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Sandslash (update)
- Thread starter PK Gaming
- Start date
Just a quick, preliminary run-through
add
delete
Some odd spacing mistakes. Also, try to keep the whole analysis referring to Sandslash as "him", instead of "it".
add
delete
Some odd spacing mistakes. Also, try to keep the whole analysis referring to Sandslash as "him", instead of "it".
Though I personally agree with the referring of the Pokemon in question with "he" or "she". Methinks that the grammar standards say that it's ok to just go with "it" so long as it is consistent throughout the whole analysis.
well in his analysis PK Gaming uses "he" and "him" much more than "it" so obviously it's easier to implement Oglemi's suggestion rather than going with "it"
Team Options does need some beefing. I would suggest:
- going into more detail about covering Sandslash's weaknesses rather than just mentioning Venusaur/Milotic in one sentence (ie. mention several options and why they're good for that role, but emphasize the best options). Fire-types also deserve a mention as they can switch into both grass and ice attacks and like spin support due to SR weakness.
- mention pairing it up with pokes that appreciate spin support. Obviously Moltres and Scyther come to mind.
- seems like a good Ghost-type lure, especially the offensive spinner, so maybe mention how Fighting-types and the like work better with them removed.
Since Donphan is really similar you could always get ideas from that analysis as well :P
- going into more detail about covering Sandslash's weaknesses rather than just mentioning Venusaur/Milotic in one sentence (ie. mention several options and why they're good for that role, but emphasize the best options). Fire-types also deserve a mention as they can switch into both grass and ice attacks and like spin support due to SR weakness.
- mention pairing it up with pokes that appreciate spin support. Obviously Moltres and Scyther come to mind.
- seems like a good Ghost-type lure, especially the offensive spinner, so maybe mention how Fighting-types and the like work better with them removed.
Since Donphan is really similar you could always get ideas from that analysis as well :P
removals in red
additions in bold
comments in [italics]
GP CHECK 1/2
additions in bold
comments in [italics]
[Overview]
<p>Sandslash has a tough time competing for a team slot with Donphan, who boasts superior stats in everything but Speed. However, Sandslash does have a few advantages over his tusked counterpart, namely access to Swords Dance and a rare ability, Sand Veil. Sandslash's unique access to both Rapid Spin and Swords Dance (this combination is only shared by Kabutops in UU) allows him support the team and sweep when given the opportunity. Sandslash is quite effective on a sandstorm-based teams, because the evasion boost from Sand Veil boosts Sandslash’s evasion by 20%, potentially allowing Sandslash allows Sandslash to avoid an attack that would normally potentially KO him. Sandslash may be burdened with low Speed and Special Defense, and he may face serious competition with Donphan, but he is still a solid choice if you want a reliable defensive Ground-type Pokemon or a powerful offensive sandstorm sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Rapid Spin
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash / Stone Edge
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sandslash’s unique access to both Swords Dance and Rapid Spin helps him differentiate himself from Donphan as a bulky Ground-type Rapid Spinner. Sandslash is typically used as a physical wall and spinner, acting similarly to Donphan but having the ability to go on the offensive at any given time. Swords Dance boosts Sandslash’s already decent Attack stat to powerful levels, making it capable of doing some serious damage to even the bulkiest of walls. Earthquake is Sandslash’s primary STAB move and is capable of deals solid sufficient damage after a Swords Dance boost, even without an Attack-boosting item; Earthquake cleanly OHKOes standard Registeel is OHKOed by +2 Earthquake while and, with a little residual damage, OHKOes Steelix and defensively oriented Rhyperior defensive Rhyperior and Steelix are nearly OHKOed. Night Slash is useful for dealing with Ghost-type Pokemon who attempt to block Sandslash’s Rapid Spin. After a Swords Dance, even the bulkiest Rotom sets are OHKOed by +2 Night Slash. Stone Edge, on the other hand, is useful for taking out Flying-type Pokemon who attempt to switch into a potential Earthquake. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, greatly aiding the team.</p>
[ADDITONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The item of choice is Leftovers, which gives Sandslash significantly more staying power, but Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status momentarily and it allows Sandslash to consistently beat bulky Ghost-types who attempt to cripple him with Will-O-Wisp. The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: max HP for enhanced durability and max Attack for more power. An alternative EV Spread of 252 HP / 252 Def with an Impish nature may be used for a weaker but bulkier Sandslash.</p>
<p>Sandslash is easily countered by bulky Water-types, whom and he desperately struggles to get past them. Milotic [there was a weird paragraph break here] and Slowbro are excellent counters to Sandslash, as they can easily take a boosted Earthquake and OHKO Sandslash in return with their STAB Water-type moves. A bulky Grass-type is an effective partner for dealing with the aforementioned threats, so pairing Sandslash up with a Venusaur or Torterra is recommended. Strong Flying-types like Moltres have an easy time switching into Sandslash (provided it doesn’t have Stone Edge) and immediately threaten him with powerful Fire Blast [clarify this sentence, as I doubt that any other Flying-type besides Moltres will be threatening with Fire Blast]. Grass-types have an easy time dealing with Sandslash, as they resist his STAB Ground-type attacks, allowing them to freely set up on him. Torterra and Leafeon can either immediately threaten Sandslash with their STAB moves of choice or set up with Rock Polish or Swords Dance, respectively. Weezing can also switch in with ease and threaten Sandslash with a Will-O-Wisp. Moltres itself is a fine partner to Sandslash, as it can switch into most Grass-types and Weezing easily, and threaten them with STAB Fire Blast, while Sandslash can return the favor by removing unwanted Stealth Rock from the field with Rapid Spin.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance
move 4: Substitute
item: Brightpowder / Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP /252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite facing serious competition from other Ground-type Sword Dancers, Sandslash is able to set himself apart due to Sand Veil. The evasion boost from Sand Veil is highly important for Sandslash’s success, as it gives him the ability to beat his counters, or by potentially avoiding attacks that would otherwise be fatal. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to pose a significant offensive threat to the opposing team his opponent. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it allows Sandslash to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon with the Levitate ability. Substitute is highly important to this set’s success, as it allows Sandslash to scout for his counters, and gives him an opportunity attempt to dodge an incoming attack without risking his own life if he fails. If Sandslash succeeds in dodging his counter’s attack, he can set up a Swords Dance, enabling him to is capable of 2HKO all of his counters and, making him very dangerous threat in select situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Brightpowder is the main item on this set, as it goes hand in hand with Sand Veil. The combined evasion boosts give Sandslash a 28% evasion boost, giving attacks that normally have 100% accuracy only a 72% chance of hitting. Leftovers can be used if you want a bulkier Sandslash, and it's useful for healing HP lost to Substitute damage. The EVs are pretty straightforward: 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature are used for maximum power, while 212 EV’s Speed EVs are used to outspeed nearly all defensive variants of Milotic, and the rest is dumped into HP for more bulk.</p>
<p>This set absolutely requires Hippopotas to provide permanent sandstorm in order to function due to the permanent Sandstorm provided by the little hippo. Despite the rather large evasion boost, keep in mind that bulky Water- and Grass types are still an effective stops to Sandslash 72% of time. Weezing is also a pain for Sandslash to deal with if he is carrying Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Should a counter switch into one of Sandslash while he is behind a Substitute, Sandslash can opt to Substitute again to increase the odds of the opposing Pokemon eventually missing. Conventional Weezing counters like Houndoom and Moltres are not as effective with this set, as are out the window due to sandstorm adds unwanted residual damage and being present, whichl imits their effectiveness. Cradily is an excellent partner to Sandslash, as he receives a sizeable Special Defense boost in the sandstorm and is capable of beating both bulky Water- and Grass types. As a bonus, Cradily is capable of taking on Moltres, who otherwise threatens to OHKO Sandslash plagues Sandslash out of Substitute [uh, this sentence made no sense…].</p>
<p>Excessive use of Substitute will quickly wear out Sandslash, so pairing Sandslash up with a Wish user to replenish lost HP is recommended in order to replenish lost HP. Clefable, Chansey and Leafeon are all recommended due to their ability to deal with some of Sandslash’s counters. Clefable stands as the only Pokemon of the aforementioned three who is immune to sandstorm, and she is capable of dealing with most of the above threats with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENT]
