sandslash-alola #10102
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
Immune to (0x damage):
sandslash-alola
Generation I · #10102 — Mouse Pokémon
Alolan Sandslash is the Ice/Steel-type regional variant of the original Ground-type Sandslash, first introduced in Generation I but adapted to the Alola region's frigid mountains. This Pokédex entry (#28) represents a dramatic departure from its base form, transforming from a desert-dwelling rodent into a formidable ice-based creature perfectly suited to alpine terrain. Standing at 1.2 meters tall and weighing 55.0 kilograms, Alolan Sandslash maintains the same base stat total of 450 as its counterpart, but redistributes these points to emphasize physical defense and special resistance over special attack. The shift from Ground to Ice/Steel typing fundamentally changes Alolan Sandslash's role in competitive battling and exploration, granting it access to entirely new moves, weaknesses, and strategic possibilities that have made it a beloved regional form among trainers who appreciate its elegant adaptation to Alola's snowy peaks.
Base Stats
Height
1.2m
Weight
55.0kg
Category
Mouse Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
yellow
Shape
upright
Habitat
rough-terrain
Abilities
Increases evasion to 1.25× during hail. Protects against hail damage.
During Hail, this Pokémon has double Speed.
Sandslash-alola Biology & Physical Characteristics
Alolan Sandslash exhibits a striking transformation from its Kanto ancestor, with its distinctive brown quills replaced by elegant, icy spikes that sparkle with crystalline brilliance. The Pokémon's body retains the characteristic yellow coloring of the standard form, but its sharp spikes now gleam with a frosted, metallic sheen that reflects its Ice/Steel composition. These ice-forged spikes are hardened sections of its hide, much like the original Sandslash's quills, but they possess a far greater density and resilience, capable of slicing through frozen terrain with impressive efficiency. The creature's claws have evolved into formidable tools for navigating icy landscapes, remaining sharp and devastating in combat while serving their primary purpose as digging implements in frozen mountain soil. Alolan Sandslash's musculature appears more pronounced than its base form, with a stockier build that provides better stability on slippery, snow-covered terrain. Like its ancestor, Alolan Sandslash sheds its spikes and claws regularly, which regrow within a single day, ensuring this Pokémon maintains peak physical condition year-round.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Sandslash-alola Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Alolan Sandslash maintains a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female, consistent with its base form and most Pokémon species. This balance allows for efficient breeding programs among trainers seeking to obtain Alolan Sandshrew or produce high-stat offspring through strategic breeding with compatible Pokémon. The species belongs to the Field egg group, which it shares with numerous terrestrial and ground-based Pokémon, enabling cross-breeding with creatures like Growlithe, Mankey, Diglett, and many others. Alolan Sandslash exhibits a base happiness of 70, indicating a naturally friendly disposition toward trainers who treat it with respect and care, though this value can be further increased through consistent positive interactions, grooming, and appropriate training regimens. The egg cycle counter of 20 cycles translates to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps required for eggs to hatch, making Alolan Sandslash relatively quick to breed compared to legendary or rare Pokémon, though breeding requires access to an Ice Stone to evolve the resulting Alolan Sandshrew offspring. Competitive breeders often utilize the species' balanced stats and accessible egg groups to create strategically optimized Alolan Sandslash with specific natures and individual values, maximizing either its defensive capabilities or its attack potential depending on intended battle roles.
Held Items
Sprites
Held Items
grip-claw
held-items
Held: Holder’s multi-turn trapping moves last 5 turns.
Cost: 4000
grip-claw
held-items
Held: Holder’s multi-turn trapping moves last 5 turns.
Cost: 4000
grip-claw
held-items
Held: Holder’s multi-turn trapping moves last 5 turns.
Cost: 4000
grip-claw
held-items
Held: Holder’s multi-turn trapping moves last 5 turns.
