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Sandstorm

Type Power Accuracy PP Priority Damage Target
Rock - - 10 0 - All

Description

This move generates the sandstorm weather condition for five turns. Any other weather conditions will be cleared when this move is used. While under the effects of sandstorm, all Pokemon that are not of the Rock-, Ground-, or Steel-type or have the abilities Magic Guard, Overcoat, Sand Force, Sand Rush, or Sand Veil will lose 1/16 of their health at the end of every turn. Rock-types gain a boost to their Special Defense of 50%. Pokemon who have access to the Sand Veil ability obtain a 20% evasion boost. The move SolarBeam will only hit with 1/2 of its usual Base Power. Pokemon who possess the Sand Rush ability will have their Speed doubled. Pokemon who have the Sand Force ability are granted a 30% boost to all Rock-, Ground-, and Steel-type moves. Synthesis, Moonlight, and Morning Sun only recover 1/4 of the Pokemon's maximum health. Weather Ball changes into a Rock-type move with 100 Base Power. If the user of this move holds the item Smooth Rock, the duration of the weather becomes eight turns rather than five. If Sandstorm is used while the sandstorm weather condition is already active, the move will fail.

Competitive Use

Sandstorm is one of those weather conditions that can be exploited to gain the upper advantage in battle. A surprising fact is that sandstorm was once an inferior weather condition dwelling at the same level as Hail. But ever since the fourth generation arrived, sandstorm increased its importance as a separate theme strategy to the same level as Rain Dance and Sunny Day, because the 50% increase in Special Defense for Rock-types makes it possible to set up sandstorm with relative ease. However, it is only in generation five that offensive sandstorm teams have become ubiquitous; infamous sandstorm abusers such as Landorus are able to perform their tasks more effectively under sandstorm, as Landorus can deal more damage with its Sand Force ability, and in the lower tiers, Stoutland can use the Sand Rush ability, which increases its Speed to the point where it is impossible to outrun. However, the move Sandstorm itself is obsolete because Tyranitar or Hippowdon can conjure up a permanent sandstorm weather condition with their ability, Sand Stream, and you should never try to take advantage of sandstorm without them in tow.

Related Moves

Rain Dance is an equivalent for setting up rain.

Sunny Day is an equivalent for setting up sun.

Hail is an equivalent move for setting up hail.