<p>Sandslash can put his good defenses to use by serving as a good Ground-type support Pokemon. Access to Night Slash makes it somewhat hard for Ghost-types to block Sandslash's Rapid Spin, as even a Night Slash hits Rotom and Mismagius hard even coming with no Attack EV investment in Attack is enough hurt bulky Rotom and Mismagius. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with some much appreciated residual damage an easier time at dealing with the opposition. Rapid Spin provides fantastic support for Sandslash’s teammates by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frailer Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are pretty straightforward. HP and Defense EVs are maxed with an Impish nature to give Sandslash the highest possible physical bulk. Sandslash is capable of replacing any of his moves with Stone Edge, to deal with powerful Flying-types who otherwise easily switch into him. Unfortunately, replacing Night Slash removes one of Sandslash’s niche advantages over Donphan.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
<p>Sandslash pairs up well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Milotic and Venusaur, as they can to take incoming Water- and Ice-type attacks and Grass-type attacks respectively. Moltres is also a good partner, as it appreciates the removal of Stealth Rock and threatens Grass-types with its STAB moves.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
[Team Options]
<p>Offensively, Sandslash appreciates entry hazards to aid his sweeping effort. Stealth Rock users like Mesprit and Uxie do a fine job, as do Spikers users such as Qwilfish and Omastar. Qwilfish also has the distinction of being able to set up on Milotic. Support sets are capable of using Stone Edge or Night Slash if that Stealth Rock is being used by another Pokemon.</p>
<p>Defensively, Sandslash appreciates a Pokemon who can switch into super effective special attacks that prey on his weaker Special Defense. A combination of a bulky Grass-type and a bulky Water-type provides a solid supporting cast for are good partners to Sandslash. Milotic and Venusaur can easily come in on Sandslash’s counters and force them out with their STAB attacks.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
[Optional Changes]
<p>Moveset wise, there isn't much else that Sandslash can do without risk of being outclassed by another Pokemon. He can run a Choice Band set, but he is entirely outclassed by Donphan in that respect, as Donphan boasts more power. Toxic is an option on the defensive set if you want Sandslash to cripple bulky Water-type switch-ins. Aerial Ace is an option if you want Sandslash to noticeably damage Heracross and Grass-type switch-ins. X-Scissor is an option on the offensive sets, as it gets some decent damage on Grass-types. Finally, Safeguard is an option if your team really hates status afflictions.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Grass-types in general are capable of switching into Sandslash with ease and threatening him with their STAB attacks. Tangrowth easily takes +2 Stone Edge, and threatens back with a STAB Power Whip or Leaf Storm. Leafeon and Torterra are easily capable of easily switching into Sandslash and are able to set up in his face. Bulky Water-types are also great counters to Sandslash, as they can usually shrug off his attacks with ease and threaten him with a STAB Surf. Milotic and Slowbro do not mind boosted Earthquakes and are capable of OHKOing Sandslash with STAB Surf. Moltres is capable of easily switching into most of Sandslash’s attacks and threatening him with STAB Fire Blast.</p>
<p>Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten him with a burn. Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, however, as they will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without difficulty.</p>
<p>Sandslash has a tough time competing for a team slot with Donphan, who boasts superior stats in everything but Speed. However, Sandslash does have a few advantages over his tusked counterpart, namely access to Swords Dance and a rare ability, Sand Veil. Sandslash's unique access to both Rapid Spin and Swords Dance (this combination is only shared by Kabutops in UU) allows him support the team and sweep when given the opportunity. Sandslash is quite effective on a sandstorm-based teams, because the evasion boost from Sand Veil boosts Sandslash’s evasion by 20%, potentially allowing Sandslash allows Sandslash to avoid an attack that would normally potentially KO him. Sandslash may be burdened with low Speed and Special Defense, and he may face serious competition with Donphan, but he is still a solid choice if you want a reliable defensive Ground-type Pokemon or a powerful offensive sandstorm sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Rapid Spin
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash / Stone Edge
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sandslash’s unique access to both Swords Dance and Rapid Spin helps him differentiate himself from Donphan as a bulky Ground-type Rapid Spinner. Sandslash is typically used as a physical wall and spinner, acting similarly to Donphan but having the ability to go on the offensive at any given time. Swords Dance boosts Sandslash’s already decent Attack stat to powerful levels, making it capable of doing some serious damage to even the bulkiest of walls. Earthquake is Sandslash’s primary STAB move and is capable of deals solid sufficient damage after a Swords Dance boost, even without an Attack-boosting item; Earthquake cleanly OHKOes standard Registeel is OHKOed by +2 Earthquake while and, with a little residual damage, OHKOes Steelix and defensively oriented Rhyperior defensive Rhyperior and Steelix are nearly OHKOed. Night Slash is useful for dealing with Ghost-type Pokemon who attempt to block Sandslash’s Rapid Spin. After a Swords Dance, even the bulkiest Rotom sets are OHKOed by +2 Night Slash. Stone Edge, on the other hand, is useful for taking out Flying-type Pokemon who attempt to switch into a potential Earthquake. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, greatly aiding the team.</p>
[ADDITONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The item of choice is Leftovers, which gives Sandslash significantly more staying power, but Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status momentarily and it allows Sandslash to consistently beat bulky Ghost-types who attempt to cripple him with Will-O-Wisp. The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: max HP for enhanced durability and max Attack for more power. An alternative EV Spread of 252 HP / 252 Def with an Impish nature may be used for a weaker but bulkier Sandslash.</p>
<p>Sandslash is easily countered by bulky Water-types, whom and he desperately struggles to get past them. Milotic [there was a weird paragraph break here] and Slowbro are excellent counters to Sandslash, as they can easily take a boosted Earthquake and OHKO Sandslash in return with their STAB Water-type moves. A bulky Grass-type is an effective partner for dealing with the aforementioned threats, so pairing Sandslash up with a Venusaur or Torterra is recommended. Strong Flying-types like Moltres have an easy time switching into Sandslash (provided it doesn’t have Stone Edge) and immediately threaten him with powerful Fire Blast [clarify this sentence, as I doubt that any other Flying-type besides Moltres will be threatening with Fire Blast]. Grass-types have an easy time dealing with Sandslash, as they resist his STAB Ground-type attacks, allowing them to freely set up on him. Torterra and Leafeon can either immediately threaten Sandslash with their STAB moves of choice or set up with Rock Polish or Swords Dance, respectively. Weezing can also switch in with ease and threaten Sandslash with a Will-O-Wisp. Moltres itself is a fine partner to Sandslash, as it can switch into most Grass-types and Weezing easily, and threaten them with STAB Fire Blast, while Sandslash can return the favor by removing unwanted Stealth Rock from the field with Rapid Spin.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance
move 4: Substitute
item: Brightpowder / Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP /252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite facing serious competition from other Ground-type Sword Dancers, Sandslash is able to set himself apart due to Sand Veil. The evasion boost from Sand Veil is highly important for Sandslash’s success, as it gives him the ability to beat his counters, or by potentially avoiding attacks that would otherwise be fatal. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to pose a significant offensive threat to the opposing team his opponent. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it allows Sandslash to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon with the Levitate ability. Substitute is highly important to this set’s success, as it allows Sandslash to scout for his counters, and gives him an opportunity attempt to dodge an incoming attack without risking his own life if he fails. If Sandslash succeeds in dodging his counter’s attack, he can set up a Swords Dance, enabling him to is capable of 2HKO all of his counters and, making him very dangerous threat in select situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Brightpowder is the main item on this set, as it goes hand in hand with Sand Veil. The combined evasion boosts give Sandslash a 28% evasion boost, giving attacks that normally have 100% accuracy only a 72% chance of hitting. Leftovers can be used if you want a bulkier Sandslash, and it's useful for healing HP lost to Substitute damage. The EVs are pretty straightforward: 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature are used for maximum power, while 212 EV’s Speed EVs are used to outspeed nearly all defensive variants of Milotic, and the rest is dumped into HP for more bulk.</p>
