[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 5-6 points
**Overview**: Sandaconda is an okay option as a cheap Ground-type if premier options are taken or too expensive. It has great physical bulk and utility in Stealth Rock, and it is one of the few Pokemon with access to Glare, dissuading would-be answers from switching in. Additionally, its support can be leveraged further by its two abilities in Shed Skin to let it act as a status absorber and Sand Spit to facilitate Sand Rush users and provide chip damage. Despite this, Sandaconda suffers from having poor Speed and Special Defense, which can easily be preyed upon. It also relies on Rest to maintain longevity, which is not reliable with Shed Skin, leading to further exploitation by foes. Additionally, it lacks pivoting and entry hazard removal options, which is often desired in late draft picks, making Sandaconda only a budget pick.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Physical Wall**: Using its high Defense stat, Sandaconda can be a check to some strong physical attackers. With access to a solid pool of utility in Glare and Stealth Rock as well as access to Rest + Shed Skin to keep itself healthy, it can be annoying to take down. It also has a serviceable Attack stat to whittle down foes, which can then allow its partners to wallbreak and clean once enough damage has been done. As another form of support, Sandaconda can utilize Sand Spit to set up sand to force residual damage to bulky foes to make it easier for its teammates to wallbreak or sweep.
**Bulky Sweeper**: If the opportunity allows it, Coil can allow Sandaconda to become a potent late-game sweeper. This set often uses Rest alongside Shed Skin to keep itself healthy and become very difficult to remove if it has enough boosts. It also has the niche option to boost its Speed using Scale Shot.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake
**Setup Moves**: Coil, Scale Shot, Iron Defense
**Utility Moves**: Glare, Stealth Rock, Rest, Substitute
**Coverage**: Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Rock Blast, Body Press, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Zen Headbutt, Iron Head, Skitter Smack
Niche Moves
========
**High Horsepower**: Sandaconda should run High Horsepower if it is expecting to go up against a foe utilizing Grassy Terrain, which weakens Earthquake.
**Sand Tomb / Wrap**: Sand Tomb and Wrap can be used to trap specific checks and deal continuous damage. This can also give Sandaconda a great opportunity to set up with minimal disruption.
**Rock Tomb / Bulldoze**: Rock Tomb and Bulldoze can be used as another form of speed control and valuable chip damage for Sandaconda's teammates to take advantage of later in the match.
**Endeavor**: Sandaconda can use Endeavor to weaken foes for its teammates to revenge kill after it has taken enough damage.
Common Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Sandaconda can utilize Rocky Helmet to chip down and punish pivots and physical attackers using its high Defense.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers gives Sandaconda more longevity while it's on the field to make use of its utility movepool to the fullest. This is also useful to keep itself healthy if it wants to setup.
Niche Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: As Sandaconda likes to switch to check threats, Heavy-Duty Boots allows it to enter the field without fear of taking damage from entry hazards.
**Mental Herb*: Given its low Speed stat, Sandconda can use Mental Herb to guarantee getting up entry hazards or inflicting foes with paralysis.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry allows Sandaconda to avoid getting 2HKOed, giving it an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock or paralyze a foe with Glare.
**Custap Berry**: As it has no reliable means of recovery, Custap Berry allows Sandaconda to use one more attack or Glare on a foe so that a teammate can revenge kill it afterwards.
**Eject Button**: Sandaconda can use Eject Button to safely pivot to Sand Rush users on the same turn that Sand Spit summons sand onto the field.
**Smooth Rock**: Sandaconda can use Smooth Rock to extend sand duration for late-game sand cleaners to take advantage of.
Tera
========
Sandaconda is not reliant on Tera to function, as its base Ground typing is sufficient enough to fulfil its roles, but it can be a decent secondary Tera Captain if no others are suitable. Tera Dragon is a good Tera type in order to boost the damage dealt with Scale Shot, turn a couple of weaknesses into resistances, and become a more deadly sweeper in the right circumstances. It's important to note, however, that Sandaconda is too slow and needs time to get itself going to utilize this offensive Tera to the best of its ability. Defensively, Tera Water, Steel, and Fairy can be used to check specific threats and become harder to remove with Coil. Finally, Tera Ghost can be used to block Rapid Spin.