Cost: 4000
TMs & HMs
tm01
platinum
tm01
emerald
tm01
diamond pearl
tm01
firered leafgreen
tm01
ruby sapphire
tm01
black white
tm01
black 2 white 2
tm01
xd
tm01
colosseum
tm01
heartgold soulsilver
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm01
ultra sun ultra moon
tm01
omega ruby alpha sapphire
tm01
sun moon
tm01
x y
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
yellow
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
+749 more TMs/HMs
sandslash-alola's Evolution Chain
Sandslash-alola Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Alolan Sandslash evolves from Alolan Sandshrew when exposed to an Ice Stone, a departure from the standard Sandslash's level-based evolution at level 22. This evolution method reflects the unique environmental conditions of the Alola region, where Ice Stones serve as catalysts for dramatic transformations in Pokémon that have adapted to cold climates. The transformation from Alolan Sandshrew to Alolan Sandslash represents a significant change not merely in size but in overall capability and specialization, with the young Sandshrew's defensive capabilities hardening into the formidable defenses of its evolved form. Alolan Sandslash's Defense stat increases to 120, a ten-point improvement over its pre-evolution form, making it substantially more durable than its base form counterpart. The evolution also provides Alolan Sandslash with a more refined physiology capable of wielding ice-based techniques with greater precision, as evidenced by its expanded move pool containing powerful Ice-type attacks unavailable to Alolan Sandshrew. This evolutionary line demonstrates how Pokémon species can dramatically adapt to new environmental pressures, with the Ice Stone serving as both a physical and biological catalyst for the manifestation of dormant ice-based genetic traits within the Sandshrew lineage.
Where to Find
Location data not available for this Pokémon in the database.
Sandslash-alola Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Alolan Sandslash thrives in the frozen mountain regions of the Alola archipelago, where it has adapted to environments completely foreign to its desert-dwelling ancestors. Rather than burrowing through sand, Alolan Sandslash uses its powerful icy claws to excavate through packed snow and ice, creating complex tunnel systems within mountainous terrain that serve as shelter from Alola's occasional tropical storms. These remarkable creatures are incredibly adept at navigating vertical surfaces, using their reinforced claws to climb towering ice formations and frozen cliff faces with remarkable agility despite their stockier build. The Pokédex entries of the original Sandslash describe its tendency to run at top speed to kick up blinding dust storms, but Alolan Sandslash has adapted this behavior to arctic conditions, creating swirling vortexes of snow and ice that obscure its movements during both escape and combat scenarios. When threatened, Alolan Sandslash curls into a protective ball not of sand but of glimmering ice spikes, becoming a treacherous projectile that can roll across frozen terrain at impressive velocities. Research suggests that Alolan Sandslash primarily inhabits the higher elevations of Alola's mountains, where temperatures remain consistently cold throughout the year, and it has been observed in the Blueberry Academy's specialized Terarium facility alongside other climate-adapted Pokémon.
Pokedex Entries
Generation I
Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day.
Generation II
In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.
If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
Adept at climbing trees, it rolls into a spiny ball, then attacks its enemies from above.
Generation III
SANDSLASH’s body is covered by tough spikes, which are hardened sections of its hide. Once a year, the old spikes fall out, to be replaced with new spikes that grow out from beneath the old ones.
SANDSLASH can roll up its body as if it were a ball covered with large spikes. In battle, this POKéMON will try to make the foe flinch by jabbing it with its spines. It then leaps at the stunned foe to tear wildly with its sharp claws.
It curls up in a ball to protect itself from enemy attacks. It also curls up to prevent heatstroke during the daytime when temperatures rise sharply.
It is adept at attacking with the spines on its back and its sharp claws while quickly scurrying about.
Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Generation IV
It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
In an attempt to hide itself, it will run around at top speed to kick up a blinding dust storm.
If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
Generation V
It curls up, then rolls into foes with its back. Its sharp spines inflict severe damage.
The spikes on its body are made up of its hardened hide. It rolls up and attacks foes with its spikes.
Generation VI
If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day.
Curls up into a spiny ball when threatened. It can roll while curled up to attack or escape.
Sandslash’s body is covered by tough spikes, which are hardened sections of its hide. Once a year, the old spikes fall out, to be replaced with new spikes that grow out from beneath the old ones.
Sandslash can roll up its body as if it were a ball covered with large spikes. In battle, this Pokémon will try to make the foe flinch by jabbing it with its spines. It then leaps at the stunned foe to tear wildly with its sharp claws.
Generation VII
Although they are sharp, its claws and spikes often break off. They grow back the next day, so it is not bothered by the temporary loss.
Its claws and horns often break off. The broken claws and horns can be used to carve plows for tilling farm fields.
It uses its claws to climb trees and then curls its body into a spiny ball, ready to drop onto any prey that appears.
Thanks to its thick claws, it’s good at climbing trees. There are plenty of Sandslash that park themselves in trees and go right to sleep.
It is skilled at slashing enemies with its claws. If broken, they start to grow back in a day.