<p>This set absolutely requires Hippopotas to provide permanent sandstorm in order to function due to the permanent Sandstorm provided by the little hippo. Despite the rather large evasion boost, keep in mind that bulky Water- and Grass types are still an effective stops to Sandslash 72% of time. Weezing is also a pain for Sandslash to deal with if he is carrying Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Should a counter switch into one of Sandslash while he is behind a Substitute, Sandslash can opt to Substitute again to increase the odds of the opposing Pokemon eventually missing. Conventional Weezing counters like Houndoom and Moltres are not as effective with this set, as are out the window due to sandstorm adds unwanted residual damage and being present, whichl imits their effectiveness. Cradily is an excellent partner to Sandslash, as he receives a sizeable Special Defense boost in the sandstorm and is capable of beating both bulky Water- and Grass types. As a bonus, Cradily is capable of taking on Moltres, who otherwise threatens to OHKO Sandslash plagues Sandslash out of Substitute [uh, this sentence made no sense…].</p>
<p>Excessive use of Substitute will quickly wear out Sandslash, so pairing Sandslash up with a Wish user to replenish lost HP is recommended in order to replenish lost HP. Clefable, Chansey and Leafeon are all recommended due to their ability to deal with some of Sandslash’s counters. Clefable stands as the only Pokemon of the aforementioned three who is immune to sandstorm, and she is capable of dealing with most of the above threats with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENT]
<p>Sandslash can put his good defenses to use by serving as a good Ground-type support Pokemon. Access to Night Slash makes it somewhat hard for Ghost-types to block Sandslash's Rapid Spin, as even a Night Slash hits Rotom and Mismagius hard even coming with no Attack EV investment in Attack is enough hurt bulky Rotom and Mismagius. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with some much appreciated residual damage an easier time at dealing with the opposition. Rapid Spin provides fantastic support for Sandslash’s teammates by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frailer Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are pretty straightforward. HP and Defense EVs are maxed with an Impish nature to give Sandslash the highest possible physical bulk. Sandslash is capable of replacing any of his moves with Stone Edge, to deal with powerful Flying-types who otherwise easily switch into him. Unfortunately, replacing Night Slash removes one of Sandslash’s niche advantages over Donphan.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
<p>Sandslash pairs up well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Milotic and Venusaur, as they can to take incoming Water- and Ice-type attacks and Grass-type attacks respectively. Moltres is also a good partner, as it appreciates the removal of Stealth Rock and threatens Grass-types with its STAB moves.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
[Team Options]
<p>Offensively, Sandslash appreciates entry hazards to aid his sweeping effort. Stealth Rock users like Mesprit and Uxie do a fine job, as do Spikers users such as Qwilfish and Omastar. Qwilfish also has the distinction of being able to set up on Milotic. Support sets are capable of using Stone Edge or Night Slash if that Stealth Rock is being used by another Pokemon.</p>
<p>Defensively, Sandslash appreciates a Pokemon who can switch into super effective special attacks that prey on his weaker Special Defense. A combination of a bulky Grass-type and a bulky Water-type provides a solid supporting cast for are good partners to Sandslash. Milotic and Venusaur can easily come in on Sandslash’s counters and force them out with their STAB attacks.</p>
[there should be only one line of space here]
[Optional Changes]
<p>Moveset wise, there isn't much else that Sandslash can do without risk of being outclassed by another Pokemon. He can run a Choice Band set, but he is entirely outclassed by Donphan in that respect, as Donphan boasts more power. Toxic is an option on the defensive set if you want Sandslash to cripple bulky Water-type switch-ins. Aerial Ace is an option if you want Sandslash to noticeably damage Heracross and Grass-type switch-ins. X-Scissor is an option on the offensive sets, as it gets some decent damage on Grass-types. Finally, Safeguard is an option if your team really hates status afflictions.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Grass-types in general are capable of switching into Sandslash with ease and threatening him with their STAB attacks. Tangrowth easily takes +2 Stone Edge, and threatens back with a STAB Power Whip or Leaf Storm. Leafeon and Torterra are easily capable of easily switching into Sandslash and are able to set up in his face. Bulky Water-types are also great counters to Sandslash, as they can usually shrug off his attacks with ease and threaten him with a STAB Surf. Milotic and Slowbro do not mind boosted Earthquakes and are capable of OHKOing Sandslash with STAB Surf. Moltres is capable of easily switching into most of Sandslash’s attacks and threatening him with STAB Fire Blast.</p>
<p>Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten him with a burn. Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, however, as they will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without difficulty.</p>
GP CHECK 1/2
Just a friendly peer proofread.
changes/additions in blue
removals in red
[Overview]
<p>Sandslash has a tough time competing for a team slot with Donphan, who boasts superior stats in everything but Speed. However, Sandslash does have a few advantages over his tusked counterpart, namely access to Swords Dance and a rare ability, Sand Veil. Sandslash's unique access to both Rapid Spin and Swords Dance (this combination is only shared by only a combination shared only by Kabutops in UU) allows him to support the team and sweep when given the opportunity. Sandslash is quite effective on sandstorm-based teams, because Sand Veil boosts Sandslash’s evasion by 20%, potentially allowing Sandslash to avoid an attack that would normally KO him. Sandslash may be burdened with low Speed and Special Defense, and he may face serious competition with Donphan, but he is still a solid choice if you want a reliable defensive Ground-type Pokemon or a powerful offensive sandstorm sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Rapid Spin
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash / Stone Edge
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sandslash’s unique access to both Swords Dance and Rapid Spin helps him differentiate himself from Donphan as a bulky Ground-type Rapid Spinner. Sandslash is typically used as a physical wall and spinner, acting similarly to Donphan but having the ability to go on the offensive at any given time. Swords Dance boosts Sandslash’s already decent Attack stat to powerful levels, making him capable of doing some serious damage to even the bulkiest of walls. Earthquake is Sandslash’s primary STAB move and deals solid damage after a Swords Dance boost, even without an Attack-boosting item; Earthquake cleanly OHKOes standard Registeel and, with a little residual damage, OHKOes Steelix and defensively oriented Rhyperior. Night Slash is useful for dealing with Ghost-type Pokemon who attempt to block Sandslash’s Rapid Spin. After a Swords Dance, even the bulkiest Rotom sets are OHKOed by +2 Night Slash. Stone Edge, on the other hand, is useful for taking out Flying-type Pokemon who attempt to switch into Earthquake. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, greatly aiding the team.</p>
[ADDITONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The item of choice is Leftovers, which gives Sandslash significantly more staying power, but Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status momentarily and it allows Sandslash to consistently beat bulky Ghost-types who attempt to cripple him with Will-O-Wisp. The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: max HP for enhanced durability and max Attack for more power. An alternative EV Spread of 252 HP / 252 Def with an Impish nature may be used for a weaker but bulkier Sandslash.</p>
<p>Sandslash is easily countered by bulky Water-types, whom he desperately struggles to get past. Milotic and Slowbro are excellent counters to Sandslash, as they can easily take a boosted Earthquake and OHKO Sandslash in return with their STAB Water-type moves. A bulky Grass-type is an effective partner for dealing with the aforementioned threats, so pairing Sandslash up with a Venusaur or Torterra is recommended. Strong Special Attackers like Moltres have an easy time switching into Sandslash (provided he doesn’t have Stone Edge) and immediately threaten him with a powerful Fire Blast. Grass-types have an easy time dealing with Sandslash, as they resist his STAB Ground-type attacks Earthquake, allowing them to freely set up on him. Torterra and Leafeon can either immediately threaten Sandslash with their STAB moves of choice or set up with Rock Polish or Swords Dance, respectively. Weezing can also switch in with ease and threaten Sandslash with Will-O-Wisp. Moltres itself is a fine partner to Sandslash, as it can switch into most Grass-types and Weezing easily, and threaten them with STAB Fire Blast, while Sandslash can return the favor by removing Stealth Rock from the field with Rapid Spin.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance
move 4: Substitute
