Sandslash Pokemon Guide

Pokemon Guide

Sandslash Pokemon Guide

Sandslash is a Ground-type Pokemon from the original generation, known for its sharp claws, digging ability and evolution from Sandshrew. This guide covers Sandslash’s stats, best moves, abilities, evolution, shiny form, Alolan Sandslash, typing, weaknesses and locations across Pokemon games.

Normal Form

Sandslash

Shiny Form

Shiny Sandslash

Regional Form

Alolan Sandslash

Regional Shiny Form

Shiny Alolan Sandslash

Sandslash Description

Sandslash is the evolved form of Sandshrew. It is a Ground-type Pokemon known for sharp claws, fast digging and defensive curling behavior, making it one of the earliest fully evolved Ground-type Pokemon in National Dex order.

Sandslash Quick Facts

Here are the key facts to know about Sandslash, including its type, abilities, height, weight, species information and Alolan regional form.

Name

Sandslash

National Dex

#0028

Type

Ground

Species

Mouse Pokemon

Height

3’03” / 1.0 m

100 cm

Weight

65.0 lbs / 29.5 kg

29.5 kg

Abilities

Sand Veil, Sand Rush

Sandslash Stats

Sandslash has its best base stat in Defense, with modest Attack and low Speed. Its stat spread fits a small Ground-type Pokemon that relies on physical durability more than speed.

Sandslash Best Moves Across Pokemon Games

Sandslash commonly uses Ground-type attacks, Rock coverage and utility moves. These are some of Sandslash’s most useful and recognizable moves across Pokemon games.

Sandslash All Moves

Sandslash can learn different moves across Pokemon games, including Ground, Normal, Rock, Dark and support moves. Use the section below to view Sandslash’s move list by learn method.

Move data shown from: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Level-Up Moves

Level	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
1	Crush Claw	Normal	Physical	75	95
1	Defense Curl	Normal	Status	–	–
1	Poison Sting	Poison	Physical	15	100
1	Sand Attack	Ground	Status	–	100
1	Scratch	Normal	Physical	40	100
9	Rollout	Rock	Physical	30	90
12	Fury Cutter	Bug	Physical	40	95
15	Rapid Spin	Normal	Physical	50	100
18	Bulldoze	Ground	Physical	60	100
21	Swift	Normal	Special	60	–
26	Fury Swipes	Normal	Physical	18	80
31	Sand Tomb	Ground	Physical	35	85
36	Slash	Normal	Physical	70	100
41	Dig	Ground	Physical	80	100
46	Gyro Ball	Steel	Physical	–	100
51	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	–	–
56	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	–	–
61	Earthquake	Ground	Physical	100	100

TM Moves

Method	Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
TM	Aerial Ace	Flying	Physical	60	–
TM	Agility	Psychic	Status	–	–
TM	Amnesia	Psychic	Status	–	–
TM	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100
TM	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100
TM	Bulldoze	Ground	Physical	60	100
TM	Curse	Ghost	Status	–	–
TM	Dig	Ground	Physical	80	100
TM	Double Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100
TM	Drill Run	Ground	Physical	80	95
TM	Earth Power	Ground	Special	90	100
TM	Earthquake	Ground	Physical	100	100
TM	Endeavor	Normal	Physical	–	100
TM	Endure	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100
TM	False Swipe	Normal	Physical	40	100
TM	Fling	Dark	Physical	–	100
TM	Focus Blast	Fighting	Special	120	70
TM	Focus Punch	Fighting	Physical	150	100
TM	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150	90
TM	Gunk Shot	Poison	Physical	120	80
TM	Gyro Ball	Steel	Physical	–	100
TM	High Horsepower	Ground	Physical	95	95
TM	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150	90
TM	Knock Off	Dark	Physical	65	100
TM	Leech Life	Bug	Physical	80	100
TM	Low Kick	Fighting	Physical	–	100
TM	Metal Claw	Steel	Physical	50	95
TM	Mud Shot	Ground	Special	55	95
TM	Mud Slap	Ground	Special	20	100
TM	Poison Jab	Poison	Physical	80	100
TM	Protect	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Rest	Psychic	Status	–	–
TM	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	75	90
TM	Rock Tomb	Rock	Physical	60	95
TM	Sand Tomb	Ground	Physical	35	85
TM	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	–	–
TM	Scorching Sands	Ground	Special	70	100
TM	Shadow Claw	Ghost	Physical	70	100
TM	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Smack Down	Rock	Physical	50	100
TM	Spikes	Ground	Status	–	–
TM	Stealth Rock	Rock	Status	–	–
TM	Stomping Tantrum	Ground	Physical	75	100
TM	Stone Edge	Rock	Physical	100	80
TM	Substitute	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	–	–
TM	Super Fang	Normal	Physical	–	90
TM	Swift	Normal	Special	60	–
TM	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	–	–
TM	Take Down	Normal	Physical	90	85
TM	Tera Blast	Normal	Special	80	100
TM	Thief	Dark	Physical	60	100
TM	Throat Chop	Dark	Physical	80	100
TM	X Scissor	Bug	Physical	80	100

Egg Moves

Move	Type	Category	Power	Accuracy
Counter	Fighting	Physical	–	100
Flail	Normal	Physical	–	100
Hone Claws	Dark	Status	–	–
Metal Claw	Steel	Physical	50	95
Mud Slap	Ground	Special	20	100
Night Slash	Dark	Physical	70	100

Sandslash Typing, Weaknesses and Resistances

Sandslash is a Ground-type Pokemon. This gives it an immunity to Electric-type moves, along with weaknesses to Water, Grass and Ice-type attacks.

