Sandslash - Generation 3 learnset

This page lists all the moves that Sandslash can learn in Generation 3, which consists of these games:

Pokémon Ruby
Pokémon Sapphire
Pokémon FireRed
Pokémon LeafGreen
Pokémon Emerald

At the bottom we also list further details for egg moves: which compatible Pokémon can pass down the moves, and how those Pokémon learn said move.

Note: many moves have changed stats over the years. The power, accuracy and other information listed below is as it was in the respective games. Check a move's detail page for stats in the most recent games and when they changed.

Sandslash artwork by Ken Sugimori

back to Sandslash Pokédex

In other generations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Ruby/Sapphire FireRed/LeafGreen Emerald

Moves learnt by level up

Sandslash learns the following moves in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire at the levels specified.

Lv.	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
1	Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
1	Sand-Attack	Ground	—	100
1	Scratch	Normal	40	100
6	Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
11	Sand-Attack	Ground	—	100
17	Poison Sting	Poison	15	100
24	Slash	Normal	70	100
33	Swift	Normal	60	∞
42	Fury Swipes	Normal	18	80
52	Sand Tomb	Ground	15	70
62	Sandstorm	Rock	—	—

Egg moves

Sandslash learns the following moves via breeding in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire. Details and compatible parents can be found below.

Move	Type	Power	Acc.
Counter	Fighting	—	100
Crush Claw	Normal	75	95
Flail	Normal	—	100
Metal Claw	Steel	50	95
Rapid Spin	Normal	20	100
Rock Slide	Rock	75	90
Safeguard	Normal	—	—
Swords Dance	Normal	—	—

Moves learnt by HM

Sandslash is compatible with these Hidden Machines in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire:

HM	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
01	Cut	Normal	50	95
04	Strength	Normal	80	100
06	Rock Smash	Fighting	20	100

Moves learnt by TM

Sandslash is compatible with these Technical Machines in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire:

TM	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
01	Focus Punch	Fighting	150	100
06	Toxic	Poison	—	85
10	Hidden Power	Normal	60	100
11	Sunny Day	Fire	—	—
15	Hyper Beam	Normal	150	90
17	Protect	Normal	—	—
21	Frustration	Normal	—	100
23	Iron Tail	Steel	100	75
26	Earthquake	Ground	100	100
27	Return	Normal	—	100
28	Dig	Ground	60	100
31	Brick Break	Fighting	75	100
32	Double Team	Normal	—	—
37	Sandstorm	Rock	—	—
39	Rock Tomb	Rock	50	80
40	Aerial Ace	Flying	60	∞
42	Facade	Normal	70	100
43	Secret Power	Normal	70	100
44	Rest	Psychic	—	—
45	Attract	Normal	—	100
46	Thief	Dark	40	100

Moves learnt by level up

Sandslash learns the following moves in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen at the levels specified.

Lv.	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
1	Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
1	Sand-Attack	Ground	—	100
1	Scratch	Normal	40	100
6	Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
11	Sand-Attack	Ground	—	100
17	Poison Sting	Poison	15	100
24	Slash	Normal	70	100
33	Swift	Normal	60	∞
42	Fury Swipes	Normal	18	80
52	Sand Tomb	Ground	15	70
62	Sandstorm	Rock	—	—

Egg moves

Sandslash learns the following moves via breeding in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen. Details and compatible parents can be found below.