Draft Strategy
========
Sandaconda should be drafted if a team lacks a Ground-type late into the draft or needs additional utility and bulk to take the burden of higher-tier partners. It is generally outclassed by higher-tiered Ground-types that have access to more utility and better stats. Therefore, it is important that the draft considers of teammates with access to pivoting and high damage output so that Sandaconda is able to fully support its team with entry hazards and status.
**Sweepers**: Sandaconda does its best setting up its partners to go in for the sweep late-game using Stealth Rock, spreading paralysis, and sometimes setting sand for residual damage. Pokemon with priority such as Palafin and Urshifu-R or fast cleaners such as Iron Valiant and Iron Bundle are good partners for it.
**Fast Pivots**: Frail Pokemon such as Greninja and Meowscarada appreciate Sandaconda's presence in order to pivot it, and let it take incoming hits.
**Special Walls**: As Sandaconda lacks Special Defense, it appreciates partners to take on strong special attackers in the meta. Pokemon such as Galarian Slowking, Latias, and Primarina are good partners to consider.
**Sand Rush Users**: Although not a stellar option, Excadrill and Houndstone may appreciate Sandaconda's ability to set up sand with its Sand Spit ability in certain matchups in order to help clean up late-game.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Wallbreakers**: Sandaconda can easily be preyed upon by strong special attackers such as Darkrai, Latios, and Landorus. While they have to be wary of Glare, they can easily overwhelm it via their superior Speed stat and threaten an OHKO.
**Lum Berry / Substitute**: Given its reliance to spread status with Glare, Lum Berry can easily be teched onto wallbreakers and sweepers to check and deal heavy damage to Sandaconda. Substitute can also be used to avoid Glare altogether, giving the foe more momentum during the match.
**Taunt / Encore**: Sandaconda can be disrupted easily by Taunt and Encore users, limiting its utility while it's on the field.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Ogerpon, and Zarude can easily switch in and threaten Sandaconda with their STAB combination and Ground resistance, forcing it out.
**Opposing Bulky Setup Sweepers**: As Sandaconda has no phazing moves, it can struggle to deal with bulky Pokemon that can set up against it with either Bulk Up or Calm Mind. Annilhape, Hatterene, and Slowbro are examples that can set up reliably against it.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000
**Draft Order**: Round 6 onwards
**Price Range**: 5-6 points
**Overview**: Sandaconda is an okay option as a cheap Ground-type if premier options are taken or too expensive. It has great physical bulk and utility in Stealth Rock, and it is one of the few Pokemon with access to Glare, dissuading would-be answers from switching in. Additionally, its support can be leveraged further by its two abilities in Shed Skin to let it act as a status absorber and Sand Spit to facilitate Sand Rush users and provide chip damage. Despite this, Sandaconda suffers from having poor Speed and Special Defense, which can easily be preyed upon. It also relies on Rest to maintain longevity, which is not reliable with Shed Skin, leading to further exploitation by foes. Additionally, it lacks pivoting and entry hazard removal options, which is often desired in late draft picks, making Sandaconda only a budget pick.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Physical Wall**: Using its high Defense stat, Sandaconda can be a check to some strong physical attackers. With access to a solid pool of utility in Glare and Stealth Rock as well as access to Rest + Shed Skin to keep itself healthy, it can be annoying to take down. It also has a serviceable Attack stat to whittle down foes, which can then allow its partners to wallbreak and clean once enough damage has been done. As another form of support, Sandaconda can utilize Sand Spit to set up sand to force residual damage to bulky foes to make it easier for its teammates to wallbreak or sweep.
**Bulky Sweeper**: If the opportunity allows it, Coil can allow Sandaconda to become a potent late-game sweeper. This set often uses Rest alongside Shed Skin to keep itself healthy and become very difficult to remove if it has enough boosts. It also has the niche option to boost its Speed using Scale Shot.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake
**Setup Moves**: Coil, Scale Shot, Iron Defense
**Utility Moves**: Glare, Stealth Rock, Rest, Substitute
**Coverage**: Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Rock Blast, Body Press, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Zen Headbutt, Iron Head, Skitter Smack
Niche Moves
========
**High Horsepower**: Sandaconda should run High Horsepower if it is expecting to go up against a foe utilizing Grassy Terrain, which weakens Earthquake.
**Sand Tomb / Wrap**: Sand Tomb and Wrap can be used to trap specific checks and deal continuous damage. This can also give Sandaconda a great opportunity to set up with minimal disruption.