Generation VIII
The drier the area Sandslash lives in, the harder and smoother the Pokémon’s spikes will feel when touched.
It climbs trees by hooking on with its sharp claws. Sandslash shares the berries it gathers, dropping them down to Sandshrew waiting below the tree.
Sandslash-alola Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The design of Alolan Sandslash represents a brilliant reimagining of the original creature through the lens of alpine adaptation, maintaining visual continuity while introducing striking visual changes that immediately communicate its new elemental typing. The Pokémon's name remains unchanged from its ancestors, with 'Sandslash' referencing its original slashing attacks and sandy habitat, though the 'Alolan' prefix denotes its regional specification and evolved ecological niche. The icy spikes replacing the brown quills serve as the primary design evolution, transforming the creature from a warm-desert specialist to a cold-mountain expert while preserving the fundamental silhouette and recognizable features that make Sandslash unmistakably Sandslash. The metallic sheen applied to Alolan Sandslash's spikes and overall coloring acknowledges its Steel-type component, creating a visual harmony between the crystalline ice formations and metallic elements that don't appear contradictory but rather complementary. In Japanese, Alolan Sandslash retains the name 'Sandpan,' which combines 'sand' with 'pan' (a sound representing piercing or stabbing), emphasizing the creature's sharp, penetrating nature regardless of its transformation. The design philosophy behind Alolan Sandslash reflects Game Freak's intention to create regional variants that feel natural and inevitable given their environments, rather than forced or arbitrary, with every visual element contributing to the Pokémon's believable adaptation to Alolan mountain ecosystems.
Learnable Moves
Sandslash-alola can learn 99 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aerial ace | flying | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| agility | psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| amnesia | psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| aqua tail | water | Physical | 90 | 90 | 10 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| aurora veil | ice | Status | — | — | 20 |
| avalanche | ice | Physical | 60 | 100 | 10 |
| bide | normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| blizzard | ice | Special | 110 | 70 | 5 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| brick break | fighting | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| confide | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| counter | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| covet | normal | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| crush claw | normal | Physical | 75 | 95 | 10 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| defense curl | normal | Status | — | — | 40 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| drill run | ground | Physical | 80 | 95 | 10 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endeavor | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| false swipe | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 40 |
| flail | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| flash cannon | steel | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| fling | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| focus blast | fighting | Special | 120 | 70 | 5 |
| focus punch | fighting | Physical | 150 | 100 | 20 |
| frost breath | ice | Special | 60 | 90 | 10 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| fury cutter | bug | Physical | 40 | 95 | 20 |
| fury swipes | normal | Physical | 18 | 80 | 15 |
| giga impact | normal | Physical | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| gyro ball | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 5 |
| hail | ice | Status | — | — | 10 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| hone claws | dark | Status | — | — | 15 |
| hyper beam | normal | Special | 150 | 90 | 5 |
| ice ball | ice | Physical | 30 | 90 | 20 |
| ice beam | ice | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| ice punch | ice | Physical | 75 | 100 | 15 |
| ice shard | ice | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| ice spinner | ice | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| icicle crash | ice | Physical | 85 | 90 | 10 |
| icicle spear | ice | Physical | 25 | 100 | 30 |
| icy wind | ice | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| iron defense | steel | Status | — | — | 15 |
| iron head | steel | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| leech life | bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| low kick | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| metal burst | steel | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| metal claw | steel | Physical | 50 | 95 | 35 |
| mirror coat | psychic | Special | — | 100 | 20 |
| mist | ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| night slash | dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| pin missile | bug | Physical | 25 | 95 | 20 |
| poison jab | poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| powder snow | ice | Special | 40 | 100 | 25 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| rapid spin | normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 40 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| rollout | rock | Physical | 30 | 90 | 20 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| safeguard | normal | Status | — | — | 25 |
| scratch | normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| seismic toss | fighting | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| shadow claw | ghost | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| slash | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| snowscape | ice | Status | 0 | — | 10 |
| spikes | ground | Status | — | — | 20 |
| stealth rock | rock | Status | — | — | 20 |
| steel beam | steel | Special | 140 | 95 | 5 |
