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Alolan Sandslash

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Table of Contents

Click for Shadow Alolan Sandslash
How Shiny is Acquired
Evolution
  • Original
  • Shiny

Pokemon Ratings

PvE Attacker Rating 2 / 5
Great League PVP Rating See all 3 / 5
Ultra League PVP Rating See all 3 / 5
Master League PVP Rating See all 0 / 5

Pokemon Stats

Type
55.00 kg Weight
1.20 m Height
Pokemon Max CP
Level 50: 2,750
Level 40: 2,432
Level 25: 1,737 (Raid + Weather)
Level 20: 1,390 (Raid)
Level 15: 1,042 (Research Tasks)
ATK 177
DEF 195
STA 181

Pokemon Family

PVE Movesets Grades

Quick Charge ATK DEF
Metal Claw
Bulldoze
X
B
Powder Snow
Gyro Ball
X
B-
Powder Snow
Bulldoze
X
B
Powder Snow
Blizzard
A
X
Metal Claw
Ice Punch
B
A
Powder Snow
Ice Punch
A-
A
Shadow Claw*
Blizzard
B
X
Shadow Claw*
Ice Punch
B-
A
Shadow Claw*
Bulldoze
X
B
Show Suboptimal/Unranked Movesets

PVE Offensive Moves Explanation

  • You really want Powder Snow in tandem with Blizzard.
  • Shadow Claw has no use for offense. 
  • Ice Punch is inferior, but at least it gets STAB. 
  • Metal Claw with Gyro Ball is a Steel moveset, but why?
  • With no STAB, don't even think about Bulldoze for offense.

PVE Defensive Moves Explanation

  • Shadow Claw is recommended for defense since it's less likely to be resisted by attackers. 
  • Powder Snow's high energy gain gives Alolan Sandslash better odds to use a charged move.
  • Metal Claw doesn't have a valuable typing against attackers. 
  • Ice Punch sports the earliest damage window and is also the most accessible as a 3-bar move. 
  • Bulldoze and Gyro Ball are ridiculously slow, but Bulldoze has better counter coverage.
  • With double weaknesses to Fire and Fighting, good luck using Blizzard before fainting.

PVE Overview

Alolan Sandslash has a cool typing to leverage on offense, but it doesn't have any of the cool things that distinguish it in the main Pokemon games. Even among Ice-types, its Attack stat doesn't quite cut it.

PVP Movesets Grades

Quick Charge ATK
Powder Snow
Ice Punch
Bulldoze
A
Shadow Claw*
Ice Punch
Bulldoze
A

PvP Moveset Explanation

Powder Snow or Shadow Claw* + Ice Punch and Bulldoze 

Powder Snow and Shadow Claw are identical in performance against neutral opponents, and thus both are viable. The latter is less likely to be resisted, however. It is recommended to have multiple Alolan Sandslash with both Fast Moves to avoid using rare Elite TMs. 

The move rebalance on September 27, 2019 gave Alolan Sandslash the much needed Ice Punch, which is mandatory due to its low energy cost compared to A-Sandslash's other options. Benefiting from STAB, this is its main charge move and also acts as a shield bait.

While both Bulldoze and Gyro Ball have identical stats (80 power, 60 energy cost) and are among the worst charge moves for PvP, they cost less energy than Blizzard, which makes them easier to access. Bulldoze provides wide coverage, including against Alolan Sandslash's major weakness to Fire-types, while Gyro Ball can help against other Ice-type Pokemon as well as just benefiting from STAB.

PvP Rating Explanation

Great League: 3 / 5

Alolan Sandslash is somewhat of a specialist. It's the kind of the Pokemon you'd use if you really want to abuse opponents weak to Ice while resisting their attacks (except for Ground-types). Nine resistances and good bulk are definitely perks, but two double weakness can be very scary against common typings. 

Ultra League: 3 / 5

XL Candy is required to optimize IVs for Ultra League. While it doesn't have the best matchups compared to other options, it can still beat down major threats like Giratina and Togekiss. Two double weaknesses and a lack of coverage against popular Water-types such as Swampert are still major issues. 

Master League: 0 / 5

Alolan Sandslash doesn't have the stats compete well in Master League. Whatever it can do here, other Ice-type pokemon can do better. 

Fast Moves

8
Metal Claw
More Info

Steel

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS EPU DPS DPS w/STAB True DPS
0.70
0.20
10.00
11.43
14.29
6
Powder Snow
More Info

Ice

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS EPU DPS DPS w/STAB True DPS
1.00
0.15
15.00
6.00
7.50

Elite Fast Moves

9
Shadow Claw
More Info

Ghost

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS EPU DPS DPS w/STAB True DPS
0.70
0.25
8.57
12.86
16.07

Charge Moves

130
Blizzard
More Info

Ice

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
3.10
1.40
0.00
 1.30
41.94
52.42
 54.52
80
Gyro Ball
More Info

Steel

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
3.30
0.50
0.00
 1.60
24.24
30.30
 38.79
80
Bulldoze
More Info

Ground

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.51x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
3.50
0.50
0.00
 1.60
22.86
28.57
 36.57
50
Ice Punch
More Info

Ice

1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
1.6x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
.714x DamageVS
0.7 secs
CD DW EPS DPE DPS DPS w/STAB DPE*DPS
1.90
0.30
0.00
 1.52
26.32
32.89
 39.87

Secondary Charge Move Unlock Cost

Candy 50
Stardust 50,000

Other

Female Ratio 50.0 %
Male Ratio 50.0 %
Flee Rate 6.0 %
Capture Rate20.0 %

Pokemon Type Chart

Vulnerable

256% damage
256% damage
160% damage

Resistant

62.5% damage
62.5% damage
62.5% damage
62.5% damage
62.5% damage
39.1% damage
62.5% damage
39.1% damage
62.5% damage

Related Articles

Alolan Sandslash PvP IV Deep Dive
Sandshrew, Alolan Sandshrew Community Day

Pokemon Min/Max CP Values

How to use: You need to know your Pokemon's exact level. To find exactly what level your Pokémon is, power up your Pokémon following this chart until you're certain of your level from Stardust cost changes.

A Pokémon's minimum level is 1.

Every time you power up, your Pokémon gains half a level.

StardustLevelMin CPMax CP
20012934
2001.56071
200292107
2002.5123144
4003154181
4003.5186218
4004217254
4004.5248291
6005280328
6005.5311364
6006342401
6006.5374438
8007405475
8007.5436511
8008468548
8008.5499585
10009530621
10009.5562658
100010593695
100010.5623730
130011652764
130011.5682799
130012712834
130012.5741869
160013771903
160013.5801938
160014830973
160014.58601008
1900158901042
190015.59191077
1900169491112
190016.59791146
22001710081181
220017.510381216
22001810681251
220018.510971285
25001911271320
250019.511571355
25002011861390
250020.512161424
30002112461459
300021.512751494
30002213051529
300022.513351564
35002313641598
350023.513941633
35002414241668
350024.514531703
40002514831737
400025.515131772
40002615421807
400026.515721842
45002716021876
450027.516311911
45002816611946
450028.516911981
50002917202015
500029.517502050
50003017802085
500030.517952102
60003118092120
600031.518242137
60003218392154
600032.518542172
70003318692189
700033.518842207
70003418982224
700034.519132241
80003519282259
800035.519432276
80003619582293
800036.519732311
90003719872328
900037.520022346
90003820172363
900038.520322380
100003920472398
1000039.520622415
100004020762432
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