**Rock Tomb / Bulldoze**: Rock Tomb and Bulldoze can be used as another form of speed control and valuable chip damage for Sandaconda's teammates to take advantage of later in the match.
**Endeavor**: Sandaconda can use Endeavor to weaken foes for its teammates to revenge kill after it has taken enough damage.
Common Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Sandaconda can utilize Rocky Helmet to chip down and punish pivots and physical attackers using its high Defense.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers gives Sandaconda more longevity while it's on the field to make use of its utility movepool to the fullest. This is also useful to keep itself healthy if it wants to setup.
Niche Items
========
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: As Sandaconda likes to switch to check threats, Heavy-Duty Boots allows it to enter the field without fear of taking damage from entry hazards.
**Mental Herb*: Given its low Speed stat, Sandconda can use Mental Herb to guarantee getting up entry hazards or inflicting foes with paralysis.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry allows Sandaconda to avoid getting 2HKOed, giving it an opportunity to set up Stealth Rock or paralyze a foe with Glare.
**Custap Berry**: As it has no reliable means of recovery, Custap Berry allows Sandaconda to use one more attack or Glare on a foe so that a teammate can revenge kill it afterwards.
**Eject Button**: Sandaconda can use Eject Button to safely pivot to Sand Rush users on the same turn that Sand Spit summons sand onto the field.
**Smooth Rock**: Sandaconda can use Smooth Rock to extend sand duration for late-game sand cleaners to take advantage of.
Tera
========
Sandaconda is not reliant on Tera to function, as its base Ground typing is sufficient enough to fulfil its roles, but it can be a decent secondary Tera Captain if no others are suitable. Tera Dragon is a good Tera type in order to boost the damage dealt with Scale Shot, turn a couple of weaknesses into resistances, and become a more deadly sweeper in the right circumstances. It's important to note, however, that Sandaconda is too slow and needs time to get itself going to utilize this offensive Tera to the best of its ability. Defensively, Tera Water, Steel, and Fairy can be used to check specific threats and become harder to remove with Coil. Finally, Tera Ghost can be used to block Rapid Spin.
Draft Strategy
========
Sandaconda should be drafted if a team lacks a Ground-type late into the draft or needs additional utility and bulk to take the burden of higher-tier partners. It is generally outclassed by higher-tiered Ground-types that have access to more utility and better stats. Therefore, it is important that the draft considers of teammates with access to pivoting and high damage output so that Sandaconda is able to fully support its team with entry hazards and status.
**Sweepers**: Sandaconda does its best setting up its partners to go in for the sweep late-game using Stealth Rock, spreading paralysis, and sometimes setting sand for residual damage. Pokemon with priority such as Palafin and Urshifu-R or fast cleaners such as Iron Valiant and Iron Bundle are good partners for it.
**Fast Pivots**: Frail Pokemon such as Greninja and Meowscarada appreciate Sandaconda's presence in order to pivot it, and let it take incoming hits.
**Special Walls**: As Sandaconda lacks Special Defense, it appreciates partners to take on strong special attackers in the meta. Pokemon such as Galarian Slowking, Latias, and Primarina are good partners to consider.
**Sand Rush Users**: Although not a stellar option, Excadrill and Houndstone may appreciate Sandaconda's ability to set up sand with its Sand Spit ability in certain matchups in order to help clean up late-game.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Wallbreakers**: Sandaconda can easily be preyed upon by strong special attackers such as Darkrai, Latios, and Landorus. While they have to be wary of Glare, they can easily overwhelm it via their superior Speed stat and threaten an OHKO.
**Lum Berry / Substitute**: Given its reliance to spread status with Glare, Lum Berry can easily be teched onto wallbreakers and sweepers to check and deal heavy damage to Sandaconda. Substitute can also be used to avoid Glare altogether, giving the foe more momentum during the match.
**Taunt / Encore**: Sandaconda can be disrupted easily by Taunt and Encore users, limiting its utility while it's on the field.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types such as Rillaboom, Ogerpon, and Zarude can easily switch in and threaten Sandaconda with their STAB combination and Ground resistance, forcing it out.
**Opposing Bulky Setup Sweepers**: As Sandaconda has no phazing moves, it can struggle to deal with bulky Pokemon that can set up against it with either Bulk Up or Calm Mind. Annilhape, Hatterene, and Slowbro are examples that can set up reliably against it.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/theuncultured.629845
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/jscurf.608304/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.400000
Last edited:
