Sandslash (Pokémon)

Sandslash サンドパン Sandpan
Artwork from FR/LG
Pronunciation	sand-slash [1]
Type	Ground
Species	Mouse Pokémon
Kanto Dex National Dex	#028
Johto Dex	#049
Hoenn Dex	#113
Sinnoh Dex	#—
Fiore Browser	R—
Almia Browser	R-195
Height	3′03″ (1.0m)
Weight	65.0 lbs. (29.5kg)
Ability	Sand Veil
Egg group	Ground
Time to hatch	5,120 steps
Effort yield	2 Def
Exp. yield	163 base exp.
Lv. 100 at	1,000,000 exp.
Gender	50% ♀/50% ♂
Pokédex color	Yellow
Catch rate	90
Footprint
Body style
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

Sandslash (Japanese: サンドパン Sandpan) is a Ground-type Pokémon.

It evolves from Sandshrew at level 22.

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 4 In the TCG 5 Game data 5.1 NPC appearances 5.2 Pokédex entries 5.3 Game locations 5.3.1 In side games 5.4 Base stats 5.5 Type effectiveness 5.6 Learnset 5.6.1 By leveling up 5.6.2 By TM/HM 5.6.3 By breeding 5.6.4 By tutoring 5.7 Side game data 5.8 Evolution 5.9 Sprites 6 Trivia 6.1 Origin 6.1.1 Name origin 7 In other languages 8 External links 9 Notes

Biology

Physiology

Sandslash is a ground-dwelling rodent notable for its offensive and defensive capabilities. Its body is mostly covered in sharp quills formed from its tough, dry hide. It can curl into a large ball to protect its underbelly, and in this position it can roll to attack or escape. Its primary weapon is the large claws on its paws, which can be used to slash at enemies but which also useful for burrowing quickly and can sometimes be poisoned. Its claws and spikes can both break off and are shed regularly, but grow back quickly.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Sandslash are able to roll himself into a sharp, spiky ball, which can be used for attacking or escaping. In this ball form Sandslash can protect himself from heatstroke, and can even kick up a dust storm in ball form. Sandslash is also adept at climbing trees, and is prone to ambush its enemies from above.

Like all evolved Pokémon, Sandslash can generate a Hyper Beam.

Behavior

In the wild, Sandslash are more offensive than their pre-evolution, Sandshrew, but are still 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.

When needed, they can perform a variety of techniques to attack enemies, including slashing at them, rolling at them while curled up, and even climbing trees and attacking from above. With the assistance of a trainer, they can become very strong and aggressive fighters.

Habitat

They are adapted to dry, arid areas. Thus, they can mostly be 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

Sandslash 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

Sandslash first appeared in To Master the Onixpected. It was stuck underneath the rocky skin of a giant Onix and causing so much pain, that the Rock Snake Pokémon was on a rampage. Bruno helped to get the Sandslash out.

A Sandslash was one of the Pokémon that was captured and cloned by Mewtwo in Mewtwo Strikes Back. When Team Rocket saw this Pokémon being cloned, it was mistaken for its pre-evolution, Sandshrew.

In Good 'Quil Hunting, a Pokémon trainer named Koji informed Ash about a place that was good for catching Cyndaquil. After Ash captured a Cyndaquil, the trainer challenged Ash to a 1-on-1 Pokémon battle to determine who'd keep the Cyndaquil. That trainer used a Sandslash against Ash's Cyndaquil.

In Bulbasaur... the Ambassador, several Sandslash helped dig a new lake for the Grass-type Pokémon at Professor Oak's Lab.

Sandslash also made a cameo in Numero Uno Articuno as a Pokémon belonging to Noland.

In Gymbaliar! a Sandslash was under the ownership of a boy trainer battling Jessie for "a Badge". It lost to Jessie's (then) Croagunk.

In the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2 special, Sandslash was a member of Team Razor Wind, along with Scyther and Zangoose. The trio of clawed Pokémon were first seen being blasted out of the Wigglytuff Guild. Team Razor Wind overheard that Team Poké-Pals were assigned with the task of traveling to the Labyrinth Cavern to get a Gabite Scale for an ailing Shinx, and decided to attempt beating the Poké-Pals to the punch (or slash). Unfortunately for Team Razor Wind, Gabite beat them up.

