Competitive Information for Sandslash [Sword/Shield]
Ground
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Sandslash? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Sandslash is an interesting Ground-typed Pokemon. Sandslash are common Pokemon to see in the SS metagame. Sandslash is weak to Grass, Ice, and Water-typed attacks.
Item: Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 180 Hp / 252 Atk / 76 Spe
Moveset:
- Steel Roller
- Drill Run / Bulldoze
- Rock Slide
- Protect
Physical Tank Sandslash (Popular/Trending)
Sandslash is a remarkable Physical Tank for single battles. It's goal is to take a considerable amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Expert Belt boosts the damage of Sandslash's super effective moves by 20%. Life Orb boosts the power of Sandslash's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm.
◆ Drill Run is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Bulldoze is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to make the foes flinch).
◆ Protect is a status move (prevents moves from affecting your Sandslash this turn).
Link (click to copy):
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Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 112 Hp / 252 Atk / 144 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Drill Run
- Steel Roller / Shadow Claw
- Poison Jab / Double-Edge
- Knock Off / Night Slash
Physical Sweeper Sandslash (Sand Rush)
Sandslash is an interesting Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Choice Band will increase the damage of Sandslash's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. Life Orb boosts the power of Sandslash's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm. Poison Jab was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Drill Run is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Steel Roller is a physical 130-base power Steel-type move (fails if there is no terrain active. Ends the terrain).
◆ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Night Slash is a physical 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a1c
Item: Expert Belt
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Shadow Claw
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
Sandslash Physical Sweeper (Rapidshrew)
Sandslash is popular Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Expert Belt boosts the damage of Sandslash's super effective moves by 20%. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm.
◆ Rapid Spin is a physical 50-base power Normal-type move (free Sandslash from hazards/bind/leech seed; +1 spe).
◆ Earthquake is a physical STAB-boosted 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
◆ Swords Dance is a status move (raises your Sandslash's attack by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is12a1c
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Brave (+Atk, -Spe)
EVs: 213 Hp / 87 Atk / 210 SpD
Moveset:
- Bulldoze / Brick Break
- Night Slash / Poison Jab
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance / Sandstorm
Sandslash Special Wall (Slashitude)
Sandslash is a decent Special Wall for single battles. It's purpose is to take a nice amount of hits from special attacks while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Sandslash last longer regaining it's HP every turn. With Sand Veil, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to sandstorm.
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Night Slash is a physical 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
◆ Rapid Spin is a physical 50-base power Normal-type move (free Sandslash from hazards/bind/leech seed; +1 spe).
◆ Swords Dance is a status move (raises your Sandslash's attack by 2 stages).
◆ Sandstorm is a status move (for 5 turns, a sandstorm rages. Rock: 1.5x spd).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is13a1c
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 142 Hp / 243 Atk / 125 Spe
Moveset:
- Bulldoze
- Night Slash
- Sandstorm
- Swords Dance
Sandslash Physical Tank (Slashing Victory)
Sandslash is an extraordinary Physical Tank for single battles. This moveset is designed to take a mighty amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Sandslash last longer regaining it's HP every turn. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm.
◆ Night Slash is a physical 70-base power Dark-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Sandstorm is a status move (for 5 turns, a sandstorm rages. Rock: 1.5x spd).
◆ Swords Dance is a status move (raises your Sandslash's attack by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is14a1c
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Sandslash? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 112 Hp / 252 Atk / 144 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Drill Run
- Rock Slide
- Steel Roller / Knock Off
- Double-Edge / Slash
Doubles Physical Sweeper Sandslash (Sand Rush)
Sandslash is popular Physical Sweeper for double battles. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Sandslash's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. The Shell Bell item option is to help Sandslash recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm.
◆ Drill Run is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Ground-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to make the foes flinch).
◆ Steel Roller is a physical 130-base power Steel-type move (fails if there is no terrain active. Ends the terrain).
◆ Knock Off is a physical 65-base power Dark-type move (1.5x damage if foe holds an item; Note: This will also remove that item).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Slash is a physical 70-base power Normal-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a1c
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Sandslash learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Sandslash can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Sandslash
- Moves: Defense curl + Rollout
- Moves: Endure + Flail
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic, Scorching Sands
Moves that boost Sandslash's stats
- Agility
- Amnesia
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Hone Claws
- Metal Claw
- Rapid Spin
- Skull Bash
- Swords Dance
- Work Up
Most notable and possible best moves for Sandslash
- Brick Break
- Bulldoze
- Drill Run
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Rest
- Rock Slide
- Stealth Rock
- Steel Roller
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Sandslash in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 180/252/0/0/0/76 )
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/4/252 )
- Optimize Sandslash's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Sandslash. Top rated Sandslash Sword/Shield movesets. You can find Sandslash builds Sword/Shield. Sandslash movesets Sword/Shield are listed here. VGC Sandslash Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Sandslash in Sword/Shield along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution