Sandslash

Jukain

!_!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
Hi, I'm sure you guys have seen a Sand Rush Sandslash or two. It's actually really good. It received a massive boon from the Dream World in the form of Sand Rush. It doesn't hit even close to Excadrill level speed, but notably can take a hit from Excadrill and retaliate with Earthquake to OHKO. It also learns Stone Edge, along with Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin, being bulkier than Excadrill as well. 75 / 110 physical defense is nothing to brush away, and is pretty bulky, being furthered bolstered by possible investment. However, Sandslash is not all bells and whistles, and needs investment in about 5 different places everything it wants, which is not possible. His Special Defense is terrible, so switch out on EVERY special attacker that you can't kill first. However, there are a number of things Sandslash can do, and you should utilize it for those things.
This is quite false. Of 'course Excadrill will be the superior option, but Sandslash is by no means outclassed.
When using Sandslash, you should play him to his strenghts. Which means very good physical bulk, allowing him to easily take priority or even some strong hits from pokes that outspeed him. In DW, where Excadrill is running rampant, everything is centralized around countering him. For example Mach Punch Techinician Breloom is a full stop to Excadrill, but not for Sandslash which can just tank the hit and ko back with a +2 X-Scissor. The same goes for any other kind of priority user, that your opponent may be relying to, to kill Excadrill. Another very good check to Excadrill, CB Azumarill, fails to ohko Sandslash even after SR, dealing 74.91 - 89.34%. Conkeldurr is in the same boat.
Finally Sandslash can deal better with some pokes that counter Excadrill like Gliscor which gets 3hkoed by Jolly Sandslash's LO +2 Return or SE, while it fails to 2hko dealing 39,5% max with EQ.

Also these 2 pokes can used together, so they can break each other's counters and allow the other to sweep.

So, you can use Sandslash over Excadrill if you want a strong Sand Rusher that doesn't get stopped by priority and Gliscor or a poke to complement Excadrill's sweep.
This post shows exactly why you use Sandslash. The user alexwolf made this post.
Sandslash and Excadrill wear down each others counters, along with Magnezone to take on steels, forming a very potent trio.
[pimg]28[/pimg]
Base Stats:
HP: 75
Attack: 100
Defense: 110
Special Attack: 45
Special Defense: 55
Speed: 65

Possible sets:

Swords Dance:
Sandslash@ Leftovers / Life Orb / Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
Swords Dance
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Rapid Spin / Return / X-Scissor
This is Excadrill essentially with more bulk but less attack and speed.

Rocks & Spin Attacker:
Sandslash@ Leftovers / Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Stealth Rock
Rapid Spin
You set up Stealth Rock, you spin, you attack. That simple.

Support:
Sandslash@ Leftovers / Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Jolly Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
Rapid Spin
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Stone Edge / Safeguard / Toxic
You set up Stealth Rock, you spin, you take hits, you attack, you Safeguard or Toxic. Pretty self-explanatory.

Discuss Sandslash, more sets, and other niches it can fill below. If you for some reason believe it has no ability to take a hit from Excadrill and work as an Excadrill check, post that too. Discuss!
 
There's really no reason to use Sandslash while Excadrill is allowed in the tier. Also, you really should just max out Speed to tie other Sandslash since the extra point in HP isn't going to make much of a difference.

Another problem is that Sandslash isn't all that fast, even in Sandstorm. Offensive Deoxys-S can outspeed it and OHKO even max HP variants with Ice Beam. Choice Scarf Terrakion and Mienshao will also outspeed it and hit it hard with Close Combat or Hi Jump Kick.
 

Jukain

!_!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
There's really no reason to use Sandslash while Excadrill is allowed in the tier. Also, you really should just max out Speed to tie other Sandslash since the extra point in HP isn't going to make much of a difference.

Another problem is that Sandslash isn't all that fast, even in Sandstorm. Offensive Deoxys-S can outspeed it and OHKO even max HP variants with Ice Beam. Choice Scarf Terrakion and Mienshao will also outspeed it and hit it hard with Close Combat or Hi Jump Kick.
Fixed the Rocks & Spin attacker and Swords Dance with max speed, I didn't even think about the other Sandslash tie.
 

alexwolf

lurks in the shadows
is a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
There's really no reason to use Sandslash while Excadrill is allowed in the tier. Also, you really should just max out Speed to tie other Sandslash since the extra point in HP isn't going to make much of a difference.

Another problem is that Sandslash isn't all that fast, even in Sandstorm. Offensive Deoxys-S can outspeed it and OHKO even max HP variants with Ice Beam. Choice Scarf Terrakion and Mienshao will also outspeed it and hit it hard with Close Combat or Hi Jump Kick.
This is quite false. Of 'course Excadrill will be the superior option, but Sandslash is by no means outclassed.
When using Sandslash, you should play him to his strenghts. Which means very good physical bulk, allowing him to easily take priority or even some strong hits from pokes that outspeed him. In DW, where Excadrill is running rampant, everything is centralized around countering him. For example Mach Punch Techinician Breloom is a full stop to Excadrill, but not for Sandslash which can just tank the hit and ko back with a +2 X-Scissor. The same goes for any other kind of priority user, that your opponent may be relying to, to kill Excadrill. Another very good check to Excadrill, CB Azumarill, fails to ohko Sandslash even after SR, dealing 74.91 - 89.34%. Conkeldurr is in the same boat.
Finally Sandslash can deal better with some pokes that counter Excadrill like Gliscor which gets 3hkoed by Jolly Sandslash's LO +2 Return or SE, while it fails to 2hko dealing 39,5% max with EQ.

Also these 2 pokes can used together, so they can break each other's counters and allow the other to sweep.

So, you can use Sandslash over Excadrill if you want a strong Sand Rusher that doesn't get stopped by priority and Gliscor or a poke to complement Excadrill's sweep.
 

Jukain

!_!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
This is quite false. Of 'course Excadrill will be the superior option, but Sandslash is by no means outclassed.
When using Sandslash, you should play him to his strenghts. Which means very good physical bulk, allowing him to easily take priority or even some strong hits from pokes that outspeed him. In DW, where Excadrill is running rampant, everything is centralized around countering him. For example Mach Punch Techinician Breloom is a full stop to Excadrill, but not for Sandslash which can just tank the hit and ko back with a +2 X-Scissor. The same goes for any other kind of priority user, that your opponent may be relying to, to kill Excadrill. Another very good check to Excadrill, CB Azumarill, fails to ohko Sandslash even after SR, dealing 74.91 - 89.34%. Conkeldurr is in the same boat.
Finally Sandslash can deal better with some pokes that counter Excadrill like Gliscor which gets 3hkoed by Jolly Sandslash's LO +2 Return or SE, while it fails to 2hko dealing 39,5% max with EQ.

Also these 2 pokes can used together, so they can break each other's counters and allow the other to sweep.

So, you can use Sandslash over Excadrill if you want a strong Sand Rusher that doesn't get stopped by priority and Gliscor or a poke to complement Excadrill's sweep.
Thanks alexwolf, this really helps not only in terms of discussion but in using Sandslash as well. In fact, I am going to include some of what you wrote in the OP (with credit to you, of course). Anyways, back to discussion!
 

shrang

General Kenobi
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Battle Simulator Moderator Alumnus
You could probably use like a Salaquaza combo with both Sandslash and Excadrill to wear down each other's counters. Couple that with Magnezone to remove Skarmory, and it looks pretty dandy.
 

Nova

snitches get stitches
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Team Rater Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Contributor Alumnus
I know this has not been released but I wish to use Sandslash in regular OU on wifi where Excadrill and Deoxys-S are not allowed. What would be the ideal EV spread for the SD Attacker set?
 

alexwolf

lurks in the shadows
is a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
Thanks alexwolf, this really helps not only in terms of discussion but in using Sandslash as well. In fact, I am going to include some of what you wrote in the OP (with credit to you, of course). Anyways, back to discussion!
No problem. Don't forget to include Return on the offensive SD set, which with a Life Orb allows you to 3hko Gliscor and ohko offensive Rotom-W without resorting to Stone Miss. Also it is your stronger option against foes that resist the EdgeQuake combo like Virizion and Breloom. While these may get ohkoed by X-Scissor(not sure haven't done calcs), bulkier variants won't and it is better to be able to always ohko them. Excadrill could ko them because he had an 135 base Attack stat, which Sandslash lacks, so it is good for him to use high base power moves.
 

Jukain

!_!
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus
You could probably use like a Salaquaza combo with both Sandslash and Excadrill to wear down each other's counters. Couple that with Magnezone to remove Skarmory, and it looks pretty dandy.
Good idea, I'll try that sometime.
I know this has not been released but I wish to use Sandslash in regular OU on wifi where Excadrill and Deoxys-S are not allowed. What would be the ideal EV spread for the SD Attacker set?
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe Adamant / Jolly. Doesn't get any simpler than that o_0
Agreed
No problem. Don't forget to include Return on the offensive SD set, which with a Life Orb allows you to 3hko Gliscor and ohko offensive Rotom-W without resorting to Stone Miss. Also it is your stronger option against foes that resist the EdgeQuake combo like Virizion and Breloom. While these may get ohkoed by X-Scissor(not sure haven't done calcs), bulkier variants won't and it is better to be able to always ohko them. Excadrill could ko them because he had an 135 base Attack stat, which Sandslash lacks, so it is good for him to use high base power moves.
I'll slash Return after Rapid Spin, Rapid Spin is still really nice on Sandslash, but I agree, for offensive coverage, Return is best.

All in all, this is why we need Dream World analyses. I hope whatever debate is going on ends in yes, because god it is annoying to try and think of sets based on movepool and a little testing alone. That's what we do with analyses, but still.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top