Sandshrew

Sandshrew
Raichu
027
Sandslash
Ability	Sand Veil Sand Rush(Hidden) Snow Cloak (Alolan) Slush Rush (Alolan - Hidden)
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue (1996)
Creator	Game Freak
Artist	Ken Sugimori

Sandshrew <sup>(JPJapanese: サンド

Romaji: Sand)</sup> is a species of Pokémon in the series of the same name. It is a Ground-type Pokémon that made its first appearance in the first generation games Red and Blue. In Alola, it developed into a Ice and Steel Pokémon.

Physiology and Behaviour

Sandshrew is a bipedal pholidote Pokémon, but runs on all fours in the anime. Its brick-patterned yellow hide is dry, and tough, blends in with desert sand, and protects its soft white underbelly and muzzle. Sandshrew has blue, almond-shaped eyes, a pointed snout, and triangular ears with white insides. Its tail is thick and conical. It has two long claws on each foot and three sharp claws on its forepaws, which are used to burrow.

Sandshrew spends much of its time hidden underground in deep burrows. It only emerges to lunge and drag in passing Bug-type Pokémon. Sandshrew can quickly curl into a tight ball to protect itself from great falls and opponents, but may also throw sand at attackers. While its body can efficiently absorb water to facilitate life in the desert, Sandshrew has been found in caves as well. It also lives deep underground in nests it has created from digging tunnels. Should hard rocks get in the way of digging, Sandshrew will use its sharp claws to remove them before continuing to dig. If it is too wet, its skin becomes wrinkly. It dries itself out by using the geothermal heat near a volcano. It is also known to bathe in sand, which helps remove dirt and moisture from its body.

Alolan Sandshrew

In the Alola region, Sandshrew migrated to snowy mountains due to the volcanic activity near the desert areas. Its body is a light, icy blue, with a cream-colored belly and muzzle. Thicker plates form a dome around its head and its ears resemble an igloo's entrances. In adapting to this cold climate, its body became larger and heavier with a shell of hard ice covering its hide. The shell is also made of very hard steel.

This steel-like covering grants it extra defense from predators like Sneasel, but it is unable to curl into a ball like its desert counterpart; smarter predators such as Weavile exploit its soft underbelly. Alolan Sandshrew can burrow itself in the snow to avoid being blown away by blizzards. Its claws allow it to move without slipping on icy surfaces, but it slides on its stomach when it needs to move quickly. A traditional Alolan custom during festivals is a competition to see who can slide Alolan Sandshrew across the ice the farthest.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Title	Entry
First Pokémon generation
Pokémon Red and Blue	Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.
Pokémon Yellow	Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.
Pokémon Stadium	When hunting, it hides at the lip of its burrow. If prey comes close, it lunges out and drags in the prey instantly.
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.
Pokémon Silver	Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.
Pokémon Crystal	It prefers dry, sandy places because it uses the sand to protect itself when threatened.
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon 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 to sleep.
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon FireRed	It burrows and lives underground. If threatened, it curls itself up into a ball for protection.
Pokémon LeafGreen	Burrows deep underground in arid locations far from water. It only emerges to hunt for food.
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Pokémon Pearl	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Pokémon Platinum	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Pokémon HeartGold	If it fell from a great height, this Pokémon could save itself by rolling into a ball and bouncing.
Pokémon SoulSilver	Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Pokémon White	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Pokémon Black 2	It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.
Pokémon White 2	It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	It burrows and lives underground. If threatened, it curls itself up into a ball for protection.
Pokémon Y	Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.
Pokémon Omega 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.
Pokémon Alpha 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 to sleep.
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	It can roll its body into a ball. It moves through the desert by rolling at high speeds.
Pokémon Moon	It usually makes its home in deserts and arid zones, where rain does not fall. It digs holes to catch Bug-type Pokémon.
Pokémon Ultra Sun	It lives in areas of limited rainfall. When danger approaches, it curls up into a ball to protect its soft stomach.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	When its skin gets wrinkled from moisture, it heads for a volcano. It lies flat on a spot with a lot of geothermal heat and dries itself out.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Its body is dry. When it gets cold at night, its hide is said to become coated with a fine dew.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	It loves to bathe in the grit of dry, sandy areas. By sand bathing, this Pokémon rids itself of dirt and moisture clinging to its body.
Pokémon Shield	It burrows into the ground to create its nest. If hard stones impede its tunneling, it uses its sharp claws to scatter them and then carries on digging.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Pokémon Shining Pearl	To protect itself from attackers, it curls up into a ball. It lives in arid regions with minimal rainfall.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	It digs deep burrows to live in. When in danger, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks.
Pokémon Violet	No matter how high a place it falls from, this Pokémon can save itself by rolling in a ball and bouncing.

