[OVERVIEW]
- Sandslash is a rapid spinner within the PU tier. Thanks to its typing, it is resistance to Stealth Rocks which allows for it to switch in and remove them multiple times.This thought is incomplete. You can fix this by combining the two sentence into one complete idea.
- It also has a great defensive typing within the tier and can check common threats such Skuntank, Lycanroc, Regirock and Aggron.
- However, Sandslash has a lot of competition within the tier as a hazard remover. It’s Alolan counterpart with it’s useful Steel/Ice typing with Slush Rush which fits well with Aurorus, I personally like the comparison with its Alolan form, because it is better and does fit on teams better. Thumbs up! However, mentioning Slush Rush and pairing well with Aurorus really distracts from Sandslash-Kanto, which is the main idea. Hitmonchan with its extra utility What extra utility?, Silvally What Silvally, because Silvally-Normal is kinda awful which has a choice of many typing’sAgain which ones in particular? to go with Parting Shot and Skuntank who can hit ghost types super effectively.Some of these are Defoggers. Perhaps you can discuss Rapid Spin being better than defog in the fact that they don’t remove the hazards you’ve set up.
- Sandslash is also crippled and hindered by many of the tiers ghost types such as Froslass and Jellicent which can either Wil-o-Wisp it or hit it super effectively with water or ice type attacks.
The overview also doesn’t explain the dangers of overlapping roles of entry hazard setting and removal on the same Pokémon. This is why we don’t see Stealth Rock + Rapid Spin Claydol or Prinplup at all, for examples.
[SET]
name: Utility
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Rapid Spin
move 4: Stealth Rock/Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Earthquake is Sandslash’s best offensive option available to it and allows it to make use of its decent 100 base attack allowing it to hit threats such as Aggron, Regirock, Skuntank, Alola Sandslash for solid damage. You are reusing quite a few of the same examples you’ve used in the Overview. Helpful Hint: don’t list as many examples in one particular place so that you have enough unique examples to work with. 2-3 is a solid #!
- Knock Off allows Sandslash to hit many of the tiers blockers such as Froslass and Jellicent for super effective damage on switch in and has the added utility of item removal. Knock Off also helps with Mesprit who is a common setter that Sandslash will encounter.
- Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove hazards from the field. The final slot is dedicated to one of two moves depending on team composition.
- Stealth Rock’s for being able to set up hazards allow Sandslash to be a setter and remover.
- Toxic if that team already has a setter which allows Sandslash to cripple some of its more common switch in’s and walls with poison.
This would be a QC thing, but I would really think about Swords Dance as the second slash tbh, or even Stone Edge.
Set Details
========
- Max EVs in HP allows Sandslash to survive longer and provide more opportunities to spin later into the game thanks to its add bulk.
- Jolly nature with maximum EVs in speed allow Sandslash to hit 251 Spe. This allows Sandslash to speed tie Sandslash-A as well as out speeding Aggron, Silvally, Mespirt, Aurous, Lanturn and Jellicent without use of its Sand Rush ability.
- With Sand Rush activated Sandslash reaches 502 Spe which out speeds everything in the tier that is not boosted or scarfed.Mention that Sand Rush is not overly useful and is incredibly niche but it’s the best thing its got.
Usage Tips
========
- Sandslash shouldcan, not should be used as a spinner on both Non-weather and sand teams. It should be used as a Rock and Poison type check. However, it should be wary of special attack Skuntank which can take advantage of its rather mediocre base 55 Sp.Def.Skunktank isn’t the only special attacking Pokémon. Use the phrases “such as” or “like” to denote more Pokemon than just the example you are describing
- It should also avoid switching into Frolass as it will be unable to get off a spin to get rid of spikes before going down. Sandslash should also avoid Jellicent which can cripple Sandslash with Wil-o-Wisp or hit it with Scald or Water Spout.You can probably combine these two sentences here.
- Also as Sandslash has no recovery its ability to come in on Aggron or another powerful physical attacker multiple times is not possible.
