Mega Sandaconda
New Ability: Dust Devil (This pokemon's damaging Ground-type moves damage all affected pokemon for 1/10th of their max HP at the end of each turn and heal the user for that much damage. Does not affect Ground-type pokemon.)
Type: Ground
New stats:
HP: 72
Attack: 142 (+35)
Defense: 160 (+35)
Special Attack: 65
Special Defense: 100 (+30)
Speed: 71
(610 BST)
New moves: Wide Guard
Description:
Upon Mega Evolution, Sandaconda goes the same route as its Gigantamax form, with the sand in its pouch overflowing and swirling around its neck. It uses this sand to whip up powerful dust storms that pose a grave danger to all that cross it as well as giving it a barrier with which it can use to sponge opposing attacks.
Despite being a primarily defensive pokemon, this Sandaconda uses its STAB Earthquakes to not only wear down the opponent over time, but also provide a form of passive healing for itself with the loss of Shed Skin + Rest and Leftovers. Notably, 142 attack is no slouch, even without investment, giving its initial Ground STAB some serious punch by itself and making the passive chip damage it provides that much more potent. That also means Ground resists aren't quite safe either, since they get hit with the same chip damage as other pokemon and in turn provide Sandaconda with even more useful passive healing. Furthermore, with massively improved hit-taking capability across the board, you have an easier time taking hits left and right, which helps make the most out of Dust Devil's passive recovery. Combined with Stealth Rock and Glare to provide useful utility and infuriating speed control, Sandaconda can prove itself a bulky, hard-to-wear down juggernaut of a Pokemon. Alternatively, it can even run bulky Coil builds, turning it into a dangerous late-game threat that can also sustain itself with its hard-hitting Ground STAB.
In Doubles, Sandaconda can prove a decently potent threat in its own right as well. Earthquake being a spread move lets Sandaconda spread Dust Devil's chip damage even more effectively, in turn also letting it stick on the field longer. Sure, Earthquake affecting your ally is a bit of a double-edged sword (giving Sandaconda even more passive recovery, but also wearing down your ally to be put in range of a KO), but with the right tools, it's one that can be managed. Beyond that, it has Glare to aid with infuriating speed control and Rock Slide for excellent spread coverage. Wide Guard lets it aid its teammates even more, protecting them from any spread moves that would derail their gameplan.
