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Sandshrew サンド Sand
Artwork from FR/LG
National Dex	#027
Johto Dex	#048
Hoenn Dex	#112
Sinnoh Dex	#—
Fiore Browser	R—
Almia Browser	R-194
Type	Ground
Species	Mouse Pokémon
Height	2′00″ (0.6m)
Weight	26.5 lbs. (12.0kg)
Ability	Sand Veil
Egg group	Ground
Time to hatch	5,120 steps
Effort yield	1 Def
Exp. yield	93 base exp.
Lv100 at	1,000,000 exp.
Gender	50% ♀ / 50% ♂
Pokédex color	Yellow
Catch rate	255
On Legendary Pokémon Pokédex: Generation III Generation IV On Pokémon Palace Network Pokédex (Gen. I-III) On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV On Eevee's Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) On Psypoke Pokédex On Pokecharms Pokédex (Gen. III-IV) On Marriland Pokédex (Gen. IV) On Serebii's Pokédex: Generation I/II Generation III Generation IV On Azure Heights Pokédex (Gen. I) On Pokémon Dungeon Pokédex (Gen. I-II) On Ultimate Pokémon Center Pokédex (Gen. I-IV) Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Sandshrew (Japanese: サンド Sand) is a Ground-type Pokémon.

Contents 1 Biology 1.1 Physiology 1.1.1 Gender differences 1.1.2 Special abilities 1.2 Behavior 1.3 Habitat 1.4 Diet 2 In the anime 3 In the manga 3.1 In the Pokémon Special manga 4 In the TCG 5 Game data 5.1 Pokédex entries 5.2 Game locations 5.2.1 In side games 5.3 Base stats 5.4 Type effectiveness 5.5 Learnset 5.5.1 By leveling up 5.5.2 By TM/HM 5.5.3 By breeding 5.5.4 By tutoring 5.6 Side game data 5.7 Evolution 5.8 Sprites 6 Trivia 6.1 Origin 6.1.1 Name origin 7 In other languages 8 External links

Biology

Physiology

A Sandshrew is a ground-dwelling rodent notable for its defensive capabilities. Its body is mostly covered in a dry, tough hide which is colored to blend in with the sands of the desert. It can curl into a tight ball about the same size as a basketball to protect its soft underbelly. Its primary weapon is the small but sharp claws on its paws, which are also useful for burrowing and can sometimes be poisoned.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Sandshrew's special abilities are extremely limited compared to other Pokémon. It has a greater control over the ground and sand than the average Pokémon, mostly derived from adaptation to its habitat.

Behavior

In the wild, Sandshrew are mostly defensive by nature. They spend much of their time hidden underground in their burrows and will kick up sand or curl into a ball to escape predators. They may venture out to hunt, taking advantage of the desert sands to hide themselves.

However, with the help of a trainer, a Sandshrew can become bolder and much more daring, and can even be trained to swim despite the fact that they are weakened by the water. They are still fond of curling up, though, even if not for defense.

Habitat

They are adapted to dry, arid areas. Thus, they can be commonly found in deserts and grasslands, and sometimes in river valleys or the upper levels of caves as well. Wherever they are, they live underground in burrows.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

Sandshrew do not require a lot of water, due to a very efficient system of staying hydrated with minimal moisture. They hunt for prey in the wild.

In the anime

An ailing Sandshrew is seen briefly near the beginning of Clefairy and the Moon Stone.

Sandshrew was first featured in The Path to the Pokémon League. It was owned by a Pokémon trainer named A.J.. Despite A.J.'s seemly barbaric training methods (e.g. using a whip), it was very loyal to him.

A Sandshrew was one of the Pokémon that played Hide-n-Seek in Pikachu's PikaBoo. Sandshrew hid in front of a brick wall.

Mira enlists Ash and his friends to help her retrieve her Sandshrew that is lost at the bottom of an artificial lake created by a dammed river in Sandshrew's Locker!.

In the manga

Professor Oak had a Sandshrew in the Electric Tale of Pikachu.

In the Pokémon Special manga

Sandshrew makes a cameo in Onix is On!, part of the Red, Green & Blue chapter, battling against Red's Bulbasaur as a Pewter Gym trainer's Pokémon.