Move	Type	Power	Acc.
Counter	Fighting	—	100
Crush Claw	Normal	75	95
Flail	Normal	—	100
Metal Claw	Steel	50	95
Rapid Spin	Normal	20	100
Rock Slide	Rock	75	90
Safeguard	Normal	—	—
Swords Dance	Normal	—	—

Move Tutor moves

Sandslash can be taught these attacks in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen from move tutors (details):

Move	Type	Power	Acc.
Body Slam	Normal	85	100
Counter	Fighting	—	100
Double-Edge	Normal	120	100
Mimic	Normal	—	—
Rock Slide	Rock	75	90
Seismic Toss	Fighting	—	100
Substitute	Normal	—	—
Swords Dance	Normal	—	—

Moves learnt by HM

Sandslash is compatible with these Hidden Machines in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen:

HM	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
01	Cut	Normal	50	95
04	Strength	Normal	80	100
06	Rock Smash	Fighting	20	100

Moves learnt by TM

Sandslash is compatible with these Technical Machines in Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen:

TM	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
01	Focus Punch	Fighting	150	100
06	Toxic	Poison	—	85
10	Hidden Power	Normal	60	100
11	Sunny Day	Fire	—	—
15	Hyper Beam	Normal	150	90
17	Protect	Normal	—	—
21	Frustration	Normal	—	100
23	Iron Tail	Steel	100	75
26	Earthquake	Ground	100	100
27	Return	Normal	—	100
28	Dig	Ground	60	100
31	Brick Break	Fighting	75	100
32	Double Team	Normal	—	—
37	Sandstorm	Rock	—	—
39	Rock Tomb	Rock	50	80
40	Aerial Ace	Flying	60	∞
42	Facade	Normal	70	100
43	Secret Power	Normal	70	100
44	Rest	Psychic	—	—
45	Attract	Normal	—	100
46	Thief	Dark	40	100

Moves learnt by level up

Sandslash learns the following moves in Pokémon Emerald at the levels specified.

Lv.	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
1	Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
1	Sand-Attack	Ground	—	100
1	Scratch	Normal	40	100
6	Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
11	Sand-Attack	Ground	—	100
17	Poison Sting	Poison	15	100
24	Slash	Normal	70	100
33	Swift	Normal	60	∞
42	Fury Swipes	Normal	18	80
52	Sand Tomb	Ground	15	70
62	Sandstorm	Rock	—	—

Egg moves

Sandslash learns the following moves via breeding in Pokémon Emerald. Details and compatible parents can be found below.

Move	Type	Power	Acc.
Counter	Fighting	—	100
Crush Claw	Normal	75	95
Flail	Normal	—	100
Metal Claw	Steel	50	95
Rapid Spin	Normal	20	100
Rock Slide	Rock	75	90
Safeguard	Normal	—	—
Swords Dance	Normal	—	—

Move Tutor moves

Sandslash can be taught these attacks in Pokémon Emerald from move tutors (details):

Move	Type	Power	Acc.
Body Slam	Normal	85	100
Counter	Fighting	—	100
Defense Curl	Normal	—	—
Double-Edge	Normal	120	100
DynamicPunch	Fighting	100	50
Endure	Normal	—	—
Fury Cutter	Bug	10	95
Mimic	Normal	—	—
Mud-Slap	Ground	20	100
Rock Slide	Rock	75	90
Rollout	Rock	30	90
Seismic Toss	Fighting	—	100
Sleep Talk	Normal	—	—
Snore	Normal	40	100
Substitute	Normal	—	—
Swagger	Normal	—	90
Swift	Normal	60	∞
Swords Dance	Normal	—	—

Moves learnt by HM

Sandslash is compatible with these Hidden Machines in Pokémon Emerald:

HM	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
01	Cut	Normal	50	95
04	Strength	Normal	80	100
06	Rock Smash	Fighting	20	100

Moves learnt by TM

Sandslash is compatible with these Technical Machines in Pokémon Emerald:

TM	Move	Type	Power	Acc.
01	Focus Punch	Fighting	150	100
06	Toxic	Poison	—	85
10	Hidden Power	Normal	60	100
11	Sunny Day	Fire	—	—
15	Hyper Beam	Normal	150	90
17	Protect	Normal	—	—
21	Frustration	Normal	—	100
23	Iron Tail	Steel	100	75
26	Earthquake	Ground	100	100
27	Return	Normal	—	100
28	Dig	Ground	60	100
31	Brick Break	Fighting	75	100
32	Double Team	Normal	—	—
37	Sandstorm	Rock	—	—
39	Rock Tomb	Rock	50	80
40	Aerial Ace	Flying	60	∞
42	Facade	Normal	70	100
43	Secret Power	Normal	70	100
44	Rest	Psychic	—	—
45	Attract	Normal	—	100
46	Thief	Dark	40	100

