28: Sandslash

Essentials

Sandslash

Alola Form

Abilities

Snow Cloak: Increases evasion to 1.25× during hail. Protects against hail damage.

Hidden Ability

Slush Rush: During Hail, this Pokémon has double Speed.

Damage Taken

Pokédex Numbers

Introduced in
National: 28
Kanto: 28
Original Johto: 49
Original Hoenn: 113
Updated Johto: 49
Updated Unova: 114
Mountain Kalos: 98
New Hoenn: 118
Original Alola: 252
Original Ula'ula: 124
Updated Alola: 329
Updated Ula'ula: 150

Names

Japanese: サンドパン (sandopan)
: サンドパン
Official roomaji: Sandpan
Korean: 고지
Chinese: 穿山王
: 穿山王
French: Sablaireau
German: Sandamer
Spanish: Sandslash
Italian: Sandslash

Breeding

Gender

½ male, ½ female

Egg groups

Field

Hatch counter

Steps to hatch

5355 / 2805

Compatibility

Training

Base EXP

158

Effort points

2 Defense

Capture rate

Base happiness

Growth rate

medium

Wild held items

		nothing
		nothing
		nothing
		nothing
	5%	Grip Claw

Evolution

Compare this family

Baby	Basic	Stage 1	Stage 2
	Sandshrew	Sandslash Level up, starting at level 22

Sandslash Forms

Stats

			Level
			Effort
		Pctile	Min IVs	Max IVs
HP	75	65.6	323	354
Attack	100	75.0	268	299
Defense	120	91.8	308	339
Special Attack	25	2.8	118	149
Special Defense	65	44.2	198	229
Speed	65	47.9	198	229
Total	450	48.8

Flavor

Detailed flavor page covering all versions

Flavor Text

: It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
: The spikes on its body are made up of its hardened hide. It rolls up and attacks foes with its spikes.

: If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
: Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
: Sandslash’s body is covered by tough spikes, which are hardened sections of its hide. Once a year, the old spikes fall out, to be replaced with new spikes that grow out from beneath the old ones.
: Sandslash can roll up its body as if it were a ball covered with large spikes. In battle, this Pokémon will try to make the foe flinch by jabbing it with its spines. It then leaps at the stunned foe to tear wildly with its sharp claws.

: Although they are sharp, its claws and spikes often break off. They grow back the next day, so it is not bothered by the temporary loss.
: It uses its claws to climb trees and then curls its body into a spiny ball, ready to drop onto any prey that appears.
: Its claws and horns often break off. The broken claws and horns can be used to carve plows for tilling farm fields.
: Thanks to its thick claws, it’s good at climbing trees. There are plenty of Sandslash that park themselves in trees and go right to sleep.

Sprites

Miscellany

Species: Mouse Pokémon
Color: Yellow
Cry
Habitat: rough terrain
Footprint
Shape: Sciurine

Height

3'11.2"
1.2 m

Weight

550

121.3 lb
55.0 kg

Locations

Ridiculously detailed breakdown

Pal Park

Area: Mountain
Score: 70
Rate: 20

Moves

Ice and Steel moves get STAB, and have their type highlighted in green.

Physical moves better suit Sandslash's higher Attack, and have their class highlighted in green.