Pokémon Type Tier Abilities HP Atk Def SpA SpD Spe BST
Absol Dark RU Pressure / Super Luck / Justified 65 130 60 75 60 75 465
Accelgor Bug RU Hydration / Sticky Hold / Unburden 80 70 40 100 60 145 495
Aerodactyl Rock / Flying RU Rock Head / Pressure / Unnerve 80 105 65 60 75 130 515
Aggron Steel / Rock RU Sturdy / Rock Head / Heavy Metal 70 110 180 60 60 50 530
Anorith Rock / Bug LC Battle Armor / Swift Swim 45 95 50 40 50 75 355
Arceus-Bug Bug Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Dark Dark Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Dragon Dragon Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Electric Electric Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Fighting Fighting Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Fire Fire Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Flying Flying Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Ghost Ghost Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Grass Grass Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Ground Ground Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Ice Ice Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Normal Normal Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Poison Poison Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Psychic Psychic Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Rock Rock Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Steel Steel Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Arceus-Water Water Uber Multitype 120 120 120 120 120 120 720
Archen Rock / Flying LC Defeatist 55 112 45 74 45 70 401
Archeops Rock / Flying RU Defeatist 75 140 65 112 65 110 567
Armaldo Rock / Bug NU Battle Armor / Swift Swim 75 125 100 70 80 45 495
Aron Steel / Rock LC Sturdy / Rock Head / Heavy Metal 50 70 100 40 40 30 330
Articuno Ice / Flying NU Pressure / Snow Cloak 90 85 100 95 125 85 580
Azelf Psychic UU Levitate 75 125 70 125 70 115 580
Baltoy Ground / Psychic LC Levitate 40 40 55 40 70 55 300
Barboach Water / Ground LC Oblivious / Anticipation / Hydration 50 48 43 46 41 60 288
Bastiodon Rock / Steel NU Sturdy / Soundproof 60 52 168 47 138 30 495
Bisharp Dark / Steel UU Defiant / Inner Focus / Pressure 65 125 100 60 70 70 490
Blissey Normal OU Natural Cure / Serene Grace / Healer 255 10 10 75 135 55 540
Bonsly Rock LC Sturdy / Rock Head / Rattled 50 80 95 10 45 10 290
Bronzong Steel / Psychic UU Levitate / Heatproof / Heavy Metal 67 89 116 79 116 33 500
Bronzor Steel / Psychic LC Levitate / Heatproof / Heavy Metal 57 24 86 24 86 23 300
Cacnea Grass LC Sand Veil / Water Absorb 50 85 40 85 40 35 335
Cacturne Grass / Dark NU Sand Veil / Water Absorb 70 115 60 115 60 55 475
Camerupt Fire / Ground NU Magma Armor / Solid Rock / Anger Point 70 100 70 105 75 40 460
Carracosta Water / Rock NU Solid Rock / Sturdy / Swift Swim 74 108 133 83 65 32 495
Castform Normal NU Forecast 70 70 70 70 70 70 420
Celebi Psychic / Grass OU Natural Cure 100 100 100 100 100 100 600
Chansey Normal BL Natural Cure / Serene Grace / Healer 250 5 5 35 105 50 450
Claydol Ground / Psychic UU Levitate 60 70 105 70 120 75 500
Cobalion Steel / Fighting UU Justified 91 90 129 90 72 108 580
Corsola Water / Rock NU Hustle / Natural Cure / Regenerator 55 55 85 65 85 35 380
Cradily Rock / Grass NU Suction Cups / Storm Drain 86 81 97 81 107 43 495
Cranidos Rock LC Mold Breaker / Sheer Force 67 125 40 30 30 58 350
Crustle Bug / Rock RU Sturdy / Shell Armor / Weak Armor 70 95 125 65 75 45 475
Cubone Ground LC Rock Head / Lightningrod / Battle Armor 50 50 95 40 50 35 320
Dialga Steel / Dragon Uber Pressure / Telepathy 100 120 120 150 100 90 680
Diglett Ground LC Sand Veil / Arena Trap / Sand Force 10 55 25 35 45 95 265
Donphan Ground OU Sturdy / Sand Veil 90 120 120 60 60 50 500
Dragonite Dragon / Flying OU Inner Focus / Multiscale 91 134 95 100 100 80 600
Drilbur Ground LC Sand Rush / Sand Force / Mold Breaker 60 85 40 30 45 68 328