Type

Ground

Weaknesses

Water, Grass and Ice

Resistances

Poison and Rock

Immunity

Electric

Sandslash Abilities

Sandslash’s abilities connect to sandstorm and desert battle conditions.

Sandslash Evolution

Sandslash evolves from Sandshrew at Level 22. Alolan Sandslash evolves from Alolan Sandshrew when exposed to an Ice Stone.

Stage 1

Sandshrew

Starting form

Stage 2

Sandslash

Evolves from Sandshrew at Level 22

Alolan Form

Alolan Sandshrew

Evolves into Alolan Sandslash with an Ice Stone

Alolan Evolution

Alolan Sandslash

Evolves from Alolan Sandshrew with an Ice Stone

Where to Find Sandslash in Pokemon Games

Sandslash’s availability changes depending on the Pokemon game. In many games, Sandslash is obtained by evolving Sandshrew, found in dry routes or cave areas, or transferred from another compatible game. Alolan Sandslash is tied to Alolan Sandshrew and Ice Stone evolution in supported games.

Generation 1: Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Red	Trade from Pokemon Blue or Pokemon Yellow.
Pokemon Blue	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.
Pokemon Yellow	Found as a wild encounter in early Kanto routes such as Route 3 and Route 4.

Generation 2: Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Gold	Found in version-specific Johto or Kanto locations, or trade from another game.
Pokemon Silver	Found in version-specific Johto or Kanto locations, or trade from another game.
Pokemon Crystal	Found in version-specific Johto or Kanto locations, or trade from another game.

Generation 3: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed and LeafGreen

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Ruby	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.
Pokemon Sapphire	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.
Pokemon Emerald	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.
Pokemon FireRed	Trade from Pokemon LeafGreen or another compatible game.
Pokemon LeafGreen	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.

Generation 4: Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Diamond	Found in the wild in Sinnoh, including cave or route encounters depending on version and progression.
Pokemon Pearl	Found in the wild in Sinnoh, including cave or route encounters depending on version and progression.
Pokemon Platinum	Found in the wild in Sinnoh, including cave or route encounters depending on version and progression.
Pokemon HeartGold	Found in Johto or Kanto areas, or trade from another compatible game.
Pokemon SoulSilver	Found in Johto or Kanto areas, or trade from another compatible game.

Generation 5: Black, White, Black 2 and White 2

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Black	Transfer from a previous generation or trade from another compatible game.
Pokemon White	Transfer from a previous generation or trade from another compatible game.
Pokemon Black 2	Transfer from a previous generation or trade from another compatible game.
Pokemon White 2	Transfer from a previous generation or trade from another compatible game.

Generation 6: X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon X	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.
Pokemon Y	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22, or catch Sandslash directly where available.
Pokemon Omega Ruby	Found in the Mirage Cave or transfer from another compatible game when supported.
Pokemon Alpha Sapphire	Found in the Mirage Cave or transfer from another compatible game when supported.

Generation 7: Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon and Let’s Go

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Sun	Trade from Pokemon Moon or another compatible game. Alolan Sandslash is not native to Pokemon Sun.
Pokemon Moon	Evolve Alolan Sandshrew with an Ice Stone after obtaining it in Mount Lanakila or through trade.
Pokemon Ultra Sun	Trade from Pokemon Ultra Moon or another compatible game. Alolan Sandslash is not native to Pokemon Ultra Sun.
Pokemon Ultra Moon	Evolve Alolan Sandshrew with an Ice Stone after obtaining it in Mount Lanakila or through trade.
Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22. Alolan Sandslash can be obtained by evolving Alolan Sandshrew from the in-game trade with an Ice Stone.
Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee	Trade from Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu or Pokemon GO when supported.

Generation 8: Sword, Shield, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl and Legends: Arceus

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Sword	Transfer when supported. Alolan Sandslash availability depends on version, DLC and Pokemon HOME support.
Pokemon Shield	Transfer when supported. Alolan Sandslash availability depends on version, DLC and Pokemon HOME support.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22 after obtaining Sandshrew in the Grand Underground.
Pokemon Shining Pearl	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22 after obtaining Sandshrew in the Grand Underground.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus	Not available in this game.

Generation 9: Scarlet, Violet and Legends Z-A

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Scarlet	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22 or transfer when supported. Alolan Sandslash availability depends on DLC area and Pokemon HOME support.
Pokemon Violet	Evolve Sandshrew at Level 22 or transfer when supported. Alolan Sandslash availability depends on DLC area and Pokemon HOME support.
Pokemon Legends Z-A	Not available in this game based on currently checked Wild Zone lists. Transfer support should be reviewed before publishing.

Generation 10: Pokemon Winds and Waves

Game	Where to Find Sandslash
Pokemon Winds and Waves	Coming soon once official location, encounter or transfer information is confirmed.

Alolan Sandslash

Alolan Sandslash is Sandslash’s regional form from Alola. Unlike regular Sandslash, Alolan Sandslash is an Ice and Steel-type Pokemon that evolves from Alolan Sandshrew with an Ice Stone.

Category

Mouse Pokemon

Type

Ice / Steel

Height

2’04”

Weight

88.2 lbs

Alolan Sandslash trades regular Sandslash’s Ground typing for Ice and Steel. This gives it a very different matchup profile, including major weaknesses to Fire and Fighting-type moves but useful resistances to several other types.

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Sandslash is part of The Game Haus Pokemon coverage, including Pokemon guides, Pokedex pages and future Pokemon game updates.

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