Sandslash

Sandslash
Sandshrew
028
Nidoran♀
Ability	Sand Veil Sand Rush(Hidden) Snow Cloak (Alolan) Slush Rush (Alolan - Hidden)
First game	Pokémon Red and Blue
Creator	Game Freak
Artist	Ken Sugimori

Sandslash<sup>(JPJapanese: サンドパン

Romaji: Sandpan)</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

Sandslash is a bipedal, ground-dwelling pholidote Pokémon. Although Sandslash is usually bipedal, it can run on all fours. Most of its underside is light yellow with a white underbelly. It has a narrow muzzle, almond-shaped blue eyes, and a thick tail. Its back is mostly covered in sharp, brown quills formed from its tough, dry hide. It has two large claws on its paws and feet. These claws are its primary weapons and are used for slashing, but can also be used for burrowing. Its claws and spikes can both break off, but they grow back quickly and are shed regularly. Sandslash's broken parts can be used to carve plows for tilling farm fields. The claws can become harder and smoother if it lives in drier areas.

Sandslash can curl into a large ball, which allows it to roll to attack or escape, protect itself from heatstroke, and guard its belly. Sandslash is also adept at climbing trees and is prone to ambush its enemies from above. It also climbs trees to rest during the night, and to slash Berries to feed the Sandshrew waiting below. Sandslash can mostly be found in deserts.

Alolan Sandslash

In the Alola region, Sandslash has an icy blue hide and steel quills covered in ice. These quills stand taller than a regular Sandslash's quills and resemble icicles. Unlike its Kantonian variant, Alolan Sandslash is rarely seen curling up into a ball, perhaps made difficult by its thick hide and icy spine. Instead, this Pokémon uses its hide for camouflage in the snow while leaving only its spines exposed. Its body emits cold air, which sharpens its quills. Its forepaws are larger than its counterpart, and its claws are longer, thinner, and hooked at the tips. Formerly used for climbing trees, they now allow it to scale icebergs without even slipping.

Despite the weight of its ice-covered body, Alolan Sandslash can move swiftly by carving a path in the snow with its claws. It can move faster than any other Pokémon while in the snowy mountains. This Pokémon tends to live in the deeper parts of snowy mountains, where climbing is forbidden. However, the sprays of snow it kicks up are popular shots for photographers. People also climb up the mountains it lives in, to see Sandslash's icy spikes sparkle during the light of dawn. Stabs from Alolan Sandslash's spikes can cause both deep wounds and severe frostbite.

Appearances

Other Pokémon games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness: Sandslash is one of the members of Team Razor Wind.

In-game information

Pokédex entries

Title	Entry
First Pokémon generation
Pokémon Red and Blue	Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Pokémon Yellow	It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day.
Pokémon Stadium	Curls into a ball of sharp spikes and rolls into enemies. It is also adept at slashing with its sharp claws.
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.
Pokémon Silver	If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
Pokémon Crystal	Adept at climbing trees, it rolls into a spiny ball, then attacks its enemies from above.
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon 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.
Pokémon FireRed	It is adept at attacking with the spines on its back and its sharp claws while quickly scurrying about.
Pokémon LeafGreen	Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Pokémon Pearl	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Pokémon Platinum	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Pokémon HeartGold	In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.
Pokémon SoulSilver	If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spike and claws. They grow back in a day.
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Pokémon White	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Pokémon Black 2	The spikes on its body are made up of its hardened hide. It rolls up and attacks foes with its spikes.
Pokémon White 2	The spikes on its body are made up of its hardened hide. It rolls up and attacks foes with its spikes.
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
Pokémon Y	Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Pokémon Omega 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.
Pokémon Alpha 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.
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Normal - Although they are sharp, its claws and spikes often break off. They grow back the next day, so it is not bothered by the temporary loss. Alola - Fleeing a volcanic eruption, it settled on a snowy mountain. As it races through the snowfields, it sends up a spray of snow.
Pokémon Moon	Normal - It uses its claws to climb trees and then curls its body into a spiny ball, ready to drop onto any prey that appears. Alola - This Pokémon’s steel spikes are sheathed in ice. Stabs from these spikes cause deep wounds and severe frostbite as well.
Pokémon Ultra Sun	Normal - Its claws and horns often break off. The broken claws and horns can be used to carve plows for tilling farm fields. Alola - It runs across snow-covered plains at high speeds. It developed thick, sharp claws to plow through the snow.
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Normal - Thanks to its thick claws, it's good at climbing trees. There are plenty of Sandslash that park themselves in trees and go right to sleep. Alola - A long, long time ago, it lived in the desert. With its sharp claws fully extended, it can climb right up an iceberg without slipping.
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Normal - It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day. Alola - This is Sandslash's form after adaptation to a frigid environment. The cold air emitted by its body sharpens its icy spikes.
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Normal - It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day. Alola - This is Sandslash's form after adaptation to a frigid environment. The cold air emitted by its body sharpens its icy spikes.
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Normal - The drier the area Sandslash lives in, the harder and smoother the Pokémon's spikes feel when touched. Alola - It uses large, hooked claws to cut a path through deep snow as it runs. On snowy mountains, this Sandslash is faster than any other Pokémon.
Pokémon Shield	Normal - It climbs trees by hooking on with its sharp claws. Sandslash shares the berries it gathers, dropping them down to Sandshrew waiting below the tree. Alola - Many people climb snowy mountains, hoping to see the icy spikes of these Pokémon glistening in the light of dawn.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Pokémon Shining Pearl	It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	Normal - It is adept at attacking with the spines on its back and its sharp claws while quickly scurrying about. Alola - This Pokémon’s steel spikes are sheathed in ice. Stabs from these spikes cause deep wounds and severe frostbite as well.
Pokémon Violet	Normal - The spikes on its body are made up of its hardened hide. It rolls up and attacks foes with its spikes. Alola - A long, long time ago, it lived in the desert. With its sharp claws fully extended, it can run right up an iceberg without slipping.

