Is Sandaconda Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Raihan uses Sandaconda in his Dragon gym, which endorses it as a top-tier Ground-type. 107 Attack, 125 Defense, and G-Max Sandblast trapping opponents in a sand tomb. AbilitySand Spit sets sandstorm when hit, pairing with Sand Rush teammates. Handles Kabu and contributes against Leon. Raihan's pick for a reason.
Silicobra trades roughly evenly with Milo's team.
Silicobra has the type edge here and should clean up Nessa's team.
Silicobra has the type edge here and should clean up Kabu's team.
Silicobra trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Sandaconda trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Sandaconda has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Sandaconda has the type edge here and should clean up Piers's team.
Sandaconda has the type edge here and should clean up Raihan's team.
Sandaconda has the type edge here and should clean up Bede's team.
Sandaconda trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Silicobra on Route 6 (walking, Lv 28-30). All Weather.
Your Silicobra should hit Level 36 before you reach Opal, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Sandaconda in Sword & Shield
Sandaconda appears at high spawn rates across 4 spots in late-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Sandaconda in SwSh
Silicobra is your first catch on the way to Sandaconda. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 10-52 across 20 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch SilicobraChallenge RoadLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 20%SandstormPotbottom DesertLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 20%SandstormTraining LowlandsLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 20%SandstormTraining LowlandsLv.13-18OverworldSwordRate 20%SandstormForest of FocusLv.13-18GrassRate 15%SandstormForest of FocusLv.10-15OverworldRate 10%SandstormRoute 6Lv.28-30GrassRate 30%All WeatherTraining LowlandsLv.16-21GrassRate 15%SandstormChallenge RoadLv.19-24GrassRate 15%SandstormChallenge RoadLv.16-21OverworldSwordRate 10%SandstormPotbottom DesertLv.19-24OverworldSwordRate 10%Sandstorm
Step 2Sandaconda ✓Route 8Lv.38-40GrassRate 30%All WeatherLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassShieldRate 15%Intense SunLake of OutrageLv.50-52GrassSwordRate 13%Intense Sunor evolve from Silicobra (Step 1)
Sandaconda Weakness
Sandaconda is weak to Water, Grass, and Ice. On the flip side, it's immune to Electric-type moves entirely. Sandaconda's physical bulk (base 125 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 |
What is Sandaconda Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Sandaconda
 Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x70-83% Ice Fang 2x34-40% | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 2x112-132%KO Hydro Pump 2x103-121%KO | ||
 Cherrim Grass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x71-84% Ice Fang 2x35-42% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Ludicolo builds →Solar Beam 2x116-137%KO Hydro Pump 2x107-126%KO | ||
Cherrim Grass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x69-82% Ice Fang 2x34-40% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x66-78% Icy Wind 2x26-31% | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Crawdaunt builds →Dive 2x60-71% Avalanche 2x31-37% | ||
 Krabby Water | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Krabby builds →Crabhammer 2x66-78% Icy Wind 2x15-18% | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x70-82% Ice Fang 2x35-41% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Roserade builds →Petal Dance 2x147-173%KO | ||
 Bellossom Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Bellossom builds →Petal Dance 2x113-133%KO | ||
 Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Kingler builds →Dive 2x64-76% Icy Wind 2x23-27% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Golisopod builds →Liquidation 2x66-78% Icy Wind 2x26-31% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x70-83% Ice Fang 2x34-41% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
 Leafeon Grass | B | |
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x134-157%KO | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x81-95% Icy Wind 2x22-27% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x70-83% Ice Fang 2x34-41% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x134-157%KO | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x81-95% Ice Beam 2x36-43% | ||
Gyarados Water | B | |
Obtain MethodHoneycalm Island Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Gyarados builds →Aqua Tail 2x70-83% Ice Fang 2x34-41% | ||
Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Leafeon Grass | B | |
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Lilligant builds →Petal Dance 2x134-157%KO | ||
Kingler Water | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Kingler builds →Crabhammer 2x81-95% Ice Beam 2x36-43% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Urshifu can KO Sandaconda with Close Combat (85-100%). Venusaur threatens a KO with Giga Drain (137-161%). Lapras deals 64-75% with Waterfall.
 Urshifu FightingDark | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityUnseenfist ItemChoice Band NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Urshifu builds →Close Combat85-100%KO Sucker Punch50-59% U Turn33-39% | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemLife Orb NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x137-161%KO | ||
 Lapras WaterIce | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Sandaconda View Lapras builds →Avalanche 2x47-56% Waterfall 2x64-75% | ||
Sandaconda Evolutions
Evolved from Silicobra. Sandaconda is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Attack grew the most through evolution (+50 over Silicobra), and Sandaconda peaks at 510 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Sandaconda to get Silicobra eggs easily using 63 partners from the Dragon and Ground egg groups. Notable egg moves include Belch, Dragon Rush, Last Resort and 2 more.
SwSh Sandaconda Best Moveset
AbilitySand Spit triggers sandstorm when hit, an automatic weather setter that doesn't use a turn. 107 Attack at 125 Defense behind Ground TermStab gives the moveset physical power with real bulk. Gigantamax adds a unique Sand move. D-tier because 71 Speed is middling and the sand trigger requires taking a hit first.
Best Build
Sandaconda best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Coil
- Glare
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Skull Bash and Earth Power bring the raw damage. But Sandaconda also picks up coverage across 11 types from TMs, making it tough to find a safe switch. You're not locked into one angle here.
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
Its sand pouch has grown to tremendous proportions. More than 1,000,000 tons of sand now swirl around its body.
Sand swirls around its body with such speed and power that it could pulverize a skyscraper.
Sandaconda Sword & Shield Guide
For Sword & Shield, we rate Sandaconda B-Tier: a solid option in Sword & Shield for the right team. At 510 BST, it fits the support role. Earthquake with Leftovers is the standard set.
Sand Spit is the go-to ability for Sandaconda. It creates a sandstorm when hit by an attack. Its hidden ability Sand Veil can work in specific setups. Shed Skin is the other option. Pick based on what your team needs.
Base 71 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Sandaconda is a physical attacker with base 107 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a support.
For Sword & Shield, the core moveset is Earthquake, Stone Edge, Coil, and Glare. Earthquake leads at 0% usage. Earthquake provides reliable STAB damage. Coil lets it set up before sweeping.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Sword & Shield, Sandaconda has appeared in 2 titles over 3 generations. Along the way, it received a Gigantamax form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
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 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShDebutGigantamax
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