Red had a Sandshrew in Pokémon Special he uses to fight Fire-types.

In the TCG

Main article: Sandshrew (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

Gen	Game	Pokédex entry
I	Red	Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.
	Blue
	Yellow	Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.
	Stadium	When hunting, it hides at the lip of its burrow. If prey comes close, it lunges out and drags in the prey instantly.
II	Gold	If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.
	Silver	Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.
	Crystal	It prefers dry, sandy places because it uses the sand to protect itself when threatened.
	Stadium 2	If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.
III	Ruby	Sandshrew's body is configured to absorb water without waste, enabling it to survive in an arid desert. This Pokémon curls up to protect itself from its enemies.
	Sapphire	Sandshrew has a very dry hide that is extremely tough. The Pokémon can roll into a ball that repels any attack. At night, it burrows into the desert sand to sleep.
	Emerald	When it curls up in a ball, it can make any attack bounce off harmlessly. Its hide has turned tough and solid as a result of living in the desert.
	FireRed	It burrows and lives underground. If threatened, it curls itself up into a ball for protection.
	LeafGreen	Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.
IV	Diamond	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
	Pearl	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.

Game locations

Gen	Game	Rarity	Location
I	Pokémon Red and Blue	Few	Routes 4, 11, and 23 (Blue only)
	Pokémon Yellow	Uncommon	Routes 3 and 4, Mt. Moon
II	Pokémon Gold and Silver	Few	Routes 4, 32, Union Cave, Mt. Moon (Gold only)
	Pokémon Crystal	Uncommon	Routes 2, 4, Union Cave, Mt. Moon
III	Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire	Uncommon	Route 113
	Pokémon Emerald	Common	Routes 111, 113, Mirage Tower
	Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen	Uncommon	Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23 (LeafGreen only)
	Pokémon Colosseum	None	Trade
	Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness	Uncommon	Desert PokéSpot
IV	Pokémon Diamond and Pearl	Uncommon	Wayward Cave (dongle method: LeafGreen)
	Pal Park		Mountain

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Hatch from egg
Pokémon Trozei	Secret Storage 2 Huge Storage 3 Endless Level 9 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon	Magma Cavern (1F-6F) Buried Relic (36F-59F) Desert Region (1F-6F) Joyous Tower (68F-73F)
Pokémon Ranger Batonnage	Nurue Ruins

Base stats

HP:	50
Attack:	75
Defense:	85
Special:	30
SpAtk:	20
SpDef:	30
Speed:	40

The Special stat was used only in Generation I; it was later split into Special Attack and Special Defense.

Type effectiveness

Weakness	Resistance
Grass: 2× Water: 2× Ice: 2×	Poison: ½× Rock: ½× Electric: 0×	Normal: 1× Fighting: 1× Flying: 1× Ground: 1× Bug: 1× Ghost: 1× Steel: 1× Fire: 1× Psychic: 1× Dragon: 1× Dark: 1×

Learnset

Sandshrew is capable of learning the following moves.
Moves in bold are damage moves to which STAB apply.

By leveling up

Generation I Level Move Type Start Scratch 10 Sand-Attack 17 Slash 24 Poison Sting 31 Swift 38 Fury Swipes

Generation II Level Move Type Start Scratch 6 Defense Curl 11 Sand-Attack 17 Poison Sting 23 Slash 30 Swift 37 Fury Swipes 45 Sandstorm

Generation III Level Move Type Start Scratch 6 Defense Curl 11 Sand-Attack 17 Poison Sting 23 Slash 30 Swift 37 Fury Swipes 45 Sand Tomb 53 Sandstorm

Generation IV Level Move Type Cat. Start Scratch 3 Defense Curl 7 Sand-Attack 9 Poison Sting 13 Rapid Spin 15 Swift 19 Fury Swipes 21 Rollout 25 Fury Cutter 27 Sand Tomb 31 Slash 33 Gyro Ball 37 Sandstorm

