Competitive Information for Sandslash [X/Y]
Ground
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Sandslash? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
Sandslash is an astounding Ground-typed Pokemon. It's not-uncommon to find yourself dealing with Sandslash when battling in the 6th generation meta. This Pokemon deserves to see more play in the meta. Sandslash is weak to Grass, Ice, and Water-typed attacks.
Item: Expert Belt / Choice Band
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 112 Hp / 252 Atk / 144 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Poison Jab / Brick Break
- Knock Off / Night Slash
- Shadow Claw
Physical Sweeper Sandslash (Sand Rush)
Sandslash is a decent Physical Sweeper. It is primarily designed 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. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm. Poison Jab or Brick Break are added to provide additional threat coverage.
♦ Bulldoze is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent pkmn speed by 1 stage).
♦ Poison Jab is a physical 80-base power Poison-type move (30% chance to poison the target).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
♦ 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).
♦ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs10a1c
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 a decent Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. With Sand Rush, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's speed is doubled; immunity to sandstorm.
♦ Rapid Spin is a physical 20-base power Normal-type move (frees Sandslash from hazards, binding, leech seed).
♦ 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/gs11a1c
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 phenomenal Special Wall. It's primary goal is to take a mighty 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 it's health 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 20-base power Normal-type move (frees Sandslash from hazards, binding, leech seed).
♦ 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).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs12a1c
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 awesome Physical Tank. This moveset is designed to take a great amount of physical hits while dealing some decent damage. Leftovers are always a great recovery option to ensure Sandslash last longer regaining it's stamina 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).
♦ Swords Dance is a status move (raises your Sandslash's attack by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs13a1c
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Naughty (+Atk, -SpD)
EVs: 108 Hp / 200 Atk / 200 Spe
Moveset:
- Night Slash
- Rapid Spin
- Return
- Swords Dance
Sandslash Physical Sweeper (Slash Ya Apart)
Sandslash is a fabulous Physical Sweeper. This moveset is designed 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. With Sand Veil, if sandstorm is active Sandslash's evasiveness is 1.25x; immunity to sandstorm.
♦ Rapid Spin is a physical 20-base power Normal-type move (frees Sandslash from hazards, binding, leech seed).
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Swords Dance is a status move (raises your Sandslash's attack by 2 stages).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/gs14a1c
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Sandslash? These builds have been optimized for X/Y 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 X/Y generation metagame.
Item: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Sand Rush
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 112 Hp / 252 Atk / 144 SpD
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Rock Slide
- Poison Jab / Double-Edge
- Knock Off / Night Slash
Doubles Physical Sweeper Sandslash (Sand Rush)
Sandslash is a spectacular Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is 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.
♦ Bulldoze is a physical STAB-boosted 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent pkmn speed by 1 stage).
♦ Rock Slide is a physical 75-base power Rock-type move (30% chance to flinch the foes).
♦ 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/gd10a1c
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 X/Y. 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 XY 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: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic
Moves that boost Sandslash's stats
- Defense Curl
- Hone Claws
- Metal Claw
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance
Most notable and possible best moves for Sandslash
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Protect
- Rapid Spin
- Rest
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Sandslash in X and Y
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Sandslash's EV spread for Pokemon X and Y
Related Videos
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Here are the best movesets for Sandslash. Top rated Sandslash X/Y movesets. You can find Sandslash builds X/Y. Sandslash movesets X/Y are listed here. VGC Sandslash Competitive Movesets can be found here. Find various EV spreads, find the best nature for Sandslash in X/Y along with competitive movesets. Basic info and Movesets for evolution