[OVERVIEW]
[SET]
name: Sand Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Groundium Z
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Set Details
========
Usage Tips
========
Team Options
========
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: While Sandslash is really fast under sand, its still prone to being revenge killed by Pokemon such as Ice Shard from the likes of Sneasel and Piloswine, Giga Drain Comfey, and faster Choice Scarf users like Delphox. If Sandslash has an Adamant nature, Choice Scarf Houndoom and Rotom are viable revenge killing options as well.
**Vanilluxe**: With its Snow Warning ability nullifying Sand Rush, and STAB super effective Blizzards, Vanilluxe can flat out ruin an attempt at a Sandslash sweep.
**Pyukumuku**: Pyukumuku's Unaware ability ignores any Swords Dance boosts Sandslash may have, and it can easily recover off any damage Sandslash does to it.
- A great sweeper for Sand teams due to its solid movepool, and the ability to OHKO standard sand checks like Slowbro with a +2 Tectonic Rage.
- Sandslash has pretty alright defensive presence, sporting decent physical bulk for a sweeper and a typing that gives it key resistances to types like Poison, Rock, and Electric, allowing it to have many set-up opportunities as a result.
- Its physical bulk can also help it tank certain priority moves like unboosted Sucker Punch Toxicroak or Bullet Punch from Pokemon such as Medicham or Hariyama.
- While it isn't completely dead weight outside of sand due to its sheer power, its also quite vulnerable to being revenge killed, no thanks in part due to lackluster special bulk. It also has a very poor matchup against offense outside of sand.
- Reliant on the Swords Dance boost to do much damage to defensive teams.
[SET]
name: Sand Sweeper
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Knock Off
move 4: Stone Edge
item: Groundium Z
ability: Sand Rush
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
- Swords Dance is main move of this set. It allows Sandslash to have the chance to OHKO several Pokemon that are nuisances to sand teams with a Tectonic Rage, notably Slowbro, Gastrodon, and Poliwrath.
- Earthquake has great coverage overall and is Sandslash's best STAB move.
- Knock Off is useful for the utility it provides, and even though it doesn't do much against Colbur Berry users, it also gives Sandslash a chance against Ghost-types like Mismagius and Palossand.
- Stone Edge rounds off the set, allowing Sandslash to hit Flying-types such as Braviary.
Set Details
========
- Sand Rush is required as this set is meant to be run on sand teams. Under sand, even with an Adamant nature, it can outspeed common Choice Scarf users such as Passimian, Braviary and Medicham.
- Adamant is preferred to have a chance to OHKO Slowbro with a Tectonic Rage without Stealth Rock, but Jolly can help Sandslash outspeed Scarfers like Rotom and Haunter in Sand and Jolly Incineroar and Scrafty outside of it.
- Groundium Z allows Sandslash to utilize Tectonic Rage, which gives it the power it needs to succeed in a match.
Usage Tips
========
- Sandslash being brought into the match is preferably done by finding a safe opportunity to switch in. This can be done by bringing it in on Pokemon that it can comfortably switch in to, such as Garbodor and, ironically, Gigalith.
- Sandslash works best as either a mid-game sweeper, or as a late-game cleaner itself.
- While Sandslash has impressive physical bulk, its still very vulnerable to being worn down over the course of the game, so it shouldn't be mindlessly switched in.
- The predictability of Tectonic Rage also means that the Z-Move shouldn't be used mindlessly either. Predictions are key to being successful with Sandslash, and options like pivoting and double switching can help it find the right opportunity to use its Z-Move.
Team Options
========
- Obviously, since this set is meant to operate on sand teams, Gigalith is a must. Gigalith in addition to providing sand, also provides Stealth Rock, which guarantees the OHKO from a +2 Tectonic Rage against Slowbro.
- Stoutland is a great sweeper to run alongside Sandslash, as it can reliably beat Pokemon such as Pyukumuku after Stealth Rock, and provides Pursuit support. Sandslash in return reliably beats Steel- and Rock-types without Stoutland having to switch out afterwards.
- Pivots like U-Turn Whimsicott or Choice Scarf Rotom can help Sandslash get into the match easier, and they also can beat certain checks to sand teams in general like Steelix and Rhydon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
- Outside of sand teams, Sandslash is hopelessly outclassed by the likes of Piloswine, Palossand, Rhydon, Steelix, and even niche options like Torterra as a bulky Ground-type. As a bulky hazard remover you're much better off with Blastoise or Silvally-Steel.
- Rapid Spin is a decent option for sand teams that otherwise lack hazard removal. But Sandslash often has trouble trying to fit it in.
- Life Orb gives Sandslash more power to its coverage moves, and less finite power of Earthquake, but can't get the KOs its notable for with Life Orb, and the Life Orb recoil wears Sandslash down far quicker than usual.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: While Sandslash is really fast under sand, its still prone to being revenge killed by Pokemon such as Ice Shard from the likes of Sneasel and Piloswine, Giga Drain Comfey, and faster Choice Scarf users like Delphox. If Sandslash has an Adamant nature, Choice Scarf Houndoom and Rotom are viable revenge killing options as well.
**Vanilluxe**: With its Snow Warning ability nullifying Sand Rush, and STAB super effective Blizzards, Vanilluxe can flat out ruin an attempt at a Sandslash sweep.
**Pyukumuku**: Pyukumuku's Unaware ability ignores any Swords Dance boosts Sandslash may have, and it can easily recover off any damage Sandslash does to it.
Last edited:
