Sandshrew (Analysis)

[Overview]

<p>Sandshrew can fit into many roles in a Little Cup team.,acting similar to Gligar It is basically a lesser Gligar without wings and doesn't look like a scorpion. He can fit the role as an efficient Stealth Rocker user thanks to its physical bulk, as well as an effective Rapid Spinner, and or a Swords Dance sweeper thanks to its above-average Attack stat and its ability, Sand Veil. If the sand is up there is a sandstorm, Sandshrew is definitely a Pokemon you need to watch out for. You may not see Sandshrew on a lot of Little Cup teams, but he is definitely one of the most underrated Pokemon in the tier.</p>

[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Toxic / Night Slash /R(remove space)ock Slide
item: Eviolite
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Careful/impish
evs: 196(space)HP / 76 Def / 196 SpD / 36 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Thanks to Sandshrew's huge Defense stat physical defence bulk, and the new item Eviolite to help his Special Defense which boosts both Defense and Special Defence by 50%, Sandshrew can be an amazing support Pokemon. Sandshrew has the ability to Rapid Spin entry hazards out away, and send in put up Stealth Rocks tooat the same time. Sandshrew is a better Rapid Spinner than Baltoy because he is far more bulky, isn't OHKO'd by Misdreavus, and can dish out attacks too. He also isn't U-turn, Sucker Punch, or Pursuit weak to U-turn, Sucker Punch, or Pursuit like Baltoy is. Earthquake and Rock Slide provide a near perfect coverage move combination so Sandshrew can deal out some damage and isn't a sitting duck once you get your Stealth Rocks up. With Ferroseed present this generation entry hazards are popping up pretty often and having a Rapid Spinner on your team can be very beneficial. The EV spread was chosen to gives Sandshrew bulk on both sides of the spectrum and with the given spread, he is making him almost always guaranteed to get Stealth Rocks up or Rapid Spin away the opponent's hazards.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>(remove space)Hippopotas is the prefferred teammate for Sandshrew so Sand Veil can be activiated. Even without an investment in Attack, Sandshrew still has a respectable 14 Attack, so Sandshrew can really tank a lot of hits and dish it hits back out too. A Careful nature can be used if you want to have an extra boost of bulk on the in Special Defense side. An Impish nature can be used as well for extra bulk on your already huge physicial Defense side. However, a Careful nature is the prefferred nature because Sandshrew's physical defence is already massive and with Eviolite it won't really make that much of a difference. Although a Careful nature is the preffered nature, an Impish nature is still viable and can be used well be Sandshrew.</p>

[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Rock Slide
move 4: Night Slash / Substitute
item: Eviolite / Life Orb
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 40 HP / 236 Atk / 236 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>With Sandshrew's big Attack stat, he reaches an decentunboosted 17 in Attack unboosted and a monstrous 34 Attack after one Swords Dance. 34 Attack Coupled with a decent 14 Speed, makes Sandshrew can be a very fearsome sweeper. With Earthquake and Rock Slide Sandshrew is granted perfect coverage barring Baltoy and Bronzong, and if you can't resist one of Sandshrew's attacks, you're in trouble. Night Slash is for Ghost-type Pokemon like Misdreavus who have Levitate and are immune to STAB Earthquake. A Jolly nature is the preferred nature on this set because Sandshrew is relatively slow, so you need every all the Speed boost you can get. The item chosen is purely a matter of that you choose is based on preference. Eviolite will boost your already huge bulk allowing you to set up a Swords Dance more easily. Life Orb will give you more power and allow you to KO things easier with and without a Swords Dance up.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Sandshrew should obviously be used with Hippopotas on your team to maximize his capabilities. Drilbur is a good teammate for this set because they can take out each others counters so one of them can sweep, though they share the exact same weaknesses. Carvahna is a good teammate with this set as well because it can reliably deal with Gliscor Gligar, (9.9) who otherwise walls Sandshrew. Bronzor is also a viable teammate because it resists Ice- and Grass-type moves and can set up Dual Screens Light Screen and Reflect and pass Wishes to support Sandshrew. Exeggcute is another good teammate for Sandshrew because he resists Water- and Grass-type moves and can pass Wishes and use Sleep Powder to support Sandshrew's sweep. Chinchou is also a good teammate because he resists Water- and Ice-type moves and can beat other Chinchou who otherwise can take out beat Sandshrew. Substitute can be used over Night Slash in the fourth slot if you want to block status and ease prediction or maybe Substitute on the switch so you don't have to predict as much. Oran Berry is a viable third item if you opt for Substitute over Night Slash. It can give you a few extra Substitutes if you want to trade it for extra bulk. Other than that there isn't a lot of room for change on this guy.</p>

[OPTIONAL CHANGES]
<p>Sandshrew has a movepool of Brick Break, Shadow Claw, X-scissor, and Gyro Ball, but none of them are as useful as the "EdgeQuake"+Night Slash combo is along with Night Slash. Sandshrew could possibly run a Substitute + 3 attacks moveset, similar to the Swords Dance set, . You could use the Swords Dance set minus Swords Dance, with Night Slash, Earthquake, Rock Slide, and Substitute. Sandshrew gets Counter, which is a viable move to use on the support set in some situations. Knock Off and Super Fang are also viable options on the support set because he can then knock off the opposing Pokemon's Eviolite's, allowing other teammates to sweep easier, and with Super Fang Sandshrew can cut walls down to a quick 50% with Super Fang if you couldn't with Earthquake.</p>

[COUNTERS]
<p>Gligar can wall Sandshrew and can either Swords Dance in your face or Toxic you so your sweep is ended cut short. Ferroseed can beat Sandshrew if it comes in and you're unboosted. Bullet Seed can hit you hard and can hit through your sub. Misdreavus can cripple you before you are able to KO it with Will-O-Wisp or may hit you hard with Shadow Ball. With -1 speed you will be significantly easier to revenge. Chinchou can destroy all of Sandshrew's sets because as it can KO Sandshrew with Hydro Pump, but has to be careful on the switch since it can't take an Earthquake. Bronzor can check this set Sandshrew if you aren't running Night Slash because he resists the "EdgeQuake" combo. Snover is also a pain in the butt to Sandshrew because he take's the sand away and can KO Sandshrew with Blizzard.</p>

[Dream World]
<p>Sandshrew was presented with a gift from the heavens in the DW ability Sand Rush. Sand Rush, coupled with Sandshrew's huge great Attack stat, makes Sandshrew an even more potents sweeper than it already was. With a Jolly nature and max EV investment, Sandshrew reaches a massive 28 Speed which outspeeds the whole unboosted metagame. Match that with a huge 34 Attack stat after a Swords Dance and you have a near unstoppable little critter on your hands. Although Sandshrew's Sand Rush ability hasn't been released yet, when it is released it will be a top tier threat in the metagame.</p>

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