Dugtrio Ground OU Sand Veil / Arena Trap / Sand Force 35 80 50 50 70 120 405
Durant Bug / Steel RU Swarm / Hustle / Truant 58 109 112 48 48 109 484
Dwebble Bug / Rock LC Sturdy / Shell Armor / Weak Armor 50 65 85 35 35 55 325
Entei Fire RU Pressure / Flash Fire 115 115 85 90 75 100 580
Excadrill Ground / Steel Uber Sand Rush / Sand Force / Mold Breaker 110 135 60 50 65 88 508
Ferrothorn Grass / Steel OU Iron Barbs 74 94 131 54 116 20 489
Flygon Ground / Dragon UU Levitate / Levitate 80 100 80 80 80 100 520
Forretress Bug / Steel OU Sturdy / Overcoat 75 90 140 60 60 40 465
Gabite Dragon / Ground NU Sand Veil / Rough Skin 68 90 65 50 55 82 410
Garchomp Dragon / Ground OU Sand Veil / Rough Skin 108 130 95 80 85 102 600
Gastrodon Water / Ground OU Sticky Hold / Storm Drain / Sand Force 111 83 68 92 82 39 475
Geodude Rock / Ground LC Rock Head / Sturdy / Sand Veil 40 80 100 30 30 20 300
Gible Dragon / Ground LC Sand Veil / Rough Skin 58 70 45 40 45 42 300
Gigalith Rock NU Sturdy / Sand Force 85 135 130 60 70 25 505
Gligar Ground / Flying UU Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Immunity 65 75 105 35 65 85 430
Gliscor Ground / Flying OU Hyper Cutter / Sand Veil / Poison Heal 75 95 125 45 75 95 510
Golem Rock / Ground NU Rock Head / Sturdy / Sand Veil 80 110 130 55 65 45 485
Groudon Ground Uber Drought 100 150 140 100 90 90 670
Gyarados Water / Flying OU Intimidate / Moxie 95 125 79 60 100 81 540
Hippopotas Ground LC Sand Stream / Sand Force 68 72 78 38 42 32 330
Hippowdon Ground OU Sand Stream / Sand Force 108 112 118 68 72 47 525
Hitmontop Fighting UU Intimidate / Technician / Steadfast 50 95 95 35 110 70 455
Ho-Oh Fire / Flying Uber Pressure / Regenerator 106 130 90 110 154 90 680
Jirachi Steel / Psychic OU Serene Grace 100 100 100 100 100 100 600
Kabuto Rock / Water LC Swift Swim / Battle Armor / Weak Armor 30 80 90 55 45 55 355
Kabutops Rock / Water RU Swift Swim / Battle Armor / Weak Armor 60 115 105 65 70 80 495
Kangaskhan Normal NU Early Bird / Scrappy / Inner Focus 105 95 80 40 80 90 490
Klang Steel NU Plus / Minus / Clear Body 60 80 95 70 85 50 440
Klink Steel LC Plus / Minus / Clear Body 40 55 70 45 60 30 300
Klinklang Steel RU Plus / Minus / Clear Body 60 100 115 70 85 90 520
Krookodile Ground / Dark UU Intimidate / Moxie / Anger Point 95 117 70 65 70 92 509
Lairon Steel / Rock NU Sturdy / Rock Head / Heavy Metal 60 90 140 50 50 40 430
Landorus Ground / Flying OU Sand Force / Sheer Force 89 125 90 115 80 101 600
Larvitar Rock / Ground LC Guts / Sand Veil 50 64 50 45 50 41 300
Latias Dragon / Psychic OU Levitate 80 80 90 110 130 110 600
Latios Dragon / Psychic OU Levitate 80 90 80 130 110 110 600
Lickilicky Normal NU Own Tempo / Oblivious / Cloud Nine 110 85 95 80 95 50 515
Lickitung Normal LC Own Tempo / Oblivious / Cloud Nine 90 55 75 60 75 30 385
Lileep Rock / Grass LC Suction Cups / Storm Drain 66 41 77 61 87 23 355
Lugia Psychic / Flying Uber Pressure / Multiscale 106 90 130 90 154 110 680
Lunatone Rock / Psychic NU Levitate 70 55 65 95 85 70 440
Magcargo Fire / Rock NU Magma Armor / Flame Body / Weak Armor 50 50 120 80 80 30 410
Mamoswine Ice / Ground OU Oblivious / Snow Cloak / Thick Fat 110 130 80 70 60 80 530
Marowak Ground NU Rock Head / Lightningrod / Battle Armor 60 80 110 50 80 45 425
Mawile Steel NU Hyper Cutter / Intimidate / Sheer Force 50 85 85 55 55 50 380
Mesprit Psychic RU Levitate 80 105 105 105 105 80 580
Metagross Steel / Psychic OU Clear Body / Light Metal 80 135 130 95 90 70 600
Metang Steel / Psychic NU Clear Body / Light Metal 60 75 100 55 80 50 420
Mew Psychic UU Synchronize 100 100 100 100 100 100 600
Mewtwo Psychic Uber Pressure / Unnerve 106 110 90 154 90 130 680
Miltank Normal NU Thick Fat / Scrappy / Sap Sipper 95 80 105 40 70 100 490
Moltres Fire / Flying RU Pressure / Flame Body 90 100 90 125 85 90 580
Munchlax Normal NU Pickup / Thick Fat / Gluttony 135 85 40 40 85 5 390
