FXGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateTerminus Cave - B2FYGrass Lv.45-46 CaveCommonLateRoute 18XGrass Lv.46 RouteUncommonPostRoute 18YGrass Lv.46 RouteUncommonPostor evolve from Sandshrew (Step 1)
Sandslash Guide
In X & Y, Sand Rush changes the entire equation for Sandslash. The 450 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier as an attacker. Rapid Spin with Leftovers is the standard set.
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.
For X & Y, the core moveset is Rapid Spin, Earthquake, Knock Off, and Stealth Rock. Rapid Spin leads at 25% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage.
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