| steel roller | steel | Physical | 130 | 100 | 5 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| super fang | normal | Physical | — | 90 | 10 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swift | normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 |
| swords dance | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| tera blast | normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| throat chop | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| triple axel | ice | Physical | 20 | 90 | 10 |
| work up | normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| x scissor | bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
Sandslash-alola Competitive Battle Guide
Alolan Sandslash occupies a unique competitive niche as a physical tank with exceptional Defense and respectable Attack stats, boasting a Defense base stat of 120 compared to the original Sandslash's 110. Its hidden ability Slush Rush doubles Speed during hail weather, fundamentally changing its strategic application in competitive formats that feature sustained weather conditions, allowing Alolan Sandslash to transition from a slower defensive wall into a swift offensive threat. The standard Snow Cloak ability increases evasion by 25% during hail while simultaneously protecting the user from hail damage, creating a valuable defensive utility option for hail-focused team compositions. Alolan Sandslash's Ice/Steel typing grants it an impressive defensive profile, resisting ten different types including the ubiquitous Normal and Flying attacks, while its Steel component provides immunity to poison damage and resistance to Dragon-type assaults. However, the typing introduces vulnerabilities to Fire, Ground, Water, and Fighting attacks, the latter of which represents a significant weakness given Fighting-type coverage moves' prevalence in competitive environments. With a Special Attack base stat of only 25, Alolan Sandslash cannot effectively utilize special attacks, forcing it to rely entirely on physical moves, moves with priority, or status moves that capitalize on its exceptional bulk. Strategically, Alolan Sandslash functions best as a physical attacker and wall in hail-heavy teams, using moves like Ice Shard, Icicle Crash, Iron Head, and Earthquake to apply offensive pressure while its defensive typing and high Defense stat allow it to absorb incoming attacks and maintain team presence.
Commonly Asked Questions About Sandslash-alola
What type is Sandslash-alola?
Sandslash-alola is a ice and steel type Pokemon.
What does Sandslash-alola evolve into?
Sandslash-alola does not evolve into any other Pokemon. It is the final form in its evolution line.
What are Sandslash-alola's weaknesses?
Sandslash-alola is weak to fighting, ground and fire type moves.
Sandslash-alola Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Alolan Sandslash has earned a devoted following among Pokémon fans and competitive players since its introduction in Generation VII, praised for exemplifying the successful implementation of regional variants that feel authentic rather than superficial. The Pokémon's elegant design resonates particularly strongly with trainers who appreciate the integration of environmental storytelling into Pokémon characterization, demonstrating how species can evolve to meet new ecological demands. Alolan Sandslash's presence in popular Pokémon media, including appearances in animated adaptations and featured roles in official artwork, has solidified its position as one of the most iconic regional variants alongside Alolan Exeggutor and Alolan Raichu. The Pokémon's competitive viability has made it a recurring threat in Pokémon Battle Spot competitions and ongoing online battles, with dedicated players developing specialized Alolan Sandslash strategies that have achieved significant tournament success. Fan communities have embraced Alolan Sandslash's design, spawning numerous pieces of fan artwork, merchandise, and discussion forums dedicated to competitive sets and breeding strategies. The species has become emblematic of the Alola region itself, representing the archipelago's unique environmental challenges and the fascinating process by which Pokémon adapt to new geographic niches, making it a beloved symbol among trainers who value logical world-building and scientific plausibility within the Pokémon franchise.
Where to Find Sandslash-alola in Every Pokémon Game
Alolan Sandslash can be obtained in Pokémon Sun and Moon, where it appears in the Alola Pokédex as entry #252, and returns in the sequels Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon as entry #329. The species inhabits mountain terrain throughout Alola, with specific spawn locations varying by game version, and it remains available in subsequent generations through various means. In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Alolan Sandslash is accessible through the Crown Tundra expansion's Max Raid Battles and can be transferred via Pokémon Home from earlier generation titles. The species reappears in Pokémon Legends: Arceus's predecessor timeline mechanics and continues availability through Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, where it inhabits the highest-elevation mountain areas and is featured in the Blueberry Academy's Terarium facility. Players seeking to obtain Alolan Sandslash must first encounter or breed an Alolan Sandshrew, the pre-evolutionary form, which requires access to the appropriate regional games or the ability to transfer from compatible titles. The Pokémon's catch rate of 90 makes it relatively straightforward to capture when encountered in the wild, and its medium-fast growth rate makes leveling it to competitive viability a reasonable undertaking for dedicated trainers. Notably, Alolan Sandslash cannot be obtained in its original Ice Stone-evolved form in earlier Kanto remakes like Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee, requiring players to either breed in modern titles or utilize Pokémon Home's transfer functionality to access this variant across different game systems.