Game locations

Title	Location(s)
Pokémon Blue	Route 23, Cerulean Cave
Pokémon Yellow	Cerulean Cave
Second Pokémon generation
Pokémon Gold	Routes 26 and 27, Mt. Moon
Pokémon Silver	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Crystal	Route 26, Victory Road
Third Pokémon generation
Pokémon Ruby	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Sapphire	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Emerald	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon LeafGreen	Route 23, Victory Road
Fourth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Diamond	Route 228 (LeafGreen)
Pokémon Pearl	Route 228 (LeafGreen)
Pokémon Platinum	Route 228 (LeafGreen)
Pokémon HeartGold	Routes 26 and 27, Mt. Moon, Safari Zone
Pokémon SoulSilver	Safari Zone
Fifth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Black	Relic Castle
Pokémon White	Relic Castle
Pokémon Black 2	Route 15, Relic Castle
Pokémon White 2	Route 15, Relic Castle
Sixth Pokémon generation
Pokémon X	Route 18, Terminus Cave
Pokémon Y	Route 18, Terminus Cave
Pokémon Omega Ruby	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire	Evolve Sandshrew
Seventh Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sun	Trade
Pokémon Moon	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Ultra Moon	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu	Evolve Sandshrew
Pokémon Let's Go Eevee	Evolve Sandshrew
Eighth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Sword	Forest of Focus, Potbottom Desert (Kantonian Form) Max Raid Battle: Challenge Beach, Courageous Cavern, Potbottom Desert (Kantonian Form) Dynamax Adventure (Both Forms)
Pokémon Shield	Forest of Focus, Potbottom Desert (Kantonian Form) Max Raid Battle: Challenge Beach, Courageous Cavern, Potbottom Desert (Kantonian Form) Dynamax Adventure (Both Forms)
Pokémon Shining Pearl	Grand Underground - Spacious Cave, Rocky Cave, Sandsear Cave, Big Bluff Cavern * (Kantonian)
Ninth Pokémon generation
Pokémon Scarlet	Oni Mountain, Paradise Barrens, Kitakami Wilds
Pokémon Violet	Oni Mountain, Paradise Barrens, Kitakami Wilds

Evolution

Kanto

Sandshrew	Reach level 22.	Sandslash

Alola

Sandshrew	Use Ice Stone	Sandslash

Base Stats

Kanto

Base Stats
HP	75
Attack	100
Defense	110
Sp. Attack	45
Sp. Defense	55
Speed	65
Total	450

Alola

Base Stats
HP	75
Attack	100
Defense	120
Sp. Attack	25
Sp. Defense	65
Speed	65
Total	450

Gallery

Sprites

Sprites
Red Green	Red Blue	Yellow
Gold File:PKMNG028-S.png	Silver File:PKMNS028.png File:PKMNS028-S.png	Crystal File:PKMNC028.gif File:PKMNC028-S.gif
Ruby Sapphire File:PKMNRS028-S.png	Emerald File:PKMNE028.gif File:PKMNE028-S.gif	Fire Leaf File:PKMNFRLG028.png File:PKMNFRLG028-S.png
Diamond Pearl File:PKMNDP028-S.png	Platinum File:PKMNP028.png File:PKMNP028-S.png	Heart Soul File:PKMNHGSS028.png File:PKMNHGSS028-S.png
Black White File:PKMNBW028-S.png	Black 2 White 2 File:PKMNBW2028.png File:PKMNBW2028-S.png	X Y File:PKMNXY028-S.png
Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE028-S.png	Sword Shield File:PKMNSS028-S.png	Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl File:PKMNBDSP028.png File:PKMNBDSP028-S.png
Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV028-S.png

Alolan

Renders
Sun Moon File:PKMNSM028-A-S.png Pikachu Eevee File:PKMNLGPE028-A-S.png Sword Shield File:PKMNSS028-A-S.png
Scarlet Violet File:PKMNSV028-A-S.png

Trivia

• No other Pokémon has the same type combination as Alolan Sandslash and its Alolan pre-evolved form.
• In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Sandslash's original name was "Sandstorm".