[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Sandslash is a decent budget option, since it offers much-needed role compression for teams lacking a Ground-type as well as entry hazards and removal. It can also occasionally take things into its own claws and sweep under sand. Unfortunately, what massively hold it back are its stats, which leave a lot to be desired aside from its solid Defense. Its mediocre Speed often leaves it vulnerable to being knocked out before it can fully utilize its utility, and its poor Special Defense frequently forces it to switch out, allowing opponents to gain positive momentum. It is also heavily outclassed by higher-priced Ground-types with better stats and coverage.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Utility**: Sandslash is mostly viable as a utility Pokemon thanks to its access to a variety of support moves such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, Rapid Spin, and Knock Off.
**Bulky Setup Wallbreaker**: Thanks to its solid Attack, Sandslash can work as a bulky setup wallbreaker thanks to its good physical bulk which gives it opportunities to set up a Swords Dance. With Rapid Spin it can outspeed and break down foes during the mid-game.
**Sand Sweeper**: With Sand Rush, Sandslash can become an effective late-game sweeper. Paired with Swords Dance, it can raise its Attack to threatening levels. To further enhance its offensive presence, damage-boosting items like Life Orb and Soft Sand can be utilized to increase damage output.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake, High Horsepower
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Curse, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Rapid Spin, Knock Off, Brick Break, Super Fang
**Coverage**: Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Iron Head, Leech Life, Gunk Shot, Poison Jab, Shadow Claw, Aerial Ace
Niche Moves
========
**Smack Down**: Smack Down allows Sandslash to threaten Ground-immune Pokemon that otherwise would wall it.
**Bulldoze**: Sandslash can use Bulldoze to check some threats that may expect some easy setup opportunities.
**Sandstorm**: Sandslash can set sand by itself, although it much prefers a teammate to do it.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers give Sandslash passive recovery and enhance its longevity, which is valuable when it is used in a defensive role.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry offers more value than Leftovers if Sandslash is not expected to survive for long.
**Rocky Helmet**: Thanks to its high Defense, Sandslash can punish physical attackers with Rocky Helmet, especially ones that use U-turn for momentum.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots protect Sandslash from taking chip damage from entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes.
Niche Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items such as Soft Sand and Life Orb make Sandslash a more formidable offensive threat under sand.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash gives Sandslash a guaranteed turn to set Stealth Rock or Spikes if they need to be up at all costs.
**Resistance Berries**: Rindo, Passho, and Yache Berry can all allow Sandslash to take a super effective hit, giving it an extra turn to revenge kill a foe or set or remove entry hazards.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest can be used to help with Sandslash's Special Defense, especially on utility sets that utilize Rapid Spin and Knock Off.
Tera
========
If Sandslash is able to activate Sand Rush reliably, it can be a decent budget choice for a secondary Tera Captain. But otherwise, it's better to consider other options, as its Ground typing is usually sufficient for utility sets. Tera Grass is particularly valuable, as it flips the Water- and Grass-type matchups in Sandslash's favor while also giving it an edge against fellow Ground types. It can also use Tera Ground, Rock, and Dark to boost its existing coverage and Tera Ghost to prevent foes from using Rapid Spin.
Draft Strategy
========
Sandslash is a complementary piece, offering valuable entry hazard control, support, and potential wallbreaking and sweeping power. While it shouldn't be the centerpiece of any draft, it can occasionally enable the rest of the team with its support.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: While Sandslash has decent physical bulk, its low Special Defense makes it vulnerable to special attackers. It greatly benefits from a specially defensive partner that can cover its weaknesses. Pokemon such as Hisuian Goodra, Scream Tail and Galarian Slowking make excellent partners for Sandslash.
**Sand Setter**: Although its utility is generally preferred, Sandslash can be a decent sand sweeper when paired with a sand setter. Tyranitar is the best choice thanks to its Dark typing, access to Knock Off, and ability to take special attacks well.
**Other Entry Hazard Setters**: Sandslash shouldn't be the sole entry hazard setter. Complementing it with other hazard setters enhances team flexibility, allowing each to perform other roles as needed. This reduces the burden, ensuring it isn't over-reliant on setting hazards alone and isn't forced to come to nearly every match.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Attackers**: Any decently powerful special move poses a significant threat to Sandslash, even ones that are resisted. Pokemon like Terapagos, Hydrapple, and Iron Bundle can easily withstand its attacks and pressure it in return.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Sandslash often faces challenges when dealing with physically defensive Pokemon that can revenge kill it or inflict it with status, such as Weezing, Rillaboom, and Dondozo.
**Ground-immune Pokemon**: Sandslash struggles significantly against Pokemon that are immune to Ground, including Flying-types such as Corviknight, Gliscor, and Zapdos. Pokemon with Levitate like Rotom-W and Hydreigon can also completely avoid Earthquake and retaliate with powerful moves like Hydro Pump or Draco Meteor, respectively.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maxburnheart.476935/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/addison0727.514695/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onwards
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Sandslash is a decent budget option, since it offers much-needed role compression for teams lacking a Ground-type as well as entry hazards and removal. It can also occasionally take things into its own claws and sweep under sand. Unfortunately, what massively hold it back are its stats, which leave a lot to be desired aside from its solid Defense. Its mediocre Speed often leaves it vulnerable to being knocked out before it can fully utilize its utility, and its poor Special Defense frequently forces it to switch out, allowing opponents to gain positive momentum. It is also heavily outclassed by higher-priced Ground-types with better stats and coverage.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Utility**: Sandslash is mostly viable as a utility Pokemon thanks to its access to a variety of support moves such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, Rapid Spin, and Knock Off.