item: Brightpowder / Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite facing serious competition from other Ground-type Sword Dancers, Sandslash is able to set himself apart due to Sand Veil. The evasion boost from Sand Veil is highly important for Sandslash’s success, as it gives him the ability to beat his counters by potentially avoiding attacks that would otherwise be fatal. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to pose a significant offensive threat to the opposing team. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it allows Sandslash gives Sandslash a way to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon. Substitute is highly important to this set’s success, as it allows Sandslash to scout for his counters, (remove comma) and gives him an opportunity to dodge an incoming attack without risking his own life if he fails. If Sandslash succeeds in dodging his counter’s attack, he can set up a Swords Dance, enabling him to 2HKO all of his counters and, (remove comma) making him a very dangerous threat in select situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
(there should only be one line break here)
<p>Brightpowder is the main item on this set, as it goes hand in hand with Sand Veil. The combined evasion boosts give Sandslash a 28% evasion boost chance to dodge incoming attacks, giving attacks that normally have 100% accuracy only a 72% chance of hitting. Leftovers can be used if you want a bulkier Sandslash, and is useful for healing HP lost to Substitute. The EVs are pretty straightforward: 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature are used for maximum power, 212 Speed EVs are used to outspeed nearly all defensive variants of Milotic, and the rest is dumped into HP for more bulk.</p>
<p>This set absolutely requires Hippopotas to provide permanent sandstorm in order to function. Despite the rather large evasion boost, keep in mind that bulky Water- and Grass types are still effective stops to Sandslash 72% of time. Weezing is also a pain for Sandslash to deal with if he is carrying Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Should a counter switch into Sandslash while he is behind a Substitute, Sandslash can opt to Substitute again to increase the odds of the opposing Pokemon eventually missing. Conventional Weezing counters like Houndoom and Moltres are not as effective with this set, as sandstorm adds unwanted residual damage and limits their effectiveness. Cradily is an excellent partner to Sandslash, as he receives a sizeable Special Defense boost in sandstorm and is capable of beating both bulky Water- and Grass types. As a bonus, Cradily is capable of taking on Moltres, who otherwise threatens to OHKO Sandslash.</p>
<p>Excessive use of Substitute will quickly wear out Sandslash, so pairing Sandslash up with a Wish user is recommended in order to replenish lost HP. Clefable, Chansey and Leafeon are all recommended due to their ability to deal with some of Sandslash’s counters. Clefable stands as the only Pokemon of the aforementioned three who is immune to sandstorm, and she is capable of dealing with most of the above threats with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENT]
p>Sandslash can put his good defenses to use by serving as a good solid Ground-type support Pokemon. Access to Night Slash makes it somewhat hard for Ghost-types to block Sandslash's Rapid Spin, as Night Slash hits Rotom and Mismagius hard even with no EV investment in Attack. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with some much appreciated residual damage. Rapid Spin provides fantastic support for Sandslash’s teammates by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frailer Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are pretty straightforward. HP and Defense EVs are maxed with an Impish nature to give Sandslash the highest possible physical bulk. Sandslash is capable of replacing any of his moves with Stone Edge to deal with powerful Flying-types who otherwise easily switch into him. Unfortunately, replacing Night Slash removes one of Sandslash’s niche advantages over Donphan.</p>
<p>Sandslash pairs up well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Milotic and Venusaur, as they can take incoming Water- and Ice-type attacks and Grass-type attacks respectively. Moltres is also a good partner, as it appreciates the removal of Stealth Rock and threatens Grass-types with its STAB moves.</p>
(there should only be one line break here)
[Team Options]
<p>Offensively, like any sweeper Sandslash appreciates entry hazards to help its sweeping effort. Stealth Rock users like Mesprit and Uxie do a fine job, as well as Spike users like Qwilfish and Omastar. Qwilfish also has the distinction of being able to setup on Milotic. Support sets are capable of using Stone Edge or Night Slash if Stealth Rocks is being used on set up by another pokemon. While Hippopotas may be a requirement on the Offensive Swords Dance set he is fortunately capable of utilizing Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Defensively, Sandlash appreciates a Pokemon who can switch into super effective Special Attacks that pray on his weaker Special Defense. Specially Defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable are fine partners. Both of them are capable of switching into most of the bulky Water-types and hitting them with Toxic them, severely limiting their ability to counter Sandslash. If Sandstorm is in play, Cradily is a superb partner to Sandslash. The massive Special Defense boost provided by Sandstorm allows it take on some Sandslash' strongest checks and counters. Bulky Water-types like Milotic and Slowbro are beaten, and even specially offensive juggernauts like Venusaur, Houndoom and Moltres will lose to Cradily. A combination of a bulky Grass- and Water-type alongside Sandslash is recommended. Milotic and Venudsaur are ideal choices as they can easily come in on Sandslash’ counters and threaten them out with their STAB attacks, and together they last a long time.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Moveset wise, there isn't much else that Sandslash can do without being outclassed by another Pokemon. He can run a Choice Band set, but he is entirely outclassed by Donphan in that respect, as Donphan boasts more power. Toxic is an option on the defensive set if you want Sandslash to cripple bulky Water-type switch-ins. Aerial Ace is an option if you want Sandslash to noticeably damage Heracross and Grass-type switch-ins. X-Scissor is an option on the offensive sets, as it gets some decent damage on Grass-types. Finally, Safeguard is an option if your team really hates status afflictions.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Grass-types in general are capable of switching into Sandslash with ease and threatening him with their STAB attacks. Tangrowth takes +2 Stone Edge and threatens back with a STAB Power Whip or Leaf Storm. Leafeon and Torterra are capable of easily switching into Sandslash and are able to set up in his face. Bulky Water-types are also great counters to Sandslash, as they can usually shrug off his attacks with ease and threaten him with STAB Surf. Milotic and Slowbro do not mind boosted Earthquakes and are capable of OHKOing Sandslash with Surf. Moltres is capable of easily switching into most of Sandslash’s attacks and threatening him with STAB Fire Blast.</p>
<p>Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten him with a burn. Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, however, as they will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without difficulty.</p>
removals in red
[Overview]
<p>Sandslash has a tough time competing for a team slot with Donphan, who boasts superior stats in everything but Speed. However, Sandslash does have a few advantages over his tusked counterpart, namely access to Swords Dance and a rare ability, Sand Veil. Sandslash's unique access to both Rapid Spin and Swords Dance (this combination is only shared by only a combination shared only by Kabutops in UU) allows him to support the team and sweep when given the opportunity. Sandslash is quite effective on sandstorm-based teams, because Sand Veil boosts Sandslash’s evasion by 20%, potentially allowing Sandslash to avoid an attack that would normally KO him. Sandslash may be burdened with low Speed and Special Defense, and he may face serious competition with Donphan, but he is still a solid choice if you want a reliable defensive Ground-type Pokemon or a powerful offensive sandstorm sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Rapid Spin
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Night Slash / Stone Edge
move 4: Rapid Spin
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sandslash’s unique access to both Swords Dance and Rapid Spin helps him differentiate himself from Donphan as a bulky Ground-type Rapid Spinner. Sandslash is typically used as a physical wall and spinner, acting similarly to Donphan but having the ability to go on the offensive at any given time. Swords Dance boosts Sandslash’s already decent Attack stat to powerful levels, making him capable of doing some serious damage to even the bulkiest of walls. Earthquake is Sandslash’s primary STAB move and deals solid damage after a Swords Dance boost, even without an Attack-boosting item; Earthquake cleanly OHKOes standard Registeel and, with a little residual damage, OHKOes Steelix and defensively oriented Rhyperior. Night Slash is useful for dealing with Ghost-type Pokemon who attempt to block Sandslash’s Rapid Spin. After a Swords Dance, even the bulkiest Rotom sets are OHKOed by +2 Night Slash. Stone Edge, on the other hand, is useful for taking out Flying-type Pokemon who attempt to switch into Earthquake. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, greatly aiding the team.</p>
[ADDITONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The item of choice is Leftovers, which gives Sandslash significantly more staying power, but Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status momentarily and it allows Sandslash to consistently beat bulky Ghost-types who attempt to cripple him with Will-O-Wisp. The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: max HP for enhanced durability and max Attack for more power. An alternative EV Spread of 252 HP / 252 Def with an Impish nature may be used for a weaker but bulkier Sandslash.</p>
<p>Sandslash is easily countered by bulky Water-types, whom he desperately struggles to get past. Milotic and Slowbro are excellent counters to Sandslash, as they can easily take a boosted Earthquake and OHKO Sandslash in return with their STAB Water-type moves. A bulky Grass-type is an effective partner for dealing with the aforementioned threats, so pairing Sandslash up with a Venusaur or Torterra is recommended. Strong Special Attackers like Moltres have an easy time switching into Sandslash (provided he doesn’t have Stone Edge) and immediately threaten him with a powerful Fire Blast. Grass-types have an easy time dealing with Sandslash, as they resist his STAB Ground-type attacks Earthquake, allowing them to freely set up on him. Torterra and Leafeon can either immediately threaten Sandslash with their STAB moves of choice or set up with Rock Polish or Swords Dance, respectively. Weezing can also switch in with ease and threaten Sandslash with Will-O-Wisp. Moltres itself is a fine partner to Sandslash, as it can switch into most Grass-types and Weezing easily, and threaten them with STAB Fire Blast, while Sandslash can return the favor by removing Stealth Rock from the field with Rapid Spin.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Stone Edge
move 3: Swords Dance
move 4: Substitute
item: Brightpowder / Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite facing serious competition from other Ground-type Sword Dancers, Sandslash is able to set himself apart due to Sand Veil. The evasion boost from Sand Veil is highly important for Sandslash’s success, as it gives him the ability to beat his counters by potentially avoiding attacks that would otherwise be fatal. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to pose a significant offensive threat to the opposing team. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it allows Sandslash gives Sandslash a way to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon. Substitute is highly important to this set’s success, as it allows Sandslash to scout for his counters, (remove comma) and gives him an opportunity to dodge an incoming attack without risking his own life if he fails. If Sandslash succeeds in dodging his counter’s attack, he can set up a Swords Dance, enabling him to 2HKO all of his counters and, (remove comma) making him a very dangerous threat in select situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
(there should only be one line break here)
<p>Brightpowder is the main item on this set, as it goes hand in hand with Sand Veil. The combined evasion boosts give Sandslash a 28% evasion boost chance to dodge incoming attacks, giving attacks that normally have 100% accuracy only a 72% chance of hitting. Leftovers can be used if you want a bulkier Sandslash, and is useful for healing HP lost to Substitute. The EVs are pretty straightforward: 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature are used for maximum power, 212 Speed EVs are used to outspeed nearly all defensive variants of Milotic, and the rest is dumped into HP for more bulk.</p>
<p>This set absolutely requires Hippopotas to provide permanent sandstorm in order to function. Despite the rather large evasion boost, keep in mind that bulky Water- and Grass types are still effective stops to Sandslash 72% of time. Weezing is also a pain for Sandslash to deal with if he is carrying Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Should a counter switch into Sandslash while he is behind a Substitute, Sandslash can opt to Substitute again to increase the odds of the opposing Pokemon eventually missing. Conventional Weezing counters like Houndoom and Moltres are not as effective with this set, as sandstorm adds unwanted residual damage and limits their effectiveness. Cradily is an excellent partner to Sandslash, as he receives a sizeable Special Defense boost in sandstorm and is capable of beating both bulky Water- and Grass types. As a bonus, Cradily is capable of taking on Moltres, who otherwise threatens to OHKO Sandslash.</p>
<p>Excessive use of Substitute will quickly wear out Sandslash, so pairing Sandslash up with a Wish user is recommended in order to replenish lost HP. Clefable, Chansey and Leafeon are all recommended due to their ability to deal with some of Sandslash’s counters. Clefable stands as the only Pokemon of the aforementioned three who is immune to sandstorm, and she is capable of dealing with most of the above threats with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENT]
p>Sandslash can put his good defenses to use by serving as a good solid Ground-type support Pokemon. Access to Night Slash makes it somewhat hard for Ghost-types to block Sandslash's Rapid Spin, as Night Slash hits Rotom and Mismagius hard even with no EV investment in Attack. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with some much appreciated residual damage. Rapid Spin provides fantastic support for Sandslash’s teammates by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frailer Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are pretty straightforward. HP and Defense EVs are maxed with an Impish nature to give Sandslash the highest possible physical bulk. Sandslash is capable of replacing any of his moves with Stone Edge to deal with powerful Flying-types who otherwise easily switch into him. Unfortunately, replacing Night Slash removes one of Sandslash’s niche advantages over Donphan.</p>
<p>Sandslash pairs up well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Milotic and Venusaur, as they can take incoming Water- and Ice-type attacks and Grass-type attacks respectively. Moltres is also a good partner, as it appreciates the removal of Stealth Rock and threatens Grass-types with its STAB moves.</p>
(there should only be one line break here)
[Team Options]
<p>Offensively, like any sweeper Sandslash appreciates entry hazards to help its sweeping effort. Stealth Rock users like Mesprit and Uxie do a fine job, as well as Spike users like Qwilfish and Omastar. Qwilfish also has the distinction of being able to setup on Milotic. Support sets are capable of using Stone Edge or Night Slash if Stealth Rocks is being used on set up by another pokemon. While Hippopotas may be a requirement on the Offensive Swords Dance set he is fortunately capable of utilizing Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Defensively, Sandlash appreciates a Pokemon who can switch into super effective Special Attacks that pray on his weaker Special Defense. Specially Defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable are fine partners. Both of them are capable of switching into most of the bulky Water-types and hitting them with Toxic them, severely limiting their ability to counter Sandslash. If Sandstorm is in play, Cradily is a superb partner to Sandslash. The massive Special Defense boost provided by Sandstorm allows it take on some Sandslash' strongest checks and counters. Bulky Water-types like Milotic and Slowbro are beaten, and even specially offensive juggernauts like Venusaur, Houndoom and Moltres will lose to Cradily. A combination of a bulky Grass- and Water-type alongside Sandslash is recommended. Milotic and Venudsaur are ideal choices as they can easily come in on Sandslash’ counters and threaten them out with their STAB attacks, and together they last a long time.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Moveset wise, there isn't much else that Sandslash can do without being outclassed by another Pokemon. He can run a Choice Band set, but he is entirely outclassed by Donphan in that respect, as Donphan boasts more power. Toxic is an option on the defensive set if you want Sandslash to cripple bulky Water-type switch-ins. Aerial Ace is an option if you want Sandslash to noticeably damage Heracross and Grass-type switch-ins. X-Scissor is an option on the offensive sets, as it gets some decent damage on Grass-types. Finally, Safeguard is an option if your team really hates status afflictions.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Grass-types in general are capable of switching into Sandslash with ease and threatening him with their STAB attacks. Tangrowth takes +2 Stone Edge and threatens back with a STAB Power Whip or Leaf Storm. Leafeon and Torterra are capable of easily switching into Sandslash and are able to set up in his face. Bulky Water-types are also great counters to Sandslash, as they can usually shrug off his attacks with ease and threaten him with STAB Surf. Milotic and Slowbro do not mind boosted Earthquakes and are capable of OHKOing Sandslash with Surf. Moltres is capable of easily switching into most of Sandslash’s attacks and threatening him with STAB Fire Blast.</p>
<p>Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten him with a burn. Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, however, as they will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without difficulty.</p>
GP Check 2/2:
additions/changes in blue
removals in red
comments in navy
There were some tag problems... so watch out for them. ADDITIONAL was typoed for example.
Some silly typos going on here too. "sandstorm allows it take on some Sandslash' strongest checks..." was a notable one. Do read over your work and make your it's actually readable in flow and grammar. Those were only later on in the analysis though; else where is a good job well done (especially on SD + RS's Set Comments and the Overview, those were nice!). Oh, and I've been rearranging the order of what you say the moves in. For instance, Offensive Swords Dance should be talking about Swords Dance first. Otherwise, it's out of order.
additions/changes in blue
removals in red
comments in navy
[Overview]
<p>Sandslash has a tough time competing for a team slot with Donphan, who boasts superior stats in everything but Speed. However, Sandslash does have a few advantages over his tusked counterpart, namely access to Swords Dance and a rare ability, Sand Veil. Sandslash's unique access to both Rapid Spin and Swords Dance (a combination only shared by only Kabutops in UU) allows him to support the team and sweep when given the opportunity. Sandslash is quite effective on sandstorm-based teams, because Sand Veil boosts Sandslash’s evasion by 20%, potentially allowing Sandslash to avoid an attack that would normally KO him. Sandslash may be burdened with low Speed and Special Defense, and he may even face serious competition with Donphan, but he is still a solid choice if you want a reliable defensive Ground-type Pokemon or a powerful offensive sandstorm sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Rapid Spin
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash / Stone Edge
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sandslash’s unique access to both Swords Dance and Rapid Spin helps him differentiate himself from Donphan as a bulky Ground-type Rapid Spinner. Sandslash is typically used as a physical wall and spinner, acting similarly to Donphan but having the ability to go on the offensive at any given time. Swords Dance boosts Sandslash’s already decent Attack stat to powerful levels, making him capable of doing some serious damage to even the bulkiest of walls. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, which greatly aiding the aids his team. Earthquake is Sandslash’s primary STAB move and deals solid damage after a Swords Dance boost, even without an Attack-boosting item; Earthquake cleanly OHKOes standard Registeel and, with a little residual damage, OHKOes Steelix and defensively oriented Rhyperior as well. Night Slash is useful for dealing with Ghost-type Pokemon who attempt to block Sandslash’s Rapid Spin. After a Swords Dance, even the bulkiest Rotom sets are OHKOed by +2 Night Slash. Stone Edge, on the other hand, is useful for taking out Flying-type Pokemon who attempt to switch into Earthquake. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, which greatly aiding the aids his team.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Leftovers is the item of choice is Leftovers, which since it gives Sandslash significantly more staying power, but Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status momentarily and it allows allowing Sandslash to consistently beat bulky Ghost-types who attempt to cripple him with Will-O-Wisp. The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: max HP for enhanced durability and max Attack for more power. (Simple spread.) An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def with an Impish nature may be used for a weaker but bulkier Sandslash. By doing so, Sandslash may gain more chances of setting up Swords Dance, which could either help negate the power lost or make Sandslash even stronger than before.</p>
<p>Sandslash is easily countered by bulky Water-types like Milotic and Slowbro, whom he desperately struggles to get past. Milotic and Slowbro are excellent counters to Sandslash, as they can easily take a boosted Earthquake and OHKO Sandslash in return with their STAB Water-type moves. A bulky Grass-type is an effective partner for dealing with the aforementioned threats, so pairing Sandslash up with a Venusaur or Torterra is recommended. Strong special attackers like Moltres have an easy time switching into Sandslash on a Swords Dance or Rapid Spin (provided he doesn’t have Stone Edge) and immediately threaten obliterating him with a powerful Fire Blast STAB attacks. Grass-types have an easy time dealing can deal with Sandslash without much trouble, (remove comma) as they resist Earthquake, allowing them to freely set up on him. Torterra and Leafeon can either immediately threaten destroy Sandslash with their STAB moves of choice or set up with Rock Polish or Swords Dance, respectively. Weezing can also switch in with ease and threaten Sandslash with Will-O-Wisp. Moltres itself is a fine partner to Sandslash, as it can switch into most Grass-types and Weezing easily, and threaten roast them with STAB Fire Blast, while Sandslash can return the favor by removing Stealth Rock from the field with Rapid Spin. Chansey can help safeguard against special attackers with her incredible special bulk while also paralyzing them with Thunder Wave.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Substitute
item: BrightPowder / Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
(spaced)
<p>Despite facing serious competition from other Ground-type Sword Dancers, Sandslash is able to set himself apart due to Sand Veil. The evasion boost from Sand Veil is highly important for Sandslash’s success, as it gives him the ability to beat his counters by potentially avoiding attacks that would otherwise be fatal. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to 2HKO all of his counters and become a significant threat to the opposing team. Earthquake is the bread and butter STAB attack that deals amazing damage to any Pokemon not resistant or immune to it. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it gives Sandslash a way to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to 2HKO all of his counters and become a significant threat to the opposing team. pose a significant offensive threat to the opposing team. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it gives Sandslash a way to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon. Substitute is highly important to this set’s success, as it allows lets Sandslash to scout for his counters and gives him an opportunity to dodge an incoming attack without risking his own life if he fails. If Sandslash succeeds in dodging his counter’s attack, then he can freely set up a Swords Dance. (period) enabling him to 2HKO all of his counters and making him a very dangerous threat in select situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>BrightPowder is the main item on this set, as it goes hand in hand with Sand Veil. The combined evasion boosts give Sandslash a 28% chance to dodge incoming attacks, (remove comma) giving attacks that normally have 100% accuracy only a 72% chance of hitting. Leftovers can be used if you want a bulkier Sandslash, and it's useful for healing HP lost to from Substitute. The EVs are pretty straightforward: 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature are used for maximum power, 212 Speed EVs are used to outspeed nearly all defensive variants of Milotic, and the rest is dumped into HP for more bulk.</p>
<p>This set absolutely requires Hippopotas to provide permanent sandstorm in order to function. Despite the rather large evasion boost, keep in mind that bulky Water- and Grass-types are still effective stops counters to Sandslash 72% of time. Weezing is also a pain for Sandslash to deal with if he is carrying Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Should a counter switch into Sandslash while he is behind a Substitute, Sandslash can opt to Substitute again to increase the odds of the opposing Pokemon eventually missing. Conventional Weezing counters like Houndoom and Moltres are not as effective with this set, as sandstorm adds unwanted residual damage and limits their effectiveness. Cradily is an excellent partner to Sandslash, as he receives a sizable Special Defense boost in sandstorm and is capable of beating both bulky Water- and Grass-types. As a bonus, Cradily is capable of taking on Moltres, who otherwise threatens to OHKO Sandslash.</p>
<p>Excessive use of Substitute will quickly wear out Sandslash, so pairing Sandslash up with a Wish user is recommended in order to replenish lost HP. Clefable, Chansey and Leafeon are all recommended due to their ability to deal with some of Sandslash’s counters. Clefable stands out as the only Pokemon of the aforementioned three who is immune to sandstorm, and she is capable of dealing with most of the above threats with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENT]
<p>Sandslash can put his good defenses to use by serving as a solid Ground-type support Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above-average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with much appreciated residual damage. Rapid Spin helps Sandslash’s teammates preserve their health by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frail Pokemon. Access to Night Slash makes it somewhat hard difficult for Ghost-types to block Sandslash's Rapid Spin, as Night Slash hits Rotom and Mismagius hard even with no EV investment in Attack. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with some much appreciated residual damage. Rapid Spin provides fantastic support for Sandslash’s teammates by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frailer Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above-average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are pretty straightforward. HP and Defense EVs are maxed with an Impish nature to give Sandslash the highest possible physical bulk. (Don't have to explain simple spreads.) Sandslash is capable of replacing any of his moves with You can replace Night Slash with Stone Edge so that Sandslash can better to deal with powerful Flying-types who would otherwise easily switch into him. Unfortunately, replacing Night Slash removes one of Sandslash’s niche advantages over Donphan: the advantage of being able to reliably hit Levitating Ghost- and Psychic-types for super effective. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 204 Def / 32 SpD / 20 Spe can be used in order for Sandslash to outrun any Lanturn who does not invest in Speed, survive a Surf, and 2HKO back with Earthquake.</p>
(Had to think of something more to add here and the bottom. It was a bit too thin. Hope that's okay.)
<p>Sandslash pairs up well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Milotic and Venusaur, as they can take incoming Water- and Ice-type attacks and Grass-type attacks respectively. Moltres is also a good partner, as it he appreciates the removal of Stealth Rock and threatens Grass-types with its his STAB moves. Wish support is also helpful for this Sandslash as without a reliable way to restore his HP, he will be worn out quickly. Leafeon, Clefable, and Chansey are great examples of Wish users who have decent synergy with Sandslash. Although he shares an Ice weakness, Leafeon has the advantage of attacking Water-types for super effective damage. Clefable and Chansey have Thunder Wave to slow down faster threats for Sandslash to outspeed.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Offensively, like any other sweeper, (comma) Sandslash appreciates entry hazards to help its his sweeping effort. Stealth Rock users like Mesprit and Uxie do a fine job, as well as Spike users like Qwilfish and Omastar. Qwilfish also has the distinction of being able to setup on Milotic. Support sets are Sandslash is capable of using Stone Edge or Night Slash if Stealth Rock is being setup by another Pokemon. While Hippopotas may be a requirement on the Offensive Swords Dance set he is fortunately capable of utilizing Stealth Rock. Hippopotas is a recommended teammate since it not only sets up sandstorm, but it is also capable of setting up Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Defensively, Sandlash appreciates a Pokemon who can switch into super effective special attacks that pray on his weaker Special Defense. Specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable are fine partners. Both of them are capable of switching into most of the bulky Water-types and hitting them with Toxic, which severely limiting limits their ability to counter Sandslash. If sandstorm is in play, Cradily is a superb partner to Sandslash. The massive Special Defense boost provided by sandstorm allows it him to take on some of Sandslash's strongest checks and counters. Bulky Water-types like Milotic and Slowbro are beaten, and even specially offensive juggernauts like Venusaur, Houndoom, (comma) and Moltres will lose to Cradily. A bulky Grass- and Water-type combination of a bulky Grass- and Water-type alongside Sandslash is recommended. Milotic and Venusaur are ideal choices as they can easily come in on Sandslash's counters and threaten them out with their STAB attacks and together they last a long time.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Moveset-wise, there isn't much else that Sandslash can do without being outclassed by another Pokemon. He can run a Choice Band set, but he is entirely outclassed by Donphan in that respect, as Donphan boasts more power. Toxic is an option on the defensive set if you want Sandslash to cripple bulky Water-type switch-ins (I'm sure you also want to Toxic Claydol, Tangrowth, etc). Aerial Ace is an option if you want Sandslash to noticeably damage Heracross and Grass-type switch-ins. (I don't think AA should even be mentioned. Other than analyses can't mention Hera, X-Scissor does better overall, and EQ does more damage to Venusaur than AA.) X-Scissor is an option on the offensive sets, as it gets some does decent damage on to Grass-types. Finally, Safeguard is an option if your team really hates status afflictions.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Bulky Grass-types in general are capable of switching into Sandslash with ease and threatening him with their STAB attacks. Tangrowth only takes 30.4% - 35.9% damage from +2 Stone Edge and threatens KOes back with a STAB Power Whip or Leaf Storm. Leafeon and Torterra are capable of can easily switching switch into Sandslash and are able to set up in on his face. Bulky Water-types are also great counters to Sandslash, as they can usually shrug off his attacks and threaten him with STAB Surf. Milotic and Slowbro do not mind boosted Earthquakes and are capable of OHKOing Sandslash with Surf. Moltres is capable of able to easily switching comfortably switch into most of Sandslash’s attacks and threatening destroy him with STAB Fire Blast. Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten cripple him with a burn. However, (comma) Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, (remove comma) however, (remove comma) as they Sandslash will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without much difficulty.</p>
(Use something different from "threaten" and, on a lesser extent, "capable of".)
<p>Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten him with a burn. Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, however, as they will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without difficulty.</p>
(Merged. Didn't see any harm in doing so as this is quite short.)
<p>Sandslash has a tough time competing for a team slot with Donphan, who boasts superior stats in everything but Speed. However, Sandslash does have a few advantages over his tusked counterpart, namely access to Swords Dance and a rare ability, Sand Veil. Sandslash's unique access to both Rapid Spin and Swords Dance (a combination only shared by only Kabutops in UU) allows him to support the team and sweep when given the opportunity. Sandslash is quite effective on sandstorm-based teams, because Sand Veil boosts Sandslash’s evasion by 20%, potentially allowing Sandslash to avoid an attack that would normally KO him. Sandslash may be burdened with low Speed and Special Defense, and he may even face serious competition with Donphan, but he is still a solid choice if you want a reliable defensive Ground-type Pokemon or a powerful offensive sandstorm sweeper.</p>
[SET]
name: Swords Dance + Rapid Spin
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash / Stone Edge
item: Leftovers / Lum Berry
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Sandslash’s unique access to both Swords Dance and Rapid Spin helps him differentiate himself from Donphan as a bulky Ground-type Rapid Spinner. Sandslash is typically used as a physical wall and spinner, acting similarly to Donphan but having the ability to go on the offensive at any given time. Swords Dance boosts Sandslash’s already decent Attack stat to powerful levels, making him capable of doing some serious damage to even the bulkiest of walls. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, which greatly aiding the aids his team. Earthquake is Sandslash’s primary STAB move and deals solid damage after a Swords Dance boost, even without an Attack-boosting item; Earthquake cleanly OHKOes standard Registeel and, with a little residual damage, OHKOes Steelix and defensively oriented Rhyperior as well. Night Slash is useful for dealing with Ghost-type Pokemon who attempt to block Sandslash’s Rapid Spin. After a Swords Dance, even the bulkiest Rotom sets are OHKOed by +2 Night Slash. Stone Edge, on the other hand, is useful for taking out Flying-type Pokemon who attempt to switch into Earthquake. Rapid Spin allows Sandslash to remove entry hazards on his side of the field, which greatly aiding the aids his team.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Leftovers is the item of choice is Leftovers, which since it gives Sandslash significantly more staying power, but Lum Berry is useful for avoiding status momentarily and it allows allowing Sandslash to consistently beat bulky Ghost-types who attempt to cripple him with Will-O-Wisp. The EVs for this set are pretty straightforward: max HP for enhanced durability and max Attack for more power. (Simple spread.) An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def with an Impish nature may be used for a weaker but bulkier Sandslash. By doing so, Sandslash may gain more chances of setting up Swords Dance, which could either help negate the power lost or make Sandslash even stronger than before.</p>
<p>Sandslash is easily countered by bulky Water-types like Milotic and Slowbro, whom he desperately struggles to get past. Milotic and Slowbro are excellent counters to Sandslash, as they can easily take a boosted Earthquake and OHKO Sandslash in return with their STAB Water-type moves. A bulky Grass-type is an effective partner for dealing with the aforementioned threats, so pairing Sandslash up with a Venusaur or Torterra is recommended. Strong special attackers like Moltres have an easy time switching into Sandslash on a Swords Dance or Rapid Spin (provided he doesn’t have Stone Edge) and immediately threaten obliterating him with a powerful Fire Blast STAB attacks. Grass-types have an easy time dealing can deal with Sandslash without much trouble, (remove comma) as they resist Earthquake, allowing them to freely set up on him. Torterra and Leafeon can either immediately threaten destroy Sandslash with their STAB moves of choice or set up with Rock Polish or Swords Dance, respectively. Weezing can also switch in with ease and threaten Sandslash with Will-O-Wisp. Moltres itself is a fine partner to Sandslash, as it can switch into most Grass-types and Weezing easily, and threaten roast them with STAB Fire Blast, while Sandslash can return the favor by removing Stealth Rock from the field with Rapid Spin. Chansey can help safeguard against special attackers with her incredible special bulk while also paralyzing them with Thunder Wave.</p>
[SET]
name: Offensive Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Stone Edge
move 4: Substitute
item: BrightPowder / Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Adamant
evs: 44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
(spaced)
<p>Despite facing serious competition from other Ground-type Sword Dancers, Sandslash is able to set himself apart due to Sand Veil. The evasion boost from Sand Veil is highly important for Sandslash’s success, as it gives him the ability to beat his counters by potentially avoiding attacks that would otherwise be fatal. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to 2HKO all of his counters and become a significant threat to the opposing team. Earthquake is the bread and butter STAB attack that deals amazing damage to any Pokemon not resistant or immune to it. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it gives Sandslash a way to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon. Swords Dance increases Sandslash’s Attack to an impressive 656, which allows him to 2HKO all of his counters and become a significant threat to the opposing team. pose a significant offensive threat to the opposing team. Stone Edge is an excellent coverage move when paired alongside Earthquake, as it gives Sandslash a way to deal with troublesome Flying-types and Levitating Pokemon. Substitute is highly important to this set’s success, as it allows lets Sandslash to scout for his counters and gives him an opportunity to dodge an incoming attack without risking his own life if he fails. If Sandslash succeeds in dodging his counter’s attack, then he can freely set up a Swords Dance. (period) enabling him to 2HKO all of his counters and making him a very dangerous threat in select situations.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>BrightPowder is the main item on this set, as it goes hand in hand with Sand Veil. The combined evasion boosts give Sandslash a 28% chance to dodge incoming attacks, (remove comma) giving attacks that normally have 100% accuracy only a 72% chance of hitting. Leftovers can be used if you want a bulkier Sandslash, and it's useful for healing HP lost to from Substitute. The EVs are pretty straightforward: 252 Atk EVs and an Adamant nature are used for maximum power, 212 Speed EVs are used to outspeed nearly all defensive variants of Milotic, and the rest is dumped into HP for more bulk.</p>