		Move	Type	Class	PP	Power	Acc	Pri	Effect
Level up: Learned when a Pokémon reaches a certain level.
0	0	Icicle Spear			30	25	100%		Hits 2-5 times in one turn.
—	—	Icicle Spear			30	25	100%		Hits 2-5 times in one turn.
—	—	Metal Burst			10	*	100%		Strikes back at the last Pokémon to hit the user this turn with 1.5× the damage.
—	—	Icicle Crash			10	85	90%		Has a 30% chance to make the target flinch.
—	—	Slash			20	70	100%		Has an increased chance for a critical hit.
—	—	Defense Curl			40	—	—		Raises user's Defense by one stage.
—	—	Ice Ball			20	30	90%		Power doubles every turn this move is used in succession after the first, resetting after five turns.
—	—	Metal Claw			35	50	95%		Has a 10% chance to raise the user's Attack by one stage.
Level up, learned by Sandshrew but not Sandslash
—	—	Scratch			35	40	100%		Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.
3	3	Bide			10	*	—	1	User waits for two turns, then hits back for twice the damage it took.
5	5	Powder Snow			25	40	100%		Has a 10% chance to freeze the target.
9	9	Rapid Spin			40	20	100%		Frees the user from binding moves, removes Leech Seed, and blows away Spikes.
11	11	Fury Cutter			20	40	95%		Power doubles every turn this move is used in succession after the first, maxing out after five turns.
17	17	Swift			20	60	—		Never misses.
20	20	Fury Swipes			15	18	80%		Hits 2-5 times in one turn.
23	23	Iron Defense			15	—	—		Raises the user's Defense by two stages.
30	30	Iron Head			15	80	100%		Has a 30% chance to make the target flinch.
34	34	Gyro Ball			5	*	100%		Power raises when the user has lower Speed, up to a maximum of 150.
38	38	Swords Dance			20	—	—		Raises the user's Attack by two stages.
42	42	Hail			10	—	—		Changes the weather to a hailstorm for five turns.
46	46	Blizzard			5	110	70%		Has a 10% chance to freeze the target.
Level up, learned by Sandshrew but not Sandslash
3	3	Sand Attack			15	—	100%		Lowers the target's accuracy by one stage.
5	5	Poison Sting			35	15	100%		Has a 30% chance to poison the target.
7	7	Rollout			20	30	90%		Power doubles every turn this move is used in succession after the first, resetting after five turns.
14	14	Magnitude			30	*	100%		Power varies randomly from 10 to 150.
23	23	Sand Tomb			15	35	85%		Prevents the target from fleeing and inflicts damage for 2-5 turns.
30	30	Dig			10	80	100%		User digs underground, dodging all attacks, and hits next turn.
42	42	Sandstorm			10	—	—		Changes the weather to a sandstorm for five turns.
46	46	Earthquake			10	100	100%		Inflicts regular damage and can hit Dig users.
		Move	Type	Class	PP	Power	Acc	Pri	Effect
Egg: Appears on a newly-hatched Pokémon, if the father had the same move.
Egg, learned by Sandshrew but not Sandslash
		Chip Away			20	70	100%		Ignores the target's stat modifiers.
		Counter			20	*	100%	-5	Inflicts twice the damage the user received from the last physical hit it took.
		Crush Claw			10	75	95%		Has a 50% chance to lower the target's Defense by one stage.
		Endure			10	—	—	4	Prevents the user's HP from lowering below 1 this turn.
		Flail			15	*	100%		Inflicts more damage when the user has less HP remaining, with a maximum of 200 power.
		Hone Claws			15	—	—		Raises the user's Attack and accuracy by one stage.
		Metal Claw			35	50	95%		Has a 10% chance to raise the user's Attack by one stage.
		Mud Shot			15	55	95%		Has a 100% chance to lower the target's Speed by one stage.
		Night Slash			15	70	100%		Has an increased chance for a critical hit.
		Rapid Spin			40	20	100%		Frees the user from binding moves, removes Leech Seed, and blows away Spikes.
		Rock Climb			20	90	85%		Has a 20% chance to confuse the target.
		Rototiller			10	—	—		Raises the Attack and Special Attack of all Grass Pokémon in battle.
		Move	Type	Class	PP	Power	Acc	Pri	Effect
Machine: Can be taught at any time by using a TM or HM.
01	01	Work Up			30	—	—		Raises the user's Attack and Special Attack by one stage each.
06	06	Toxic			10	—	90%		Badly poisons the target, inflicting more damage every turn.
07	07	Hail			10	—	—		Changes the weather to a hailstorm for five turns.
10	10	Hidden Power			15	60	100%		Power and type depend upon user's IVs. Power can range from 30 to 70.
11	11	Sunny Day			5	—	—		Changes the weather to sunny for five turns.
14	14	Blizzard			5	110	70%		Has a 10% chance to freeze the target.
15	15	Hyper Beam			5	150	90%		User foregoes its next turn to recharge.
17	17	Protect			10	—	—	4	Prevents any moves from hitting the user this turn.
20	20	Safeguard			25	—	—		Protects the user's field from major status ailments and confusion for five turns.
21	21	Frustration			20	*	100%		Power increases as happiness decreases, up to a maximum of 102.
26	26	Earthquake			10	100	100%		Inflicts regular damage and can hit Dig users.
27	27	Return			20	*	100%		Power increases with happiness, up to a maximum of 102.
28	28	Leech Life			10	80	100%		Drains half the damage inflicted to heal the user.
31	31	Brick Break			15	75	100%		Destroys Reflect and Light Screen.
32	32	Double Team			15	—	—		Raises the user's evasion by one stage.
40	40	Aerial Ace			20	60	—		Never misses.
42	42	Facade			20	70	100%		Power doubles if user is burned, paralyzed, or poisoned.
44	44	Rest			10	—	—		User sleeps for two turns, completely healing itself.
45	45	Attract			15	—	100%		Target falls in love if it has the opposite gender, and has a 50% chance to refuse attacking the user.
46	46	Thief			25	60	100%		Takes the target's item.
48	48	Round			15	60	100%		Has double power if it's used more than once per turn.
52	52	Focus Blast			5	120	70%		Has a 10% chance to lower the target's Special Defense by one stage.
56	56	Fling			10	*	100%		Throws held item at the target; power depends on the item.
65	65	Shadow Claw			15	70	100%		Has an increased chance for a critical hit.
68	68	Giga Impact			5	150	90%		User foregoes its next turn to recharge.
70	70	Aurora Veil			20	—	—		Reduces damage five turns, but must be used during hail.
74	74	Gyro Ball			5	*	100%		Power raises when the user has lower Speed, up to a maximum of 150.
75	75	Swords Dance			20	—	—		Raises the user's Attack by two stages.
78	78	Bulldoze			20	60	100%		Has a 100% chance to lower the target's Speed by one stage.
79	79	Frost Breath			10	60	90%		Always scores a critical hit.
80	80	Rock Slide			10	75	90%		Has a 30% chance to make the target flinch.
81	81	X-Scissor			15	80	100%		Inflicts regular damage with no additional effect.
84	84	Poison Jab			20	80	100%		Has a 30% chance to poison the target.
87	87	Swagger			15	—	85%		Raises the target's Attack by two stages and confuses the target.
88	88	Sleep Talk			10	—	—		Randomly uses one of the user's other three moves. Only works if the user is sleeping.
90	90	Substitute			10	—	—		Transfers 1/4 of the user's max HP into a doll, protecting the user from further damage or status changes until it breaks.
100	100	Confide			20	—	—		Lowers the target's Special Attack by one stage.
Machine, learned by Sandshrew but not Sandslash
37	37	Sandstorm			10	—	—		Changes the weather to a sandstorm for five turns.
39	39	Rock Tomb			15	60	95%		Has a 100% chance to lower the target's Speed by one stage.