Alolan Sandshrew

Title	Entry
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	It lives on snowy mountains. Its steel shell is very hard—so much so, it can't roll its body up into a ball.
Pokémon Moon	An ancient tradition of Alolan festivals, still carried on to this day, is a competition to slide Sandshrew across ice as far as one can.
Pokémon Ultra Sun	After fleeing a volcanic eruption, it ended up moving to an area of snowy mountains. Its ice shell is as hard as steel.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	The skin on its back is as hard as steel. Predators go after its soft belly, so it clings to the ground desperately.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Its ice-covered body lets it slide across the ground with bullet-like speed, sending its enemies flying when it hits them.
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Its ice-covered body lets it slide across the ground with bullet-like speed, sending its enemies flying when it hits them.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Life on mountains covered with deep snow has granted this Pokémon a body of ice that's as hard as steel.
Pokémon Shield	It lives in snowy mountains on southern islands. When a blizzard rolls in, this Pokémon hunkers down in the snow to avoid getting blown away.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	It lives on snowy mountains. Its steel shell is very hard—so much so, it can’t roll its body up into a ball.
Pokémon Violet	An ancient tradition of Alolan festivals, still carried on to this day, is a competition to slide Sandshrew across ice as far as one can.

Game locations

Title	Location(s)
Pokémon Blue	Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 23
Pokémon Yellow	Routes 3 and 4, Mt. Moon
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	Union Cave, Mt. Moon
Pokémon Silver	Goldenrod Game Corner
Pokémon Crystal	Routes 3 and 4, Union Cave, Mt. Moon
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	Routes 111 and 113
Pokémon Sapphire	Routes 111 and 113
Pokémon Emerald	Route 111, Mirage Tower
Pokémon LeafGreen	Routes 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 23
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	Wayward Cave (LeafGreen)
Pokémon Pearl	Wayward Cave (LeafGreen)
Pokémon Platinum	Wayward Cave (LeafGreen)
Pokémon HeartGold	Union Cave, Mt. Moon, Safari Zone
Pokémon SoulSilver	Goldenrod Game Corner, Safari Zone
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Breed
Pokémon Black 2	Desert Resort, Relic Castle
Pokémon White 2	Desert Resort, Relic Castle
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Friend Safari (Ground)
Pokémon Y	Friend Safari (Ground)
Pokémon Omega Ruby	Routes 111 and 113
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	Routes 111 and 113
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Trade
Pokémon Moon	Mount Lanakila, Tapu Village

Evolution

Sandshrew	Reach level 22.	Sandslash

Sandshrew	Use Ice Stone	Sandslash

Base Stats

Normal

Base Stats
HP	50
Attack	75
Defense	85
Sp. Attack	20
Sp. Defense	30
Speed	40
Total	300

Alola

Base Stats
HP	50
Attack	75
Defense	90
Sp. Attack	10
Sp. Defense	35
Speed	40
Total	300

Gallery

Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew as Pokémon ambassadors for Tottori Prefecture

Tottori JR Line train ft. Sandshrew

Sprites

Sprites
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold File:PKMNG027-S.png	Silver File:PKMNS027.png File:PKMNS027-S.png	Crystal File:PKMNC027.gif File:PKMNC027-S.gif
Ruby Sapphire File:PKMNRS027-S.png	Emerald File:PKMNE027.gif File:PKMNE027-S.gif	Fire Leaf File:PKMNFRLG027.png File:PKMNFRLG027-S.png
Diamond Pearl File:PKMNDP027-S.png	Platinum File:PKMNP027.png File:PKMNP027-S.png	Heart Soul File:PKMNHGSS027.png File:PKMNHGSS027-S.png
Black White File:PKMNBW027-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2027.png File:PKMNBW2027-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY027-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE027-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS027-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP027.png File:PKMNBDSP027-S.png
Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV027-S.png

Renders
Sun Moon File:PKMNSM027-A-S.png Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE027-A-S.png Sword Shield File:PKMNSS027-A-S.png
Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV027-A-S.png

Trivia

• In December 2018, Sandshrew and Alolan Sandshrew were appointed the Pokémon ambassadors for Tottori Prefecture.
• No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Alolan Sandshrew and its Alolan evolved form.
• Alolan Sandshrew has the lowest base Special Attack stat of any Pokémon, tied with Shuckle, Feebas, and Bonsly.
  • Sandshrew has the lowest base Special Attack stat of all Ground-type Pokémon.