<p>This set absolutely requires Hippopotas to provide permanent sandstorm in order to function. Despite the rather large evasion boost, keep in mind that bulky Water- and Grass-types are still effective stops counters to Sandslash 72% of time. Weezing is also a pain for Sandslash to deal with if he is carrying Flamethrower or Fire Blast. Should a counter switch into Sandslash while he is behind a Substitute, Sandslash can opt to Substitute again to increase the odds of the opposing Pokemon eventually missing. Conventional Weezing counters like Houndoom and Moltres are not as effective with this set, as sandstorm adds unwanted residual damage and limits their effectiveness. Cradily is an excellent partner to Sandslash, as he receives a sizable Special Defense boost in sandstorm and is capable of beating both bulky Water- and Grass-types. As a bonus, Cradily is capable of taking on Moltres, who otherwise threatens to OHKO Sandslash.</p>
<p>Excessive use of Substitute will quickly wear out Sandslash, so pairing Sandslash up with a Wish user is recommended in order to replenish lost HP. Clefable, Chansey and Leafeon are all recommended due to their ability to deal with some of Sandslash’s counters. Clefable stands out as the only Pokemon of the aforementioned three who is immune to sandstorm, and she is capable of dealing with most of the above threats with ease.</p>
[SET]
name: Support
move 1: Stealth Rock
move 2: Rapid Spin
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Night Slash
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Veil
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENT]
<p>Sandslash can put his good defenses to use by serving as a solid Ground-type support Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above-average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with much appreciated residual damage. Rapid Spin helps Sandslash’s teammates preserve their health by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frail Pokemon. Access to Night Slash makes it somewhat hard difficult for Ghost-types to block Sandslash's Rapid Spin, as Night Slash hits Rotom and Mismagius hard even with no EV investment in Attack. Stealth Rock provides immediate support for the team, aiding your sweepers with some much appreciated residual damage. Rapid Spin provides fantastic support for Sandslash’s teammates by clearing away entry hazards. Earthquake is Sandslash’s main STAB and is at least strong enough to noticeably hurt frailer Pokemon. Not only is Sandslash capable of removing entry hazards, but his above-average physical bulk allows him to check prominent physical sweepers like Rhyperior, Swords Dance Toxicroak, and Hitmonlee.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The EVs are pretty straightforward. HP and Defense EVs are maxed with an Impish nature to give Sandslash the highest possible physical bulk. (Don't have to explain simple spreads.) Sandslash is capable of replacing any of his moves with You can replace Night Slash with Stone Edge so that Sandslash can better to deal with powerful Flying-types who would otherwise easily switch into him. Unfortunately, replacing Night Slash removes one of Sandslash’s niche advantages over Donphan: the advantage of being able to reliably hit Levitating Ghost- and Psychic-types for super effective. An alternative EV spread of 252 HP / 204 Def / 32 SpD / 20 Spe can be used in order for Sandslash to outrun any Lanturn who does not invest in Speed, survive a Surf, and 2HKO back with Earthquake.</p>
(Had to think of something more to add here and the bottom. It was a bit too thin. Hope that's okay.)
<p>Sandslash pairs up well with bulky Water- and Grass-types like Milotic and Venusaur, as they can take incoming Water- and Ice-type attacks and Grass-type attacks respectively. Moltres is also a good partner, as it he appreciates the removal of Stealth Rock and threatens Grass-types with its his STAB moves. Wish support is also helpful for this Sandslash as without a reliable way to restore his HP, he will be worn out quickly. Leafeon, Clefable, and Chansey are great examples of Wish users who have decent synergy with Sandslash. Although he shares an Ice weakness, Leafeon has the advantage of attacking Water-types for super effective damage. Clefable and Chansey have Thunder Wave to slow down faster threats for Sandslash to outspeed.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Offensively, like any other sweeper, (comma) Sandslash appreciates entry hazards to help its his sweeping effort. Stealth Rock users like Mesprit and Uxie do a fine job, as well as Spike users like Qwilfish and Omastar. Qwilfish also has the distinction of being able to setup on Milotic. Support sets are Sandslash is capable of using Stone Edge or Night Slash if Stealth Rock is being setup by another Pokemon. While Hippopotas may be a requirement on the Offensive Swords Dance set he is fortunately capable of utilizing Stealth Rock. Hippopotas is a recommended teammate since it not only sets up sandstorm, but it is also capable of setting up Stealth Rock.</p>
<p>Defensively, Sandlash appreciates a Pokemon who can switch into super effective special attacks that pray on his weaker Special Defense. Specially defensive Pokemon like Chansey and Clefable are fine partners. Both of them are capable of switching into most of the bulky Water-types and hitting them with Toxic, which severely limiting limits their ability to counter Sandslash. If sandstorm is in play, Cradily is a superb partner to Sandslash. The massive Special Defense boost provided by sandstorm allows it him to take on some of Sandslash's strongest checks and counters. Bulky Water-types like Milotic and Slowbro are beaten, and even specially offensive juggernauts like Venusaur, Houndoom, (comma) and Moltres will lose to Cradily. A bulky Grass- and Water-type combination of a bulky Grass- and Water-type alongside Sandslash is recommended. Milotic and Venusaur are ideal choices as they can easily come in on Sandslash's counters and threaten them out with their STAB attacks and together they last a long time.</p>
[Optional Changes]
<p>Moveset-wise, there isn't much else that Sandslash can do without being outclassed by another Pokemon. He can run a Choice Band set, but he is entirely outclassed by Donphan in that respect, as Donphan boasts more power. Toxic is an option on the defensive set if you want Sandslash to cripple bulky Water-type switch-ins (I'm sure you also want to Toxic Claydol, Tangrowth, etc). Aerial Ace is an option if you want Sandslash to noticeably damage Heracross and Grass-type switch-ins. (I don't think AA should even be mentioned. Other than analyses can't mention Hera, X-Scissor does better overall, and EQ does more damage to Venusaur than AA.) X-Scissor is an option on the offensive sets, as it gets some does decent damage on to Grass-types. Finally, Safeguard is an option if your team really hates status afflictions.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Bulky Grass-types in general are capable of switching into Sandslash with ease and threatening him with their STAB attacks. Tangrowth only takes 30.4% - 35.9% damage from +2 Stone Edge and threatens KOes back with a STAB Power Whip or Leaf Storm. Leafeon and Torterra are capable of can easily switching switch into Sandslash and are able to set up in on his face. Bulky Water-types are also great counters to Sandslash, as they can usually shrug off his attacks and threaten him with STAB Surf. Milotic and Slowbro do not mind boosted Earthquakes and are capable of OHKOing Sandslash with Surf. Moltres is capable of able to easily switching comfortably switch into most of Sandslash’s attacks and threatening destroy him with STAB Fire Blast. Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten cripple him with a burn. However, (comma) Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, (remove comma) however, (remove comma) as they Sandslash will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without much difficulty.</p>
(Use something different from "threaten" and, on a lesser extent, "capable of".)
<p>Weezing is an effective counter, as it can switch into any of Sandslash’s moves and threaten him with a burn. Weezing needs to watch out for Sandslash who carry Substitute, however, as they will actually beat Weezing one-on-one unless he carries Flamethrower. Typically, strong special attackers carrying a Grass-, Ice- or Water-type move can usually dispose of Sandslash without difficulty.</p>
(Merged. Didn't see any harm in doing so as this is quite short.)
There were some tag problems... so watch out for them. ADDITIONAL was typoed for example.
Some silly typos going on here too. "sandstorm allows it take on some Sandslash' strongest checks..." was a notable one. Do read over your work and make your it's actually readable in flow and grammar. Those were only later on in the analysis though; else where is a good job well done (especially on SD + RS's Set Comments and the Overview, those were nice!). Oh, and I've been rearranging the order of what you say the moves in. For instance, Offensive Swords Dance should be talking about Swords Dance first. Otherwise, it's out of order.
Uploaded.
For the most part, this was excellent. There were some mistakes from when you c/p'd the GP checks, so I would advise against doing so next time. Also don't use the curly apostrophes, use the " ' " ones. That way they'll be read correctly when they are uploaded.
Moving.
For the most part, this was excellent. There were some mistakes from when you c/p'd the GP checks, so I would advise against doing so next time. Also don't use the curly apostrophes, use the " ' " ones. That way they'll be read correctly when they are uploaded.
Moving.