Sandslash egg move parents

In other generations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Sandslash Alolan Sandslash

Sandslash's egg groups: Field

The egg moves for Sandslash are listed below, alongside compatible parent Pokémon it can breed with.

You will need to breed a female Sandslash with a compatible male Pokémon, with the male (for Gen 2-5) knowing the egg move in question. Alternatively, if you already have a Sandslash with the egg move it can breed with Ditto.

Counter

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Slakoth Vigoroth Slaking
Breeding	Rattata Raticate Sandshrew Sandslash Nidoran♂ Nidorino Nidoking Mankey Primeape Rhyhorn Rhydon Aipom Sneasel Teddiursa Ursaring Houndour Houndoom Phanpy Donphan Torchic Combusken Blaziken Zangoose
Move tutor	Rattata Raticate Pikachu Raichu Sandshrew Sandslash Nidoran♂ Nidorino Nidoking Psyduck Golduck Mankey Primeape Rhyhorn Rhydon Typhlosion Flaaffy Ampharos Aipom Quagsire Dunsparce Snubbull Granbull Sneasel Teddiursa Ursaring Delibird Houndour Houndoom Phanpy Donphan Torchic Combusken Blaziken Poochyena Mightyena Slakoth Vigoroth Slaking Whismur Loudred Exploud Mawile Grumpig Spinda Zangoose Kecleon Absol
Sketch	Smeargle

Crush Claw

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Zangoose
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Rhyhorn Rhydon Cyndaquil Quilava Typhlosion Sneasel Slakoth Vigoroth Slaking
Sketch	Smeargle

Flail

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Phanpy Donphan Zigzagoon Slakoth Slaking Torkoal Spinda
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Vulpix Ninetales Farfetch'd Eevee Vaporeon Jolteon Flareon Espeon Umbreon Zangoose
Pre-evolution Level up	Linoone Vigoroth
Sketch	Smeargle

Metal Claw

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Sneasel
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Teddiursa Ursaring
Sketch	Smeargle

Rapid Spin

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Donphan
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Delibird
Sketch	Smeargle

Rock Slide

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Camerupt
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Diglett Dugtrio Mankey Primeape Rhyhorn Rhydon Dunsparce Swinub Piloswine Torchic Combusken Blaziken Spinda Spheal Sealeo Walrein
Move tutor	Ekans Arbok Sandshrew Sandslash Nidoking Diglett Dugtrio Mankey Primeape Rhyhorn Rhydon Typhlosion Dunsparce Granbull Ursaring Swinub Piloswine Donphan Torchic Combusken Blaziken Slakoth Vigoroth Slaking Loudred Exploud Mawile Numel Camerupt Torkoal Spinda Zangoose Kecleon Absol Spheal Sealeo Walrein
Sketch	Smeargle

Safeguard

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Vulpix Ninetales Seel Dewgong
TM	Vulpix Ninetales Seel Dewgong Skitty Delcatty Spinda
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Growlithe Arcanine Mareep Flaaffy Ampharos Wooper Quagsire
Sketch	Smeargle

Swords Dance

Learnt by	Compatible parents
Level up	Farfetch'd Zangoose Absol
Breeding	Sandshrew Sandslash Rhyhorn Rhydon Mawile
Move tutor	Sandshrew Sandslash Farfetch'd Rhyhorn Rhydon Sneasel Teddiursa Ursaring Torchic Combusken Blaziken Seedot Nuzleaf Shiftry Mawile Zangoose Absol
Sketch	Smeargle