**Bulky Setup Wallbreaker**: Thanks to its solid Attack, Sandslash can work as a bulky setup wallbreaker thanks to its good physical bulk which gives it opportunities to set up a Swords Dance. With Rapid Spin it can outspeed and break down foes during the mid-game.
**Sand Sweeper**: With Sand Rush, Sandslash can become an effective late-game sweeper. Paired with Swords Dance, it can raise its Attack to threatening levels. To further enhance its offensive presence, damage-boosting items like Life Orb and Soft Sand can be utilized to increase damage output.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Earthquake, High Horsepower
**Setup Moves**: Swords Dance, Curse, Agility
**Utility Moves**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Rapid Spin, Knock Off, Brick Break, Super Fang
**Coverage**: Rock Slide, Stone Edge, Iron Head, Leech Life, Gunk Shot, Poison Jab, Shadow Claw, Aerial Ace
Niche Moves
========
**Smack Down**: Smack Down allows Sandslash to threaten Ground-immune Pokemon that otherwise would wall it.
**Bulldoze**: Sandslash can use Bulldoze to check some threats that may expect some easy setup opportunities.
**Sandstorm**: Sandslash can set sand by itself, although it much prefers a teammate to do it.
Common Items
========
**Leftovers**: Leftovers give Sandslash passive recovery and enhance its longevity, which is valuable when it is used in a defensive role.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry offers more value than Leftovers if Sandslash is not expected to survive for long.
**Rocky Helmet**: Thanks to its high Defense, Sandslash can punish physical attackers with Rocky Helmet, especially ones that use U-turn for momentum.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots protect Sandslash from taking chip damage from entry hazards, especially Toxic Spikes.
Niche Items
========
**Damage-boosting Items**: Damage-boosting items such as Soft Sand and Life Orb make Sandslash a more formidable offensive threat under sand.
**Focus Sash**: Focus Sash gives Sandslash a guaranteed turn to set Stealth Rock or Spikes if they need to be up at all costs.
**Resistance Berries**: Rindo, Passho, and Yache Berry can all allow Sandslash to take a super effective hit, giving it an extra turn to revenge kill a foe or set or remove entry hazards.
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest can be used to help with Sandslash's Special Defense, especially on utility sets that utilize Rapid Spin and Knock Off.
Tera
========
If Sandslash is able to activate Sand Rush reliably, it can be a decent budget choice for a secondary Tera Captain. But otherwise, it's better to consider other options, as its Ground typing is usually sufficient for utility sets. Tera Grass is particularly valuable, as it flips the Water- and Grass-type matchups in Sandslash's favor while also giving it an edge against fellow Ground types. It can also use Tera Ground, Rock, and Dark to boost its existing coverage and Tera Ghost to prevent foes from using Rapid Spin.
Draft Strategy
========
Sandslash is a complementary piece, offering valuable entry hazard control, support, and potential wallbreaking and sweeping power. While it shouldn't be the centerpiece of any draft, it can occasionally enable the rest of the team with its support.
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: While Sandslash has decent physical bulk, its low Special Defense makes it vulnerable to special attackers. It greatly benefits from a specially defensive partner that can cover its weaknesses. Pokemon such as Hisuian Goodra, Scream Tail and Galarian Slowking make excellent partners for Sandslash.
**Sand Setter**: Although its utility is generally preferred, Sandslash can be a decent sand sweeper when paired with a sand setter. Tyranitar is the best choice thanks to its Dark typing, access to Knock Off, and ability to take special attacks well.
**Other Entry Hazard Setters**: Sandslash shouldn't be the sole entry hazard setter. Complementing it with other hazard setters enhances team flexibility, allowing each to perform other roles as needed. This reduces the burden, ensuring it isn't over-reliant on setting hazards alone and isn't forced to come to nearly every match.
Checks and Counters
========
**Special Attackers**: Any decently powerful special move poses a significant threat to Sandslash, even ones that are resisted. Pokemon like Terapagos, Hydrapple, and Iron Bundle can easily withstand its attacks and pressure it in return.
**Physically Bulky Pokemon**: Sandslash often faces challenges when dealing with physically defensive Pokemon that can revenge kill it or inflict it with status, such as Weezing, Rillaboom, and Dondozo.
**Ground-immune Pokemon**: Sandslash struggles significantly against Pokemon that are immune to Ground, including Flying-types such as Corviknight, Gliscor, and Zapdos. Pokemon with Levitate like Rotom-W and Hydreigon can also completely avoid Earthquake and retaliate with powerful moves like Hydro Pump or Draco Meteor, respectively.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maxburnheart.476935/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/addison0727.514695/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