By TM/HM

Generation I # Move Type TM01 Mega Punch TM03 Swords Dance TM06 Toxic TM08 Body Slam TM09 Take Down TM10 Double-Edge TM17 Submission TM19 Seismic Toss TM20 Rage TM26 Earthquake TM27 Fissure TM28 Dig TM31 Mimic TM32 Double Team TM34 Bide TM39 Swift TM40 Skull Bash TM44 Rest TM48 Rock Slide TM50 Substitute HM01 Cut HM04 Strength

Generation II # Move Type TM01 DynamicPunch TM02 Headbutt TM03 Curse TM04 Rollout TM06 Toxic TM08 Rock Smash TM09 Take Down TM10 Hidden Power TM11 Sunny Day TM13 Snore TM17 Protect TM20 Endure TM21 Frustration TM23 Iron Tail TM26 Earthquake TM27 Return TM28 Dig TM31 Mud Slap TM32 Double Team TM34 Swagger TM35 Sleep Talk TM37 Sandstorm TM39 Swift TM40 Defense Curl TM43 Detect TM44 Rest TM45 Attract TM46 Thief TM49 Fury Cutter HM01 Cut HM04 Strength

Generation III # Move Type TM01 Focus Punch TM06 Toxic TM10 Hidden Power TM11 Sunny Day TM17 Protect TM21 Frustration TM23 Iron Tail TM26 Earthquake TM27 Return TM28 Dig TM31 Brick Break TM32 Double Team TM37 Sandstorm TM39 Rock Tomb TM40 Aerial Ace TM42 Facade TM43 Secret Power TM44 Rest TM45 Attract TM46 Thief HM01 Cut HM04 Strength HM06 Rock Smash

Generation IV # Move Type Cat. TM01 Focus Punch TM06 Toxic TM10 Hidden Power TM11 Sunny Day TM17 Protect TM21 Frustration TM23 Iron Tail TM26 Earthquake TM27 Return TM28 Dig TM31 Brick Break TM32 Double Team TM37 Sandstorm TM39 Rock Tomb TM40 Aerial Ace TM42 Facade TM43 Secret Power TM44 Rest TM45 Attract TM46 Thief TM52 Focus Blast TM56 Fling TM58 Endure TM65 Shadow Claw TM74 Gyro Ball TM75 Swords Dance TM76 Stealth Rock TM78 Captivate TM80 Rock Slide TM81 X-Scissor TM82 Sleep Talk TM83 Natural Gift TM84 Poison Jab TM87 Swagger TM90 Substitute HM01 Cut HM04 Strength HM06 Rock Smash HM08 Rock Climb

By breeding

Move	Type	Cat.	Father
Counter			Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking, Lucario
Crush Claw			Sandshrew, Sandslash Zangoose
Flail			Dunsparce Slakoth Slaking
Night Slash			Dugtrio Meowth, Persian Farfetch'd Seviper Absol Stunky, Skuntank Weavile
Rapid Spin			Sandshrew, Sandslash Donphan
Rock Slide			Camerupt
Safeguard			Vulpix Seel, Dewgong
Swords Dance			Raticate Farfetch'd Zangoose Absol

By tutoring

In Pokémon FireRed, Pokémon LeafGreen, and Pokémon Emerald:

Move	Type	Cat.	Version
Body Slam			FR	LG	E
Counter			FR	LG	E
Double-Edge			FR	LG	E
Mimic			FR	LG	E
Rock Slide			FR	LG	E
Seismic Toss			FR	LG	E
Substitute			FR	LG	E
Swords Dance			FR	LG	E
Defense Curl					E
DynamicPunch					E
Endure					E
Fury Cutter					E
Mud-Slap					E
Rollout					E
Sleep Talk					E
Snore					E
Swagger					E
Swift					E

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
	Acquisition: Catch
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
	Acquisition: Hatch
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Common
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 10.4%	Friend Area: Furnace Desert
Phrases
51%-100% HP	Defense Curl makes me better protected!
26%-50% HP	I have only half my HP left...
1%-25% HP	I'm close to fainting... Can I just curl up somewhere?
Level Up	Yeah! I leveled!
Pokémon Ranger Batonnage
Group:	Poké Assist:	Field Move: Dig

Evolution

Basic