Nidoking Poison / Ground UU Poison Point / Rivalry / Sheer Force 81 92 77 85 75 85 495
Nidoqueen Poison / Ground UU Poison Point / Rivalry / Sheer Force 90 82 87 75 85 76 495
Nincada Bug / Ground LC Compoundeyes / Run Away 31 45 90 30 30 40 266
Ninjask Bug / Flying NU Speed Boost / Infiltrator 61 90 45 50 50 160 456
Nosepass Rock LC Sturdy / Magnet Pull / Sand Force 30 45 135 45 90 30 375
Numel Fire / Ground LC Oblivious / Simple / Own Tempo 60 60 40 65 45 35 305
Omanyte Rock / Water LC Swift Swim / Shell Armor / Weak Armor 35 40 100 90 55 35 355
Omastar Rock / Water RU Swift Swim / Shell Armor / Weak Armor 70 60 125 115 70 55 495
Onix Rock / Ground LC Rock Head / Sturdy / Weak Armor 35 45 160 30 45 70 385
Palkia Water / Dragon Uber Pressure / Telepathy 90 120 100 150 120 100 680
Pawniard Dark / Steel LC Defiant / Inner Focus / Pressure 45 85 70 40 40 60 340
Phanpy Ground LC Pickup / Sand Veil 90 60 60 40 40 40 330
Piloswine Ice / Ground NU Oblivious / Snow Cloak / Thick Fat 100 100 80 60 60 50 450
Pineco Bug LC Sturdy / Overcoat 50 65 90 35 35 15 290
Probopass Rock / Steel NU Sturdy / Magnet Pull / Sand Force 60 55 145 75 150 40 525
Quagsire Water / Ground RU Damp / Water Absorb / Unaware 95 85 85 65 65 35 430
Raikou Electric UU Pressure / Volt Absorb 90 85 75 115 100 115 580
Rampardos Rock NU Mold Breaker / Sheer Force 97 165 60 65 50 58 495
Rayquaza Dragon / Flying Uber Air Lock 105 150 90 150 90 95 680
Regirock Rock NU Clear Body / Sturdy 80 100 200 50 100 50 580
Registeel Steel UU Clear Body / Light Metal 80 75 150 75 150 50 580
Relicanth Water / Rock NU Swift Swim / Rock Head / Sturdy 100 90 130 45 65 55 485
Rhydon Ground / Rock RU Lightningrod / Rock Head / Reckless 105 130 120 45 45 40 485
Rhyhorn Ground / Rock LC Lightningrod / Rock Head / Reckless 80 85 95 30 30 25 345
Rhyperior Ground / Rock UU Lightningrod / Solid Rock / Reckless 115 140 130 55 55 40 535
Roggenrola Rock LC Sturdy / Sand Force 55 75 85 25 25 15 280
Sandile Ground / Dark LC Intimidate / Moxie / Anger Point 50 72 35 35 35 65 292
Sandshrew Ground LC Sand Veil / Sand Rush 50 75 85 20 30 40 300
Sandslash Ground RU Sand Veil / Sand Rush 75 100 110 45 55 65 450
Scizor Bug / Steel OU Swarm / Technician / Light Metal 70 130 100 55 80 65 500
Shedinja Bug / Ghost NU Wonder Guard / Wonder Guard 1 90 45 30 30 40 236
Shieldon Rock / Steel LC Sturdy / Soundproof 30 42 118 42 88 30 350
Shuckle Bug / Rock NU Sturdy / Gluttony / Contrary 20 10 230 10 230 5 505
Skarmory Steel / Flying OU Keen Eye / Sturdy / Weak Armor 65 80 140 40 70 70 465
Snorlax Normal UU Immunity / Thick Fat / Gluttony 160 110 65 65 110 30 540
Solrock Rock / Psychic NU Levitate 70 95 85 55 65 70 440
Steelix Steel / Ground RU Rock Head / Sturdy / Sheer Force 75 85 200 55 65 30 510
Stunfisk Ground / Electric NU Static / Limber / Sand Veil 109 66 84 81 99 32 471
Sudowoodo Rock NU Sturdy / Rock Head / Rattled 70 100 115 30 65 30 410
Suicune Water UU Pressure / Water Absorb 100 75 115 90 115 85 580
Swinub Ice / Ground LC Oblivious / Snow Cloak / Thick Fat 50 50 40 30 30 50 250
Tauros Normal NU Intimidate / Anger Point / Sheer Force 75 100 95 40 70 110 490
Terrakion Rock / Fighting OU Justified 91 129 90 72 90 108 580
Tirtouga Water / Rock LC Solid Rock / Sturdy / Swift Swim 54 78 103 53 45 22 355
Torterra Grass / Ground NU Overgrow / Shell Armor 95 109 105 75 85 56 525
Trapinch Ground LC Hyper Cutter / Arena Trap / Sheer Force 45 100 45 45 45 10 290
Tyranitar Rock / Dark OU Sand Stream / Unnerve 100 134 110 95 100 61 600
Uxie Psychic RU Levitate 75 75 130 75 130 95 580
Whiscash Water / Ground NU Oblivious / Anticipation / Hydration 110 78 73 76 71 60 468
Wooper Water / Ground LC Damp / Water Absorb / Unaware 55 45 45 25 25 15 210
Wormadam-G Bug / Ground NU Anticipation / Overcoat 60 79 105 59 85 36 424
Zapdos Electric / Flying UU Pressure / Lightningrod 90 90 85 125 90 100 580