Palossand is a Pokémon resembling a yellowish sand castle with gray pebbles along the base. It has a square main castle for its body, two round towers for arms, and the top of another round tower with a conical point rising up from the body. A tunnel through the center of the main body creates a mouth. There is a line of five alternating blue and pink seashells over the top of its mouth. The central tower has six windows: three located in the front, one on each side, and one in the back. The two outermost windows in front of the central tower have tiny pebbles in them and appear to act as eyes. The two side towers have crenellations along the top with a ring of windows underneath. Palossand's main body has crenellations around the central tower. A ring of alternating pink and blue seashells surrounds the central tower just below the point. In the peak of its tower is a red shovel stuck handle-first into the top.
Palossand has been referred to as the "Beach Nightmare". Palossand has the power to control the sand, and each grain of its body has a will of its own. It controls adults to make them build its sand castle body, which provides it a disguise and defense. However, unlike Sandygast, Palossand is able to replenish any sand it loses on its own. The shovel on Palossand's head rotates when it searches for prey and is believed to function as a radar. Palossand enjoys the life force of Pokémon, and creates a sandy vortex to capture small Pokémon before draining their vitality. The bones of Palossand's victims are kept buried beneath it, and traces of its victims' ill will are left wherever it passes. These traces of negative energy are said to be the genesis of new Sandygast. Palossand is able to fire the bones it keeps within from the hollows in its arms. As seen in the anime, Palossand can manipulate its size and grow to the size of a building. Palossand can be found at beaches; however, it hates the water. It cannot maintain its castle-like shape during heavy rain storms.
The terrifying Palossand drags smaller Pokémon into its sandy body. Once its victims are trapped, it drains them of their vitality whenever it pleases.