In the manga

In Pokémon Special, Sandslash's most dominant appearance was in Volume 12, VS Sandslash. While trying to find out their location, Gold and Silver are attacked by a swarm of spiky balls, which are revealed to be Sandslash migrating in response to the wrath of Lugia.

In the TCG

Main article: Sandslash (TCG)

Game data

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon 2: Sandslash is one of the members of Team Razorwinds.

Pokédex entries

Gen	Game	Pokédex entry
I	Red	Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
	Blue
	Yellow	It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day.
	Stadium	Curls into a ball of sharp spikes and rolls into enemies. It is also adept at slashing with its sharp claws.
II	Gold	In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.
	Silver	If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spike and claws. They grow back in a day.
	Crystal	Adept at climbing trees, it rolls into a spiny ball, then attacks its enemies from above.
	Stadium 2	In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.
III	Ruby	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.
	Sapphire	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.
	Emerald	It curls up in a ball to protect itself from enemy attacks. It also curls up to prevent heatstroke during the daytime when temperatures rise sharply.
	FireRed	It is adept at attacking with the spines on its back and its sharp claws while quickly scurrying about.
	LeafGreen	Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
IV	Diamond	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
	Pearl	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
	Platinum	Currently unknown

Game locations

Gen	Game		Rarity	Location
I	Red	Blue	Few	Route 23, Unknown Dungeon
	Yellow		Few	Unknown Dungeon
II	Gold	Silver	Few	Routes 26 and 27, Mt. Moon
	Crystal		Uncommon	Route 26 and Victory Road
III	Ruby	Sapphire	None	Evolve Sandshrew
	Emerald		None	Evolve Sandshrew
	FireRed	LeafGreen	Uncommon	Route 23 and Victory Road
	Colosseum		None	Trade
	XD		None	Evolve Sandshrew
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Dongle	Route 228 (LeafGreen)
	Platinum		Dongle	Route 228 (LeafGreen)
	Pal Park			Mountain

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Valley
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Evolve from Sandshrew
Pokémon Trozei!	Endless Level 3 Endless Level 20 Forever Level 52 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Red and Blue)	Evolve from Sandshrew
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Time and Darkness)	Quicksand Cave (B1-B10) Quicksand Pit (B1-B10) Shimmer Desert (1F-9F)
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia	Hippowdon Temple

Base stats

HP:	75
Attack:	100
Defense:	110
Special:	55
SpAtk:	45
SpDef:	55
Speed:	65

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

Type effectiveness

Weak to	Resistant to	Immune to	Normal effectiveness
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

Sandslash is capable of learning the following moves (from its evolution onwards):
NOTE: Moves in bold are damage moves to which STAB apply.

By leveling up

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
Level	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
Start	Scratch	Normal	Physical	40	100%	35	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
Start	Defense Curl	Normal	Status	—	—%	40	Cute	2 ♥♥
Start	Sand-Attack	Ground	Status	—	100%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
3	Defense Curl	Normal	Status	—	—%	40	Cute	2 ♥♥
7	Sand-Attack	Ground	Status	—	100%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
9	Poison Sting	Poison	Physical	15	100%	35	Smart	2 ♥♥
13	Rapid Spin	Normal	Physical	20	100%	40	Cool	2 ♥♥
15	Swift	Normal	Special	60	—%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
19	Fury Swipes	Normal	Physical	18	80%	15	Tough	2 ♥♥
21	Rollout	Rock	Physical	30	90%	20	Tough	2 ♥♥
22	Crush Claw	Normal	Physical	75	95%	10	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
33	Sand Tomb	Ground	Physical	15	70%	15	Smart	0
40	Slash	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
45	Gyro Ball	Steel	Physical	—	100%	5	Beauty	2 ♥♥
52	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By TM/HM

