Is Palossand Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Palossand's Ghost/Ground with AbilityWater Compaction turns Water hits into +2 Defense boosts. 110/110 defenses are strong. Handles Kabu, Allister (Shield), and walls physical attackers. 35 Speed is terrible. A sandcastle that absorbs punishment and barely fights back.
Milo's team hits Sandygast's weaknesses hard.
Sandygast trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Sandygast trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Bea's team hits Sandygast's weaknesses hard.
Sandygast trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Sandygast has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Piers's team hits Sandygast's weaknesses hard.
Sandygast trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Sandygast has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Palossand has the type edge here and should clean up Leon's team.
Catch Sandygast on Loop Lagoon (overworld, Lv 16-21). All Weather.
Your Sandygast should hit Level 42 before you reach Leon, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Palossand in Sword & Shield
You're catching Sandygast first, not Palossand. Sandygast appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Palossand in SwSh
Step 1Catch SandygastLoop Lagoon - BeachLv.16-21OverworldRate 100%All Weather
Step 2Palossand ✓BREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Palossand egg.
Palossand Weakness
Type-wise, Palossand takes extra damage from Water, Grass, Ice, Ghost, and Dark. Normal, Electric, and Fighting moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. Palossand'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, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Bug, Rock |
| 0.25x (Resist) | Poison |
| 0x (Immune) | Normal, Electric, Fighting |
What is Palossand Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Palossand
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Glaceon Ice | B | |
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Nuzleaf builds →Solar Beam 2x80-94% Payback 2x31-39% Astonish 2x14-17% | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | C | |
 Lombre WaterGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Lombre builds →Solar Beam 2x80-94% Water Gun 2x29-34% Knock Off 2x21-26% Astonish 2x11-14% | ||
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x73-86% Crunch 2x43-51% Ice Fang 2x36-42% | ||
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x112-132%KO Sucker Punch 2x29-34% | ||
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 2x97-114%KO Hydro Pump 2x91-107%KO Knock Off 2x23-27% Astonish 2x11-14% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x72-85% Crunch 2x44-52% Ice Fang 2x35-42% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x115-135%KO Sucker Punch 2x28-34% | ||
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 2x100-119%KO Hydro Pump 2x92-109%KO Knock Off 2x23-27% Astonish 2x12-15% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x71-84% Crunch 2x42-50% Ice Fang 2x35-41% | ||
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x60-71% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Golisopod builds →Razor Shell 2x60-71% Sucker Punch 2x38-44% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x110-130%KO Sucker Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x72-85% Crunch 2x42-49% Ice Fang 2x35-41% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x61-72% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x66-78% Sucker Punch 2x37-44% Icy Wind 2x23-27% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x111-131%KO Sucker Punch 2x27-32% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x73-86% Crunch 2x43-51% Ice Fang 2x35-42% | ||
 Bellossom Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Bellossom builds →Petal Dance 2x99-117%KO | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Roserade builds →Petal Dance 2x129-152%KO | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x62-74% Shadow Claw 2x36-43% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x68-80% Sucker Punch 2x37-44% Shadow Claw 2x37-44% Icy Wind 2x23-27% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 2x130-153%KO Thief 2x25-30% | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x116-136%KO | ||
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Leafeon builds →Solar Blade 2x89-105%KO Bite 2x29-35% | ||
 Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Hydreigon builds →Crunch 2x55-65% Ice Fang 2x30-35% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x73-86% Ice Punch 2x39-45% Shadow Claw 2x36-43% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 2x130-153%KO Thief 2x25-30% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x87-102%KO Hydro Pump 2x80-94% Ice Fang 2x30-35% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x116-136%KO | ||
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Leafeon builds →Solar Blade 2x89-105%KO Bite 2x29-35% Shadow Ball 2x32-38% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x73-86% Ice Punch 2x39-45% Shadow Claw 2x36-43% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Exeggutor builds →Solar Beam 2x130-153%KO Thief 2x25-30% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x87-102%KO Hydro Pump 2x80-94% Ice Fang 2x30-35% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x116-136%KO | ||
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Leafeon builds →Solar Blade 2x89-105%KO Bite 2x29-35% Shadow Ball 2x32-38% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x73-86% Ice Punch 2x39-45% Shadow Claw 2x36-43% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Dragapult can KO Palossand with Shadow Ball (92-108%). Kartana's Knock Off hits Palossand for 44-51%. Gyarados deals 61-72% with Waterfall.
 Dragapult DragonGhost | S | |
Recommended Build AbilityInfiltrator ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Dragapult builds →Draco Meteor74-87% U Turn6-7% Shadow Ball 2x92-108%KO Flamethrower34-41% | ||
 Kartana GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityBeastboost ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Kartana builds →Knock Off 2x44-51% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemWacanberry NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Gyarados builds →Waterfall 2x61-72% Earthquake25-30% Crunch 2x41-48% | ||
 Kyurem DragonIce | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Kyurem builds →Ice Beam 2x123-145%KO Draco Meteor89-105%KO | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Palossand View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x106-125%KO Draco Meteor86-102%KO Flamethrower40-47% | ||
Palossand Evolutions
Palossand is what Sandygast becomes. Breed it for Sandygast eggs (quick to hatch). A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are quick to hatch. The evolution from Sandygast pushed Palossand to 480 total stats. HP saw the largest single gain at +30. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Palossand to get Sandygast eggs easily using 46 partners from the Indeterminate egg group. Notable egg moves include Ancient Power, Curse, Destiny Bond and 3 more.
SwSh Palossand Best Moveset
AbilityWater Compaction raises Defense +2 when hit by Water, turning a type weakness into a massive defensive boost. 110 Defense and 100 Sp. Atk with Ghost/Ground TermStab give the moveset real substance on both sides. E-tier because 35 Speed goes dead last and 75 Sp. Def is exploitable.
Best Build
Palossand best EVs are Defense and Sp. Def
Bulky Support Moveset
- Shadow Ball
- Shore Up
- Sandstorm
- Sand Tomb
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
The egg pool carries weight here. Ancient Power and Curse aren't available any other way for Palossand, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Poltergeist and Earthquake for solid options.
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
Palossand is known as the Beach Nightmare. It pulls its prey down into the sand by controlling the sand itself, and then it sucks out their souls.
This Pokémon lives on beaches, but it hates water. Palossand can’t maintain its castle-like shape if it gets drenched by a heavy rain.
Palossand Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, Palossand works as a tank with 480 BST behind it. C-Tier on our list: a niche pick in Sword & Shield's meta. Shadow Ball with Absorbbulb is the standard set.
In Sword & Shield, Palossand's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Exeggutor (Grass), and Walrein (Ice), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. At base 35 Speed, Palossand won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
Water Compaction is the go-to ability for Palossand. It raises this Pokémon's Defense by two stages when it's hit by a Water move. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups.
Palossand is a mixed attacker with base 75 Attack and 100 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 35 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the tank role.
For Sword & Shield, the core moveset is Shadow Ball, Shoreup, Sandstorm, and Sandtomb. Shadow Ball leads at 0% usage. This set covers the tank role with a mix of damage and utility.
Game Availability
Since Sun & Moon, Palossand has been obtainable in 6 games. A Generation 7 debut means a shorter history, but Palossand has appeared steadily across every generation since.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
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 7SMDebut
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