Sandslash (Pokémon)

Sandslash サンドパン Sandpan

Artwork from FR/LG

Type Species  Ground  Mouse Pokémon Ability Exp. at 100 Sand Veil 1,000,000 Pokédex Kanto #028 Johto #049 Hoenn #113 Sinnoh #— Browser Fiore R— Almia R-195 Height Weight 3'03" 65.0 lbs. Pokédex color Body style Footprint Catch rate Yellow 90 Gender ratio   50% male   50% female Egg groups Egg cycles Ground 21 (5355 steps*) EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 2 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Exp. 163 External links 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 (Spin-Off games) Generation IV (Spin-Off games) 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 starting at level 22.

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 themselves into sharp balls of spikes, which can be used to both attack and defend themselves. In this ball form Sandslash can protect themselves from heatstroke, and can even kick up a dust storm. 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 Pokémon Trainer, they can become very strong and aggressive fighters.

Habitat

Rough-terrain Pokémon

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

A Trainer and his Sandslash

Major appearances

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 and lost.

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

In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness, 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 Poképals were assigned with the task of traveling to the Labyrinth Cave to get a Gabite Scale for an ailing Shinx, and decided to attempt beating the Poképals. Unfortunately for Team Razor Wind, Gabite beat them up.

Minor appearances

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 owned by Corey 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. The Sandslash clone was seen again in Mewtwo Returns.

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.

Pokédex entries

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 Razor Wind.

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

Held items

Base stats

Type effectiveness

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

By TM/HM

By breeding

By tutoring

Side game data

Pokémon Pinball
	Acquisition: Evolve
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
	Acquisition: Evolve
Pokémon Trozei!
	Rarity: Rare
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: Evolve	Friend Area: Furnace Desert
Phrases
51%-100% HP	Let me take them on with the spikes on my back and my big claws!
26%-50% HP	Uh-oh, not good. My health is down to half.
1%-25% HP	I'm beat... I don't have the energy to shake my spikes...
Level Up	There! I leveled! My claws are even sharper!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness
Body size: 1	Recruit Rate: 0.5%	IQ Group: D
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Group:  Ground	Poké Assist: ( Ground )	Field Move: (Tunnel ×1)
"It hurls lumps of sand to attack."

Evolution

	Unevolved	→ Level 22	First evolution
	Sandshrew  Ground		Sandslash  Ground

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow	Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal			Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald	FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
			File:Spr 3e 028 s.gif
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum	HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
				NO SPRITES AVAILABLE

For other sprites and images, please see Sandslash images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• Sandslash's original name was "Sandstorm".
• Although being one of the few pure Ground-type pokémon in the first generations, Sandslash did not learn any damage dealing Ground attack leveling up until generation III, in which it learns Sand Tomb.

Origin

Sandslash share various physical traits with both hedgehogs and pangolins.

Name origin

Sandslash's name is a combination of sand and slash, referring to its long claws. Its Japanese name may be a combination of sand and pangolin.

In other languages

• German: Sandamer
• French: Sablaireau - From Sable (sand) and blaireau (badger).
• Korean: 고지 Koji
• Chinese (Hong Kong and Taiwan): 穿山王 Chuan Shan Wáng - A portmanteau of 穿山甲 Chuan Shan Jia (pangolin and 王 (king). Literally "king of going through mountains".

External links

Notes

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.