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: I - II - III
TM	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
TM01	Focus Punch	Fighting	Physical	150	100%	20	Tough	1 ♥
TM06	Toxic	Poison	Status	—	85%	10	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM10	Hidden Power	Normal	Special	—	100%	15	Smart	1 ♥
TM11	Sunny Day	Fire	Status	—	—%	5	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM15	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150	90%	5	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM17	Protect	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
TM21	Frustration	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM23	Iron Tail	Steel	Physical	100	75%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM26	Earthquake	Ground	Physical	100	100%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM27	Return	Normal	Physical	—	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM28	Dig	Ground	Physical	80	100%	10	Smart	1 ♥
TM31	Brick Break	Fighting	Physical	75	100%	15	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
TM32	Double Team	Normal	Status	—	—%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM37	Sandstorm	Rock	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM39	Rock Tomb	Rock	Physical	50	80%	10	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM40	Aerial Ace	Flying	Physical	60	—%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM42	Facade	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM43	Secret Power	Normal	Physical	70	100%	20	Smart	2 ♥♥
TM44	Rest	Psychic	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
TM45	Attract	Normal	Status	—	100%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM46	Thief	Dark	Physical	40	100%	10	Tough	0
TM52	Focus Blast	Fighting	Special	120	70%	5	Cool	0
TM56	Fling	Dark	Physical	—	100%	10	Tough	1 ♥
TM58	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM65	Shadow Claw	Ghost	Physical	70	100%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM68	Giga Impact	Normal	Physical	150	90%	5	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM71	Stone Edge	Rock	Physical	100	80%	5	Tough	2 ♥♥
TM74	Gyro Ball	Steel	Physical	—	100%	5	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM75	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	—	—%	30	Beauty	0
TM76	Stealth Rock	Rock	Status	—	—%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM78	Captivate	Normal	Status	—	100%	20	Beauty	2 ♥♥
TM80	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	75	90%	10	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
TM81	X-Scissor	Bug	Physical	80	100%	15	Beauty	0
TM82	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
TM83	Natural Gift	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15	Cool	2 ♥♥
TM84	Poison Jab	Poison	Physical	80	100%	20	Smart	0
TM87	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
TM90	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	1 ♥
HM01	Cut	Normal	Physical	50	95%	30	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
HM04	Strength	Normal	Physical	80	100%	15	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
HM06	Rock Smash	Fighting	Physical	40	100%	15	Tough	2 ♥♥
HM08	Rock Climb	Normal	Physical	90	85%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an evolution of this Pokémon

By breeding

Generation IV Other generation learnsets: II - III
Father	Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
Slakoth, Vigoroth, Slaking Lucario	Counter	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	20	Tough	2 ♥♥
Sandslash Zangoose	Crush Claw	Normal	Physical	75	95%	10	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
Dunsparce Phanpy, Donphan Zigzagoon, Linoone Torkoal Spinda	Flail	Normal	Physical	—	100%	15	Cute	2 ♥♥
Sneasel, Weavile Prinplup, Empoleon	Metal Claw	Steel	Physical	50	95%	35	Cool	2 ♥♥
Dugtrio Meowth, Persian Farfetch'd Seviper Absol Stunky, Skuntank Weavile	Night Slash	Dark	Physical	70	100%	15	Beauty	3 ♥♥♥
Sandshrew, Sandslash Donphan Torkoal	Rapid Spin	Normal	Physical	20	100%	40	Cool	2 ♥♥
Camerupt	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	75	90%	10	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
Vulpix, Ninetales Seel, Dewgong	Safeguard	Normal	Status	—	—%	25	Beauty	2 ♥♥
Raticate Farfetch'd Zangoose Absol Empoleon Lucario	Swords Dance	Normal	Status	—	—%	30	Beauty	0
Bold indicates a move that gets STAB Italic indicates a move that gets STAB from an evolution of this Pokémon *Indicates a move only available by chain breeding

By tutoring

Generation III and IV Other generation learnsets: II - III
Game							Move	Type	Cat.	Pwr.	Acc.	PP	Contest	Appeal
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Body Slam	Normal	Physical	85	100%	15	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Counter	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	20	Tough	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Defense Curl	Normal	Status	—	—%	40	Cute	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Double-Edge	Normal	Physical	120	100%	15	Tough	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	DynamicPunch	Fighting	Physical	100	50%	5	Cool	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Earth Power	Ground	Special	90	100%	10	Smart	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Endure	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Tough	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Fury Cutter	Bug	Physical	10	95%	20	Cool	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Knock Off	Dark	Physical	20	100%	20	Smart	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Mimic	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Mud-Slap	Ground	Special	20	100%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Psych Up	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	0
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Rock Slide	Rock	Physical	75	90%	10	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Rollout	Rock	Physical	30	90%	20	Tough	2 ♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Seismic Toss	Fighting	Physical	—	100%	20	Tough	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Sleep Talk	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Cute	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Snore	Normal	Special	40	100%	15	Cool	3 ♥♥♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Substitute	Normal	Status	—	—%	10	Smart	1 ♥
FR	LG	E	XD	D	P	Pt	Swagger	Normal	Status	—	90%	15	Cute