- Sandslash should only come in to try to spin when there is no spin blocker, or the spin blocker is unlikely to be switched in. Sandslash despite these issues can still perform its job as a spinner on a somewhat consistent basis.
- If using Stealth Rock it give’s Sandslash role compression and frees up another slot on the team.This isn’t really a usage tip.
- With Toxic Sandslash can cripple many of its common switch in’s such as Froslass, Jellicent and Llligant, However be careful if the opposing team has a toxic immunity as this allows a free switch in for the opponent.Unless your name is Bronzor, most Toxic immunities are hit super effectively by Earthquake. Mention that Toxic should be used on the switch against the threats you mentioned.
Usage Tips doesn’t quite feel complete. I would mention when to use Knock Off vs Rapid Spin mind games vs potential incoming spinblockers. I would also mention What to do against Flying-types since they are immune to EQ, and some such as Sensu are immune to Rapid Spin also.
Team Options
========
- Froslass- Froslass is a great partner to pair with Sandslash as Froslass provides further hazard support with spikes. Froslass also blocks opposing spinners from removing hazards and helps take care of opposing ghost types and grass types that give Sandslash trouble.
- Jellicent- Jellicent pairs with Sandslash well as it helps block other rapid spinners from removing rocks from the field and helps take care of opposing ghost types and water types that can cause Sandslash issues.
- Lilligant- Lilligant is a good pairing to have with Sandslash as Lilligant benefits from the chip damage that stealth rocks provide and helps deal with any water types for Sandslash while Sandslash can help remove poison types for Lilligant.
- Skuntank- Sandslash benefits greatly from having a partner on the team that can deal with the wide assortment of ghost types that reside in the PU tier. Skuntank, thanks to Sandslash being a spinner can forgo Defog and add more utility to its move set to help remove ghost types and grass types from play for Sandslash to spin and set up hazards.
- Dodrio- Dodrio is a great partner for Sandslash as Dodrio enjoys having a rapid spinner on its team to help provide it with more longevity. Dodrio also hits many of the pokemon that give Sandslash trouble thanks to its wide range of coverage allowing it to hit a wide variety of the meta clearing out threats to Sandslash while Sandslash helps provide more opportunities for Dodrio to enter back into play.
You can generalize these Pokémon into categories to include more than your specific examples. Some groups could include Spinblockers, Grass-types, and setup sweepers.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Sandslash can operate as a Sand Rush sweeper on Sand Stream teams when partnered with Hipopotas. When operating offensively Sandslash can run Swords Dance over Stealth Rock and function in a similar role to A-Sandslash although to a much less effective level as Sandslash does not have the same dual coverage options it’s Alolan counterpart possesses. Also, the use of Hipopotas who is less than optimal is necessary for Sandslash to function in this role.
Stone Edge for sure. Mention Stoutland as a partner for being paired with Hippopotas to create the standard Sand Offensive core.
Checks and Counters
===================
- Ghost Types in the current PU meta give Sandslash a lot of trouble, both Froslass and Jellicent are capable of blocking Sandslash from spinning then either hitting Sandslash super effectively or crippling Sandslash with Wil-o-Wisp with Sandslash not being able to do much in return without an effective partner to remove Jellicent and Froslass from play.
- Grass Types like Lilligant and Bellosom are able to come in on Sandslash with impunity and are able to put it to sleep or set up on variants of Sandslash that are not running Toxic which is Sandslash’s only means of trying to cripple them.
- Ice Types like Aurous and it’s Alolan counterpart A-Sandslash are both huge threats too Sandslash and with hail up Sandslash is unable to outspend A-Sandslash which is able to hit it super effectively and has a chance to OHKO it while Sandslash is unable to OHKO A-Sandslash in return so Sandslash struggles against hail teams.
Checks and Counters are formatted differently from the rest of the analysis at the beginning. You can look at other analyses to see what I’m talking about.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Lost Soul,42265]]
- Quality checked by: [[, ], [, ], [, ]]
- Grammar checked by: [[, ], [, ]]
